Tag: blogger

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Expert Tips Styling

Kitchen styling ideas: the heart of the home

By Geneva Vanderzeil

The kitchen really is the heart of the home, and it should therefore take a big focus when you’re decorating. It’s an important room even from a time perspective. If I were to calculate the room where I spend the most waking hours, it would have to be the kitchen. It’s where we cook food for our loved ones, and make memories with friends and family around the dinner table. It’s the heart of the home for a reason.

Although the kitchen is sometimes seen as a purely utilitarian space, the aesthetics of your kitchen shouldn’t be overlooked. Given the amount of time you spend in it, you might as well make your kitchen a place that suits your style just as much as it makes for good cooking. A great kitchen is equal parts beauty and function.

I’ve lived with my share of scary kitchens, from tiny corridor kitchens that had a ‘one in, one out’ rule, to giant, echoing spaces where everything I needed was a mile away. But with a few simple DIY and styling hacks, I’ve always been able to make the most of these rooms and turn them into spaces where I enjoyed spending time. Sometimes it might be a challenge, but trust me, it’s doable!

Checklist for a functional, beautiful kitchen 

There are lots of ways to create a gorgeous kitchen that doesn’t feel like a place where you simply slave away over a hot stove. It’s important to develop a vision and then integrate functional as well as beautiful elements into the space.

Location
Think about how you actually use your kitchen. Consider where the different activities take place and what needs to be close by to make those activities quicker and easier. Storing items close to where you use them is ideal.

Stations
Unless your kitchen is tiny, it’s useful to set up a few stations that cater to the various activities that occur in different parts of the kitchen. For example, store the items you use for making tea and coffee on a tray near the kettle, or have a caddy with olive oil, salt and pepper near the stove. Creating stations is very simple, but they do make a difference to your daily life.

Seating
In the past, the kitchen was more of a transitional space, but these days it’s a place where people tend to gather and relax. It’s essential, therefore, that there’s a place for people to sit. It’s worth considering adding a couple of stools, a bench or a table when you think about the layout of your kitchen.

Storage
What’s the point of a beautiful kitchen if you have nowhere to store everything you need? Having sufficient storage is essential and should be included in the form of drawers and cupboards. I love open shelving, but it only works if you have enough other storage – otherwise you risk your open shelving becoming overstuffed and messy.

A rug
I know that a kitchen is a controversial place to put a rug, but hear me out! A rug is the easiest way to make a space feel cosy and homely. Kitchens often suffer from feeling underdressed, and a rug is an easy way to turn that around. If you’re considering putting a rug in your kitchen, it’s important to find one that’s suitable for the busy (and messy) kitchen space, so look for something that’s durable and easy to clean.

A personal touch
The goal for making a home is to make it yours – a space that makes you happy to be there and shows your personality. That’s why I love to add a personal touch to my kitchen, whether it be through some art, small mementos, a favourite vase or a framed quote. I love having open shelving where I can inject some of my own style.

Ask Geneva: How do I style a beautiful kitchen? 

Question: The kitchen is my favourite room of the house, but I’m struggling to turn it into a gorgeous space that’s in keeping with the decor in the rest of my home. How do I make my kitchen a beautiful space?

Answer: We don’t often think about the decor in our kitchen, and focus instead on how it functions. But no matter the actual design of your kitchen, there are lots of small tweaks you can make to ensure it’s beautiful and a joy to be in. And they don’t have to be costly or involve a major renovation. It’s just about considering the details and putting your own personal stamp on the space.

Clear your benchtops
A clutter-free kitchen is the first foundation of a beautifully styled space. If you’re feeling like your kitchen needs a refresh, consider clearing the benchtops – find places for all of the functional, not-so-pretty items in cupboards and start with a clean slate.

Label it up
I have an addiction to my retro label maker. It’s such a lovely detail to label all your bottles and jars, and it’s also incredibly functional! Even better, by using jars instead of bags, you are taking a step towards a plastic-free and low-waste kitchen.

Display your favourite utensils and vessels
Why put your favourite ceramics and utensils away in a cupboard or drawer, when they can help style your beautiful kitchen? I like to layer wooden chopping boards by leaning them against a wall, and also display ceramic vases with wooden spoons and other nice utensils.

Style up open shelving
As long as you have enough other ‘hidden’ storage, open shelving is such a lovely way to display some favourite kitchen items. Start by placing your favourite cookbooks on the shelves, add some pretty ceramics and then some plants.

Display your fresh food
Delicious, fresh seasonal produce is a feast for the tummy and also for the eyes. Use baskets to display citrus and other pretty fresh foods. This will also make you more likely to eat them before they spoil, so it’s a win-win!

Project: Painted wooden spoons 

Cooking is supposed to be a joy, but sometimes it can feel a bit tiresome. I’ve found that investing a little time in making beautiful accessories for my kitchen helps inspire my cooking. This project, while relatively simple to execute, is a great starting point for updating your kitchenware and the space itself. Think of it as the gateway to a complete overhaul!

You need

  • Wooden spoons
  • Food-safe paint
  • 
Painter’s tape
  • 
Damp rag
  • Basic toolbox

How to

Gently sand the spoons to remove any rough areas. Wipe away any dust with a damp rag.

Wrap a piece of painter’s tape around the handle of each spoon to create a guide for painting.

Paint the spoons, using two coats of food-safe paint. Allow the spoons to air dry for at least an hour.

Place the dry spoons in a cold oven, then heat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Bake the spoons for 25 minutes, then turn off the oven and leave the spoons to cool completely in the oven. Wait at least 3 days before using the spoons. They should always be hand-washed.

Tip: Choose paint colours that complement the decor of your kitchen.

–Images and text from Home Is Where You Make It by Geneva Vanderzeil, photography by Geneva Vanderzeil. Murdoch Books RRP $35.00.

Geneva’s blog, Collective Gen

Categories
House Tours

Gemma Peanut shows us around her new Sydney home

Today’s tour is the first home of actress-turned-photographer Gemma Peanut and her husband Matt. Like many young Sydney couples, they missed out on several apartments before securing this one, on the lower north shore. “Searching for any home is a path paved with excitement and heartbreak,” the former Neighbours actress says. “We missed out on a few places we loved but were big believers that the home you end up with was always meant to be!

“I definitely didn’t fall for it instantly; my eyes widened at the opportunity and potential to convert it into something wonderful. I think the reason we were able to secure it was because it was so poorly presented for sale that many people were turned off. It would’ve looked like a lot of work to most but to me it looked like one hell-of-a fun project to sink my teeth into.” Smart buying indeed!

Gemma Peanut

The 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom, top floor apartment is in a small block of 11. On getting the keys, aside from feeling “like my bank account had been brutally violated,” Gemma felt overwhelmed with excitement. “Getting on the property ladder started to feel like an impossible dream in Sydney. We were elated when we finally signed the papers to our new baby. I don’t know if this is a common reaction, but a few weeks after the excitement of being home owners wore off, the reality of the huge job ahead of us started to sink in and nerves and anxiety about our renovations started to kick in.”

