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Layered interiors take time

May 24, 2012

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A lesson Iโ€™ve learned this year is that interiors take time. You canโ€™t buy an entire โ€˜lookโ€™ in one weekendโ€™s expensive shopping trip and expect it to work. Iโ€™ve made many mistakes by being impatient. Iโ€™m the worst when I move into a new place and last year I moved twice. In six months. This threw me completely. Iโ€™d just got everything perfect in one place when we had to move (letโ€™s not go into that storyโ€ฆ). Of course, nothing from the old place โ€˜workedโ€™ in the new place. And I was running out of cash. Cue major frustration. Do you ever have those days when you hate everything about your home and want to start again? Yeah, that was me. It was all wrong, wrong, wrong. A bit like looking at an overflowing wardrobe and screaming โ€œI have nothing to wear!โ€ But rather than sitting, in tears, surrounded by inside-out clothes, Iโ€™m sitting in a pile of cushions, throws and frames that I loved a few months ago and wondering where it all went wrong.

So what did I do? Rush out and buy more new stuff that would work in the new place of course! Will I never learn? In my impatience I bought a cheap coffee table that I hated within weeks. I bought at least three lots of co-ordinated cushions and throws in haste, not to mention two rugs and countless accessories. And you wonder why I try and sneak new homewares purchases past my boyfriend (โ€œOh this old thing? Weโ€™ve had it for ages, I just dragged it out of the back of the cupboard!โ€)

Anyway, to cut a very long story short, there was a time when I sat up and realised that I needed to calm the f**k down and stop buying stuff! I took a homewares chill pill. And in that time I realised the cowhide was meant to be under the dining table, not in front of the couch, I won a vintage marble-topped coffee table on eBay that Iโ€™m in love with (and only cost $85), found the perfect white quilt for our bedroom, re-styled the spare room/office with some of those accessories that no longer worked in the living room, and my stylist friend Emma came over and worked out my book case and wine rack needed swapping around. Genius!

At Darren Palmerโ€™s session at Coco Republic Design School he told us to have a consistent, considered and cohesive approach to interiors and to spend a long time planning before you even part with any cash. Similarly, stylist Jason Grant once told me your home is never really finished and should always be a work in progress. I tend to agree.

Itโ€™s all feeling a lot calmer chez Interiors Addict these days. And this week, when I read this blog post by Anna Spiro where she talks about layered interiors taking a long time, I found myself nodding in agreement! I still want a new dining table and chairs but it’s not a race. And I’m okay with waiting to see if the flamingo cushions I’ve ordered are going to be the right shade of pink before I make a definite decision! I can’t promise I’ll never rush into a bad purchase again but like all addicts, I have the best intentions!

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Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than F Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than French onion?

I think not!

Grab the recipe on the blog this morning via link in bio.
Get to know me! I haven't done one of these in YE Get to know me!

I haven't done one of these in YEARS so there's possibly thousands of you who don't know my back story. Here's a few things you may not know about me!

โœ”๏ธ I'm English ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ and I moved here (just for one year) back in 2008๐Ÿ˜† 

โœ”๏ธ I can't end the day without a bath, even if I get home really late or on a really hot day. It's a mental health thing and my happy place. ๐Ÿ› 

โœ”๏ธ Before becoming a blogger and running my own small business, I was a journalist from the age of 18. My favourite news gathering times were as a newspaper crime reporter (bit different to interiors!) ๐Ÿ““ 

โœ”๏ธ I once worked at New Scotland Yard in London ๐Ÿš” 

โœ”๏ธI had an interview at Oxford (didn't get in!) but chose not to go to uni at all after being offered a job on the local paper #universityoflife ๐Ÿ˜

โœ”๏ธ My mum died when I was 3, I have an excellent dad and one sister (younger) in the UK โค๏ธ ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง 

โœ”๏ธ At school, my favourite subject was French ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท and I was head girl ๐Ÿค“๐Ÿค“

โœ”๏ธ I'm addicted to โ˜•๏ธ , long hot baths and๐Ÿ’„ (been wearing it since I was about 14!)

