• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Interiors Addict

Heart Your Home

@interiorsaddict on Instagram   @interiorsaddict on Facebook   @interiorsaddict on Pinterest  
Subscribe
  • Job Board
  • About
  • Before & Afters
  • RENO ADDICT
  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms
  • Kids Rooms
  • Bedrooms
  • Living Room
  • Shopping
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipes
  • Parenting
  • Travel
Interiors Addict
  • Job Board
  • About
    • Our Story

      Australia’s largest interior design, styling and renovation blog for the everyday Aussie. By former journalist and magazine editor Jen Bishop, the original interiors addict!
      READ MORE

      We’re big on Instagram!
      @interiorsaddict

      • About
      • Contact Interiors Addict
      • Work with Interiors Addict
      • Advertise / Find a job in Interiors
      • Press
    • Get Your Free Ebook

      This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • By Room
    • Browse by Room

      Where you can search for all our posts about a specific room. Only interested in kitchens and bathrooms? We got you!

      • Kitchens
      • Bathrooms
      • Kids Rooms
      • Bedrooms
      • Living Room
      • Home Office
      • Dining
      • Laundry
      • Outdoor & Exteriors
      • Renting
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • Before & Afters
    • Before & Afters

      Who doesn’t LOVE a good before & after? If you want to be inspired by the whole reno process, and not just the shiny photos at the end, this is the place for you!

      View Articles

      • Before & Afters
      • Jen’s reno
      • Real Renos
      • RENO ADDICT
    • DSC_0257Designing Wandarra: Breathing new life into a 1980s homestead
    • 20240206_185022-01Before & after: tiles steal the show in 90s kitchen revamp
  • Reno Addict
    • RENO ADDICT

      Looking for reno inspo? Find it all here, from other people’s projects to the latest trends, tools and products, whether you’re DIY-ing or employing trades.

      View articles

      • Reno Products
      • The Block
      • DIY
      • Reno Trends
      • Before & Afters
      • Real Renos
    • Northmead cube bathroomsDi Lorenzo Tiles open new showroom as family business thrives
    • AUS_TVC_DanishBlue_LadyGreyBT_2025_003_LRThink a beautiful kitchen has to cost a fortune? You’d be wrong!
  • Shopping
    • Shopping

      Want to know where to buy the latest furniture, homewares, rugs, art and more? We’re always sharing our latest finds and telling you where you can buy them.

      View Articles

      • Furniture
      • Homewares
      • Art
      • Smart Home
      • Appliances
      • Reno Products
    • kuddlava-table-lamp-pleated-white__1416409_pe975547_s5.jpgWhat’s new in furniture and homewares: June 2025
    • 20250516_DinosaurDesigns_SH_13_2035 2Vases the heroes in new Dinosaur Designs Bones collection
  • Inspiration
    • Inspiration

      While Jen’s a legitimate interiors addict, she’s no design professional, so she calls on an army of the country’s best to share their expertise with you. Be inspired by their stories too!

      View Articles

      • Decorating 101
      • Interviews
      • Expert Tips
      • Before & Afters
      • House Tours
      • Designers
      • Styling
      • Renovating
      • Real Renos
      • Covet my coffee table
    • r+r-coolangatta_rachaeltagg-0343A luxurious slice of Italy on the NSW South Coast
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle

      We’re mostly about the home but Jen also likes to share other things she thinks you’ll love, like food and travel.

      • Recipes
      • Travel
      • Parenting
    • Salted Choc PB PretzelFoodie Friday: Salted chocolate peanut butter pretzel cocktail
    • Muse marrakech Retreats Co Riad Botanica courtyardAussie in Morocco launches design retreat in Marrakech
  • Jobs
    • Advertise on our job board
    • Job Board FAQs for advertisers

Just another end of year musings blog post!

By Jen Bishop •

FacebookPinWhatsAppEmailTweet

I don’t think I’ve had such a big year since 2005. That was the year I made the very difficult decision to leave a long term relationship that just about everyone else imagined was perfect. It was probably the biggest leap out of my comfort zone ever so when later that year, aged 26, I decided to move from London to Sydney (where I knew two people and had never been before) and everyone said I was brave, I really couldn’t see it. Moving to Australia was easy. And exciting.

I was only supposed to stay for a year but, after about four months, I knew I was never going home for good. That was almost five years ago and this year has been a major biggy to beat even that!

