Belle’s readership jumped almost 22% last year according to the latest Roy Morgan readership results for the 12 months ending December 2012. It was far and away the best performer in the homes category, with a readership of 134,000. Congratulations to Neale Whitaker, Tanya Buchanan, Steve Cordony and the team.
Other magazines with increased readership included:
Another month and thousands more gorgeous images in my 7 Vignettes Instagram challenge! This week, Belle’s Steve Cordony, the guest judge, picked Gabrielle Walsh as the winner. Here’s why…
Here at Interiors Addict I was delighted when Darren Palmer was made the third full-time judge on The Block. Possibly not as much as he was though. “SO EXCITED! It’s a brilliant competition that has featured some really great talent over the years. I love the Block and am so happy to be a part of it,” he told me.
Darren rose to fame as a runner up on reality TV show homeMADE and now here he is, a renowned interior designer and a judge on another show. He’s done good, eh? “The thing is I know renovations because I renovate, I know design because I’m a designer and I know the competition and understand its constraints and pressures because I’ve been in exactly that situation myself. Well not quite exactly as we did a complete house every 5 days. These guys get 6 weeks. The Block is pretty much a holiday…”
Careful, Darren!
The much hyped The Block All Stars starts tonight at 7pm and, having visited the houses a couple of months ago, I’m really looking forward to watching. Friend of Interiors Addict Darren Palmer has also been announced as a new full-time judge, replacing John McGrath and joining Shaynna Blaze from Selling Houses Australia and Belle editor in chief Neale Whitaker. A great trio, don’t you think?
The Block spinoff, which has been filming in Sydney’s Bondi, features four couples from previous series who didn’t win (but maybe should have?). They are Amity and Phil, Josh and Jenna, Mark and Duncan (the ‘two fat tradies’) and, from the most recent series, Dan and Dani. It’s a little ironic that new judge Darren rose to fame as a star of reality TV show (homeMADE) himself, even though he didn’t win.
There’s been some drama, with The SMH reporting, at the end of November, that contestant Mark Bowyer had left the show after being rushed to hospital and feeling unwell. Apparently host Scott Cam and Mark’s wife Jenny, stepped in to assist his partner Duncan Miller, but it’s not clear if he eventually returned to filming.
I visited the block in November and was really impressed and excited by what I saw in the heritage houses, which at that point had had two rooms each renovated. I have no doubt they will all be worth a small fortune once they’re finished and I can’t wait to see how they turn out.
This year they’ve also set up an online Block shop where you can buy products used in the show. Now there’s a simple but brilliant idea! Check it out here.
(Okay, okay, I know I’m not as Aussie. Quite.)
So so SO excited! Was already excited when my preview copy of Abigail Ahern’s new book Decorating with Style arrived in the mail today. But then someone pointed out that my blog is mentioned in the directory at the back (alongside blogs like The Selby, The Design Files and Design*Sponge). I couldn’t believe it! I am such a HUGE fan of Abigail’s work I am truly honoured and flattered TO THE MAX! I will of course write a proper review of this gorgeous looking book once I’ve had the chance to get over my shock and give it a good read!
Excuse my star struck goofiness… Thank you so much Abigail!
On closer inspection, there are a LOT of Aussies credited in the Little Black Book at the back of this book, which is fantastic, especially as Abigail is from the UK!
As well as Interiors Addict, Aussie blogs mentioned include The Design Files, Daily Imprint and Desire to Inspire. Then there’s Sibella Court’s books Nomad, Etcetera and The Stylist’s Guide to NYC and Shannon Fricke’s Sense of Style, Colour & Space. Under magazines you’ll find Vogue Living, Belle, Real Living and Inside Out. Also getting a mention in the directory are Murobond paints, Melbourne’s Comer & King, and Sydney stores Doug Up on Bourke, Ice et la, Koskela and The Society Inc.
Go Aussie! Abigail clearly has fantastic taste!
Rumour has it some of you are practising and prepping already! Such is the excitement for the second round of 7 Vignettes starting on Saturday on Instagram. I’m delighted to welcome Steve Cordony, Belle’s interior design editor and stylist extraordinaire as our new judge, and to thank Down That Little Lane for providing a $100 voucher for the winner. But you know it’s mostly just for fun. Any prize is just an added bonus!
