The first ever Disney Princess x Adairs Kids collaboration will be dancing into stores next week and if we’re not wrong, it’ll be flying off shelves!
“Led by the Adairs Kids team’s penchant for designing products that create beautiful spaces, our collaborations embrace the magical worlds of cherished characters; to create collections that are exciting and fun for children and adults alike.
“From cosy bedlinen to fun accessories, each collection aims to transform the bedrooms and playrooms of fans. This time the team are adding a little whim and magic into our world, at a time when we need it most – cue the Disney Princesses!”
For generations, Disney’s princesses have continued to inspire children and adults alike with their courage, kindness, and fearless imagination. The Adairs Kids team, in collaboration with Disney, have reimagined the Disney Princess worlds for your home, with a whimsical 12-piece collection.
The hero is the bedlinen, which features all the princesses and their castles. It’s complemented by wall art of each princess, to allow little ones to choose their favourite.
A night light, flip out sofa, plush toy, cushion and text pillowcase complete the collection.
The princesses have been re-drawn with dreamy pastel watercolours, which should please those parents who try and avoid more primary colour schemes in their homes (no judgment here!).
To add to the magic, sparkling details are woven throughout the collection – from embroidered glitter stars on the cushion to twinkling stars on the wall art. Each detail comes together to create the dreamiest Disney Princess collection that little princesses and princes will love.
Explore new worlds with Jasmine, write your own story like Belle and work hard like Cinderella. Designed and exclusively available at Adairs Kids. The new collection lands in Adairs Kids and selected Adairs stores from 21 August 2020.
Playroom ideas: revealing a room I’ve never shown you!
Welcome to our new and improved playroom! I’m finally proud of this room, but let me tell you how we got to this point! It’s almost three years since we…
Playroom storage ideas: what we used in ours and why
As promised in yesterday’s playroom reveal post, today I’m giving you a closer look at exactly what we used to get the storage sorted and why it works so well.…
There’s few things I enjoy more than ogling at gorgeous homes. There’s just something so exciting about taking a sneak peak behind the curtains and imagining a life lived beside them. The much-anticipated release of BelleBeautiful Australian Homes Volume II plays right into this obsession. Featuring 40 envy-inducing residences, from timeless to contemporary to the truly cutting edge, the 348-page hardcover showcases the work of the country’s most celebrated architects and designers.
Below is an excerpt from BelleBeautiful Australian Homes Volume II, featuring an exquisite home in the Melbourne suburb of Toorak.
Regally positioned at the rear of a generous sweep of emerald lawns and manicured gardens to give a sense of arrival and grandeur, this classically styled Toorak mansion wouldn’t look out of place in French wine country.
The seven-bedroom mansion comes with all the accoutrements you’d expect for a property of this scale: six ensuites, a magnificent marble staircase, generous kitchen with double of everything, expansive two-table dining room, a huge pergola, a 25-metre swimming pool and spa, as well as an underground parking garage, an internal lift and, for the children, a sunken trampoline.
Completed in early 2012 following three years of planning and another three years of construction, this home is modelled on the finest examples of classical French architecture by its designer, architect Russell Casper of CAD Architecture & Design in Melbourne. He collaborated on the project with San Francisco-based architect Andrew Skurman, star landscaper Paul Bangay and sought-after Sydney interior designer Thomas Hamel and creative principal Dylan Farrell.
The owners had four young children and number five was born during the process of building the house. Based in San Francisco for the entire build, the couple were returning to Australia to live for family reasons.
“I was the conduit between California and Melbourne since they were expecting their fifth child,” explains Thomas. “I would regularly visit with suitcases laden with marble and carpet samples, and lots of photographs.
“Los Angeles is our biggest shopping market – the showrooms in California really suit Australian lifestyles,” says Thomas, who divides his life between Sydney, where his office is based, and his home in LA. The challenge for Thomas and Dylan was how to give this classic home a contemporary twist and make it fresh and new.
The owners had requested pure white throughout the interiors. “There were to be no beiges, not even a yellow or grey tinge,” says Thomas. “But I was concerned that the crispness and freshness of the tone would be too harsh. And I kept saying, ‘Practicality, practicality – five children, how’s that going to work?’”
Thomas says he and Dylan typically choose rugs first and decide how they will feature in the room as they set the tone for colour and pattern. “We tried many wool and silk rugs but they kept getting rejected because they weren’t a pure enough white. The rugs we chose for the living areas all have white silk in them, which scared me to death at first. But they still look perfect now as this family runs the most pristinely organised home.”
The next challenge was to source a dining room table, which had to be large enough to accommodate family gatherings as well as for charity entertaining, one of the owner’s passions. A big wooden table was out of the question amid the ethereal, light, white palette so Dylan customised identical silver-leaf lacquered tables to make the perfect dining pair. The tables have glamour without feeling too big or solid. The large seascape painting is the strength in the room and the silvery lacquer complements it with its watery, light-reflective quality.
The dining chairs have dark contrasts which add drama, especially in the evening. “But the question was how to design the chairs and table as a suite?” says Thomas. “A strong crossbar at the top of the chair means the eye would just ‘read’ those, so Dylan came up with a special upholstery detail using two fabrics which tied it all together.”
Sitting below the seascape, the mother-of-pearl inlaid sideboard is the perfect addition to the light, iridescent palette and was created by Dylan for Hamel + Farrell for Jean de Merry.
Rather than a typical hand-painted white kitchen, Dylan had it detailed so all the mouldings are gloss and edges are satin. Everything was painted twice to get the fine lines. “It added glamour to the kitchen. We knew that it couldn’t all be shiny – it would just look vulgar – so we were trying to find a way to get that razzamatazz to the detailing and making it unique and classic but not too traditional,” says Thomas.
