As we move into our third year of Covid, it is interesting to reflect on the way our lives have been impacted. We have spent more time at home and less in the work environment or travelling. Our home has become our domain for work, schooling and isolating and in some cases, we’ve needed to modify, decorate, or renovate to accommodate these changes. Or perhaps we have looked at the lacklustre walls and furniture for too long and become desperate for a fresh injection of new life!
The pandemic has given us a moment to pause and consider the important things in life; our social relationships with family and friends, health, and connections with nature. We have craved a slower home life; one where we can savour a slow cooked lamb roast in the oven, harvest our own home-grown vegetables and enjoy the company of family and friends in comfortable indoor and outdoor living spaces. We want to create havens in our homes to provide comfort, security, and a place to connect with people we care for deeply.
The changes in the way we use and think about our home has led to a need for an intensive interior design experience. Whilst there will always be a demand for a full interior service, for those who don’t have the interest, confidence, or time to undertake designing their own home, there are people who have embarked on the journey themselves and find they’re in need of some expert advice.
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It seems not uncommon for homeowners to be kept awake throughout the night feeling overwhelmed with the number of decisions and selections, leading to their project coming to an abrupt halt. That’s where two-hour video or in-home consultations have become more popular. It gives the homeowner the opportunity to lead the conversation around their unique set of stumbling blocks, ask questions, bounce ideas around and make decisions; gaining the clarity and confidence to move forward and complete their design project.
Mel Hoekstra
Designers often get questions about how to establish a vision. Clients have saved an abundance of images on sites such as Pinterest but they have liked a mix of different styles, so we help find a common thread and narrow it down to a cohesive style which suits their lifestyle, home and connects with them on a personal level. Through an intensive consultation we get them on the right track and make brand and colour suggestions to get them started.
Intensive consults can be anything design related: floor plan layout (especially in tricky shaped rooms), selecting the right style, size and material to suit their lifestyle, colours (that’s a big one as the number of whites alone is mindblowing!), wall and window treatments, lighting, artwork, the list goes on!
In my business, we ask plenty of questions to prepare for our consult and make the best use of their time, then follow up with a summary of our conversation as it can be quite a bit to take in.
Interior designers love to create beautiful cohesive spaces which improve our clients’ lifestyle, make them feel great and eliminate those pain points that exist in every home. Whether we are handling the entire project throughout all stages or offering our advice, experience and guidance along the way, we gain great pleasure from improving the lives of those around us and helping dreams become a reality.
The pandemic, with all its heartache, has also guided us to reconnect with our ourselves, our homes, nature and those we love.
-Mel Hoekstra is an interior designer and owner of MH Interior Design, a Gold Coast based boutique interior design and decorating studio offering a full service professional solution for your residential new build, renovation or decoration project. MH Interior Design work with clients Australia-wide.
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The seismic shift in lifestyle created by COVID-19 and lockdowns has reshaped how Australians are choosing to build and renovate their homes. From an increased focus on hygiene, to rallying against shrinking block sizes, the story of Australian architecture has taken a new turn.
With industry data showing that over 40% of home buyers have changed their preferences for their properties, James Hardie’s experts explain some of the trends influencing the homes of 2021.
More spacious homes
“At the beginning of 2020 we were seeing increased interest in more sustainable ‘micro homes’ and an acceptance of shrinking block sizes in metro areas. However, in less than a year, our homes took on new roles from offices, gyms and other locations that we would normally go outside to visit,” said Helen Simpson, insights manager at James Hardie.
“In fact, nearly half of homeowners that changed their home priorities are now looking for a home office or study nook, while over a quarter wanted additional living spaces.” she added.
New designs will seek to balance between shared spaces and private areas. “With families spending more time sharing the same space, there is also a greater need for areas of connection as a family and separate retreats for privacy. Floor plans that separate bedrooms and home offices with a central living-dining area work well,” said architect, Joe Snell.
Shift away from the city
Working from home has reduced the need to be tied to a physical work location, opening up new property opportunities. “Across all age groups, data shows that 23% of Australians that have changed their home preferences during 2020 are now considering a move out of the city,” said Helen.
She added that downsizers are escaping the city in favour of smaller beachside properties. “They’ve bought or built enough homes to know what they want and have the money to get it and COVID-19 has only motivated them.”
Rise in renovations
“Home isolation has provided owners with time to reflect on potential improvements to their properties, with leading industry bodies expecting a growth in renovations such as kitchen and bathroom updates,” said Helen.
Without the ability to travel, bringing the holiday feeling to the home has become increasingly important, explained interior designer Natalee Bowen, principal of Indah Island. “The idea of creating a sanctuary at home is not new, but it has certainly become a driving force in 2021.”
Refreshing home exteriors
Homeowners want their properties to reflect their style. Many more experienced homeowners are realising that they can cost-effectively redefine their homes’ exteriors by re-cladding or with cladding features.
“Homes with little architectural shape can be enhanced by varying lines, textures and colours,” Joe explained. “By incorporating a larger range of materials, the look opens up almost endless design possibilities, perfect for people who have rediscovered their creative sides during lockdowns.”
Property and building costs
While forecasters anticipated house prices to crash across the country in response to the recession, industry data showed that they actually rose at the end of 2021. With land prices rising, there is a downward pressure on build costs.
“No matter the property, there is normally a compromise between costs and the dream home people are trying to build and according to industry data, these decisions will be affected by growing house prices,” said Helen. She encouraged homeowners to work with their builders to realise their ideal home with cost effective materials, without compromising on quality.
To find out more about how to build or renovate your own dream home, from inspiration on the latest look to advice on modern materials, visit jameshardie.com.au.
The COVID-19 effect continues to be felt in Australia with working from home remaining one of the key lifestyle changes to have arisen from the pandemic. With many people doing so on a regular basis, we’ve had to become very adaptable in the ways that we use our homes. From a multi-purpose desk to a portable designer desk light and a stylish office chair (in on-trend boucle), these new furniture and homewares finds should keep your productivity up.
REDDIE workstations: “Since the lockdown last year, we noticed many clients upgrading their homes especially searching for home office solutions that would complement the rest of their space,” says REDDIE co-founder and designer Caroline Olah, of the inspiration behind her new collection. Fully customisable, these workstations are complemented by a coffee table, dining table, occasional chair and side table should you wish to purchase the whole suite. Minimalist lines aside, we love the workstation’s gorgeous rattan divider. From $990.
&Tradition portable Flowerpot lamp: Designed by Vernon Panton in 1968, this cult lamp became synonymous with the ‘flower power’ movement of the late 1960s. Its latest incarnation is portable and charged via USB making it an ideal mobile desk lamp. $375.
Life Interiors Avalon boucle office chair: Upholstered in on-trend off-white boucle fabric, and paired with a luxe brushed gold metal base, this is one of the most stylish office chairs that we’ve seen. It’s available with a matte black base too. $395.
