The bar cart has never been so cool. Not only does it serve the obvious purpose of storing all your favourite drinks and associated cocktail-making and wine-pouring glassware and tools, it also looks seriously chic. We love the retro vibe of the bar cart, harking back to a time when people really made an occasion of stopping for a good drink. And the best news? You have a chance to win one in next month’s 7 Vignettes challenge, sponsored by our friends at Pottery Barn.
The Tristan Bar Cart, worth more than $500, would work well in almost any interior. We particularly love its round shape and neat compact size. Oh, and it’s hand finished in an antique brass colour. We can’t get enough of gold accents in the home.
So, get prepping for 1 August, when the challenge starts on Instagram, with the following prompts/themes. If you don’t know how it works, go here to find out more. As they say, you gotta be in it to win it!
The main overall prize is the bar cart, worth $534, and one runner-up will receive a $50 Pottery Barn voucher. There’s also seven daily theme prizes in the form of a small Malta Brass Lantern.
Pottery Barn has stores in Bondi and Chatswood in NSW, Perth in WA, Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley in QLD, Melbourne’s Chadstone in VIC and a Canberra outlet in the ACT. You can also shop online.
Today, I’m excited to announce something a little different in partnership with artist Fiona Chandler. Each day for 30 days, she filmed 15 seconds of the creation of an original painting and now you’ll be able to watch it unfold, day by day, over on our Instagram (starting tomorrow, Tuesday). Follow with the hashtag #fionachandlerartin30
Fiona proves that it’s never too late to follow your dreams to do what you really love, and that the backing of a supportive husband goes a long way (something I’m lucky enough to know myself!).
After being a graphic designer for years and talking about returning to painting, Fiona was turning 40 when her husband Nick asked: “When? When will you return?” He pushed her to apply for a residency which she was awarded. “I had six months. Six months to turn it around and make larger works that I actually showed. That room looked so daunting on that first day,” Fiona says. “This led to a group exhibition which was successful, then my residency was extended; another show. Then I was asked to be a part of Temple & Webster’s art market. Another show and I was on my way.”
She now pushes herself to take part in as many shows as possible while people continue to commission her and pop by her studio to look at and buy pieces. Fiona has a show coming up in Orange in October and is part of a group show at Koskela at the end of the year. As if she wasn’t busy enough, she started an artists in residence program at her local school. “I create, talk and teach art daily and it is wonderful. I work hard to make opportunities as it would be far easier for me to paint away all day by myself – but I want to be doing this forever and for that, it needs to be sustainable. So I have to work at it.”
Fiona and her son
Fiona’s keen to dispel a lot of the myths around art and being an artist. At the end of the day, it’s easy to make assumptions if you’ve not been exposed to that world. “Some people think that you paint, a gallery likes it and runs a show for you. It’s never that simple. Art is a business like any other. Many artist spaces are run by artists so a lot of time effort and money is invested, even in small shows. Other misconceptions are that you need to know a lot about art to enjoy it, that it will cost a fortune and that all original art pieces are out of reach. Galleries aren’t only interested in buyers. People in the art world love art, it is inspiring and they like to talk about it, hear your opinions and ideas. It is a two-way conversation and the people in art stores are usually artists too.”
She wanted to share this project with you, our readers, for a few reasons: “When teaching or exhibiting, people often ask about working full-time as an artist. There is a romantic notion of the muse and inspiration. I love being in my studio and do feel lucky to have a job I enjoy, but art doesn’t just happen. Every piece is not for showing. It is often an isolated pursuit. It is putting in the hours even when you are not yet happy with result. Turning up. Making marks every day.
“I wanted to show the realistic view of the creation of a work. Non-styled, not professionally shot. You can hear all weather and conditions. Artworks are often made for an exhibition or specific location. These are deadlines of sorts. There is a terror to putting yourself and your work out there that needs to be surmounted each week. To engage with a viewer either in a gallery or a studio visit requires a courage I had no idea about. I would like people to feel engaged with the piece, feel more comfortable to approach artists with questions and requests, more comfortable in a gallery. Interior designers often work with specific artists, dropping in regularly and requesting pieces of a certain size. Artists like to sell work. In fact, their livelihood depends upon it.”
What Fiona really hopes is that you’ll feel engaged with art and more confident to walk into a gallery or show and ask questions. “Ask an artist about their work or walk into an art store and have a go. I hope the gallery where this is shown has lots of people pop by to look. People who have never visited. I am hoping people will sign up to a gallery newsletter and attend an opening . A glass of wine, beautiful work — what’s not to enjoy?”
