BEAUTIFUL BEDROOMSSWEET DREAMS

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YOUR DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO EATING, DRINKING &

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COUCH GOALS THE $600 IKEA SOFA TAKING THE DESIGN WORLD BY STORM

MAY 2017

50THE

EVER STYLING TIPS

THE SEARCH IS OVERCHAIRS, STOOLS,

LAMPS & BEDSIDESYOU’LL LOVE!

BEST( ARCHITECTS & DESIGNERS REVEAL ALL )

WHETHER YOU’RE A first homeowner, renter or serial renovator, the key to nailing beautiful, resolved interiors that will stand the test of time is all in the details. We hit up our favourite stylists, designers and architects for their clever ideas for every room.

CLEVER TIPS TO ADD VALUE

AND ELEVATE YOUR STYLE

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tips from the experts

1Soft furnishings and decor, such as seasonal throws ranging from textured knits to fine linens, can easily change the mood of a room. Also, updating flora and artwork to reflect seasonal palettes can refresh the atmosphere. Adele Bates

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RO O M S

t h e e x p e r ts

Kelvin Ho, architect, Akin Creative

Madeleine Blanchfield, Madeleine Blanchfield

Architects

Christina Symes & Jessica Stewart, interior designers,We Are Triibe

Adele Bates, interior designer

Nina Maya, interior designer

Greg Natale, interior designer

Megan Burns & Christopher Glanville, architects, CM Studio

Emily Ward, stylist

Kirsten Bookallil, stylist

Simone Haag, designer and stylist

Natasha Levak, interior designer

Georgia Ezra, architect, GABBE interior architects

Aimee Tarulli, stylist

Caroline Choker, interior designer,

Acme&co

Sarah Ellison, style editor, real living

Foliage – without flowers – has the ability to create drama and beauty in a setting. Display en masse to really bring a space to life. Aimee Tarulli A2

Alex Hopkins, interior designer, Studio Tate

Lauren Macer, interior designer, Sisällä

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4NAVY BLUE, GREY AND WHITE IS A CHIC AND CLASSIC

COLOUR COMBINATION THAT YOU CAN’T GO WRONG

WITH. AT THE MOMENT I’M ALSO REALLY LOVING THE

PAIRING OF BLUSH PINK AND OLIVE GREEN. GREG NATALE

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6

If you’re not confident about hanging a group of frames straight, first lay them on the floor to get the right placement, then

measure up and transfer to the wall. Christina Symes & Jessica Stewart

5

8 SAVE BY BUYING FEWER, BUT BETTER QUALITY,

CUSHIONS. I’D RATHER HAVE ONE AMAZING CUSHION

THAN LOTS OF AVERAGE ONES. AIMEE TARULLI

Candles should be selected to suit the

season. Heavier, musky-scented candles work

well in autumn and winter, whereas fresh, floral-based candles

complement sunny days and warmer weather.

Natasha LevakBookshelves are

one of those items that can make or break your room. Follow

these three fail-proof steps to style a

beautiful bookshelf

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DECIDE ON YOUR

COLOUR SCHEME FIRST

AND FIND ITEMS THAT

FIT WITHIN IT.

IF YOU’RE STICKING

TO A NEUTRAL

SCHEME, A GOOD TIP

IS TO STACK BOOKS

AND MAGAZINES WITH

THEIR SPINES HIDDEN

AWAY TOWARDS THE

WALL OR ADJACENT

OBJECTS.

START WITH THE

LARGER ITEMS AND

STAGGER THEM UP

THE BOOKSHELF.

FINISH WITH MEDIUM-

SIZED ITEMS, SUCH

AS SMALLER BOOKS,

ART AND SMALL

POTTED PLANTS TO

BREAK IT UP.

CHRISTINA SYMES &

JESSICA STEWART

A

B

C

LIGHT THEM UP

3

Installing a curtain rod at the right height is important. Too low and it will lower your ceiling, too high and the room can feel overly formal. A good guide is two thirds of the way between the top of the window frame and the cornice profile or ceiling. Natasha Levak

Paint is the cheapest way to change a room and bring it up to date quickly.

