Given that the affordable art stories are some of the most popular on our site, we thought it was nigh time to bring you a 2016 (well, almost 2017!) update. Incredibly, all of these options come in under $500!
Art Club Concept With its strong fashion focus, Art Club Concept is the perfect spot to find an on-trend print for that lonely, bare wall of yours. Many of the prints come with optional frames too.
Greenhouse Interiors Featuring the work of popular Australian artists Prudence Caroline, Lisa Laponte, and Ali McNabney-Stevens to name just a few, Julia Green’s Greenhouse Interiors sells a covetable range of original Australian originals and affordable prints.
Quercus & Co From art prints to wall stamps, wallpaper tiles and wall hangings, Sydney design studio Quercus & Co make a fabulous array of original and affordable wall art.
Temple & Webster With a rotating roster of contemporary Australian artists featured, Temple & Webster offer a range of original, high quality affordable art including original paintings, limited edition prints and photography.
IXXI Whether you use your own image or choose something from the IXXI image bank (we love the Dutch masters’ work), this innovative art solution is not only affordable but super effective too. Each print comes as a series of individual squares that connect to create a whole.
Art Pharmacy An online store and gallery space in one, Art Pharmacy is the place to find affordable, unique and high quality artworks by Australian artists, both new and emerging.
Blacklist An enduring favourite of ours, from typography to photography, Blacklist can always be relied upon for a bold, affordable print.
Hunting for George Responsible for the popular ‘Oh the Places You’ll Go’ minimalist typeset poster back in 2012, Hunting for George’s print offering continues to go from strength to strength. From typography to abstracts and photographic works, there’s plenty of choice too.
Where do you shop for affordable art? Is there a website we need to know about? Please comment below!
The Temple & Webster team gathered for a winter feast by the water in the Royal National Park south of Sydney. T&W’s resident foodie and senior stylist Jonathan Fleming shares some style secrets and this recipe for delicious cauliflower risotto. For the full menu, visit T&W Journal.
On the table Entertaining friends over a long, leisurely lunch is one of my favourite things to do on a winter weekend. The ultimate goal is to create something with a little wow factor for my guests, but that still allows me to relax and enjoy the afternoon, and I think I nailed it with this combination of tabletop styling and menu. For the look, I took inspiration from the bayside location, and kept with a cool wintry palette of whites, mint green and ice blues, starting with a whitewashed timber tabletop.
A classic white dinner set like Marc Newson for Noritake makes a great base to layer different colours and organic shapes. The colours and shapes carry through to the serving platters and boards. The gold cutlery warms up the palette and adds a touch of glam when entertaining. I added raw-edge linen napkins, and decorated the table with waterside finds such as driftwood and Spanish moss.
On the menu Don’t fuss over three courses, the great thing about Italian is that you can cheat with store-bought antipasti to start, and serve them in the middle of the table, as you can for the risotto. Everyone loves having their own individual dessert to dig into, like these easy puddings filled with poached pear and flavoured with wintry spices.
THE RECIPE
Roasted cauliflower risotto with mustard burnt butter
Serves 6-8
Don’t be intimidated by the idea of making risotto, all you need is a little patience and the rewards of this rich, creamy dish is well worth it. The mustard burnt butter adds even more indulgence.
Ingredients
1 head cauliflower Olive oil, to drizzle 120g unsalted butter 1 tbs wholegrain mustard 1 onion
350g Arborio rice (or other risotto rice such as carnaroli)
150ml dry white wine
2 litres homemade or salt-reduced chicken stock
100g parmesan, grated
Chopped flat-leaf parsley, to serve
Method
Preheat the oven to 200°C.
Cut off the cauliflower stem and chop, then break the head into small florets. Spread the florets on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, then set aside. Chop the onion.
In a small frypan, melt 100g butter over medium heat, then cook for 3-5 minutes until it is just beginning to turn brown. Remove from the heat, stir in the mustard and set aside.
Place the chicken stock in a saucepan and bring to a simmer, then keep warm over low heat.
In a shallow casserole or large, deep frypan, melt the remaining 20g butter over medium heat. Add the onion and chopped cauliflower stem and cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring, until softened but not brown. Add the rice and stir for 1-2 minutes until translucent. Add the wine and allow to bubble for 2 minutes.
Add the stock a ladleful at a time, stirring constantly and allowing each to be absorbed before adding the next. Continue for 15-20 minutes until the rice is al dente (you may not need all the stock).
Meanwhile, roast the cauliflower for 10-15 minutes, turning once, until browned and starting to crisp.