At the end of the 30 days of sharing the creation of the artwork, we’ll be giving you the opportunity to go and view it and perhaps even to purchase it. Stay tuned over on Instagram from tomorrow! Don’t forget the hashtag: fionachandlerartin30
What a lovely nostalgic week it was with our childhood themes! After much deliberating, guest judge Nikki Hernan of Brown Paper Lemon has chosen @claireturfrey as the overall winner.
“I’ve gone through all the entries a million times,” she says (it’s no easy task!). “Claire has themed her work beautifully and it’s a cohesive grid.”
This month (June starts tomorrow, can you believe it?!) we’ve partnered with Nikki Hernan from Brown Paper Lemon, a regular participant in 7 Vignettes herself and someone who knows a thing or two about a good looking insta-feed!
Brown Paper Lemon’s seahorse decalsThis month’s themes, by Nikki
Nikki says: “It’s such an honour to be this month’s 7 Vignettes guest judge. Brown Paper Lemon was born to inspire little ones to nurture nature and love the space they call their own. So this month is all about nurseries and children’s rooms. I’ve created childhood-inspired prompts to challenge and celebrate these very special rooms. Inspiration could be drawn from your children or grandchildren or revisiting your own childhood memories and the space you grew up in. I cannot wait to see all the love in your entries!”
Brown Paper Lemon sperm whale pillowcase
Gold Coast illustration studio Brown Paper Lemon offers a range of home decor to inspire children to recognise and appreciate the world’s threatened creatures. “I envisage the more awareness and love created for them will protect and ensure these endangered species are here for many generations to come,” Nikki says. $1 from every product sold is donated to WWF Australia.
Brown Paper Lemon turtle decal
One winner each day will get a wall decal of their choice and the overall winner will receive a $100 Brown Paper Lemon voucher, a print of their choice from @onetinytribe and a @PrettyTidy_Roshnee grey dipped grid sack.
… is Katherine Dorrington! Chosen by this month’s sponsor, United Interiors. A no-brainer in my opinion!
Julie Ta, marketing manager for United Interiors, says: “We had so much fun seeing all the interpretations of the 7 Vignettes themes this month, and really enjoyed having a daily dose of inspiration from so many talented creatives!
“It was a tricky choice with so many impressive entries, but we have decided on Katherine Dorrington as the winner for her artful eye for detail. Each of her images were so beautifully complex, yet pared-back and chic.
“We were amazed by each individual vignette, and how artistic they all looked as a complete story. Much like choosing the right artwork or rug for a room, when each element works together, the result is stunning and it feels right.”
Katherine wins a $500 voucher to spend on whatever she likes from United Interiors’ range of art, rugs and homewares.
Happy long weekend, readers! Here’s your one-week countdown to the next round of 7 Vignettes, and introducing our latest sponsor, United Interiors. If you haven’t heard of them (yet) you’ve probably heard of the family of brands they’ve recently consolidated under one new roof: United Artworks, Rugspace, The Canvas Workshop and Art-Luxe. Now they’re a one-stop-shop for all your art, decor and homewares needs! May’s lucky winner will get a $500 to spend online with them!
Jamue Durie’s art for The Canvas Workshop, now part of United Interiors
Here are the themes:
“We’ve been following Interiors Addict’s 7 Vignettes for a long time and have always loved the idea of the creative community Jen has fostered, not to mention the beautiful styling and imagery that has been created by many talented Instagrammers,” says marketing manager, Julie Ta.
James Treble’s rugs for Rugspace, now part of United Interiors
“We are so excited to finally be a part of 7 Vignettes and what better timing than now, with the launch of our new United Interiors rebrand. United Interiors is an online marketplace for all things dedicated to adorning a fashionable home, and our existing brands United Artworks, The Canvas Workshop, Rugspace and Art-Luxe, have consolidated onto one single online destination for art, rugs and décor. We are proud to support 7 Vignettes this month and can’t wait to be inspired by everyone!”
The fun all starts this Sunday 1 May for seven days. Please tag Interiors Addict and United Interiors and use the hashtag #7vignettes
If you need a refresher on how it all works, go here.
The creation of Melbourne-based designer and illustrator Natalie Stuart, Electric Confetti has been lighting up Instagram of late and we are pretty enthralled with their bright, quirky designs too.
