Tag: jono fleming

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Designers Styling The Block

The Block 2020: how Jono would re-do Jimmy and Tam’s living/dining?

Interior designer and stylist Jono Fleming has been a busy bee this week, taking Jimmy and Tam’s lowest-scoring living/dining room and coming up with not one but two alternative layouts!

Jono Fleming

Another week and another room reveal has come and gone on The Block and look, maybe I’m a little biased because I have a very loud (but curated) colourful living room, but everything seemed a little bit safe and generic on Sunday night. It seems that all the teams have thrown away any semblance of referencing specific eras which is a real shame because there are some really beautiful inspiration ideas they can take from these decades. 

Today though, I’m focusing on our lowest scoring team of the evening and that is the Jimmy and Tam and the 1950s house. They made a bold call not to include a dining table in their space and it didn’t pay off. It was an odd choice because there was in fact plenty of space in their room so let’s unpack the 1950s living room a bit and see what other options they could have gone with.

Shaynna said these chairs were set up like camping chairs!
The lack of dining table was a big no-no for the judges

The 1950s saw a boom of the model home and people started to have more space in their homes and living areas. The furniture was less stuffy and ornate than the eras before, it was all about bolder colour, timber frames and interesting shapes. Curved sofas became a way to create flow around a room, with organic shaped coffee tables adding to the free form furniture design. Influence from Scandinavia was here and teak framed armchairs with felt or woolen fabrics dominated every home. It’s an often referenced era in design, the real start of the ‘mid century modern’ look.

Jono’s first mood board and alternative layout for Jimmy and Tam’s space

To take this into a modern age is really simple. The 1950s room reveal had some great reference points in their build. The brick fireplace was inspired and really hit the nail on the head for the era, the armchairs from Freedom were very appropriate but then the rest fell a bit flat. The 50s introduced bolder colour to the home, sofas were no longer only floral prints, they were big, bright, deep tones. Yellows, reds and teals were all of the norm. Darren Palmer suggested the Valley sofa from Jardan which happens to come in the most divine teal however, Jardan is all custom made (all made in Australia!) and comes with long lead times so that probably wouldn’t suit for the quick timelines on The Block. However, curved sofas are starting to pop up through many different brands. It helps create flow in a room and makes it less boxy. 

To solve the dilemma of not enough space for a dining table, the team could go with the option to build in their seating in a banquette on one side. It not only saves space but you can include storage underneath the seat, and it looks extremely bespoke to have a custom piece of joinery like this. Neale Whitaker made a big point about lamps in the homes and I couldn’t agree more. Lamps in the 50s in particular were extremely important. They went from being solely functional to extremely decorative. There are so many interpretations on the market of retro and updated lighting, we’re truly spoilt for choice!

Getting the right layout in a room can be hard. The key is to approach it in different ways, the obvious plan may not work. By switching it up, playing around, and looking to the past for different design ideas, it can all help to create a unique and functional design for your home, packed with personality.

For more on Jono | Follow him on Instagram

The Block 2020 kitchen week: What Would Jono Do?

Kitchen week is always one of the biggest on The Block. They say kitchens can sell homes and as someone who likes to cook a lot, I can definitely relate…

What would Jono do: bath tubs over the decades

Interior designer and stylist Jono Fleming shares his views on the latest Block room reveals, how bath tubs have changed over the decades and if they’re worth investing in. Over…

Kids room decor: What would Jono do?

Inspired by the latest The Block room reveal, each week, interior designer and stylist Jono Fleming shares his thoughts… I’m breaking all my rules this week and not even referencing…
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Bedrooms Kids Rooms The Block

Kids room decor: What would Jono do?

Inspired by the latest The Block room reveal, each week, interior designer and stylist Jono Fleming shares his thoughts…

I’m breaking all my rules this week and not even referencing eras (there’s nothing scarier than a vintage kids room!). It was all about the extra bedrooms, and some more bathrooms, on The Block, and many contestants chose to style these spaces as kids rooms.

Styling and photography Jono Fleming

So today, we’re delving into the world of kids rooms. What makes a good one, what are the key things you need and how to you convince your child they don’t want that Peppa Pig poster for their wall (hint: you’re probably buying them the poster).

Whilst I don’t have kids of my own just yet, I approach designing a room for kids the exact same way I would any client. Questions I ask are what are they interested in, will this stand the test of time and most importantly, is it functional? When I used to design kids bedrooms at Inside Out magazine, we always approached the room from the angle of problem solving. What is this child’s interest and how do we translate this into a designer room?

