Neale Whitaker is much lovelier and less intimidating than I imagined and I think I may have offended him when I accused him of being “a bit Simon Cowell” during his time as a judge on The Block and homeMADE!
“I am a pretty honest person but I hope that if I’m critical then it’s constructive. I don’t believe in criticism for its own sake. As a judge you need to have an opinion and that opinion is always going to upset someone. I’m sure there was a backlash on social media sites – but I didn’t see it. Best not to look!”
He’s already working with Nine on The Block 2012 and is enjoying his new TV career. “I would happily do more if it came along and was the right project, but it’s a fine balancing act with my very full-time day job editing Belle.”
Neale agrees that the plethora of new renovating shows and their associated celebrities can only be good for the interior design industry. “I believe it’s actually renovation that people get excited about (design shows – even reality ones – attract very small audiences), but I guess the renovation process brings with it elements of interior design and decoration, even if people don’t realise that’s what they’re watching!”
Neale’s impressive publishing career in the UK and Australia (for the past 12 years) spans food and interiors magazines and both subjects are great passions of his. “I basically enjoy all the elements that constitute lifestyle – food, homes, design, fashion, travel. To me, everything is linked. I’ve had great fun editing food magazines in the past, in the UK and Australia, but at this stage in my career I’m very happy in the world of interior design.”
He’s even been a stylist himself in the past, but these days he prefers to leave that to the many talented stylists Australia has to offer (like Belle’s Steve Cordony). “My own home is genuinely eclectic. It’s honest, eccentric and full of things we love which are significant to us. It’s simply home. We live with two large and boisterous Weimaraners so there is nothing precious about our house.”
He won’t be drawn on his favourite stylists (suffice to say, there are many) but of course (as any good editor should) he believes his is the best interiors magazine on the Australian market. “I think Belle has a sense of humour, which is incredibly important. I also believe it’s hard to define our aesthetic – which is deliberate. We like to showcase many different styles across many genres, from total kitsch to absolute minimalism. If it’s a great example of its type, it goes in!”
What are the things people do in their homes which make him cringe? “Everyone’s home is their castle. Who am I to judge? Unless it’s a TV show! I don’t particularly like overhead lighting, carpets in bathrooms, curtains anywhere or handles on kitchen cupboards. But that’s my personal stuff and I don’t expect everyone else to comply! And I love orange, which is a colour that makes most people wince.”
Neale, who has written a couple of foodie books, also let slip that he’s considering adding an interiors book to his authoring credits. “Watch this space!”
NEALE’S FAVOURITES
Piece of furniture at home? “Cane-backed planters chairs by Australian designers Norman & Quaine.”
Aussie design blog? “Other than Interiors Addict?” (flattery will get you everywhere!)
Aussie furniture brand? “Jardan is doing some exciting stuff at the moment.”
Current interiors trend? “I’m not sure it’s a trend but I like the spirit of experimentation that exists now. It’s a very different landscape to when I arrived in Australia 12 years ago.”
Following yesterday’s interview with Darren Palmer, here’s a quick Q&A on what he hates in décor trends, his tips on getting it right yourself and who inspires him.
Q: What do people most commonly get wrong in their own homes?
A: I think one of the big mistakes people can make is to choose things that they like. What I mean by that is I often have people say I love this item, like a sofa or something, and I love this rug, and I really love this chair, but nothing seems to go together. The reason for that is you need to always start with the end in mind, have a focus, have a goal and have a concept or an idea to put into your interior before you even look at buying a single item. When you have an overview of what the finished outcome will be you can choose pieces that fit within the scheme, knowing that they will work before you get them home. And if you can’t, I can do that for you. The idea though is to start with the end in mind always, always, always. (Interiors Addict advises you to make yourself a mood board before you start, whether it’s a physical cut and stick or pin version, or using something online like Pinterest).
Q: Do you have any pet hates in other people’s home décor?
A: Feature walls. I speak about this from time to time and there are always exceptions to the rule but generally speaking you should avoid feature walls like the plague. Any design solution without a well thought out reason is probably not going to have the outcome that was intended. It’s great to make a statement, but like when you say something verbally, you need to think about what you saying before making any statement. Design needs rules.
Q: Who do you admire in Australian interior design and styling?
A: My mentor (who would probably prefer to remain nameless) is definitely number one. You’ve featured a few other people who I’m constantly inspired by in terms of what they manage to achieve, like Greg Natale and the amazing Sibella Court. That woman is a powerhouse. Every time we see each other I ask her how the world domination plans are going! My dear friend Stacey Kouros is a major talent (she was also on HomeMADE with me and WOW is she doing some great work). Steve Cordony from Belle Magazine is one super creative human too. I’m always amazed by how he brings things together and keeps pumping out new ideas.Gregory Mellor is very talented. He’s between South Africa and Australia now but I still think he’s one of the major design talents in the country.
Now running the successful Darren Palmer Interiors, with his work published in respected magazines, a regular interiors column in GQ and teaching at Coco Republic Design School, he’s come a long way since growing up in country Queensland and just quietly, we think he could be the next big thing.
