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Expert Tips RENO ADDICT

15 apps to help you build your dream home

Palette Cam

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Building a home from the ground up can be fun and rewarding, but it can also be anxiety provoking. There is good news though with iPhones, iPads and Androids offering homeowners a tool that isn’t already in their toolbox, but is necessary to every home project; the app. Regardless of what stage you are at, apps offer design inspiration, budget management, building measurements, DIY tutorials, renovation ideas and so much more. Furthermore they are time savers that can help you cut costs and work more productively.

Below is a roundup of the best apps to get your home project started and make your smartphone the top go-to tool in your box. Get inspired, get planning and get building today!

1. Houzz
All great dreams start off with inspiration and so when you’re about to build, you can’t have enough of it. Houzz is your interior design app on the go and it’s filled with a large database of design ideas, creative concepts and product reviews. The app is free, easy to use and beautifully designed to create different rooms and browse ideas. To top it off, Houzz also gives you the opportunity to look up professionals in your area, like architects, builders and suppliers to help you complete your project.

2. Palette Cam
Palette Cam is a great free tool for creating unique colour palettes and schemes using inspiration found in everyday life. The app allows you to grab colours from your camera or saved photographs – it will match them and generate individual HEX and RGB values (colour codes) for each shade. The built in zoom view gives you pixel level precision when picking colours making this a fabulous tool for creating schemes and making paint colour and textile selections.

Palette Cam

3. Home Design 3D
Home Design 3D allows you to build a 3D model of your home so you can test out ideas before lifting a hammer or fetching the toolbox.

The free app gives a floorplan and room layout which you can draw in 2D, creating openings, adding walls, changing the shape and orientation – even the thickness of the walls can be drawn up. Designing your home becomes quick and intuitive, with customised textures, 3D project modes and night/day function to show you exactly what side of the house the light will fall at different times each day. You can also select furniture and décor items to really give you a sense of the final feel.

To top it off, you can also visualise and ‘visit’ your creation in real-time 3D using the app’s brand new photorealistic 3D rendering.

Home Design 3D

4. Housecraft
Housecraft is a furniture arrangement app that uses your device’s camera and augmented reality technology to let you place fully rendered 3D models anywhere in a space. A great planning app, it allows you to feel exactly how big objects are and how they’ll fit in a room. It also lets you admire objects from any angle, in any light, as well as save room configurations and try them out anywhere.

Housecraft

5. Tape Measure
Tape Measure is an augmented reality tape measure and ruler that fits in your pocket. Featuring a tape measure, laser level, stud finer and measurement history, this handy app helps you measure anything with your phone!

Tape measure app

6. Morpholio Board – Mood Board
Called ‘addictive’ by ELLE DÉCOR magazine and awarded one of the best apps for interior design and architecture, this is a fabulous app to make your dream mood board come true. Perfect with iPhone, Mac, and iPad, Board combines your ideal inspiration, decor or furniture library with powerful mood board and collage tools to design anywhere. It seamlessly interacts with Pinterest, features a curated product library and has AR furniture capability too. Whether you’re designing kitchen, nursery or home office mood boards or just style and inspiration, this one is everything you need to be an interior designer in one app.

Morpholio app

7. Home Outside
For $4.49, Home Outside is a landscape design app with all the tools you need to mock up your garden, create new garden designs and then share them with friends and family. It’s ideal for homeowners looking to try out new ideas in their yard and it allows you to select and place over 700 hand-drawn elements including trees, gardens, pools, patios, hammocks, driveways, houses and sheds, solar panels and more. It creates professional looking 2D aerial plans.

Home Outside

8. iScape – Landscape Designs
A free app, iScape lets you visualise a finished landscape project on your property before you even get the shovel out of the shed. The app acts as a virtual garden so you can plan, plant and produce your own personal oasis and produce photorealistic renders of your outdoor spaces (augmented reality or 2D designs) that can be saved straight to your smartphone or iPad using real images and actual photographs.

The app lets you tailor your projects (you can adjust colours, add layers, text and texture) before editing and saving them. Once you have collated your ideas you can share and favourite them too.

9. Photo Measures
Photo Measures is a super easy way to save measures on your photos on iPhone and iPad. You simply just take some photos and note down the dimensions on them. Not only does this help you take accurate measurements along when you meet with trades, but you can collate all of the spaces in your phone for easy access. The app also allows you to do the following:

  • Take a photo and directly draw measures on it
  • Edit your measures with a very intuitive interface
  •  Quickly add text as comments when measures are not enough
  • Easily organise your photos by category
  • Export your annotated images as PDF or JPG

10. Rapid Reno Mate
Dubbed the ultimate renovator’s companion, the free Rapid Reno Mate is a powerful tool that can manage the business side of your renovations. Rapid Reno Mate is like your personal project manager and will help you every step of the way, making it easy and enjoyable to renovate your home.