Still not quite sure what a vignette is? Steve explains: “I like to think of a vignette as a small cluster of objects or things that have meaning or resonate an emotion or memory. Items collected from travels, objects found in the most obscure places or that one amazing piece you have been coveting for months.
“I style vignettes constantly to give inspiration for a trend or project I am working on, and I am constantly changing vignettes around in my home. Usually atop a stack of my favourite books on a shelf or my bedside or coffee table, then adding layers of objects and collectables to create a three dimensional mood board.”
I asked some of Australia’s best interior designers and stylists for their opinion of what 2013 will bring in terms of interiors trends. Here’s what they had to say.
Steve Cordony, interior design editor, Belle magazine, and stylist: “This coming year I think we will see lots of natural materials such as marble, timber, brass, copper and cut glass which evoke a sense of calm and grounding. Using different shades and tones of trending colours such as blue, green and orange will inject warmth into our spaces. Quirky pieces (think spiky sculptures and animal shaped ceramics) and one-off finds will add a sense of interest and adventure into our interiors.”
Stylist and author Megan Morton: “People are now understanding the value and inherent beauty of interiors that are created with hand and heart. This explains the rise and rise of the craft and handmade movement. I predict we will see an even richer combination of made and bought, providing even more delicious spaces.”
Interior designer Greg Natale: “I see Memphis Milano becoming an influence on design again. Memphis was a design movement and furniture company started by Ettore Sottsass in the 80s. It was a reaction against Modernism and I think personally, they were trying to create warm interiors again by injecting humour and colour. What I like about Memphis is the asymmetrical shapes, black and white stripes, strong colour and wit.”
Shelley Ross! (or should we say @shelleyrossxoxo?) CONGRATULATIONS!
Here’s my favourite of her vignettes…
Our judge, stylist Kara Rosenlund, said: “It was such a great week on Instagram; everyone’s commitment and thrill to be be part of such a challenge was really inspiring. It was such a privilege to see into everyone’s homes and lives and read their special and sentimental stories about pieces from their homes and their loved ones.
“Thank you so much to everyone who participated. It brought such an overwhelming sense of community and friendship into the instagram world, I didn’t want it to end.”
There wasn’t even meant to be a prize but we were so impressed we decided to award one! Kara has put together a box of lovely styling treasures for Shelley and I’ll be sending her an Interiors Addict candle.
I must say I was overwhelmed by the success of 7 Vignettes. I’ve run, and taken part in, Instagram photo challenges before, but this one was extra special. There was so much sharing and community. Everyone really encouraged each other and everyone had a go. Some people didn’t even know what a vignette was when we started. Some found out about it on the last day and still managed all 7 vignettes in 24 hours! Amazing! Between us we shared more than 2,000 images! So much enthusiasm, talent and just a lot of great feeling! I had warm fuzzies all week, especially when I kept getting gorgeous little messages like these!
I was so sad it had to end (although I was worrying about the RSI in my right hand from constant scrolling and liking!) I’ve decided to make this a monthly challenge with a new set of words and a new guest judge each time. The next will start on 2 February with the lovely Steve Cordony from Belle magazine. Look out for the new list of words on Instagram. Just keep looking under the #7vignettes hashtag or like Interiors Addict on Facebook so you’ll be sure not to miss it.
It’s the news the industry has been waiting for for months. Vogue Living finally has a new boss following the departure of David Clark three months ago.
Country Style editor Victoria Carey has been appointed editor-in-chief of Vogue Living. She will also assume the title of editor-in-chief of Country Style.
In her new, significantly larger role, which starts immediately, Carey takes additional responsibility for the expansion of the Vogue Living brand across print and digital platforms with a focus to amplify the brand’s global reach through digital editions.
If you haven’t already heard of Felix Forest, you’ve probably seen some of his beautiful interiors shots without realising. He really does know how to capture the essence of a home. When I look at his images I start imagining who lives in the home and how they might hang out there. It’s a real skill.
Coming from a creative family, he’s been passionate about furniture, interiors and design for many years and taking photographs since he was very young. “I go to auctions on a weekly basis and revamp pieces. I studied and trained in film photography. After assisting for a short time in still life and fashion, I started documenting some of my creative friends’ spaces, which opened opportunities with magazines.” Now his work’s been featured everywhere, including Belle, Vogue Living, (inside), Inside Out, AD Mexico, Real Living and Vogue Australia. He regularly gets to work alongside his partner, interior designer and stylist Dina Broadhurst.