And unlike most purchases, you can keep changing it. Kirsten Bookallil

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Adler A3 frame in Natural, $79.95, Country Road.

Moebe frame A4 in

Black, $79, Designstuff.

Coqui Coqui “Tabaco” candle, $73, Net-A-Porter.

AUTUMN

Cire Trudon Ernesto candle, $120, Libertine

Parfumerie.

WINTER

Overose “Indasmin” candle, about $75.60,

The Stell.

SPRING

Citrus and White Magnolia candle,

$39.95, Ecoya.

SUMMER

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10OFTEN A SMALL ROOM LOOKS BEST PAINTED DARK – IT BLURS THE BOUNDARIES, MAKING THE SPACE FEEL INFINITE. KIRSTEN BOOKALLIL

11If you’re buying a bedside lamp make sure it’s functional, that it can be adjusted for direction and light strength, then look at it aesthetically. A good lamp sets the mood! Sarah Ellison A

RO O M S

TRY THESE LAMPS

Milk & Sugar “Atticus” desk lamp, $149.95,

Life Interiors.

Oko table lamp, $491.70, Giffin

Design.

Aröd work lamp in Grey, $39.99,

Ikea.

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12If you love a piece of

art, work other things around it. Art and

books are important to give a room feeling. Madeleine Blanchfield

14

Invest in pieces that will last a lifetime. You don’t need to go high

end on everything but consider an artwork or armchair that will become collectable and will age

and patina with love and use. Simone Haag

13

CHOOSE SOFT FURNISHINGS WITH

TEXTURE TO ADD INTEREST TO

YOUR INTERIOR. CHUNKY KNITTED

THROWS AND VELVET CUSHIONS

ARE MY GO-TO ACCESSORIES FOR

BEDROOMS AND LIVING ROOMS.

AIMEE TARULLI

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Style your bedside carefully. Overly-scented candles and flowers might disrupt your sleep. Best keep accessories to the basics: book, clock, water carafe. Sarah Ellison A

RO O M S

Bedlinen in white, greys and blues will create a calm effect – and don’t forget some bedside blooms! Megan Burns & Christopher Glanville

19When buying furniture, look for pieces that offer storage. Sideboards, consoles and entertainment units are fabulous for hiding wires and cords. Aimee Tarulli

16ARTWORK WILL ALWAYS REWARD YOUR INVESTMENT. A PIECE YOU LOVE CAN TAKE ON DIFFERENT LOOKS IN DIFFERENT SPACES AND HAPPILY ACCOMPANY YOU TO A NEW HOME, SHOULD YOU MOVE. GREG NATALE

Try floor lamps instead of bedside lamps and mismatching bedside

tables to create interest. Megan Burns &

Christopher Glanville

22

Personalise your dresser with your favourite fragrance on a pretty tray. Trays keep all your bits and pieces looking ordered, even if they aren’t! Sarah Ellison

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17Scale is the most important consideration when hanging art. If the piece is large, it can be used to balance a large piece of furniture but if it’s small it will work best hung in a group. Natasha Levak

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20

FLOOR LAMPS

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18Beds should be

calm and inviting, not decorated with

multitudes of scatter cushions. If you want to add another layer, a simple throw in the

highest quality you can afford will do the trick.

Simone Haag

LEAN ARTWORK

AGAINST A PIECE

OF FURNITURE FOR

A MORE RELAXED

VIBE

TOP 3 THROWS

FROM LEFT Maya throw in Natural, $95, Once Was Lost. Minna knit throw in

Natural, $179, Country Road. Aura by Tracie Ellis linen

throw in Smoke, $189, Myer.

Aröd floor lamp, $79, Ikea.

TRY THESE

FROM LEFT HAY tray in Gold, $28, Amara. Medium Terrazzo dimple tray, $29, Zakkia. Bento

tray (29cm), $240, RL Foote Design Studio.

Design as Art book by Bruno Munari, $24.99,

Penguin.Menu “Stand” clock in Nude, $105, Arrival Hall.

Intagande carafe, $7.99, and glass, $1.99, Ikea.

Fiona floor lamp, $490, Clickon

Furniture.

