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



I See The Sea

It feels like summer is finally on its way.  There's not a better feeling than a spell of warm, sunny weather after a long winter.  With the change of seasons comes the inspiration to mix things up in terms of interior decoration.  Greet the new season by bringing a burst of summer into your home.  I love the idea of taking inspiration from relaxed seaside villages and beach holidays.  You might live near the beach and want to extend that summery environment to your home, or you may want to recreate that beach feel in the midst of your urban living.

Nothing says beachy like cool ocean hues.  Bring the outdoors inside with an airy, light decorating theme.   Pale blues bring a breezy feel, while darker blues give way to a more subdued, grown-up vibe.  Think light, natural textiles, rough fibre rugs and preppy Cape Cod towels when recreating this look indoors.

I have great memories of painting flowers onto seashells with my grandma when I was a little girl.  My grandparents had a house in the Bay of Islands in New Zealand, where we spent many a weekend.  If you're lucky enough to be able to go for a stroll on a beach, collect some shells to take home with you.   You can frame them, put some in a jar, or even display extra pretty ones in a shadow box.  Fill a jar with sand and burn a pillar candle in it.  Get creative with nature's little treasures.

This summer, utilise any indoor/outdoor flow your home may have, turning porches, decks and patios into part of your living area.  Take inspiration from seaside villages and beachfront porches: rocking chairs, hanging pots overflowing with summer colour, jugs of iced tea and lazy afternoons in the hammock.

Extend the beachy summer vibe to your garden by taking inspiration from cottage-style gardens.  Look for flowers that once mature will be reasonably self-sufficient, giving your garden that overgrown wildflower look of summer. 

Hydrangeas.  Plant these away from direct sunlight to avoid burning the leaves.  The colours they flower in will differ according to the acidity of your soil.

African Daisies.  These exotic daisies go well in a pot or gardenbed.

Foxgloves.  Once mature, these flowers will self-seed and grow like a weed.

Forget-me-not.  The pod of these cute flowers will attach to your clothing if you brush by.  They like partial sun to shade.

Even if you don't live by the beach, you can celebrate the arrival of summer by embracing the feel of the beach, letting it shine through in different areas of your home.  There's nothing better than feeling like you're on a permanant seaside holiday!

Thanks for reading,

Joanna



Big Impressions

The humble bathroom. The smallest room in your home can often make the biggest impression.  It's where your guests will almost certainly visit, and is too often neglected in terms of interior decoration.  Who says you have to follow the masses and have a bland, presonality-free bathroom?  Make the best of what you have; seek out clever storage solutions and points of interest to make this space your own.

Storage is most people's main issue when it comes to the bathroom.  

For those with space at a premium, hang a storage solution from the back of the door, or from a wall, using an original or interesting hook.  This allows you to organise your bits and pieces without cluttering precious bench space.

Organise your cupboards by sorting your lotions and potions into small containers found at the supermarket or at the $2 Shop.  My husband asked me the other day for a bandaid.  'Yes,' I proudly replied, knowing exactly where to find them in the bathroom drawer.  I know I sound like Monica Gellar, but you will feel better with organised cupboards. 

Small trolleys are a great option for smaller bathrooms with not a lot of storage.  You can buy them relatively cheaply from Kmart, The Storage Box, Freedom or Ikea.  Use the trolley to shelve your folded towels and other toiletries.

Have some DIY fun and hunt down an old ladder.  Give it a bit of a scrub up and use it to hang your towels over, bringing an eclectic, shabby chic vibe to the room.

If it doesn't suit your style, why get the standard plain bathroom mirror that it seems everyone installs?  There's no reason why you can't have interesting, original mirrors in your bathroom. 

Don't be afraid to use colour when decorating your bathroom.  Muted and earthy tones will always look classic and be good for resale of the home, however, when used in an intelligent way, other colours can be really effective.  It's best to stick to white for your basin, toilet and bath, however thread any colour you choose through the walls, window dressings and linen.

We love using flowers and candles in the living areas of our homes, however sometimes the bathroom gets forgotten.  You may be like my mother and get fresh flowers every week, or you might prefer to go down the faux flower road. 

Candles bring a wonderful ambience and elegance to your home, and having a few in the bathroom is a great touch.  Fragrant candles keep your bathroom smelling great, and who doesn't like soaking in a candlelit bath?

 

In terms of linen, I can't go past Sheridan.  Their towels come in so many colours that you'll have no problems finding whatever shade you require.  As I said above, use your towels to thread colour through the room.  Fold any extra towels on a trolley or on shelves so that they are kept handy.

There's no reason why your bathroom can't follow the theme of your home, or say something about your own personal style.  Without going over the top, there are a lot of ways to allow this little room to make a big first impression.

Have a good week,

Joanna