Tag: events

Boost to industry as Decor + Design in-person event returns to Melbourne

Post author By Caoimhe Hanrahan-Lawrence
Post date May 12, 2021
No Comments on Boost to industry as Decor + Design in-person event returns to Melbourne

This July, Australia’s number one interiors trade event is making a triumphant return to Melbourne. After the challenges of the past year, the 18th edition of Decor + Design and the Australian International Furniture Fair will give the design industry an important boost and the opportunity to do business in person.

From Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 July, Melbourne Exhibition Centre will transform into an interior design village of beautifully curated style inspiration. Decor + Design and the Australian International Furniture Fair will exhibit the latest in indoor and outdoor furniture, lighting, textiles, workspace design and contemporary art.

From left to right: James Treble, Mim Fanning, Cameron Kimber

Featured speakers at this year’s International Seminar Series will include interior designer, presenter and style writer, James Treble, top designers Mim Fanning, Cameron Kimber, Jeremy Bull, Adelaide Bragg and Thomas Hamel, plus design authorities Robyn Holt and Interiors Addict’s very own Jen Bishop.

“We’re are super excited to bring Australia’s premier networking and buying event for the design industry back to the Melbourne Exhibition Centre in 2021,” says event director Chris May.

“This industry is all about the senses and experiencing products in real life – something we’ve all sorely missed over the past year! Many long term and exciting new exhibitors will be showcasing classic and contemporary styles and launching new products at the 2021 show.”

From left to right: Jeremy Bull, Adelaide Bragg and Thomas Hamel

It’s an important annual destination for retailers, interior designers, decorators and architects. The events will feature a spectacular line-up of exhibitors, including Satara, Bisque Interiors, Cromwell, Darcy & Duke, James Stewart Furniture, LaGrolla, Cooper Black, Wisteria Design, LaForma Australia, Warwick Fabricks, Calibre Furniture, Vetro Furniture, L&M Home and Tantra.

With international travel still effectively embargoed, international perspectives will be provided via exclusive virtual seminars. Victoria Redshaw, popular futurist of leading UK trend forecasting agency Scarlet Opus, will bring an international perspective with her major design trends forecast.

Another event highlight will be James Treble’s daily practical design trend tours, where he will translate this year’s trends to the products available on the show floor.

From Left to right: Robyn Holt, Jen Bishop, and Victoria Redshaw

As well as the impressive speaker line up, visitors are invited to experience a new sustainability hub curated by Design Matters, the VIVID Design Awards, and the Trends Champagne Lounge.

2021 also marks the 18th anniversary of VIVID, Australia’s most prestigious design awards program. Judged by a panel of prominent and respected industry figures, this highly anticipated industry platform is an important destination for designers at the show.

VIVID will once again cover an array of categories including furniture design, lighting design, object design, concept design, the ADA Award of Merit, the VIVID 2021 Judges Choice Award and the Houzz People’s Choice Award.

For more information on Decor + Design and AIFF 2021.

Tags decor + design, events, Melbourne event, speakers

Bedrooms Furniture Homewares

Video: We love this bedroom look from Chatswood Chase Sydney

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date July 22, 2016
No Comments on Video: We love this bedroom look from Chatswood Chase Sydney

6 reasons you won’t participate in 7 Vignettes. And why they’re nonsense!

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date January 7, 2015
10 Comments on 6 reasons you won’t participate in 7 Vignettes. And why they’re nonsense!

I’ve been pondering this post for a really long time. I am completely in love with our 7 Vignettes community on Instagram and it gives me so much joy to see what people get out of the experience and how supportive everyone is of each other. I’m also blown away by the beautiful images but that almost comes second! It genuinely makes me feel sad and frustrated when I hear people saying they’re too intimidated to take part because the standard is so high, or that they don’t have time, or the right props. I wanted to debunk all these myths and encourage you to give it a go, just once, then come back and tell me you didn’t love it! Please read on for my roundup of the most common excuses and why they’re nonsense!

1. I don’t have enough cool stuff. Pft! Nonsense! Some of our best images contain seashells, hairy string, flowers from the garden, a corner of a textured rug, pieces of fruit, a cuppa or a chubby baby’s hand! It’s not about owning lots of designer homewares, it’s about how you put the stuff together, the natural light, the composition, even the Instagram filter. And sometimes (often) simple is best. As they say, it’s not what you’ve got, it’s what you do with it that counts!