โœ”๏ธ I'm not a phonecall person and will never ever pick up an unknown number. Ever. They can leave a message ๐Ÿ˜

โœ”๏ธ My favourite cuisine is Japanese ๐Ÿฃ ๐Ÿœ and Damian and I honeymooned in Tokyo and Venice 

โœ”๏ธ I have zero design qualifications. I just started blogging about my passion, which is trying to persuade everyone to #heartyourhome That was 11 years ago...

โœ”๏ธ My favourite tipple is a good GnT or๐Ÿท 

โœ”๏ธ Cheesy as it sounds, ๐Ÿ’โ€โ™€๏ธbeing a mum is my absolute biggest joy in life ๐Ÿง’๐Ÿ‘ฆ

โœ”๏ธ I will never give up my old school paper diary! Has to be A5 and week to view ๐Ÿ“– 

โœ”๏ธ My official surname isn't Bishop. I kept my maiden name for work after I got married but changed it for everything else. Often confuse myself!

โœ”๏ธ I didn't get my Ps until I was 37 and I'm still a terrible parker ๐Ÿ˜ฏ ๐Ÿ…ฟ๏ธ

Hope you feel like you know me a bit better ๐Ÿ˜˜

๐Ÿ“ธ @vanlowvanlow
Blue, green or lilac? ๐ŸŽจ @nood_co coloured con Blue, green or lilac? ๐ŸŽจ 

@nood_co coloured concrete basins is a great Aussie business success story. Although co founder Matt Di Costa first found fame as one half of Matt and Kim on The Block, he hasn't relied on this to build his brand.

โ€œWe are very honoured to have been a part ofย The Block, and all they have done for us. I am, however, a believer in letting the product take centre stage,โ€ he says.

Read our interview with Matt via link in bio now.

๐Ÿ™Share your favourite colour basin in the comments!

#colouredconcrete #noodco #colouredbasin #blockheads #the block #bathroomtrends2022

Pic 1 by @naibudesign_ and 2 by @twostyleinteriors
I'd love to see more colour in Aussie interiors! I'd love to see more colour in Aussie  interiors! ๐ŸŽจ 

At the end of the day though, it's a matter of personal taste. I love pops of colour but it's not for everyone. 

We couldn't resist featuring this Canadian house tour today. The amazing Kelly Green  hutch (swipe) was an upcycled $200 find ๐Ÿค—

Head over to the blog via link in bio to see the rest including one of the best playrooms we've seen in ages!

Project by @in.house.design
๐Ÿ“ธ @philcrozier
Create an unexpected city oasis with an emphasis o Create an unexpected city oasis with an emphasis on light and nature.

That was the brief for the conversion of a corner shop and a warehouse bakery into a luxury family home in Sydney's Newtown. And how about the library?!

Take the tour of this very special @annacarindesign project on the blog now, via link in bio.

Pic: @justinalexanderphoto
The things that excite me as a 40 year old ๐Ÿคญ N The things that excite me as a 40 year old ๐Ÿคญ

None of us enjoy laundry (OK, there are a few of you out there who do. Weird!) but we have to do it. And often. So if your laundry bin can be as good looking, functional and space saving as this, then why wouldn't you?!

I've lost track of how many baskets I've thrown out because they've gone soggy or mouldy. They look pretty, sure, but they're not fit for purpose and they're often messy and overflowing.

Here's what I love about his @brabantia_australia one:

โœ”๏ธ ventilation holes
โœ”๏ธ no need to remove the lid for small items plus it hides your dirty laundry from view
โœ”๏ธ easily removable and washable inner laundry bag that velcros back on 
โœ”๏ธ corrosion resistant so fine in bathroom or laundry 
โœ”๏ธ Brabantia make things as sustainably as possible
โœ”๏ธ compact, sleek, European design
โœ”๏ธ 10 year warranty
โœ”๏ธ tall and skinny so takes up less floor in my tiny laundry

The Rolls Royce of laundry bins? I think so ๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿป

TOLD you this was going to be exciting!

Now I need to know, do you have your laundry basket in the bathroom, the laundry, every bedroom? We used to have one in each bedroom but moved to the laundry-only situation which I much prefer (one for colours and one for whites). My boys know to put their used clothes in the bin in the laundry each night and they're 7 and 3!  #raisingfuturehusbands

#gifted
"Living rooms are important spaces where our publi "Living rooms are important spaces where our public and private lives intersect."

