Tag: alex carter

Pendant lights: Does your dining room need one?

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date February 6, 2020
1 Comment on Pendant lights: Does your dining room need one?

In this instalment of our Ask The Stylist series with Alex Carter of Harlow + Willow, a reader writes in with a pendant light dilemma. Should she install one over her dining table, or not?

Reader question: Do I need a pendant light over our dining table? We had one, which was removed after it was damaged. We have uplights and a lamp in the same room. Should I replace it?

Answer: As to whether you really need a pendant over a dining table, there are so many things that can impact this decision. I’ll go through a few general considerations to think about below.

Size of the dining area
The size of the dining space and the dining table will greatly affect the decision as to whether to have a pendant light. I’m assuming in this case it’s a decent size (given there was a previous pendant), but did it feel comfortable or did it dominate when using the table?

I wouldn’t suggest a pendant light for anything smaller than a six seat table personally, unless it’s going to be quite small or hung high, but that defeats the purpose.

Photography: Stephanie Rooney | Styling: Harlow + Willow

Is the spaced defined?
A really nice way to design and style your home is to create zones for specific areas; this can be done in any home, even if it’s open plan. Areas can be defined by artwork, rugs or lights. If you have an open plan living and dining area, a pendant light can help to make the dining space feel like a discrete space, and create a focal point.

Photography: Stephanie Rooney | Styling: Harlow + Willow and Ali

Style of pendant
Should you decide to go ahead, the style of the pendant is the next big decision! Keeping in mind the house and the rest of the decor, you could choose to go with a simple yet striking glass pendant, such as a long line design or an architectural light. Alternatively, you could go for a softer and more textural style and opt for either a fabric or paper pendant.

Also, taking into account what else is surrounding the dining table, if there is a large and dominating artwork or bold wallpaper, you may decide to opt for a more simple and transparent light. If the room is quite simple, make the pendant the feature!

Photography: Armelle Habib | Styling: Julia Green of Greenhouse Interiors and Harlow + Willow

Consider the surrounding lighting
An important consideration is what other lighting exists in the space; is the pendant required to light the dining table or is it for decorative purposes only? This will also impact the style of pendant that you go for, and the spread of light you need (the amazing team at Lights Lights Lights talk a lot about this on their Instagram account, so head over there if you’re not sure about this). I would advise separate controls too, so that you can have just the pendant switched on for a moody effect!

Photography: Armelle Habib | Styling: Harlow + Willow and Julia Green of Greenhouse Interiors

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Tags alex carter, design, dining room, expert advice, Harlow and willow, interior design, interiors, lighting, pendant light, styling, stylist

Design Expert Tips Interviews Styling

Hallway ideas: How do I furnish & style a long space?

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date January 27, 2020
2 Comments on Hallway ideas: How do I furnish & style a long space?

Photography: Jody D’Arcy | Styling: Harlow + Willow

In this next instalment of our Ask The Stylist series with Alex Carter of Harlow + Willow, a reader writes in unsure how to style a long hallway.

Reader question: We have a townhouse and the hallway has a huge plain wall on one side with rooms on the other. It’s like a bowling alley. What can l do?

Answer: Long hallways can feel a bit daunting but are also an awesome opportunity to add some extra features to your home and to show people what you’re all about as soon as they walk in the door!

As this reader has said, it’s only one side of the hall that has a large blank wall. This can sometimes be intimidating, but below I am going to suggest what can be done to make it a fun and interesting part of the home.

Gallery style hanging art
One option is to create a gallery style wall of art. This can be done with original paintings or prints; they can be by the same artist, pieces with similar colours, or you can go totally rogue and put up anything you love! There are no rules to this; the only condition that will determine the success or not, is commitment. For example, with the hanging style, if you go with a symmetrical and streamlined look this needs to be measured out and executed correctly. Similarly, if you decide to go for a more casual and mismatched look, make sure that none of the paintings match or line up. Commitment to any form of styling is the most important aspect – own your decision with pride!

