Go behind the scenes at The Real Store

May 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Are you interested in your interiors being ethical and sustainable? Then go behind the scenes at The Real Store on 30 May and learn from its founder, social entrepreneur Virginia Bruce.

The Real Store, in Sydney’s Woolloomooloo,  is a showcase for social, ethical and sustainable design and living. Its vision is to create a global brand that demonstrates the ability to merge profit, philanthropy, design and sustainability into a business model that focuses on ‘paying it forward’.

Daphna Tal, sustainable interiors consultant from Australian Living, will be interviewing Virginia at the evening event, where there’ll be food, wine and networking opportunities. [Read more...]

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Green Interior Awards winners announced!

March 4, 2013 By 3 Comments

I’m excited to share the winners of the inaugural Your Future Home Green Interior Awards, highlighting professional and emerging interior designers, consultants and stylists who have completed a ‘green’ project.

Green home category winner Hare & Klein

Green home category winner Hare & Klein

An invitation for entries was issued in September and a panel of three judges (myself, Daphna Tal and Eminè Mehmet) recently had the difficult task of selecting the winners from a number of fabulous entries. And the winners are… [Read more...]

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Design a sustainable pop-up shop & win $3,000

February 24, 2013 By 1 Comment

The Big Shift Design Competition is an exciting new concept developed to encourage creativity and innovation in the design of functional interiors using sustainable materials and products. And you could win $3,000 cash!

In 2013 the competition will focus on sustainability in retail design and the emergence of the ‘Pop Up’ shop phenomenon. Using Xanita X-Board materials (lightweight boards made from upcycled, post-consumer cellulose fibre waste) professional designers are asked to apply their creativity to two categories:

  • The Lend Lease Pop Up Kiosk – using X-Board to create a design for multiple types of services and merchandise within a 4m long x 3m wide footprint. The design must be easily dismantled and reassembled, be easily adaptable and display brand effectively.

1st Prize $2000 – 2nd Prize $1000

  • Pop Up Shop – using X-Board to create a design for multiple types of services and merchandise within a 8m wide x 10m long footprint. The design must be easily dismantled and reassembled, be easily adaptable and display brand effectively.

1st Prize $3000 – 2nd Prize $1000

The 1st and 2nd prize-winning entries will be built by Oxford Communications Group Pty Ltd and displayed during designEx in Melbourne in May. There will also be an opportunity for winners to pitch their designs to Lend Lease for possible use in their 16 retail centres around Australia.

big shift design competition pop up

Enter online at www.thebigshiftdesigncomp.com. The competition closes on Tuesday 30 April 2013, with winners announced at an exclusive presentation on Thursday 30 May 2013 at designEx in Melbourne. [Read more...]

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Guest post: Pretty little sustainable things

September 5, 2012 By 3 Comments

If you’ve always thought that an environmentally sustainable interior would only suit an alternative lifestyle, you’re wrong. With a growing variety of beautiful interior products conducive to a better environment and to human health, sustainability is the next big chic! Here are some of my favourite and most recent ‘must have’ discoveries – enjoy!

At first glance, you’d think the pieces in the Samara range from Nicoya were made from wood – look again! These distinctively designed pieces are hand crafted from a unique combination of discarded materials, rattan and palm twigs, moulded and finished with a polished resin. This handmade collection equates to minimal energy waste and environmental impact as no machines are used in the craftsmanship, low allergy resin is used, and the pieces are made to Fair Trade principles. The philosophy behind the range is about providing well designed, unique, high quality, hand crafted furniture created from sustainable organic materials. LOVE IT! [Read more...]

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Garage sale at Sibella’s. You’d be crazy to miss it!

May 1, 2012 By 1 Comment

It’s the stuff of a wannabe stylist’s dreams! This Saturday 5 May, Sibella Court is one of hundreds of people holding a garage sale as part of the Garage Sale Trail initiative, of which she’s an ambassador. Just imagine the treasures you could pick up in the name of sustainability and recycling!

“As you can imagine, from a 20-year career as a stylist and globetrotter I have quite the collection of oddities and curiosities,” she says. “Each and every piece was painstakingly wrapped and shipped when I moved my studio and storage from New York to Sydney. The time has finally come to say farewell to many of my objets, props, fabric by-the-yard, plates, cutlery, clothing, shoes, doors, souvenirs and bits n’ bobs. We are clearing out the cupboards and attic, or rather making room for new collections.”

Sibella and her assistants Hannah and Leah will be running the sale outside her shop The Society Inc. in Sydney’s Paddington. “We’ll be on hand to tell you what’s what and explain how the blue striped turban made it from the cameleer’s head to The Society Inc. and other wonderful objet histories. Come and discover a 3D timeline of my travels and life and take a piece home with you!”

Now who can say no to that?!

9am to 5pm | The Society Inc. | 18 Stewart Street | Paddington | NSW 2021

Find out about garage sales all over Australia this Saturday at the Garage Sale Trail website.

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