New bathrooms

The renovations took 4.5 months, during which time, the couple lived with her parents. “We gutted the entire apartment and started over. We removed all the bathroom tiles, built in wardrobes, carpet, the works. We also removed one wall to open up the kitchen into an open plan living room and kitchen. Most 1960s building have kitchens hidden away in a tiny room and I’m a sucker for lots of light and open space. That was never going to work for me. Plus, when I entertain friends, I like to be in the kitchen prepping a meal and still be able to hang out with everyone.”

The couple wisely ensured they’d be able to remove the wall before signing on the line to buy the place as it was a potential deal breaker. Then Gemma got to work with a very clear vision in mind, with Matt giving her free rein on all design decisions, provided she stayed within their agreed budget. “The greatest challenge was sticking to the budget but I enjoyed this challenge. It forced me to be resourceful and really sniff out those deals. There were certain things we splashed out on and then found ways to save. It’s all about striking that balance of affordable mixed in with fancy.”

Removing that kitchen wall undoubtedly made the biggest impact, allowing much more light in. “I’m a light junkie,” says Gemma. “I work from home and need to be flooded with light constantly for my own mental health. So that wall removal was the ultimate game changer.”

BEFORE: The former, closed off kitchen
BEFORE: The old, cluttered dining room

PROGRESS: Kitchen wall down!

Now it’s finished and furnished, Gemma describes the space as calming, modern and homely. “Many friends have come over and said it feels soothing and relaxing. I would say my interior style is clean and modern with a sprinkle of bohemian. Matt self-nominated to have zero say in the interior styling of our apartment but he surprisingly dug his heels in on one topic: carpet. That was the only time he piped up. I wanted to go for a light grey/oat coloured carpet and he passionately disagreed. He wanted a dark grey. And seeing as I didn’t have many battles to fight, I let him win the carpet battle. And since moving in, I have to take my hat off to him. The darker carpet is much more practical and contrasts nicely with our bright white walls and bed linen.”

First time homeowners Gemma and Matt

Being that she works from home, creating the perfect space was even more important to Gemma, who has carved out an impressive career as a photographer over the last few years, also running a popular online photography course. “I have a desk but I tend to move locations throughout the day. I’m fidgety so I’ll hop from working at my desk to my dining table to the kitchen island and then tend to end the day working on the couch. I’m sure all this shifting is terrible for my back but I’m incapable of sitting still and staring at the same wall for hours on end.”

Gemma recently launched a print shop too, selling some of her favourite photos as high quality art. “I’ve always followed my heart. I was that girl who knew her mind and my parents didn’t stand a chance in hell of guiding me towards a sensible and risk-free career. I’ve always been a believer that you will spend a giant chunk of your life working so you may as well love what you do. And I’ve been fortunate enough to explore all my creative passions and work within them with ease (although never void of a lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears). Transitioning to a business owner required a mammoth mental shift. I had to learn blind confidence and really back myself and belief that I could do it. There were a lot of growing pains along the way but I wouldn’t change a thing!”

Gemma loves art on her own walls too. “Art is where your can really express yourself and overtly share your personality. I like to make a statement, which is why my print shop offers large size prints with frames. I like people to solidly commit to my photography and go for something that takes up a lot of real estate and becomes a statement piece that can’t be ignored.

“My favourite is called Wild Love. It’s a picture of a maternal monkey breastfeeding her young. It brings such a grounding and earthy energy to my home. You can also walk straight into my apartment and completely understand my undying love for our natural environment. I love bringing the outside world inside. Hence all the indoor plant babies.”

With her renovating adventure now at an end, Gemma’s best advice from the experience is to pick a builder you like and trust. “You will spend a lot of time communicating and negotiating with them, so it’s important that you get on well and trust that they share your vision.

“My next big tip would be to stick with neutral tones when it comes to your kitchen and bathroom. You can express your love of colour through soft furnishings. Interior colours and styles move in waves and trends. It’s much easier to replace a pink cushion than it is to replace pink bathroom tiles.

“My last tip would be to plan lighting way ahead of time. This is something I wish I’d done sooner. The infrastructure needs to be set right at the start and isn’t something you can easily add in later. I wish I pre-empted that I might like a pendant light in my bathroom. Suddenly the bathroom was done and it was too late and too costly to add one.”

Categories
House Tours Kitchens

A Sydney blogger’s light-filled and lovely IKEA kitchen

Photography by Lucas Boyd

We recently checked out blogger Rebecca Lowrey Boyd’s kitchen and loved it so much, we persuaded her to share all the details with us. You can check out more of Rebecca’s writing at Wee Birdy.

I never thought I would renovate our kitchen. When we bought our ‘70s modernist pole house on Sydney’s upper North Shore three years ago, I was a staunch defender of its wood-panelled walls and ceiling. While everyone peered around in the gloom, I felt like I was living in a little wooden cabin in the the bush.

Why renovate?

After three months of living with our kitchen, the charm of the timber-lined space wore thin. The darkness of the kitchen was at odds with the rest of the house, which we’d since painted white and was bathed in light. More than anything, the clunkiness of the cabinetry was annoying. The drawers were heavy and frequently got stuck, and everything felt disorganised and messy. The overhead cabinets dividing the kitchen and living room made the room feel dark and closed in.

Why IKEA?

We knew a stone benchtop was out of the question because we have two poles going through the benchtop. The only option was timber so we could cut around the poles like a jigsaw. For a flatpack option, IKEA appealed because of the budget-friendly cabinetry and oak benchtops. We’ve got a Scandi-style home and it’s easy to get the Scandi look with IKEA. Finally I was drawn to the soft-closing, deep drawers that are so much more expensive in a custom-made kitchen.

Big changes

We removed the overhead cupboards that hung over the benchtop, which opened up the space and allowed the light from the living room to flood the kitchen. We also painted the dark timber panelling white in Dulux Natural White.

Benchtops

IKEA’s AKERBY worktop in oak (no longer available but there are similar).

Cabinetry

White IKEA FAKTUM cabinets (now called METOD).

Splashback

Hand-made ceramic subway tiles with black grout. We loved the organic look and the wavy surface imperfections. It gave our flatpack kitchen a more handcrafted, customised look.

Sink and tapware

The DOMSJÖ double bowl sink completed the relaxed Scandi-style look, which tied in with the rest of our house. We’d like a black kitchen tap but for now we’ve got an ELVERDAM tap (we love the pull-out spout for rinsing dishes).

Appliances

IKEA SVAVANDE ceiling-mounted extractor hood.

Lighting

We spray-painted IKEA’S white RANARP pendant lights black, and hung them over the working area of the benchtop. We also ran LED strip lighting under the bottom cupboards. It gives the space a soft glow at night, which is great when we have the TV on in the next room.

Mini vertical pole gardens

Our home is filled with plants and the kitchen wasn’t going to be the exception, so we painted the poles white and turned them into mini vertical gardens with Little Urban Farmers’ hanging gardens planters.

Worst thing we did

We orginally went with IKEA’s recommended tradesperson. We ended up having to rip out the benchtop and start again.

Best thing we did

Hire our builder, Matthew Blackmore. He carefully cut around our poles and joined the new IKEA oak benchtops seamlessly with a biscuit-joint, held together with benchtop clamps and wood glue. (The first tradie butt-jointed the benchtop together with Sikaflex and the finish was messy.