Key features

· Plan multiple projects
· Track your budget
· Manage your trades
· Find products and your nearest suppliers
· Access exclusive offers
· Inspiration and DIY help

The app was developed by Rapid Renovation Expert, Naomi Findlay, who wanted to create a simple solution for renovators to complete successful and enjoyable renovations time and time again.

11. Dulux Colour 
The Dulux Colour app allows you to select a photo of your room and use Dulux colour to virtually ‘paint’ the area. This will give you an idea of what your finished project could look like by visualising colour on your walls. You can choose from popular colour palettes or create your own – you can even browse through the entire Dulux range on your phone.

Cleverly, the app also matches colours – just sample a part of a photo to reveal the closest digital match from over 1,100 colours. You can also save your project, share it with family and friends and compare and view multiple paint schemes.

Dulux Colour app

12. SketchUp
It used to be that interior design and architectural software was the exclusive domain of the professionals but that all changed when SketchUp came along. While it’s not strictly an app, we thought we’d include it because it’s hugely popular and for so many reasons. A highly intuitive, easy to learn 3D drawing tool, SketchUp lets you draw building plans and elevations and create animated walkthroughs and flyovers of your designs. SketchUp also has the world’s largest collection of free 3D models which means building materials, plants and real-world objects including furniture and appliances can be inserted into your designs with just a few clicks. It really has put design software in the hands of regular folk.

Sketchup

13. Airtasker
Perfect for when you’re looking for a tradie or handyman, a cleaner, removalist and more, Airtasker lets you list a task (including details of when and where) alongside a fair budget for it. ‘Taskers’ are then able to bid for the job at which stage you can take a look at their profiles and reviews and choose the best candidate. Airtasker handles the financial side of things making it one easy to use and seamless platform.

Air Tasker

14. hipages
Arguably the best place to find a tradie in Australia, hipages works similarly to Airtasker in that you can list a job and thereafter obtain multiple quotes from professional tradies. It’s a free service that instantly alerts local tradies to submit quotes and after the quotes are received you can compare profiles and verified recommendations to choose the best applicant.

hi-pages

15. Reece 3D bathroom planner
While it’s not an app per se, Reece’s 3D bathroom planner is a fabulous tool for the home renovator and it’s a lot of fun too. Who doesn’t want to plan their bathroom in 3D with just a few clicks? Firstly, you set up and design your bathroom in 2D before adding your favourite Reece products. Then you add your finishing touches (tiles, plants, wood finishes and colours) before reviewing your bathroom in 3D and saving your design. You can also browse predesigned rooms, check out the bathrooms from The Block and peruse the latest trends within the software too.

Reece

This post originally appeared in 2014 but has been updated in 2022 to provide more relevant content for readers.

Check out Reno Addict, our dedicated renovating section

Categories
Bedrooms

Need extra room? Rent a backyard shipping container!

Get our FREE eBook: 10 tips to fall back in love with your home

The shipping container home trend is one that has evolved over the years. Initially celebrated as a cost-effective way to add an extra room (think granny flat, home office, spare bedroom or recreational zone), shipping containers are now being used to construct entire houses and even pools too. Offering a much quicker build time than traditional construction, a container home is often a cheaper alternative too.

Royal Wolf

Rather than having to spend the big bucks on renovating or even moving home, Royal Wolf’s latest residential product, the Outdoor Room, will give you that extra space and save you from packing your bags. And it can even be temporary.

Royal Wolf container room

Innovative, flexible and just darn cool, the Outdoor Room take shipping containers and transform them into anything from a retreat or home office, to a spare bedroom and chill out zone. Available for purchase or rent, the 20-foot modular units are decked out with power, lighting and air conditioning and feature timber flooring, superior insulation and glass sliding doors.

Royal Wolf container room studio

Delivered to your door as a blank slate, the portable and secure container solutions can be used and furnished by consumers to create whatever type of room is needed, with colour-customisation available to suit any setting. Available to buy or hire, they are the perfect solution for those looking for permanent or temporary extra space.

Container Build Group

From small single container cabins and granny flats to commercial spaces (think pop-up shops and toilet blocks), and large scale luxury container homes, Container Build Group is one of Australia’s most prominent container home companies. Its residential projects range from an impressive two storey home in Sydney’s Cronulla to a rural container home in Bundeena and a luxury container home ‘The Lindendale.’ The latter was configured using 14 20-foot shipping containers before being kitted out with high-end inclusions.

Cronulla container home
Container Build Group’s Cronulla project
Container Build Group's Lindfield project
Container Build Group’s Lindfield project

Shipping container pools

Shipping containers are also being used as backyard pools with the aptly monikered Shipping Container Pools leading the charge. All you need is a level site with a concrete pad, or crusher rock base, plus a certified electrical connection and you can “plug, fill and play!” according to the company.

Container pool

Each pool comes with a skimmer box, single speed pump, cartridge filter, multi-coloured LED light plus child safety door, access stairs and decking. As a bonus, you can select any Colorbond shade for the exterior colour.

