If you’re hosting Christmas this year and doing the cooking, your life could be a lot easier if you win one of these great kitchen prizes!
First prize is a complete set of new French brand Ô cuisine’s borosilicate glass cookware (valued at more than $200) plus a Miyabi 5000FCD Gyutoh 16cm chef’s knife worth $379. The glass cookware set includes a rectangular roaster, oval casserole, flan dish, two mixing bowls, an expert bowl and a measuring jug.
We also have two runner up prizes of the complete set of Ô cuisine borosilicate glass cookware as detailed above.
The beauty of the glassware is that it is thermal shockproof – you can take it from freezer to oven and it won’t crack or shatter (withstanding temperatures of minus 40 to 300 degrees celsius). It references the current trend for vintage style cookware but this new generation borosilicate product is far more durable.
The amazing Miyabi knife is crafted using the traditional skills of samurai sword making! The beautiful floral damask patterning on the steel blades requires the folding of 48 layers of steel and has a rockwell hardness of 61. Incredible!
For your chance to win, complete the form below by 5pm AEST next Friday 8 December 2017. Open to Australian residents only.
As you know, we’re big Designers Guild fans around here so we’re delighted to share with you some homewares picks for the Australian Spring from the woman herself, Tricia Guild. And one lucky reader will win a quilt cover and pillowcases of their choice to refresh their bedroom for the warmer months. But more on that later…
Tricia Guild shares her homewares picks for the Australian Spring
‘‘There is a beautiful moment between the shifting seasons that I absolutely adore,” Tricia tells us. “It’s the perfect time to embrace those crucial little changes that will breathe vitality into the home again. I much prefer to evolve my home seasonally, with a focus on the smaller elements rather than making any radical changes.
“Our Spring accessories collection features rich and expressively coloured designs in such beautiful, soft and tactile textures – perfect for the warmer months. I like to pair prints and plains together, to maintain that sense of balance and harmony.’’
Aubriet Fuchsia bed linenMercer steel and alchemilla ned linen
Tricia says colour is the ultimate stimulant. “It awakens the senses and brings instant joy. Making it perfect for bed linen.’’
Biella emerald and teal bed linen
She also highlight these round and oval rugs; a a new shape for Designers Guild this season. “They have such a contemporary feel to them and look beautiful when layered.’’
Rossolo cobalt rug
COMPETITION
You could win any (in stock) Designers Guild duvet cover and two pillowcases of your choice from the new Australian online store. Simply check out the many options available then complete the form below with your choice of prize (and bed size) should you win, by 5pm AEST on Thursday 2 November 2017. Open to Australian residents only.
I have a confession: I am addicted to house porn… and don’t worry it’s not as X-rated as it sounds. Rather, it’s the act of checking out the most lust-worthy, jaw-dropping residences and dreaming of winning the lottery so you can call them home!
Designed by Adelaide Bragg
The 2017 House & Garden Top 50 Rooms is perfect for fellow addicts. Now in its 19th year, the competition celebrates the crème de la crème of Australian residential design. Whittled down from hundreds of entries, the rooms are as diverse as they are stunning with beautifully functional kitchens to ingenious living spaces and dreamy bedrooms.
Designed by Lisa Burdus
This year’s overall winner is a luxurious sunken living room, designed by Melbourne architect, Dina Malathounis of Junctions90. Blending a neutral palette with a spectacular open fire, it has oversized glass windows that lead to the backyard.
Designed by Dina Malathounis
With an esteemed judging panel including Australian House & Garden‘s editor in chief Lisa Green, interior designer Dana Tomic-Hughes of Yellowtrace and colour expert Lucy Sutherland; the categories range from Best Kitchen to Best Use of Colour and Best Use of Materials.
Designed by Louise WalshDesigned by Splinter Society
Six states are represented in the Top 50, with a blind judging process guaranteeing an unbiased result. As Room of the Year designer, Dina receives a trip for two to Paris for the Maison & Objet fair in January 2018. We are jealous!
Early Settler have released a new rug range and it’ll knock your socks off! I am seriously impressed. There’s something for every taste: colourful, textural, organic, neutral, rectangular and round (even oval, in fact!). I’ve picked just a few of my favourites, which was no easy task! If you love them as much as I do, there’s a chance to win your favourite, but more on that later…
I’ve long said there’s a lack of great rugs available to the general public in Australia. There’s plenty of the cheap-as-chips or luxury and bank-breaking, but we’re a bit lacking when it comes to something in the mid range price point which is both high quality and unique design. Not anymore!
First up, will you look at these amazing blush options? Clearly, this on trend colour is going nowhere anytime fast and it’s a really different idea to use pink on the floor rather than just cushions and throws, for example. These rugs have me wanting to inject some serious girly tones into my own home!
The gorgeous shimmer effect on the lefthand side (and below) is created with handwoven 100% chenille and feels velvety soft underfoot. Ideal for low traffic areas of the home where you’d like to inject a little glam! The one on the right, which I think I love even more, dials it down a little on the femininity but makes up for it in texture. It’s handwoven with a subtle geometric pattern.