At the beginning of the year I started the long and drawn out process of applying for permanent residency. Around April, when this blog turned one, I seriously started thinking about its future, spurred on by the encouragement of my fiancé, friends, colleagues and industry heavyweights. The prospect of turning Interiors Addict into an actual job seemed too exciting to really believe. Nevertheless, I started making plans to eventually go part time,  putting in place a succession plan at my magazine job.

In June, my now fiancé popped the question underneath the Harbour Bridge. I started planning our wedding. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. I know, I know, this is starting to sound like a bad novel.

This has also been a fantastic year for friendships and I’ve made two amazing new best friends in 2013 (they know who they are) without whom I wouldn’t have done half of this. We have shared each other’s highs and lows and almost always believed in each other more than we have ourselves. Every girl needs a cheer squad like ours and I never stop feeling lucky to have it. I’ve also met countless other fantastic and talented people in the interiors industry who not only give me great material to write about but inspire me no end as well.

So far so very good, right? A couple of months ago, unceremoniously and with very little warning, my job (all of it, not just the part of it I was intending to eventually give up) was pulled out from under my feet when my magazine was closed and I was retrenched. It was a lesson in never believing you’re too valued or indispensable or that loyalty wins you any prizes. Business is business and you soon find out who your friends are.

I’d been retrenched before and I remembered the horrible feeling of a lack of control. Yes, I wanted to be a full time blogger eventually, after easing myself into it, leaving my team at work in a good place and perhaps saving up a certain amount of emergency fund. But when I look at it now, two months on, being thrown uncomfortably out of my comfort  zone was the best thing that could have happened to me.

So now this is my job. Crazy. I’m a permanent resident of Australia and I’m even making enough money. And the wedding plans continue and the fiancé and great friendships are still there. 90% of the reaction to my blog is so incredibly supportive, positive and encouraging, it really does warm my heart. Yes, there have been a few bitchy incidents (it happens in blog land), but in these circumstances I believe you just have to hold your head up and know that, hand on heart, if you’re going through life doing your best to be a good and genuine human being then that’s about as good as it gets. We’re all human, we slip up, people misunderstand us, we misjudge people. It happens. Another lesson this year has been to grow a thicker skin. Taking everything to heart gets you nowhere.

So while this year hasn’t been easy, I have to say I am ending it on an absolute high, doing something I love so much it doesn’t feel like work, surrounded by friends I know I can count on, with readers whose kind comments and emails make it all worthwhile and so much more to learn, and a wedding to plan, in 2013. I have some serious hard work ahead to keep this blog as my job but I’ve never been so motivated and up for a challenge. Life is rarely straightforward but that’s what keeps it interesting!

I wish you all a fantastic 2013 full of challenges and successes and if I could leave you with one thought it is this: nothing worth doing is ever easy.

FacebookPinWhatsAppEmailTweet

December 31, 2012

Primary Sidebar

Popular This Week

  • Latest Kmart Home range, coming later this month

  • Australian bathroom standards: dimensions explained by an expert

  • What’s new in furniture and homewares: June 2025

  • Check out Australia’s first full scale 3D printed house

  • Kmart’s latest homewares have hit stores: the key pieces

Follow us on Instagram

Nestled among the rolling vineyards of the Shoalha Nestled among the rolling vineyards of the Shoalhaven area on the NSW South Coast, former Block contestants @rachelandryan Carr have transformed a tired rural property into a luxurious holiday retreat that feels like a slice of Italy. Surrounded by the natural beauty of gum trees and rural views, the property is designed to transport guests to the heart of Tuscany, blending the charm of the Australian landscape with the elegance and luxury of Italian design. 

See more on the blog now, via link in bio and stories.
Australia's first 3D printed house is complete! An Australia's first 3D printed house is complete! And this pair of duplexes look pretty stylish too! Ground floor is printed concrete and the top floor is made from lightweight modular panels.

Want to read all about it and see more pix? Comment '3d" and we'll send the article link straight to your DMs! Or find it on the homepage via link in bio.

#3dprinting #3dprinted #3dprintedhouse #3dprintedhome #3dprintedhomes #houseofthefuture #australianhomes #australianhousing
New @kmartaus home coming later this month and her New @kmartaus home coming later this month and here's a few of the standouts, with pricing and more info on the blog now, via link in bio.