The owners’ verdict? “They just adored the house. We became special friends and were invited to family occasions. The last time I visited, it looked the same as the day I left the lights turned on for them to take over,” says Thomas.
See many more jaw-dropping houses in Belle Beautiful Australian Homes Volume II, which retails for $59.99 and is available now from leading Australian book stores.
Fresh off the back of big wins during the recent design awards season, we caught up with the directors of SJB recently, Kirsten Stanisich and Jonathan Richards. Not only were the talented duo awarded the ‘Interior Designer of the Year’ and the ‘Best Hospitality Interior’ awards at the 2017 Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards but they also won the ‘Residential Decoration Award’ and received two commendations at the 2017 Australian Interior Design Awards too.
SJB directors Kirsten Stanisich and Jonathan Richards
After studying interior design at the University of Technology Sydney, Jonathan pursued exhibition and museum design – a path that saw him cross paths with some architectural greats. “The first exhibition I designed was at the State Library of NSW about sketchbooks of famous architects. I had the pleasure of working with architects like Harry Seidler and Glen Murcutt on displaying some of their wonderful sketches,” says Jonathan who worked in museums and galleries in Sydney Melbourne and London before joining SJB. “At that time, SJB was still new to Sydney and I loved the hospitality work they were producing – to me it seemed a natural progression from the theatre of gallery design,” says Jonathan.
‘Redfern Terrace’ project
Kirsten’s career began after studying architecture at the University of Melbourne, when she worked for SJB in Melbourne. “After about 18 months I was seconded to the interiors team and it was then I realised that interior design gave me more opportunity for experimentation with new materials and a greater understanding of detailing for human scale. So not long after long after I took a permanent role with the interiors division and then relocated to help establish the practice in Sydney,” says Kirsten.
‘A Private Residence’ project
“Given I was new to SJB and Kirsten was relatively new to Sydney, we both had a sense of new beginnings. We had enormous fun working on fabulous hospitality projects in the early 2000’s and we learnt a lot very quickly. It was fun and it was also stressful and we realised we were a well-balanced partnership,” says Jonathan of the early days. And it’s a partnership that has continued to flourish, as illustrated by the pair’s recent win at the Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards where they took out the ‘Best Hospitality Interior’ award for their 12-Micron project.
Buena Vista hotel project
With a nuanced approach to their design practice, the pair prefer to add to the existing elements of a space rather than start afresh. “Even if those elements might seem unfashionable. We think of our interiors as another layer in the ongoing history of a building rather than a totally new space. This can be more of a challenge when we are given a new open building shell as sometimes there can be very little to draw from, which is often why we also look at the wider context such as where the project is located and how we can evoke a recognition of that place or the people who will be occupying the space,” says Kirsten who cites natural materials, unique small details and recognition of past design periods as their design signatures.
‘Redfern Terrace’ project
As for more general inspiration, Kirsten and Jonathan often seek it outside of the world of design. “Nature is always an incredible inspiration with its random patterns, textures, shapes and colours. Sometimes it can even be a song or music that evokes something in us or incredible fashion designers like Raf Simons or interior designers like Andree Putman and Patricia Urquiola,” says Jonathan.
‘A Private Residence’ project
As for a favourite project, Kirsten cites ‘A Private Residence’ which was recently bestowed the ‘Residential Decoration Award’ at the 2017 Australian Interior Design Awards, in addition to a commendation for the firm’s ‘Redfern Terrace.’ “The client is very anti fashion and she helped to push me to develop a design which was luxurious and expressive,” says Kirsten.
‘A Private Residence’ project
For Jonathan, it’s a couple of Bondi Beach projects that he has most enjoyed. “I have been working on a few magnificent residences in Bondi Beach over the last four years. Three different clients that all live near one another but the outcomes have been very different. It’s been a pleasure working on them to achieve a wonderful design – but more than anything the satisfaction of the project relies on the mutual enjoyment you have with the clients. When the clients are willing to embrace wonderful design, it brings me enormous joy creating something special,” says Jonathan.
The ’12-Micron’ project at Sydney’s Barangaroo
Photography: Katie Kaars, Felix Forest & Anson Smart
The shortlist for the 2017 Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards was announced recently and it’s teeming with amazing work from Australia’s best and brightest interior architects and designers.
Arent&Pyke’s ‘Barcom Terrace’ project
In its seventh year, the awards recognise design achievement across several categories and today we bring you the competition’s residential bathroom finalists. Marble, brass and black abound in what can only be described as an extraordinarily sophisticated bunch of bathing spaces.
Arent&Pyke’s ‘Barcom Terrace’ project
We’re big fans of Arent&Pyke and it’s no wonder they were shortlisted for their ‘Barcom Terrace’ project. Not only does the bathroom meld seamlessly with the understated grandeur of the 1800’s heritage listed property that houses it, but the luxurious materials made us gasp.
Arent&Pyke’s ‘Barcom Terrace’ project
“Rich in materiality, with painted walls, timber floors, tiles and a freestanding sculptural bath, the deliberately strong and masculine language of steel framing is balanced by the romance of floor to ceiling curtains in soft white linen, while a large black timber door visually ties this suite to the whole,” says Arent&Pyke.
B.E. Architecture’s ‘Hamden Road Residence’
The bathroom at B.E. Architecture’s ‘Hamden Road Residence’ uses granite to spectacular effect and we were particularly taken with its adjacent outdoor shower. “The curved bath and basins were custom designed to be engineered into solid pieces of stone. The baths and basins are textured by hand on the outside face and honed internally. The inspiration for these came from a baptismal font in Rome,” says B.E Architecture.