Styling Jono Fleming, photography Sam McAdam Cooper, as seen in Inside Out

There were two main things I always tried to tackle: how to make branded merchandise chic and storage, storage, storage!

We can all dream of having a perfectly styled children’s room, in dusty pastel colours, with frayed edge cushions neatly placed on a chair next to the bed, but in reality, kids really love stuff. Lots and lots of stuff. And stuff with characters on it. It’s not their fault, it’s specifically branded to attract them and there’s no escaping it.

There are some ways to get around this though. Pick out key colours and shapes from these characters. Brands like Pottery Barn Kids often do beautiful interpretations of iconic characters. Things like wall decals are perfect to stick on and off the wall, as interests change, you can swap them out. Most importantly, realise that even if you do everything you can to make the perfect designer kids room, that’s mainly going to be your taste, and as a budding interior designer who painted his bedroom a variety of colours over the years, you have to let kids grow into the space and personalise it themselves eventually. 

Styling by Jono Fleming, photography Kristina Soljo, as seen in Inside Out

The other huge consideration in a kids room is storage. You can never have too much! Think about how your child plays with their belongings though. Some kids (raising my hand slowly…) might shove all their toys and clothes into their wardrobe for a quick fix to clean their room. Others might be a bit more organised, collectors even, and want to display their wares neatly on shelves. Again, it can be a personal thing on how they use their space so find storage that can adapt to this.

Something many parents are considering as well is not too gender specific rooms; pink for girls, blue for boys. This week I’ve put together a dinosaur themed room that any child could grow into, still with lots of colour and pattern but with enough space to add their own taste. The idea is to have a room that fits in a traditional home but could be fun for a child of any age.

Like I said, let them have the space to make it their own, with your help of course. It’s an inevitability and you may as well embrace it!

For more on Jono | Follow him on Instagram

Baby number two’s modern and unisex nursery reveal

Photography by Sam McAdam-Cooper There’s a new room in our house which is calm, serene and incredibly tidy… because nobody uses it yet! I like to leave the door open…

What would Jono do: bath tubs over the decades

Interior designer and stylist Jono Fleming shares his views on the latest Block room reveals, how bath tubs have changed over the decades and if they’re worth investing in. Over…

The Block 2020 master bedrooms: What Would Jono Do?

In our new regular feature, stylist and interior designer Jono Fleming shares his research on decor across the decades and what he would have done with those Block master bedrooms.…

The Block 2020: Luke & Jasmin’s week 5 perfect score

We couldn’t watch The Block last night so this week’s judging recap comes from our friends at The Block Shop. This week, the couples had to tackle a guest bedroom…
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Bedrooms The Block

The Block 2020 master bedrooms: What Would Jono Do?

In our new regular feature, stylist and interior designer Jono Fleming shares his research on decor across the decades and what he would have done with those Block master bedrooms. And we are LOVING his mood boards. A lot! Over to you, Jono…

Jono’s take on a 1920s-inspired master bedroom

With one bedroom down, on Sunday night we moved onto the big one: the master bedroom reveal!

There’s a lot to unpack with the eras but this week I’m going to be focusing on the 1920s and 30s. These two eras are often confused and for good reason: trends carry across decades (we saw pedestal basins for almost 50 years last week!). So I’m here to clarify a few key differences and focus on some particular styles within this era.

Let’s start with the elephant in the room. I’m going to be very clear here: I don’t hate velvet bedheads. I think in the right context, in the right room, they can be amazing. But velvet bedheads don’t automatically transport you to the roaring 20s and make the room instantly luxe.

That’s a good jumping off point for a bit of context. People associate the 1920s with the Art Deco style. Think Baz Lurhman’s Great Gatsby, black posters with ornate gold trim adorning movie theatres, shimmery tinsel! It was all very glam. But when it comes to a 20s home, there are many different styles to go off.

What winners Harry and Tash did in their 1920s-inspired bedroom

The 1920s was the end of a period called the Arts and Crafts movement where there was a focus on the handmade, carved timber and ornate art. Beds in the 20s, especially the first half of the decade, reflected this and were often carved timber, with beautiful detailing. But since this is the master bedroom week, let’s step away from the homier style of the Arts and Craft movement and go all in on the grand deco references.

If you look at the bed in the master bedroom in The Great Gatsby movie, it’s actually a sleek, lacquered timber base with chrome detailing. It looks more like a sports car than a bed, it’s got sexy curves and it’s incredibly simple in design by comparison.

The glamour and detail from this period came from overly patterned rugs, wallpapers and elegant timber side tables. Fabric wise, it was all about silks and jacquards with patterns, Yes, velvet was around but it wasn’t quite as prolific as we see in modern interpretations.