Anything catch your eye?

#kmartaustralia #kmarthome #kmartaus #kmartstyling #affordablehomedecor
A custom look on a budget: we love how this rangeh A custom look on a budget: we love how this rangehood cover was fashioned from a piece of American oak benchtop!

This fresh coastal kitchen showcases some of @kaboodlekitchen's latest products to achieve a truly individual space, without paying a small fortune. V groove doors, premium wireware inserts and a concrete look benchtop make for a great combination that's at the same time on trend and timeless. 

See more on the blog now via link in bio and stories.

#flatpackkitchen #budgetkitchen #uniquekitchen #bluekitchencabinets #vgroove #kaboodle #kaboodlekitchen
Swipe for before An interior designer shares the Swipe for before 

An interior designer shares the clever ways they took this homestead from tired 80s to a welcoming country retreat for holidaymakers without spending a fortune or starting from scratch.

This fireplace became a beautiful focal point after a lick of paint, for example.

See more before and afters from @wandarra_homestead on the blog now via link in stories/bio.
How heavenly is AFL star @rhysstanley_'s home he s How heavenly is AFL star @rhysstanley_'s home he shares with wife @kirstenstanley_ and their young kids?!

When they first set eyes on an expansive acreage on Victoria's Surf Coast, they knew it was the perfect place to build their forever home and embrace working farm life. @studiohallihan helped them bring it all together perfectly!

Take the tour on the blog now, via link in bio and stories.

#modernfarmhousehomes #australianfarmhouse #workingfarm #surfcoastlife #foreverhomes #farmhousestylehome #geelongfootballclub #geelongcats
Brand new furniture in an 1877 house and IT WORKS! Brand new furniture in an 1877 house and IT WORKS!

@castleryau have named the talented stylist @stevecordony as their first Australian brand ambassador and he's curated a capsule of their furniture which he styled to perfection at his stunning country house @rosedale_farm 

I was lucky enough to see the pieces in situ last week and I honestly couldn't believe how well it all worked! They were going for accessible luxury and well, he delivered, and then some!

Head to the blog via link in bio to read more about the partnership.

#castlery #castleryau #stevecordony #rosedalefarm #affordablefurniture #australianstylist
If you pick your restaurants for the interior as m If you pick your restaurants for the interior as much as the food, you might want to add @pinosalmare  by @nicgrahamandassociates to your date night list! 😍

@smartstoneaustralia's stunning Calacatta Viola sintered stone surface features throughout, making a bold statement while being durable enough to be used in the busiest areas.

Inspired by Puglia, Pino's (named after the owner's father) in Cronulla has a real seaside vibe. The Smartstone was also chosen for the outdoor tables due to its UV stability.

#calacattaviola #smartstone #restaurantinteriors #restaurantinteriordesign #italianrestaurantsydney #engineeredstone #sinteredstone
SPA VIBES was the brief for this bathroom and @jas SPA VIBES was the brief for this bathroom and @jasminemcclellanddesign delivered. And then some!

"With a keen eye for design, they wanted their main bathroom to feel calm, spa-like and elevated with more storage, better layout, and soft, layered textures in a neutral palette. Lighting was another big focus, with the goal of creating a space that felt luxurious enough to unwind in, preferably with a glass of champagne in the bath.”

Is it a yay or a nay for you?

Head to the blog via link in bio/stories for all the suppliers as well as a look at the powder room with its bold wallpaper 😍

#spabathroom #zenbathroom #spavibes #bathroomremodels 

📸 @jonathantabensky
Follow on Instagram
Visit Jen's profile on Pinterest.

Get Your Free Ebook

Ebook cover

Never miss the latest renovating and interiors products, news and inspo again! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll send you the best bits from the blog, direct to your inbox. Plus you'll get our latest eBook: Just One Thing To Elevate Your Interior, featuring Australia's top design talent.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Jen Bishop

About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. She founded Interiors Addict in 2011. Jen also works as a copywriter and comms consultant to small business owners and brands, helping them with their own content as well as working out what will make them appealing to the media.