Vintage Plum rug
Now, I appreciate not everyone’s brave enough for a coloured rug, however subtle, so I’ve picked some more neutral options too. I’ve earmarked this one for my own living room! The handwoven flat weave rug will bring an instant contemporary look to your room.
Braided Diamond and woven rug
Also in the same neutral and textural vein is this beauty, below. Now, clearly every room in your house can benefit from a rug, except perhaps the kitchen and bathroom. You knew, that, right? They’re not just for living rooms! You’ll be amazed what the right rug can add to your room; it can even set the tone for the whole scheme.
Diamond Trelis rug
We are seeing a lot of this mustard colour (below) lately and it’s a surprisingly easy one to work with. We love the simple repeat pattern on this wool and cotton number.
Belo oval mustard on cream hand woven rug
Here’s a great example of why you don’t have to have a kiddy rug in a kid’s room. This one adds texture, is comfy underfoot, is hardwearing and would work just as well in a teenager’s room as a toddler’s. Tick, tick, tick! It’s also fully reversible.
Flint Block hand woven rug
The nation’s love affair with a round jute rug has also stood the test of time and these beautiful and very hardwearing designs really can work anywhere in the home. It’s also great to have the option of adding a circle to your room to offset all the right angles. I particularly love how Early Settler have breathed new life into this kind of rug by offering it in blush pink and dusky blue as well as au naturel.
Cochin jute rugsCochin Jute hand stitched rug in Natural, Blush and Sable
This is just a small curation from the entire Journey Home Collection, inspired by the colours of India and reminiscent of the majesty of a bygone era. The rugs have been hand picked to complement Early Settler’s furniture ranges, but at the same time I guarantee you there’ll be something for all of you which would work in with your existing home decor. Master craftsmen and woman have followed time honoured techniques to make every rug entirely from hand, meaning each one is totally unique and special.
I love Early Settler’s eclectic, well-travelled vibe and the fact their pieces can work in any home (everything in these photos is from Early Settler); you’d never quite know if they were new, a treasured heirloom or something brought back from an overseas trip. They’ve been combing the globe for individual furniture and homewares for more than 30 years, to help customers create homes they love living in. And we really believe your home should make you feel great too!
How on earth do you place a rug in your bedroom?
We know many of you struggle with this. Helpfully, Early Settler have put together these three suggested layouts to give you some inspiration!
Don’t have an Early Settler store near you? Don’t worry, you can also buy them online.
WIN
Early Settler are giving away six rugs from this beautiful collection. All you have to do for your chance to win is vote for your favourite. ENTER NOW.
Next week sees the launch of a fantastic book for anyone looking to sell their home for more, from renovation guru Naomi Findlay, one of our Reno Addict resident experts. What’s more, all profits from the book will go towards building a school in Cambodia. We have 20 books to give away too, but more on that later.
People pay thousands for Naomi’s renovating and home staging courses but you can grab all the best bits for yourself for just $29.99! Sell Your Property for More Money reveals top secrets to staging your home for sale. With Australian property prices generally rising this year, successful home staging opens up opportunity for owner occupiers or investors to increase their sale price substantially with small amounts of effort.
Just quietly, Naomi shared all her tips with me when we sold our apartment last year, for a block record no less! And I was proud to write the foreword for this book.
With the Australian property market in such good health and the RBA expected to keep interest rates on hold for the foreseeable future, more Australian families are considering selling their home for a variety of reasons. But getting the most for your property isn’t just down to the agent you pick. Popular TV shows such as Selling Houses Australia and The Block give a graphic illustration of just how much proper home staging can add to the value of a home.
It’s essential that vendors put time and effort into presenting their property in the best light, but many don’t know where to start or think it’s too hard and expensive. Contrary to popular belief, it is easier than they might think and some of the smallest changes can go a very long way. And Naomi is well qualified to tell them. Not only does she own successful staging company Silk Home, she also runs the International Institute of Home Staging. She’s renovated over 100 properties and staged more than 1,000 through her businesses.
“There is one thing in common that all vendors have—they want to get top dollar for their property. Achieving that is what is perceived to be the hard part,” explains Naomi. “Sell Your Property for More Money reveals the tips and tricks that will turn your property from average to amazing. The advice is relatively simple to follow. A successfully styled home will have buyers emotionally connecting before they start to consider the home from a functional or structural perspective. It could add tens of thousands of dollars to the value of your home.”
Naomi, who is the creator of the Rapid Renovation Formula, says real estate agents and property stylists will also find the book useful.
It includes tips on decluttering, the rooms that need to be accentuated during sale, understanding which areas need to be upgraded or renovated, styling tips including what to do with furniture and artwork, and opening up space. There is also has a handy section on commonly asked questions, gathered from Naomi’s numerous stage appearances and client staging projects.
All profits from the sale of Sell Your Property for More Money will go towards a Rapid Renovation Formula-sponsored school in Cambodia that is set to break ground in 2018 in conjunction with United World Schools.
For your chance to win one of 20 copies, enter your details below and tell us in 100 words or less why you need this book! Entries close at midnight on Friday 18 August 2017.
As most of you know, we moved house a few months ago and shortly afterwards, headed to the UK for a month. So we decided it wasn’t worth reassembling Seb’s cot and that we would start his room from scratch as a “big boy room” with a single bed and try our luck.