Rubn Lighting “Vouge” floor lamp, from $1425,

Fred International.

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HANG PENDANT LIGHTS SO THE BOTTOM IS 70CM TO 80CM ABOVE YOUR DINING TABLE. NATASHA LEVAK23

People think they need to take indoor plants outside to get air and sun, however, plants acclimatise to the light in a location, and if the room is right, they don’t like to be moved. Christina Symes & Jessica Stewart

29

27 A GROUP OF ACCESSORIES ON A SHELF,

SIDEBOARD OR COFFEE TABLE ALWAYS CREATES

AN ATTRACTIVE VIGNETTE, BUT KEEP THE RULE

OF THREE IN MIND – CHOOSE THREE PIECES THAT

HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON. GREG NATALE

Think about the mood you want to create when buying lighting. Try to avoid placement that creates unflattering shadows on people. Kelvin Ho

24PERFECT PENDANTS

26Replacing a major item in a living room is one of the best ways to give it an overhaul; a new armchair or rug always does the trick. I’m a huge fan of using a unique armchair to attract the eye. Nina Maya

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28Some love art or a mirror above a mantel piece but personally I love giving it breathing space with just a small collection of objects and curios. Simone Haag

ENSURE PLANTS

GET ENOUGH

WATER AND

FERTILISER AND

WIPE THE LEAVES

FORTNIGHTLY

FROM LEFT Muuto “Ambit” pendant, $295, Designstuff. Akoya pendant in Army Green, $1410, Living Edge.

Funnel pendant in Desert Sand, $219.95, Page Thirty Three.

KL70 Kelly armchair, from $2996, Jardan.

INVEST

To create a beautiful entertaining space, start with a neutral colour scheme then

layer it up with lots of different textures in

the same tonal palette. Nina Maya

A COFFEE TABLE

CLUSTER

+

A TEXTURED

THROW

+

SOFT RUGS

+

A SPLASH OF

GREENERY

FORMULA

FROM LEFT Small hourglass, $24, and large, $29, The Minimalist. Treasure diamond box in Mint, about $50, Ferm Living. Aalto vase in Clear, $175, Iittala.

INDOOR PLANTS

Plastic pot in White, $15, Kmart, holding

Ficus elastica “decora” plant, $8.43,

Bunnings.

Small dip pot in Sand, $135, Pop & Scott, holding devil’s ivy

plant, $35, Domus Botanica.

Small utility rope basket, $79, Life

Interiors, holding Pilea Cadierei plant, $8.43,

Bunnings.

TRY THESE

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RO O M S

32 Create a balance in levels so your space doesn’t feel bottom heavy. Do this by using a pendant light above or a floor lamp next to your sofa, displaying artwork on a console, or by incorporating taller plants in the room. Christina Symes & Jessica Stewart

The size of a rug is important. Too small and it looks like an island, too large and it can make the room feel swamped. Rugs can also be clever tools to divide open-plan areas. Natasha Levak A

33

If you’re on a tight budget, don’t be afraid to decorate over time. It took me five years before I committed to a sofa. It’s nicer to have a few special pieces than lots you don’t really love. Kelvin Ho

30 31Painting ceilings lighter than the walls will help them feel higher and make the room feel bigger than it really is. Georgia Ezra

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36For visual calm, try to keep as

much stuff off the kitchen bench as possible. Also, simple neutral-toned linen tea towels are always the way to go! Megan Burns and Christopher Glanville

Mix and match colours by first picking your hero piece. You can then build around it with items in the same colour palette as well as with neutral tones. Emily Ward35

34Rather than filling shelves with

books or pictures, opt for plants instead – they breathe life into the space. In a dining

area, mix in some useful herbs. Lauren Macer

For a quick kitchen fix, change your cabinetry handles. This is great for renters. You’d be surprised at how smart new kitchen handles can look on old or dated doors. They’re also easy to put on and remove! Sarah Ellison

37Leather 01 handle in

Natural/Black Edge, $20 each, Made Measure.

Bellagio joinery pull in Tumbled Brass, from

$143 each, Pittella.

Humnle H03150mm handle in Copper, $121, Auhaus.