The outdoor shower at B.E. Architecture’s ‘Hamden Road Residence’
Handelsmann + Khaw’s ‘Hunters Hill bathroom’ features a neutral palette of natural materials that create a unique yet timeless design that has a rustic, high-end farmhouse vibe.
Handelsmann + Khaw’s ‘Hunter’s Hill bathroom’
“A balance of rough and smooth textures creates a union of formality and sensuality, light and shade. In the bathroom, we created an open plan with the bathtub beneath the window as the focal point, centred on the glazed steel framed doors joining the master bedroom. The shower and WC are concealed within freestanding stone clad enclosures, their separation from the ceiling emphasises the pitched form that gives the bathroom a quality of openness that goes beyond conventional ideas.”
Handelsmann + Khaw’s ‘Hunter’s Hill bathroom’
Finalist Smart Design Studio’s ‘Indigo Slam’ bathroom, aside from its standout bespoke bath tub, boasts eco-credentials too. “The project aspires to an exemplary level of environmentally sustainable design with natural lighting, cross-ventilation, rainwater harvesting and adherence to passive solar design principles reducing the energy and water load of the building. Geothermal heating and cooling have also been incorporated into the design and solar hot water and photovoltaic cells populate the roof,” they say.
Smart Design Studio’s ‘Indigo Slam’ bathroom
By contrast, AP Design House’s ‘Vernon Apartment’ is a study in minimalist white but the curved lines soften the monochrome effect.
AP Design House’s ‘Vernon Apartment’
The winners will be announced in Sydney on Thursday May 25, 2017.
Let’s face it, there’s a lot of design awards out there. But the Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards are certainly a personal favourite (and having a super stylish awards party sure helps!).
Mim Design
Now in its sixth year, the 2016 finalists represent the highest calibre in interior design, each showcasing a uniquely Australian design aesthetic.
Arent & Pyke
Featuring fresh, innovative and intriguing interiors, the categories include residential interior, bathroom design, kitchen design, hospitality interior, commercial interior and the one to win, interior designer of the year.
Fiona Lynch
Up for the big gong are Robert Mills (Robert Mills Architects & Interior Designers), Fiona Lynch, Miriam Fanning (Mim Design), Juliette Arent & Sarah–Jane Pyke (Arent & Pyke) and Greg Natale (Greg Natale Design).
Greg Natale
The judges are equally impressive, with Belle editor Tanya Buchanan, Belle style director-at-large, Steve Cordony, publisher and design expert, Karen McCartney, Coco Republic executive directors Anthony Spon Smith and Jeremy Byrne, Dinosaur Designs creative director, Louise Olsen and furniture designer, Timothy Oulton, making up the panel.
Robert Mills Architects & Interior Designers
The winners will be announced at the Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards, to be held at Coco Republic in Sydney’s Alexandria on 10 May. All winning interior designers and their respective work will be published in Belle’s June/July issue, on sale 16 May.
THE FINALISTS
Residential Interior
1) Balwyn House, Fiona Lynch
2) Double Bay Residence, Arent & Pyke
3) Carrical House, Robert Mills Architects & Interior Designers
4) REL House, Mim Design
5) Haberfield House, Greg Natale Design
Bathroom Design
1) Hargeaves Residence, Fiona Lynch
2) Maple Display Suite, Studio You Me
3) Willoughby House, Arent & Pyke
4) Willamstown Residence Powder Room, Fiona Lynch
5) Wooloowin House, Owen Architecture
Kitchen Design
1) Fitzroy Loft, Architects EAT
2) Balwyn Residence, Fiona Lynch
3) Apartment Finger Wharf, Architects Prineas
4) Middle Park Residence, Fiona Lynch
5) O’Grady Kitchen, Whiting A+ I
Hospitality Interior
1) Alex Hotel, Arent & Pyke
2) Dinner By Heston Blumenthal, Bates Smart
3) Tetsujin, Architects EAT
4) Beresford Tasting Pavilion, Enoki
5) Smalls Bar, Fiona Lynch
Commercial Interior
1) Viktoria & Woods, Fiona Lynch
2) 1888 Certified, TomMarkHenry
3) One Hot Yoga & Pilates, Robert Mills Architects & Interior Designers
4) Greg Natale Design Studio, Greg Natale Design
5) Paramount By The Office Space, Woods Baggot
Interior Designer of The Year
1) Robert Mills, Robert Mills Architects & Interior Designers
A few months ago we took part in the Feast Watson Re-Love Project, where we upcycled an old, varnish-peeling table into a work of art (I may or may not be using a bit of poetic license!). Regular readers would know all about it, as it wasn’t the smoothest of processes (read about it here). However, our piece and that of our fellow designers sold for a combined total of $6,115.58, with all proceeds donated to the Salvos Stores, and that is something to be proud of!
Steve and his creation
One of our favourite pieces was designed by interior and event stylist Steve Cordony, who upcycled a tired, lifeless sideboard and turned it into a statement piece oozing character and charm. Below, he tells us how he did it.
Before
Products
Feast Watson Clear Varnish in Matt
Feast Watson Prooftint Black Japan
Dulux Paint in Domino
Planning
Choose a well-made item of furniture that is both structurally sound and full of potential. Make sure this is an item with an overall shape and style you love, so you can proudly display it in your home for many years to come.
After
Preparation
Prepare the timber surface on the top of the sideboard by carefully sanding it back to remove old paint or varnish and reveal the natural grain.
Lightly sand the bottom section, sides and drawers, but be careful not to sand it all the way back.