Our tradie dream team

Builder: Matthew Blackmore 0499 997 375

Painter: Joey Neukam 0435 162 240

Matt Blackmore’s top 3 IKEA timber benchtop tips

  1. If you’re joining together IKEA timber benchtops, ask your carpenter to make a biscuit joint and hold it together with benchtop clamps and wood glue.
  2. Use kitchen grade benchtop oil and give your benchtop three generous coats of oil with a second sand.
  3. It’s worth choosing the IKEA solid timber benchtops instead of the timber veneers, as the woodchip can disintegrate around the cut-outs to the sink and it can get black mould. If you do get a timber veneer, use the end strip to protect around the pieces which are exposed to the sink.

More kitchens and bathrooms

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Interiors Addict

Interiors Addict’s half a decade old: Juggling business & baby

Seriously, how did this happen?! This blog turned five this Easter. I always like to reflect on where we’ve come from and where we’re going on anniversaries, and while it’s easy to let it pass while enjoying a lovely long weekend, this year feels pretty significant. It’s not just that the blog is half a decade old, but this last year has been one of the hardest professionally, and personally, because the last year started when I was eight months pregnant and now here I am with an almost 11-month-old baby. Sebastian’s even walking! I know, what a show-off.  What’s the rush, little man?! I’m sure all the mums out there can appreciate just how busy it’s been with no childcare (we just had our first date night while a friend babysat this weekend!) and how much my priorities have shifted. We also bought our first home in Sydney this year (obviously we weren’t busy enough already!) so we have some reno fun ahead.

sebastian 10.5 months

So in some respects, this year feels like one of “only” treading water with one eye on the business (my first baby) and one on my second baby. Recently, I’ve felt like I’m really coming out of the haze of adjusting to motherhood (it’s just life now!) and I’m ready to get back into work full steam and grow Interiors Addict. There’s nothing more motivating than wanting to give your child the best future you can and while happiness is by no means all wrapped up in money, it does make life a lot easier! And I don’t just want to grow my business to make more money (although I’ll never say no), I am really aware that this is a job I love and I have the luxury of working flexibly around motherhood. Keeping hold of that luxury long term is more important than ever. God forbid I ever have to work for someone else again…

Yes, it’s hard juggling a business and a baby but it is worth it. There were times I felt envious of my friends on maternity leave for a year and a little bitter I couldn’t make it to mother’s group outings because I had an overflowing inbox to attend to, but I always remind myself to get some perspective because I’m fortunate I have been able to be the primary carer of my baby for his first year while still making money and doing work I really enjoy. Sometimes I may feel like I’m losing the plot, but so does everyone! Somehow, despite everything going on, Interiors Addict has more readers and is making more money than ever, and I’m really proud of that.

There were many changes and challenges this year. My amazing righthand woman Olivia Shead left after two years for a new role at Sky News having always wanted to work in TV (I’m so proud!). The agency who handled all my advertising sales closed their doors, and rather than replace them I decided the best person to sell my brand was me! Luckily I have taken on two new excellent part-time team members in Emma (advertising) and Amy (editorial), who are both young, part-time working mums too.

The original Interiors Addict on Tumblr!
The original Interiors Addict on Tumblr!

There have been some constants throughout the five years and the most significant is my “tech guy” and all round WordPress wizard David at ClickWP. Since moving my blog from its humble beginnings on Tumblr over to WordPress when people started asking to advertise in 2012, to supporting me month in, month out, making sure everything is running smoothly, building sister site Reno Addict and so much more, I wouldn’t be here without him. Thank you, David! Also thanks to Chantelle who looks after my graphic design. And a huge thank you to my husband Damian, who has always respected and encouraged my work and is a very hands-on dad when I need child-free work time.

I’m aware more than ever that outsourcing and having the right experts around you is so important and I’ve recently taken on book keepers and a virtual assistant. I’m trying to get on top of the money side (I’m pretty good at making it but not so good at knowing what do with it) and I’ve just registered as a company having been a sole trader until this point. It really feels like the business is growing up; it’s established and it’s a great time to get more organised and get systems and processes (my least favourite things) in place to keep that momentum going! There’ll be some stepping outside of my comfort zone this year but I’m ready for it!

My working weeks are a lot different lately. I spend a lot more time negotiating the commercial side of the blog and less on the content, and while other people are doing more of the writing, I’m still directing what they’re writing about and making sure it’s high quality, regular and relevant. I don’t attend all the fun events I used to because I’m a mum and while I miss it sometimes, giving readers and advertisers the best quality site has to be paramount and attending events, however fun, isn’t a priority and with a baby at home is often downright impossible anyway! But once we have childcare I will try and get out a bit more because relationships are important too and there’s nothing like face-to-face contact.

In the next few months we’ll be biting the bullet and getting a part-time nanny because wonderful as this juggling act can be, ultimately you cannot work and parent as well as you could when you’re trying to do both at the same time. I’m really looking forward to having a few hours a day of focussed work time to smash through my to-do list once we find the right person to entertain our little fella! Any tips for learning how to let go and let someone else care for your precious little person gratefully accepted!

Photo: A Pop of Love Photo (click for details)
Photo: A Pop of Love Photo (click for details)

Motherhood really is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Every single day I am grateful for and amazed by Seb and how he has changed our lives and our perspective on pretty much everything. I will never apologise for being a working mum and I hope to be a strong female role model for my son.

I can’t end this post without thanking you all, readers and advertisers, for supporting my business by reading, sponsoring, advertising and sharing and hope you’ll come along on the ride for the next five years and beyond!

Categories
Expert Tips House Tours Styling

Briar from Sunday Collector shares her small home office tips

As we come off the high of holidays and settle back into work for the year ahead, we’re looking for fresh ways to create a functioning and invigorating space to work from.

SundayCollector_WestElm_web_jacquiturk-2

Sydney-based interior decorator and founder and editor of Sunday Collector, Briar Stanley, recently shared her perfectly curated home office space, so she can already tick #officegoals off her to-do list for 2016.

Today she shares seven tips on creating the perfect small space home office:

Purchase quality. Storage items that look great on display are a must (avoid the corporate/plastic variety). A beautiful pen caddy, in tray and magazine file is all I need in front of me for my day to day desk duties. I also choose to work on a laptop as I often have to take work with me when travelling, but it’s also a far more compact option for a small desk space than a bulky monitor and hard drive combination.

SundayCollector_WestElm_web_jacquiturk-5

Hide your work. As pictured in my apartment, custom build a small home office as an extension from your kitchen that can be concealed with neat pocket doors when not in use. Other good spaces for a compact home office would be the space under a set of stairs or a stairway landing space, an awkward corner of a room not in use, or even a large empty wardrobe.

Good light. I find working in natural light during the day is lovely, but a good quality desk lamp such as the Factory Task Lamp, is important to brighten up your small work space at night, just ensure the lamp is not oversized and proportions are in keeping with the small desk. An angle poise lamp is also a good idea for task light direction you can control.

SundayCollector_WestElm_web_jacquiturk-4

Minimise the clutter. Avoid the mistake of trying to keep everything sitting in front of you at your work space. If it’s possible – dedicate a cupboard close by for the items that tend to clutter a desk – including bulky items such as folders and a printer.

