Category: Interiors Addict
Interiors porn: there’s no other description for it
Living Modern: The Sourcebook of Contemporary Interiors is one of the most exciting books to grace my coffee table in a long time. It’s page after page of thrilling, light-filled, beautiful, colourful interiors shot by Richard Powers.
I have a pile of interiors coffee table books almost as tall as me, but this has swiftly become my new favourite. I want to fold over the corner of every other page to remind me to come back and steal a particular idea for my home/future home/a friend’s home. But of course I won’t because I don’t want to ruin this beautiful tome.
Is it normal to be this excited about a book of photographs of people’s homes? For me, yes it is! And they really are stunning photographs (as you’ll see from the selection above). Not to say the words (yes, there is some text) aren’t great too. It’s helpfully divided into themes, each with sub sections. It’s not just a picture book, it has more structure than that. There’s an index and a list of stockists (of limited use to Australian readers but still).
Sourcebook is the perfect name. It’s absolutely packed full of inspiration and ideas, a must-have for interior designers, stylists, renovators and interiors enthusiasts alike. And Australia does feature prominently in the collection of photographs from around the globe. What I perhaps love the most is that the ideas you’ll pick up from this book are easily replicated in your own home without having to spend a fortune or do anything too clever. It’s simply good styling at its best.
Right now I can’t think of a better way to part with $65 so if you’re into interiors too, add this to your coffee table collection now. Available in all good book stores.
Living Modern: The Sourcebook of Contemporary Interiors, is published by Thames & Hudson. Photography by Richard Powers, text by Phyllis Richardson. All photographs from the book reproduced here with permission from Thames & Hudson.
This new shop is so gorgeous I think I’d like to live in it! I haven’t even been in yet but when I do, my credit card had better be ready for a workout!
Pure and General, in Brougham Street, Potts Point, NSW, offers uniquely curated and specially commissioned objects by artists, artisans, designers and architects, for diverse living and working environments. There’s an ever-changing collection of products from around the globe. Pure and General is directed by award-winning urban design legend and former New Inventors judge Linda Gregoriou with Dale Jones-Evans. It’s managed by Cassie Karinsky.
“It’s all about thoughtfully designed everyday objects,” said Linda. Watch this space for more info on Linda and her latest project in the coming weeks.
Yesterday we promised to share the kitchen and bathroom of Elements of Style’s holiday cottage makeover in Victoria so here you go. What do you think?
Designer Gabrielle Di Stefano says: ” The kitchen is the hub of any home and this one is no exception. We painted the ceiling and woodwork in the white we used in the rest of the house. The wainscot needed to be painted, as bare boards do not flatter this style. The mustard colour paint was replaced with the Silver Sage, linking it back to the guest bedroom. The fireplace was used constantly and everyone liked the well used bricks surrounding the mantle, so we decided to leave them as they were.
“The views from this room are fantastic, so we decided not to put any furnishings on the kitchen windows. The louvre windows serve a real purpose in the summer so covering them would have been a mistake. A simple white hemp roman was made for the dining room window. A new light fitting, leaf table and antique Belgian farmhouse chairs gave the kitchen a new lease of life.”
Gabrielle Di Stefano of Elements of Style in Victoria shared these before and afters from a holiday cottage makeover in Newham, near Woodend. We love how she freshened up and modernised the space without losing its cottage charm.
Built in the 1890s, the building was originally the local creamery, servicing the main dairy in Woodend.
The original two rooms at the front on the home are now the sitting room and a bedroom. Over the years, a few renovations have been carried out and a new kitchen, bathroom, laundry and third bedroom have been added.
“Starting in 2006, we slowly updated colour schemes and furnishings to cater for a family that used it on weekends and holidays,” says Gabrielle. ”The vision we had for the sitting room was to keep the cottage feel alive without being too cutesy country. As it was a holiday home we wanted the furnishings to be easy to look after. The sitting room was painted a colour that was softer than the original burgandy, but still had a warmth to it. We left the ceiling and woodwork white to contrast the strong wall colour.
“We found the bedside tables for the guest bedroom in hard rubbish. A few coats of paint and glass handles gave them a new lease of life. The owners were given an old floorboard that had been written on by a gentlemen renovator in the early 1900s. He describes the challenges he faced during his guardianship of the cottage, so we hung it above the bed to add interest.”
Tune in tomorrow to see the remaining rooms.
Interior decorator and author Tracy Madden shares her Brisbane home
Q: Please explain your personal style and how it influenced your home.
A: I have always been mindful to make a property work in its location, plus make it our home. In this instance it is a riverfront apartment, so although it required shiny surfaces, black lacquer and mirrored walls, it also required major comfort. My intention for the bedroom was a New York luxury hotel room.
Q: How did you pull all of the interiors together?
A: The commanding view of the Brisbane River, plus magical views of the city, can be seen from the moment you step out of the elevator. Hence it was important for the pieces of furniture in the main living area not to compete with the view, selecting quality choice pieces to complement the beautiful surroundings.