Add 10% Feast Watson Prooftint Black Japan to the first coat of Feast Watson Clear Varnish, or for greater colour intensity, add 10% to both coats.
Achieving your vision
Start with the top of the sideboard. Using a brush, add Apply Feast Watson Clear Varnish with Prooftint.
Let it dry for at least eight hours before applying a second coat.
Tape up the top, and paint the bottom and side sections with Dulux Domino, or your chosen black paint.
Let the paint dry before applying a second coat.
Apply the black paint to the drawers. Again, allow to dry before applying a second coat.
Once the paint and stain are both dry, replace the drawers.
Tip: Always test the colour on an off-cut or inconspicuous area of your piece before coating the whole to ensure you’re happy.
Steve’s top upcycling tips:
Be methodical in the preparation. Get the right tools and mask up the areas you want/don’t want to paint.
Don’t be scared – you can always re-paint, re-stain or re-do!
Make sure the piece is solid and not too old. Ultimately you should see the potential to make it beautiful.
As a judge on The Block and the editor-in-chief of magazine Vogue Living, Neale Whitaker, unsurprisingly, has a wealth of interior design knowledge. Seen as one of Australia’s foremost style gurus, he is a man who shuns trends, disliking the lack of individuality they can impose.
“As an editor, it’s my job to see trends at the broadest possible level, how everything interconnects,” explains Neale. “I rarely get enthused by specific colours or moods because those trends come and go so quickly. For me, the most interesting contradiction is the way in which design is increasingly dependent on technology and information-gathering, yet escapism and romanticism have never been so popular. Yin and yang for sure.”
Vogue Living’s current July/August edition
[contextly_sidebar id=”2puVQTN4IVNGzh4RIdYv6uYBzWFAT340″]Excited by so many things, for Neale inspiration doesn’t come solely from interiors, but rather from people, places and projects. So when asked the difficult question, to name his favourite products and designers of the moment, Neale’s answer was always going to be hugely diverse. “I’m intrigued by clever brand-builders. Ben Gorham is doing brilliant things at the Swedish fragrance brand Byredo; the Swedes are effortlessly cool in my book. The work of Italian interior architect and sculptor Vincenzo de Cotiis is awe-inspiring, as are the industrial lighting designs by New Yorkers Apparatus and Lindsey Adelman. Lee Broom is doing some really glamorous but interesting work in London. And mid-century Italian design will be the next era to have its place in the sun — I’m convinced of that.”
The work of Vincenzo de Cotiis, one of Neale’s inspirations. Photo credit: decotiis
The work of Apparatus, another of Neale’s inspirations. Photo credit: Apparatus Studio
Previously at the helm of Belle magazine for eight years, Neale only took up his new post at Vogue Living late last year. “I feel incredibly privileged to be editing such an iconic magazine and excited by the opportunities we have across online, digital and social media. Vogue Living is truly a brand.”
Having been the boss of two of Australia’s biggest magazines, Neale is constantly surrounded by contrasting yet beautiful spaces, which has left him with a personal style that is hard to define. “What’s my style? That’s hard. The best answer I can give is unpredictable. In my role I have to appreciate and understand so many different styles. I’m often surprised by the things I find myself attracted to!”
The Block judges: Neale, Shaynna and Darren
However, it is all this experience and diversity of inspirations, likes and dislikes, that make Neale such an ideal judge for The Block, and is why, after five years, us viewers can’t get enough of him and why he himself keeps coming back. “I never get tired of seeing what each new group of contestants can achieve. It’s also a privilege to be involved with such an incredibly popular show. And after five years, The Block feels like my extended family — from the production team to the soundos and the cameramen. Not to mention my fellow judges. They’re a brilliant crew.”
With rumours already swirling about the next season of The Block — which went into production this May — I couldn’t resist asking Neale what’s in store. Though fair warning, his lips were fairly sealed! “You can expect blood, sweat, tears, laughter, drama — and some damn good renovations!”
Want to hear more from Neale? He will be talking about the who, what and where is currently inspiring him at this month’s Life Instyle, Melbourne. His talk will take place Friday 31 July from 10-to-11am. Tickets cost $100. For more information.
Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards 2015, 12th May 2015. Event held at Coco Republic Alexandria. Photo: Caroline McCredie
Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards is quite the impressive event. Styled to perfection and with the who’s who of the design world in attendance, it is one not to be missed. Which is why it was so disappointing neither Jen or I could make Tuesday’s gala event! Well, at least we have the photos to ogle at!
Now in its fifth year, the awards – which acknowledge excellence in Australian interior design and decoration – set the benchmark for expertise, creativity and vision in what is a highly competitive, highly progressive industry.
Matt Gibson
Matt Gibson of Matt Gibson Architecture + Design took out the major award of the night, Belle Coco Republic Interior Designer of the Year — as well as the Residential Design category. Matt wins return flights to Paris and five nights accommodation to attend the Maison et Objet exhibition in September 2015, a $25,000 package from Multyflex, Parisi bathroom products to the value of $5000, a $2000 Cadrys voucher and a $1000 Coco Republic voucher.
Other winners were: Justine Hugh-Jones Design for Best Kitchen Design, Smart Design Studio for Best Bathroom Design, Genesin Studio for Best Commercial Interior and Hecker Guthrie for Best Hospitality Design.
The winners in this year’s awards represent an Australian design landscape that is fast becoming known for its unique, fresh and challenging aesthetic. The rigorous selection process was undertaken by this year’s judging panel of Coco Republic executive director Anthony Spon-Smith, Belle editor Tanya Buchanan and renowned publisher and author, Karen McCartney.
The award winners are profiled in Belle’s June/July 2015 issue, on sale Monday 18 May.