Photography: Stephanie Roonie | Styling: Alex Carter — Photography: Stephanie Rooney | Styling: Harlow + Willow

Create a seating nook
Depending on space and the width of the hallway, another idea is to create a small nook with a bench seat. If this can be near the entry point of the house, it could be used by people when they enter the house to sit down and take off their shoes. There are very slimline benches available, such as the below HK Living Retro Webbing Bench, that make a statement without being too space consuming. Pop a piece of statement art above, and a cushion or any other accessories that will practically suit the space, and you have a winning feature!

The console
Another option is to put in an awesome console! Once again, there are plenty of slimline and space saving options so it doesn’t have to be a large cumbersome piece of furniture blocking the walkway. Consoles are great for displaying small interesting objects, such as ceramics, vases with florals, plants or even a pin board to house all your important messages and reminders. This can be your central spot for all of those pieces that seem to mysteriously go missing when you’re in a rush – wallets, keys and anything else you need to grab on your way out!

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Tags alex carter, expert advice, Harlow and willow, interior design, interiors, stephanie rooney, styling, stylist

Design Expert Tips Styling

Ask a stylist: How do I furnish a small, awkward room?

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date December 19, 2019
No Comments on Ask a stylist: How do I furnish a small, awkward room?

Alex Carter moodboard — Alex's proposal for the space

In this next instalment of our Ask The Stylist series, with Alex Carter of Harlow + Willow, a reader writes in with a lounge room conundrum.

Reader question: I have this unusually shaped, smallish living room and have for years configured the contents a variety of ways, but it still doesn’t sit comfortably. I want to replace the sofa soon and I’m at a loss as to what type to buy so that it fits in the room – I was thinking modular. What do you think? I have also considered v-groove panelling or wallpaper but what other items do I need to get the space to work?

Answer: My advice would be to play with the pieces in the space and to add some more dimension to the room, emphasising the amazing aspects, such as the large window.

Denise mentioned that she was wanting to replace her sofa but wasn’t sure what style to go with and was thinking modular. Because of the shape of this room I would recommend sticking with the standard 2.5 – 3 seater sofa like this beautiful neutral grey sofa from Lounge Lovers. The legs of this sofa help to give it height, and mean it won’t be too visually bulky at the end of the room.

Lounge Lovers Hampton sofa — Lounge Lovers Hampton 3-seat sofa, $2499

Rather than having a chaise, replacing the armchair with a day bed style chair like the below, and put it further back into the bay window. This will create a larger seating option, open out the space and provide a beautiful little reading nook.

Freedom NEW HAMPSHIRE fabric daybed sofa with loose cover, $1099 — Freedom New Hampshire fabric daybed sofa with loose cover, $1099

Adding a colourful patterned rug is also a great way to add more interest to the room, and create another dimension to the room which will also help to accentuate the home’s beautiful jarrah floorboards. Positioning this horizontally will also emphasise the width of the room, rather than the length. The selected coffee table has a timeless white marble top and dark wooden legs to tie in the console on the left hand side of the room.

Lounge Lovers 'Evoke' white rug, $299 — Lounge Lovers ‘Evoke’ white rug, $299

In terms of the VJ panelling, this would be a fantastic addition along the entire wall that has the bay window. It will also draw the eye to this portion of the room and out the window, making it feel even bigger!

Last, but certainly not least, is the artwork. Placing a statement piece of art above the sofa will create another focal point and a sense of personality. I have selected the ‘Plant Room’ print by Bibi Ana + Co but it could be any painting, print or even a sentimental photograph. Something that shows a little bit about the people who live in the home and tells a story!

Bibi Ana + Co's 'Plant Room' print, $890 — Bibi Ana + Co’s ‘Plant Room’ print, $890

I hope this helps and I’d love to see how it goes, if anyone else has a tricky space or furniture selection please send it through and I would love to help where I can!

