New Looks – Colour uplifts

Colour continues to uplift, inspire and set the mood in a space. Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2017 is Greenery. It reflects the re connection we seek with nature. A vibrant and cheery green, use it sparingly to add an element of surprise with a pop of colour in cushions, stools and artwork. And the more adventurous, choose green for your lounge.

If this zesty shade of green is not to your liking, there’s many shades to choose from this year. Here are some winning colour combinations for you to create these new looks;

• Team mint green with grey for a sophisticated and relaxed look

• Marry emerald with navy for a lux look. Add accents of gold to make it a standout

• Powder blue and tangerine. Offset the coolness of powder blue with a feisty tangerine for a fresh take on a summer vibe

• And to our delight, purple makes a comeback. Let it rain. It’s opulent, intriguing and the colour of creativity. Out tip; be bold and team purple with blues to enrich its seductiveness.

Feature chairs

It’s even more important to make time for oneself away from our busy lifestyles. To encourage escape, retreat to a cosy chair. Make a statement with the butterfly chair known for its designer look and versatility with removable covers. Our favourites are all black leather with a leather binding which can be softened with a faux fur throw or the classic tan cowhide.

Tactile and raw materials

Raw materials such as linen provide a relaxed elegance and are cooler and lighter for the summer months.

Burnished metals remind us that imperfections can make an item more beautiful as they help tell a story. Say goodbye to rose gold and embrace aged, weathered and beaten surfaces in gold and bronze tones for a timeless allure.

The artisan touch

Fringing and fraying all take us back to a time where homemade crafts were revered and a time of social gathering.

Nature in art

We are enthused to see the range available in artwork from photographic art, abstract prints and hand painted canvases. 2017 will continue to feature water laden abstract colourful artwork in harmonious tones with contrasting accents for a bolder effect.  The equestrian look gets a modern makeover featuring a moodier palette.

2017 – A time for reinvention

We hope to have inspired you with a few new looks you can try in 2017. Our team at Designs to Inspire wish you all the best for the most creative and joyful year.

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Bring nature in
Breathe life into your home with plants in your living room, kitchen, bedroom or even bathroom and transport yourself to the tropics. To add additional flair, choose a pot with personality. There are many stylish designs, shapes and sizes available with geometric patterns, in a concrete planter or a solid color for a classic look.

Looking for a DIY project? Freshen up a pot with spray paint in your choice of color or create your own fairy or rock garden in a glass terrarium.

Botanical motifs are always in vogue and this year inspired by the Rio Olympics are more widely available. With cushions, artwork and even bedding inspired by nature, there are even more ways you can add a lush look to your home!

Woven baskets are on trend and can be used to store cushions or magazines or act as a plant holder.

Brighten the indoors
Change your winter soft furnishings to brighter colours to instantly lift your mood. Try one of these schemes:

• Greens provide a luscious feel
• Blues are soothing and cooling
• Fresh neutrals are breezy and calming

Remember to continue the colour scheme outdoors to connect the spaces visually:

Enjoy alfresco living
Want to enjoy the outdoors all year around? An Alfresco expands your living space and encourages outdoor entertaining:

Choose versatile furniture that looks equally good inside and out, such as rattan or wicker chairs for a relaxed elegance. Look for Sunbrella fabrics as they are durable and UV, water, and mildew resistant, making them suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

If you want to take your outdoor even further, there are stylish blinds available that allow you to enclose your outdoors.

Set your table with natural style
Summer settings can look great with natives combined with twigs and branches from your garden. Layer with natural textured table runners, placemats, napery, and plates in contrasting textures for interest.

Limited space?
With smaller outdoor spaces such as courtyards or balconies, dwarf potted plants, such as Citrus Meyer ‘Lemonicious’ or cumquats in a topiary offer an ambulance of fruit as well as greenery. Channel your inner Martha Stewart and create your own lovely marmalades and preserves.

Vertical gardens allow you to reach new heights to maximise precious floor space for your outdoors.

Choose water wise plants
Choose water wise plants such as cacti, succulents, Australian natives or Yuccas. In addition to being hardier, they look sculptural and modern. For more information on water-wise plants for your area see ABC Gardening.

Image by Designs to Inspire

Let the summer entertaining begin!