With the final ladleful of stock, add the burnt butter and parmesan to the risotto and stir vigorously to melt the cheese and create a beautiful, thick, rich sauce.
Serve the risotto in shallow bowls and top with the roasted cauliflower and a sprinkling of chopped parsley.
Fancy mixing things up a little this Christmas? Temple & Webster have you covered. They have many festively styled tables to choose from in their Christmas one stop shop online. We love the seafood and sangria styled delight! It’s a casually elegant mix, with layered linens, organic-inspired patterns and contrasting gleaming copper and crystal. It works if your Christmas is headed outdoors, but you still want to create a special setting.
To complete the scene, Temple & Webster’s food expert Jono Fleming has shared his recipe for salt & pepper squid with a spicy kick, and a refreshing Prosecco cocktail that could easily work any time from breakfast onwards…
Salt and Pepper Squid
Ingredients
½ bunch of mint
3 shallots
2 teaspoons Chinese 5 Spice
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoons white pepper
100g plain flour
400-500g of fresh squid, or squid tubes, (you can get your fishmonger to clean them for you)
2 cups vegetable oil, or enough to fill a medium pan to around 8cm
4-5 small red chillies, sliced
Method
Pick the leaves off the mint and wash them. Slice the white parts of the shallots down the middle and slice into 3cm strips. With the green parts, cut into small pieces on an angle. Place the mint and shallots into a small bowl with iced water, set aside.
In a mixing bowl, add the 5 spice, salt and pepper and flour, mix together and set aside.
With the squid, cut the hoods into triangle shapes, and score lightly in a criss cross pattern. This will help the squid curl up when fired in the oil. Pat dry with a paper towel and coat them in the spiced flour mix.
Heat the vegetable oil on the stove to about 190 degrees, and fry the squid in batches until golden brown. They will cook pretty quickly, in about 2 minutes or so. Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and rest on paper towels. Throw the chilli slices in with the last batch and remove when they are a bit blistered, which should take about 2 minutes.
Drain the mint and shallot, toss together along with the cooked chilli and season the cooked squid to taste.
Prosecco Sangria with cucumber mint syrup
Ingredients
1 bottle Prosecco, chilled
1 cucumber
10 mint leaves
1 cup of caster sugar
1 cup of water
Method
Peel and slice the cucumber, wash the mint leaves and set aside.
In a small saucepan, add the water and sugar and on a medium heat, stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the cucumber and mint and continue on the heat for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside for about 10 minutes. Strain and pour into a small jug and place in the fridge overnight. The longer the mixture sits the better the flavours will mix.
To serve, pour about 2 teaspoons of cucumber syrup into each flute or glass, top with Prosecco and garnish with a slice of cucumber, some mint and a few blueberries.
Temple & Webster’s stylists have pulled together three checklists to ensure your Christmas plans are on track. From your front door wreath to Christmas lights, enjoy a stress-free holiday season.CHECKLIST 1: Decorate the house
Home
wreath on the front door
find suitable area to display cards
tree (real or faux) and tree stand
sort baubles and decorations, repair and clean
add to decorations as required
check lights (indoor and outdoor) for faults
Wrapping
decide wrapping theme – one for kids, one for adults
stock up on paper, sticky tape, bows, ribbon
plan for awkward shapes with bags and boxes, write name tags (bought or homemade)
Gifts
check online delivery dates
consider idea of book/plant/gift token for everyone
keep a few spare gifts ready-wrapped
Traditions
the Advent calendar
stockings
letter to Santa
CHECKLIST 2: Decorate the table
Practical
extra serving dishes
extra glassware
extra crockery including mugs extra knives, forks, spoons and serving ware
extra napkins and placemats
carafes and pitchers for drinks
table cloth – washed and ironed
extra chairs
Decorative
vases for flowers
place names or tags around napkins
bunting, garlands or decorative elements candles, candleholders, tealights
CHECKLIST 3: Prepare for the party
Plan ahead
order meat or seafood (note pickup date)
stock up on your favourite tipple
quality snacks for drop-in guests
pudding, cake and mince pies
Foodie gifts
wine, boutique oils, biscuits
make your own (don’t forget pretty packaging)
Last minute tasks
milk and bread for Christmas week (plus extra to freeze)
Giving shoppers instant access to over 100,000 products from more than 800 brands in furniture, home decor, lighting, rugs, kitchenware through to home improvement and hardware — new online destination, ZIZO.com.au offers it all.
