all white – The Interiors Addict

Blockhead Hannah Amos shares her Dîner en Blanc styling tips

The world’s most chic picnic, Le Dîner en Blanc, is returning to Melbourne on 24 February at a secret yet wondrous location. All dressed-up people arrive and set up beautiful tables for their picnic, then all pack up and leave like nothing never happened. Hannah and her partner, Clint, will be joining this famous night that originated from Paris.

During Hannah’s time on The Block, she proved her innate ability to beautifully style an empty canvas. And now, Hannah shares with us her tips on how to create effortless French vibes at the strictly all-white attire and décor event.

You say ‘white’, I say ‘linen’.
Linen is the fabric that will beautifully transcend any table. Light, humble yet graceful, this fine piece of textile is definitely the go-to for the effortless feel. Adding matching white linen napkins will keep consistency with the theme.

Source: The Lane. Click through for more

Add some charm to your plate
If you like to wander in antique stores or markets around Melbourne then go find yourself old ceramics or enamelware to use on your table. My favourite places to find unique tableware treasures are Camberwell Market, Lost and Found Market and Chapel Street Bazaar. Original pieces of vintage tableware will give ‘un je ne sais quoi’ to your table.

Source: Petit Jardin Secret. Click through for more.

Cheers with elegance
Opulent elite French parties from the 18th Century always preferred the champagne saucer over the conventional flute glass. So, go with champagne saucers and cheers with your friends or your lover like French aristocrats! Another addition to your table, these glasses from west elm are the perfect way to cheers with elegance.

Source: Rock My Wedding. Click through for more.

Champagne tin bucket
Well, you need to keep all that Champagne chilled so why not have a play on Etsy and find your perfect vintage French Champagne bucket? A silver touch is acceptable to have on your table.

Source: Snippet and Ink. Click through for details. Photo by Collin Hughes

Last but not least
A picnic would not be complete without a good old picnic basket. It is like having cheese without a good wine, it doesn’t make sense really. Yes, the concept of Le Dîner en Blanc is taken that far and if your basket isn’t white, no panic. You can still spray paint it!

Source: Twigg Studio. Click through for details.

Hannah’s all-white shopping list

White Linen table cloth from Hunting for George
White Linen napkins from Bed Bath n’ Table
Enamelware from Myer
Champagne saucers from Kitchen Warehouse
Glasses from west elm
Champagne tin bucket from Etsy
Ready to go picnic hamper from French Knot

As they prepare to go back on The Block, Bec & George show us their new kitchen

Bec and George will be back on our screens soon in The Block Triple Threat. It’s fair to say they’ve been busy living a whirlwind life since starring in The Block Sky High in 2013 and being crowned the public’s favourites. Since filming wrapped up, they certainly haven’t put down the hammer and nails. The couple, who’ve been together for 11 years, recently finished construction on their latest home in Melbourne. They called on Freedom Kitchens to help design their kitchen. Here, Bec shares a few of her design tips.

Tell us about your latest renovation project.

This is one of two townhouses we’ve built in the Inner West suburb of Spotswood, five minutes from the CBD and five minutes from Williamstown beach. We’ve always loved this area and bought into it years ago before the boom! The project has taken us two years to plan and 18 months to build; a long process of ever-changing decisions and long days of work.

The kitchen renovation in particular is very elegant. What was your design brief?

I love to cook and entertain, so the main brief for the design was that I could oversee the dining, living, alfresco and backyard areas, as well as have a large space to prepare food. Clean lines, crisp white and plenty of storage were also key elements! Every detail was thought through.

What were your key objectives when working with your Freedom Kitchens designer to create this kitchen space?

Our main objectives throughout the design consultations, were to make sure we ticked all the boxes: functionality, ample preparation space, plenty of storage and something that won’t date quickly.

What materials have you selected and why?

We went for Freedom Kitchens’ Alaskan White Gloss cabinetry so that it would absorb all the natural light and really make the space feel light and airy. We added features like white shadow lines to be consistent with the all-white cabinetry. The integrated appliances just enhanced the symmetry and made the space look more complete.

You’ve essentially created an all-white kitchen but given it some serious wow factor. What are your tips for taking a white kitchen to the next level?

The great thing about having such a neutral base is you can really dress the area up with accessories and styling. The beauty of white is anything you add to it will just pop — like timber, metals and greenery.

You have a great eye for fashion and design. Of the current trends out there at the moment, what have you included and why?

The integrated appliances add such a modern touch to the kitchen. I also wanted to complement the white cabinetry with marble benchtops — this adds another texture to the space. My favourite element that is very on-trend at the moment is the copper pendants. I think they complement the space perfectly. We decided to add a butler’s pantry because I absolutely hate clutter on my bench! I like everything to be away. So this was the perfect solution.

How can people incorporate the latest trends without creating a kitchen that will date too quickly?

I think the best thing about adding accessories to dress the kitchen is that they are interchangeable. If copper goes out of fashion in a few years’ time, I can change over the pendants. Sticking with neutral colours and finishes will give you more time before having to do a revamp. You don’t have to necessarily go with all-white, but maybe an oyster grey. Steer away from bright colours like reds and don’t make the kitchen too heavy with something like all black.

–Book a Freedom Kitchen design appointment online. They’re having a one-day sale on 14 February. More details on their website.

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