Categories
Furniture

Apartment life gets easier with King Living’s Metro range

When furnishing an apartment or inner city dwelling, it is critical to use functional furniture that can maximise space. However that being said, you don’t want to sacrifice style or comfort.

The new Metro range from King Living, is a clever furniture solution that is equally practical and luxurious. Two designs ideal for small spaces, the Jasper Metro and Delta Metro each provide a multi-functional sofa that makes no compromises.

Delta
Delta

The new Delta Metro is a great option, especially if extra storage is what you need. A compact and practical design, it enhances contemporary living by increasing storage, helping to keep smaller rooms neat and tidy. Available in a selection of configurations, which can be easily rearranged, Delta Metro can also include Smart Pockets, charging swivel tables and LED lamps — an alternative to having coffee tables and freestanding lamps stealing floor space. And for apartments without a guest room, Delta Metro easily converts to an overnight bed.

Jasper
Jasper

The Jasper Metro, a compact version of the award-winning King Living Jasper, can be reconfigured to suit any room size thanks to its clever modular design. Timber shelf arms in Congo, Walnut and Wenge are available in single or double height for stylish trimming and unique storage. And if guests decide to stay – optional brackets enable Jasper Metro to turn into a bed.

Both designs in the Metro range can be customised to suit the interior styling of any home, with a choice of premium fabrics and luxurious leathers. All sofas also have tailored removable covers for creating a whole new look.

For more information.

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Furniture Interviews

A year out in Italy and small space living inspire new plywood furniture business

Launched a few months ago, Plyroom is a new online store featuring a collection of beautifully crafted ply furniture, designed and made in Italy. Melbourne woman Elise Heslop brought it here after a year out in Italy with her family taught her about small space living and multi-purpose pieces.

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Following a philosophy of affordable, beautifully designed furniture, Plyroom’s products represent an appreciation for honest materials and smart design, hallmarks of Italy’s reputation as a major player in the design world. The products are both flexible in their many uses and suitable for a diversity of environments, such as home spaces, office spaces and more.

Whilst living in Europe, Elise came to appreciate the way things in a typical Italian home were looked after with a generational permanence. “This eye on taking care of things for the sake of passing them down to children’s children was quite a difference to the fast-moving nature of interior design in Australia,” she says.

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Moving from a four-bed house in Australia to a two-bed apartment in Italy also taught her a thing or two: “As we got to know more people and spend time in their homes, I began to see how intelligently small spaces were being used throughout the entire home, from the bedroom to the living room – maximising functionality without compromising quality or adding clutter.”

She’s confident customers will love the versatility of the range, with drawers that can easily be shared between children’s and adult’s rooms (even offering the added flexibility of a change-table addition) side tables on hidden wheels, and beautiful curved ply seats with hidden storage.

Rotating drawers on hidden castors make for a flexible, space-saving storage solution
Rotating drawers on hidden castors make for a flexible, space-saving storage solution

“As a furniture selection, Plyroom is really catering for customers who want flexible pieces that are easy to live with, designed with simplicity and optimism, and made with the highest quality materials. The Italian companies we represent are passionate about uniting traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. As such, their furniture embodies a more sustainable ideology built around made-to-last craftsmanship and combined with a design-rich aesthetic.”

Embracing an online retail model, Plyroom caters for both corporate and consumer customers, allowing visitors to browse online and select their pieces, which are then made to order in Italy and delivered Australia-wide.

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“Much of the furniture is made from sustainably forested European Birch and flat packaged to reduce transport emissions. One of our designers in particular, who is passionate about sustainable design, has spent years working to design products with a unique joinery system that avoids metal parts entirely and are intuitive and enjoyable to assemble.”

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Elise, who has a marketing background, founded the business nine months ago. Plyroom’s collaboration with prominent designers in Northern Italy brings a unique selection of furniture to Australia, inspired by flexibility and sustainability for every room in the home.

Plyroom founder Elise Heslop
Plyroom founder Elise Heslop

Shop online.

Categories
Interiors Addict

A little lounge for your apartment?

This cute two-seater from Jimmy Possum would be perfect for a space-poor apartment. It’s available in all manner of textile designs and leathers.

laila sofa jimmy possum

Categories
Interiors Addict

10 things people get wrong in their homes and how to fix them quickly & easily

1. Hanging artwork too high. I see it all the time and I’m afraid I will go to my friends’ homes and point this out (they thank me for it, most of the time). There must be something in human nature that says hang it up high, but think about it: art is there to look at, so it should be at eye level. Stick to this rule and you’ll find it all works much better. Go and have a look at where your art is. Is it too high? Does it make sense?

2. Buying rugs too small and placing furniture around them, not on them. My rule is this: buy rugs as big as you can afford. Put your furniture ON them, not around them. There are always exceptions to every rule but, in general, this approach looks and feels much better, grounds your furniture and defines spaces within multi-use open plan areas like living/dining rooms.

3. Forgetting about lighting. Lighting is key. It’s so important when it comes to creating a layered interior. It’s another layer all on its own. Overhead lighting, in most living areas, sucks. It might work in kitchens and bathrooms but it is often too harsh in living areas and does little to create ambience. Consider table and floor lamps at different heights and brightnesses to mix it up. Install dimmer switches where you can.

Categories
Renting

From hatred to love in one weekend: My spare room transformation

I know, I know, the title of this post sounds terribly melodramatic, but it’s a true reflection. I really HATED our spare room until the weekend. It upset me because it’s too small, too narrow, has built-ins I don’t really need but can’t remove (renting), a view of the house next-door and no redeeming features whatsoever. We have lived in our apartment almost a year and the spare room has been the bane of my life, particularly as I’m uber house proud, love socialising and having friends to stay. BUT… look what happened!

When Freedom offered me a $500 voucher to fix a problem in my home and blog about the experience, it was glaringly obvious that I had to give the spare room a go, especially as my dad is due to arrive from the UK in a fortnight. And look what I have managed to create. Can this really be that room that made me want to cry (I think it was hormones) because it was so ugly and useless?

Categories
Interiors Addict

A great idea for renters

Readers of this blog know I love coming across great ideas for renters who want a fabulously stylish space but can’t commit to things homeowners have the luxury of playing around with. Like paint, wallpaper, nails in walls… you catch my drift. This week I came across wallstudio, which is fantastic for renters and fickle homeowners alike! 

The brainchild of graphic designer and illustrator Janette Baker, wallstudio lets you create graphic walls with a customised canvas art range. She says: “Inspired by the hottest trends worldwide, wallstudio provides an instant and affordable way to update your space with the latest looks and colours. Choose a design and we can tailor the colour and size to fit within your space.”

It’s great for those who want the bold styles and patterns of the latest wallpaper but are too afraid to commit to a whole wall or something so permanent. You can even customise colours to create the perfect look. And the benefits to renters are clear: the ability to add colour and pattern to your walls, matching your existing furniture and accessories, and take it with you when you move out. Prices start from $250.

As I always say, it’s often the simplest ideas which are the best!

Categories
Interiors Addict

My own new apartment is coming together nicely. I’m currently LOVING the silver leather Morocc

My own new apartment is coming together nicely. I’m currently LOVING the silver leather Morocc