Hot off the press, friend of Interiors Addict, the supremely talented Greg Natale, has just taken out the top prize at tonight’s Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards 2014 in Sydney. We are so happy for and proud of you, Greg!
Here’s a reminder of why his work is award-winning!
More on the other award winners later this week.
Call it a first world problem, but I’m devastated to be missing this year’s Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards (on account of being in Europe) as it’s always such a great event and celebration. My excitement always starts on receiving the year’s finalists and I’m delighted to share with you sideshows of five homes shortlisted in the residential category. I must disclose my own personal bias towards my friend Greg Natale (whose forthcoming book I was lucky enough to work on with him). He has not one but two houses in this category! My favourite is the Croydon House.
Clearly each one of these homes is exceptional though. Enjoy the house porn!
The East Brisbane House by Greg Natale Design
The Croydon House by Greg Natale Design
The Avenue by Arent & Pyke
Arthouse by Sarah Davison Interior Design
Flinders House by Susi Leeton
The Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards, now in their fourth year, acknowledge excellence in Australian interior design and decoration and celebrate the best of the best in this ever-progressive industry. Awards are given in categories spanning the residential, commercial, corporate and hospitality sectors.
This year’s judging panel includes Coco Republic executive director Anthony Spon-Smith, Belle editor-in-chief Neale Whitaker and interior designer and blogger Dana Tomic-Hughes. The awards’ international judge is celebrated New York-based designer and retailer Jonathan Adler. Impressive stuff!
In the ultimate Belle Coco Republic Interior Designer of the Year category, finalists have been selected based upon careful consideration of the overall body of work submitted. The finalists for the big prize are:
I must say it’s fantastic to see so many women represented this year.
The announcement of all the award finalists, accompanied by images of their work, will be revealed in Belle’s new May issue, which goes on sale today (Monday 7 April).
Belle Editor-in-chief Neale Whitaker said: “The quality of work in this year’s awards is exceptional. It’s the most exciting year yet. Every year it seems Australian interior designers are getting more innovative, more creative and more willing to push the envelope.”
The winners will be announced on 14 May at a champagne reception held at Coco Republic’s Sydney showroom. The winner of the Belle Coco Republic Interior Designer of the Year will receive two return flights to Maison et Objet, Paris, plus Parisi bathroom products to the value of $6000 and a $3000 Cadrys rug voucher. Prize packages in all categories include a $1,000 Coco Republic voucher, a $1,000 Cadrys rug voucher and a $1,000 Parisi voucher.
Fancy hearing from the editors of Australia’s leading lifestyle magazines, all in one weekend and for free? Well thanks to Bauer Media’s fifth annual Home, Food & Wine Weekend, you can!
From Friday 23 to Sunday 25 May in its new location at Sydney’s Westfield Bondi Junction, editors and industry experts including Belle’s editor in chief and The Block judge, Neale Whitaker and Real Living’s editor, Deborah Bibby, will lead interactive workshops and how-to demos on everything from interior styling to kitchen design trends to bathroom renovation. You’ll also get the opportunity to hear from food and wine experts and who would say no to that?!
Register online now for your favourite events and then head down to Westfield Bondi Junction to join in the fun.
It’s every designer and stylist’s dream: seeing one of your jobs showcased on the pages of a glossy magazine. But trying to achieve it can often feel like hitting your head against a brick wall. I asked the editors of Real Living and Belle – two magazines with very different aesthetics – for their top tips on how to give yourself the best chance of being featured.
Funnily enough, their advice wasn’t that different. Deb Bibby, editor in chief of Real Living, said: “It’s not hard at all if you pitch the right story for the right demographic. Sometimes, for example, the style of photography isn’t suitable for Real Living but sadly the home is perfect. Or it might not be styled the way we like to reflect a home. So your team is crucial and each magazine is different.”
I’m delighted to announce two free reader events in Melbourne (our first!) and Sydney next month with guest of honour, The Block judge and interior designer Darren Palmer.
The 7 Vignettes evening events will be open to more than 100 readers in each state, thanks to Interiors Addict’s sponsors Haymes Paint (in Melbourne) and BoConcept (in Sydney). I’ll be interviewing Darren live as he shares his top decorating and design tips and takes audience questions. Then attendees will be encouraged to create their own vignettes around the venues with prizes for the best ones. There’ll also be food and drink, goodie bags and the chance to meet fellow readers, interiors addicts and Instagram buddies, and of course, Darren and I! All Interiors Addict readers are welcome to apply for a spot.
Where and when
It’s no surprise that Belle’s interior design editor, the hugely talented Sydney stylist and friend of Interiors Addict Steve Cordony, has great taste. Here’s what he’s hoping for from Santa this year, and it’s all a bit monochrome…
Kelly Wearstler marble trapezoid: “It doesn’t do much but it’s beautiful. And sometimes we need useless ornaments, just because!”
Hunter Grand floor lamp from Fred International: “Classic, elegant design with a retro twist.”
The third and final instalment of the Belle Mirvac Life Series saw a colourful, family-friendly apartment by Arent & Pyke unveiled last night.