Bringing together some of Australia’s leading lifestyle magazines, Bauer Media’s new two-day event, Home, Food & Design Weekend, will celebrate the best of home interiors, food and the latest in design.
Running 23 and 24 May at Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral forecourt, the weekend will include workshops, master-classes and interactive demonstrations; offering readers a rare chance to go behind the scenes with Australia’s leading lifestyle experts.
Programme highlights include:
Mouth-watering recipes and delicious tasters, fresh from the kitchen stage – hosted by Australia’s leading food authorities from The Australian Women’s Weekly, Woman’s Day, Recipes+ and Gourmet Traveller.
Insider secrets on how to create enviable home spaces – straight from top stylists at the interiors workshops hosted by Australian House & Garden, Belle, Real Living and Homes+.
And much, much more…
The event will be hosted by Australia’s leading lifestyle editors and experts. Including: Australian Gourmet Traveller editor Anthea Loucas, Belle editor Tanya Buchanan, Real Living style editor Sarah Ellison and many more.
The Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards always showcase the most amazing projects by the country’s most talented interior designers and this year… is no exception!
With the big prize of the night being Interior Designer of the Year (which last year was won by Interiors Addict favourite Greg Natale for the second time), 2015’s finalists are all first-time nominees. So, we thought what better time than now to learn a bit about the finalists and their featured projects (and also have a cheeky ogle at their amazing work!)?
Meryl Hare – Hare + Klein
“It is humbling to be shortlisted for Interior Designer of the Year. I am supported by a great team so credit to them as well. We entered three projects that were quite diverse, one being a Federation home with a contemporary extension with clients we’d worked with previously; another was a new home designed by Popov Bass, with amazing views and the third was a renovation to a Kirribilli apartment. The common denominator was trusting and enthusiastic clients!”
Matt Gibson – Matt Gibson Architecture + Design
“It is a real privilege to be shortlisted amongst the other fine practices and a nice acknowledgement of the hard work and passion that goes into running a practice such as ours. We are an architecture and interior design office that merges both disciplines concurrently. Our entries this year are a combination of residential and commercial projects of various sizes and scopes.”
“We are overwhelmed to be shortlisted among so many talented Australian designers achieving great things. We are particularly proud of our featured project, The Pask office. Pask was an innovative combination of cultivated styles which we accomplished through the use of quality natural materials that evoke a classic, understated and masculine luxury. In terms of planning, the Pask project needed to function as a dual tenancy, however instead of a reception they wanted a comfortable lounge/entry zone which reiterated the fundamental ‘residential’ feel we aimed to introduce throughout.”
“I feel extremely honoured and flattered to be shortlisted alongside other very impressive interior designers and I am of course very excited! The featured projects we entered were theresidential Foreshore House, a waterfront home nestled directly on the shores of Middle Harbour. It is a joint collaboration between Justine Hugh-Jones Design and the architect Ben Vitale and is an elegant, inviting and relaxed family home that connects beautifully to the local landscape. The other project that my studio entered was the decoration of a display apartment in the Locarno precinct at Harold Park by the developers Mirvac. The apartment was styled and decorated to represent the modern eclectic feel of today’s attitude and desire towards design and lifestyle.”
Jeremy Bull – Alexander & Co.
“We are absolutely thrilled. I have immense support in my role from our team and this shortlisting stands as a fantastic endorsement of what we have been able to achieve together over the last few years. We entered projects under the residential and hospitality categories. The first is a contemporary alteration of a family home in Mosman, Sydney, the two others included Sean Connolly’s new restaurant at the Adelaide Casino and a Japanese rock bar/restaurant in Manly. All three are lovely projects though they could not be more different to each other in scale and intent. From the delicately personal to the epic and slightly insane!”
The Belle Coco Republic Interior Designs Awards night will take place on 13 May and I’ll be there. Watch this space! For more information.
Switching from full-time interior design editor for Belle magazine to freelance stylist a year ago, Steve Cordony found himself working from home. Having recently purchased the apartment he had rented for years, it was the perfect opportunity to renovate and decorate the perfect creative space! And of course, it is as stylish and beautiful as you’d expect.
“The flexibility of working on different projects and collaborating with different clients was the most exciting part about going freelance,” Steve says. “I had been freelance prior to being Belle’s interior design editor and being a creative and unable to sit still for more than five minutes, freelance-land suits my frenetic nature!”
He’s not had much chance to sit still, working on interiors for Mirvac’s new Bondi and Green Square projects, styling for Belle as their style director at-large and working with Myer, Sheridan and advertising clients as well as styling some spectacular events for clients including Sephora, Stoneleigh and L’Oreal. “I have also been working with Waterford as a style contributor and most excitingly, I am working on a couple of product ranges as we speak with some great companies.” We can’t wait to see them!
Now based out of home in Sydney, Steve’s office space is very important to him as he spends so much time there. “I had to make it a space that had a great feel to it with good light. Luckily, we were renovating the rest of the home around the same time so I was able to design the space as a whole and it was much easier logistically with trades etc. I know there’ll come a point soon where I will have to move to a bigger office space, but I’m staying at home for as long as I can!”
[contextly_sidebar id=”aLzFVvScwv2EnjFaXccsgs9XfnU7ZBeS”]After renting the space for 3.5 years, when the opportunity to buy it came up, it was a dream come true, especially as Steve had already redesigned the space in his head countless times over! “It was such a blessing not having to move!” He wanted the office space to feel like another room in the home, not even vaguely corporate. “The French panelling and sisal carpet are throughout the rest of the apartment. I am lucky there is great built-in storage so all the boring stuff is hidden and I basically have my double-sided desk and the bar cart from Bowerhouse to ‘style’!”