Screen Shot 2015-01-02 at 5.21.05 PM — @ofheartandhome

2. I’m intimidated by how good everyone else is. This is probably the biggest issue people have. I draw your attention to these recent comments…

I totally get it though. We have some super talented participants. It blows me away every month! But the absolute BEST thing about the 7 Vignettes community — even better than the beautiful feed of images — is the sense of community and all the lovely encouraging and friendly words for each other’s efforts. Take part and get to know them. You might even make a few new friends. I can promise you I have never ever heard of an incidence of anyone telling someone else theirs wasn’t up to scratch! And think what you can learn from these clever and inspiring people! Any doubts are in your own head only.

3. I’m a newbie and have no chance of winning when up against everyone else who has been doing it for two years. Ask @mintandfizz about that. She won the December 2014 round on her very first attempt!

4. My home isn’t stylish enough. Again, 7 Vignettes isn’t about showcasing cool or expensive stuff or even your home. Interiors Addict’s motto is, after all, style without the snobbery! You don’t even have to show us any of your home if you don’t want to. Most people don’t. It’s less about interiors and more about creativity, fun and enjoyment.

5. I feel guilty taking part in something so self-indulgent when I should be hanging out with my kids. Enough with the mother guilt already (let’s face it, the overwhelming majority of participants are female, this is not me being sexist)! I’ve heard comments to this effect a few times and it really bothers me. Why not take a little time out for yourself to do something creative for a few minutes for seven days of the month? It doesn’t have to be every month. If you’re stuck in a job that you don’t love, this could be one of your only creative outlets. Your kids may want to join in too and be inspired by watching your creativity in action. This happens all the time and sometimes we get to see the little ones’ vignette attempts too (super cute)! We love seeing little hands in parents’ vignettes too. And we laugh when we hear the stories of husbands who just don’t get it. Share the outtakes and the funny stories with us. Most of all, keep it real!

And, if you truly believe 7 Vignettes is too self-indulgent a pastime for a mother that’s fine, but please keep it to yourself and don’t make others feel guilty, okay? Thanks!

6. I just don’t have time. My biggest advice here is not to over think it. And I hear time and time again that the most spontaneous vignettes can be the best. You can even set yourself a timer to make it more fun and challenging! Don’t just take it from me though…

So, I really hope that hearing from readers who may have felt you once upon a time and are now hooked on 7 Vignettes and loving it, will encourage you to have a go yourself! I dare you to come and join Instagram’s friendliest community! We even have events throughout the year where you can meet each other.

The next 7 Vignettes challenge starts on 1 February 2015. To be first to receive the themes list, make sure you sign up to our newsletter. For step by step instructions, go here and please ask any questions in the comments below.

Tags 7 vignettes, events, examples of vignettes, instagram, interiors addict, jen bishop, photo a day, styling, video, vignettes, vignettes challenge, vignettes meaning

Covet my coffee table House Tours Styling

Covet my Coffee Table: with Alex Zabotto-Bentley

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date June 30, 2014

It’s hard to sum up Alex’s talents, but stylist, designer and events genius will just have to do (read more about AZB Creative’s work here).

“I love my coffee table clusters! I always mix metals, natural coral, old ceramics and tumbled silver balls and sculptures, kind of like curated clutter but with a gentleman’s retreat aesthetic,” he says. “I travel a lot for work and pleasure, so every surface in my apartment becomes the home to some form of collection of treasures.”

The table itself is 1970s, made from Italian brass, glass and lucite and was bought from Ken Neale 20th Century Modern in Sydney.

“The large white elephant ceramic was a gift from a dear friend, lovingly held all the way from Hong Kong in my arms. The bowl and plate were an antique market find from a recent trip to Tokyo and the silver objects are a collective from friends and finds from around the world.”

The coffee table sits on a hand loomed Moroccan Beni Ouarain rug from Becker Minty (I’m noticing a serious trend for people we feature in Covet My Coffee Table shopping there! Jen).

If you like what you see, follow Alex on Tumblr and Instagram.

See all our other coffee tables.