Now, who better to collaborate with on this important room than my favourites, Pottery Barn Kids? When they asked if I’d like to work with them on Seb’s room, I couldn’t have said yes fast enough! Luckily, I was really clear what I wanted for him from the get-go: a timeless, classic, calm, comfortable space, loosely themed around his favourite things: anything transport! While I agree that kid’s rooms should be fun and about the kids, he is lucky enough to have his own playroom which is chock full of primary colours, toys, plastic and fun! So the idea for the bedroom was for it to be very calm and sleep-inducing (he has never excelled in the sleep department, much to our disappointment!). It was to be unashamedly low on toys and big on books! The other major factor was that this room could easily transition with him as he got older, with solid big ticket items which weren’t too babyish.
I am absolutely thrilled with what we created together and Seb transitioned to being in a bed amazingly well (okay, maybe because he was already jetlagged from our UK trip, but I’ll take it!). While he does all his playing in the playroom still, he loves choosing books for bedtime from his Madison Bookrack Tower. If you ask me, all kids should have one of this style of bookcase where the covers are facing out. It makes reading and choosing books so much more appealing, especially when they’re down at their level. Just make sure you anchor them, and any furniture for that matter, to the wall. Pottery Barn Kids furniture comes with anti-tip kits.
The starting point for the room was Haymes Greyology 4. I originally picked a green paint colour without first testing it on the walls (don’t do this, people!) and it turned out to be a “lime crime” so we swiftly changed that to this gorgeous grey, which we have in most of the rest of the house. We have also carpeted all our bedrooms in a nice mid grey and installed plantation shutters.
We went for grey for the main furniture items because it’s a bit different to white but still very timeless and the bedside, bed and dresser would look just as appropriate in a teenage boy’s room. They’re all from the Elliott range.
We picked the Elliott bed for many reasons. Firstly, it has two height settings, so while he’s little it can be lower and therefore easier for him to hop in and out on his own (which he does). Second, on the higher setting, you can put a trundle underneath (perfect for sleepovers when he is older). And third, it’s just a really lovely classic shape that will again look perfectly fine in an older kid’s bedroom. The quality of this furniture pretty much wowed me and it’s made of solid timber and MDF with traditional carpentry techniques. It’s better than what we have in our own bedroom, I think! The dresser and bedside come fully assembled and the bed is straightforward to put together (although you can pay extra for Pottery Barn Kids to do this for you when they deliver). I read up on mattresses and the importance of kids having something supportive while their little bodies are still growing. We chose the Sealy Posturepedic Dusk from Forty Winks in medium firmness.
We bought this Moomin print for our future child while on honeymoon in Tokyo before we were even pregnant or planning to be!
Onto the more fun stuff, the ride-on train went down a storm and is rarely in the bedroom but rather being tripped over elsewhere in the house! Damian is totally jealous and wishes he’d had one when he was a kid. Months later, Seb still comments on his “toot-toot sheets” (Organic Train Sheet Set) which we combined with more neutral linen like the gorgeous Vintage Yarn Dye Reversible Quilt (which I may yet steal for myself!).
Don’t expect toddlers to smile in photoshoots when it’s past their nap time…
You can never have too many Anywhere Chairs (out of shot) to sit on (this is his second). I recommend them to everyone with kids. the Collector’s Shelves are a great way to display favourite books and toys and add colour and interest. We now change them around regularly. And another favourite piece is the the Rowan Lamp (it comes in brass or nickel) which is a first of its kind in that it also has a nightlight in the base. We also put a super cool neon ‘Sebastian’ light on the wall from Neon Poodle which sadly arrived after the photoshoot. It’s a real wow piece.
The whole process of putting this room together was so fun. Pottery Barn Kids interior designer Ebony Quaid was an awesome help; so passionate about her job. From putting together a concept board based on my wants to providing advice and helping style the finished space, it was great working with her.
Jen with PBK’s Ebony Quaid
Since the shoot, we have unpacked properly and added a lot more art and accessories to this room but it is still a very calm and simple space. I’m thinking about doing one wall with wallpaper. What do you think?
Did you know Pottery Barn Kids offer free design services to all their customers (not just bloggers like me!)? Here’s a little video of Ebony and I discussing the room:
Do you have a little one (or one on the way) whose room needs a makeover? One lucky person will win a $1000 voucher to spend on whatever they like at Pottery Barn Kids!
Simply fill out the form below or pick one up in store. Entries close at 11.59pm AEST on 31 August 2017.
You hear the words reno or renovation and you immediately think: expensive! Am I right?! As regular readers will know, a few months ago we bought a family home, the “nanna house,” and boy, does she need some making over! I have a wish list as long as my arm and while some things (like the next on our list: new kitchen!) undoubtedly require serious cash and a lot of tradespeople, you’d be amazed at how some smaller, easier and cheaper upgrades can make a huge difference. Today, I’m giving you some ideas of what you can do with $1,000, $3,000 or $10,000 in your home to get maximum bang for your buck, no matter how flush you are.