Palmgrens by Great Dane: Designed by the iconic Swedish leather and luxury goods brand Palmgrens, this handmade home office collection is made from smooth calf leather and features stylish leather trays and a chic waste paper basket. From $185.
Harto Gaston wall secretary desk in oak 60cm: This minimal and versatile French design hangs on the wall and can be used as a shelf, console or desk depending on your needs. $1,150.
Yamakazi Tosca organiser (large): The perfect spot to store all of your workday paraphernalia, this multi-purpose Japanese design combines a steel tote with wood handle. It’s the perfect portable desk organiser. $66.
Mustard Made ‘The Skinny’ locker in sage: While this range isn’t new, this gorgeous sage colourway is. With four adjustable shelves, two handy hooks, a cable hole and wall attachment points, this lockable cupboard is the perfect spot to store all of your home office needs. $349.
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Renowned interior stylist Steve Cordony says Australians had to pivot very quickly this year to create a workspace at home but one that may not have been their ideal setup. But he explains that with simple changes, the ultimate home office can be created to help set you up for success in the New Year.
“Making a conducive and productive environment is the result of a combination of styling, careful arrangement of your office materials and enhanced convenience,” he says.
Space planning
Turn your guest room into the perfect home office by utilising sofa beds and furniture items that double as office and bedroom storage.
Break out and recharge
Simply put, don’t eat at your desk. Take a break from your home office and recharge your batteries by enjoying a quick walk around the block or even having your morning coffee on your balcony or in your garden. Similar to going to the kitchen or break-out room in your office, you need to schedule those short breaks away from your desk. Create a calming coffee nook for a double espresso cappuccino moment to inspire you to take a quick break throughout your day.
Sensory stimulation and personal touches
Intangible elements are just as important to the overall feel and mood of a home office space. Not only does playing soft background music or lighting a scented candle create a calming space, it also stimulates focus in the home office. Styling your workspace with personal objects, plants and photographs promotes productivity within the workplace. That way you can even transform the plainest room into an inspiring environment.
Office with a view
Bring the outdoors in by situating your desk and ergonomic office chair close to a natural light source or window with a view. Natural light is best for working during the day, and task lighting or warm tone overhead lighting for the evening.
Make it work for you
Now that we are spending more time at home, we need to be conscious of those things that will make life easier and help us achieve better work-life balance. Adding services into our home routines such as subscription programs can allow for a hassle-free, more convenient day.
Steve is an ambassador for Nespresso, whose Coffee Subscription can be tailored to your coffee drinking habits as well as being cost efficient for the whole household, whether it’s just one coffee or up to four coffees per day. It features free delivery for every order of 50 capsules or more, 10% extra credit added to your Nespresso account, as well as the ability to cancel any time, to make working from home that little bit simpler.
Home offices used to be a nice-to-have and these days, in the wake of the pandemic, they’re more of a must-have! And if you ask me, one of the main benefits of working from home is your space can be a lot more stylish than corporate! But the same practicalities, like storage and ergonomics, apply. This week, I hopped into Metricon’s free online Masterclass on the topic and I’m here to share all the top tips I picked up.
Metricon’s design manager, Ricky D’Alesio, and senior interior designer, Jacinta Evans, had so much to share, whether you’re renovating, building a new home, converting a different room into a work space or wanting to create an office nook in some unused space.
As home builders, Metricon naturally need to keep on top of what people want in their homes and Ricky explained home offices are now top of the list. “Having the right space to be able to be productive when working from home is so important,” he said. “Although people tend to gravitate towards the dining table, it’s probably not the right spot! That separation between work and home is very important. You want a spot which is quiet and away from disruptions so you should avoid being in high traffic area.” As a mum often working from home with two young kids (even with a nanny here) I most definitely concur!
Even better if your space has a door you can close or a screen. And Ricky said Metricon customers were keen on office spaces at the front of their houses so if people do have to come and visit you on business, they don’t have to walk through your entire home. And natural light, if possible, should always be in plentiful supply.
Jacinta suggests having an outlook to the garden and some greenery can be lovely if you can manage this, or even the sound of a trickling water feature. Sounds heavenly! She also touched on the topic of work/life separation. “If you’re always looking around from your desk at other things that need doing, it will affect your productivity. Try and keep your desk clean and tidy and only use that space for work.” That said, an office nook could do double duty as a dressing table at weekends, perhaps if you only work from home occasionally.
Measurements are also important. Ricky suggests deciding at the outset the size of the space or nook depending on how many people will use it and how often. The desk, built in or not, should be at least 600mm deep, and you should ensure you have ample storage. A combination of shelving for books and decor, and cupboards or drawers for unsightly things like printers, is best. Wall mount your computer screen if you can for a more streamlined look and less clutter.
You of course have the option of everything from professional custom joinery (the best, most expensive and most permanent option) to storage cubes and baskets from the high street and everything in between, depending on your budget and needs.
Other great tips include thinking about cables, where your powerpoints will be and if there’s enough of them, and proximity to wifi.
And let’s not forget ergonomics! Although this word often conjures up images of ugly adjustable office chairs, the design of these has (thankfully!) come a long way and there are now a lot of options which tick both the style and comfort boxes. Your back will thank you for it!
To add the finishing decorative touches to your work space (and if you can, why wouldn’t you?!), Jacinta suggest indoor plants, wallpaper (even just on the desk wall), personal photographs and mementoes. And last but not least, while natural light is the ideal, you’ll often still need a task light to work by.
Right, I’m off to completely re-jig my space, stop crossing my legs at my desk and invest in a chair with wheels! If you’d like to learn more, you can sign up for Metricon’s next online Masterclass on kitchen design this coming Tuesday and you’ll later get access to the replays of all the masterclasses.
Metricon has been exploring new ways to deliver seminars and Masterclasses to their customers, bringing events into your home so that you can stay educated from the comfort of home.
Being in isolation for nearly three months has been tough both mentally and physically, and for some of us, it is showing in our home environment as well! Isolation has pushed many of us to our limits as we remain confined to our houses, picking up unhealthy lifestyle choices or bad habits such as hoarding. Professional organiser Jo Carmichael, shares some tips on how to declutter our homes and breathe some fresh air back into our lives!
The hoarding must stop
During the lockdown period, we’ve seen people being influenced and edged on by one other, partaking in behaviour like bulk buying hand sanitiser and toilet paper. People were buying things like they would never see them again. Coming out of isolation, it is evident that keeping stock to a minimum is enough. Save space and storage areas around your home by only having what you need.
One room at a time
Start slowly and working your way around the house one room at a time. Start with one room a day or maybe even a week. Taking on too much at once can be overwhelming and demotivate your commitment to downsizing the clutter. Remember the rule: if you haven’t used it in six-to-12 months, get rid of it!
Key areas to target
Make sure you target areas such as the linen cupboard or pantry as these are key areas that seem to hold a lot of junk. Old sheets and blankets can accumulate over the years and it’s important to know that you only need two alternating sets per bed. The pantry can be home to a whole collection of junk that has stocked up over time, especially throughout this isolation period. Always check expiry dates and be sure to buy only what you need.
