Instant Art in Fabric Framing...

If you're like me you have probably a few piles of favourite fabrics in a cupboard, box or sewing room somewhere. Ever thought about all that gorgeous fabric, or tablecloth, that might be - one of these two things...

a} much too nice to cut up [It feels so awful to cut up something so pretty even for a lovely cushion!] OR

b} just didn't know what to make out of it because you might not have had enough to keep going...so it continue to sit there?

Here's a thought - so why not think about framing it?  It's  a quick and inexpensive project that I love, it can bring instant colour, a custom look to your decor, and can be a great update to any room in your home! And depending on your fabric's look - can be for a living/ dining space,  a master bedroom, home-office or a child's room... the possibilities are endless!

Creating Simple Fabric Artwork

In its most simple form, you can just cut a piece of fabric to fit a frame, stretch and affix it to a cardboard backing, and place it in a mat and frame to create instant artwork. In order to choose the perfect spot to cut the fabric, use the clear glass from the frame itself as a guide. Slide the glass around the fabric until you find an area of the pattern that fits perfectly in the frame, then trace around the glass and make a marking on the fabric. Add a half inch [a couple of centimetres] to all edges to allow for affixing to a cardboard backing board, then cut out, mount and frame.

Alternatively you could also stretch the fabric over an inexpensive canvas - purchased from your local art&craft or variety store, and securing each side as you stretch the fabric over the canvas with a heavy duty staple gun. Make sure you check if your fabric has a directional print and you hang it accordingly - or it could be upside down!

This is something that you could try this weekend  for an instant wow!

Enjoy,

Miguel Flores-Vianna

images via canadian house and home, hub pages, elle decor via little green notebook, down & out chic - southern flourish, anne becker

Palatial's Mid-Week House Snoop...A Curious Snoop.

Ever wondered what's behind some of the walls of some of the buildings you might pass by each day on the way to work, or en route home... This is one of those homes!

 Located in Sydney's Inner West suburb of Balmain, a stone's throw from the Sydney harbour and city, the frontage doesn't instantly grab you - although I do love the sandstone foundation & the dark charcoal blue render with contrasting white timber window frames... almost an 'urban Hampton's coastal' inspired colour scheme!

Here, behind these walls, is an urban haven complete with  lush wall & raised garden beds, a generous size pool for a dip, surrounded by decking for entertaining and cleverly placed block of colour throughout the home to create visual depth and cohesive in tricky spaces.

Take a look I think you'll start looking at those unusual buildings you pass every day a little more closely now - just wondering what is behind them and who lives there?

Enjoy,

Agent's Blurb - Belle Property Annandale

Lifestyle - Behind the classic facade of this impressive corner residence lies a dramatic contemporary haven graced with the finest quality finishes and innovative touches. Designed with entertaining firmly in mind, this stunning, unique home is built around an expansive sandstone-paved courtyard garden oasis complete with a mosaic tiled saltwater solar/gas heated pool. Cleverly maximising space and light, it offers generous proportions and a wonderfully versatile floor plan which will accommodate large families with ease.

Accommodation - It contains four large bedrooms along with a fifth bedroom/studio and three chic mosaic tiled bathrooms, the main with a freestanding bath. Framed by bi-folding doors and warmed by a gas fire, the extensive formal living and dining space flows effortlessly to the outdoors. At the heart of the home you'll find a sleek, minimalist fully integrated Caesar Stone kitchen with twin fridges and ovens and a walk-in pantry. Adjoining casual dining space also opens to the courtyard while an additional family room provides the perfect space for the children.

Features - The property is blessed with a host of carefully selected features such as plantation shutters, timber floorboards, glass louvres, built-in wardrobes, abundant storage, air-conditioning, integrated heating and an over sized auto garage with storage space and level internal access. Wonderfully convenient, it presents a gorgeous sanctuary just moments to Darling Street's renowned attractions, parkland and transport. Property ID: 9P1126

images via domain.com.au & belle property

How to Decorate with Style & Colour...