So says stylist @nataliewalton in her gorgeous new book Style, the Art of Creating a Beautiful Home.

"They are where we gather to welcome guests and entertain. But they are also where we decompress and relax at the end of the day. Increasingly, they are open-plan spaces and need to work within a greater scheme. Bringing all the elements together cohesively requires care and consideration. And, if you want a space that lives up to its true potential, make it personal and create with conviction."

Read an extract, the chapter on elevating your living room, on the blog today via link in bio.

Published by @thamesandhudsonau Pix by @chriswarnes 

#livingroomdesigns #nataliewalton #coffeetablebooks #designbooks #interiorsbooks #livingroominteriors #elevateyourspace
Kids and husband messing with my vignettes again๐Ÿคจ

PS. The coaster was RIGHT THERE ๐Ÿคช
#weatherforit ๐Ÿฅถ Need a new blanket? Look no fu #weatherforit ๐Ÿฅถ

Need a new blanket? Look no further than these gorgeous South African blankets from @baobabcollective, sustainably sourced, ethically crafted and imported by a Southern Highlands couple.

On the blog now via link in bio.
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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 8 years. She is married to Damian and mum to Sebastian and Charlie.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarJodie Carter says

    May 24, 2012 at 7:47 pm

    Hi Jen, I have been reading your blog for a while now. Tonight’s post was just perfect!! I’m an Interior Designer and this is just so true. I have so many clients that initally want to rush and have all the decisions made in 5 minutes and everything done and dusted in 1 or 2 weeks!! Well yes it is just impossible, and all you end up with is an uncohesive and rushed looking interior. Paitence is certainly a virtue, and as much as I want to see the finished result myself – yes that lovely, layed, considered look is only achievable over time. Is it because there are so many shows on the telly doing makeovers in 1 hour, or one day that makes people think this is possible. Not to say that it’s not, but oh my god!! in reality it is so far from the truth it’s not funny. Anyway, I will certainly continue reading your blog. I have my own one too and will post on ‘Paitence’ tonight!! What luck. Thanks Jen

  2. AvatarKeren Brown says

    May 25, 2012 at 5:18 am

    Couldn’t agree more – interiors are definitely ever evolving and develop over time. I really dislike that whole ‘package bought at the store’ look and ‘everything looks like it came from one store’. I believe interiors grow with you and change, you take some things with you through every change and some things get moved on or stored for later.

    Thanks for your insight, it’s good to know we all make mistakes and want to start again.

    Keren
    xx

  3. AvatarLeah says

    May 25, 2012 at 8:59 am

    So true Jen!
    Twice in 6 months, that sounds tough! I would have to be the most impatient person I know when it comes to just about everything! I have made countless bad purchases that end up in the homes of lucky friends and family over the years.
    But more recently I have worked hard to hone my skills at finding quality pieces that I will love forever over trying to get that new trend immediately. But my home is a constant work in progress and I think it always will be.
    Great post!

    • Avatarinteriorsaddict says

      May 25, 2012 at 9:03 am

      Glad it’s not just me, Leah ๐Ÿ˜‰ I think it just takes time to realise all this ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for your comment. Jen x

  4. AvatarKatherine says

    May 25, 2012 at 9:50 am

    This is something I have to remind myself every single day. We’re almost finished a massive renovation and all I want to do is race out and buy things and decorate and “complete” each room. But I know I need to be patient and let each room evolve naturally or else we’ll end up with a house that isn’t ‘us’. Thank goodness for Pinterest to distract me!

  5. AvatarMister B says

    May 25, 2012 at 2:24 pm

    Thanks for the great post. Isn’t it hard to be patient! The first year in our new apartment we sat Japanese style (which is much more glamorous than merely being on the floor) while we waited to find the perfect sofa! I would not compromise and would not buy a piece that was just “ok”. At the time I complained incessantly but am so glad about it now. Our beautiful couch was worth waiting and worth saving for. Absolutely agree that furnishing and decorating is a lifelong project.

    • AvatarLeah says

      May 25, 2012 at 3:40 pm

      I did the exact same thing in my most recent move late last year! We sat on a spare mattress in our living room to watch tv for over 2 months waiting for the perfect piece to be made. Its nice to hear from someone else who has done the same thing.
      x Leah

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