Working from home
How do you stop your working-from-home stuff from taking over? You may have been working from the kitchen bench or the dining table, whilst another family member was working from the bedroom. Now is the time to sort through your work-related items, and ensure they can be packed away somewhere at the end of the work day, so real home time is reinstated.
Keep your kitchen clean
We have been preparing meals and eating more at home these last few months. Kitchen benches are overloaded with leftover containers and other household items. To refresh your home, clear the benches and wipe them clean. Put items away into a pantry or cupboard rather than leaving them out. Clear benches are much more calming and less distracting, especially when you are spending most of your time in the house.
-Jo Carmichael is a decluttering specialist from All Sorted Out, a professional organising company that works with real estate agents and property stylists to declutter homes in preparation for sale.
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While lockdown got us all talking about working from home, home office and study nooks had already been an increasingly sought-after feature for some time. With many of us living in smaller spaces these days, creating a home office that doesn’t take over an entire room, is a great option. Here, we round up some great examples.
Photos: Sue Stubbs
Interior designer Kate Maguire designed this space (above) to be a part of the joinery in the family room of her own Sydney home, as they don’t have a separate office space. “It is tiny but mighty and functions very well, though it doesn’t usually look this tidy! I use it every day, as I work and study from home.”
Previously Kate, of Kate Maguire Interiors, had a hutch desk in the same room, but admits it didn’t look or function half as well! The joinery was part of a larger renovation, making the home a lot more functional in general.
Kate’s expert tips for creating your own office nook:
Think about how you plan to use the space and make sure you consider everything. Not pictured is my big ugly A3 printer, which is essential for my work, so I had to make sure that the desk area would be big enough for me to work comfortably and still have space for the printer to live.
Consider the placement of powerpoints and IT equipment. This will help to keep the space tidy and clutter-free.
Shelving with baskets, as well as drawers, helps to give everything a place, which again makes it much easier to keep the space tidy.
Task lighting will help to make the space more comfortable to work in.
Apartment dwelling forced interior decorator Briar Stanley, of Sunday Collector, to get creative with storage in a previous home, where she created this office nook:
Photos: Jacqui Turk
When renovating the kitchen, she had the extra cupboards added for all her work samples. They sat alongside a handy desk nook with pocket doors that hid away the clutter when she didn’t want to be thinking about work.
Fellow apartment dweller Ellie Jeffery, says her husband thought she was slightly mad when she suggested this office nook when they renovated their laundry!
“I’ve been watching a lot tiny house tours on YouTube and I love the concept of having multiple uses for a room or piece of furniture. It makes perfect sense, particularly when you live in Sydney and real estate is so expensive! So when we decided to redo the laundry, I thought it would be good to make it as versatile as possible. A study nook just made sense.”
Ellie lives on Sydney’s Upper North Shore in a two-bed apartment with her husband, young daughter and another baby on the way. The office nook was completed just as lockdown began. “It was great timing. I will definitely be using it going forward. I usually work a day a week or so from home.”
The financial controller has also set up her dining room to do double duty as a playroom, making their home work for their growing family. “Having watched all the amazing things you can do with a tiny house, I definitely don’t think it’s necessary to dedicate a whole room to one use. One of the working from home tips I see frequently is to pack away at the end of the day. It’s so easy to do that with my study nook and it does help me switch off.”
Belinda Rosenbaum painted the mural in the study nook for her girls, below, which was created by cabinetmakers J and K Badewitz:
“Our little house in Merimbula (a holiday shack in its previous life) is pretty tight on space so this was like adding a whole new room!”
Shelley Boyd’s home office (below) is tucked under the stairs. “It’s a great use of dead space which has been turned into a room of its own. My advice for utilising spaces like this is to introduce storage options so that paperwork and mess can be moved out of eyesight. Lighting is also important for both practicality and atmosphere. My space has lots of natural lighting as well as a statement desk lamp.”
The Boyd Blue owner says: “I am inspired by bold colour, texture, tone and hand crafted finishes and my office is filled with samples, inspiring images and an array of knick-knacks I have collected from various travels across the world. My fur babies Hugo and Daisy are never far away and I love the company they bring.”
The last three examples below, are by Brisbane interior design duo Anju Designs, who are experts at getting the most out of smaller homes.
Incorporated into the custom joinery with floating shelves, this study area works beautifully adjoining the kitchen and dining area, and provides a generous workspace in a two-bedroom apartment:
The architecture of this bedroom allows for the perfect little study nook. A small space with lots of natural light, and great use of an area that otherwise would have had no purpose:
This study nook utilises a walk-through space adjacent to the kitchen which leads through to the laundry. The built-in shelving provides ample storage space but by keeping it open, the area still feels light and spacious:
So, if you thought you didn’t have space for a home office, it may be time to think again!
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Psychologist and interior designer Mollie Kohn explains how to instill mindfulness into your home.
Image: Mollie Kohn Interiors
Mindfulness, put simply, refers to being present and aware of how you are feeling, what you are doing and of your surroundings. This is important now more than ever as we’re facing new types of stress and challenges we’ve never dealt with before. Not only are we worried for the health and safety of ourselves and our families, we’re juggling work (a lot of us from home), house chores, and parenting, with schooling thrown in for good measure. This new way of living will naturally affect our mental health in different ways.
As an interior designer and a psychologist, one of my main areas of focus is understanding what people want to get out of life and help them develop a home environment that will support it. In normal circumstances, our homes are our sanctuaries. They are the place we can refresh and find peace.
Image: Mollie Kohn Interiors
This has never been more important as the usual dynamic of our home has changed – it’s become our office, daycare, school, restaurant, café, library, cinema and still, our sanctuary for self care, family bonding or fun with housemates. It’s important now more than ever to define our “work spaces” versus our “leisure spaces” in our home as they’ve quickly become interchangeable.
Luckily, if there’s one thing we have working for us right now, it’s time. Time to reset, time to reflect and time to create a space we enjoy living in. Creating a more mindful home will help us find greater peace in this “new normal”.
Here are some easy tips to get you started:
Define your intention
Intention is key to mindfulness. How do you want to feel in your home, right now? At this moment, this feels obvious – because our home has become our only space for every aspect of our lives, our intention should be to create a harmonious environment that we feel relaxed in, no matter the task for the day. The time is now to carve out our ideal multi-living space. Negatives aside, consider this as an opportunity to adjust your space, set new routines and instill good habits for the future, whatever that may be.
Consider what is getting in the way of realising your ideal space. Are all those toys ruining the zen of your would-be workspace? Set aside some time and space and define what it is you’d like to change. If, for example, you want to convert a child’s bedroom into a home office, what’s getting in the way of realising this?
Start with something small and manageable. Clear away items (like toys) you’d like to remove, use storage boxes to pack things away and build from there. Designate this space as your work space, making it a “play-free” zone that you can use to focus without distractions.