Which brings us to the 1930s, specifically the ‘Hollywood Glam’ style room that Shaynna Blaze wanted to see. The 30s of course had their versions of the bungalow home with the more working class houses still having beautiful crafted timber bed bases, but we’re wanting glam! Material wise, there’s still lots of lacquered timber everywhere in the home, especially the bedroom. Beautiful deco arches are translated into bedheads (in timber), sideboards with inlayed timber into geometric patterns and when it comes to fabrics, there’s silk, and lots of it.

Jono’s take on a 1930s-inspired bedroom
What Daniel and Jade did in their 1930s-inspired bedroom

One of my favourite things about the Hollywood Regency period is the shapes that come with it. Curtains, chairs, lighting; there was scalloped detail everywhere. In a weird turn of events, shell shapes have become extremely trendy again nowadays and these shell-like shapes were all over the Hollywood 1930s bedroom.

When it came to the walls, they were adorned in padded features, Chinoiserie wallpaper, mirrors; if it was shiny and lavish, chuck it in the room! Really fun details like tassels were hanging off everything: tying up a curtain, the base of a chair, the end of the bedhead, everywhere! This was definitely the appropriate time to use a velvet bedhead! Velvet was very in vogue at the time and is completely appropriate to the era.

There’s so much to unpack with each of these eras, and when you’re designing your home, whether or not it’s a heritage building, it is completely up to you what you put in it. If you love velvet, no one is stopping you! I know I made it seem like there are rules but there really aren’t. However, since this series is all about respecting the era the homes are designed in, attention to detail can help create a layered and interesting room. And that’s the key, isn’t it? If we’re designing, styling or creating, we want the final product to be a treat to look at and live in.

For more on Jono | Follow him on Instagram

The Block 2020 master bedroom reveals

Let’s recap who scored what, the judges’ comments and our picks to buy. Winner: Harry & Tash | 25.5/30 The father and daughter duo really needed their first win, especially…

The Block guest bedrooms & ensuites 2020: What would Jono Do?

This season, The Block contestants have been tasked with staying true to the heritage of their homes while making them appropriate for a modern day buyer; certainly no easy task!…
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Interiors Addict

New interiors podcast by Jono Fleming & Kerri-Ann Jones

Jono Fleming & Kerrie-Ann Jones
Jono Fleming and Kerrie-Ann Jones

The creation of former magazine style editors Jono Fleming (Inside Out) and Kerrie-Ann Jones (Real Living), House of Style is a brand-new podcast pitched at Aussie design lovers. Featuring interviews with respected Australian brands and interior design industry figures, the first season is comprised of eight episodes and it launched today.

“As editorial stylists, we were fortunate to get a sneak peek behind the scenes for many furniture and homewares brands, and design projects. We heard so many interesting stories and details about their products, journey and creative process. We always walked away feeling inspired about their story,” says Kerrie-Ann.

Jono Fleming & Kerrie-Ann Jones
Jono Fleming and Kerrie-Ann Jones

Upcoming interview subjects include a ceramics legend, a rural success story built by an Instagram maven (Jumbled perhaps?), Australian interior design royalty, one of Australia’s leading florists and a bedding brand known for their colour and pattern (surely Kip & Co?) plus one of the judges from The Block.

Dropping every Tuesday, the eight-part series will feature interviews with prominent Australian interior brands, artists, makers and industry personalities. Jono and Kerrie-Ann will chat with them about what it takes to really shine in today’s Aussie interiors landscape.

House of Style

“We thought a podcast was a great platform to share all these inspiring stories. It’s been a fun process, we can’t wait to share who we’ve been chatting with,” says Jono who revealed that the first episode features a chat with Nick and Renee Garnham of Jardan, who will explore their humble beginnings and dedication to remaining Australian designed and made.

“Jardan is one of our favourite brands, so to be able to peek behind the curtain and hear how they come up with their ideas and what inspires them was really special. It adds an extra layer of detail to what we already know about the brand in a way we hadn’t experienced before,” says Jono.

House of Style

The podcast can be downloaded from all popular podcast platforms.

For more | Design Files awards recognise Aussie interior talent

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Design Designers Interviews Styling

Jono Fleming: interiors with style made achievable

As is often the way with creatives, Jono Fleming’s career took many twists and turns before he found himself where he is today – an accomplished stylist and interior designer. “My goal was to work in a big fancy firm and do lots of beautiful high-end homes and I was very set on that being my only path. Then after about five years in the industry, I found myself a bit lost and not really approaching my work with my original passion,” says Jono who is based in Sydney and graduated with a design degree from The Whitehouse Institute of Design.