Like me, the Sydney-based Frenchman loves discovering new interiors and meeting the people who live in them. Lucky enough to travel extensively for work, he enjoys the constant change of scenery and learning about art and design pieces from passionate homeowners. The hardest part is finding new and unpublished homes and persuading people to let him shoot them. “The owners always feel they are not ready or finished.” And let’s face it, what home is ever really finished?
Who said print is dead? The latest Roy Morgan Research readership figures are out and the future’s looking bright for many of the home and garden magazines. Luxury Home Design’s readership increased by 54.2%, Belle’s by 21.4%, Home Beautiful’s by 17.3% and Country Style’s by 9.5%.
The following also saw readership increases in the last 12 months:
Belle was named best home & garden magazine at the Australian Magazine Awards (AMAs) this morning. Well deserved, I’d say!
Frankie, another magazine I have huge respect for as both a reader and a journalist, won the overall top title of magazine of the year. Read about all the winners here.
The new look Inside Out magazine hits news stands tomorrow and here’s my sneak peek copy. On first glance, the new design is modern and fresh. Glad to see they kept the iconic masthead but introduced a glossy cover with nice new fonts.
So what’s new?
It’s definitely more Real Living than Belle and I get the feeling they’re trying to appear less design-snobby and more accessible. The only thing missing is a mention of Interiors Addict in the must-read blogs section! 😉
It’s new editor Claire Bradley’s second issue and it will no doubt take a bit of time to get more of an idea of the new look and feel. Love to hear what you think when you pick up a copy.
Can you believe I’ve posted 1000 times (well, a few more than now, actually!)? I would say I can’t, but it’s not all that surprising to me! Nonetheless, I thought what a great excuse for the best giveaway I’ve ever done, and one that’s full of amazing prizes I know interiors addict readers will love! One lucky reader will win EVERYTHING and all you have to do is answer one question. The best answer will be judged by Belle magazine’s interior design editor Steve Cordony and interior designer Darren Palmer. So here’s what’s up for grabs, in no particular order (it keeps going and going)…
An A0-size limited edition signed print of Andrew O’Brien’s Pink, Turquoise on Ultramarine Ground, as seen on the cover of a recent Real Living magazine
A timber outdoor setting from Freedom
A multi-coloured ikat canvas from Urban Road
A $100 voucher from Xavier & Me, which you might spend on their new cushions
The Block’s Dan and Dani (yes they are still together) were among the guests at Andrew O’Brien’s first Sydney solo show at Corporate Culture on Thursday night.
Not only is Steve Cordony a top magazine stylist and interior design editor for Belle, he also styles some of Sydney’s hottest parties and launches. Check out this feast for the eyes…
I first met Steve at an event he styled for Georg Jensen at Corporate Culture and it was breathtaking. He really is one of Australia’s finest. The good news is, you can learn from the man himself at his Coco Republic Design School sessions next Tuesday and Friday. There are still a few seats left ($95). As well as sharing some event styling secrets, he’ll also talk about interiors trends and a glimpse behind the scenes of working for Belle.
Andrew O’Brien is on a mission to change the way people think about art as he puts the finishing touches to the work for his first Sydney solo exhibition at Corporate Culture. He gave Interiors Addict an exclusive behind the scenes glimpse and talked about his work and attitude to art.
In the last couple of months, Andrew’s work has appeared on the front cover of Real Living and on The Block. The awareness this has created has been really valuable but it’s a more mainstream approach than many artists would take. “I know this sounds very basic, but I have always found that people want to engage with art,” says Andrew. “Sometimes this engagement is on different levels, but more often than not it is about giving people the ability to take the first step in understanding the importance of art. In terms of The Block, Julian Cress, the executive producer, is very supportive of the visual arts, so in context of that environment I made the time to work with the contestants to help them create a space to display art in an appropriate way. This was very successful for the show and I believe added significantly to the overall quality of not only the program, but the actual houses themselves.”
Is it really that time again?! I ran the City 2 Surf in Sydney this morning (anyone else?) and this comes to you from the couch where my legs and I are currently in a world of pain! Anyway, back to this week’s best bits…