It’s crucial to distinguish our spaces from each other so that when the working day is complete, you can unwind in a relaxing environment and shut off mentally. Another easy way to do this if you don’t have a dedicated (or make-shift) home office is to physically pack away all work-related items as soon as you clock off so that you can enjoy time off without a reminder of work sitting on the kitchen table.
Out with the clutter
It’s no surprise people are currently feeling claustrophobic about clutter – there’s an endless to-do list and it only gets worse by the day. One way to have a more mindful life, is removing the clutter by finding a place for the things in your home. Now that we’re finding ourselves fixed in the same space for most of the day, the time is now to make our space more comfortable and hit the reset button on our home environment.
Get your Marie Kondo hat on and find a home for all those bits and bobs that are scattered throughout your space. It may take time, so get your household family or flat-mates on-board and make it fun. Once everything has a home, commit to putting them back in their new spot after use. While this may seem like a chore initially, it will quickly become routine and free you from clutter, creating a more mindful space.
Use technology to help with organisation
Technology is a great way for people to become more mindful at home. It also transforms what can be more mundane, for example building a calendar for chores, into a fun task that can bring the household together.
The Amazon Echo Show 8
At the centre of my home is Amazon’s Echo Show 8, which is powered by the ever-helpful and welcomed voice of Alexa. Alexa keeps me on track by setting routines that suit my lifestyle, like waking me up with a mindfulness talk track to start the day right. Alexa also keeps a communal shopping list for my family – a major time saver when trying to coordinate our weekly online shop so we get everything we need – even toilet paper! I also use our Echo Show 8 as my sous chef in the kitchen! Alexa finds me recipe inspiration, gives me tips and acts as a timer so I never forget the roast is in the oven.
My daily routines aside, I’m finding that my clients are taking fewer breaks since working from home. Through the power of Alexa, we can find more balance in our day by setting reminders to take breaks whether that’s to get up and make a cup of tea or practice a meditation using one of the many Skills available through your device.
Reducing my stress by using technology helps me to refocus on the important things in life and maintain a sense of calm in my home.
Use colour to reflect what you want out of a space
Our vision plays a significant role in our mood, and believe it or not, colour plays a big role in this. Try asking about favourite colours next time you are on a Zoom chat with friends, and you will quickly find that people have a very strong opinion about colour.
In the context of mindfulness, colours can alter our moods by inspiring calm and improving focus. Soft greens bring about focus and clarity, making them a perfect choice for a home office or study. Softer shades of pink are found to be quite relaxing, so could work for a bedroom or bathroom.
This doesn’t have to mean painting your home office green, simple splashes of colour through plants, a statement bowl or a rug can do the trick just nicely. You can also use your Echo Show 8 to connect to different types of smart lighting, which can result in a dynamic space that changes colour to suit (or inspire) your mood.
Redefine your use of time
The biggest roadblock people report when thinking about living more mindfully is time. We can use our current environment to make use of the extra time we’d normally spend commuting or socialising and allocate it to defining your intention, decluttering, creating your plan, and developing healthy routines that transform your space and therefore your mindset. Being more mindful means that you choose how to react to tasks, ordering what needs to happen versus what you want to happen.
For example, you may need to complete a task for work, but you’d rather be tending to your garden. I would allow myself two hours on my laptop to get work done, and then go into the garden. This allows me to get an essential task done, and move on without being worried that I still have something else to do.
Now more than ever, it’s essential we give ourselves the time we need to do the things we want so we don’t feel burdened by other nagging things, like work or household chores. By carving out our time, we also create boundaries within our day, which promotes better mental health in this time of isolation and inevitable monotony.
–Mollie Kohn started Mollie Kohn Interiors after leaving her corporate role, to help people make anywhere they are living into a home they love. She has both a Masters in Psychology and a Diploma in Interior Design and Decoration.
We’ve probably never looked more closely at our desks and home offices than we are now.
Have you previously worked on the lounge, at the coffee table or maybe even the kitchen bench? Now you may find yourself in the position where you’re having to work from home on a more regular basis and suddenly your desk and storage has become a focus, as has how you feel when you are working.
At the same time, not everyone is in a position to go and splash out on a beautiful big new desk, so I have a challenge for you. I want you to look around you for a fixer-upper. It might be the desk you already have, maybe one on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree, a roadside find or from an op shop like Vinnie’s. See if you can find a desk that is the perfect project for you.
BEFORE: This op shop find was pretty bland
Here’s my how-to so when you find that desk, you know exactly what to do and what you need. The desk pictured is one I recently did up for a client. I got it from a local Lifeline store for around $50 and took it from bland to sensational!
What you need
1 litre of Porter’s Chalk Emulsion in French Slate
Small roller tray or roller pot
Small roller
Medium paintbrush
Sanding pad/sponge (flexible is good for the curved shapes)
A sharp edge
Baby wipes
Dry clean cloth
Screwdriver
New handles
Wax
Wax brush
How to do it
Remove the drawers
Remove the hardware
Clean any obvious dirt and high grease areas.
Use the sharp edge and baby wipes to get the old wax, grease and years of dirt out of the finer detail on the desk, this will allow for the new paint to sit right into the details rather than on top of the old gunk, making for a sharper and more refined final product.
Use the sanding sponge to give the whole desk a sand, making sure that you get right into the corners and the routed details. The flexible sanding sponge also makes sanding the round legs easier.
Use a clean dry paint brush to then dust all of the sanding dust out of the detailed areas and also the ornate rose area and drawers. You can also vacuum out the drawers if you have one handy.
Then wipe down with a clean and dry cloth to make sure you are ready for your first coat.
Apply the Porter’s Chalk Emulsion using a paintbrush for the detailed areas and then a roller over the top. This allows for a flawless finish.
Once the first coat has dried (approx 2 hours) do a very light sand and then apply a second coat.
Once the final coat is fully dry, get a fine grade sanding pad and very minimally distress the edges and the details on the desk.
Always stand back and reassess this as you go. Start super light!
Once you are happy with the level of distressing, use a tiny amount of antique black wax on the rose motif to give it some depth and definition. Finish it all off with a clear wax covering over the whole piece.
Finally, attach your new handles.
This was such a simple but amazing makeover. The desk was not an antique which meant that the drawers slid with a lot of clearance and hence I was able to paint the drawer side and also inside the drawers. This always looks better if it doesn’t affect the function of the drawers.
This really is simple and achievable for all levels of experience. All you need is some time (it is something you can do with the kids), some know-how (now you have it!) and the want to surround yourself in beauty, starting with your desk.
Children’s spaces are fast becoming a creative extension to the family home and Nicole Rosenberg of Liberty Interiors is quite the expert at creating stylish and practical spaces for kids, tweens and teens. The mum-of-three shares her advice on how to create a great home school spot for your students as they adjust to learning somewhere new.
It was actually decorating her own children’s bedrooms, and then those of friends and family, that led Nicole to set up her business. “Creating study spaces for kids has always been in high demand in my business as I have a large number of clientele with tweens and teenagers.”