You can’t do anything for $1000 these days, right? Well, no. Of course, you can’t do any major work and it’s unlikely you can pay a trade to do any of it for you, so we’re definitely talking DIY. But there are plenty of little makeovers that can be achieved at this budget.
For around $500 you can carpet your average bedroom (including installation). And you don’t need me to tell you what a difference new flooring can make. Game changer! You’d have money left over for a few litres of paint to paint the room yourself and perhaps even an affordable change of window dressing; say a roller blind. Just think what a nice blank canvas that would give you for a guest bedroom, or perhaps giving your older child a fresh tween space.
Don’t neglect your exterior! For a $1,000 you could could buy a new letterbox, house number, welcome mat, a couple of great pots and plants for either side of your entry and paint your front door in a show-stopping colour.
$3,000
Kitchens cost a lot of money (I know because I’m about to do mine!) but if you don’t have it, there are plenty of DIY products out there and they get better all the time. You’d be amazed what you can do with things like tile and laminate (for your cupboard fronts and bench tops) paint, vinyl floor and a new light fitting (you’ll need an electrician for this). Check out some budget kitchen makeovers here.
AFTER: This kitchen makeover cost just over $2,000 for new splashback tiles, cupboard and benchtop paint, blinds, oven and lights.BEFORE
Personally, I recently changed all the old nanna light fittings (think a mix of 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s glass pendants!) in our home for around the $3,000 mark including an electrician. I went for high impact chandeliers in the living room and more simple, rattan drum shades in the bedrooms. This instantly modernised our home. I couldn’t believe the difference.
This is something I plan to do in our home soon: replace all the internal doors. Dated doors with dated hardware really let your home down. We painted our horrible brown ones white and they’re still pretty meh. Internal doors can cost from as little as $28! Did you know that? And for a bit more, there are some really gorgeous, designer-look feature doors available. Many of these are pre-hung so with a bit of effort and patience, you can install them yourself.
Don’t forget to add some money to the budget for paint and handles (which can cost more than the doors). But depending on your taste and budget, you can replace all the internal doors and handles in a 4-bedroom home for between $1000 and $3,000 and you’re likely to have some spare change. External doors cost more (expect between about $200 and $500).
Even in a bathroom, you can achieve a fresh new look for around the $3,000 mark. While it won’t be anywhere near as slick as a full bathroom reno, which is likely to cost at least $25,000, it might last you until you can save up! And it will save you looking at awful dated tiles and fixtures every day, which we all know is bad for our mental health! We plan on doing this sort of thing with our en suite and spending the big money on our family bathroom later this year. The en suite can get a proper reno in a few years’ time (hopefully!). For around $3000 you could replace your shower screen with frameless glass, get a new budget vanity and taps, paint or tile over your existing tiles and get a new blind.
AFTER: This bathroom was spruced up for under $3000 by Cherie BarberBEFORE
Now for the big bucks! While it isn’t enough for a full bathroom or kitchen rip out and re-do, there is so much you could do with $10,000 to make a difference in your home. This is when we can often start talking about whole homes rather than just rooms. Depending on the size of your home, it is quite possible to be able to install hard flooring throughout or have your whole interior professionally painted. These are the two things we did before moving into our previous apartment and oh my goodness, that was money well spent and transformed the place, which was previously carpeted and painted a nice warm white (I have an aversion to warm neutrals!).
Something people often don’t prioritise but can make so much difference to how you live, the look and indeed tidiness of your home, is storage! Custom, built-in storage is a real luxury. I recently had a huge floating bookcase installed and it really made the living room. A carpenter could also create you something amazing to house your TV and all your books and trinkets, for less than $10,000. The permanence of built-in or wall-hung furniture will really add to your home.
While it won’t improve the look of your home per se, air conditioning could really improve your comfort and your power bill! You could get a ducted system installed in your average home for less than $10,000.
It may be that your home’s floorplan isn’t working for you. Maybe you want to create a more open plan home. $10,000 could enable you to do this with professional help, as well as any painting or flooring that doing this work will probably necessitate replacing.
One of the biggest changes we have made in our home so far has been installing plantation shutters throughout. They give a really modern, light, luxurious look. For $10,000 you’d probably struggle to get a whole house done but you could make a big difference by doing key rooms and perhaps giving the bedrooms a miss.
If these ideas have inspired you, make sure you enter our biggest competition EVER to win $10,000 towards your reno with Latitude Financial Services by 30 July 2017. All we need is a photo of the space that needs a makeover and for you to tell us how you’d spend the money and why you deserve to win. All the details and entry form here.
Saving their best for last, Gold Coast’s Aaron and Daniella made jaws drop to take out the House Rules crown – as well as the $200,000 cash prize – on Sunday night.
“We just didn’t think this could happen… when we started we just came along for an adventure, now look where we are… it’s breathtaking,” said Aaron. “It’s the hardest thing we’ve ever had to do, and to do that together we’re definitely stronger for coming out the back end of it.”
The grand finalists were given four days for one final challenge – to renovate a secret zone in each other’s house. For Aaron and Daniella, that meant transforming a previously untouched narrow space down the side of Kate and Harry’s place. For the South Australia team, the goal was to create a Vegas-inspired outdoor entertainment zone.