Unveiled yesterday by Temple & Webster, ZIZO is the fresh new look and name of Wayfair Australia, which Temple & Webster acquired just six weeks ago. “Wayfair Australia established itself as the market leader in product range and customer service,” explains Mike Henriques, general manager at ZIZO. “This is more than a rebrand; with ZIZO we are taking the customer experience to the next level, offering Australian shoppers all they want in one place, with the promise that they’ll be looked after while finding what they need. We focus on simplicity, service and speed, to make it easy for everyone.”
Raising the bar for furniture and homewares shopping in Australia and set to challenge market competitors, ZIZO offers a world-class online experience, a local service team and a focus on product range. Always keeping it fresh, ZIZO updates its catalogue regularly with over 1,000 new products added weekly – accommodating every style, every budget and every room.
ZIZO is also making shopping easy thanks to its extensive, easy-to-read product information and descriptions, fast delivery (with most orders leaving the warehouse network within 48 hours), free delivery Australia wide on over 5,000 products (about time!), white-glove two-man delivery for select premium furniture pieces, Australian-based service team available via phone and email and a new world-class website. We can’t wait to check it out!
Spring is finally here and, while we’re more than ready to ditch our heavy winter coats for a far lighter (and funner) sense of style, the issue of where to store our woolly warmers for the next six months can pose an issue – especially for those tight on space.
Luckily, Temple & Webster’s styling guru Jess Bellef has some hot tips to revitalise your hibernating winter home and maximise spring storage.
“Clever storage ideas are a quick and easy way to give your home a seasonal refresh without having to spend a fortune,” she said. “Start thinking about what you can minimise in your living area, bathroom or even office to increase space and give that fresh, makeover feeling.”
1. Minimise the clutter in your home office by choosing storage boxes in the same colour throughout the space. This can create a sense of harmony in a space that is often cluttered with paperwork and technology.
2. Choose furniture options that have storage incorporated into the design. For example, an ottoman that can store your woolly jumpers, or a bed with drawers underneath that can hold your coats and scarves. Perfect for hibernating those winter clothes!
3. Keep large straw baskets handy in the lounge room. In one quick sweep you can gather up all the toys off the floor. They’re also a neat way to store extra blankets and cushions.
4. Floating shelves are an easy way to create more storage surface area without taking up valuable floor space. They are great for a home office or bedroom and they are available in a wide range of finishes and sizes.
5. Be disciplined and ruthless when it comes to getting rid of items you no longer need. Retire items you haven’t touched all winter – this cleanout is good for the soul and will inspire you to stay more organised. Drop items off at your local Vinnies or sell them on Gumtree.
6. Organise your kitchen according to usage. Minimise the clutter on your benchtop by storing away appliances that you rarely use. If you find after time you haven’t pulled out the ice cream/popcorn/hotdog maker, that’s a cue to get rid of it.
Australians with a passion for interiors and beautiful homewares have the opportunity to vote for their favourite emerging designers and shop their unique pieces during the third annual Temple & Webster Emerging Designer Award (EDA).
Archier Hex Candle holder by Josh FitzGerald of Archier Studio
Launched in 2013 to support and recognise new talent and increase the profile of some of Australia’s best up-and-coming furniture and interiors product designers, the EDA has established itself as a reputable and respected initiative for the design community.
Spot Stool 2 by Elliot Gorham of Noddy Boffin
This year’s ten nominated Australian designers are a mix of emerging talent from a range of categories and materials, and were selected from across Australia by an independent panel of leading influencers from the Australian design community.
The 2015 finalists include: Stephen Roy; Nicholas Fuller; Alison Jackson; Jack Frost; Andrew Southwood-Jones and Alexander Kashin of DAAST; Kenny Yong-soo Son of StudioKyss; Elliot Gorham of Noddy Boffin; Chris Gilbert, Chris Haddad and Josh FitzGerald of Archier Studio; Rowan Turnham and Matthew Harding; and Hugh Altschwager of Inkster Maken.
Flashlight Pendant by Hugh Altschwager of Inkster Maken
Each designer will be profiled on Temple & Webster’s blog and a selection of their products sold in an exclusive sale from today, during which public voting will take place. The expert judging panel will take into consideration the full portfolio of work, design aesthetic and commerciality of each nominee to select the winner. The winner will be announced on Thursday 30 July, receiving a major cash prize of $5,000.
The expert judging panel includes: David Clark, author and former editor-in-chief of Vogue Living; Andrea Duvall, homes editor at Sunday Life; David Harrison, design commentator and founder of Design Daily; and Karen McCartney, editorial director at Temple & Webster and renowned author.
