The Roaring Twenties

The resurgance of 1920s Art Deco chic is undoubtedly due to Baz Luhrman's recreation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's hypnotising The Great Gatsby.  I'm not impartial to a bit of hair jewellery, and have welcomed the sequinned headband's revival with open arms.  However, I think it won't be long before the Roaring Twenties influence makes its way back into interior design as well as fashion.

Post World War One and pre-Depression era, the Twenties were a time of not only decadance, but a daring departure from the stuffy Victorian era, symbolic of a massive shift in social ideals.  This is a fun era to recreate in terms of interior design, as it gives not only a nostalgic Twenties feel to your home, but gives you space to be a little bit daring.  If you are into statement pieces for your home, you'll find some amazing Art Deco items. 

Aim for sleek lines, dark colours and glossy finishes, giving off feel of opulance and luxury.  Play with the contrast of light and dark colours, and think about how they compliment each other.  Observe Art Deco and see how straight lines merge with curved lines in perfect harmony.

Have a good day,

Joanna

Wanderlust

They say that travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.  I think of how I have changed in the past decade, and almost everything that has made me better, braver and brighter, has been travel.  I sat on the flight deck on approach into New York and flew right over the top of the two gaping holes in the Earth that were once the World Trade Center.  I had tea and scones at Fortnam and Mason in London and pretended I was a lady.  I stood with my feet on either side of where the Berlin Wall once was.  I came face to face with a lioness covered in blood from her last kill in Africa.  I went to a frat party at Hermosa Beach, got bored and left early.  I sang Kareoke and drunk cheap wine (meeting my husband while doing so) in Japan.

The world is a small place, and if we're lucky, it always leads us home.  But don't be afraid to bring the world home with you piece by piece.  Bring travel nostalga to your own little world - your home.  Create an inspirational travel themed play room for your children, incorporate exotic textiles with your usual style, or create a photo wall of travel memories. 

An antique suitcase may serve as an ottoman at the end of your bed, or an unusual map of a faraway city could bring a room to life.  The trick is to always keep exploring and evolving, bringing inspiration back to where your heart is...your home.

Happy travels,

Joanna

   

The Wow Factor

It's been awhile since I've posted here, however I'm back!  Renovations have commenced in our own home, and I've been thinking about interior design more than ever.  It seems as though everyone is getting on the renovation bandwagon, producing homes that all look the same.  Sleek lines and muted tones never go out of fashion, but sometimes they do become...blah.  As you know, I'm a fan of keeping it simple, but there's nothing wrong with going for a little bit of difference, creating that elusive 'wow factor.'

It's a brave person who completely wallpapers a room with bold wallpaper.  How about a wallpaper feature wall?  Forget heavy stripes or dark colours - my favourite is Martha Stewart-esque soft florals that compliment the current colour theme of the room.  The key here is restraint: less is more.  More is just more.

The right statement piece can bring a room to life.  Think of objects that are unexpected, and focus on adding pops of colour or points of interest.  It might be an ornate chandelier in a bathroom, a bright chair in a muted room, or even the way you use artifical light to highlight an archway or piece of art.  Think outside the box and get creative.

Using a little bit of creativity and care, you can set your home apart from the others with a little bit of wow factor.  Inspire through objects of interest and clever tricks.  Think of ways to bring your personality to the spaces where you live.  As always, combine functionality and beauty to create interior design that is truely intellgent.

Until next time,

Joanna