The Queensland power couple managed to turn a deserted narrow space down the side of Kate and Harry’s house into an “ultimate boho blokes’ hangout”, complete with an outdoor cinema and built-in bar.
The judges were blown away at the couple’s ability to transform a tight and tricky space into something so clever and indulgent. “It’s lovely because we have basically walked through the back of a wardrobe and found ourselves in a secret world,” said Laurence. “It’s so difficult these long narrow spaces are a nightmare to get right.”
The touches of greenery were also applauded. “It adds some depth and that makes it a real space not just a side passage,” said Wendy.
Although they lost points for their poor planning in their BBQ area and for including black seating in the colour scheme, SA’s Kate and Harry’s glamor-yard was not lacking praise.
The judges were wowed by the Vegas-inspired cabana, with Drew likening it to “paradise”. The gold finish on the outdoor mirror was a real winner, as was the cocktail bar with the tiles matching those in the pool. “It’s so Vegas that if you buy one of these you get a free Kardashian… I feel like I’m being hit by waves of luxy lifestyle as if I’m in a yoghurt commercial,” said Laurence.
The final scores were incredibly close, with South Australia’s runners up scoring just 2 points behind the champions’ final score of 27/30.
The runners-up don’t walk away completely empty handed though, having their entire house completely renovated. “For us to get our house renovated is the best thing that could ever happen,” said Harry. “We are so thankful for everything.”
We’ve been teasing you on social media for days but today it’s finally time to reveal our biggest competition EVER, offering you an amazing $10,000 towards that home reno project you’ve been dying to get done but couldn’t afford to. We’ve teamed up with Latitude Financial Services to bring you this, our biggest giveaway ever!
Whether you put the money towards a major project (or something that has been waiting to be finished!) or use it to completely cover the cost of a smaller project, there are so many things you could achieve with 10 grand, from a bathroom or kitchen refresh to new window coverings or flooring throughout your home, that dream custom built-in entertainment and shelving unit in the living room, a new deck…
This is your chance to Better Your Home in our competition of the same name!
Here are some of our top ideas for what you could spend the money on, depending on the size and age of your home/room and complexity of your project:
Create a walk-in wardrobe
Built-in custom shelving for your living room
A bathroom refresh with new vanity, shower screen, bath and toilet
Install skylights to let more natural light in
Completely make over a room with paint, flooring, window coverings, furniture and homewares
Replace all/some of your flooring
Replace all your lights with new ones/have downlights installed
A new front door and porch
Plantation shutters installed in key rooms
New/custom built-ins in bedrooms
Replace all your internal and external doors
Have older doors replaced with bi-folds/French doors
Replace your laminate kitchen benchtop with stone and a new splashback
Have the exterior of your house painted
Have the interior of your house painted
Knock down a wall to create an open plan space
Replace your ageing windows
Create custom, built-in storage for a multitude of uses
Makeover your laundry with new floor, paint, cabinetry, benchtop and sink
Create a basic outdoor kitchen
Update/create a deck outside
Turn your garage into a workshop/studio
As someone who is currently planning renos, I know firsthand that everything costs more than you think it will, especially when you get trades involved and have to factor in labour. With house prices as they are, by the time you’ve struggled to buy your home, there’s often not much left over to get it looking how you want it. This is such an amazing opportunity for someone and I can’t wait to see what the winner does with the money. We’ll be sharing the before and after with you here too!
Is your bedroom more drab than fab?Would you love to TRANSFORM it like this?
For your chance to win, we’re simply asking you to share what you’d do with the money and why you deserve to win, and send us a photo of the space you’re looking to make better.
The winner will also get a Skype call with me and our resident renovation expert, the extremely talented and experienced Naomi Findlay, with more than 100 renos to her name. We can’t wait to bounce ideas around with you!
Please ensure you read the terms and conditions carefully. Entries close Sunday 30 July 2017 at 11.59pm AEST.
Last Sunday night saw Tasmania’s Sean and Ella eliminated from the latest series of House Rules for failing to impress the judges for the second consecutive week. Laurence labelled the couple’s garden renovation in Kate and Harry’s South Australian home as “unforgiveable.” On a brighter note, Kate and Harry took out the top spot on the leaderboard for their Rubik’s Cube themed beer garden for WA twins Andrew and Jono.
Western Australia: Aaron & Daniella’s FRONT YARD
Aaron & Daniella
Aaron and Daniella’s renovation of Andrew and Jono’s front yard drew a mixed response from the judges – while Drew thought the garden was “brilliant” Wendy disagreed. “I disagree with you on so many points that I’m finding it hard on where to start arguing. This is not a liveable garden,” said Wendy.
Laurence agreed that there were major flaws but he felt it covered the house rules well and that the owners would love it. “A big pat on the back for understanding their clients,” said Laurence.
Western Australia: Aaron & Daniella’s FRONT YARD
Kate & Harry The South Australian couple finished on top with all the judges loving their work on Andrew and Jono’s backyard. Laurence said the space was “unrecognisable” while Wendy thought it was a “beautifully planned out and designed garden that is solely for Andrew and Jono.”
Western Australia: Kate & Harry’s BACKYARD
While the couple’s Rubik’s Cube beer garden divided the judges on a personal level, they all agreed that it suited the twins’ style. Drew thought the basketball area was poorly executed despite the space being well thought out.