At 27, after working in graphic design and advertising, Darren decided it was time for a career change. Around the same time, he bought and renovated his first apartment. “A dear friend who is an interior designer really loved what I’d done with the place. His business partner was overseas for three months and I asked if I could work with him and learn the ropes. He was really happy to include me in some projects. Belle Magazine published my apartment in their renovation issue and it all grew from there.”
Darren caught the public’s attention on Channel 9’s HomeMADE and also appeared on The Block this year. Wisely, he has focused on making the most of the exposure from HomeMADE, which even he admits, didn’t do brilliantly. “I came out of the reality TV world with a really positive experience. TV exposure helps you to build rapport with people that you haven’t met and it’s a great pre-qualifier as they’ve seen your work and feel comfortable with you because there’s credibility that comes along with exposure.”
Since the show, his business has grown, along with his personal style. “I’ve been featured in Belle’s kitchen and bathroom issue and named as one of their Mood Makers for 2011. I’ve had work featured in Luxury Homes Magazine and taught at the Coco Republic Design School. I was also fortunate to be a part of this year’s hugely successful The Block, which all probably would’ve been a lot harder had I not been given a start on HomeMADE.” Humble Darren is no celeb though. “Generally people forget who’s been on TV and for what within six months. You stop being recognised after a while!”
He simply describes his interiors style as natural, drawing from the colours and textures of nature.“Things like a sunset when the sky is those beautiful muted, desaturated colours after the sun is gone, to the textures of wood, stone, leather and sisal. I love anything that’s textural and real, not synthetic. I really like to create spaces that are inviting, relaxed and texturally diverse and layered yet refined, slick and sophisticated.”
Darren thinks this year’s reality renovation TV verged on overkill. “I think people only have enough space to care about a few shows at a time and fortunately the one I was involved with was that show, though I really feel for The Renovators’ contestants as this was a big deal, that would’ve taken a lot of energy and effort, with not as big of a reward after it finished as they might have enjoyed.
“In terms of the industry it’s a double-edged sword with the up side being that the viewing public are more literate in design, exposed to new ideas and are in some ways able to see how much work goes into design. On the flip side it does make design accessible which can make people think “Oh I can do that” which can tend to make it a little harder to sell your level of skill.
“I think as long as there’s integrity behind the way the genre is managed, and the products that are used, it’s more good than bad, and it’s certainly a great way to get noticed and get experience from a participant point of view. It was certainly my steepest learning curve to date.”
What’s next? “I have loved the direction that my career has taken in terms of speaking and writing so that’s definitely somewhere I will be putting energy and I would really love to be back on the box again. There’s a few focuses there but I’m confident I can manage it.”
Outside of work, he’s a self-confessed “massive dork”, married with a two year-old son, two dogs and a cat. “I like to train at the gym and generally be one of the least interesting people you’ve met. My big goals personally amount to trying to get a sleep in and being a good dad. Pretty boring but kind of wonderful.”
He recently bought an apartment in North Bondi which has new paint and floors but will one day have a major overhaul, plans for which are constantly ticking away at the back of his head. “For now it’s a really nice cosy home for my family with high ceilings and nice big 1930s proportions. I intend to make it the ultimate kid and pet-friendly designer house – an interesting brief but I have a good insight into how to fuse functional and beautiful.”
Tomorrow: Mistakes people make with decorating, how to get it right, why he hates feature walls and who he admires.
Shaynna Blaze is the well loved female face of LifeStyle Channel’s most popular show, Selling Houses Australia. Not bad for her first TV gig.
She recently ran a colour masterclass on Ten’s The Renovators. As she points out, free to air TV has been slow to catch on to what has been a hugely popular genre on Foxtel for years.
“People have always loved renovation shows and free to air is just getting back into it,” she says. ”I think these shows will do two things. There’ll definitely be more renovation and improvements to homes as we hit a flat spot again in our real estate market and secondly, it will put the focus back on creating a home and a beautiful space.
“Too often we feel we are governed by trends but renovation and design shows are about creating a beautiful and functional space no matter what style or trend. The importance of function unfortunately does get left behind on some of these shows as they focus too much on the entertainment angle.
“I do like all the shows for different reasons. The Block has been more about the personalities of the renovators and how their style is reflected in the interior, and sometimes your style isn’t what everyone wants to see which has encouraged healthy discussion of what people do and don’t like. The Renovators is all about learning skills that will get you a renovated house but like a lot of other people watching, I would like to see a lot more renovating and seeing them get stuck into the house. I would like to see how they use or fail with their skills in the actual work. All these houses are for sale and need a professional to oversee them, so why not show where people go wrong?”
Shaynna was keen to run the colour masterclass on The Renovators because all too often people are terrified of picking colours for their home. “Whether it is painting, bed linen or furniture, there is such a fear of selecting the right mix of colours that the majority of people play it safe with too many neutrals. That or they go crazy and overdo it and it’s like colour vomit!”