Shipping Container Conversions

Shipping Container Conversions convert 10, 20 and 40 foot containers into kids’ cubby houses, man caves, ‘she’ sheds, spare rooms, cabins and self-described “end of the world bunkers!” The company has a focus on energy saving techniques too.

Shipping container home

This popular post from 2014 has been updated to give readers more relevant content.

Renovating? Use a shipping container for storage

Categories
Design Kitchens RENO ADDICT

Where to spend and where to save on your kitchen renovation

Have a tired kitchen and not sure where to start? Well, if you know one thing for sure, it’s that your kitchen needs improvement and you have a limited budget to make your dollars count.  This brief guide will help you work out where to save and where to splurge, so your kitchen can be updated and fit your expectations in no time.

Make sure you plan ahead

With the average cost of an Australian kitchen renovation being between $12,000 and $19,000, it’s important to dissect the details and get the most bang for your buck.

Over the past few months you’ve likely been thinking about how your kitchen might look and have collated numerous sources of inspiration, but have you spent the time organising everything and working out what’s really going to work for your space and lifestyle? You should.

Putting time into planning will:

  • Help you avoid making expensive mistakes
  • Give you the power to budget your kitchen renovation accordingly, and
  • Assist you in working out a realistic schedule to work to

Think about what’s practical

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While we might all want a kitchen fit for a celebrity chef, sometimes all the trimmings just aren’t practical.

Is a double sink and a huge kitchen island really necessary? Think about how practical these items are for you in the long-term. If you’re a person who likes to entertain and has a large and busy family then this might be a necessity. And if not, you could be wasting your money.

It’s important to think about your lifestyle as this can help to dictate whether you spend more on items and areas that support your day-to-day movements and priorities. So hey, if you’re a budding cook, a high-end appliance range may be worth the investment.

Consider faux or lookalike materials

 

There a plenty of high quality look-alike materials on offer, and choosing to use them doesn’t mean you’re going to reduce the quality or functionality of your kitchen. Many of these materials are just as aesthetically pleasing than their more expensive counterparts with amazing durability to boot.

Consider:

  • Vinyl or laminate flooring — these materials can look just as fantastic as timber or tiles and cost a fraction of the price
  • Acrylic splashbacks — these cost little to buy and install and can give you the sleek and expensive appearance you desire
  • Laminate benchtops — there’s a reason why laminate is so popular in Australian homes. It’s durable, stain resistant and available in a huge range of styles and colours that successfully mimic more expensive benchtop materials

Mix and match your materials

 

You might not be able to budge on having that natural stone benchtop on your kitchen island, and that’s fine, because there are ways to make this work for a limited budget. You can splash out on expensive materials for one component of your kitchen and then choose complementary materials in other working areas.

For example:

  • Install a natural stone benchtop for your kitchen island and use laminate materials in other areas
  • Use melamine for cabinet, drawer and door fronts and splash out on more expensive brass fixtures
  • Choose a cheaper flooring option and spend big on a modern tiled splashback or dramatic lighting

In these cases it can pay off to make a compromise with more expensive fixtures, materials and items taking centre stage. You can have a kitchen full of middle-range materials, or you can truly elevate it by choosing wisely.

Only you can work out and choose what needs replacing and how much you can afford to allocate to different components. While you might have to make some compromises, remember you can do so without sacrificing quality and style.

– Samantha Thorne is a content marketer at hipages.com.au, Australia’s number one site to hire tradies and the perfect place to find a kitchen specialist in your local area.

Categories
Architecture Design RENO ADDICT

7 tips for first-time renovators

Reasons for renovating are wide and varied. Maybe you’re thinking about renovating to accommodate for a growing family. Perhaps you’re renovating a recently purchased home to modernise it and make it feel a bit more like you. Or maybe you’re renovating simply to increase the value of your property.

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Whatever your reason, we can all agree that the thought process behind renovating and visualising the final result is really exciting, but truth be told, the renovating process can be extremely stressful.

If you take the time to plan and approach your renovation with a realistic and positive attitude, some of this stress can be alleviated. So here are 7 helpful tips for first-time renovators.

1. Make a realistic wish list

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In the age of Pinterest and instagram where inspiration is free, never-ending and completely addictive, it can be really hard to stay focused, understand what’s possible and differentiate between what you want and what you really need.

Sure, inspiration is important, but remember not to get too carried away. Start with the practical basics and what makes financial sense and then look at what else you can afford.

2. Educate yourself

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Don’t ever walk into a renovation without doing some background research first. Do as much reading as you can and educate yourself on all aspects of the job at hand. If you do this, you’ll firmly place yourself in the driving seat and find yourself more adept at selecting materials, hiring the right trades and asking the right questions throughout the job process.

3. Work out what work you really need done

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Tackle each room or area with separate research, notes and lists of what needs to be fixed, removed, added or replaced so you can start to put together a plan and budget.

There is absolutely no hurt in asking around, so speak to trades and speak to friends who’ve renovated before to get an idea of whether your inspirations are possible and if you have the budget for it. The last thing you want is to be undertaking unnecessary work that eats into your budget.