Western Australia: Kate & Harry’s BACKYARD basketball area
Andrew & Jono While praised for packing a lot into a small space, the judges had various problems with Andrew and Jono’s renovation of Kate and Harry’s backyard. While Drew thought the draped sheets rescued the roof structure, Laurence likened them to “hung knickers” despite thinking they added much-needed charm to the space. Wendy felt the sheets let the sophistication of the table down.
South Australia: Andrew & Jono’s BACKYARD
Of the garden area, Wendy was full of praise. “They have done a really nice job. This feels like a lovely place to be,” she said. Laurence loved the native play area (particularly its bright colours), but Drew thought it was “too busy” and that they had jammed too much into the space.
South Australia: Andrew & Jono’s BACKYARD
Sean & Ella “Underwhelming” was the word used by the judges to describe Sean and Ella’s work on Kate and Harry’s front yard. They felt it didn’t complement the house and that the seating around the fire pit was impractical. Drew described the wooden archway as “horrible – great recycled material but so ugly” while Wendy despised the use of pebbles. “I don’t understand why people put pebbles in a place where you walk a lot,” she said.
South Australia: Sean and Ella’s FRONT YARD fire pit and wooden archway
As for positive feedback, Laurence liked the breeze block fence which he described as “crisp” but he questioned whether it added any privacy to the garden area. All three judges loved the vertical garden. “It feels nice to be near it. You do really want to be nestled in here,” said Wendy.
South Australia: Sean and Ella’s FRONT YARD
Ultimately, it wasn’t enough to get Sean and Ella over the line though. “We’ve met some awesome people; we’ve got some great friends. We’ve got our dream home now and our front garden and backyard. It’s like a dream. I think it’s the best thing we’ve ever done together,” said Ella.
Taking out top honours in the ‘Best Residential Interior,’ ‘Best Residential Design’ and ‘Best Residential Bathroom Design’ (joint winner) categories, Smart Design Studio’s ‘Indigo Slam’ made quite the splash at the recent 2017 Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards night.
Smart Design Studio’s ‘Indigo Slam’ project
The Sydney home, created as a gallery space for one of Australia’s foremost art collectors is, rather fittingly, equal parts sculpture and private residence.
Smart Design Studio’s ‘Indigo Slam’ project
Currently in its seventh year, the awards are hosted by Belle magazine and the premium furniture and homewares purveyor Coco Republic. This year saw 270 submissions battle it out across nine categories including residential, commercial and hospitality divisions.
The Rado Emerging Design Star award recipient Yasmine Ghoniem’s (Amber Road) ‘Deco House’ project
“Congratulations to all our winners and entrants. Year on year, the awards showcase the innovative thinking that shapes the Australian interior design industry and this year was just exceptional. It is always a privilege to see the outstanding work of the brightest talents in our field,” said Tanya Buchanan, the editor of Belle magazine.
‘Interior Designer of the Year’ SJB’s ‘Redfern Terrace’ project
The ‘Interior Designer of the Year’ award was taken out by the interior design directors of SJB, Jonathan Richards and Kirsten Stanisich.
B.E. Architecture’s ‘Hamden Road Residence’ won the ‘Best Residential Bathroom Design’ category together with Smart Design Studio for their ‘Indigo Slam’ project
Hosted by property expert Naomi Findlay, the upcoming 2017 National Home Staging Symposium hits Melbourne on July 8 and 9 with a wealth of information on offer for aspiring home stagers. And this year, two attendees will be eligible to win scholarships to advance their home staging careers too.
“The aim of the event is to explore, indulge and educate you about the world of home staging as it evolves and grows in Australia,” says Naomi. Attendees can expect to get the inside scoop on the Australian home staging scene and they’ll learn how to run an online business alongside a bricks and mortar one as well as how to build relationships with real estate agents and how to build a team of stylists and trades.
Naomi Findlay
“We’ll also teach you how to make money through establishing a large client base, how to create a work/life balance and how to implement insurance strategies to protect your career and business too,” says Naomi. Other practical considerations covered include knowing what trends to use and which to avoid, social media (which sites should you be using?) and how to establish your target market.
Last year’s event
And while the event is open to anybody, Naomi has a few specific people in mind that could benefit. “Property stylists or those with a passion to enter the industry should attend as you will have the opportunity to meet and network with new people who are on a similar journey. I think real estate agents and renovators would benefit also, especially if they’re looking to increase their knowledge of the home staging scene.”
And as if that wasn’t enough enticement, there’s also two scholarships up for grabs: “One lucky attendee will be given the opportunity to study the Art of Home Staging and Advanced Home Staging Courses with the International Institute of Home Staging (IIHS) as well as a six-month Shine membership with IIHS. The total prize is valued at over $2,400,” says Naomi. The other scholarship is a mentoring one and is worth $3,300. “The mentoring scholarship will provide the winner with the IIHS mentoring program for three months and a six-month Shine membership too,” says Naomi.