Just this week I was asked about what would my hints & tips be for readers on when styling/decorating their home... here's what I believe and where possible implement with all my clients -

"....Often the most successful home interiors are the ones that combine [personal] style whilst still allowing you to feel instantly comfortable and welcoming to your guests. How is this achieved? By choosing personal objects that have special meaning as your pivot point - then layering the colour & décor style around it. The object might be from a holiday – an overseas trip, an exhibition, or a family heirloom - such as a special vase, or a bowl, a decorative textile piece, an artwork/ print, or a simple collection of shells from a beach walk. These are items that you can build your colour & decorating style around, taking into account any existing furniture & finishes that you’re keeping. By looking at the colours in the object you can then create a balanced colour palette of your own - complete with the main colour, accents & highlights [tints & shades].

By carefully editing what could realistically ‘work’ and what won’t - just means that you don’t have to use everything in your home all at once to create a cohesive look. Flick through your favourite interior magazines and really look at how that room has been styled - they haven't used everything, just a selection. If you have a number of items you want to use think about ‘theming’ them and ask yourself if they invoke a mood or theme such as ‘beach-coastal’ feeling, do they have a ‘contemporary modern’ feeling, do they have an ‘Asian’ influence. Building a style mood board of images from your favourite interior magazines with these colours, and looks can help in narrowing this theme down. When you have identified what theme it is check your room aspect – are you facing north, south east or west? Then look into the types of [paint] colours and the feelings you get from these colours. For example if you want a warm & cosy feeling steer away from cool blues, cool greys & cool greens. If you have more than 1 theme – then try to keep it aside for another decorating project, and carefully store away any items you won’t be using for another time.

By building your colour & décor style around something personally special, it ensure that the space will have more meaning to you and will also provide wonderful conversation for your visitors. Most importantly – you have to live in your home, so make sure any colour, surface design or finish is something you will love to live with even after the ‘trend’ has passed. Make it timelessly classic for you – to your tastes and your budget..."

Enjoy,

Here's a snippet of a great web , facebook & tweet forum I came across on the fabulous [Canadian] House & Home website, where they asked people to contribute their ideas on Spring Decorating... but these tips could really apply to the whole year round!

Organize Before You Decorate

1. Group Collectibles Together

Find an area for knickknacks to prevent clutter throughout your home, suggests Twitter follower Jordana (@WhiteCabana) from London, Ont. She lined up her Eiffel Tower models on a shelf.

2. Get Rid Of Things You Don’t Need

Stop hoarding items that you’ll never wear, or that don’t suit your decor style. As Michelle Cortizo (@cortizointerior) of Boston, NY, says, “I love to start by editing in my closets and then work my way out.” If this doesn’t sound appealing to you, Tidy Solutions (@Tidysolutions) of Newfoundland suggests “opening windows to allow fresh air to flow through and make cleaning fun.” Just think of it this way: cleaning and reorganizing will give you peace of mind, and a fresh, new look for spring,” adds Nathaniel Ross (@MATTERandORDER) from Chicago.

3. Arrange Books By Colour

[this is one of my all time favourites - it makes such a difference!]

Facebook fan Dajana Fabjanovich suggests using books as part of your spring decorating, especially displayed in similar colour groupings.

Change Fabrics

1. 
Use Neutral Linens

As Susan Abramson (@Susan_Abramson) of Toronto Designers says, “Add a bit of 100 per cent linen, all in neutral tones, to update any interior.” The lightweight fabric can be used on pillows, placemats and tablecloths.

2. Switch Out Shades

Make use of the longer daylight hours. The Savvy Bee (@TheSavvyBee) from Cleveland, Ohio replaces her dark bamboo shades with white linen ones to let in more light.

3. Dye Cloth Materials

“If I can dye it, I change the colour,” says Catherine Dianne Mini Jacques, one of our Facebook fans. She starts with white items and a box of RIT dye to update what she already has.