Look up. Free up floor space and make the most of the wall space in front or to the side of your desk with a large moodboard. Open wall mounted shelving for things like reference books, storage boxes and trays will keep your desk clean, as would a tall bookshelf or cupboard – make the most of the full height of your walls.

SundayCollector_WestElm_web_jacquiturk-18

Keep cords and wires hidden. Hide the spaghetti mess as much as possible. Pictured in my home office are doors underneath the desk that open up to reveal wall mounted powerpoints. Cords are directed down to these powerpoints from a small opening in the corner of my desk.

Be comfortable. If you’re already sacrificing on space, you don’t want to be sitting in an uncomfortable chair all day. Look for adjustable height, armrests, a deep seat depth, proper wheels and of course something that looks good. I chose a chair for my office with a low back and light in fabric colour – so it’s not too overpowering at the small desk.

SundayCollector_WestElm_web_jacquiturk-19

Styling by Briar Stanley | Photography by Jacqui Turk | Images courtesy of west elm

 

Categories
Expert Tips

How to maximise your Instagram profile to grow your brand

Anyone in the homewares and interiors industry knows that Instagram is a great place to showcase and grow your brand. We asked blogger Christina Butcher to share her top tips for getting the basics right.

Ho to maximise your instagram profile

Instagram is the fastest growing social media platform and can be a launch pad for your brand or business. I love sharing photos and I’m not alone in Australia. 60% of users are women and 70% are active on Instagram every day.

I grew my Instagram, @mrandmrsromance, from 3000 to 10,000 in just over three months and have over 50,000 followers on my other account, @hairromance.

Instagram offers huge reach for your brand and there are so many insta-success stories. If you want to capitalise on the power of Instagram, here are nine simple tips to maximise your Instagram profile:

  • Instagram in real life. Look for insta-meets and photo walks in your area to connect with the Instagram community in real life.
  • Join up with instagram challenges. #7vignettes is the perfect community for interiors. The entries are amazing but don’t be put off, it’s a warm and friendly community and a great place to build connections.
  • Be aspirational. Instagram is mainly a platform for pretty pictures. You can keep it real but plain photos are better shared on Facebook or Snapchat.

Instagram workshop - Little Blog Big

  • Use your one clickable link with intention. Instagram only allows you one clickable link in your bio. Use it wisely. Create a specific page or offer to direct your followers to on your website. Make sure your website is mobile friendly.
  • Have fun with your bio! You have 150 characters but can space it out and use emoticons too. To get the right spacing, type up your bio in notes and then paste it into your Instagram profile.
  • Use Instagram as an amplification of your brand. Share images of your work or products, things that inspire you and show behind the scenes too.
  • Watch the grid. When someone comes to your profile they make a split second decision on whether to hit follow and that’s based on your photo grid. Keep an eye on the last none-to-15 images and make sure all your photos look good together.
  • Be generous. Make time to check in regularly to comment and like other Instagrammers.
  • Focus. You need to make instagram a priority if you want to grow your reach there. Set a goal and you’ll see your following grow.

–Want to learn more about managing your social media, creating content strategies and building your brand online? Little Blog Big are holding small group workshops that are perfect for small business owners, bloggers and solo-creatives.  The next workshops are in Canberra and Sydney and head to Little Blog Big for more the next event dates.

Categories
Interiors Addict

Interiors Addict’s Jen Bishop in Kidspot’s blogger alumni

I’m really honoured to have been included in Kidspot’s Voices of 2015 blogger alumni alongside some women I really admire. The alumni “represent the very best in Australian blogging excellence, innovation and professionalism.” You can read the full list of alumni here and I thoroughly recommend it if you’ve been looking for some quality new blogs to follow.

Screen Shot 2015-06-15 at 9.42.00 AM

As someone who isn’t your typical blogger (more of an online publisher as an ex journo) and who doesn’t write much about their feelings(!) or parenting (give me time!) it’s really nice to be recognised. It’s also lovely to see my friends Christina Butcher (Hair Romance), Lexi Kentmann (PottyMouthMama) and Sonia Stackhouse (Life Love & Hiccups) on the list!

Thanks Kidspot!

Categories
Homewares Interviews

Hipster Mum x Interiors Addict Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2015

Jade Warne from Hipster Mum

We invited the lovely Jade Warne from Hipster Mum to collate our Mother’s Day Gift Guide for us. Time to get shopping if you haven’t yet!

Jade Warne from Hipster Mum
Jade Warne from Hipster Mum

Pot pourri? Bath bombs? C’mon, you know your mum better than that! This year, why not give her something as gorgeous and clever as she is. Here, four super-stylish mums spill the beans on what they’d really love on May 10…

Elizabeth Rowe, communications manager and blogger from SqueakandSquirrel.com

hipstermum_mday_squeaksquirrel_2

I favour handmade over store-bought on Mother’s Day because I love the thought behind bits and pieces crafted with heart. Every year, I make something for my mum who in turn helps my daughter, Alice, put together a surprise for me. I will never part with these small gifts, just as mum has kept everything my sisters and I have ever made her.

So, what to craft this Mother’s Day? I love these three easy DIYs. Remember, the most meaningful gifts often cost next-to-nothing, so don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to spend a lot to give more:

Bake or buy your mum’s favourite pastry (or cake) and top it with flowers. Sweet as pie! Image and instructions via The Proper Blog.

flowerpie

Turn your favourite Instagram family photo into a puzzle using teeny wooden blocks and let your mum piece together her loved ones. Image and instructions via eHow.

instapuzzle

Draw ballet flats onto a calico drawstring bag to fill with shoes or other small treasures; an artwork and hiding place in one. Image and instructions via Made With Lof.

ballerinabag

PS. My little one Alice has designed a bunch of piggybank-friendly bracelets and necklaces for mums who fancy beads and bells. They ship with cute cards and optional wrap.

*****

Jackielyn Powell, food stylist and photographer at Insidethetreasurechest

JACK-MDAY-

From a background in advertising, Jackielyn found that becoming a mum inspired her to switch career paths and pursue her dream of becoming a food stylist: “When you have little ones, you realise that time you have to yourself is too precious not to be doing exactly what you love.” With campaigns for Gelatissimo and Jax Coco under her belt in 2015, this mama of two has her eye on Mother’s Day loot that will do double duty at home and in her shoots.

kikki.K Ceramic Svenska Hem Collection ceramics, from $5.95: I have two sets of these beautiful mugs and saucers already. They look expensive, but are actually totally affordable and come up beautifully in photos.

kikik

Porter’s Paints Crackle Medium, $37.40: When you’re taking photographs in your home, you really notice things like chipped paint and worn furniture. I’m keen to give my favourite wooden pieces a new lease on life without losing that lived-in look. Porter’s Crackle Medium is perfect for this; it goes on between coats of paint and works to give the top coat a cracked, distressed finish.

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The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck, $US40: Kim Krans is an artist, writer and yogi with a 50K following on Instagram. A large part of her following is credited to the incredible energy she’s poured into the illustrations that appear in these cards. My current deck is getting a little tired, but these will be perfect for a quick read while waiting for dinner or when friends drop by for a cuppa.