Not surprisingly, the wallpaper was his the starting point. “Weirdly, it gives the room such a sense of calm and I feel like I’m working in a jungle. It was actually (partner) Michael’s idea as he has loved it ever since we saw it in LA. It’s bold, but also classic at the same time — which sounds odd, but I think it’s because it’s such an iconic print that I hopefully won’t get over in years to come!”
The Oluce ‘Atollo’ lamp from Euroluce was last year’s birthday present. “I had coveted this piece ever since I used it in my first assignment while studying at Enmore. Every home has to have a Ficus Lyrata (mine’s from Garden Life) and this adds to the ‘jungle fever’. The re-worked antique art deco desk is from MCM House and I have one ergonomic Herman Miller Aeron chair from Living Edge and one not so ergonomic Gebrüder Thonet 210R chair! I constantly change the accessories and books and have fresh flowers and candles burning 24/7.”
Aesthetics aside, what else does Steve think is important about a home office from a practical perspective? “Storage! It’s the most important aspect. My desk and the space itself look styled and together but behind the great wall of doors is a whole world of pain! Ok it’s not that bad, but I have drawers filled with fabric samples, kikki.K boxes with documents and shelving for samples and catalogues. And definitely good lighting. In terms of comfort, I’m so glad I invested in the Aeron desk chair as I spend so much time on it! And music — my Sonos system is my friend as I would go crazy working most days by myself in silence!”
So, being one of Australia’s top stylists, does partner Michael have much say in the interiors of their home? “We have a rule where Michael looks after the terrace/outside and I am in charge of the interior. But let’s just say that rule is sometimes blurred, mainly from me being a control freak! But I did let him choose the wallpaper after all…”
Steve adds: “I would describe our home style as modern luxe. I like having contemporary and ‘designy’ pieces but most importantly, I want it to have a soul. I love incorporating items from our travels and I am always moving things around from week to week to constantly keep it interesting.”
Steve’s tips for creating a home office space you actually want to spend time in
Don’t think of the space as an office. Think of it as another beautiful room in the home.
Create a mood board using any interior shots or styles you love and work from there.
Storage is the most important but it doesn’t have to be the ugly elephant in the room. If you don’t have built-in storage, invest in some functional storage that looks great which you can style and incorporate into the space.
As the principal director of Belle Property Surry Hills, Mark Foy really knows his stuff. Not only has he been the number one seller in Sydney’s Darlinghurst for the last three years, he also has a long history of exceptional sales results in the broader inner city. So we thought there was no-one better to answer the difficult questions on where to spend the big bucks when renovating for profit, how to pick the best agent and how to buy a property when you really have no idea what you’re doing! Mark will be Reno Addict’s go-to guy for all things real estate.
1. What is ‘buyer beware’ and what should I look at?
Buyer beware basically means buyers need to do their own due diligence on a home. They can’t expect all the information to be given to them. If you’re buying a house you need to get a building inspection done or if your buying an apartment you should get a strata report done; a strata report is like a building report, it shows you the financials and the history of the building so you understand what you’re buying into. Also other things like doing council searches and seeing whether there’s going to be a building popping up across the road are important to do; it’s not the agent’s duty to disclose, but rather the buyer’s duty to seek out that information through their solicitor. And finally the buyer should have the contract reviewed by a lawyer prior to exchanging.
2. What value does a new kitchen add to a house?
It definitely adds a lot more salability to the property. You’d definitely get your money back and possibly a bit more. A kitchen is such a critical part of the house, you spend a lot of time there entertaining and preparing meals; so I think updating a kitchen for a sale is important.
3. How should I go about selecting an agent when selling?
The most important part of selecting an agent is understanding their experience. Are they local and active within the area, do they speak to buyers in the region and are they in touch with the market? You also have to find out how they’d go about handling the selling process. Starting from how they conduct their open homes and communicate with the owner and potential buyers, all the way through to picking an auctioneer come auction day. All these things come into play and they’re the things I’d want to know.
4. What are the big-ticket items to concentrate on when renovating to sell?
More important than kitchens and bathrooms is presenting a property that’s got a certain feeling about it. When a buyer walks into a property you’ve only got one chance to create that emotive feeling and it’s not through having a nice kitchen! It’s through making sure it’s furnished nicely, that it’s looking sleek with a new paint job, that the floorboards look nice or there’s a new carpet, that the garden’s presented well, that there’s music playing and then that it all comes together by being represented by a fresh looking agent out the front. All those things come into play, so that’s what I’d be focusing on when you’re renovating.
5. How much notice should I take of building inspection reports and should I ever buy without one?
I’d definitely get a building inspection report, 100%! It’s $400-500 and it’s peace of mind. Buyers aren’t builders and they don’t know what to look for, I think it’s critical that you get one. However, one thing to consider when you’re reading a report is the builders that do them are always going to describe the house in its worse condition, because realistically they’re protecting themselves. But in saying that it depends what and where you’re buying. If you’re buying an old 150-year-old house in the inner city then you need to understand that it’s going to need work done. However, if you’re buying a brand new house and it’s getting a bad condition report, then there’s something wrong. Therefore it’s important you consider where you’re buying and how long the building has been erected for.
–Contact Mark via his website or submit a question for him here.
While some think of the humble cushion as an inexpensive and fairly inconsequential styling accessory, it has an honourable history as a substitute for chairs across the palaces and great houses of the early Middle Ages. Only the very wealthy could afford cushions thanks to the expensive dyes and fabrics of the day. As their intricate patterns were also painstakingly handcrafted using fine threads and complex knotting, cushions became pieces of art in their own right.
