Carly and Leighton were super excited to get started on their homeowners’ kitchen brief of contemporary Australian this week, and the result, with its super-sized Caesarstone bench, brought tears of joy (as well as a top score of 19.5 out of 20)! The amazing indoor/outdoor space would probably have to be my favourite kitchen reveal yet!
Judges Darren Palmer and Romy Alwill loved it too, with its clean and warm look thanks to contrasting but subtle textures. The black tapware made a bold and modern statement, tying in with the black powder coated windows.
Freedom Kitchens helped the couple with design ideas, and additions such as brand new handles made sure it was absolutely on trend and cutting edge. Carly and Leighton were keen not to repeat anything that had already been showcased in the competition.
Watch our exclusive video interview with Lauren Ellis above for their top tips for Interiors Addict readers!
It’s easy to forget how important the front entrance is to the overall look of your home. Kerb appeal is of high importance when selling your property and for the overall aesthetics of your house, as it sets the tone for what’s to come. Below are five clever ideas on how to give your front garden that much-needed facelift; changes that will certainly leave your neighbours green with envy.
Spruce up your walkway
Create that initial wow factor! Transform your front walkway with the use of interesting materials such as brick, flagstone and pavers; these materials will lend more character and charm to your garden than traditional cement. Adding a slight curve to the conventional pathway is another great way to make a chic statement. I recommend lining the walkway with low maintenance plants such as Camellias, Lomandras and Birds of Paradise.
Fill it with florals
Make your guests feel welcome from the moment they walk through your front gates, with a colourful array of aromatic blooms. I recommend planting flowers with bright, bold hues. My top picks are Peonies, Siberian Iriss and Aasiatic Lilys (these bright charmers are available in a cheerful variety of orange, yellow and purple). This idea will maximise the potential of your small front garden space.
Create an oasis
Filling your front garden with medium-sized plants will not only keep the nosey neighbours away it will also create a fantastic sound barrier against street noise. Planting medium to large-sized plants provides you with a quiet oasis and actually makes your garden appear bigger; the variety of interesting textures, shapes and colours also creates the illusion of space. Decorating your front garden with a small hedge is another clever way to create serenity and intimacy without forming an unfriendly barrier.
Light it up
Create a calming and intimate entry through the placement of mood and up-lights. When strategically arranged, these lights can determine which elements of your garden you wish to highlight. Ensure that the lights you purchase are made from high quality, waterproof and durable materials such as brass, copper or marine grade stainless steel.
Add space to entertain
If the space permits, adding a patio to your front garden can provide a great space to entertain guests. Gone are the days of old-fashioned front porches, however nothing should stop you from being able to enjoy a cold beverage out the front of your house with family and friends.
Deck stains have come a long way and are as much about aesthetics and creating a fashionable entertaining space as they are about maintaining and caring for your timber these days. It’s now perfectly possible to bring the indoors out for a seamless entertaining room/area, which we know Aussies love!
Feast Watson’s Black Japan. You control the intensity of the finish by choosing how many coats
If you’re automatically thinking of warmer tones, stop right there! Colours like Feast Watson’s Black Japan and other darker stains provide a great contrast for the neutral colours you might have on your lounges and rugs. Now you can achieve similar finishes and colours on floors inside and out, creating a seamless transition.
Feast Watson’s Black Japan Floor Finish is perfect for savvy homeowners who are looking to introduce a dramatic dark flooring style into their interiors. Something as simple as beautiful floorboards can really set the tone for a room and make a big difference, just like a coat of fresh paint on your walls. This product uses a three-coat system, so you can even choose the intensity of the colour.
Feast Watson’s Timber and Decking Stain for exterior use
And while outdoor spaces have truly become an extension of our living areas, where we relax and entertain, we mustn’t forget that the harsh Aussie elements, not least the sun and its damaging UV rays, mean they need maximum protection to keep them looking their best.