More Recent Posts

Foodie Friday: Salted chocolate peanut butter pretzel cocktail

Di Lorenzo Tiles open new showroom as family business thrives

A luxurious slice of Italy on the NSW South Coast

Check out Australia’s first full scale 3D printed house

What’s new in furniture and homewares: June 2025

Stately Melbourne home refreshed for its next 150 years

Foodie Friday: Easy roast chicken with an Australian touch

Wine king James Halliday lists his Yarra Valley estate for sale

Decor + Design 2025: the trade show countdown is on!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rebecca@MidCenturyModernRemodel says

    December 31, 2012 at 1:33 pm

    You had a great year indeed! I like your last thought. Comes at a good time.

    • interiorsaddictinteriorsaddict says

      January 1, 2013 at 4:40 pm

      Thanks Rebecca!

  2. Rachel says

    January 1, 2013 at 12:25 am

    Something in my eye…. Incredibly proud of you JB, even if you do sit at your table drinking tea all day…. 🙂 lots and lots of love xxxxx Happy 2013 to you and Mr F xx

    • interiorsaddictinteriorsaddict says

      January 1, 2013 at 4:40 pm

      Thank you my love! xx

  3. @SpartaJen says

    January 1, 2013 at 10:13 am

    It’s been exciting to watch your journey and growth over the year. I can’t wait to see what 2013 brings you.

    Best wishes,
    Jen

    • interiorsaddictinteriorsaddict says

      January 1, 2013 at 4:39 pm

      Thanks fellow Jen, all the best to you for this year too!

  4. Bree says

    January 1, 2013 at 1:05 pm

    Look forward to seeing where you take your blog and career Jen – You are an inspiration – Here’s to a great New Year! B x

    • interiorsaddictinteriorsaddict says

      January 1, 2013 at 4:40 pm

      Thanks Bree! Hope to meet you one day soon!

  5. David Wang says

    January 1, 2013 at 1:06 pm

    Hi Jen, that’s a great story. Love your attitude and how you’ve taken things in your stride instead of hiding and avoiding them. Wishing you all the best and great success in 2013!

    • interiorsaddictinteriorsaddict says

      January 1, 2013 at 4:39 pm

      Thanks David. you’ve been a great part of it!

  6. Amy Timbrell says

    January 1, 2013 at 2:22 pm

    Jen, I loved reading this post, I wish you all the success in the world. I agree Nothing Worth Doing is Easy. I also believe Anything is Possible – here’s one for you >> http://www.everythingbegins.com/letitia-buchan-anything-is-possible.html Amy x

    • interiorsaddictinteriorsaddict says

      January 1, 2013 at 4:39 pm

      Thanks Amy (and stop feeding my shopping addiction!). Here’s to a great year for you and your fam and EB too!

  7. Natasha says

    January 1, 2013 at 2:46 pm

    What a great year! I difinitely have found you a breath of fresh air in the design world…so passionate and genuine…! I look forward to seeing what you get up to in 2013 (and always love a good wedding story…:-D)

    • interiorsaddictinteriorsaddict says

      January 1, 2013 at 4:38 pm

      Thanks Natasha, that’s really nice of you to say!

  8. jody says

    January 1, 2013 at 8:28 pm

    Hi Jen
    Love what you are doing find all your posts inspiring…dream big!

  9. Cheryl from BusinessChic says

    January 2, 2013 at 7:42 am

    Hi Jen,
    Beautiful post, it reminds me of this quote I recently came across attributed to Jack London, “The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.” Sounds like you’ve been doing a pretty good job of that! Keep inspiring.

    • interiorsaddictinteriorsaddict says

      January 2, 2013 at 7:56 am

      That’s beautiful Cheryl, thanks for sharing! x

  10. Tessa says

    January 2, 2013 at 8:21 pm

    Jen,

    You deserve every bit of success you have gained. I love your drive, I share your passion and 2013 is the year I owe you a lunch date 🙂

    Happy New Year your gorgeous thing x

    • interiorsaddictinteriorsaddict says

      January 2, 2013 at 10:27 pm

      Thanks Tessa 🙂

Promo Area

Footer

Interiors Addict

Interiors Addict

  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Jen
  • Press
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy

Browse

  • RENO ADDICT
  • Jen’s Reno
  • House Tours
  • Real Renos
  • Interviews
  • Styling
  • Designers
  • Bedrooms
  • Covet My Coffee Table
  • Expert Tips
  • The Block
  • Art
  • Furniture
  • Recipes

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RENO ADDICT

Copyright © 2011–2025 Addicted Media Pty Ltd
Website care by ClickWP · Log in