What’s not to love about rattan furniture?

Rattan furniture is having a serious revival, don’t you think? Everywhere I look, I’m seeing peacock chairs and bedheads, brought bang up to date with the latest paint colours. I also love old school, untreated rattan paired with wonderful contrasting textiles on cushions and linen.

Chippendale 3 fold screen

The patterns in pieces like this screen also work well with the trend for geometrics. If you have the patience and a creative streak, you can pick up some secondhand gems at op shops or on eBay and give them a new lease of life by painting them yourself.

deco armchair LB site

If, like me, you’re a bit useless like that, you can buy it in just about every colour under the sun. All of the furniture pictured is by Lincoln Brooks, used by many of the country’s top interior designers but also available to retail customers through stores like EcoChic and Naturally Cane. It’s lightweight, affordable, eco-friendly, made from natural materials and can work both indoor and out. Plus, it’s easily given a new look with new upholstery should you move house or change your colour scheme, for example. So versatile! [Read more...]

Sibella Court and Karen McCartney at Sydney Writers’ Festival

Interiors royalty Sibella Court and Karen McCartney are both speaking at a free event as part of Sydney Writers’ Festival next month.

I’m sure you already know, but Sibella is a renowned stylist and Karen is the founding editor of Inside Out magazine. Both have several books to their name.

The event, Bowerbird, is on 24 May from 10am to 11am at The Mint in Macquarie Street. Bookings not essential. More info here.

Interiors Addict mentioned in Abigail Ahern’s new book, along with many other Aussies!

(Okay, okay, I know I’m not as Aussie. Quite.)

So so SO excited! Was already excited when my preview copy of Abigail Ahern’s new book Decorating with Style arrived in the mail today. But then someone pointed out that my blog is mentioned in the directory at the back (alongside blogs like The Selby, The Design Files and Design*Sponge). I couldn’t believe it! I am such a HUGE fan of Abigail’s work I am truly honoured and flattered TO THE MAX! I will of course write a proper review of this gorgeous looking book once I’ve had the chance to get over my shock and give it a good read!

abigal ahern decorating with style

Excuse my star struck goofiness… Thank you so much Abigail!

abigail ahern

On closer inspection, there are a LOT of Aussies credited in the Little Black Book at the back of this book, which is fantastic, especially as Abigail is from the UK!

As well as Interiors Addict, Aussie blogs mentioned include The Design Files, Daily Imprint and Desire to Inspire. Then there’s Sibella Court’s books Nomad, Etcetera and The Stylist’s Guide to NYC and Shannon Fricke’s Sense of Style, Colour & Space. Under magazines you’ll find Vogue Living, Belle, Real Living and Inside Out. Also getting a mention in the directory are Murobond paints, Melbourne’s Comer & King, and Sydney stores Doug Up on Bourke, Ice et la, Koskela and The Society Inc.

Go Aussie! Abigail clearly has fantastic taste!

Cool Edie’s team up with Murobond on glam and fun paint range

The ladies at Cool Edie’s are the latest stylists to team up with Murobond on their own paint range, and very cool it is too.

Jane Frosh and Lucy Weight have come up with four colours: a matt black (of course), a gold, an almost-emerald green (how on-trend) and a peach.

“We wanted a set of colours that really represented the Australian interiors industry as it stands and our Cool Edie’s approach to styling. A matt black (Cool Edie’s Religion), because it directly reflects on Cool Edie’s, our religion if you will. Who doesn’t love a matt black? It neutralises all other colours and adds a tough, chic element to any interior.

“The gold, well, does that need explaining?! Gold is a sense of humour, a touch of glam, a pop of insanity, hence the name Confetti Bomb. Boom! It just reeks of fun and parties and frocks and laughter. [Read more...]

Why Abigail Ahern loves Australia and our obsession with interiors

The legendary British interior designer Abigail Ahern was blown away by the reception she received while in Australia recently, describing it as “the best thing I’ve done to date”.

Her masterclasses at Megan Morton’s The School were a sellout. “We sold 90% of the seats within the first few days of putting them on the site,” says Abigail. “I was so overwhelmed, flattered and delighted by the response. The Australian people are so warm and friendly. I was blown away by how many fans we have in Australia. I had an absolute blast and cannot wait to get back over to do more.”

We don’t have to wait long for our next Abigail fix either, as she has just been confirmed as a speaker at February’s Decoration + Design trade fair in Sydney.

Abigail says our climate makes Australian interiors different. “In Northern Europe we spend far longer inside than outside and our light is very different. Being soft we can dabble with dark sludgy hues much more easily (something which I am pretty obsessed with).

“Australian interiors tend to brighter and lighter and tend to hone in on one vibe, whether that’s traditional or contemporary or rustic and in Europe I think we tend to mix far more different periods and styles in more of a kaleidoscopic, ad hoc way. Obviously a lot of that has to do with geography and accessibility of stuff. [Read more...]

You’re invited! New Sibella Court book launch

Sibella Court’s new book, Bowerbird, is being launched at her shop The Society Inc, on Saturday 6 October from 3 to 6pm. Not just that, she’ll also be launching her new The Society Inc. soap and hardware ranges and a new palette of chalkboard paints.

Where: The Society Inc. 18 Stewart Street Paddington NSW 2021

When: Saturday 6 October 2012 3-6pm

The best of last week in interiors

Sorry I’m a day late readers, but I’ve been crook with a stomach bug. No fun! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. Here’s my roundup of last week in interiors.

  • Greg Natale went to LA and met the amazing Kelly Wearstler, who we are both huge fans of. Thanks Greg for sharing your photos with us here first.
  • I told you about Houzz, an American site a bit like Pinterest for interiors, which is starting to make an impact here in Australia. [Read more...]

Pre-order Sibella Court’s latest book, Bowerbird

Who doesn’t love a new Sibella Court book? Bowerbird is almost with us. Yay! The bestselling author of Etcetera, The Stylist’s Guide to NYC and Nomad, has always been a bowerbird. This was first noticed when, at the age of three, she put together collections of shells, sequins, beads and ribbons. Like her avian counterpart, she goes far and wide to add to her collections, enjoys arranging and rearranging the pieces and, ultimately, believes that collections, containing the memories they do, are a vital part of any home.

In Bowerbird, Sibella reveals her very personal and surprising approach to collecting and collections. She shows how to procure the elements of a collection, how to organise and store them, and how to display them in creative and ever-changing ways. With the help of Bowerbird, you will view your belongings in a whole new light. [Read more...]

Sibella Court’s Bowerbird book out in October

Sibella Court is such a machine. It only seems like yesterday I went to the launch of her last book, Nomad. The new one, Bowerbird, is due out in October. She’s going to be releasing some special postcards to accompany the book but she can’t decide on the final edit so she’s asking for your help. You can find mroe details and vote for your favourites here.

Learn colour with Sibella Court

Sibella Court’s latest workshop is all about colour. It’s taking place next Wednesday 26 June from 6.30 to 8.30pm at Sun Studios in Alexandria and costs $80.

Sibella says: “I believe that every person has their own colour palette. It can be found by looking carefully at the things you surround yourself with: your clothes, the invitations and ephemera you keep, patterns you buy, jewellery you wear, even your teacups and plates! If you put your favourite things together you notice the same colours are repeated again and again. From this you can discover the colours that make you happy, how they can sit together and be applied into your interiors.”

[Read more...]