Add Splashes Of Colour

1. Revitalize Seating With Slipcovers

Facebook fan Renee Sylvestre-Williams says “you just have to go for it” when it comes to colour. She has a red slipcover on her couch, which really pops in her otherwise neutral home. Lee Lee Padovan agrees: “I have different slipcovers for my sofa which I change with my mood. I love homes with lots of white and small hits of colour."

2. Select Colourful Pillow Covers

One of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to update your home is to make or buy new pillow shams for your throw pillows in patterns and bright colours. Chanele C. (@designBLISSinc) in Toronto, Tiffany C. (@TiffanysToyBox) of New York, and Edyta Czajkowska (@EDYTAANDCO) all recommend this idea for its big impact. Facebook fan Justine Taylor also suggests changing your tablecloths, recovering lampshades and sewing new drapes.

3. Hang Artwork And Display Objects

CasaCullen (@CasaCullenMDF with wallpaper panels. There’s a great Editor’s DIY in the April 2011 issue on hand-painting and displaying dishes, too. Facebook fan Debbie Comartin also shared a great idea: change the matting on a framed print to an accent colour in the room or from the picture.

Facebook fans Catherine Dianne Mini Jacques and Charlene Vidal both switch-up accessories to change the way a room feels based on their mood and season.

4. Paint A Room Or Accent Wall

Weekender Design (@Weekenderdesign) says spring is the time to paint, as you can finally open your windows and add colour. Vanessa Gibbons Gammel agrees: “It’s very inexpensive and can completely transform a space. You can change it when you tire of it and add in accessories to complement it.”

5. Give Life To Old Furniture & Accessories
Adding large doses of colour doesn’t have to mean a big cost. Charlene Vidal and Justine Taylor, H&H Facebook fans, suggest purchasing second-hand items such as a side table, lamp base or wooden chair. “Small pieces can be easily sanded, primed and sprayed with your new colour crush,” says Justine. Charlene adds, “When you’re tired of them and want to create a new look, give it away or re-donate it.” (Try senior design editor Cameron MacNeil's step-by-step instructions for colour-blocking vintage furniture and Joel Bray's techniques for paint-dipping accessories.)

Kayla Gale, another Facebook fan, also likes to add colour through furniture: “An elegant, vintage-inspired deep purple bed frame will create more bedroom drama and character than a purple throw. It's not something that everyone would be brave enough to do, but that's what makes it surprising and unique to your home.”


Bring Plants & Florals Indoors

1. Use Real and Faux Blooms

As Dena Kareotes Arendt (@iNSIDE_iDEAS) from Chicago says, “Display real (or faux) blooming branches in a tall glass vase. Instant spring regardless of the weather outside!” Earlier this year, style editor Morgan Michener shared some great examples of how to incorporate real and faux flowers into your home.

2. Create A Herb Garden
Chanele C. of Toronto invests in new plants, especially herbs, as they are both pretty and practical, adding life to meals.

3. Place Floral Accents In Every Room

Many of our readers like to add fresh flowers throughout their house. Anne Kootenays of British Columbia (@ddreamsbyanne) buys potted bulbs that she later plants in her garden, while Dane Caldwell (@2hounds) buys “heavenly scented and colourful spring flowers, like tulips and hyacinths, along with flowering dogwood branches.”
Neil Gazmen (@ngazmen) adds: “To me, spring is about life and rebirth, so I try to add flowers or plants to every room to remind me that warmer days are ahead."
Fresh bouquets can get quite costly, but Colleen Crummy-Tatum has a budget-friendly solution: “I buy a cheap bouquet at the grocery store and split it up around the house. I use funky vases or little tiny port glasses lined up for flowers like mums — which makes the one bouquet fill my entire home. Lily Ninkovic Ellis uses her own boxwood clippings in vases almost year-round. “I love hitting local thrift stores for fresh finds, like vintage bottles and tins,” she adds. Paint glass jars, vases and containers in varying tones of the same colour, as seen in this online video, for a cohesive look.

 

 

images via canadian house & home, brabourne farm, elle decor, country living, tumblr

INdulging in Colour!