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It’s a common misconception that you need to spend big to achieve a designer look. I believe it’s all about creativity. Finding your statement pieces infuses your personality into the home to bring a sense of character and makes for an inspired home.

Maximise your space

Never underestimate the importance of a good layout and organisation.

The key principle for any home is to open it up to create a flow and the right proportions for each space. When property styling, I come across homes which could better utilise their space.

It’s important for instance your living area is more spacious than your meals. Reallocating more room for the lounge creates the right proportions and can add more value to a home. Reconsider how you use your space and make the most of what you have.

Clear the clutter

Being organised with minimal clutter will allow artwork, mirrors, and precious heirlooms to standout and inject a sense of ‘wow’ to your home.

Get started by sorting a room. Allocate a time to mark items to donate, recycle, or refurbish and you might rediscover items in the process that had been overlooked. Importantly, clearing clutter also makes a room seem larger and more serene.

Create your rhythm

Whether you have a new or an established home, planning your designs for each room will help establish a rhythm and continuity. Starting from the front to the back, select a style and colour scheme to tie the look together.

Repetition works well. Pick a pattern or color and repeat it throughout a home. This also makes for easier decision-making when updating your home. Illustrated in the photos below is a rich complementary palette of green and purple accents repeated in soft furnishings. It’s teamed with sophisticated neutrals that won’t date.

Colour your world

Depending on the size of your home, colour can be used differently. Warm hues can make a large room feel cosier, while lighter colours can open up a small room. Ambient lighting in darker areas creates an inviting atmosphere. I prefer working with a neutral base as it allows for more depth by layering soft furnishings. Adding touches of gold allude to a sense of sophistication and glamour.

Seasonally, I would advise a change of colours for cushions and throws. From brown and orange in autumn and winter, to turquoise, blues, and limes in spring and summer.

If you’d like to experiment with colors, there’s plenty of online inspiration. However, you may not have considered using a color wheel. This site lets you choose one of your favourite colors and see recommended ones to complete a scheme.

You can also create your own mood or inspiration board to visualise a scheme before spending any money.

Breathe life into a home – The natural touch

Personally, flora makes a home come to life – there is nothing more refreshing and invigorating than stepping into a home that brings the outdoors in.  Evidenced at the Décor + Design Show in Melbourne this year was the ‘Organic Matter’ trend that sees wild natural elements like lush green foliage incorporated into designs. Be creative. Flowers, leaves, or branches can all be used to provide a natural touch.

I hope you have enjoyed our first of many in our Inspiring Home series. Stay tuned for my next blog on ‘How to Style Your Dream Bedroom’. Happy decorating!

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Being an interior designer and a property stylist has always been my dream. It’s actually in my DNA. As far as I can remember playing house has always been a passion. From as young as 9, being with friends often involved rearranging their bedrooms and creating neat and orderly spaces.

To this day, I strive to have my home free of clutter, while arrangements of fresh greenery from my garden surround my living room uplifting my spirit daily. Beds are made with layers upon layers of cushions that quite possibly drive my husband and daughters mad, but let’s not digress!

My Saturday morning ritual of lattes, home design magazines, and the newspapers’ property sections set me up for a weekend full of inspiration and ideas on local and international trends and colours. This is when I find the time to sketch and plan for the week ahead.

My team and I often venture to home interior shopping precincts around Melbourne absorbing new ideas, styles, and products to use on our next home styling project. When I am on the road, my eyes always drift to the houses along the way. It’s a habit I’ve always had, admiring stunning homes and gazing upon those with the need of attention – wishing I had the opportunity to help reveal their full potential.

If there is one thing I have learnt as an interior designer and property stylist, it is to have an appreciation for all styles of homes and interiors. Blending new and old and working with what you already have with a touch of imagination can create beautiful spaces in your home without having to break the bank.

Oprah once said she always had fresh flowers in her home even before she became the most influential woman in the world. It uplifted her spirits and brought her a sense of joy when all else seemed bleak. It is my personal belief that everyone deserves to have a beautiful home, a sanctuary, no matter your budget. In the words of celebrity stylist Martyn Lawrence Bullard: “Live, Love and Decorate”.

Over the next few months, I will bring you highlights from the Design and Décor Show in Melbourne and share with you a series of tutorials and design tips that will hopefully inspire you to create rooms you will love. I hope you will join me as I share this exciting home staging and interior design journey with you.

X Georgia K

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