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*****

Elsie Houston, graphic designer at Elsieinvents.com

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As a mum of two — Talo (4 months) and Otto (3) — graphic designer Elsie says her Mother’s Day wishlist is comprised of just one thing: sleep. That said, any of the clever home treats below would be a bonus.

Mr and Mrs White, Brass + Oak Block Lamp, $230: I met Sasha White when we renovated our kitchen this year and fell in love with her style (check it out on Instagram). Minimalism can often seem cold in real life, but her pieces are always warm, functional and incredibly stylish.

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Australian White Grape Refills, $27, Murchison-Hume: The amount of surface cleaning that goes on in my house has really gone up a notch in the last four months! Murchison-Hume products are eco-friendly, specifically designed to be safe for kids and look great sitting on the benchtop. Love.

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Sole Society Cassidy Vegan Weekender, $69.95: I’m from the UK so we head back there at least once a year. I’m always on the lookout for bags big enough to stash all our family essentials, but small enough for the overhead compartment. These tick the box while looking great, plus they’re vegan, which has the animal lover in me smiling.

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*****

Dee Tang, founder and designer behind Kawaiian Lion

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Venice Jewellery Planets in Orbit Stud earring, $80: Who can go past a collection with “magellanic cloud” in it?! I adore this and the Sun River Stud.

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She Made Me Charcoal One Piece, $129.99: Seventies-style crochet bikinis, handmade in small batches. Need I say more?

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Le Petit Marche Australia: Anything and everything from this amazing French market in Newport. French linen? Check. French farm jams? Check. French goat’s cheese? Check. Petite French chocolates? Check. Cool French interior mag Milk? Check. Run by super chic and friendly french lady Celine? CHECK!

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*****

Me! Jade Warne, photographer and blogger from Hipster Mum

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Now that I have kids of my own, Mother’s Day for me is all about giving back to my mum. She’s the coolest, cleverest person I know, but she doesn’t always have time to shop for the coolest, cleverest stuff, so I take it as my duty to deck her out in the kind of gear that makes the other mums ask “where did you get that?”.

Succulents from Flower Power, from $5: I’m obsessed with the clean, chic look of succulents around the house, and with their desert-surviving talents, I’m pretty hopeful that these guys could survive the nuclear dead zone that is mum’s garden (RIP maiden hairs)?

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Plum & Bow Alia Duvet Cover, $169: On the list of Snuggliest Places on Earth, mum’s bed already comes in at number one. And these pompoms will absolutely confirm that there ain’t no place ever going to knock her off the top spot.

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Natalie Alamein clutch, $250: What with all the bags my mum carries (school bags, work bags, gym bags) the last thing she needs is another one. Instead, I’m desperate to get her a fun little clutch to stash her keys/wallet/phone and make all the other mums jealous when she walks in to get her coffee!

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Photography of mums by Jade Warne. Hipster Mum is a creative guide to parenting in style.

Categories
Interiors Addict

Win the purse which charges your mobile phone (3 to give away + 20% off for every reader)

I was recently gifted an awesome Mighty Purse from Handbag Butler. Now, you can imagine someone like me relies on and uses their mobile phone a lot. Instagram usage alone is enough to burn through half of the best phone battery in half a day! When I’m out and about, if I can avoid it (and especially since I’ve been pregnant) I try to avoid taking my MacBook Air with me, light as it is. And these days, you can do so much just from your small screen.

To avoid being caught short of juice, I had bought a portable battery charger for my bag. However I kept blooming well forgetting it. So when Handbag Butler offered me one that comes attached to a purse, and a nice looking cream real leather one at that, I knew I was onto something.

mighty purse interiors addict

Another pregnancy thing has been downsizing my massive bag (the 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli Medium) to a smaller, hands-free (motherhood pending!) cross-body bag (Tory Burch, if you’re interested). My new Mighty Purse fits perfectly inside it, fitting all the essentials like my phone (as it charges), Opal Card, business cards, keys and LIPSTICK. Because this on-the-go charger is now kept with other everyday must-haves, I don’t tend to forget it.

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For a full-time blogger, being able to charge on the go is a dream. My phone would often die on the way home from an evening event when I’d taken lots of pictures. Not being able to catch up on emails on the way home (by cab or train) was always really irritating. As a business owner, I like using ‘dead time’ wisely!

The battery in the purse is a Lithium-ion Polymer battery, the same type as in your smartphone, except for its size. The purse battery has a capacity of 4000mAh; more than twice your phone battery. With a fully charged purse, you can typically charge a smartphone twice over before your purse will need to be recharged. When it does, you plug it into the mains via your phone charger: easy! Or into your computer’s USB port! The purse measures 20cm x 12.5cm x 2.5cm and weighs just 200g. It comes in many colours and is RRP from $99.95 for faux leather. It is suitable for all micro-USB phones and iPhone adaptors are an additional RRP $14.95.

Ivory

The wristlet collection is made from the finest grade leather and The Mighty Purse Sport Luxe Collection is for the fashion forward and active person. Crafted with quilted nylon, with a genuine leather trim, this bag has belt loops on the back and a removable, adjustable leather strap. It can be worn across the body or around the waist as a hip-bag, taking you from work, to the gym, and out at night!

WIN

I loved my Mighty Purse gift so much, I’ve got hold of three (each with iPhone adaptors should that be your mobile of choice) to give away to three of you lucky ladies! Just fill in the form below for your chance of winning. Please state your preference of:

Black Shimmer Wristlet (worth $109.95)
Ivory Wristlet (worth $109.95 and just like mine)
Olive Sport Luxe (worth $109.95)

READER DISCOUNT

If you’re impatient or not feeling lucky, we have a special 20% off Mighty Purses for our readers using the promo code interiorsaddict. Valid until next Tuesday 28 April 2015 online.

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Categories
Art Expert Tips Homewares

Weaving tutorial: create your own wall hanging

When Amanda O’Sullivan shared one of her beautiful woven wall hangings during our 7 Vignettes contest on Instagram earlier this month, she wowed plenty of our readers. So we were delighted when she agreed to put together this great tutorial for us.

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There’s a weaver fever going around right now! If you are excited about weaving being cool again and you’re keen to try making your own woven wonder, you will be happy to hear that it’s not that hard. While it may look complicated, all you need are a few simple techniques under your belt and you’re ready to create your own beautiful wall hangings. Don’t despair if you haven’t got a loom, because you can make your own from an old frame or even a piece of sturdy cardboard. Today, I’m going to share the basic skills you will need to know to create your first wall hanging. Enjoy!

What you’ll need

WeavingSupplies

  • Lap loom
  • Wide tooth comb
  • Strong cotton for warping
  • Various yarn and fibre for the weft (the weaving threads)
  • A weaving or tapestry needle
  • Scissors
  • A stick or rod for hanging.

Step 1: Let’s get warping! Warp is the term used for the strong cotton threads that run up and down vertically on your loom. To start, wrap your cotton around the first tooth and tie it securely in place, then run the thread up to the opposite tooth at the top of the loom. Wrap the cotton around this tooth and then run your thread back down to the bottom of the loom. Continue running the thread up and down until you have reached your desired size. I’ve covered my entire loom with warping thread for this project. Tie another knot firmly around the last tooth. Finally, turn your loom 180 degrees so that the bottom (the end with the knots) now sits at the top of your weave.