Her advice? “The best way to stop scaring yourself is work out the base of a colour. That means does it have more blue or red or yellow etc, and then use one main colour as your starting point. Slowly introduce one colour or neutral at a time that has a similar base to it and then build layers of contrasting hues slowly. Stop trying to do it all in a weekend as colour is affected by natural and artificial light and you need to look at the colour over a few days to see how it settles in the home. Until you train your eye, take it slow. Most people procrastinate for months, even years, to change the colour and expect it all to look perfect in a weekend. Take the pressure off yourself and take time with colour and enjoy experimenting with it. A couple of weekends with paint pots won’t be the end of the world!”
Shaynna, who has her own design business blankcanvas INTERIORS, went straight to college from high school and landed her first job as a designer for showrooms for a national company. She did most of her work in the retail and commercial sectors before taking some time off to be a mum and concentrating on her other loves of singing and art.
“I got back into interiors about eight years ago and it has been a huge ride ever since,” she says. “I am very lucky to be on an award-winning TV show, Selling Houses Australia, while creating some amazing interiors for my own private clients. I feel totally blessed!”
She’s currently filming the show’s fifth season. “For three years in a row we have been voted the most popular show on Foxtel! The show is about people struggling to sell their homes anywhere from a couple of months to several years (one lady had hers on and off the market for seven years if you can believe it!) and most of them have serious difficulties, whether financially or healthwise and they have to sell their home.
“Andrew Winter is the main host and real estate expert and my role as the interior designer and co-presenter is to get the houses ready for sale. Charlie Albone whips the gardens and exteriors into shape.
“This is more than just a makeover, it is getting behind the reasons why the houses don’t sell and giving solid ideas and tips to viewers for their own real estate campaign. I love working on the show as I am constantly surprised by how different every situation is and the homeowners are at such a vulnerable time in their lives as they open their homes and problems to us.” She freely admits to being “the sook and hugger” on the show. “During a three-day makeover I get quite close to the homeowners. I always leave knowing we are seriously changing these people’s lives and helping them to move onto another chapter.”
Shaynna spends a lot of time on the road, traveling around the country for filming. “The traveling is fantastic for a while but you do get a little jaded. I do treat the plane as a big bus and it is not until I get on a plane with my husband and see how excited he is to travel that I realise I do take it for granted.”
I asked Shaynna to share some tips for people working away from home a lot. “It is so important to make the hotel room where you are staying have a little ‘you’ in it. I used to take a scented candle but I am so paranoid of the sprinklers going off I have now resorted to good quality room sprays! I was given a beautiful Diptyque one (Mimosa) as a present and I spray it around the room as soon as I get settled. I also travel with a teapot and a three-stacker tin of loose leaf teas. Lemongrass & ginger, Moroccan green tea and chamomile are the flavours of the moment.
“It is important to take a few things that make you feel at home and to complete it I put on my comfy slippers (I’m really sounding like a nana now!). I spend most of my days traveling in designer heels or getting dirty in bludstones and painting gear so comfort when I get back to the room is number one for me (there might be a daggy trackie thrown in there too)!”
About half of 40-something Shaynna’s year is free of filming commitments and that time is all about blankcanvas INTERIORS (when she is busy filming she reduces her number of clients by half). “I have a great team to support me but it is important for me to know the jobs and have the connection with the client.
“I love working on jobs where the client wants to push the envelope a bit. Most are a little timid and want to make that change but are too fearful to make the change themselves. There is a certain energy that goes into a home and I like to tap into the client’s energy to bring that to life.
“A good client shows trust. They have employed us to put their home together and need to let us guide them into the vision. Most people start to see the transformation of their home only when the end is in sight so as designers it is also our job to be the best tour guide possible in showing them the potential of their home.”
As if she wasn’t busy enough already, Shaynna will soon be adding an online shop to her website. “I am finally getting my artwork onto prints, designing furniture and selling curios I have picked up on my travels. This is such an exciting time for the business as we expand into a new area.”
Shaynna says her own home suffers from a little bit of a split personality. “It’s part relaxed entertaining and part structured and dramatic. Even though these are polar opposites in description the reality is similar in that it revolves around simplicity, very little clutter and lots of black. I love black!”
As the action heats up on The Block ahead of Sunday night’s finale, business information research firm IBISWorld predicts Australia’s DIY and renovation sector will grow by 15% over the next five years.
While cautious consumer spending is playing havoc with many Australian industries, players within the DIY and home improvement arena, including hardware retailers, professional help, garden suppliers and plant nurseries, are flourishing, with expected growth of 2% over 2011/12 to take sector revenue to $22.2 billion.
Over the coming year, the average Australian household is expected to spend $2,554 on home renovations and improvements, a figure IBISWorld General Manager (Australia) Karen Dobie anticipates will increase by 4% over the next five years to reach $2,651 per household by 2016/17. She said the trend is linked to the increase in residential housing prices, which is due to the housing shortage, easier access to finance and government incentives, amongst other factors.
“Many homeowners have been dissuaded from entering the property market due to the increasing cost of buying a home and the associated costs of moving. Consequently, these consumers have turned to DIY and renovating to add value to their homes, save and squeeze their budgets further.”
Other drivers identified by IBISWorld include declining consumer confidence, the DIY cyclical trend and the popularity of home renovation programs such as The Block.