An English cushion cover circa 1590. Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art
However these days, cushions are an easy and attractive way to add colour, pattern and contrast to any room and of course, they can also be replaced without fuss whenever you’re after a new look.
But cushions mean more to me than just that. As I point out in my new book, The Tailored Interior, they’re an important aspect of layering and styling that create cohesion and flow in a room. To be honest, I can’t even imagine a sofa without cushions – it simply doesn’t look finished! So here are a few suggestions to help you get your cushion size, shape and styling right:
Size. Over the years, I’ve found that 500mm (20 inch) square cushions work best for sofas and beds. Keep them the same size for a cohesive result. Look for feather and foam inserts for a lovely firm feel and covers with concealed zips for a seamless effect.
Quantity. I recommend four cushions for a two-seater sofa and six cushions for a three-seater. Divide them into two matching sets as visual bookends for a resolved and balanced look.
Positioning. Sit them on their flat side, placed one behind the other. Whatever you do, don’t position them on a point to form a diamond shape! Leave that look to the Travelodge!
Combinations. Consider other elements of your design and go from there – for example, a pop of colour works for an otherwise largely neutral base. I also like to mix organic and geometric patterns for a really dynamic arrangement.
Fabrics. Of course you can select more sumptuous fabrics for indoors, but remember to rely on hard-wearing ones to keep your outdoor cushions fresh. As a fan of detail, I also love a bit of piping or trim to add contrast and personality.
Anyone who knows me well knows that as a child of the eighties, a lot of my early memories came from what I saw on our family’s television set. I was obsessed with the American series Dynasty and consider its set design instrumental in inspiring me to become an interior designer.
In the introduction to The Tailored Interior, I mention that I thought Alexis Carrington’s all-white apartment was the height of glamour. Fittingly, as it turns out, it’s the pops of pink in her cushions that really help make her apartment sing.
Like all soft furnishings, cushions can be minimal, frivolous, classic or elegant, but whatever your taste, they’re a wonderful low-investment, high-return styling accessory.
So have some fun with them. Play with colours, patterns and textures and dare I even say it … throw cushion to the wind!
– The Tailored Interior by Greg Natale, Belle Coco Republic’s Interior Designer of the Year 2014, is now available at all good bookstores or online at Bookworld. It reveals Greg’s secrets on how to achieve your dream design look with complete confidence as well as all the places Greg shops for his fabulous cushions.
It’s an exciting time of change for Belle magazine, which publishes its 40th issue today. To celebrate the milestone, they asked some high profile people to have a go at designing their own cover, including interior designers Greg Natale and Thomas Hamel.
Greg Natale’s cover design
It’s Block judge Neale Whitaker’s last issue at the helm, after his recent departure to edit Vogue Living. Former managing editor Tanya Buchanan is taking over as editor.
Tanya Buchanan at this year's Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards. Photo courtesy of Coco Republic
I wasn’t at all surprised to hear Belle’s managing editor Tanya Buchanan, has been named as the successor to Neale Whitaker in the top job at Belle, with former Inside Out editor Richard Waller as her deputy. Tanya is well liked and respected in the industry and who better to fill Neale’s big shoes than the woman who has worked so closely with him for several years?
Tanya Buchanan at this year’s Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards. Photo courtesy of Coco Republic
Richard, who was deputy editor at Vogue Living from 2005 to 2010, left his editor in chief role at Inside Out in mid 2012 and has spent the last couple of years as manager of Arthouse Gallery in Rushcutters Bay. There can’t be many people more experienced in interior magazine publishing in Australia.
And with the uber talented Steve Cordony still on board as style director, despite going freelance earlier this year, and Jack Milenkovic as creative director, there’s no reason Belle shouldn’t continue to go from strength to strength. There’s no doubt the loss of Neale to competitor Vogue Living will be a huge one though. The Block judge will also be a columnist for News Corp’s Sunday newspapers.
We wish Tanya and Richard all the best! They take over their new roles from the December/January issue.
Hard at work behind the scenes of a shoot with mentor Steve Cordony
By Lucia Braham
Lucia has been assisting some of the country’s top stylists for the past seven years and she still doesn’t think she knows it all. Think you want to be a stylist? Read on to discover if you’ve got enough passion and the right attitude to make it.
Recently, a friend of a friend called and quizzed me about being an assistant photographic stylist. She was working as an assistant set designer and told me she was sick of lugging heavy things around on set and physically exhausting herself at work. I told her she was talking to the wrong person if this was what she was looking to escape in her next career!
Lucia Braham loves learning from the best and isn’t afraid of hard work
My very first day on the job was shooting a linen catalogue, assisting Megan Morton. I spent the entire day in a room, iron in hand, delicately removing every tiny crease from countless sheets, pillowslips and duvet covers. Three months ago, nearly seven years after my very first styling experience, I had a very similar day assisting Kirsten Bookallil.
There have been days I have done nothing but open boxes, sort through stock and pack it all away again. Many times, I have spent the entire day meticulously painting sets over and over. Sure, this does not sound at all like the creative industry I was so excited to jump into but the truth is, every one of those glossy pages in books, magazines and advertisements takes hard work, a lot of sweat and sometimes (but rarely) blood.
The “glamour” of being an assistant stylist
So what’s so great about being an assistant stylist? As you will inevitably be the face to face contact for the stylist you assist, you will, over time, develop relationships with retailers, suppliers and other essential contacts within the industry, which will in turn help you build your career. Almost every shoot for both editorial and advertorial will be in advance of its release date so you will be constantly exposed to the latest and greatest in product and design.