Chatting to Jessica Bellef, head of styling at Temple & Webster, it’s immediately apparent how much passion, humility and advice she has to share. One of the last things she says to me, which I can’t help but reflect on, is “Treat every work opportunity as if it is your dream job, even if it isn’t and even if the pay is non-existent.” It’s advice she recommends to all budding stylists and it is exactly what she did when she started in the industry herself.
Jessica
Having grown up constantly rearranging her room and colour-grouping her possessions, it wasn’t until decades later that Jessica found herself back on the creative path. Studying marketing and psychology at university and then working in advertising, it was actually interiors magazines and blogs that convinced her to start up styling. “In the early 2000s I read my first Inside Out magazine and it excited me. Up until then I thought fashion and art were the only ways people could use decoration to express their personality. I never thought about how people’s personal space could also be an extension of character. Magazines like Inside Out and blogs like Apartment Therapy showed me homes that were layered with people’s stories and personal quirks. I was hooked!”
Beginning work as visual merchandiser for fashion and homewares retailers and then teaching at the Whitehouse Institute of Design, Jessica joined Temple & Webster at their conception, and since then has never looked back. “At first, I was hesitant to take on the full-time position — I loved the variety of work that freelancing gave me. But three-and-a-half years later and in no way is boredom an issue! My need to teach and share gets satisfied and my OCD tendency of organising and scheduling gets a good flexing. I work with some of the best in the industry and I am constantly inspired and invigorated by the conversations we have. And of course, being surrounded by beautiful homewares is a lovely way to spend each working day.”
[contextly_sidebar id=”2KdK8eLjAuRWeF8npKUutSaHnDPoAafl”]With no day the same, “The only consistent thing day-to-day is that it is fast paced and jam-packed,” Jessica is the mastermind behind the hundreds of gorgeous photos Temple & Webster create exclusively for their website. Spending most days shooting in their in-house studio, she is the link between the buyers and the studio. “I look after the talented Temple & Webster studio team and together we create the beautiful images you see on our website. I schedule and brief our stylists and photographers and make sure the images are on-brand and in line with the buyer’s vision. My desk sits right next to the studio space and on shoot days I bunny hop between my desk and the studio, perfect for old ‘ants in the pants’ me!”
Beyond studio work, Jessica also works on range of special projects, such as conducting presentations for trade shows and design schools, designing exhibitions, home makeovers, working on how-to videos and contributing to the T&W Journal. All very varied, it is these experiences that have led to some of Jessica’s biggest styling milestones. “There have been some incredible moments along the way like seeing my work in print for the first time in Temple & Webster’s first run of ads and styling a television commercial (so much work for 30 seconds of TV!). Oh and I almost crashed the car when I saw a Temple & Webster ad on the back of a bus — we are on TV and in magazines, but something about having one of my images driven around Sydney really got to me.”
Responding to the ever-growing demands, Temple & Webster have pulled together a program of limited time sale events featuring works from a diverse range of Australian artists. With the first sale launched earlier this week, featuring Sydney-based painter Emily Besser, the likes of Belynda Henry, Lisa Madigan and Lindsay Blamey will follow suit in the coming months.
With the sale events featuring a carefully curated blend of mediums including original paintings, limited edition prints, photography and assemblages, all art will be offered at a range of price points.
Accompanying each sale will be a unique insight into each artist’s story, the development of their work, their inspiration, their technique and how they bring their works to life, all told through Temple & Webster’s blog.
We love supporting small businesses in the interiors and homewares industry and last year, one couple (in love and business) stood out. They were Crystal Bailey and Mitchel Lindsay from Design Twins and we are a bit smug with ourselves for having been the first blog to feature their gorgeous concrete wares!
Crystal and Mitch of Design Twins
The business was in fact, only launched six months ago in June. “The adventure has become a dream come true,” Crystal says. “We spent the start of the year working on original designs that no one had ever seen before and decided to make them all out of an industrial obsession with concrete! It turned out to be so much fun that we would start selling them at the markets. We started to gain a fair amount of interest on social media when we started participating in Interiors Addict’s 7 Vignettes challenge (thank you for being the reason I woke up so early, half asleep in my PJs to take a styled shot!), so setting up a website seemed like a natural thing to do. Once our website was live, our orders were so huge, that we had to move out of our tiny little apartment and into a home with a workshop. It was bittersweet, because we still miss that cute little place on the beach!”
A few weeks later, the couple started receiving a large amount of interest from stockists around the country and decided to move Design Twins into a warehouse, where they juggled business with other jobs and family and then Crystal found out she was six weeks pregnant on her 30th birthday!
(I told you they had a big year!)
