Category Archives: decorating

Creating a stylish home on a budget

Posted on June 18, 2016 | Leave a comment

Sometimes you walk into a home and it’s hard to put your finger on exactly why, but you just know it oozes style. And it’s not all about the contents of the house either, but rather the way they are displayed. I am regularly asked what defines a “stylish” home and after some serious contemplation and memory archiving, I have managed to compile a shortlist of commonalities. The one thing I can assure you of, though, is the non-existent correlation between style and the state of people’s bank accounts. It needs more than money thrown at it – as they say, “you just can’t buy style”.

Knowing where to bomb money

The other differentiator with stylish homes is their sixth sense of knowing where to bomb their money. And the more interesting ones are not full of high-priced unachievable items either, but rather an interesting mix of inexpensive with collectible. I have met many a homeowner that has chosen a decrepit old couch from a junk store for its shape but had it reupholstered in the likes of Jean Paul Gaultier fabric so that you would never know its original price tag. And others that have mixed a high end dining table with chairs from IKEA. Knowing where to spend it, and what to spend it on can be the game changer to a layered and stylishly appointed space.

In my humble opinion, it’s often these traits that are “invisible to the naked eye” that set a home apart from the crowd – rather than its contents alone – and define it as stylish.

12 ways to give your kitchen a new look without starting over

Posted on June 10, 2016 | Leave a comment

kitchen rug

A kitchen that is relatively lovely but a touch on the boring side can benefit from a quick-fix design idea that can instantly create a walk-in wow factor. Choose from 12 novel ideas below, some of which can be actioned in less than an hour. Others are small projects that may need a little preparation and application time, but the time and effort you invest can yield eye-popping results.

1. Add a rug
Immediately add pattern and texture to a minimalist-style kitchen by adding a floor rug with a geometric pattern or colourful design. Choose an outdoor mat made from recycled plastic to repel stains caused by cooking spills and spits, or source a flat-weave hardwearing natural fibre rug that can be washed. Minimise any risk of tripping over it by fixing a non-slip pad to the back of the rug.

2. Install a bookcase in the kitchen
It may not be entirely practical but it sure looks good to have some of your intellectual and cultural capital on display in the busiest room in the house. A ‘well-stocked’ bookcase can add miles of charm to a kitchen, especially to one that looks a little too clinical (i.e. all-white). Fill the bookcase with your favourite cookbooks or designer tomes, or stack it full of novels you’ve read (or plan to read). If the bookcase (a narrow, stackable type is pictured here) is close to a breakfast bar or table in the kitchen, you get the added advantage of being able to read a few pages between cooking procedures when preparing meals.

3. Put up a chalkboard
Chalkboards in kitchens are not just practical for busy families and members of a share house, but can also be a striking kitchen feature. A board painted with chalkboard paint can be affixed to a plain wall facing the kitchen space. You’ll need to prime the board first and then apply at least two coats of writeable and erasable latex chalkboard paint, which can be bought from a local hardware store. Alternatively, a removable chalkboard wall decal with a magnetic film can be bought and adhered to the wall.

Designs to Replace a boring couch

Posted on May 21, 2016 | Leave a comment

Your lounge sits in the centre of your living space, so why not make it a conversation piece? Eschew traditional designs – which tend to be cumbersome and block-like – in favour of these crowd pleasers, where form and function play equally important roles. These are some of the coolest pieces of furniture in the universe.

couch

Kotatsu – a sort of heated table that latches on to your couch or bed. You can work in it, eat in it, read in it, sleep under it and even entertain in it. Yes, it sounds like a fire hazard, but that doesn’t stop us from wanting one.

see them all at: http://www.domain.com.au/advice/10-designs-to-replace-your-boring-couch-20160516-govwh5/