Gone are the traditional methods of achieving these finishes, with a direct stain and a clear top coat. The reformulated Timber and Deck Stain by Feast Watson creates a beautiful finish while still allowing the natural grain of timber to shine through. You can continue the dark look in your alfresco area using the stain in Black Japan or Taman Merbau. The stain adds colour to timber without hiding the natural grain. It’s ideal for making timber coordinate with your house and landscape design, or to renew the colour of grey, weathered timber.
With its oil rich formula, it protects timber from the destructive effects of weathering. With additives to protect against water, UV and mould, Feast Watson Timber and Deck Stain keeps timber looking beautiful for longer. Available in four pre-packaged colours, Timber & Deck Stain is resistant to cracking, peeling and blistering and is suitable for use over bare and previously coated timber. For stunning interiors inside and out, there is a Feast Watson product available for every surface to achieve perfect looking timber floors.
Planning a NYE soiree at home? That calls for a special drink (or three) to welcome in 2015 so don’t just bring out the same old same old. How about something impressively different but super easy to make? And as well as tasting great they look amazing! Makes me wish I wasn’t pregnant. Somebody make me a mocktail, this is torture!
First up, the Coconut, Lime, Pineapple and White Rum Slushie. Does it get anymore summery?!
Then we have an Elderflower and Granny Smith Apple Vodka Granita. Right up my street!
Or perhaps the Pomegranate and Raspberry Spritz is more your thing?
I’ll be whipping up a few pregnancy-friendly mocktails with the help of my Sodastream. They seem to have been on a lot of my friends’ Christmas lists this year!
We spoke to Freedom homewares buyer Korryn Bentley about the latest Spring trends and how to incorporate them into your home without breaking the bank.
“There’s a really strong move toward all things pastel this Spring, we can’t get enough! But we’re also seeing some chalky hues in citrus tones with terracotta as a hero colour. This can be a really sophisticated colour palette when combined with metallic coppers which are really hot this season,” Korryn says.
In terms of bringing these trends into your home, Korryn suggests a simple, easy and fun way is with a collection of vessels or vases. “These new pieces can look great mixed back with some vintage pieces, don’t be afraid to mix and match. There’s no hard and fast rule, but try and keep it tonal. Most interior upholstery, fabric or leather are fairly neutral in colour, so a cluster of vessels in a palette of chalky hues can easily work in with this look.”
If you were going to invest in one large key piece from Freedom, Korryn recommends, without a doubt, the Manhattan sofa in Loft Ecru. “I love the oversized proportions, the sleek contemporary legs, not to mention the level of comfort is out of this world. I could easily spend my summer sprawled on that with a cocktail and good book. Bring it on!”
One tricky issue for many readers is making your open plan living and dining spaces work together. Korryn still suggests creating obvious living and dining zones to prevent the space becoming confusing. “The best way of doing this is with floor rugs, this really helps bring structure to your room and visually ties the whole space together. You can play with a pop of colour that’s repeated in the rug, it creates real harmony in an open plan, while defining the space.”
When it comes to making a statement when entertaining at home this Spring, Korryn loves a brightly dressed table with fresh flowers and colourful napery. “My dinnerware is all white, so I get to play with lots of interesting textures and patterns in napery and tend to incorporate jute string somehow, I love jute string!
“Spring is one of my favourite times of the year. I love fresh bed linen that’s been drying in the sun, throwing the windows open at home and pulling back my blockout curtains. Spring is all about sheer curtains on the windows and fresh flowers in every nook of the home for me, and that gentle scent of jasmine blowing through.”
Korryn’s top four updates from Freedom’s Spring range for under $50
Serena Vessel 23.5cm: The dusty hue with the graphic stripe, I just love this look.
Bukhara Cushion: Again the way those dusty, earthy tones play together with the stitching, it’s a tactile, textural gem.
Arrow Basket 46cm: Why should storage be dull? The Arrow basket is practical and pretty!