Tags alex zabotto-bentley, azb creative, Becker minty, coffee table, covet my coffee table, event, events, ken neale 20th century modern, styling, stylist

Interiors Addict

Top event planning tips from the professionals

Post author By John Clements
Post date April 30, 2013

(L to R) Zoe Jackson, Stephanie Hugan and Hilary Bellew of Melbourne events company The Design Depot

Creating events that wow people involves many of the same skills involved in creating interiors that do the same. Whether you’re planning a kids’ birthday party or your own wedding, we asked Hilary Bellew, Zoe Jackson and Stephanie Hugan of Melbourne’s company The Design Depot, to share their insider secrets. We hope you pick up some great tips!

If you’ve have ever had the pleasure of attending an event brought to life by the incredibly skilled and creative team at this event hire and styling company, you’ll know full well what it what it looks like to be the host with the most.

A labour of love for owners Bruce and Chyka Keebaugh, their eye for style and impeccable execution has warranted a cult following among the design and hospitality industries since they launched in 2007. Whether you want to take your guests to the streets of New York or the palaces of The Middle East, The Design Depot ensure a safe, comfortable flight to the most glamorous destinations.

Q: What are the five key elements to a great themed party?

Make it memorable. You want your guests to be talking about your event for weeks to come. Do this by giving your event the wow factor. Try a feature installation or fun custom signage and make sure you follow through with the theme all the way down to the finer details. It’s important not to simply think about the big things. Make sure there is detail in everything from the menus, theming your staff and even the bathroom signage. And remember to use quality suppliers.

Tags bruce and chyka keebaugh, event hire, event styling, events, stylist, the design depot, weddings

Interiors Addict

Two new Sibella Court workshops

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date May 12, 2012

Get in quick! Stylist Sibella has announced a couple of new Sydney workshops.

The first is a three-hour walking tour of some of the spots she has designed the interiors of, including my personal favourite Ms G’s, as well as Upstairs at the Beresford, El Loco and her latest, The Fish Shop. Drinks included. Sounds fun!

The second is all about colour and will take place at Sun Studios in Alexandria, where she’ll create an entire set based on a colour palette.

For further details and to book, click here.

Tags events, sibella court, sydney, The society inc

Interiors Addict

Vintage Schmintage

i tend to believe that by the time ‘everybody’ catches on to something, it is well and truly over… you know?

as well as styling interiors, i also design, style and implement events. corporate. PR. product launches. and, yes…weddings.

hmmm. and herein lies the problem.

go back for a second to statement number one.

‘i tend to believe that by the time ‘everybody’ catches on to something, it is well and truly over.’

on the whole, i love dealing with brides. their enthusiasm is boundless…their passion second to none. I love it. really.

until they say this. “i want something really different. something no one has done before. something VINTAGE”.

ok.

then they will go on to say “i like typewriters..a want a whole table of typewriters…..and mason jars filled with flowers,. you know,.flowers that a sweet seven year-old girl with flowing flaxen locks and a white cotton dress has lovingly plucked from a field and shoved into a jam jar. and i want a field covered with bunting, bunting that flutters in the warm breeze. oh,..and I LOVE VINTAGE mismatched crockery and whimsical pink champagne glasses. and VINTAGE cameras. and vintage suitcases stuffed with apples. and a DESSERT or lolly table with a vintage tablecloth! and CUPCAKES! you know? something DIFFERENT….something vintage, vintage, VINTAGE!’.

yah. different. totally different to all the other millions of folk who also wanted something different.

and, that’s ok. i’ll totally deliver that. it’ll be dreamy, and romantic and whimsical and VINTAGE. but different? not so much.

i think all the vintage is becoming souless. people are trying so hard to add character and personality through ‘vintage’ that they are ending up doing the exact opposite. their events are looking like carbon copies of the event that was held in the same ‘vintage friendly’ venue the week before.

the same goes for interiors. has anyone watched The Block recently? it’s all replica furniture and vintage styling. mainstream. safe. dull.

so.. here’s a shout out to the world. let’s move on from vintage, folk! Let’s find something else to love, something else to be inspired by…and something else to lust after.

United we can do it! Call me..I’ll help you.

Jane

disclaimer *none of the above was EVER uttered by any of my gorgeous clients. well… not entirely.*

Tags events, jane frosh, styling, typewriter, vintage, wedding