4. Set a realistic budget

You need to be able to actually afford your renovation. Make sure you get at least three quotes for any job in your home and account for the possibility of any job costing 10 to 20 percent more due to unanticipated work or blown-out timelines.

Remember that costs can change significantly depending on what materials and specifications you choose. One kitchen renovation can cost $10,000 while another of the same size can cost $20,000. This also applies to home extensions, bathrooms, decks and other renovations, so remember to take time to go over all the finer details, because not doing so can be extremely costly.

5. Make sure you pick the right trades for your job

Picking the right trade is essential in ensuring your renovation goes smoothly. Make sure that whoever you pick is licensed, insured, holds a current ABN and has the right experience to do your job.

Ask for examples of previous work and look at hiring trades with particular expertise for any specialised work that needs to be done. For example, an electrician who specialises in home automation compared to an electrician who doesn’t have that particular skillset.

Another important factor is professionalism. If your trades operate professionally and respect their clients than they’re more likely to work collaboratively with you to produce amazing results.

6. Review your quotes

Remember that a quote is by no means a legally binding contract, so study them carefully and make sure they include everything you need. While one quote might be cheaper, it may be because it’s missing something important that has been added to a quote that is a little more expensive. Don’t accept an incomplete quote, and if the quote isn’t itemised, ask questions. A trade that you’ll want to deal with will work with you to ensure that you’re both on the same page.

7. Make a plan

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We all know Rome wasn’t built in a day, and same goes for your home extension, so keep in mind that it’s wise to plan ahead because your day-to-day existence is going to be disrupted by your renovation.

Make sure you speak to your builder or trade about the project’s scope and how much it will disrupt your day-to-day routine. Great trades will try to work with you and around your schedule, but for more complex jobs, you may even need to move out temporarily. So plan ahead and budget for these circumstances.

– Samantha Thorne is content marketer at hipages.com.au, Australia’s number one site to hire tradies and the perfect place to get quotes for your home renovation.

Categories
Designers Dining

East Hotel gets a modern twist on old Italian class

Canberra’s newest bar is the perfect blend of traditional Italian elements and modern chic design. Meet Joe’s Bar: the ideal place to sip on a pinot noir or cool cosmo while kicking back on a chocolate-tinted, fur-covered lounge chair.

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Located on the ground floor of East Hotel, Joe’s Bar is Canberra’s newest addition to the small bars that are transforming the nation’s capital into the heart of hip. It was conceived by siblings Dan and Dion Bisa, whose vision was to create a space that offered contemporary comfort, while still maintaining their Italian roots. This space would be one that would also blend smoothly into East Hotel, being owned and operated by family business Bisa Hotels. In fact, the bar is even named for their father, Joe Bisa, a first-generation Italian-Australian.

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“We wanted to take all the inspiration we have gathered from the glamour and sophistication of the truly stunning bars we have enjoyed in Italy and create something that melds these qualities with the vibrant energy of the bar and restaurant scene in Australia,” said Dan. “From the beginning, it was about the detail, from the artisans, to each and every wine that we have included on the menu.”

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Kelly Ross, creative director at The Gentry, was engaged to work on the chic Italian project. The rich colour palette for the bar was brought to life by seeing it in terms of wine terminology, drawing on qualities of clarity, brilliance, tone and depth. Murano glass and a concrete curtain hint at the north Italian heritage. A quirky rope installation, a tasteful pinot-hued pink wall and low hanging lights are constantly playing up the contradictions between soft and hard, old and new.

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The bar itself is a colossal leather-finished granite, flowing effortlessly into the natural, oiled timbers and contrasted against polished stone. This statement piece perfectly compliments the wine list; a selection of the finest Italian wines, alongside some of the best wines from the Canberra region. Without overlooking its contemporary style, the bar also features an enviable cocktail list, as well as imported and local beer.

“It was important for us to have representation on our wine list from not only some of the classic Italian wine producing districts, but from the Canberra region as well,” said Dan. “My vision was to have the best wines possible available to enjoy in an inspirational and stunning space – a multisensory experience.”

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The attention to detail in Joe’s bar extends beyond tasteful aesthetic cues. Designed by Italian-born chef, Francesco Balestrieri, the authentic Italian dishes are made in-house using seasonal and local produce, and are a perfect compliment to the wine selection. This is more than just your typical concept bar – it is an intimate space to be shared with friends, a true fusion of contemporary details and north Italian heritage.

Categories
Homewares

Olivia’s Fab Four Insta-Finds 30.07.14

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Olivia’s Fab Four is a weekly post that features my favourite finds on Instagram for the past week. To be in the running, all you have to do is hashtag your product photos #oliviasfabfour and tag them with my handle: @oliviashead.