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Tags alex carter, alexandra carter, ask a stylist, Harlow and willow, interior design, interior designer, interiors, styling, stylist

Decorating 101 Expert Tips Shopping Styling

Cushions: 3 stylist-approved combos for your lounge

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date November 19, 2019
No Comments on Cushions: 3 stylist-approved combos for your lounge

In this next instalment of our Ask The Stylist series, with Alex Carter of Harlow + Willow, we solve your cushion conundrums.

Reader question: I have two white faux bamboo outdoor lounges that have navy blue covers with white piping. What cushions would look good?

Answer: Hi there, thank you for submitting your question! And what a great way to kick off, as cushions are my favourite!

So, with your bamboo lounges, the options are basically endless which can make things a bit overwhelming. I’ll try to help you narrow it down by giving you a few solutions, and also points to consider below.

Keep it classic
As the sofa already has navy cushions with white piping, one option would be to keep with this colour palette and use blue and white cushions in varying patterns, sizes and textures. When sticking with one or two colours, you can keep it interesting by mixing up the appearance.

Consider varying the shapes by using some square, rectangular and round cushions and different colour levels, some cushions could be all white, some could be a blue and white pattern or introduce a lighter blue. Texture is another great way to create visual interest, with options like velvet, suede, linen, shaggy or simple cotton!

Contrast
If you want to add a bit of excitement to the outdoor area, think about using the cushions to contrast the sofa. This could be done with both colour and shape. You could use all round and oval cushions for example, or use colours like apricot, violet, ochre, pink or greens. When considering this option, take a look at the colours in the surrounding area, perhaps even in the plants or garden and think about fun ways to mix some of these in!

Mix & Match
This would be my top pick, I think mixing and matching is a great way to create continuity with the existing pieces and surroundings, while also showing your personality. Have fun with it and don’t be afraid to show your personality by including your favourite colour, or a printed cushion with your favourite flower on it. It’s still important to vary the shape and size of the cushions, including a few in the navy and white colour palette, and then a few that are either a bright or soft contrast.

Consider a throw too for those late nights or when entertaining, it’s also a great idea to have a weatherproof box (timber or similar) that you can throw the cushions in if the weather turns on you, or it gets too windy!

I hope this helps, please send through some pics of what you end up doing, I would love to see it come together.

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Tags alex carter, ask the stylist, cushions, harlow & willow, Harlow and willow, products, styling, stylist

Decorating 101 Design Expert Tips Styling

Questions stylists always get asked + the answers!

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date November 4, 2019
No Comments on Questions stylists always get asked + the answers!

In a new regular column, we’ve teamed up with Australian interior and photographic stylist Alex Carter from Harlow + Willow to answer your burning questions!

“As a qualified interior designer, the aesthetic and design philosophy of Harlow + Willow is about creating a fun and colourful interior that doesn’t take itself too seriously,” Alex says. “It is about playing with combinations of colour and pattern to create a unique space that reflects whatever the goal of that individual project may be.”

This new Ask the Stylist column is a collaboration between Harlow + Willow and Interiors Addict to allow you to submit your questions for the chance get free help with any interior-related issues! These can be anything from how to choose paint colours for your reno, what type of artwork to select, prints versus paintings, advice on selecting your new sofa, suggestions on a furniture layout, or how to make a bed like a stylist.

Alex’s styling work, assisted by Julianna Love, photography by Matt Biocich

Each fortnight, Alex will pick some of your submitted questions, and we’ll share the answers here in the hope that this may also help others. To kick things off, we asked Alex to tell us the answers to the three most common questions that she gets asked as a stylist:

Where to splurge and where to spend?
I don’t personally think there is a set rule to this. The basic rule is to invest in larger furniture pieces, rugs and artwork. Smaller items such as accessories and soft furnishings can change over time, so I wouldn’t usually suggest spending a lot, unless it’s something that’s meaningful or special to you! Having said that, don’t run straight to generic furniture stores for your big ticket items, there are many vintage/one-off suppliers who source items from all over the world and bring them back to Australia. Also consider custom furniture. These options aren’t necessarily more expensive than new pieces and create a sense of character in the space.