WeavingStep1

Step 2: Thread your tapestry or weaving needle with yarn and cut off a workable length, as you don’t want to get yourself in a tangle! For larger weaving projects you could use a shuttle; a stick that you can load up with yarn and pass through the warps. I prefer to stick to a needle. The threads that go across are called the weft. Remember to start at the end of the loom without the knots and weave your needle over and under the warp thread until you reach the end, then return back through the warp, alternating over and under. Always leave 2-to-3 inches of tail so that you have enough length to weave in your ends.

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Step 3: When weaving your thread, work a few inches above your previous row, as this will help maintain good tension. Each row of weaving is then pushed down onto the previous row with your wide tooth comb. If you run out of yarn in the middle of a row, simply pull your yarn through to the back, making sure to leave a few inches to stitch in later. Start your new yarn where your last finished and continue.

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Step 4: After 5 or so rows, you may like to add some tassels to your weave. The number of pieces of yarn required for each tassel depends on the thickness of your thread. As my yarn is quite thin, I’ve used 8 pieces for each tassel. If your yarn is thicker, 8-ply or larger, you may only need 3 or 4 pieces. Don’t make your tassels too bulky as they won’t sit nicely. Layer your threads on top of each other and then weave your threads under 2 warps. Lift the threads up through the warp with your finger to create a small loop. Grab both ends of the tassel and thread them through this loop. Lift up and pull to tighten your tassel and then tug down into position.

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Step 5: I’ve placed tassels all along the bottom of my weave. Continue weaving, changing colours as you go.

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Step 6: If you’d like to add shapes or change colours mid loom, simple weave as normal to the point where you’d like the colour to end. Weave in between the threads of the neighbouring colour (see picture) to keep the weave smooth and connected. Continue weaving, changing colours and adding tassels as you please. Make sure you stop weaving at least a couple of inches before you reach the top, as you’ll need some length in your warp to tie knots when you remove your weave from the loom.

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Step 7: Removing your weave from the loom can be a bit scary, but if you follow these instructions, your weave will remain happily intact! Carefully slip your weave off the bottom of the loom — the bottom is where you started weaving, the end without the knots. When the weave is free from the end, push your work gently to the bottom. At the top of the loom, remove the warp from one tooth at a time and cut at the top of the loop, creating 2 threads. Tie these threads together firmly into a knot. Continue removing your warp, one tooth at a time, until all of the threads are knotted. Ta-dah! Your weave is now free.

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Step 8: Tuck these ends into the back of your weave using your needle. Alternatively, you may like to tie these threads onto your stick or bar for hanging.

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Step 9: Now it’s time to tidy up your loose threads at the back of your weave. Simply thread the dangling yarns into your needle and pass them through about 2cm of weave at the back and snip off the ends to tidy up.

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Step 10: How you choose to attach your weave to a hanging mechanism is completely up to you. I’ve loosely stitched mine onto a stick and then attached some string for hanging. Once you’ve attached yours, simply hang and admire!

–Amanda O’Sullivan is country girl with a passion for interiors, craft and design. She is the proud owner of RedAgape Guesthouse in Millthorpe and RedAgape Blog, where she showcases her creative endeavours. We think her Instagram feed is well worth a follow too!

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So, will you give it a go? We’d love to see your efforts on Instagram! Please tag us if you share them!

Categories
Interiors Addict

Jen Bishop named in top 50 female entrepreneurs under 40 list

This week, our publisher, Jen Bishop, was honoured to be named #43 in a list of Australian female entrepreneurs under 40 by Startup Daily.

female-entrepreneurs

“It was a huge surprise,” she said. “But definitely makes all the late nights and hard work and juggling worth it. I feel very lucky to love what I do and the growth of Interiors Addict since I became a full-time blogger two years ago has been really rewarding. It was particularly nice to get this honour the day after International Women’s Day. Now I need to work out how to juggle running a business with becoming a mum in a few weeks’ time and proving you really can have it all! Wish me luck!”

Earlier this year, Jen launched sister site Reno Addict and an online store with her own homewares range is launching later this month.

Read the full list.

 

Categories
Bedrooms Designers Interviews Kids Rooms

Australian nursery ideas: with Sunday Collector

Recently, we spoke to Briar Stanley, the blogger and interior decorator behind Sunday Collector. As a specialist in creating gorgeous rooms — especially for little people — we thought she would be the perfect person to share some tips on designing your nursery.

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Minnie_1 “Decide on the piece you want to splurge on (maybe the cot that converts into a toddler bed) and then don’t be afraid to mix vintage pieces with new. Have fun trawling op shops for a day or check out Gumtree for cute timber bookshelves or change tables. Update these pieces with a coat of paint and you will end up with an original nursery that has loads of character. Places like IKEA, Cotton On and Target are also your friend when it comes to nurseries — mix in a few pieces from affordable shops here and there for a truly unique space.”

BR1Briar also puts a lot of emphasis on the colour palette, recommending colour over its monochrome counterpart. “I’ve seen lots of black and white rooms lately, but I am happy to see colour is making a big comeback. I like the idea of kids growing up around the innocence of ‘happy’ colours. Cool painted wall murals are proving pretty popular, as is cute wallpaper.”

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BR3

Alongside a beautiful looking room, for Briar functionality is also of the utmost importance. “A change table with handy storage close by for nappies and wipes is a good idea. You want to be prepared in those early months with a newborn. Sleep deprivation can make the simplest task (like finding a nappy in the middle of the night) impossible! Also, a dimmer for the ceiling light is always handy. You need to be able to see your hands without bright overhead lighting that may stimulate your baby from slumber.”

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Having designed an array of nurseries, Briar can’t help but admit her favourite was her daughter, Sunday’s. “It was a true labour of love and a slow process of pulling together a space I imagined my daughter would like while I was pregnant. As luck would have it, I pretty much imagined her toddler personality (cheeky, funny, bold, artistic) perfectly. As a nearly three-year old, it’s a space she loves to play in and she’s always telling our visitors to, ‘Come see my room, now!'”

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With Sunday now a toddler, Briar recently transitioned the nursery into a kids room, a process that wasn’t time-consuming or expensive! “If you’re like me with my daughter, transforming your nursery into a kids room could be as easy as replacing the cot with an appropriate toddler bed and some fresh bed linen. I also added a second bookshelf to deal with a huge over-supply of books, and updated a few things on her walls. I’ll often find a client has applied a nursery-themed wall decal before I’ve come on on the scene, so removing that and replacing it with some great art is a really easy way to update a nursery.”

For more information.

Categories
Design

Check out brand new lifestyle blog, We Are Scout

A new blog launched today and I think it’s going to be pretty great. We Are Scout is a collaboration between two popular Australian design and lifestyle bloggers, Lisa Tilse (The Red Thread) and Rebecca Lowrey Boyd (Wee Birdy).

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Lisa and Rebecca

With an impressive 13 years of combined blogging experience, along with many years’ experience in the magazine, publishing and design industries, Lisa and Rebecca bring a fresh and thoroughly professional edge to the lifestyle blog category. And if there’s something I’ll personally always champion it’s professional bloggers. The more of us out there, showing we’re a force to be taken seriously, the better!

