Design Your Home

Painting the Church Hall - Interior

I am always fascinated by the zeitgeist of changing colour fashions.

A decade ago I can remember talking to a real estate agent about the colours people paint their houses. We were looking at a house that had been painted a very daring and dark battleship grey and he said "thats just a fad - it will be over by next year."

Well all shades of grey are still very much "in". In fact I am sitting here with four sample pots in varying shades of grey trying to work out which one will work for my church hall interior.

Why not paint it white, I can hear some of you saying. Well the walls are lined in very old cedar boards with plenty of imperfections so a darker colour will not highlight the nicks and wobbles as much. The vast pitched ceiling is painted a bright white (Dulux White On White) with big exposed wooden trusses.

The very deep skirting boards, which I am loving, and chunky architraves are also being painted a crisp white. As the room is so huge we decided that it could take some colour.

My inspiration is the joinery in Atlanta designer Jill Brinson's loft, above.

Cast Iron Beds, more

This is the Lillesand bed from Ikea - not a bad look.

Where to buy Cast Iron Beds?

I did a post on this look some months back and keep getting queries from readers about where they can get that traditional cast iron bed look.
I bought my single beds from Forty Winks (now Home Zone). They look great and I'll post a shot soon - they are currently at one of the beach cottages.
Freedom now do a reasonably priced version, as do Ikea.
I have included photos.

Purists will poo-poo theses knock-off versions but the original ones are usually odd sizes and need work. Believe me, I have a stunning iron bed in pieces in storage as I have to get a custom mattress made for it and fix it up a bit. It will probably remain in storage while my Forty Winks beds are solid, well made and look great!

This is the new Firenze bed from Freedom Furniture which comes in two colours.

If you have any renovating or decorating dilemmas, I'm happy to help out!

Brisbane: Is your house ready for a Magazine story?

A beautiful house we photographed last year in Brisbane's south by designer Anna Spiro.

Beach Vintage's Simone shared her story with us for the Aust. Womens Weekly.

Anna Spiro's own home which we did for Vogue Living. Below Ivy and Piper's Melanie Parker in her Brisbane home for Real Living Magazine.

A Brisbane house by Lily G we shot last year which made the front cover of H and G! Left, another Lily G house.

I'm heading up to Brisbane to photograph some gorgeous houses (with one of Australia's top photographers) for the glossies this week... and I have space for one more!

If you think your house, or a friend's, is worthy of a magazine story, send me some photos as quick as you can.
What we are looking for:
A house with style that has lots of decorating ideas with a high level of finish. It can be modern, traditional, funky or glam.
We also look for at least 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, a kitchen, living area, dining plus an outdoor area if appropriate.
It has to be in the Brisbane area.
Send your pics to me at:
catherine.robin@bigpond.com

Colours for Christmas

Corn husk wreath from Martha Stewart

Every year I look forward to creating a new decorating theme for Christmas. Last year I did a simple but chic grey, red and white scheme. My mother and I really get into this and whoever hosts Christmas lunch gets to choose a colour scheme for the big family gathering.

This year its my turn. I am having all my family to lunch in my not-quite-finished church hall so getting the kitchen cupboards and walls painted will probably come right down to the wire. Nothing like a deadline to get your renovation done...

Living in the country, as I do, there is not a lot of tasteful festive stuff available in stores so one is forced to fall back on ones own craft skills and what is available at local chain stores. This year it is looking like I will be going with a more bold and un-traditional colour scheme of hot pink and red, with a dash of gold.

This rag wreath is really easy to make and looks fun and festive. Start with a polystyrene form available from most craft shops and experiment with fabric strips.

What decorating ideas are you going with this festive season?

Hot Decor Item: Peacock chairs

Doesn't Bridget Bardot look cool sitting in this peacock chair?

Bridget Bardot's bohemian glamour, sixties-style.

About a year ago I found the most fabulous 60s peacock chair in my favourite second hand store. It is more like a flower than a peacock and looks right at home in one of my retro beach cottages (which are holiday rentals BTW). It was a little scruffy but it was transformed with a coat of coral pink/orange and just love the way it adds a touch of bohemian style to the room.