What is good style?
Now this is a hard one. The thing about style is that it is so subjective. There may be something that I think is superb, and others would cringe at it. There are a few simple tips, like: ensure there is variation in shape and the heights of objects in the room; create rhythm in the space by threading certain aspects (like a colour) through in different forms; and to ensure the furniture is of the right proportion. My advice is to not get too hung up on what good style is, if you love it then you should have it! Your home should be a reflection of you and what makes you happy, not what’s trending on Pinterest.

How can I make my home magazine worthy?
This is an interesting question that I get asked quite a lot, and there isn’t an easy answer. The homes that you see in magazines are all selected for various reasons, with the common thread being that they are unique or different. They reflect the people who inhabit them and include all their weird and wonderful possessions and hobbies. Not to mention, there is a very high chance that some of the things you see don’t really belong in that house, there are usually props that are brought in for the shoot (don’t tell anyone I told you that!).

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Tags alex carter, ask a stylisrt, harlow & willow, interior stylist, questions stylists get asked

Design Interviews Styling

Coastal homes: All white is out and colour is in!

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date January 30, 2019
No Comments on Coastal homes: All white is out and colour is in!

If you and I were to play a game of word association and I said ‘coastal interior’ I’m fairly positive your first response would be ‘white!’ Am I right? When it comes to beachside styling, white has always reigned but that’s set to change according to Perth interior stylist Alex Carter of Harlow & Willow who turned the white cliché on its head recently transforming a typical Aussie coastal home into a colour lover’s paradise. Today she tells us how to get the look.

Ease yourself in
“If you’re relatively new to introducing colour into your home, ease yourself in. There’s no need to break out the green paintbrush right away! Start off by swapping out your current cushions and throws for colourful and patterned ones and watch how it lifts your space!” says Alex.

Cushions are a relatively affordable way to take the colour leap

Select colours that make you feel good
“Even as a colour lover, I have some colours that I just don’t like. When injecting colour into your home and decor it is important to choose colours that make you feel good and that you find visually pleasing,” says Alex and it’s a sentiment I share. For example, as much as I love wearing red I would never have it anywhere near my house.

Choose colour levels depending on the use of the room
“Colour can create a vast array of feelings and change moods. Consider this and the feeling that you want to create in each space. For example, you may opt for more relaxing shades in the bedroom like calming blues or deep greens and rich plum tones whereas living areas can take more vibrancy with brighter, bolder colours,” says Alex.

Alex Carter bedroom — Bedroom. That stunning artwork is by Morgan Jamieson

Decorate depending on the feeling and not trends
“Don’t fall into the trap of decorating to a trend as you will get sick of this pretty quickly. Just because 75 per cent of Instagram seems to be using blush and grey doesn’t mean that you have to – except if you love it, then of course go for it!” says Alex who explains that it’s important to try and tap into your own distinct taste. “Choose colours that reflect the mood you want to create in your space,” she adds.

Alex Carter dining room — The dining room features mismatched chairs, greenery and colour pops

It’s okay to mix things up
“When it comes to your home, you don’t need to fit into a certain style or colour palette. Feel free to mix the vintage with the new, the colourful with the more minimal items and even colour combinations that may not be the norm. This is your sanctuary and should be a visual reflection of you so have fun with it!”

Coastal styling Alex Carter — I love the wooden surfboard! Artwork: Katie Wyatt (top left) and Anna Cole (bottom left)

Photographer: Matt Biocich | Stylist: Alex Carter at Harlow & Willow | Stylist assistant: Julianna Love

For more | A luxe coastal retreat

Tags alex carter, Anna Cole, coastal, coastal interiors, coastal styling, colour, georgie wilson, harlow & willow, ian gunn, interior, interior design, interior designer, interiors addict, katie wyatt, morgan jamieson, styling