Zedd Cactus Orange 32cm: Somebody pass me a Margarita, these cactus pieces bring a fun Mexican feel to a space, sans the prickles.
Whether it’s outdoor entertaining or lazy days at the beach, Typo’s got you covered, with the launch of the second collection from its homewares category, The Hall.
This fresh summer range follows on from the hugely successful first collection. Head of Trend Jessica Granberg said the focus of the new collection was to develop a range of on-trend and affordable homewares that celebrate the fun and colour of summer. “We’ve added in fresh products which compliment the first collection so that customers can update their space by combining old with new.
“We are also really excited about our brand new outdoor range which includes the printed beach umbrella and the two-man beach towel, which is ideal for lounging around on a Sunday afternoon.”
For the hostess with the mostest, it’s all about outdoor entertaining with the new collection boasting a gorgeous range of enamel crockery and bamboo homewares, perfect for afternoon garden parties or alfresco-style dinners. Foodies will be impressed by the dip-dyed salt and pepper shakers, bamboo pizza boards and vintage serving dishes, brought to life by The Hall’s vintage style glassware, pastel-coloured cutlery and fun-size paper pot plants.
Items from The Hall start at $6.95 for a textured mug through to $69.95 for a printed beach umbrella.
It will be available online and in select Australian Typo stores from Monday 6 October 2014.
Winter doesn’t need to mean hiding indoors wrapped permanently in a blanket. Whilst those days are definitely nice, having an outdoor space for entertaining despite the weather is something most of us desire. Embracing the cooler season can be hard, but with the right outdoor area, a crackling fire and cosy scenery, you can fight that urge to hide away.
Source: Houzz. Click through here.
Step outside your comfort zone, stop letting winter cramp your style and check out these super hot tips to make your outdoor area the perfect living space – all year round.
1. Create a cosy setting
A well-planned outdoor area should involve a cosy setting and a purpose. Clever designs, low-maintenance materials and a luxurious homely feeling will ensure both you and your guests feel comfortable. Nowadays, outdoor living is designed to reflect the interior space so you want it to maintain a similar style. For an outdoor space to feel truly cosy, it’ll need to give the sense that it’s a room. Focus on a palette that’s restrained, yet warm and incorporate the principals behind designing a sociable living space.
2. Provide protection from the elements
If you’re serious about having an outdoor living space suitable for entertaining all year round, it’s an absolute must that adequate protection is provided. There’s nothing comfortable about sitting outside in the rain, strong winds or extreme cold so having a versatile patio will shield you from harsh elements throughout the year.
Especially in winter, every day brings unpredictable weather and this can be damaging to your furniture. Dome patios provide the perfect balance between an attractive feature and outdoor protection, creating the perfect atmosphere for you and your guests. If you’re looking to extend you existing gable patio area, Hip Ends are ideal for design flexibility and offer a convenient way to enjoy outdoor entertaining regardless of the weather.
3. Incorporate a spark of fire
There’s something pretty spectacular about fire that not only captivates us, but creates a space that is warm, cosy and inviting. Incorporating a spark of fire into your outdoor area, whether it is a fire pit table or a fireplaces, can add an attractive focal point for the space whilst keeping you and your guests toasty. Use the fire as a gathering point and encourage everyone to sit around and toast marshmallows. When the weather turns warm again, a fire pit table can still be used to hold drinks and snacks.
Source: Houzz. Click through here
Once you have a spark of fire in place, complement with a water feature to promote relaxation and bring in a cool dimension of tranquillity. If the space permits, consider building a small garden pond to fill with fish and a waterfall to create an exotic feel. Water features or small fountains can also be sufficient.
4. Brighten those gloomy days with colour
Winter can definitely be a dull mood changer so add a touch of excitement with colours that are bold, bright and daring. Playful colours like yellows, blues and reds will fit beautifully on the background of outdoor earthy tones and colourful accessories will transform the space into a little piece of tropical paradise.