Interiors Addict is exclusively offer a scholarship to The Decorating School’s signature eCourse Plan Decorate Live. The six-week online eCourse (which usually costs $497) is designed to teach you everything you need to know to design and decorate your home – including how to analyse your space, how to use colour, how to buy and position furniture, how to use pattern, texture and soft furnishings, and so much more.
The lessons include videos, worksheets, PDFs, checklists, buying guides, masterclasses from guest experts, as well as a lots of other goodies. You’ll get the complete Plan Decorate Live eCourse (including all modules and bonuses) plus access to the exclusive Facebook community and private Pinterest boards.
For your chance to win, complete the form below, telling us, in 100 words or less, what your decorating dilemma is and why you want to take part in Plan Decorate Live. Entries close at midnight on Wednesday 1 March 2017.
The course will open for enrolments on 5 March 2017.
I told you we had a great prize coming up for the next round of 7 Vignettes and I’m excited to share it, and the themes, with you today. Thanks to our sponsor Choices Flooring, the winner will receive $2,000 to spend on flooring, be that timber, laminate, carpet, bamboo, luxury vinyl, tiles or, if you’re renting, rugs! That’s enough to cover (pardon the pun) at least one room in your home and give it a much needed facelift. I always say you can never underestimate the transformation of a new floor or a fresh coat of paint!
Temuka Langdale carpet in Bistro
The fun starts on Wednesday 1 March 2017 over on Instagram and to take part, you need to post a photo a day for seven days corresponding to the themes below:
Our usual guidelines can be found here. You’ll need to tag @choicesflooring and @interiorsaddict and use the hashtag #7vignettes The prize is only open to Australian residents but anyone can take part for fun.
United Interiors have launched a colourful and on trend new 2017 collection styled by James Treble and our #UIStylistScout competition winner Jen Waite.
“Styling with James — what a blast! He was so wonderful to work with, really easy going, fun and so eager to let me get stuck into the styling,” Jen said. “He was great in sharing his industry experience and tips and tricks with me. I came away feeling tired but thoroughly pleased with what we’d achieved for the campaign.”
The photoshoot focused on the new artwork and rug collections, and Jen and James picked their favourite furniture pieces and new accessories from the Melbourne showroom to complete the look.
The 2017 art collection was curated with diversity in mind. They wanted to offer something for every home and every palette. It focuses on colour and movement, with mostly minimalist abstracts, a handful of figurative pieces and botanical designs. The result is an eclectic assembly of colours, textures and contrast; tied together with a dramatic theme and pops of electric summer hues.
The summer 2017 rug collection, designed with James, continues to focus on the natural and textural elements that are predominantly handmade. They’ve introduced more colour to the collection, concentrating on the weave, offering interesting textures and styles, as opposed to patterns and prints. There’s a focus on coastal, contemporary and tribal.
Jen was one of two finalists who took part in a style-off at the United Interiors showroom at the end of last year. Our readers then voted for their favourite styled image. “Styling the campaign was quite different to the style-off,” Jen says. “United Interiors provided the brief and there was a clear direction in which to head which was great. For the style-off, I had completely free rein to come up with a look that suited myself, and in some ways the lack of brief made it more difficult. The style-off only involved one look, whereas the campaign involved multiple looks, so we moved much more quickly and were finalising pieces for the next shoot while the last was being photographed.”
Jen said this was the first time she’d worked with such a well known brand and industry professional and she loved it! “It’s given me invaluable industry experience and I learnt so much. The reactions from the community have been really encouraging and supportive, and I found a lot of people came out of the woodwork to congratulate me, which was so unexpected and lovely. The campaign, working with United Interiors and James and being paid to do it was amazing, but the support from the community really blew me away.”
Her own favourites from the new range? “Namibian which is more a monochromatic look with a touch of colour, and Beyonce Blue (below) which has a real contrast of light and dark.
“I also love Nether Streams (below) in the acrylic round artwork range – an interesting take on an abstract/resin/marble look. Hard to choose favourites though!”
James, who has been collaborating with United Interiors since 2015, thinks Jen will go far: “It was great working with another creative on the photo shoot. What Jen lacks in experience she more than makes up for in creativity, energy and ideas. Like many out there, she has a great eye and as she simply loves styling, she learns fast, takes direction so well and has her own very strong and valid design voice! I had a great day working with Jen.”
James loves the new collection. “There’s an eclectic mix of styles, colours and tones, making it easy to create totally different looks with the change of a canvas! I like the dramatic pieces with a dash of vibrant colour to really make your room pop. Very summer chic. Of course, I couldn’t go past the new accessories we styled with – in particular there was a printed cockatoo cushion (below) that really sung out to me – no pun intended.
“I particularly love the new product category coming soon in 2017 — the acrylic prints (sneak peek in the very top image). The team at United Interiors have been developing this new artwork for a while, using modern print technology to create artworks printed onto acrylic material. The reflection adds another dimension to the work.”
Here’s a behind the scenes video of James and Jen at work!
Designed by Melbourne based designer and artist Joost Bakker, Schiavello recently released their gorgeous Vertical Garden. Whether you use it for plant display, storage, a room divider or a combination of the three, it’s a fabulous design and we have one full grid to give away (but more on that later!).
