About Jen Bishop

Jen is the publisher of Interiors Addict, a journalist of 13 years who last year became a full-time blogger.

6 top tips for pattern and texture in your home, by Abigail Ahern

As you all know, I’m a huge fan of Brit Abigail Ahern and her bold, unconventional interior style, which tends to break every rule in the book, with gusto! I’m delighted she’s written these tips for Interiors Addict and shared photos from her home, and her sister Gemma’s, with us. “Pattern and texture are the herbs and spices of the decorating world,” she says. “They add instant pizzazz to a room, turning if from drab to fab in a second, and I am the hugest fan. The trick is to ditch everything you’ve ever been taught about combining. You won’t need to bring anything to the table other than the ability to think a little differently.”

Abigail’s pattern and texture tips

1. You can never (repeat never) overdose on texture. The more you add the more intriguing a room becomes. The key is to create as much friction as you can (bad in relationships, fundamental in interiors)! Mix rough with smooth, slubby with polished; it will never feel too much.

Abigail's own bedroom is a textural feast! I love it!

Abigail’s own bedroom is a textural feast! I love it!

2. You can mix as many patterns as you want (forget all that mumbo jumbo about combining small scale motifs mixed with large scale patterns). The game changer is to reign in the colour palette. Do that and you can mix to your heart’s content.

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Winners and photos from last night’s Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards 2013

The industry’s finest got dressed up for the Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards 2013 last night and I was lucky enough to join them! The event styling, by Belle’s own Steve Cordony, at Coco’s Alexandria showroom, was impeccable as ever.

belle awards montage

Clockwise from left: Greg Natale, Neale Whitaker and Jamie Durie, Darren Palmer and Megan Morton

belle awards entrance

Congratulations to Paul Hecker and Hamish Guthrie of Hecker Guthrie, who jointly picked up the top award, interior designer of the year, beating fellow finalists Iain Halliday and Greg Natale (who won in 2012 and 2011 respectively). Belle editor-in-chief Neale Whitaker said they had taken Australian interior design and decoration in an intriguing new direction. “It is as refined as it is industrial and as glamorous as it is raw. Their body of work is consistently fresh and directional.” [Read more...]

Hand carved hide cushions by handbag designer Michaela Menichelli

I love Melbourne accessories designer Michaela Menichelli’s beautiful bags and bought one of her clutches last year. I’m so excited that she’s just launched into homewares with a cushion range.

M Menichelli press shot

Michaela Menichelli cushions 1

What’s more they’re produced ethically in Bali, supporting local craftspeople who carve each piece by hand (hard to believe isn’t it?) so no two are exactly the same. Michaela is keen to challenge the popularity of cheap, mass produced accessories and offer something different, hand crafted and fashion forward. They really are fashion for your home. My name’s on a white one! [Read more...]

Off Topic Tuesday a day late: ugly self doubt

Whoops, it’s Wednesday. I forgot to post Off-Topic Tuesday yesterday and the alliteration has such a nice ring to it! Ah well, I’m here anyway!

Today’s off-topic post is about doubt and about worrying too much about what other people think about what you’re doing. At the weekend, I was asked to speak about blogging at the Kidspot Voices of 2013 masterclass. A real honour. One of the questions to the panel (with the fab Viv from Ish & Chi and Rebecca from Wee Birdy, moderated by the fabulous Pip from Meet Me At Mikes) was do you ever doubt yourself? Now, it may seem from my blog and even from meeting me in real life, that I’m a super confident person who knows their stuff. Let me let you into a little secret: I am as self-doubting as the next person. I worry about what people think about me and might be saying about me behind my back. ALL THE TIME. I live in constant fear of being found out. What for, I’m not sure! [Read more...]

Latest works by artist Andrew O’Brien

When I grow up (and am no longer saving to pay for a wedding) I’m going to invest in a piece of Andrew O’Brien’s art. I just love it and his latest works are no exception. What do you think?

Andrew O'Brien 3

You may recognise the Melbourne-based artist’s style from the last couple of series of The Block, where contestants Dan and Dani used his work extensively.

Andrew O'Brien 1

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Win Urban Road canvases in next week’s 7 Vignettes. List published tomorrow!

Exciting news, folks! We have a fabulous prize for one lucky winner in next week’s 7 Vignettes Instagram challenge (starting on 1 June): two extra large canvases of your choice from Urban Road’s new collection, released this week. Which would you choose? I’d choose these two!

Urban Road Autumn [Read more...]

The Woods at the Four Seasons, Sydney

Hotel restaurants, however expensive the hotel and however great the food, can often be a little, well, MEH as ambience goes. The Woods, which opened last year at The Four Seasons in Sydney, is quite the exception. Oh, and the food is amazing too!

the woods 1

Restaurant interiors are important to me, perhaps not surprisingly! I love good food and don’t mind paying for it, but I always think if you’re treating yourself to a great meal, you should really get a great all-round experience, which includes atmosphere and service. The interior at The Woods is by Dreamtime, who have a fantastic reputation for hospitality fitouts (think Mr Wong, Flying Fish and Felix Brasserie, which all happen to be Sydney favourites of mine). It looks nothing like a hotel restaurant, despite being housed in the huge ground floor lobby. The word that kept coming to mind was cosy, despite its size. And we all like flattering lighting, right? Plenty of that. [Read more...]

Last night’s room reveal and where to buy what you saw on The Block

Sunday night room reveals are the best bit about the The Block. No challenges, just renovating, room reveals, judging and results. Hoorah! The long and drawn out scoring process aside, what’s not to like?

Last night’s was a great episode, with Matt and Kim’s Pollock-inspired bedroom described as both “a crime scene” and the most controversial room in the show’s history. Kudos to them for getting such a reaction! I thought their design was wholly inappropriate but admired their bravery and they definitely executed their ideas really well and with enthusiasm. Easy for me to say as an armchair critic…

Darren Palmer and Neale Whitaker loving the timber tiles in Johnno and Trixie's bedroom

Darren Palmer and Neale Whitaker loving the timber tiles in Johnno and Trixie’s bedroom

I think Bec and George were probably the right couple to win, although I loved parts of Trixie and Johnno’s room too, in particular their Bonnie and Neil wall tiles. I can’t believe none of the judges had seen them before; I’ve been loving them for months and wishing I wasn’t renting so I could use them somewhere! I like the twins but I wasn’t a fan of last night’s bedroom. Next week will be interesting with two bathrooms each to complete. I do love a good bathroom reno so looking forward to those! [Read more...]

First look: New canvas designs from Urban Road

I’m a big fan of Urban Road. I have a couple of their canvases in my home and they always get comments. They’re releasing a new collection tomorrow but I have a first look at the designs for you. These lovely smudgy ikats, called Sienna and Spectrum, are my favourites.

Urban Road Sienna

Spectrum

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Win Kirstie’s Vintage Home DVD and book sets. (Competition closes at midnight tonight!)