“The following month, we moved home and our warehouse again, but it all finally works perfectly and we are working on a brand new collection,” says Crystal. “It’s definitely the hardest we have ever worked, but everything has been so worth it. We have had our products featured in our favourite magazines such as Real Living, Marie Claire and Inside Out and currently have our products stocked in the most beautiful homewares stores such as Fenton & Fenton, Ahoy Trader and The Minimalist. We were also invited to teach sold out concrete classes at The School by Megan Morton.”
In October, Design Twins exhibited at Grand Designs Live and they had a sale event on Temple & Webster.
“All of this, with huge amounts of online orders, and it’s been one crazy, fun, exhausting but rewarding year for us! Everything happened so naturally that we actually can’t explain how it all happened, but we have always remained inspired by others, constantly designing and true to ourselves.”
Crystal credits stylist Megan Morton for the initial inspiration to launch the business, after attending one of her workshops, which she described as life-changing.
In just seven days, Temple & Webster raised $20,000 for iconic Australian charity Legacy following the outstanding success of their innovative Take a Seat for Legacy campaign.
Now in its second year, the initiative saw 36 Bentwood chairs decorated, adorned and in some cases completely reimagined into sculptural art pieces by Australian personalities from the worlds of television, radio, sport, fashion, design and interiors.
Created by the likes of Paul Hogan, Johanna Griggs, Melissa Doyle, Tim Cahill, John Sutton, Magdalena Roze, Donna Hay, Megan Morton and Vince Frost, a seven-day online sale provided an opportunity to purchase these one-of-a-kind creations at auction.
It raised significantly more funds than last year, with the highest contribution coming from the chair created by Better Homes & Gardens presenter Johanna Griggs, whose lovingly wool-wrapped chair sold for $2,975.
For the first time, Australian boutique leather brand Art Hide, has created a limited edition range exclusively for Temple and Webster with discounts of up to 50%. And it’s available from today so move quickly!
Art Hide, created and run by sister duo, Kura Perkins and Bree Hay-Hendry, is renowned for its beautiful and unique products that blend original Australian designs with ethically sourced, AAA-grade cow hide from Argentina, Brazil and Italy. While manufacturing is undertaken by traditional leather artisans, Art Hide uses a range of commercial grade finishes, such a nylon thread and double weight borders, so that the products last for years and not just a trend or season.
With several styles limited to a run of just two in each size, and a number of rugs being available with matching cushions, make sure you don’t miss out on purchasing something very special from this signature Art Hide collection for Temple and Webster.
Maintaining an ethical, sustainable supply chain is important to Art Hide. All hides are non-exotic and are sourced as a natural by-product. Processing methods involved in tanning and dyeing are sustainable, and the company always aims to minimise its impact on the environment.
Art Hide also stock a gorgeous range of accessories, including clutch bags, on their own website. You can get 15% off your first order online when you sign up to their newsletter.
Grand Designs Home Collection launched in Australia on Friday, with the range featuring cushions, wall art and rugs inspired by the high-end architectural forms and functions that have become synonymous with the television series.
Reflecting current interior trends, the Home Collection further builds on an already formidable Grand Designs brand, including the long-running television program in both the UK and Australia, Grand Designs Australia Magazine, the Grand Designs Live show (on in Sydney from Friday) and a successful book publishing range.
Zara Curtis, general manager FremantleMedia Australia Brand Partnerships, said: “Our research has indicated that the brand Grand Designs resonates very strongly with design enthusiasts as a trusted lifestyle brand. The launch of our home interiors range is our first foray into this space with further expansion intended to capture and inspire the design focused consumer and, of course, extend the values and offerings from this much-loved brand.”
Australia is the first territory in the world to create the Grand Designs Home Collection range with other territories looking to roll out similar lines in the future. Many months in the making, the range is expansive with more than 80 designs including 100% linen cushions, 100% New Zealand wool rugs and framed wall art focused on the modern consumer.
Launching initially through online channels, the range has an intricately designed colour palette with clever reversible patterns for two looks in one and pattern matching to create an individual look. Zara added: “Combining clever design, inspiration and function is part of what makes the Grand Designs TV series so popular and we have brought this to the homewares collection to help consumers make interior decorating that much easier. It’s design-forward though affordable, providing the ultimate edit for this season. We’re sure it will be popular in Australian homes this season and for Christmas.”
The range will be showcased at Grand Designs Live in Sydney from this Friday 24 to Sunday 26 October. Available to purchase online at www.granddesignshomeshop.com and for a limited time, via Temple and Webster.
After the success of last year’s Take a Seat for Legacy initiative, Temple & Webster are back with round two, asking 40 Australian personalities from the worlds of television, radio, sport, fashion, design and interiors, to design and create original chairs.