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Here are this week’s beautiful products (clockwise from top left)

1. Vintage Suitcases, $30, from Finds on Fitzroy. @findsonfitzroy

2.  Metallic Paper Bag, $28, from Lightly. @lightlydesign

3. Solid Walnut Circle Shelf Three Tier, $420, from Bride and Wolfe. @brideandwolfe

4. Fresh Coffee (Medium), $20, from The Pantry Candle Co. @thepantrycandleco

I’ll be back with more next week! Olivia x

Categories
Furniture

Custom made Australian tables inspired by Scandinavia

Handcrafted in Australia but inspired by the gurus of design, the Scandinavians, the custom made tables by Marbre&Bois have a special emphasis on simplicity and balance.

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The Frankie Table is available through RTIST Agency in Melbourne’s Prahran, and is the first from the new and exclusive range of Marbre&Bois tables. The concept behind Marbre&Bois is simple (if you speak French), with the name translating to ‘marble and wood,’ the high quality materials used in creating this bespoke piece.

Priced from $2,500, the Frankie Table is custom made to order and features a rounded rectangular Calacatta marble surface with an elegant Tasmanian oak finish.

For more information.

Categories
Bedrooms Furniture

King Furniture’s first foray into fixed bedding with the NEO

After the success of their award-winning NEO sofa range, King Furniture have launched the NEO Bed, their first foray into the world of fixed bedding.

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Exhibiting the same level of quality and style as their renowned NEO sofas, the elegant and contemporary bed provides exceptional sleeping comfort in king, queen, double or king single sizes. The sophisticated bed is supported by an alloy frame, offering the same high quality foundation and longevity as all of King Furniture’s steel frames and with the same 15-year frame warranty.

The slimline platform combined with the hardwood legs, give it a visually light presence within a room. The upholstered headrests give the ultimate finish of comfort.

The NEO Bed is available in King Furniture’s extensive choice of premium fabrics and luxurious leathers, with further customisation via a range of veneer colour finishes for the legs.

More information.

Categories
Homewares

Forestry: creating throw rugs in The Netherlands, from New Zealand wool, for Aussies!

After selling her New Zealand-based infants label, Virginia Star Busmann was ready for her next adventure, and this time it was in the form of Forestry:  traditional-style wool throw rugs with a contemporary twist.

The Circle/Grid blanket in collaboration with Milo & Mitzy

“I started Forestry after I noticed a gap in the market for quality woolen plaids that were fresh and unique in design,” explains Virginia. “We use pure new wool and traditional methods to create blankets which easily bring a fresh look to any living or bedroom space.”

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A Kiwi, Virginia and her Dutch husband spent a ten-year stint in Auckland before deciding it was only fair to give his country, The Netherlands, a go. Yet while she may be many miles away from her hometown, Virginia is far from forgetting her roots, with all her wool being sourced directly from New Zealand.

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“We manufacture in a small mill in Lithuania,” says Virginia. “They source wool from New Zealand, which is made into yarn and traditionally woven on site. Much of the work is still done by hand, which means that the blankets may have slight variations in size. Of course, that’s part of their charm!”

A truly global operation, Virginia’s blankets are also available to us in Australia via her online store. “I sell a lot to Australia,” explains Virginia. “I guess there must be something Antipodean in the aesthetic that appeals!”

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With Forestry’s second range just launched this month, it has a clean fresh look thanks to the strong whiteness of the wool and the brilliantly contrasting colours. “This range is double-faced, designed to be viewed from both sides,” explains Virginia. “This means that the colours are less blended, they appear stronger, which creates a slightly different aesthetic.”

The blankets are all designed by Virginia, who adds: “Wool is an amazing natural resource. It’s non-polluting and biodegradable. It takes less energy to produce than manmade fibres. It’s flame-retardant, breathable, durable and elastic, and it stays warm even when wet. What’s not to love?”

The Circle/Grid was designed in collaboration with New Zealand blog Milo and Mitzy.

The throw blankets can be purchased from the Forestry website.

One lucky reader will win a blanket of their choice. To be in with a chance, tell us your top tip for getting cosy this winter, using the entry form below, and which throw design and colour you’d pick. Entries close at midnight next Thursday 17 July 2014. Good luck! Open to Australian residents only.

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Categories
Expert Tips Styling

Top 10 vignette styling tips from Chelsea Hing & Emma Barnett

Interior designer Chelsea Hing and stylist Emma Barnett have collaborated on StillLife, a concept which lets you ‘shop the look’ for your home, with an exclusive range of limited edition pieces, ready to be displayed as the perfect vignette. If you struggle with styling or have no idea what a vignette is, StillLife does all the hard work for you, allowing you to buy an expertly curated collection of pieces to instantly transform your coffee table, entrance hall or mantel.

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Here, Emma and Chelsea share their top 10 styling tips with us, while showcasing their StillLife collections.

Emma’s Top 5 Styling Tips 

1. Coffee table vignettes

Use a classic tray to create a vignette on your coffee table.  Stack some books, add your favourite candle and place a simple bloom to add some life.  Not only is it easy to change and update your look by re-styling your tray,  but it’s simple to relocate when you need to move it aside for your dinner party platter.