Based in Sydney, both Lisa and Rebecca offer an expert global view on design, craft, interiors, travel, shopping, fashion and beauty, with a distinctly Australian voice and focus. By combining forces, the pair believe that We Are Scout will quickly establish itself as a trusted, respected and influential lifestyle blog that will lead trends and shape tastes.

Content will include:
– free DIY craft tutorials;
– free printables;
– shopping & destination guides and maps;
– a weekly newsletter with extra content.

Photo credit: Lisa Tilse
Photo credit: Lisa Tilse
Photo credit: Lucas Boyd
Photo credit: Lucas Boyd

Designer, crafter and maker Lisa established The Red Thread, in 2008. Her passion for living a creative life and inspiring others to embrace creativity has attracted a loyal global following.

Experienced journalist Rebecca Lowrey Boyd founded Wee Birdy during the summer of 2007 in London, and captured the attention of a global audience obsessed with shopping, fashion, design, interiors, style, travel and beauty.

What are you waiting for? Go check it out and tell the girls I sent you!

Categories
Bedrooms Designers Interviews Styling

How Sunday Collector’s Briar Stanley fell into interiors

Briar and daughter Sunday

Whilst working in advertising, Briar Stanley found herself on the set of a Kellogg’s television commercial and was immediately enthralled by the job of the set decorator.

Briar and daughter Sunday
Briar and daughter Sunday

“It had never occurred to me that the job even existed,” explains Briar. “You could say that I had my calling that day. I quit my day job, worked nights as a waitress and offered myself up for work experience during the day on film sets.”

After six months of working for next to nothing, Briar started getting paid jobs as a props buyer and set dresser. Over the years, she’s worked on everything from low-budget ABC television series to better known shows such as Underbelly and Rake and big films like Australia, Wolverine and The Great Gatsby. However since having her little girl Sunday, Briar has changed tack; focusing on residential projects through her interior decoration business, Sunday Collector.

Minnie3With an accompanying blog of the same name, Briar creates rooms from scratch and even provides an affordable Work with what you’ve got package, where in a two-hour consultation (available in the Sydney metro area), she talks about everything from wall colours to sofa positioning.

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With a personal style that’s a little quirky, she loves mixing old with new and having clashing colours and patterns, but always with a base of whites and soft greys. “I’m also hugely sentimental, so my cupboards are bulging with memories,” explains Briar. “Although, if my house burnt down tomorrow and I had to build from scratch, I’d say the interiors would end up completely Scandinavian with a ‘by the beach’ vibe.”

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However, when it comes to her work style, she is very aware of listening to what her clients want. “I’m never going to turn up to someone’s house and insist that they like the things I like. I think it must be my film training, but I like to get into their headspace and understand their style and what they love — even when some clients insist they have no style! I’m a big believer in reviving old pieces too. Not sure about the old armchair in the corner? Let’s re-cover that armchair and make it a focus in the room!”

For more information.

Categories
Expert Tips

Blogging tips for beginners from Interiors Addict

Last week, I met with a friend of a friend who really wants to make a go of blogging as a career. She is already off to a good start and full of enthusiasm and passion, which is really half the battle. I get asked for blogging tips all the time but unfortunately I don’t have time to sit down one on one with everyone. So I thought I’d share some of my  most common sense beginner tips here with you all, if you’re looking to blog seriously. And by seriously, I mean to one day, if not immediately, monetise your blog. In fact, these tips are for anyone who wants to make a longterm go of blogging and even if not for money, to be taken seriously as a blogger. I hope you enjoy!

Interiors Addict founder Jen Bishop
Interiors Addict’s Jen Bishop

KEEP IT REAL. If there’s one thing readers tell me they like over and over it’s that they feel like they know me and that I come across as someone who is genuine and doesn’t sugar coat everything. I really try to achieve that. It’s my personality to be this way and that’s what I hope to get across, whether it’s being honest about the realities of self-employment and blogging for a living or not having the perfect interior myself. It’s also a lot easier to be yourself than to keep up a pretence and readers appreciate you letting them into your life a little. I don’t talk about myself and my feelings a lot but, when I do, there’s always a big response.

CHOOSE WORDPRESS. This is my personal platform of choice and of course, you don’t have to take my word (pardon the pun) for it, but I believe this is the best blogging platform out there and its flexibility is key to that. Choosing self-hosted WordPress also means YOU own your blog and if you’re going to start hosting ads and making money, why would you want anyone else to own it? That’s just crazy talk! Did you know Interiors Addict used to live on Tumblr? (Click WP moved me across a couple of years ago).

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OUTSOURCE. You can’t do everything. You likely don’t have the time or the skills. I’m no good with web development, graphic design and advertising sales and I outsource all these things. At the beginning, even when budgets are tight, you will still do yourself a favour by getting someone to help you. You have to spend money to make money and if you’re serious, you’ll invest in your blog, even if it’s just a few hundred dollars (you’ll have to sacrifice a bit of your shopping/meals out/holiday money). These days, as a full-time blogger with an employee, I outsource many things, but when I was new it would be an hour of graphic design work here and a bit of email server help there. It all makes a difference.

USE SOCIAL MEDIA BUT DON’T RELY ON IT. Plenty of bloggers (myself included to an extent) felt the pain of relying too heavily on Facebook for traffic when it changed all its rules last year and stopped people seeing the majority of pages’ content unless you paid to boost it. The biggest learning from this is to not put all your eggs in one basket. Social media isn’t the only way to get the word out about your blog either. Consider guest posting on other sites, sending a newsletter and looking at your SEO.

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COLLECT EMAIL ADDRESSES. This was a major fail for me and possibly my biggest blogging regret. Although I have a very respectable email database these days, I didn’t start collecting my readers’ email addresses for almost TWO YEARS. D’oh! Start now (I recommend Mailchimp for its ease of use, and it’s free until you have over 2,000 subscribers, but there are other options out there). Make it easy and maybe even offer an incentive, for your readers to sign up to hear more from you. And then make sure you send them content which is relevant, useful and enjoyable. When my second blog launches next month, I will be collecting email addresses from day one! (Oh, you can sign up for our newsletter and get a free eBook in return here!)

BE HONEST AND ETHICAL. While the law around disclosure is a bit patchy, it is increasingly being questioned as brands use influencers like bloggers more and more to spread their marketing messages. I have absolutely no issue with being paid by a brand (provided I like the way they do things) to spread their message to my readers. I have worked hard, and continue to work hard, to build that following and to earn their trust. What I am very big on is transparency. If a post has been paid for on this blog it will always say so at the top. If I’m gifted a product I will always say so. If I don’t like something, I won’t blog about it. It’s that simple. Don’t disrespect your readers by trying to pass off a paid message as your own, unbiased thoughts. If they find out, they’ll not be impressed and you’ll quickly lose their trust.

GET EDUCATED. Of course, you learn a lot as you go when blogging, but in the early days when I was a newbie, I soaked up eBooks and webinars like a sponge (most of them free). I still can’t get enough of the blog learning but these days I seem to have way less time! Some sources I recommend are: Secret Bloggers’ Business, ProBlogger, Blog with Pip, Blog Society, Decor8’s Blogging Your Way and Copyblogger.