TRY THESE HANDLES

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Winter dining table in American Oak, $6340, Jardan. Luna dining table

(2m x 1m) $3550, MCM House.

40RO O M S

41Open-plan kitchen and living spaces are ideal for impromptu entertaining as they’re the heart of the home. Make sure there’s great seating at your kitchen island bench to create a hub of activity. Aimee Tarulli

42 Some stores will allow you to borrow products, like rugs or occasional furniture, to try out at home before you purchase, as long as you leave your credit card details. It’s worth asking if this is possible. Sarah Ellison A

Get creative when shopping. Gumtree, eBay, auction houses or antique stores all have amazing pieces that can be restored to look more elegant and high-end. Georgia Ezra

I advise clients to spend on a good

dining table. These should be solid and

durable. We don’t just eat at dining

tables these days, we use them for

work and even for children’s homework.

Natasha Levak

WHEN ARRANGING ACCESSORIES, KEEP SOME NEGATIVE SPACE (SOME EMPTY AREAS) SO THE EYE HAS SOMEWHERE TO REST. LAUREN MACER39

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44Every great

table needs a great centrepiece. A beautiful bunch

of fresh flowers will bring your table to life and make even the simplest table setting feel styled.

Aimee Tarulli

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DINING TABLES

BENCHMARK!

Smeg mixer in Cream, $799, Harvey Norman.

Dowel Jones “Hurdle” high stool, $350,

Hunting for George.

Statuario Maximus benchtop, from

$1200 a sq m installed, Caesarstone.

AYTM “Globe” vase in Green/Brass, $100,

Top3 By Deisign.

CONSIDER THE VASE

Parquet dining table, $3000, Nick Scali.

The key to creating long-lasting style is to choose items you love that speak to you, not only pieces that are “on trend”. This means your furniture will stand the test of time as it represents

you and your passions. Adele Bates

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RO O M S

48Accessorise your bathroom with beautiful towels. If you have the space, add some greenery with

a fern or orchid that will thrive in a well-lit bathroom. Megan Burns

& Christopher Glanville R

INSTALL A

RETRACTABLE

CLOTHESLINE IN YOUR

LAUNDRY TO CREATE

EXTRA HANGING/

DRYING SPACE. Sarah Ellison

49 ALWAYS DESIGN A LAUNDRY WITH HANGING

SPACE IN MIND. RAILS AND S-SHAPED HOOKS ARE A MUST

FOR DRYING OR AIRING. ADELE BATES

Instead of buying marble for your bathroom, try a marble-look tile

for a fraction of the cost. Often, they’re hard to tell apart from real marble!

Nina Maya

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TILES TO TRY

A BATHROOM NEED NOT BE A PLACE FOR TILES ONLY. THERE ARE

LOADS OF INTERESTING MATERIALS THAT CAN BE USED TO GIVE YOUR

BATHROOM PERSONALITY, TEXTURE AND INTEREST. TRY PAINTED

TIMBER WALL PANELLING TO ADD DEPTH. NATASHA LEVAK

LAUNDRY PRODUCTS

DRY AND AIR

Bathrooms should be a sanctuary. This can be achieved by choosing tactile materials that evoke the senses, such as handmade tiles, marble and polished metal. Alex Hopkins

Easycraft dado rail (4.8cm x 28cm x 3.6m), $39, and EasyRegency wall lining (90cm x 1.2m x 9mm) $26.48, Bunnings.

TRY

Marvel Pietra tile, from $72.50 a sq m,

Beaumont Tiles.

Florence Isola Statuario Satin tiles, $149

a sq m, Perini Tiles.

Romance Safari 60cm square polished tile,

$101.20 a sq m, Signorino.

Small felt laundry hamper, $24.95, Freedom.

Statuario 75cm square polished tiles,

$240.90 a sq m, Maximum Australia. Bondi Wash laundry

wash in Tasmanian Pepper and Lavender,

$22 for 500ml, Koskela.

Redecker clothes pegs in a bag,

$16.95 for 20, Saison.

Nomess Copenhagen clothes rack (120cm wide), $331, John Lewis.

46TIMBER WALL

PANELLING IS

ONE OF MY

FAVOURITES

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