Jono's glorious apartment. Photo by Jono Fleming
Jono’s glorious lounge room. Photo by Jono Fleming

Jono’s career has taken him to unexpected places including a stint food styling in Italy. “The last six years have been a series of pivots and swerves, with a side hustle in cooking and food styling which landed me in Italy, cooking behind the scenes for a TV show.” He then landed a job at online retailer Temple and Webster where he worked his way up to senior stylist before moving into magazines.

“I was running the studio and learning everything I could about studio photography and from there I was approached by Inside Out magazine to take on the role of style editor, my absolute dream job. Two years there and the timing felt right to branch out on my own and I’m now working on a series of interiors projects with my own clients. It has come full circle,” says Jono.

Jono Fleming
Jono Fleming. Photo by Esteban La Tessa

As for his signature style, he likes to keep his work inspirational but achievable. “Design and styling can sometimes seem unreachable and impossible to achieve a certain look without spending lots of money. I find my best received work is a mix of low to mid-level pieces, it’s just the way of putting them together that can elevate a room.”

Describing himself as a curated maximalist, “it’s not clutter or junk as I very carefully choose which pieces I want but the stylist in me always adds one extra piece here and there.” Jono adds: “It’s organised chaos and it’s not for everyone. I feel it’s important as a designer and a stylist to be mindful of your client’s needs.” He often creates a more edited or diluted version of his own personal style for other people. “It’s totally understandable, and probably more practical too.”

One of Jono's mood boards
One of Jono’s mood boards. Photo by Will Horner, courtesy of Inside Out magazine

When it comes to inspiration, Jono looks to a wide range of disparate places including Pinterest, film and the great outdoors. “Piecing together a room is to tell a story. What are the key pieces and where were they sourced? Does the wall colour remind you of a trip away somewhere or did you see something in a film you want to recreate? Inspiration is endless!” says Jono who describes himself as equal parts nature lover and pop culture junkie. “Half my time is spent hiking and exploring outside, and the other half is holed up watching old 1980’s films and bingeing shows, so I bring the world outside of interiors into my work a lot.”

Photo by Kristina Soljo, courtesy of Belle magazine
Photo by Kristina Soljo, courtesy of Belle magazine

And speaking of Pinterest, one of his most ‘pinned’ projects is his parents’ farmhouse which was published and put on the cover of Inside Out magazine. Grateful for the trust his parents put in him, the process also taught Jono the value of relatively ‘simple’ design – no doubt an interesting lesson for a design maximalist. “What the process showed me was that design doesn’t have to be complicated, with all the bells and whistles, to connect to an audience. The simple black and white bathrooms we designed have been shared across social media constantly and it’s truly humbling to see people looking to this work as inspiration in their own homes.”

Jono's parent's farmhouse lounge room.
Jono’s parents’ farmhouse lounge room. Photo by Anson Smart

He adds: “It was a deeply personal project. I designed it for my father, it’s his dream house and the time was right for him to be able to take the opportunity to build it. The trust my parents gave me to put forward their vision is something I’ll always be thankful for.” When they sold the family home of 30 years and bought a new forever home last year — a downsizer apartment with water views– it was perhaps no surprise they trusted their son once more, along with Strutt Studios, to design it. In another coup, just this week, it was published in Belle.

Jono's parents' much-shared farm house bathroom. Photo by Anson Smart
Jono’s parents’ much-shared farm house bathroom. Photo by Anson Smart

And as for the latest interior trends, while Jono does his best to shirk them, he admits to noticing a huge rise in the 1980’s/1990’s aesthetic of late. “Whilst I try and avoid trend talk too much, this is one I’m so on board with! Big curvy shapes and chubby furniture; it’s the 80’s but in a much more designed and curated way. It’s a very comforting and welcoming aesthetic; furniture that hugs you! Don’t go overboard though, you only need one or two pieces as a statement.”

Photo by Kristina Soljo, courtesy of Belle magazine
Photo by Kristina Soljo, courtesy of Belle magazine

Looking to the future, Jono has aspirations to connect with a wider Australian audience with a view to educating them about their homes. “I’d like to teach people to elevate their personal style and get their homes looking the best they can be without buckling to the trends. At this point, I have a lot of ideas but I’m approaching things one project at a time. Ideally, people will eventually look to the Jono Fleming brand as a source of achievable inspiration, maybe with some product of mine they could buy at some stage.”

For more on Jono Fleming | Meet designer Catherine Heraghty of The Stables