![[1312] Mirvac shoot, cyber cell 216397](https://staging.theinteriorsaddict.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/HAROLD-PARK-BY-ARENTPYKE-LIVING-2.jpg)
![[1312] Mirvac shoot, cyber cell 216397](https://staging.theinteriorsaddict.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/HAROLD-PARK-BY-ARENTPYKE-BUFFET.jpg)
The Life Series is a collaboration between Belle magazine and developer Mirvac at Harold Park in Sydney’s Glebe. Pop-up display apartments have already been created and decorated by Belle’s Steve Cordony and Greg Natale, each representative of a different stage of life.
The second chapter in the Mirvac Belle Life Series collaboration saw award winning interior designer Greg Natale and his team put their stylish mark on the new Maestro display apartment at Harold Park in Glebe.
Mirvac and Belle magazine have teamed up to bring to life 3 display apartments to give potential residents an idea of how they might decorate, furnish and live in their new homes. The first was designed by Belle’s own interior design editor Steve Cordony and Greg’s, the second, was unveiled last night. I had a look around it was of course rather gorgeous! When can I move in?
The first ever Interiors Addict reader event was a great success on Friday night with a huge turnout of around 150 people and a fun evening had by all at BoConcept’s Crows Nest showroom in Sydney.
Readers even flew in from Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria specially so as not to miss out and it was a full house of creative interiors addicts, many of them enjoying meeting each other in real life after bonding on Instagram.
There’s a new wedding registry on the block and it’s all about styling your home, with ex Belle interior design editor Imogen Naylor on board to help newlyweds on their decorating journey.
“We are different in almost every way from traditional registries,” says co-founder Jacqui Scruby. “But the main difference is our style proposition – that a couple’s wedding registry should ‘style their home’ and make Pinterest dreams become a reality.”
I’m so excited! Only seems a couple of weeks ago (probably because it was) that a few members of our 7 Vignettes Instagram community asked if we could perhaps have a meet up. Like, in real life. And now, I’m delighted to announce it’s happening on Friday 23 August.
Judging by the buzz and the sense of the community we have online, I can only imagine how fun it might be to meet some of you in person! What’s more, Belle’s interior designer editor, the hugely talented stylist Steve Cordony, will be doing a demonstration on how to style vignettes. Learn from the master!
This is all made possible thanks to our friends at Danish furniture store BoConcept and the event is taking place at its stunning Crows Nest showroom in Sydney, with support from Belle. On the night there’ll be food and drink, fabulous goodie bags, and a live styling competition, which you can choose to take part in.
Mirvac and Belle magazine have teamed up to create a series of pop-up display apartments at the new Harold Park development in Sydney’s Glebe, with the first one created by the magazine’s interior design editor, Steve Cordony.
Or indeed his ‘n his or hers ‘n hers. We’re all inclusive here at Interiors Addict!
How to combine two people’s styles when moving in with your other half is something I’m often asked for advice on. I’m not sure I’m the best person to give it (or if my fiance would think so either). So I asked the girls at new Sydney wedding registry The Wedding Nest, for their top tips.
Their in-house interior stylist (former Belle interior design editor Imogen Naylor) works with their couples to collate a registry of gifts that will achieve a beautifully styled space true to both their individual styles.
Top tips
The industry’s finest got dressed up for the Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards 2013 last night and I was lucky enough to join them! The event styling, by Belle’s own Steve Cordony, at Coco’s Alexandria showroom, was impeccable as ever.
Congratulations to Paul Hecker and Hamish Guthrie of Hecker Guthrie, who jointly picked up the top award, interior designer of the year, beating fellow finalists Iain Halliday and Greg Natale (who won in 2012 and 2011 respectively). Belle editor-in-chief Neale Whitaker said they had taken Australian interior design and decoration in an intriguing new direction. “It is as refined as it is industrial and as glamorous as it is raw. Their body of work is consistently fresh and directional.”
Greg Natale, Iain Halliday and Paul Hecker and Hamish Guthrie (jointly) are in the running for the top prize of designer of the year in the 2013 Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards. What a fantastic line-up of talent! It’s particularly exciting for Greg and Iain, who took the crowns in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
The prestigious awards, a collaboration between the magazine and the furniture brand, are now in their third year and this year received the largest number of entrants to date. The official announcement of the finalists, accompanied by a profile of their work, is revealed in Belle’s June/July issue, on sale today. This year, flamboyant American interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard was the international judge.
Belle Editor-in-chief Neale Whitaker described Australia’s interior design signature as world-class. ‘The exciting thing is that every year the confidence of Australian interior design grows. It has developed a profile that is truly international, directional and dynamic.”
Last week I was lucky enough to attend the VIP launch of Ralph Lauren Home at David Jones in Sydney.
Ralph Lauren Home’s One Fifth collection, now available in the flagship Market Street store, is described as a feminine, elegant expression of glamorous deco style, with sleek black finishes tempered by warm golds, luxurious textures and soft edges. It’s very impressive and doesn’t disappoint. It’s very… well… Ralph Lauren!
At the risk of being hammered by interior aficionados, I have to admit this is the first time I have read Belle magazine. Gasp. But put down your pitchforks, because I’ve been converted. If their deliciously decadent front cover didn’t do it (which, let’s admit, it did), then the quality editorial inside would have tipped me over. Why, I hear you ask, is this the first time I’ve read Belle? It was the Vogue effect; I don’t buy Vogue because it’s too inaccessible (concepts and price tags). And I mistakenly believed I would feel the same way about Belle… I’ve never been so happy to be proved wrong!