If you think you need to spend big when revamping a kid’s study zone, that couldn’t be further from the truth! In fact Nicole’s favourite desks to specify to clients are the Alex and Micke desks from IKEA. “With their large bench surface area and practical drawers, they are a no-brainer for kid’s bedrooms,” she says. “It’s also important to bring in colour where possible so using some fun prints or coloured wall shelves over the desk can be really visually appealing. Another handy tip is to bring in greenery either with a plant on the desk or some hanging planters over the desk.”
As for where to put it, in the example above, Nicole put this dual study zone just outside the kitchen so that Mum and Dad could help the children when they were preparing for dinner. “Often, younger kids have so many questions about their homework it makes sense to have them nearby so that you can assist where required. In this case, you want the kids to be encouraged to keep the desk as neat and tidy as possible as it’s always out on display, so making sure there are drawers and wall caddies to put items back is really important.”
What if you have more than one child at home? “This question really depends on the ages of the kids. Older kids are pretty self-sufficient and are ok being in their study zones in their rooms. Younger kids need more attention and so setting up a temporary workspace, that doesn’t break the bank, in a living area could be the key to surviving lockdown. Brands such as Ikea, Officeworks, Kmart and Target are the perfect places to start looking at products for this purpose.”
To keep it tidy, drawers are a must. “I’m also a big fan of wall caddies and wall shelves above a desk – ‘a place for everything and everything in its place’. Once you have set up the study zone and explained to the child where to put things back after each session, there should be no excuses as to why it shouldn’t be kept organised and neat!
Even though we’re probably looking at being home for the foreseeable future, Nicole says built-in study nooks are expensive and probably not necessary, not to mention they’re inflexible. “Remember that as your child grows, so do their study needs and wants. A younger child often wants to be out in the family area doing their homework with you, and then as they grow into teenagers they want a desk that they can move around their room (along with moving around their beds!). Then as they grow into adulthood they often want to get rid of the desk altogether! I would always opt for an inexpensive desk solution that can be changed along with your children’s requirements at the time.”
–Nicole is the owner of Liberty Interiors, which is still operating online, helping clients with their designs remotely.
Has there ever been a better time for a bit of home office inspo? The Three Birds Renovations team recently made over their office, and although they’re not currently able to work from it (they’re #safeathome like the rest of us), it’s a great example of how much difference the look and feel of your office can make.
Being creative types, working somewhere beautiful was always going to be important to them. “We are inspired by beautiful interiors so it only makes sense that our own workplace is beautiful and inspirational too,” says Lana Taylor.
Now, their ‘old’ office was hardly plain, but two years on from moving into their first Three Birds HQ, the girls felt it needed some loving. “It was looking a little tired and didn’t really reflect how our design style and business had grown in that time. With a growing team of gorgeous girls, we wanted to create a luxe, feminine space where everyone loves coming to work each day.”
With busy work days, they wanted the office to have a calming vibe and to be full of pretty things to make it an enjoyable place to spend each day.
“We called our vision board the #dirtyblushcrush! It was all about gritty pretty: feminine pink tones with a bit of grunt, so that it doesn’t look like Barbie’s office! Our vision was for lots of detail like panelled walls, patterned wallpapers, many different complementary textures and a mixture of natural and plush materials.”
What you won’t see is a bunch of individual desks. “We prefer collaborative workspaces so we can sit around the tables together to roll out some floorplans, or grab a coffee and sit back on in the lounge area for a creative brainstorming session. Our creative juices really flow best in a relaxed and inspiring environment,” Lana adds.
In terms of what made the biggest difference, the Intrim moulding on the walls is right up there. “This feature really takes the space from corporate office to elegant lounge room, which is how we wanted it to feel. The beauty of Intrim mouldings is that they’re custom-sized so we could choose how we used them.
“We have a full wall of panelling at one end of the office, which frames our huge Jai Vasicek artwork. Around the rest of the walls we just ran the moulding one third of the way up, to make way for the beautiful wallpaper which Grace Garrett made for us.”
The girls have generously shared their vision board for this project, and they recommend this as the best way to start any design project.
“This should help people pick out the key elements they’ll need to recreate this style at home: a dirty pink colour palette, lots of Intrim moulding on the walls, patterned wallpaper and natural rattan furniture with pops of gold. Voila!”
I’ve been so inspired, as I’m sure you have too, by the stories of local businesses pivoting to save themselves and their employees at this challenging time. And even better when that pivot offers a solution to new challenges the rest of us are facing, and for many that’s working and schooling from home. These clever new Pop Up Desks are the perfect example, and they look good too!
They’re the brainchild of DisplayWise, a market leader in the events and exhibitions space. “For almost 20 years we have built displays for some of Australia’s most well known brands, however recent events have obviously shattered our entire industry and led to most of our business opportunities evaporating overnight,” said group marketing director Lisa Cachia.
“As a team, we watched as doors around us continued to close. We put our heads together and thought what can we do, what can we make that is going to be useful and add value during these challenging times?
“Noting that many offshore supplies were limited, and with more and more people either working or studying from home, we realised that a range of high quality, locally manufactured desks would provide many Australians with a solution to their new home office needs.”
With skills in industrial design, a full manufacturing facility and a team of people ready and willing to work, they quickly set about turning the concept into a reality. In the space of a few days, they had designed, tested, produced and taken to market a range of desks. “We also created a new brand, Pop Up Desks, along with a suite of marketing materials including brochures and a new website.”
The Scandi-inspired desks not only look great, they are highly functional. Purposefully designed to be easy to assemble (from just six pieces), they can ‘pop up’ in a matter of minutes and require no screws. Knowing that many people lack space or a permanent office set-up, the desks can also ‘pop down’ and be stored flat when not required, even for the weekend!
From $179 and shipping Australia wide, they’re made of high quality MDF with a choice of laminate finishes and come in adult and junior size or a standing version. The range is growing every week as the brand responds to requests for different sizes and configurations.
Photo credit @concretehoney
“Most importantly, all of our products are designed and made in Australia, supporting local jobs in these unprecedented times,” Lisa says.
“As a business, great design is key to everything we do. Whether we are building a two-story exhibition stand, or a piece of home office furniture, we apply the same design principals and attention to detail in our work. This innovative, unique design is testament to our drive to make products that not only look amazing but are of a high quality and are extremely functional.”
They’ve been thrilled with the response from customers and the media. “Businesses need to diversify and adapt to survive,” Lisa says. “Whether you are an alcohol manufacturer that has pivoted to produce much needed hand sanitiser, or a fine dining restaurant that now offers takeaway, those that are able to think outside the square will stand a much greater chance of succeeding.
“There have been so many examples of these businesses in the media in recent weeks, I think it’s testament to the Aussie spirit and our determination to stick together and get through this crisis.”
As many of us make the shift to work from home, potentially from a busy household bustling with both kids and adults, we’re looking for ways to increase productivity, positivity and flex some style skills while we’re at it.