“I am a mad collector of throwaway objects. I have a large collection of old, used terracotta pots that I love for their patina. One night I was standing there trying to think of an idea for a wall installation and I put the two together. I love the repetition and order – it’s a very Dutch thing I think,” says Joost of his simple but super effective design that is space-efficient, easy to install and suitable for indoors and out.
Primarily designed to bring the outdoors in, the Vertical Garden was borne out of Joost’s intense interest in the health benefits of plants. “When I moved to the city from the country in 1993 I quickly realised how disconnected people were from nature. It actually shocked me, especially the total disregard for seasons. This has changed a lot but I think there’s still a long way to go. Our connection with plants is primal and science is only now starting to understand the link between living plants, living soils and the living organisms that come with it and how this microflora and air-borne living have an effect on our mental health and overall wellbeing.”
Vertical Garden single column – $635
Available in raw steel for an industrial aesthetic, or a range of powdercoated colours for a more polished one, the design offers a range of single and grid modules, housing between three and 12 plants.
Vertical Garden full grid – $1,300
And while there are plenty of indoor plants that will thrive in the Vertical Garden (depending on available light), Joost has a couple of clear favourites. “I think philodendron, ivy (apparently a brilliant plant at soaking up formaldehyde and other air borne toxins), orchids, vanilla, ferns and carnivorous plants work well. These plants can look quite wild which complements the order of the structures,” says Joost.
Enter below by noon on Friday 23 December for your chance to win a full grid, with a prize value of $1,300! Your prize will be delivered in early 2017. Open to Australian residents only.
It was a tough call with less than 100 votes between them but we are delighted to reveal Jen @whitefoxstyling as the winner of the United Interiors Stylist Scout contest! She wins the opportunity to style the brand’s summer campaign (a paid gig, of course!) alongside experienced interior designer and TV personality James Treble. And as if that wasn’t exciting enough, she gets to treat herself with a $1,000 United Interiors voucher. Happy Christmas!
Here’s the picture that won it and a short video showing Jen putting her look together at United Interiors’ Melbourne showroom.
“We are so excited to finally reveal the winner,” says marketing manager Julie Ta. “It was such a fun day of styling; full of energy and creativity. To see what Jen and Krystal (@houseofharvee) achieved in the space of a few hours was amazing.
“We are so impressed by both stylists – they are both truly deserving finalists and we can’t wait to see what they get up to next. The United Interiors Stylist Scout is a great opportunity for an up and coming stylist to get a sense of what a working day is like in the life of an interior stylist – and it is especially beneficial to gain industry experience, connections and credibility to work on a commercial campaign.”
James said: “It’s always exciting to discover new talent and both the finalists definitely have that. I can’t wait to style the campaign with Jen. I hope it will be a fantastic learning experience for her and, of course, a lot of fun!”
A huge congratulations to Jen and our runner-up finalist Krystal (who will receive a $300 United Interiors voucher) for two very strong images.
Jen is not the only winner! We gave one of you the chance to win all the decor items from your favourite stylist’s image when you voted for them. Thousands of you cast a vote but the lucky person is Cassie Crawford.
Julie added: “We were overwhelmed by the response we had. Aside from the hundreds of entries and thousands of voters – it was wonderful to see interior design lovers and the creative community supporting the finalists on Instagram and Facebook. We are so glad to be able to bring this competition to life with Interiors Addict and we can’t wait to reveal the summer campaign styled by Jen and James.”
A prestigious event on the Australian interior design calendar, the Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) were held recently with some pretty amazing projects taking away the big gongs in an awards ceremony and gala party hosted on Sydney Harbour
Overall winner: ‘Indigo Slam’ by Smart Design Studio (photograph by Sharrin Rees)
In its 13th year, IDEA recognises the best of Australian interior and product design and the designers behind the work. The 2016 IDEA jury included Greg Natale, Helen Kontouris (Helen Kontouris Design), Jan O’Connor (Environa Studio), John Wardle (John Wardle Architects), Melissa Bright (MAKE Architecture), Nic Graham (Nic Graham + Associates) and Tim Jackson (Jackson Clements Burrows), along with inside editors Jan Henderson and Gillian Serisier.
‘Indigo Slam’ interior (photograph by Sharrin Rees)
Taking away the biggest prize on the night (overall winner), was the Indigo Slam project by Smart Design Studio. Located in Sydney’s Chippendale, the building is truly a work of art. From its sculpted concrete exterior to its highly unique interior spaces, the building has been recognised as a true original. “If even for just a moment we put aside the architecture of the house, the interiors really stand on their own,” said one of the judges, Greg Natale.
Kerry Phelan project (photograph by Derek Swalwell)
Another significant award went to Kerry Phelan of Kerry Phelan Design Office who received the ‘Gold Medal’ for her impressive career that has spanned more than 20 years.
A Melbourne project by the ‘Designer of the year’ Fiona Lynch (photograph by Dan Hocking)
The 2015 ‘Designer of the year’ award went to Melbourne-based interior architect and designer, Fiona Lynch who was recognised for her elegant residential projects and meticulous and textural detailing.
The work of the ‘Designer of the year’ Fiona Lynch (photograph by Dan Hocking)
Visit here for a more and to see the full list of winners.