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2. Books are for more than reading

The uses for books as styling objects are endless. Stack a few and place a candle or special object on top, colour code them to bring your shelves to life, stack them both vertically and horizontally to give shape, or lean on the back of a shelf to layer against.

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3. Investment pieces

Just like your wardrobe, your home should have its classic pieces. Invest in these timeless pieces as they will never go out of style.

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4. Styling with foliage

Flowers are fabulous but can be expensive to maintain. Why not use some leafy branches that are longer lasting and give great height, shape and silhouette? And of course, make sure your vases are beautiful in their own right, so even when empty they will look amazing.

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5. Rein in the colour palette

Mixing colours can look amazing, but if you feel more comfortable keeping to the one, add depth and interest by using contrasting textures and adding metallic accents. Sometimes the simplest combinations are the most stunning.

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Chelsea’s Top 5 Styling Tips 

1. Inject personality

Go for pieces that will inject real personality into your interior. This means taking risks and having fun with colour, texture, scale and combination. Don’t hold back and don’t be too safe!

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2. Make it personal

Great styling tells a story about you and your home that feels right. Work in art, lamps, flowers and candles to give it a personal vibe and make it come alive.

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3. The rule of threes

Style with three to four  elements per look as a rule, making sure that the major pieces you use have real presence. Vary the scale and heights of each piece so they don’t compete for attention or look messy.

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4. Styling with art

Art doesn’t always need to be hung on a wall. Use your art as a styling object, propped on shelves, a bench or console to connect it with your other pieces.

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5. It’s all in the detail

Styling a look is all about the elements you put together, which is easier said than done. First and foremost, it needs to make sense for where it is and needs to reflect how you use your space. A dish in the right spot or a single bloom in a vase to greet you, makes all the difference.

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The first collection, launched last month, features 15 pieces that Chelsea and Emma have designed in collaboration with emerging Australian makers Thread Architecture, Andrei Davidoff and Brahman Perera. It’s been well received, with some collections having already sold out. Planning to launch two collections per year, the next range will see the pair partner with other designers, as they hope to provide a distinct and different look to each collection.

Products can be bought within a pre-styled collection or individually. A concierge service is also available for Melbourne metro customers (and free on orders over $300 this month) where Emma will personally deliver to and style the look in your home.

Shop StillLife.

Categories
Designers Interviews

Interview: architect Christopher Polly

Christopher Polly struggles to pick a favourite project: “That’s a bit like choosing a favourite child!” But when pressed, he does admit that four of his most recently completed residential projects hold that special place in his heart.

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Christopher Polly

“Our Cosgriff House, Elliot Ripper House, Darling Point Penthouse and Haines House are our favourite completed projects to date,” explains Christopher. “Each project provided potential to explore various ideas for individual design responses, which were brought to fruition with good clients and builders.”

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Cosgriff House

These four projects have also been shortlisted for many awards, including the Australian Interior Design Awards, Houses Awards, Interior Design Excellence Awards and House & Garden Room of the Year, a feat which is made all the more impressive by the fact that Christopher is a one-man show. His firm, Christopher Polly Architect was established in late 2005, when he decided to take on a large mixed-use commercial project at Sydney Olympic Park; a job that became the catalyst for establishing an office in a full-time capacity.

Since then, he has gone on to complete commercial, hospitality and residential projects, where he is involved in the design process from architecture all the way through to landscaping. “We have a holistic detail, design and process-led approach for each project and site, entailing architecture, interior design and preliminary landscape advice. Depending on the project and client, and when requested, we also offer advice as to selection for furniture and furnishings.”

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Elliot Ripper House
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Elliot Ripper House

Currently, Christopher primarily works in residential, something he favours for its ability to: “allow a broader depth of opportunity to explore and test ideas.” Working on a federation house in Petersham, a 1960s brick veneer house in Woolooware and a terrace in Newtown, he has several renovations on the go, all transpiring in hugely unique ways.

“They all involve significant additions and alterations to the existing fabric of each house,” says Christopher. “The particular pattern of development in the street and the strength found in the existing individual formal qualities of a building always define the parameters for a uniquely appropriate and differentiated design response for each project.”

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Haines House

While Christopher does acknowledge the fact that having your own firm comes with its economic challenges, being the sole driver of each design response far outweighs any negatives. “Having autonomy in the exploration of ideas and being master of your own design direction was, and still is, the overriding benefit of having your own firm.”

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Darling Point Penthouse

With business in no way slowing down, Christopher feels very fortunate to be in his position, though it’s certainly not something that’s come easy. Rather, he sees hard work as the key to his success, and would recommend all emerging designers get their hands dirty if they want to make it in the business. “My advice would be to work extremely hard, with an unwavering commitment and focus to achieving great outcomes!”