Some of last year’s creations
Going on display to the public at The Grounds of Alexandria on the weekend of the 24-to-26 October, visitors will get the chance to view a range of unique and stunning chairs, conceived and created by people such as Tim Cahill, Paul Hogan, Johanna Griggs, Melissa Doyle, Rebecca Judd, John Sutton, Todd McKenney, Magdalena Roze, Donna Hay, Sibella Court, Vince Frost, The Grounds favourite Kevin Bacon (he pig!) and many more.
Devised by Temple & Webster, Take A Seat aims to raise awareness and provide vital funds to support the families of Australian Defence Force personnel. For those wanting to take their favourite creation home with them, the chairs will also be available to purchase on the Temple & Webster website. The sale will run from 7pm on Wednesday 22 October until 11pm Thursday 30 October, with 100% of proceeds going to Legacy.
We absolutely love this initiative. Stunning one-off chairs and money raised for a fantastic and important charity. Get involved!
A corner of my sunroom/ studio in Bondi. Photography Maya Vidulich
From working as a circus artist and stunt performer to an account manager at an advertising agency, Adam Powell has had a very diverse career. Yet it was only after enrolling in a BA in Design Styling and Creative Direction at The Whitehouse Institute of Design, that he finally found his calling: styling. And thank goodness he did because here at Interiors Addict, we believe he is a talent to watch!
Photo credit: Maya Vidulich
“I had left the course hungry to sink my teeth into working in the interiors world,” explains Adam. “So when Chris Deal and Jessica Bellef, who were two of my teachers at The Whitehouse, offered me some assisting work with them at a new company that had just started called Temple & Webster, I jumped on it. Three years on, the brand is Australia’s largest online homewares retailer and I am lucky to have a regular gig there as their senior stylist.”
Working there two days a week, Adam spends the rest of his days freelancing, undertaking a mix of advertising and editorial work for brands such as Real Living, Inside Out and Freedom, a process he finds both challenging and rewarding. “It’s a hard slog being a freelancer and after three years I am only just getting into a good routine with my finances and erratic work schedule. I do love being a freelancer; I love the variety of work and exposure to working with lots of different and talented people who I am constantly learning from.”
Temple & Webster. Photo credit: Denise Braki
While his assisting days are now over (as well as assisting for Temple & Webster he was lucky enough to be taken under the wing of both Jason Grant and Sarah Ellison), Adam is quick to dismiss the rumour that being a senior stylist is glamorous. Aren’t all stylists?!
“The biggest misconception about styling is that it’s a glamorous job. Yes we get to play with beautiful things most days but it’s tough work. A typical shoot day will often start with an early morning trip to the flower market or bakery to pick up consumables, then there is the running around doing pick ups, making furniture, painting walls, building sets, getting the perfect shot, tweaking the perfect shot to make it just right, dismantling furniture, repackaging furniture, doing returns, typing up crediting information and then heading home to work on creative concepts for other jobs.”
Real Living Magazine, June 2014. Photo credit: Nick Scott
But all that tiring work aside, Adam loves his job, his favourite aspect being the ability to tell stories through images, loving that he can pull together products, lighting, paints, colours and props to visually portray a story. It’s something he has always been drawn to, having been a huge collector of props, even from his early childhood. “As a boy, it was all about frogs! My room was a tropical jungle and at the peak of the obsession I had over 500 ornamental frogs,” he admits. “These days, the collecting still happens but on a much smaller scale. Shells, feathers, sea urchins, vintage fishing floats and small clocks all make up my studio space and act as an easy prop department when pulling things together for a shoot.”
Adam’s studio. Photo credit: Maya Vidulich
While it is no doubt a challenging industry to get into, Adam is proof that it is possible, that if you’re not afraid to put yourself out there, experiment and even work for free, you can turn your dream into reality. “What I’d say to budding stylists is try anything and everything. From here it will be a process of elimination in discovering what you love and what you don’t like doing. Work for free — we have all done it before — it shows you are hungry and enthusiastic.”
Temple & Webster. Photo credit: Natalie Hunfalvay
Having followed his own advice and been a fully fledged stylist for the last three years, Adam has achieved countless milestones and undertaken many amazing projects. But his biggest styling triumph is something much more modest: “I guess my biggest milestone would be that turning point when my styling went from a hobby to a career that I could make a living from. It’s something that makes me smile often; the realisation of finding that passion.”
Want a quick lesson in how to decorate like a top designer? Style queen Melissa Penfold shares her top tips on which colours look good together, how to work with texture, the way things should be displayed, and how to learn the difference between a classic and a fad. This is great, practical, no nonsense advice which really fits with Interiors Addict’s ‘style without the snobbery’ ethos. Make yourself comfortable and take note!
