ian gunn – The Interiors Addict

Coastal homes: All white is out and colour is in!

If you and I were to play a game of word association and I said ‘coastal interior’ I’m fairly positive your first response would be ‘white!’ Am I right? When it comes to beachside styling, white has always reigned but that’s set to change according to Perth interior stylist Alex Carter of Harlow & Willow who turned the white cliché on its head recently transforming a typical Aussie coastal home into a colour lover’s paradise. Today she tells us how to get the look.

Ease yourself in
“If you’re relatively new to introducing colour into your home, ease yourself in. There’s no need to break out the green paintbrush right away! Start off by swapping out your current cushions and throws for colourful and patterned ones and watch how it lifts your space!” says Alex.

Cushions are a relatively affordable way to take the colour leap

Select colours that make you feel good
“Even as a colour lover, I have some colours that I just don’t like. When injecting colour into your home and decor it is important to choose colours that make you feel good and that you find visually pleasing,” says Alex and it’s a sentiment I share. For example, as much as I love wearing red I would never have it anywhere near my house.

Choose colour levels depending on the use of the room
“Colour can create a vast array of feelings and change moods. Consider this and the feeling that you want to create in each space. For example, you may opt for more relaxing shades in the bedroom like calming blues or deep greens and rich plum tones whereas living areas can take more vibrancy with brighter, bolder colours,” says Alex.

Alex Carter bedroom — Bedroom. That stunning artwork is by Morgan Jamieson

Decorate depending on the feeling and not trends
“Don’t fall into the trap of decorating to a trend as you will get sick of this pretty quickly. Just because 75 per cent of Instagram seems to be using blush and grey doesn’t mean that you have to – except if you love it, then of course go for it!” says Alex who explains that it’s important to try and tap into your own distinct taste. “Choose colours that reflect the mood you want to create in your space,” she adds.

Alex Carter dining room — The dining room features mismatched chairs, greenery and colour pops

It’s okay to mix things up
“When it comes to your home, you don’t need to fit into a certain style or colour palette. Feel free to mix the vintage with the new, the colourful with the more minimal items and even colour combinations that may not be the norm. This is your sanctuary and should be a visual reflection of you so have fun with it!”

Coastal styling Alex Carter — I love the wooden surfboard! Artwork: Katie Wyatt (top left) and Anna Cole (bottom left)

Photographer: Matt Biocich | Stylist: Alex Carter at Harlow & Willow | Stylist assistant: Julianna Love

For more | A luxe coastal retreat

Discover artist Ian Gunn’s vivid, summery abstracts

Sunshine Coast based abstract artist Ian Gunn draws inspiration from the Australian landscape and, in my mind, his work recalls some of Ken Done’s softer more pastel creations. And with works sporting titles such as ‘Summertime,’ ‘Poolside,’ and ‘Harbourside,’ Ian’s latest collection is an unabashed celebration of high summer.

“Winter has now finished and with summer on its way, colours change in the landscape and we all want to be near the water. As with all my work, the starting point is always the landscape or seascape and with this new series I am exploring a softer palette of colour, although there are small areas of high colour to catch the eye. So you will see in the new paintings soft varied blues of swimming pools, soft greens of fresh lawns and splashes of bright colours too,” says Ian.

One of his more colourful works, ‘Sunrise’ is a self-described “colour bomb!” “I put in every favourite colour I had in the studio and there are so many layers and so many areas of detail that as a painting it shouldn’t work, but it does. It makes me so happy to look at it each day and of course it was a painting I did after seeing the most beautiful sunrise so it’s reminder of a special moment,” says Ian.

By contrast, “Harbourside” is a more subdued affair and takes an aerial view of the water. “The painting ‘Harbourside’ has a totally different feel. The colours are softer and you are seeing a harbour and all the activity in a big space. But what I love about that piece is that those small areas dotted across the painting have really beautiful marks and colours in them. You may not be able to see them all on screen but in the flesh there is a lot to discover,” says Ian.

It would seem that one of Ian’s strength is in painting small details that reveal themselves upon closer inspection. “With my work, it’s not just the overall picture you see online before you buy a piece but also the close up details. I love art that you can live with for a long time yet delight in the discovery of something new each day. I love it when you see a detail, mark or area you hadn’t really noticed initially. I am trying to make paintings that do this for art lovers as there is so much pleasure in something that keeps giving you more happiness each time you look at it,” says Ian.

Photography: Mindy Cooke | Styling: Noël Coughlan for Greenhouse Interiors

Shop online | Another Queensland artist