Melanie Parker at home in a Peacock chair from Black and Spiro

This month there is a new version featured on the cover of Home Beautiful, available through Equator Homewares. It reminded me that I have been planning to post about these for a while now.

A modern take from Equator Homewares, Sydney.

My own op-shop find is awaiting a new cushion.

Another cool example is in the former home of Ivy and Piper's Melanie Parker, who we did a story on for Real Living Magazine last year. Her fab yellow chair was an old one, revamped by Brisbane's Black and Spiro.

I have two more smaller peacock armchairs rescued from the "tip" pile in my mother's garage. They are destined for my new screened porch but need a coat of paint and new fabric on the cushions to modernise them.

House in a Water Tower

This post is for my husband who just LOVES re-invented industrial buildings.

By Dutch architects Zecc, this water tower in Soest, Netherlands, is a nine floor folly of phallic proportions!
Favourite design ideas:
1: Colours: the monochrome palette echos the industrial heritage.
2: The black stairs in the all-white stair walls
3: The glass insert on the lower floors that illuminates the stairwell.

Divine Inspiration: Church reworked as a house

I'm immersed in work and renovations of the church and found this place in my cyber travels...

This amazing design project by Zecc Architects in Utrecht, Netherlands, saw the complete remodeling of the interior of a church to become a contemporary home.

The "Before" shot of the church

This church is much more gothic than ours, and the renovation much more full-on, but I couldn't resist posting it. (Our church is much more "Shaker" - a simple wooden building.)

Favourite design ideas:
1: the over-the-top chandeliers in the bathroom and main living area. They add a bit of religious drama and sense of occasion to the spaces.

2: Colour: The contrast of the all-white main interiors with the charcoal bathroom.

3: Stairway to heaven: Love the floating stair leading up to the bedroom in the heavens above!

Restaurant Style - with a View

Its always great to see inspiration close to home in my little part of the South Coast.
Local Berry restrauteurs, Dave and Nicole Campbell have opened Wharf Rd in the old boatshed overlooking the Shoalhaven River and bridge. (Dave owns Hungry Deck in Berry and worked with Tetsuya in Sydney.
The interiors were done with the help of local designer Bec Riles, my former neighbour, who now owns Roots and Wings boutique in Berry.
The Campbells have refurbished the entire building, adding some seaside chic with the blonde wood and white nautical-inspired fit out.
I believe the food isn't bad, either!
If you live in Sydney, Canberra or the Highlands, why not book a weekend away in one of our beachfront houses - and enjoy a night out at Wharf Rd?
www.southcoastescapes.com.au

Beach House inspiration revisited

This house is not actually a beach house but a ranch in Texas by Ginger Barber (House Beautiful). Nevertheless, I really love its style- I think its a perfect fit for the beach, country or city for that matter. I posted some of these photos a while back and it has been one of my most popular posts.

I came across it again while looking for stone fireplaces as I have a pile of huge sandstone blocks ready to be cut. I also am planning some detail for a screened porch which is yet to be built, so this place really has it all for me!

Bedroom For A Tween

Renovations at my own house are starting to move along (again) and I am getting ready to do up my daughter's bedroom.

There is plenty of decorating material available for small children's bedrooms but once they get past about 7 years old they are growing out of "cute".

We are facing a challenge. She is not old enough for more a sophisticated look but doesn't want bunnies and teddies. or cutesey icons either. She does love flowers and gardens so I think we will go with that.

There is an exposed brick chimney which is right in the middle of the room which, instead of plastering, I think I'll get the carpenters to sheet up so I can make it into a wallpapered feature.
I am a huge fan of the way Designers Guild use colour and pattern so I thought I'd share my inspiration board with you.
I love the eclectic mix of old and modern furniture.
As far as colours go, I think I will be going for pink and orange, with accents of purple and green. Sounds a bit garish doesnt it?
Does anyone have any tips for decorating a tween bedroom?