Photo by Denise Braki for Temple & Webster
1. Functional furniture
Furniture should be useful and work hard. Your interiors should be based on a few timeless pieces that mix and match. The staples are a dining table that is at the heart of the home, a great sofa, some decent chairs, pretty side tables, a good mirror and elegant table lamps. These are the things you will take through life so they have to be good quality, fad-free classics. There is a place for personality pieces and fun updates but they need to be layered lightly on top of the foundation pieces.
2. When in doubt, toss it out
The biggest single thing you can do to improve the look of your house, and get the designer look, is to take things out of it. Your interior will instantly look better if you simplify what you own and keep only what is useful and beautiful. If you don’t use something, remove it from your life. Bin, bin, bin! That means those witty fridge magnets, (your refrigerator is not a decision-pending tray), and that mouldy old Balinese daybed. Now find a proper place for everything that’s left, and be on constant patrol to keep clutter out of your house!
3. Use colour carefully
People think about colour too much and forget how lovely its absence is. Strong bright colours on walls and ceilings can dramatically shrink a space and tend to date quickly. Instead, try neutral shades for the background areas, then feature one or two strong colours in accessories that can be easily changed.
4. Get flooring right
Fabulous flooring sets the tone for everything else. It has a big impact on aesthetics, practicality and budget. Remember, floors outlive paintwork, so it’s best to have something natural and muted that will work with successive colour schemes, which fits in with the way you live. Try a combo of hard floors (the widest timber floors, paver-size tiles and slabs of stone) with faded cotton, woollen or oriental rugs. Rush or sisal matting is another great option loved by designers, that’s cheap but doesn’t look it.
5. Keep it down
Don’t underestimate the power of simplicity. Real style is restrained. Most people overdo things. They overdo patterns. They overdo statement pieces. They own so much, their rooms become obstacle courses. To get the designer look, quieten everything down, particularly colours and clutter. Remember it’s as much about knowing what not to use. You’ll make life easier if you keep the basics neutral and introduce strong statements with rugs, paintings, cushions — things that are potent but portable. Keep ideas like less is more in your mind. You’ll save money and be less likely to repeat mistakes.
6. Beware of patterns, work with texture
True style is based on texture. Patterns draw your eye. They dominate. They date. And they can ruin everything. When people fall in love with a pattern, they tend to go overboard. Instead, top designers use loads of texture to build up a room’s character: smooth surfaces like mirror, lacquer or satin create a formal environment, while heavier, rougher ones like wood, stone or linen, lend themselves to a more relaxed look.
7. A few display ideas
Stick to one or two hero pieces in a room and allow them space to shine. Even highly decorative items or disparate collections can look simple when displayed in the right way. A French gilt mirror and ornate antique Gustavian bookcase, for example, will feel contemporary when placed in a sparsely decorated room.
8. Don’t follow fads
Be true to yourself. Unless you want to change your interior as often as your hemline, avoid all the ‘next big things’ and focus on creating an interior that works for all its inhabitants, both practically and visually. Only buy pieces that will serve you like a loyal dog and that you love, and it will work. Quality distinguishes style from fashion.
9. The secrets of upholstery
Big name designers know soft furnishings, fabrics, curtains, and cushions are the key to comfort: they determine quality, durability, function and make an interior feel right. You can opt for anything, from a cheap cotton to an over-the-top silk, just as long as it feels good and is suitable. Be realistic about the way you live. If you’re on a budget, use special fabrics on small pieces that make a big impact, and cheaper fabrics for curtains. But always use the best quality fabrics you can afford. It’s money well spent.
10. Throw in something unexpected
Once you’ve made the big choices, the rest is about how you put it together. It takes a lifetime of collecting to finish a room. Pair the unexpected, mix up your genres, contrast textures: cotton with silk, cashmere with canvas. A lot of style comes from throwing a spanner in the works, mixing incongruous elements such as a chainstore round pedestal table teamed with vintage leather wingback chairs.
11. It’s the little things
Style is imagination, balance, an ability to judge proportions and knowing how to finish things. That might be buying a second-hand baroque mirror at a junk shop and painting it white or raiding the auction houses for one-offs — commodes, chairs, stools, mirrors — that give your house soul. Nothing has to cost a lot but they need scale and proportion. Buy less, but buy better. And don’t throw out your old coats, boots and hats. They can be better than art, more natural, less try-hard, and make your home look like a Ralph Lauren ad.