Think colourful potted plants, brightly patterned hammocks and cushions for your outdoor furniture. As vibrant hues and lively designs become incorporated into outdoor décor, your mood is lifted and the space is jazzed up with an element of fun.
5. Choose the right furniture
Whilst a good patio will provide protection against the harsh elements, it’s still vital you invest in outdoor products that can withstand the weather. Choosing the right furniture can give you the opportunity to reflect your personality, have some creative fun and establish a space that is comfy and convenient for entertaining.
You want items that’ll last the distance and provide extensive comfort for years to come. Look for pieces that can give your outdoor space that ‘wow’ factor by adding depth, flair and colour. Good quality is essential, think of your outdoor products as an investment, and consider maintenance requirements and rust-resistant properties.
When choosing the right outdoor furniture, take into consideration its function and purpose, comfort and construction, design consistency and durability, colour schemes, cost, size and shape. Furniture that can serve more than one purpose will not only make life easier for you, but it’ll free up extra space for other items like lighting that can complete the look.
6. Keep entertaining
Taking good care of you outdoor space will ensure it’s perfect for entertaining in all year round. A good outdoor living area will keep the action going, despite what the weather brings in so make sure you’re using the space as best you can.
For those that want to channel their inner chef, this can mean bringing the heat from the inside kitchen, outside. Outdoor kitchens are booming in popularity thanks to cooking shows and the availability of new recipes everyone wants to try. People are being more creative with their cooking, and the convenience of an outdoor kitchen makes this easier to show off those new skills, experiment and entertain. Typically, the grill is the heart of any true outdoor kitchen so make sure you have the right equipment.
Source: Houzz. Click through here.
To add to that entertaining atmosphere, be sure to create a little drama with the right lighting. Not just a safety consideration, adequate lighting will accent your outdoor space and make that beautifully designed landscape and attractive elements stand out.
Make your yard look stunning at night by layering lights and learning to combine ambient lighting. If you’re after a soft, cosy glow, keep lighting around the house pointing downwards. Illumination in trees and spotlights around the pool and deck area will create a romantic, soft glow that’ll make the space inviting.
– Marcus Fulker is managing director of Great Aussie Patios – Perth’s leading patio builders with a solution for every outdoor space.
A Sydney family found entertaining a lot easier this Christmas thanks to winning a kitchen/diner overhaul from IKEA.
The Kalamaras family, from East Lakes, really wanted a space that better suited their growing young family but just couldn’t afford to do renovate just yet. Space was limited and that space was definitely not being used to its full potential.
Pops of cool blue tones in the furniture, accessories and furnishings bring a cool feel to the space, while a
mirrored wall helps bounce light around and make the area brighter and bigger.
Today, stylist Naomi Findlay of SILK Home Staging & Styling and the International Institute of Home Staging (IIHS), shares some great tips on styling your home for the summer months.
Summer is well and truly here and we are increasingly looking for easy ways to enjoy it at home. Here are some quick tips for creating your ultimate summer-friendly environment:
Merge the outdoors and indoors
With the longer days and increased entertaining, now is the time to create indoor-outdoor living spaces.
As the first gusts of Summer roll in, we’re thinking of those memorable days al fresco. Enjoying breakfast on the balcony before work, Sundays where lunches with friends and family turn into early dinners, barbecues that are etched into your mind and the laughter belts through the neighbourhood. This summer, Freedom have a range of outdoor settings to suit any occasion. And there’s currently 25% off!
The Brunch 3-piece and compact Moloko peacock chair
“Australians really come to life in Summer, with seemingly endless entertaining opportunities. Backyards are buzzing with excitement, and people rush home after work to make the most of those extra hours of sunshine. It’s little wonder that our new outdoor collection is bursting with colour and personality, allowing you to update your outdoor area ahead of prime barbecue season!” said Lucie McCann, furniture buyer for Freedom.