Since myself making the switch to work remotely just six weeks ago, while not a tenured pro – I still like to think I have a couple of tricks up my sleeve. Mainly: whatever you do, get out of your pyjamas. It’s a mind trick (almost Jedi-like) that switches me into that work mindframe. And get some sunlight every single day.
While we’re focused on social distancing and coming to terms with what that means, we asked six interiors experts how they’re making the transition. While some of them have worked remotely for some time and have already nailed the art, others are meeting isolation in a creative way (hello snacks cupboard!) – but each has their own approach on what works for them.
STAY FOCUSED (and stay away from the snacks): Heather Nette King, stylist + author
I work from home in my colourful little office, but with the obvious isolation measures in place now, what is usually a quite solitary pursuit has grown to include my daughters, whose university classes have now gone online, and my husband’s agency had a trial ‘work from home’ day yesterday. So, it was a very different scene here in our little apartment. I am actually finding it very, very hard to keep my focus and avoid distractions – so I’ll have to work on that. So far, the only creatures that seem to be thrilled with the new arrangements are our pets, who now have more choice of whose feet to sit at.
One thing I have been thinking about is doing a quick dash to my storage cage to collect the rest of my books. I only bought a selection here when we downsized from our previous home, but I’ve a hunch I will have loads more time to read them. It’s weird that this fantasy of getting more time to read and to slow down has materialised, but I think we will all be way too anxious to really enjoy it.
And I guess that propping for shoots will largely be done online, as so many stores and showrooms are sensibly implementing ‘appointment only’ visits. I will have to become extremely organised to work that way, as I usually just head out and see where the shops take me.
On what is (I hope) the more lighthearted downside, my capacity to be a fridge-bother has increased exponentially. We usually shop for food day to day, but I’ve found that having a cupboard full of biscuits and chips and stuff I would not usually think of buying, to be another massive distraction. I’m going to have to buy a lock because those chocolate teddy bear biscuits are playing games with my mind!
My son is in HSC, so I’m VERY much looking forward to the new social distancing rules, especially coming into the weekends before exams! Teenagers would rather eat dirt than wash their hands, so this novel new activity is proving difficult to enforce but I am being diligent, I think it’s key to keeping healthy. New rules are my old rules: Armaforce, sleep, good food and rest. And being nice and kind to one another.
Our busy family includes a teenager, a four year old, a cat and a dog – so we’ll definitely be wanting to make the most of each and every corner of our home!
We’re lucky enough to have an extra room which isn’t currently being utilised to its best, so I’m converting this space into a designated work/study area for Luella (my teen) and myself to work from.
I’ve got a dedicated desk coupled with two of our Suzie chairs, which are comfortable enough to sit on all day if need be. This combined with a sofa in the corner to take a break and catch up on news, Instagram, Tiktok etc, will have us set up for work/life balance and harmony for however long we’re isolated.
SLOW DOWN + CONNECT: Samantha Seljak, Seljak Brand
As the social climate is increasingly uncertain, it’s an opportunity, and our responsibility, to slow down, stay home, stay safe and get cosy.
Whether you live alone or with others, make a space you can use to reset. I’ve got the watercolour paints out and made a space in the living room for art. I’ve downloaded a bunch of Classic Flow podcasts (yoga classes set to live classical music – so uplifting) and am embracing other online communities. Transform your living room, bedroom or outdoor space into your studio; for art, for dancing, for chilling and for connecting (digitally) with others.
If you’re working at home, find a way to create variation in your daily routine. Mornings in the kitchen with a coffee; afternoons in a sunny nook somewhere else in your home. Separate the working and relaxing phases of your day with candles, incense or by smudging to reset the vibe. Bring the outside in with plants so you have something to nurture. And, of course, keep cosy and comfortable with blankets.
Keeping healthy – inside and out – and enabling yourself to feel positive and balanced is so important at a time like this.
Working from home permanently means making a few key changes. The most important thing is to ensure your desk and chair are set up at the right heights to ensure comfort and good posture when you’re spending more hours in the home office. Eight hours on the cheap plastic chair you have had since flatting days is far from ideal! Investing in a quality chair is well worth considering – as is a desk that can be altered from sitting to standing height.
Your space needs to be somewhere you can easily focus. For some people, this means a very clear desk with minimal distraction – time to pack away the kids’ colouring books and textas. Other more creative types may need to create a pinboard of inspiration and reference to make the space their own. Think about what motivates you and set up your space to be inviting. Pinned magazine pictures, family photos and a scented candle? Neatly organised trays of stationery and a clear to-do list?
Good lighting is often overlooked when working from home. Making sure you have adequate overhead lighting or task lighting (for example a good desk lamp) is crucial to productive days in the home office.
Consider what access you have to fresh air. Often a study is tucked away in a corner of the house – if you’re going to be there every day can you relocate to a spot where you have an outlook onto the garden, or at least a fresh breeze? This will do wonders for clear thinking.
As a designer who already works from home, I’ve been used to self isolation for a while. The key for me was to have a designated work zone, not the couch or the bed, a zone that was just for work time. The other was to keep a tidy house. When you spend all your time in one space, make sure it’s looking the best it can. Visual mess makes for a mental clutter.
Got tips on how to make the most of your work from home station? Share your ideas in comments!
—Lexi Kentmann is an experienced PR and marketing professional, specialising in working with brands in interiors and lifestyle.
As the nation grapples with the spread of COVID-19, many Australians are being instructed to work from home by their employers or are having to do so of their own accord in order to look after children who are home from school.
Image: Eclectic Creative
While these practices are being recommended to limit the spread of germs via social interactions, enforced working from home presents its own health issues for individuals and families who don’t have proper home office set-ups. This is because prolonged working on inappropriate furniture can cause strain on muscles.
In addition, the physical activity associated with daily commutes or walking around a workplace to meet with colleagues is significantly diminished which presents other health risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
To keep yourself healthy in your new work setting, there are a few simple adjustments you can make to enjoy a productive work day.
Ergonomics are important: Invest in an appropriate desk and chair set up for your home office which promotes good posture and is appropriate for your height. When setting up a computer make sure the monitor is at the correct height with the top of the screen at eye level.
Virtualise your meetings: Social interactions are important for maintaining a positive mood and reducing stress, depression and anxiety caused by social isolation. By using a webcam for work meetings, you can see familiar faces and engage with colleagues on a more meaningful level.
Image: Kerrie Hess
Enforce break time from work: Sitting for hours on end working from home can place you at risk of developing stiff muscles, gaining weight and negatively affect your mood. Taking regular breaks to stretch and exercise muscles, spending time outside (where appropriate) or even working standing up for short periods can help reduce these risks. For some, installing a treadmill in the home office to utilise when making calls is a great way to keep active in a sedentary setting.
Unplug and unwind: Where possible, avoid working while hunched over a couch or sitting on a bed which not only encourages bad posture but also interrupts essential downtime which is essential for your mental health. In addition, spending bedtime glued to smartphones and other devices can interrupt your sleep and increase stress levels. Enforcing ‘no-work’ times and zones can help you maintain a healthy balance between work, rest and play.