COLLABORATE, DON’T COPY! AND BE PREPARED FOR ANNOYING COPYCATS! My advice here is to be open to working with other bloggers and small business owners on win-win situations. Or even just mentor each other. I have had incredible success from teaming up with others and have one friend I regularly meet with to biz brainstorm. Also be prepared that once you start to do well, people will rip off your ideas. It is massively annoying, no matter how flattering people will tell you imitation is. You put in the time and effort and come up with the good idea, then you see it pop up on another blogger’s Instagram a few days later. Not cool. But there’s nothing much you can do about it and getting irritated is a waste of energy. Remember this: there’s no substitute for hard work and originality so just keep doing what you’re doing, let people copy. They won’t get the satisfaction of having had that great idea themselves! And when you see someone else’s great idea, of course it’s natural to be tempted to replicate it (it’s great to be inspired by other bloggers too), but try to at least put your own spin on it and imagine how you’d feel if someone did the same to you!

DITCH THE FREE EMAIL ADDRESS. While there’s nothing wrong with Gmail for example (I heart Gmail a lot), to be taken seriously as any kind of business, I think it really helps to have your own specific, paid-for email address. It just gives a professional impression from the get go. Seems crazy to me, as a website business, to be using a free email address that’s not attached to your URL.

JUST START! For some people, the hardest part about starting a blog is just that: starting. You can procrastinate until the cows come home about the perfect blog name, layout, theme, whether you’re good enough, if anyone will read it and if you’ll run out of things to say, but you really just have to start. It’s that simple. What’s the worst that can happen?

Having said that…

IF YOU’RE NOT TRULY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, DON’T BOTHER. I blogged for 18 months without earning a cent and I spent hours and hours of my time on Interiors Addict because I just bloody loved it. It was a long time before people started telling me I could make a business out of it and even longer before I started to believe them. You pretty much have to really want to do it, even if you don’t get paid (which is why I never really advocate starting a blog with making money as a priority), to be able to keep going, day in, day out, week in, week out (and that’s as far as many people get because they simply don’t care enough). But if you love what you’re going to write about, the rest can come later. Go for it! Passion will get you a really long way.

You can come and hear me speak about making money from digital publishing at this Pozible event in Sydney as part of the Digital Writers’ Festival next month. You can also watch it online and it’s free.

Categories
Travel

The future of blogging and the power of collaboration

dubai getaway

This Bloggerati getaway was proudly sponsored by Dubai Tourism.

One of the best things about taking part in Australia’s biggest ever social tourism campaign last month, when I went to Dubai with more than 20 other bloggers, was meeting and learning about other people who blog passionately like I do, whether about interiors or something else. It was a great opportunity to swap notes and find out how other people do things, from earning money to planning their content, managing their time and juggling their other commitments like family and, in some cases, jobs (I remember well the 18 months of juggling this blog alongside a full-time job, just for the love of it. It was BUSY!).

Being pregnant, it was great to meet so many ‘mummy bloggers’ and hear their tips, especially Samantha Jockel from School Mum who brought her adorable five-month-old baby Ellis with her. She is lucky I didn’t try and steal him…

Samantha Jockel, blogger at School Mum, and son Ellis
Samantha Jockel, blogger at School Mum, and son Ellis

samantha and ellis 2 school mum

There were fellow interiors bloggers too: Anne-Maree Russell from The House That A-M Built and Dani Wales (ex of The Block) from Basic Habitat. We are all part of Nuffnang’s talent group of Australian bloggers called Bloggerati.

Before heading into tje mosque with fellow interiors blogger Anne-Maree Russell from The House that A-M Built
Before heading into the mosque with fellow interiors blogger Anne-Maree Russell from The House that A-M Built

In my opinion, there is almost always something to learn from other bloggers, whether you’re in the same niche or different, whether you’re bigger or smaller than they are. And that was part of the beauty of the trip; picking each other’s brains on things each other were weaker or stronger at. While blogging as a career is still a relatively new concept, and not everyone in Bloggerati falls into that category or aspires to, as someone who has been doing that for two years, it was a rare and useful chance to swap notes with so many other bloggers at one time. We all have large audiences and, although the synergies aren’t always immediately obvious, scratch below the surface and you’ll often find we have readers with interests in common and things we can help each other with.

It is fantastic that an organisation like Dubai Tourism saw the value in investing a significant amount of money and resources into taking more than 20 Australian bloggers to the UAE and saw the value of our influence in sharing all the variety Dubai has to offer with our readers (estimated to be in the millions between us). It’s a fine example of one of my favourite things: a win-win situation.

This year, I’ve resolved to hang out more with other bloggers and form mutually beneficial partnerships and relationships. And hey, even friendships!

Who are your favourite bloggers (apart from Interiors Addict, of course!)?

If you’re a blogger, do you network, share with and learn from other bloggers?

dubai getaway

dubai tourism platinum heritage shangri-la hotel bloggerati australia 1001 events
Categories
Dining Styling

The Tabletop Project day 4: blogger Nikki Yazxhi of bellaMUMMA

Christmas is all about gathering together for a feast with your favourite people. Sydney furniture makers Mark Tuckey asked seven of their favourite creatives to create a Christmas table (Some are glitzy, some are glam, some are just plain dotty) and we’re sharing one with you each day this week.

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Beauty blogger Nikki chose the traditional looking Farmhouse Table but went for a look that wasn’t traditionally Christmassy. “I went for an over abundance of peonies (my faves, which are only around at Christmas time), pink reindeer and a glitter gold star theme.

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“I kept the peonies cut short so guests could see each other across the table, and scattered them down the entire length of the table in different sized vases. I tried to create ‘deconstructed bon-bons’ with super-cute crowns and star headbands, and little chocolate treats in the Uashmama bags, placed on everyone’s plate.

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“The serviettes were tied with baker’s twine and feature a little pink reindeer. And so I didn’t cover the amazing Mark Tuckey table, I made my ‘placemats’ using an outline of glitter washi tape.

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“Finally, to get all the senses going, I placed gorgeous Maison Blanche ‘Australian Christmas’ and ‘Buttered Popcorn’ candles down the middle of the table, which smelt amazing!”

Check out bellaMUMMA.

Photography by Cameron Bloom.

THE TABLE TOP PROJECT Nikki Yazxhi from www.shayneallen.com on Vimeo.

Categories
Bedrooms Kids Rooms

The latest kid’s bed from BedNest with Sunday Collector

Not many under-threes have a bed named after them, but little Sunday, daughter of fellow blogger Briar Stanley of Sunday Collector, does! Brings a whole new meaning to the concept of a big girl bed!

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BedNest founder Nicky line says: “It’s called the Sunday bed after Briar’s divine daughter and Briar and I designed it together to create the perfect bed to last from toddler to teenager. Can you imagine being a muse at 2.5 years old?!”

The 10 best places to buy Australian kid’s linen online

Briar and Sunday
Briar and Sunday

It costs from $1,299 and is available is a wide variety of fabric options. The legs can be changed for taller ones as the child grows.

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Pictured here with Cultiver linen. Shop online.