Belle April/May 2013

Belle April May 2013

At the risk of being hammered by interior aficionados, I have to admit this is the first time I have read Belle magazine. Gasp. But put down your pitchforks, because I’ve been converted. If their deliciously decadent front cover didn’t do it (which, let’s admit, it did), then the quality editorial inside would have tipped me over. Why, I hear you ask, is this the first time I’ve read Belle? It was the Vogue effect; I don’t buy Vogue because it’s too inaccessible (concepts and price tags). And I mistakenly believed I would feel the same way about Belle… I’ve never been so happy to be proved wrong! [Read more...]

Belle the big winner in magazine readership figures

Belle’s readership jumped almost 22% last year according to the latest Roy Morgan readership results for the 12 months ending December 2012. It was far and away the best performer in the homes category, with a readership of 134,000. Congratulations to Neale Whitaker, Tanya Buchanan, Steve Cordony and the team.

belle

Other magazines with increased readership included:

  • Home Beautiful: 19.9%
  • Real Living: 13.6%
  • Country Style: 12.5%
  • House & Garden: 5.8%
  • Luxury Home Design: 5.1% [Read more...]

7 Vignettes February winner Gabrielle Walsh

Another month and thousands more gorgeous images in my 7 Vignettes Instagram challenge! This week, Belle’s Steve Cordony, the guest judge, picked Gabrielle Walsh as the winner. Here’s why…

7 Vignettes winner Gabrielle Walsh [Read more...]

7 Vignettes is back! With Belle’s Steve Cordony

Rumour has it some of you are practising and prepping already! Such is the excitement for the second round of 7 Vignettes starting on Saturday on Instagram. I’m delighted to welcome Steve Cordony, Belle’s interior design editor and stylist extraordinaire as our new judge, and to thank Down That Little Lane for providing a $100 voucher for the winner. But you know it’s mostly just for fun. Any prize is just an added bonus!

Steve Cordony

Steve Cordony

Still not quite sure what a vignette is? Steve explains: “I like to think of a vignette as a small cluster of objects or things that have meaning or resonate an emotion or memory. Items collected from travels, objects found in the most obscure places or that one amazing piece you have been coveting for months.

“I style vignettes constantly to give inspiration for a trend or project I am working on, and I am constantly changing vignettes around in my home. Usually atop a stack of my favourite books on a shelf or my bedside or coffee table, then adding layers of objects and collectables to create a three dimensional mood board.” [Read more...]

Top interiors predictions for 2013

I asked some of Australia’s best interior designers and stylists for their opinion of what 2013 will bring in terms of interiors trends. Here’s what they had to say.

Steve Cordony, interior design editor, Belle magazine, and stylist: “This coming year I think we will see lots of natural materials such as marble, timber, brass, copper and cut glass which evoke a sense of calm and grounding. Using different shades and tones of trending colours such as blue, green and orange will inject warmth into our spaces. Quirky pieces (think spiky sculptures and animal shaped ceramics) and one-off finds will add a sense of interest and adventure into our interiors.”

Stylist and author Megan Morton: “People are now understanding the value and inherent beauty of interiors that are created with hand and heart. This explains the rise and rise of the craft and handmade movement. I predict we will see an even richer combination of made and bought, providing even more delicious spaces.”

Interior designer Greg Natale: “I see Memphis Milano becoming an influence on design again. Memphis was a design movement and furniture company started by Ettore Sottsass in the 80s. It was a reaction against Modernism and I think personally, they were trying to create warm interiors again by injecting humour and colour. What I like about Memphis is the asymmetrical shapes, black and white stripes, strong colour and wit.” [Read more...]

And the winner of 7 Vignettes is…

Shelley Ross! (or should we say @shelleyrossxoxo?) CONGRATULATIONS!

Here’s my favourite of her vignettes…

Our judge, stylist Kara Rosenlund, said: “It was such a great week on Instagram; everyone’s commitment and thrill to be be part of such a challenge was really inspiring. It was such a privilege to see into everyone’s homes and lives and read their special and sentimental stories about pieces from their homes and their loved ones.

“Thank you so much to everyone who participated. It brought such an overwhelming sense of community and friendship into the instagram world, I didn’t want it to end.”

There wasn’t even meant to be a prize but we were so impressed we decided to award one! Kara has put together a box of lovely styling treasures for Shelley and I’ll be sending her an Interiors Addict candle.