Categories
Expert Tips Homewares

Learn from textile queen Chrissie Jeffrey at the Sydney Craft & Quilt Fair this week

For those who can’t get enough of DIY, Chrissie Jeffrey from No Chintz is the person to talk to. A fabric designer and craft guru, she has spent 30 years in the business, and thanks to this week’s Sydney Craft & Quilt Fair, you get the chance to learn from the woman herself!

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Chrissie Jeffrey

“I will be showing how anyone from novices to creative geniuses can turn humdrum living spaces into incredible rooms using DIY interiors, creative patchwork, curtains and wallpaper ideas,” explains Chrissie. She’ll also be hosting daily, 50-minute ‘Make & Take’ workshops, where you can create your own lampshade using a pre-made kit and your own fabrics or a choice of 10.

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Chrissie has created homewares and furniture for designers and architects for many decades, through her store, No Chintz Textiles and Soft Furnishings. Giving people retail access to well-designed fabrics off the roll as opposed to having to order them in through designers, No Chintz makes getting crafty a whole lot easier. They also offer goods to order, manufacturing anything from lampshades through to bed quilts, curtains and blinds.

However, one of the things Chrissie and her team are most known for is their new spin on patchwork, something that you will get the chance to hear more about at the fair. “We have been experimenting with patchwork on furniture since Vogue asked us to do a patchwork chair, curtains and tablecloth for them in 2007,” says Chrissie. “We love to piece together uneven, large pieces of assorted patterns. We have put together a kit for creating a blue/green quilt or a pink/cream quilt for the craft fair and online.”

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While Chrissie admits she sees far more bad DIY interiors than good ones, she believes that through her workshops even novices will be able to create something beautiful. “Visitors will learn how to make something well through the step-by-step processes that we use in manufacturing ourselves,” explains Chrissie. “These are simple projects that even inexperienced sewers and decorators can easily master, are cost-effective, visually interesting and can totally transform any room.”

Chrissie’s lampshade classes, Handmade Room display and wallpaper demonstrations will be amongst a host of other Make and Take classes and displays at the Sydney Craft & Quilt Fair this week.

From Wednesday 9 to Sunday 13 July, Sydney Exhibition Centre. Buy tickets here.

Categories
Appliances Kitchens

Matte is the new black for Sunbeam’s latest appliances

I’m a big fan of matte black, in anything really: sunglasses, laptops, cars! So I’m very much liking the look of Sunbeam’s latest offering, their premium Cafe Series appliances in matte black.

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MX9200K Planetary Mixmaster

Stylish, sophisticated and contemporary, these appliances will add a touch of mature elegance to your space. An increasingly popular colour, matte black is perfect for melding together popular rustic decor with modern homes and can be the ideal standout against high gloss kitchens and appliances.

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PB9800K Blender

The new Cafe Series includes the powerful 2400 watt PB9800K Blender, ($299), the LC9000K Food Processor with two bowls, wide chute, on-board storage and a range of accessories ($449), the MX9200K Planetary Mixmaster with instant pause and balanced head lift ($549) and the EM7000K Espresso Machine with the temperature sensing steam wand ($949).

Available now. Shop online.

Categories
Designers Interviews

Melbourne’s Nexus Designs: 50 years in the business… and counting!

Still going strong and wining awards after almost 50 years in the interior design business is no mean feat, but one that Melbourne’s Nexus Designs is achieving under the leadership of creative director Sonia Simpfendorfer.

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Sonia Simpfendorfer

Originally from Adelaide, Sonia found Melbourne’s design culture to be a magnet, and moved there as quickly as she could after university. From the get go, Nexus Designs had always been at the top of Sonia’s list of studios to join, inspired by founding director Janne Faulkner AM and her business partner Harley Anstee. Starting her career with a three-year stint at Bates Smart, she achieved her dream to join Nexus in 1997. Some 13 years later, in 2010, they made her creative director.

“Janne founded Nexus Designs in 1967 and then brought Harley into the company in 1975,” says Sonia. “They are still both actively involved today and have just become InDesign Magazine Luminaries in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to interior design.”

Tribeca Loft
Tribeca Loft

With two of Australia’s most accomplished designers as predecessors, Sonia may have some big shoes to fill, but that’s something she’s not having any problems doing. Last year, Nexus won two Australian Interior Design Awards for their Tribeca Loft project: Best International Design and Best Residential Decoration. “It was a dream project: a confident repeat client, brilliant NYC post-industrial loft space and a brief that gave us freedom to push them and keep the concept very pure.”

Having clients that allow the team to push the design boundaries, always gets the best results. “My favourite projects are the ones where we’ve been able to use our full range of skills, particularly space planning, to significantly tailor an interior and make it better within the existing envelope and then make it beautiful and livable too. That’s our specialty and our edge over architects,” Sonia says.

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Tribeca Loft

Working in Australia and overseas, Nexus Designs are mostly known for their high-end, one-off residential projects. However, while Sonia admits she has a soft spot for residential, she also works on a range of projects including: multi-residential, boutique hotels, hospitality developments and the occasional marine project.