Q: What did you find the hardest to get right when decorating your home?
A: The property was about the view, so to maximise it as much as possible. I was mindful that the window coverings were as unobtrusive as possible to totally reveal the view for the better part of the day.
Q: What is your favourite piece of furniture/feature in your home and why?
A: As you walk into our bedroom I have a small black and gold console table with some treasured pieces that I have had for many years: a Florence figurine called Josephine, a wedding photo of my parents, a photo of one of my sisters and me, a small trinket in the shape of a jewelled egg given to me by my son many years ago, and a miniature jewel box from my daughter. These are the pieces that make it my home.
Tracy says a home should be filled with who we are, otherwise it may just as well be a furniture showroom. Couldn’t have put it better myself!
Her book, The Essential Ingredient—Love, is available at all good book stores.
Garden Brasserie, a look for all seasons
Interiors Addict is a big fan of Neutral Bay’s Garden Brasserie, with its living garden wall and cosy mezzanine level. We spoke to Jacqui Esdaile, head of design for Valmont, about how she and her team achieved the look.
“Garden Brasserie evolved from the desire for a social space that breaks the standard mould of wine bars popping up across Sydney’s inner city,” she says. “Working closely with the owners from concept to implementation we created a location with light, bright, open space for daytime get togethers, and an intimate, playful space for evenings.
“The design was based on a European sunroom theme by day and an intimate garden party by night, creating the perfect setting for patrons visiting day or night, summer or winter, weekdays or weekends. We think the success of the fitout comes down to the Garden Brasserie’s clever balance of furnishings, the creation of different atmospheres in different spaces and the subtle integration of split levels. “
Tune in tomorrow to learn more about the designer herself…
Categories
Why I’m like Monica from Friends
My friends have been calling me Monica, as in Monica from the TV show Friends, for YEARS. It’s because of my insistence on everything being in its place, my general neatfreakery and fear of mess. I’m secretly quite proud, rather than ashamed, of this comparison. My Monica-ness is my ‘thing’.
Let’s think of all the cool decor that most people would instantly recognise/remember from her apartment: the mis-matching dining chairs, the ornate gold frame around the door spy hole, the bright colours of the kitchen cupboards.
Monica’s home doesn’t look ordered and clinical, it looks colourful, homely and cosy. But Monica knows that everything has its place. Others wouldn’t see the issue with moving some cushions around or the couch being at an angle but it would make her feel a little anxious inside and she’d change it back as soon as she could. My God, I really am her!
To sum up Monica’s apartment, it doesn’t look deliberately ‘done’ but it really is. It takes a certain eye to pull together a look like this.
Like Masterchef… but for renovators
Groundbreaking show The Renovators is coming to Australia from the makers of Masterchef and I couldn’t be more excited!
Network TEN and SHINE Australia claim the scale of this show has never been seen before on Australian television.
“We have scoured the country to find the very best renovators from all states, from all skill sets and from all age groups, all with a proven record in transforming properties and profiting from them,” said a spokesman for TEN. “Renovations are already well underway on a range of properties in varying degrees of dilapidation, from a fibro cottage to a sixties suburban to an inner city terrace, each attempting to increase its value which will be determined in a massive finale auction.
“The task: to transform these nightmares into real estate gold. The winner will be the last remaining contestant responsible for the property that has increased most in value and the prize is worth rolling up your sleeves and getting dirty for.”
In addition to these renovations, the contestants will congregate at the central Renovators’ warehouse – the largest television set in Australia – where they will be presented with regular design, decorating and construction challenges to win valuable assets and advantages for their own renovations.
Meet the judges
BRENDAN MOAR – Host
Qualified landscape architect and two time ASTRA award winner of Favourite Male TV Presenter, Brendan joins The Renovators having appeared in numerous lifestyle shows including Home, Moar Gardening and Dry Spell Gardening.
PETER HO – Judge
Design director of PHOOEY Architects in Melbourne, Peter has received international, national, state and local awards for his architectural work which tends toward sustainability. He’ll not only be casting his architectural eye on the home transformations, but also how the contestants use and re-use their materials – giving them the green thumbs-up, or down…
ROBYN HOLT – Judge
Design consultant Robyn Holt says design journalism and styling have been her passion for the past 20 years. As the Editor of Vogue Living for 10 years she has become known as a leader in the design industry and has been responsible for uncovering new talent in the field of interior design, celebrating known designers and presenting inspirational homes.
BARRY DU BOIS – Judge
Barry’s building career spans more than 30 years which includes a three-year posting as President of the Master Builders Association Eastern Suburbs. Retired at an enviable 46, he sailed around the world in his yacht and now spends six months of the year cruising international waters. With a character as big as the Renovators’ set, get ready to be bowled over by this loveable tradesman.
Coming soon to TEN. Watch this space for more info! I can’t wait, can you?
Went to a private screening of Helvetica in Sydney tonight. Awesome doco about graphic design, typography and global visual culture. Go and see it!