12. Think comfort
Luxury is not about having mod cons, marble bathrooms and a boat at the bottom of the garden. Your home has to be a sanctuary — as soon as you walk through the door, your spirits should lift. If it feels that way to you, everyone that visits will feel the same. Style endures because it works. Surround yourself with the best you can afford. Even if you live in a shoebox, honour your presence in it. Legendary designers know luxury is a comfortable chair with a good reading lamp and a handy table to pop a drink on. You can have that wherever you live.
13. Become a curator
What you collect is entirely up to you, but don’t just amass things, be discriminating and follow your heart: the more individual your tastes, the more interesting your collections will be. And remember if it’s worth collecting, it’s worth displaying well. Don’t separate the pieces of a collection — keep them together. Copy the world’s best designers and hang them on the wall, line them along shelves, group on tabletops. Anything en masse looks good.
14. Develop your eye
Even if you’re not sure of your taste, start learning. If you can’t afford to buy at the best places in town, window-shop there to see what it’s all about. Develop your sense of what looks great, good proportions, fabrics, finishes. Hit the best hotels, bars and restaurants in town when you go travelling: they’re a lesson in how to pull things together. You may not be able to afford the big name designers that have created the looks, but you’ll pick up the ideas, and then be able to imitate them at home. And it’s free.
15. Don’t have good and everyday things
Good glasses and plates should be your everyday stuff. A good glass (or plate) is one that has great proportions and is well balanced and a joy to use: and is just as likely to be made from plain glass as lead crystal (or stoneware as bone china). Get one set of china that is good enough for the smartest dinner party but tough enough for every day. Choose a low maintenance classic that will make food look great.
16. Don’t forget the bedheads
Installing a bedhead is the most cost-effective thing you can do in a bedroom. For the shape, you can go high-square, French, humpback, gothic, or elliptical, and they can be detailed in all sorts of ways, but buttoning and studding are good looks that won’t date.
17. Maintain everything
Maintenance gives a room form, structure and visual appeal. Keep your chrome polished, your glassware gleaming and your flowers fresh. It takes 10 minutes to whip around each morning and put things straight. And it’s such a great way to live.
— Melissa Penfold is a journalist and author, whose career includes working as the interiors editor at Belle, two shopping columns in the Sydney Morning Herald and two-best selling books. To inject some of Melissa’s elegance and style into your home, visit the Melissa Penfold Collection on Temple & Webster, starting today (25 July 2014).
Partnering with some of Australia’s most talented handmade designers, Temple & Webster will be hosting a special event sale next month as part of their bi-monthly Hand Made Market Series. The theme is Raw & Natural.
Curated by textile designer and owner of Little Dandelion, Jacqui Fink, the sale will feature everything from hand carved spoons by the gifted Emilie Ristevski, hand felted woollen cushions by emerging designer Grace Wood and hand stitched linens by Weave and Wonder.
“Our Raw & Natural Market is slow craft at its most beautiful,” explains Jacqui. “It is all about quality, artistry and sophistication. My own work is informed by my great love of raw fibres and the soft muted palette of naturally coloured wool. That I have an affinity with makers who share this love of raw and natural is of no surprise. There is something very honest about the use of these materials when applied to traditional crafts.”
With homewares and artworks that are timeless, special and impossible to replicate with synthetic materials or automated processes, the Hand Made Market is a wonderful opportunity to support local designers and offers a beautiful and exclusive collection of products from across Australia.
The sale on Temple & Webster will begin on Sunday 3 August and run through until Thursday 7 August 2014.
iktor Legin (left) and Ed Linacre (right), winners of our Emerging Designer Award.
Design duo Edward Linacre and Viktor Legin of Copper, took out the overall prize at this year’s Temple & Webster Emerging Designer Award.
Viktor and Edward
Following a nationwide public vote and sale of their products on Temple & Webster, Copper, alongside nine other finalists, were shortlisted for the consideration of the judges before being unanimously selected as winners. “We were genuinely surprised as there was so much talent in the competition,” explains Edward. “This definitely will help get the word out, as Copper was formed only a year and a half ago.”
Designed by Copper
Beating some of the country’s most exciting emerging furniture and homewares product designers, their prize includes fantastic exposure to Temple & Webster’s 700,000 members, a media publicity campaign and a cash prize of $5,000.
Designed by Marz Designs
Coco Reynolds of Marz Designs also came out a winner, with her strong sales and public voting allowing her to take out the People’s Choice award. “It’s very encouraging and I feel incredibly humbled to be selected amongst such a pool of talent by the general public,” says Coco. “Competitions like these also act as a platform for new connections and potential collaborations.”
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