Being an assistant to a stylist is not always easy or super rewarding to begin with, but if styling is your passion, finding a stylist you respect and admire is the key. For the last four years, I have been so fortunate to be the right hand woman to Steve Cordony (interiors and event stylist and contributing interior design editor for Belle magazine). Although I do occasionally branch out and work on my own jobs, I’m in no rush to give up the incredible opportunity to work beside him and learn all I can.
With Steve, I have worked on high profile events with some of the country’s most exclusive designers and florists. We’ve had studios full to the brim with beautiful furniture and accessories into the hundreds of thousands of dollars in value, ready for us to get creative and play with.
Have we got the right shot yet? At work with mentor Steve Cordony
In my opinion, there is no study or diploma you can do to fully learn the job of a stylist. It is all about experience, like an apprenticeship.
Here are a few tips and a bit of inside info if training to be a photographic stylist is on your agenda:
1. Be prepared to do the hard yards. There’s no 9-to-5 in the styling world. Get ready for 12-hour days on your feet, loading your car with props so high you can’t see through the back windscreen and paint, glue and tape on your shoes.
2. As an assistant, your opinion is not (at first) valid or invited. I have seen so many first time assistants jump in front of a high profile stylist or photographer and make suggestions for a shot and although it’s great to be enthusiastic, it’s just not your place.
Steve making the magic happen
3. Stay up to date on current trends, designs, exhibitions and retailers so that when you’re asked to research a product or collect an item for a shoot, you know where to go straight away.
4. Work as though you’ve read the script. In other words, listen in on what’s happening on a shoot. For example, if you hear the stylist and photographer saying “maybe we should change the colour of the roses in that vase from yellow to white,” jump the gun and be ready to swap them over before the stylist has even turned around.
5. If you’re not sure, just ask. Time is of the essence on a shoot and more often than not, every minute of the day is accounted for. Accidentally painting the set the wrong colour because you didn’t want to look silly asking, will make you look even sillier.
6. Check with the stylist or photographer before you Instagram your day’s work.
7. Start a styling kit to take with you on shoots. Multiple pairs of scissors, every type of tape you can find, glue and staple guns, pins, a Stanley knife and a few screwdrivers never go astray.
—Lucia Braham is a Sydney-based stylist for events, interiors and photography.
In celebration of Greg Natale being crowned Belle Coco Republic Interior Designer of the Year this month, I asked him if he’d be so kind as to judge June’s 7 Vignettes and he said yes, hoorah! Even better, the prize is one of the very first signed copies of his book*, due out later this year and published by Hardie Grant (in time for you to put it on your Christmas list, in fact!). I’ve seen it, because I was lucky enough to help him with the words part, and it’s divine!
So, here’s your themes list. The fun starts this Sunday, 1 June. Please use the hashtag #7vignettes and hashtag @interiorsaddict and @gregnatale. It’s a great idea to follow him anyway if you want to be first to know about the book and for sneak peeks at his beautiful ongoing design work.
Some reasons behind the June themes are Republic Day (Festa della Repubblica) in Italy (and Greg’s also of Italian descent), the Queen’s official birthday, end of financial year, and the star sign Gemini (matching pair), which all fall this coming month. The others are just because!
All you need to know about 7 Vignettes and taking part can be found here. See you on Instagram on Sunday! We’ll be holding a 7 Vignettes event with Greg in Sydney towards the end of the year. Make sure you’re signed up to the newsletter to be first to know.
*You’ll receive the book as soon as it is comes out. Only Australian residents are eligible to win but we welcome entries, as ever, from across the world, just for fun!
“Wow” was pretty much all I could say when I attended the fourth annual BelleCoco Republic Interior Design Awards last night. Held at Coco Republic’s Alexandria showroom and styled by the very talented Steve Cordony, the room was more beautiful than I could have imagined.
Interiors Addict favourite Greg Natale, took out the top award of Interior Designer of the Year, beating out fellow finalists SJB Interiors, Sarah Davison Interior Design, Arent & Pyke and Pascale Gomes-McNabb. He also won the top award in 2010 .
Greg Natale
Belle editor-in-chief and one of the awards judges, Neale Whitaker, said Greg’s work had continued to develop and flourish through the years: “This is an exciting second win for Greg Natale, and demonstrates the increasing breadth, quality and maturity of his work.”
We couldn’t agree more. Jen has been privy to much of Greg’s as yet unpublished work which will appear in his forthcoming first book. I’ve heard it’s pretty incredible stuff!
Neale Whitaker
Greg receives two return flights to Maison et Objet in Paris, plus a package of prizes that includes Parisi bathroom products, a Smeg fridge, a Riedel decanter and generous vouchers from Cadrys and Coco Republic.
The night was also one for the ladies, with entries this year being dominated by some of Australia’s leading female interior designers. Juliette Arent and Sarah-Jane Pyke of Arent & Pyke took out the residential category for The Avenue (Sydney); Miriam Fanning of Mim Design won the corporate category for the Little Group Office (Melbourne); and Pascale Gomes-McNabb won the hospitality category for the French bistro Yellow (Sydney).
Pascale Gomes-McNabb
Jeremy Bull and Anna Trefely of Alexander & Co
The innovative work of Melbounre’s March Studio saw them take out the commercial category for the Sneakerboy store and in the awards’ first-ever tie, Sydney-based Alexander & Co also received the award for the hospitality category for the Watsons Bay Hotel. Each category winner receives Cadrys, Coco Republic and Parisi vouchers.
Neale Whitaker and Darren Palmer
Look out for Belle’s June/July 2014 issue (on sale 19 May), featuring a complete overview of the awards, winners and their respective projects.