“I have always had a love for vintage signs and typography. I was raised working in my father’s antique shop which established this passion. Later on, this love extended to real neon,” says Natalie, who spent three years researching neon before finding the LED alternative.
“Traditional neon is a moving gas inside a hand blown glass tube. The technique hasn’t changed since it was invented almost a century ago. LED neon is a string of LED lights encased is a silicone tube. Because if this it’s virtually unbreakable,” says Natalie. It’s safer, more energy efficient and very hard to break!
With an eclectic mix of designs, simplicity is key, as is a little retro inspiration. “I look at everyday objects and consider if they’ll translate to neon. The nature of the neon means the designs have to be kept simple, and this also looks the most effective. I’ll start out with a more complex sketch and refine it to the most essential parts,” says Natalie.
From children’s bedrooms to contemporary living spaces, Electric Confetti’s wares will suit any interior, as long as the owner is keen for a bit of fun.
“The white cloud works well with more muted tones. The food stuff can work in bright interiors, yet can still work within spaces where it’s the focus. The Pacman looks fun in a boy’s space, while Bloomin’ has been popular for feminine, pretty interiors. Anything goes, really!” says Natalie.
Custom pieces are available too. See here for more.
Congratulations to @projectafterproject, the winner of this month’s 7 Vignettes contest as picked by our sponsor Choices Flooring!
Choices Flooring’s online content manager Ingrid Powell, says: “We have really enjoyed seeing all the entries to 7 Vignettes. After some debate in our office we have decided on Project after Project as the winner. Besides the birds eye view image being so cute, we also like that her entries were simplistic, not overly styled and were really happy to see how she understood our ‘fifth wall’ being the floor!”
Bird’s eye view
She wins a $2,000 voucher to spend with Choices Flooring — enough to transform at least one room on her home — with either carpet, timber, laminate, bamboo, luxury vinyl, tiles or even rugs! We can’t wait to see which! The prize also includes a phone or email consultation with me to help you choose!
And the winner is @nylon_admiral13! Otherwise known as Luci Sleep! Congratulations, Luci! You win the gorgeous Hyam rug in Blush from Darren Palmer’s Provincial Lane range for this month’s sponsor, Carpet Court, worth more than $1,000.
Carpet Court ambassador Darren, who picked the winner, said: “I only noticed after reviewing the entries I liked the most that two of them were from Nylon Admiral. I thought the pics were subtle and nuanced, moody and had real character.
“The play of light and shade, compositions, all outstanding and each image worked well as a part of her overall week’s submissions. All in all, great skill and a great eye.”
I have to say, Luci was definitely on my favourites shortlist too!
Thanks so much to Carpet Court for the great themes and prize, to Darren for judging, and to everyone who took part, for brightening my feed. I love reading all your comments about how much you enjoy and get out of taking part. See you all next month!
The prize
If you’d like to take part in next month’s contest, read the guidelines and feel free to ask any questions in the comments. Luci, please contact us with your address and telephone number so we can get your prize to you!
This month was a big one for prizes thanks to our generous sponsors King Living! They offered an Uno Sofa for the overall winner and Bongo Storage Ottomans for each daily theme winner. And without further ado, the winners are…
Overall winner: @hookedoninteriors “We love how each image captured the theme whilst still maintaining a consistent overall look,” says King Living social media coordinator, Katie Glover.
Sleep theme: @lauren.storey “Naps are best shared with a furry friend.”
Sunset theme: @englishgirl14 “Sunset is the perfect time for cocktails.”
Queen for a day theme: @mistic_187 “The King Cloud II, a throne befitting a queen.”
Entertaining theme: @gathering.light “The perfect accompaniments for movie night.”
Relax theme: @mylittleteacup “There’s nothing better than sitting back and relaxing with a good book.”
I always love our first 7 Vignettes of the year as many newcomers are brave enough to jump on board and give it a go for the first time! This January we have a great sponsor in King Living and some very generous prizes.
The overall winner gets an Uno 2-Seater Sofa in their choice of premium King Luxe or Tango Fabric fabrics worth $1,780.
Additionally, one winner for each daily theme will get a Bongo High Storage ottoman in premium King Luxe or Tango Fabric worth $397.
A spokesman for King Living says: “It’s the attention to detail in our furniture that makes the difference, which is like 7 Vignettes: the details tell a bigger, creative story.
“The Interiors Addict community has a keen eye for style and design. We’re looking forward to seeing all the creative ideas the New Year brings with 7 Vignettes.”