Look for signs of strain: If you notice yourself squinting or in any distress, consult your local GP for advice on managing these issues. Something as simple as a new optical prescription or a physiotherapist referral to improve posture can make a big difference to your work habits and overall quality of life.
While it may not be convenient to work from home, you can set yourself up for success in a challenging situation.
Seriously, how did this happen?! This blog turned five this Easter. I always like to reflect on where we’ve come from and where we’re going on anniversaries, and while it’s easy to let it pass while enjoying a lovely long weekend, this year feels pretty significant. It’s not just that the blog is half a decade old, but this last year has been one of the hardest professionally, and personally, because the last year started when I was eight months pregnant and now here I am with an almost 11-month-old baby. Sebastian’s even walking! I know, what a show-off. What’s the rush, little man?! I’m sure all the mums out there can appreciate just how busy it’s been with no childcare (we just had our first date night while a friend babysat this weekend!) and how much my priorities have shifted. We also bought our first home in Sydney this year (obviously we weren’t busy enough already!) so we have some reno fun ahead.
So in some respects, this year feels like one of “only” treading water with one eye on the business (my first baby) and one on my second baby. Recently, I’ve felt like I’m really coming out of the haze of adjusting to motherhood (it’s just life now!) and I’m ready to get back into work full steam and grow Interiors Addict. There’s nothing more motivating than wanting to give your child the best future you can and while happiness is by no means all wrapped up in money, it does make life a lot easier! And I don’t just want to grow my business to make more money (although I’ll never say no), I am really aware that this is a job I love and I have the luxury of working flexibly around motherhood. Keeping hold of that luxury long term is more important than ever. God forbid I ever have to work for someone else again…
Yes, it’s hard juggling a business and a baby but it is worth it. There were times I felt envious of my friends on maternity leave for a year and a little bitter I couldn’t make it to mother’s group outings because I had an overflowing inbox to attend to, but I always remind myself to get some perspective because I’m fortunate I have been able to be the primary carer of my baby for his first year while still making money and doing work I really enjoy. Sometimes I may feel like I’m losing the plot, but so does everyone! Somehow, despite everything going on, Interiors Addict has more readers and is making more money than ever, and I’m really proud of that.
There were many changes and challenges this year. My amazing righthand woman Olivia Shead left after two years for a new role at Sky News having always wanted to work in TV (I’m so proud!). The agency who handled all my advertising sales closed their doors, and rather than replace them I decided the best person to sell my brand was me! Luckily I have taken on two new excellent part-time team members in Emma (advertising) and Amy (editorial), who are both young, part-time working mums too.
The original Interiors Addict on Tumblr!
There have been some constants throughout the five years and the most significant is my “tech guy” and all round WordPress wizard David at ClickWP. Since moving my blog from its humble beginnings on Tumblr over to WordPress when people started asking to advertise in 2012, to supporting me month in, month out, making sure everything is running smoothly, building sister site Reno Addict and so much more, I wouldn’t be here without him. Thank you, David! Also thanks to Chantelle who looks after my graphic design. And a huge thank you to my husband Damian, who has always respected and encouraged my work and is a very hands-on dad when I need child-free work time.
I’m aware more than ever that outsourcing and having the right experts around you is so important and I’ve recently taken on book keepers and a virtual assistant. I’m trying to get on top of the money side (I’m pretty good at making it but not so good at knowing what do with it) and I’ve just registered as a company having been a sole trader until this point. It really feels like the business is growing up; it’s established and it’s a great time to get more organised and get systems and processes (my least favourite things) in place to keep that momentum going! There’ll be some stepping outside of my comfort zone this year but I’m ready for it!
My working weeks are a lot different lately. I spend a lot more time negotiating the commercial side of the blog and less on the content, and while other people are doing more of the writing, I’m still directing what they’re writing about and making sure it’s high quality, regular and relevant. I don’t attend all the fun events I used to because I’m a mum and while I miss it sometimes, giving readers and advertisers the best quality site has to be paramount and attending events, however fun, isn’t a priority and with a baby at home is often downright impossible anyway! But once we have childcare I will try and get out a bit more because relationships are important too and there’s nothing like face-to-face contact.
In the next few months we’ll be biting the bullet and getting a part-time nanny because wonderful as this juggling act can be, ultimately you cannot work and parent as well as you could when you’re trying to do both at the same time. I’m really looking forward to having a few hours a day of focussed work time to smash through my to-do list once we find the right person to entertain our little fella! Any tips for learning how to let go and let someone else care for your precious little person gratefully accepted!
Photo: A Pop of Love Photo (click for details)
Motherhood really is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Every single day I am grateful for and amazed by Seb and how he has changed our lives and our perspective on pretty much everything. I will never apologise for being a working mum and I hope to be a strong female role model for my son.
I can’t end this post without thanking you all, readers and advertisers, for supporting my business by reading, sponsoring, advertising and sharing and hope you’ll come along on the ride for the next five years and beyond!
As we come off the high of holidays and settle back into work for the year ahead, we’re looking for fresh ways to create a functioning and invigorating space to work from.
Sydney-based interior decorator and founder and editor of Sunday Collector, Briar Stanley, recently shared her perfectly curated home office space, so she can already tick #officegoals off her to-do list for 2016.
Today she shares seven tips on creating the perfect small space home office:
Purchase quality. Storage items that look great on display are a must (avoid the corporate/plastic variety). A beautiful pen caddy, in tray and magazine file is all I need in front of me for my day to day desk duties. I also choose to work on a laptop as I often have to take work with me when travelling, but it’s also a far more compact option for a small desk space than a bulky monitor and hard drive combination.
Hide your work. As pictured in my apartment, custom build a small home office as an extension from your kitchen that can be concealed with neat pocket doors when not in use. Other good spaces for a compact home office would be the space under a set of stairs or a stairway landing space, an awkward corner of a room not in use, or even a large empty wardrobe.
Good light. I find working in natural light during the day is lovely, but a good quality desk lamp such as the Factory Task Lamp, is important to brighten up your small work space at night, just ensure the lamp is not oversized and proportions are in keeping with the small desk. An angle poise lamp is also a good idea for task light direction you can control.
Minimise the clutter. Avoid the mistake of trying to keep everything sitting in front of you at your work space. If it’s possible – dedicate a cupboard close by for the items that tend to clutter a desk – including bulky items such as folders and a printer.
Look up. Free up floor space and make the most of the wall space in front or to the side of your desk with a large moodboard. Open wall mounted shelving for things like reference books, storage boxes and trays will keep your desk clean, as would a tall bookshelf or cupboard – make the most of the full height of your walls.
Keep cords and wires hidden. Hide the spaghetti mess as much as possible. Pictured in my home office are doors underneath the desk that open up to reveal wall mounted powerpoints. Cords are directed down to these powerpoints from a small opening in the corner of my desk.