The business is not just focused on interior design, also specialising in graphic design and product development.“The three disciplines work independently most of the time, but when we get together it’s a dynamite team for our clients,” explains Sonia. “Graphics and interiors work particularly well together. We often have graphics develop identities and signage for our commercial interiors clients which gives a seamless visual experience to the projects.”

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North Adelaide

With many projects in the pipeline, Sonia loves the variety. “We always have time for the small ones – just the perfect white paint or some furniture, along with the complex, long-term ones, such as the large apartment we are working on in an historic building with really smart, open-minded clients.”

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North Adelaide

For Sonia, it’s not the scope of the project that matters, rather all her interior design work comes down to one fundamental aim, an aim that she makes sure to tell all her designers and one she believes is achieved in all her work: “Good looking design is great, but highly functional, practical and good looking design, is even better.”

Nexus Designs

Categories
Homewares

Olivia’s Fab Four Insta-Finds 02.07.14

Olivia’s Fab Four is a weekly post that features my favourite finds on Instagram for the past week. To be in the running, all you have to do is hashtag your product photos #oliviasfabfour and tag them with my handle: @oliviashead.

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Here are this week’s beautiful products (clockwise from top left)

1. Gem Plate, $56, from Milly Dent Design. @millydent

2. Golden Elephant, $50, from Nest the Label. @nest_thelabel

3. Artisan Serving Boards, $34, from Quaint Envy. @overgrown_garden

4. Fairy Garden Terrarium, special order, from Happy Place Terrariums. @happyplaceterrariums

I’ll be back with more next week! Olivia x

Categories
Homewares House Tours

Olivia styles Typo’s new homewares brand, The Hall, at home

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t totally excited when the courier arrived with my goodies from Typo’s new homewares brand, The Hall. He came bearing an absolutely huge box, which involved a two-man effort to get through the door. But boy, was it worth it!

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Here at Interiors Addict, we were gifted a selection from The Hall’s yellow capsule collection, and encouraged to style it in our own home. With Jen overseas, this left the job to me (it’s a tough gig, but someone had to do it!).

The range featured everything from candlesticks to dining sets, and while I was a bit hesitant about getting so many homewares in yellow (I’ve been scarred by the colour ever since I was eight and decided to paint my room fluro yellow and green!) it wasn’t OTT. In fact, because they’re made from many different textures, prints and materials, it actually felt quite the opposite, with the pieces giving my home that eclectic feel that makes it seem like you’ve scoured the whole world for your homewares over many years, rather than just the one shop!

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As a lover of all things Typo, for both their quirky designs and affordable prices, I am now hooked on The Hall for the exact same reasons, and with prices starting as low at $6.95, there’s really no reason not to add something new to your home.

The Hall’s first collection is available online and in selected Typo stores across Australia.

Categories
Appliances

Electrolux Assistent lights the way to culinary success

When it comes to creating Masterchef quality meals, lighting in the kitchen is crucial. So the Electrolux Assistent, which is the first kitchen machine to feature an all-important LED light, is the perfect accessory for any home.

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With a light that shines into the bowl to give you better visibility of what is happening in there, the Electrolux Assistent also includes a generous 4.8L stainless steel bowl and an additional 2.9L bowl. A coated die-cast tool set that features a dough hook, flat beater and wire whisk are also included, with 10 speeds and a tilting head allowing precise control. Optional additional accessories such as a meat grinder and vegetable slicer are also available, giving you even more versatility.

Assistent tungsten insitu

It’s powerful, robust and versatile, yet still beautiful enough to sit proudly on the kitchen bench even when not in use. We love the retro look of the watermelon red version.

Available in stores from August, it retails for $599. For stockists call 1300 366 366 or visit Electrolux online.

Categories
Competitions Designers

Beacon Lighting to support emerging designers

With a keen interest in supporting emerging Australian designers, Beacon Lighting have announced a new partnership with the highly coveted design industry competition, VIVID.

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Alrik Pendants

Hoping to elevate the status of this important program, they will also be offering a $5,000 for the inaugural Beacon Lighting Award, a prize that will also include the possibility of being stocked in their stores.

Scott Robinson, senior category buyer and lighting designer for Beacon Lighting, believes it is important for the company to get involved: “Beacon Lighting has a key focus on delivering the latest design trends from all over the world to the Australian market. Through our travels and trend spotting, we have come across great designs from emerging Australian designers. Through a collaborative approach, we would like to help young designers and artists in producing and bringing their designs to market.”

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LEDlux Nord

While in the past they have generally looked overseas for great lighting designs, Beacon recognise that the calibre of design talent here in Australia is certainly on a world-class level. With outstanding production capabilities and global design networks, they feel that they can help emerging designers get noticed both on a national and international stage.

VIVID celebrates its 12th this year at Decor + Design and has become an integral platform to support new and emerging Australian designers. Competition categories include lighting, student, concept, commercial and green. Finalists will be on display at Decor + Design, from 10-to-13 July at Melbourne Exhibition Centre.