Here are the themes and the fun starts on Instagram on New Year’s Day, 1 January 2016. If you’ve never played before or need a refresher, click here.
Feeling the pressure for your home to look stylish as the festive season approaches? Want to wow your guests or feel extra proud of your home this Christmas? The International Institute of Home Staging (IIHS) can help you with a step by step guide starting on Instagram tomorrow (1 December)! Follow along and get free top tips from stylist Naomi Findlay.
How can you take part?
Follow Naomi on Instagram and each day (Monday to Friday) for two weeks (starting 1 December) she’ll post a tip to help you start creating a styled space. Better still, each week, she’ll also email you out her cheat sheet to help you catch up if you missed any of the daily tips.
Best of all it is free! Sign up now to start creating spaces that your friends and family will be able to enjoy this holiday season.
I know, it has come to a shock to me too that it’s December next week! While this brings with it all manner of gift shopping (and packing for trip to England with a baby) anxiety, it also means it’s time for a fresh 7 Vignettes. Hooray! We’re delighted to welcome Stockland on board as our latest sponsor and guest judge. And they have chosen some fabulously festive themes for you all. I think you’re going to love these!
We will be asking you to tag us and your nearest Stockland shopping centre from the following:
There’s a massive $1,000 Stockland voucher for the overall winner and $100 daily theme prizes. Alternative prizes will be arranged for those living unreasonably far from a Stockland shopping centre.
If you haven’t played before or need a reminder of how it all works go here or ask any questions in the comments below.
The fun starts on 1 December. Happy prepping and happy vignetting!
Rebecca Meier, Domayne’s digital and social media coordinator, said: “We were overwhelmed with the effort of the entries in the November 7 Vignettes competition! Some clever were people even creating things from scratch to participate. Wow! We had lots of fun monitoring the daily entries. It was extremely difficult to narrow it down to one daily winner as there were so many good vignettes.”
In the end, they did chose @Stanadesigns though. “After a group discussion over text on Sunday, we came to an agreement. We loved her styling and the way she has managed to create each theme in such a beautiful way! Knowing styling, we know how much effort would have gone into those vignettes, even though they looked so brilliantly effortless. Congratulations @Stanadesigns – we hope you enjoy your $200 Domayne gift voucher and homewares pack. Congratulations to the seven daily winners too, you all did a fab job!
“It’s lovely to be involved in a fun, friendly and uplifting week. It’s not very often social media is filled with those things. Thanks Jen and the 7 Vignetters for a fun week!”
Thanks so much to Domayne for sponsoring our contest for the second time and to everyone who takes part, shares beautiful images and encourages others’ efforts!
Any winners yet to give us their address details for prizes, please contact us now.
Anyone in the homewares and interiors industry knows that Instagram is a great place to showcase and grow your brand. We asked blogger Christina Butcher to share her top tips for getting the basics right.
Instagram is the fastest growing social media platform and can be a launch pad for your brand or business. I love sharing photos and I’m not alone in Australia. 60% of users are women and 70% are active on Instagram every day.
I grew my Instagram, @mrandmrsromance, from 3000 to 10,000 in just over three months and have over 50,000 followers on my other account, @hairromance.
Instagram offers huge reach for your brand and there are so many insta-success stories. If you want to capitalise on the power of Instagram, here are nine simple tips to maximise your Instagram profile:
Instagram in real life. Look for insta-meets and photo walks in your area to connect with the Instagram community in real life.
Join up with instagram challenges. #7vignettes is the perfect community for interiors. The entries are amazing but don’t be put off, it’s a warm and friendly community and a great place to build connections.
Be aspirational. Instagram is mainly a platform for pretty pictures. You can keep it real but plain photos are better shared on Facebook or Snapchat.
Use your one clickable link with intention. Instagram only allows you one clickable link in your bio. Use it wisely. Create a specific page or offer to direct your followers to on your website. Make sure your website is mobile friendly.
Have fun with your bio! You have 150 characters but can space it out and use emoticons too. To get the right spacing, type up your bio in notes and then paste it into your Instagram profile.
Use Instagram as an amplification of your brand. Share images of your work or products, things that inspire you and show behind the scenes too.
Watch the grid. When someone comes to your profile they make a split second decision on whether to hit follow and that’s based on your photo grid. Keep an eye on the last none-to-15 images and make sure all your photos look good together.
Be generous. Make time to check in regularly to comment and like other Instagrammers.
Focus. You need to make instagram a priority if you want to grow your reach there. Set a goal and you’ll see your following grow.