I must say I was overwhelmed by the success of 7 Vignettes. I’ve run, and taken part in, Instagram photo challenges before, but this one was extra special. There was so much sharing and community. Everyone really encouraged each other and everyone had a go. Some people didn’t even know what a vignette was when we started. Some found out about it on the last day and still managed all 7 vignettes in 24 hours! Amazing! Between us we shared more than 2,000 images! So much enthusiasm, talent and just a lot of great feeling! I had warm fuzzies all week, especially when I kept getting gorgeous little messages like these!

I was so sad it had to end (although I was worrying about the RSI in my right hand from constant scrolling and liking!) I’ve decided to make this a monthly challenge with a new set of words and a new guest judge each time. The next will start on 2 February with the lovely Steve Cordony from Belle magazine. Look out for the new list of words on Instagram. Just keep looking under the #7vignettes hashtag or like Interiors Addict on Facebook so you’ll be sure not to miss it.

[Read more...]

The 1000th post giveaway with a $2000 prize pack for one lucky interiors addict!

Can you believe I’ve posted 1000 times (well, a few more than now, actually!)? I would say I can’t, but it’s not all that surprising to me! Nonetheless, I thought what a great excuse for the best giveaway I’ve ever done, and one that’s full of amazing prizes I know interiors addict readers will love! One lucky reader will win EVERYTHING and all you have to do is answer one question. The best answer will be judged by Belle magazine’s interior design editor Steve Cordony and interior designer Darren Palmer. So here’s what’s up for grabs, in no particular order (it keeps going and going)…

An A0-size limited edition signed print of Andrew O’Brien’s Pink, Turquoise on Ultramarine Ground, as seen on the cover of a recent Real Living magazine

 A timber outdoor setting from Freedom

A multi-coloured ikat canvas from Urban Road

A $100 voucher from Xavier & Me, which you might spend on their new cushions [Read more...]

Learn event styling from Belle’s Steve Cordony

Not only is Steve Cordony a top magazine stylist and interior design editor for Belle, he also styles some of Sydney’s hottest parties and launches. Check out this feast for the eyes…

I first met Steve at an event he styled for Georg Jensen at Corporate Culture and it was breathtaking. He really is one of Australia’s finest. The good news is, you can learn from the man himself at his Coco Republic Design School sessions next Tuesday and Friday. There are still a few seats left ($95). As well as sharing some event styling secrets, he’ll also talk about interiors trends and a glimpse behind the scenes of working for Belle. [Read more...]

Folded Corners: this month’s Real Living

Welcome to a new feature on Interiors Addict called Folded Corners. What is she on about now, you ask? Well, every time I buy a new magazine, I end up folding over the corners of each page I find something I want to buy. It’s an expensive business. Clearly I don’t buy all of them or I’d never have any money, but it’s a fun passtime.

So I thought why not share my favourites with you each time a new issue hits my mailbox? Today I am starting with Real Living September 2012. That’s this one:

Subscribers already have theirs but I don’t think it’s on shelves until Monday. It has a fab neon cover and a $100,ooo giveaway with some awesome prizes up for grabs. There’s also a fab feature where you can see inside the homes of some of the country’s top stylists, including belle’s interior design editor Steve Cordony. I should also mention my interior designer friend Darren Palmer has his first project in Real Living this month (page 136), and it’s a very nice one indeed!

Here’s what I’m coveting from the current issue and where you can find it online…

Page 56: Origami crease vase from Have You Met Miss Jones

… and Copa lamp from Domayne (that was a good page!)

Page 59: Faceture Tall Vase in pink from The Minimalist (whose products are scattered throughout the entire magazine!)

Page 62: Apple tree scientific botanical wall print from Vintage & Nostalgia Co. 

Page 133: Alexandra von Furstenburg “Fearless” acrylic tray from Peters of Kensington

What did you like in this issue? Will you be getting your wallet out come pay day?

Becker Minty celebrates five years of bringing us unique and beautiful homewares and fashion

Becker Minty is a not a shop, it’s a lifestyle concept, and one very much wrapped up in the personal taste of its owner. The Potts Point institution turns five this month and at a time when eCommerce is robbing many independent shops of their livelihoods, Becker Minty is bucking the trend by constantly offering something new, getting the un-gettable and providing much more than just a shopping destination.

We wanted to create a place that was more of a retail and design experience,” says founder Jason Minty. “When people walk through the front door I want them to completely leave the outside world behind and immerse themselves into our world. We are a destination store that provides an entire experience. There are products to tantalise every sense and customers are seduced by the beauty around them.”

[Read more...]