Be comfortable. If you’re already sacrificing on space, you don’t want to be sitting in an uncomfortable chair all day. Look for adjustable height, armrests, a deep seat depth, proper wheels and of course something that looks good. I chose a chair for my office with a low back and light in fabric colour – so it’s not too overpowering at the small desk.
Styling by Briar Stanley | Photography by Jacqui Turk | Images courtesy of west elm
For the past four years, Kate Pierce has run her giftwares storeAntipodean Love out of three different inner city apartments and now from her home in Ballarat.
“The business has grown exponentially and as a result, I have developed quite impressive packing and storage skills! Here are my tips (learnt through many a late night and wrapping frenzy) that I believe can create a sense of sanity for others looking to launch a business from home:
Research. I cannot stress this enough, particularly during your initial planning stages. I would love to say that I had a robust business plan in place but it was more of a notebook filled with figures, notes and ramblings. Look at the market, identify your competitors and work out what your point of difference is. What are you going to deliver that they cannot or that you can do better?
Remember why you started. Ask and constantly remind yourself, ‘why am I doing this?’. You have to love working for yourself as it can (and most often does) become all-consuming. The lines between home life and work become very blurred. As much as I try to set clear boundaries between both, when you live and work out of the same space it is inevitable that there is some overlap. There is also a lot more to an online store than setting up the website, sitting back and watching the orders flood in. You need fire in your belly and a desire to succeed.
Get creative with space. This may sound obvious but most of us do not have a west wing or a huge unused space in our homes that we can work out of. You need to be mindful of what space you do have and how your work space will fit into your home. While my girls have loved copious cardboard boxes to play with, you have to feel at peace with orders coming in to your home and that the business at times can encroach on your space. We started off with a desk and storage in our bedroom, to taking over a bedroom altogether, to taking over the largest room in our house. We have played many games of Tetris with boxes and storage in our home.
Consider unavoidable costs. Shipping will be one of your largest costs/expenses. Research this and be mindful of your products’ weight and dimensions. If you are looking at flat rate postage (and let’s be honest we all like to know our postage fees upfront) postal charges vary widely in Australia dependent on destination. So if your products can fit in to a designated 500g or 3kg Australia Post satchel, you could save yourself a lot of cash.
Get systems in place. I am not talking crazy procedures and process flows but look at all the ways you can make your life easier. In the early days, you will most likely be writing addresses on the delivery satchels (I know I did) and when I automated this procedure it freed up an enormous amount of time.
Outsource as you grow. As a one-lady show initially, I could not and was not able to do it all myself. Where possible and within financial constraints, you need to delegate and outsource. Try and engage with local people and look at the resources you have available. Also look at your friends and family as you may be amazed at the connections and knowledge they can offer.
Kate Pierce
Above all, be confident in your concept and willing to evolve and change. Work hard, be nice and good things will happen. Things do take time but with patience and determination you will be amazed what you can achieve. Having your own business is so rewarding and fulfilling. I’d love to provide advice where I can if you are starting or running your own business from home. Please feel free to email me at [email protected].
Switching from full-time interior design editor for Belle magazine to freelance stylist a year ago, Steve Cordony found himself working from home. Having recently purchased the apartment he had rented for years, it was the perfect opportunity to renovate and decorate the perfect creative space! And of course, it is as stylish and beautiful as you’d expect.
“The flexibility of working on different projects and collaborating with different clients was the most exciting part about going freelance,” Steve says. “I had been freelance prior to being Belle’s interior design editor and being a creative and unable to sit still for more than five minutes, freelance-land suits my frenetic nature!”
He’s not had much chance to sit still, working on interiors for Mirvac’s new Bondi and Green Square projects, styling for Belle as their style director at-large and working with Myer, Sheridan and advertising clients as well as styling some spectacular events for clients including Sephora, Stoneleigh and L’Oreal. “I have also been working with Waterford as a style contributor and most excitingly, I am working on a couple of product ranges as we speak with some great companies.” We can’t wait to see them!
Now based out of home in Sydney, Steve’s office space is very important to him as he spends so much time there. “I had to make it a space that had a great feel to it with good light. Luckily, we were renovating the rest of the home around the same time so I was able to design the space as a whole and it was much easier logistically with trades etc. I know there’ll come a point soon where I will have to move to a bigger office space, but I’m staying at home for as long as I can!”
[contextly_sidebar id=”aLzFVvScwv2EnjFaXccsgs9XfnU7ZBeS”]After renting the space for 3.5 years, when the opportunity to buy it came up, it was a dream come true, especially as Steve had already redesigned the space in his head countless times over! “It was such a blessing not having to move!” He wanted the office space to feel like another room in the home, not even vaguely corporate. “The French panelling and sisal carpet are throughout the rest of the apartment. I am lucky there is great built-in storage so all the boring stuff is hidden and I basically have my double-sided desk and the bar cart from Bowerhouse to ‘style’!”
Not surprisingly, the wallpaper was his the starting point. “Weirdly, it gives the room such a sense of calm and I feel like I’m working in a jungle. It was actually (partner) Michael’s idea as he has loved it ever since we saw it in LA. It’s bold, but also classic at the same time — which sounds odd, but I think it’s because it’s such an iconic print that I hopefully won’t get over in years to come!”
The Oluce ‘Atollo’ lamp from Euroluce was last year’s birthday present. “I had coveted this piece ever since I used it in my first assignment while studying at Enmore. Every home has to have a Ficus Lyrata (mine’s from Garden Life) and this adds to the ‘jungle fever’. The re-worked antique art deco desk is from MCM House and I have one ergonomic Herman Miller Aeron chair from Living Edge and one not so ergonomic Gebrüder Thonet 210R chair! I constantly change the accessories and books and have fresh flowers and candles burning 24/7.”
Aesthetics aside, what else does Steve think is important about a home office from a practical perspective? “Storage! It’s the most important aspect. My desk and the space itself look styled and together but behind the great wall of doors is a whole world of pain! Ok it’s not that bad, but I have drawers filled with fabric samples, kikki.K boxes with documents and shelving for samples and catalogues. And definitely good lighting. In terms of comfort, I’m so glad I invested in the Aeron desk chair as I spend so much time on it! And music — my Sonos system is my friend as I would go crazy working most days by myself in silence!”
So, being one of Australia’s top stylists, does partner Michael have much say in the interiors of their home? “We have a rule where Michael looks after the terrace/outside and I am in charge of the interior. But let’s just say that rule is sometimes blurred, mainly from me being a control freak! But I did let him choose the wallpaper after all…”
Steve adds: “I would describe our home style as modern luxe. I like having contemporary and ‘designy’ pieces but most importantly, I want it to have a soul. I love incorporating items from our travels and I am always moving things around from week to week to constantly keep it interesting.”
Steve’s tips for creating a home office space you actually want to spend time in
Don’t think of the space as an office. Think of it as another beautiful room in the home.
Create a mood board using any interior shots or styles you love and work from there.
Storage is the most important but it doesn’t have to be the ugly elephant in the room. If you don’t have built-in storage, invest in some functional storage that looks great which you can style and incorporate into the space.