–Want to learn more about managing your social media, creating content strategies and building your brand online? Little Blog Big are holding small group workshops that are perfect for small business owners, bloggers and solo-creatives. The next workshops are in Canberra and Sydney and head to Little Blog Big for more the next event dates.
In the mood to give your home a Spring restyle? I’m so excited to have teamed up with Sydney shopping centre Castle Towers to give you the chance to go on a $1000 half-day homewares shopping and styling session with yours truly! There’s nothing I love more than helping other people spend their money (even better if they won it!) and getting them excited about buying things to make their home feel a bit more special.
It’s in celebration of their newly launched spring/summer campaign Age of Style, which is encouraging women of all ages to celebrate their personal sense of style, whether that’s through their wardrobe or the way they dress their home.
Castle Towers is a leading shopping, fashion and entertainment destination in Sydney’s North West (and I should know because I live just down the road in Beecroft!), with more than 300 stores providing an eclectic mix of fashion, homewares and accessories, including many unique to the centre.
It’s a great destination for unique homewares in particular. Stores include Ahina, Maison de Lux and Laura Ashley. There are also plenty of high street favourites like Bed Bath N’ Table, Country Road (who doesn’t love their homewares?!), Adairs and Sheridan, as well as your budget homewares destinations like Typo and Kmart.
Spring is a great time to refresh your home for the warmer months with a good declutter and a change up of your accessories to something perhaps lighter and brighter; think new cushions, a change of rug and more seasonal decor items. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
WIN
How to enter Upload a photo to Instagram with your portrayal of one of the five key spring/summer 2015 trends (Age of Monochrome, Metallics Come of Age, Age of Florals, New Age of 70s or Age of Denim) by midnight Sydney time on 15 October 2015. Tag Castle Towers and Interiors Addict and use the hashtag #AgeOfStyle
The prize The entry judged the best by me will win a $1000 Castle Towers gift card (to be redeemed at select interiors and homewares retailers in the centre) and a four-hour shopping and styling advice session with me, to be taken before 5 December 2015.
I’m delighted to announce that the next round of 7 Vignettes, starting a week today (yes, already!), is being sponsored by the very aptly named Sydney (and online) store, The Vignette Room! They’ve chosen some fantastic themes which I think you’re going to love!
The Vignette Room (featured on the blog here) have generously donated a $500 voucher for the overall winner and seven daily theme prizes of $100. Jennifer Brown, the daughter half of the mother/daughter duo behind this beautiful shop, says: “We love that 7 Vignettes is always such a visual treat and that it allows people to showcase their creativity. We love watching it unfold every month and seeing how people’s personalities come out in the vignettes they create. We especially love how there are so many wildly different interpretations of the themes and that it’s such an individual expression of what the themes mean to them.”
Jennifer Brown and Tracey Kennedy outside The Vignette Room
The Vignette Room truly is a visual feast and we thoroughly recommend a visit if you’re in Sydney. It’s a great example of why it’s still great to shop in bricks and mortar stores and meet the people curating their wares.
The ladies recently had this ‘manifesto’ hand painted onto the shop wall
Jennifer adds: “We first played along in December last year when Domayne sponsored and we had the most amazingly fun couple of days creating our visual interpretations of the themes. We’re so excited to sponsor 7 Vignettes so we can give people a little bit of an insight into who we are as a mother/daughter team and as an interior lifestyle store and what makes us tick through our themes. Plus, then we have an excuse to play along again and spend all day on Instagram and chalk it up to ‘working’!”
We like her style!
The fun starts on 1 October on Instagram. All details of how to play here or ask any questions in the comments below. Enjoy!
The Vignette Room is at 42 Gurner Street, Paddington, NSW 2021.
Well, our little Instagram contest certainly has its groove back! This last week has seen some truly stunning and clever entries. I’m delighted to announce this month’s winner, chosen by our sponsor Life Interiors, as @cassieeeesmith. Congratulations!
Nicole Arvela, showroom and creative manager for Life Interiors, said: “After much deliberation I chose hers. I thought that every picture was so beautifully composed and I just LOVED her series as a whole!”
Theme: mint
Cassie wins a $500 Life Interiors voucher (please contact us with your address and telephone number to claim your prize).
Theme: natural
10% off everything at Life Interiors for the next week!
Our brilliant second time sponsors Life Interiors are offering you all 10% off everything until midnight on Wednesday 16 September 2015 using the promo code INTERIORSADDICT10OFF online or mentioning this offer in person.