Recently I have been asked about 'colour' and what it means to me...

I would have to say that I love using colour in varying degrees, values, tints & shades. One of my greatest fears is to not being able to see and to see colour...sometimes you don't realise how fortunate you are.I think, sometimes on Mondays, you need a colourful punch into the week to set it on fire! I love these colourful images here - hopefully it will set the tone for a positive week ahead

Enjoy,

images via pretty stuff, katespadeny, notetosarah, pantone.

Happy Weekend x

Hope you have a wonderful weekend... we're off on a little road trip to visit some national galleries, great markets, and delicious restaurants! I promise to share all about it next time we meet...

Thank You for joining me this week at Palatial Living

Enjoy,

images tumblr east atlanta, ys voice

Modern Vintage Marriage...

Simply in love with this 'washed modern-vintage' palette with these inspiring delicious images... Truth - old & new marry quite well together when considered & 'good design' is thought of, and visual & surface texture are used & subtle hues are found.

What do you think?  

images via ys voice, pretty stuff, tumblr, dusty sequin, browneyedbellejulie

Mid Week House Snoop.... In the Mountains

Gothic revival meets Maine Coastline style in Sydney's Blue Mountains,
although still quintessentially Australian 

The Front Entry Way & wrap around verandah - Weroona’ is unquestionably
one of the Blue Mountain’s most significant estates,
originally established in 1905.

I could go past this stunning Mountains Estate - not a home an 'Estate'! It certainly ticked all the boxes on the Palatial Living Mid-Week House Snoop List! I think also now being in March - Ahhhh the 2nd March - and there seems to be a slight change of season here in Sydney with Autumn [my favourite season] upon us, that the 'idea' of cooler weather led me to thinking about Sydney's Blue Mountains, and this is also where my lovely Grandma lives too. I'm sure you'll agree how very 'Palatial' & sophisticated this 'home' really is, I particularly love the idea of the pool & pool house set amongst the sprawling gardens, oh and the open fireplaces with French doors onto a wrap-around verandah. Too lovely... Take a look.

Enjoy,

One of the main [parlour] living areas leads onto the kitchen
- with a marble mantle finish open fireplace & French doors
opening onto the verandah.

Recently renovated oversize Chef's kitchen - the original kitchen site for the boys
home built to cater for many who were living there at the time.
Now fashions a French Provincial / Hampton's style & colour scheme,
all kitted out for the modern entertainer & chef!

Breathtaking sweeping views of the level lawn scape to the pool house
& pool.  Capturing sweeping northerly Blue Mountains
views over Twenty-mile Hollow.

Stunning pool house and square aqua blue pool
with flush edging & capping

Classic formal gardens surrounded by the Blue Mountains bushland

The original gate house - could be separate guest quarters
or an over sized on site office/ studio.



Agent's Blurb.... Ken Jacobs Exclusive Affiliate Of Christie's Great Estate

Level 1, 31-33 Knox Street Double Bay NSW 2028

- Breathtaking Blue Mountains Estate -

For a comprehensive eBrochure, please email darren@kenjacobs.com.au

Privately nestled on 13.7 acres of picturesque land adjoining national park, ‘Weroona’ is unquestionably one of the Blue Mountain’s most significant estates, originally established in 1905. Set amid sprawling formal gardens, the luxuriously refurbished mansion presents a distinguished residence or country retreat offering vast accommodation. Subject to the necessary approval it could also be used as a bed and breakfast, guesthouse or similar, taking advantage of its size, stature and beautiful location.

The solid-brick character residence has been beautifully refurbished, complete with a host of gothic-inspired touches such as imported Italian roof shingles. Capturing sweeping northerly Blue Mountains views over Twenty-mile Hollow, it is currently configured to accommodate seven enormous bedrooms, an office and six bathrooms. Its abundant entertaining space includes a grand lounge room with a marble fireplace, formal dining and sitting rooms, a sophisticated stone kitchen with a commercial oven and a huge casual entertaining room with an integrated home theatre. The home is surrounded by terraces, including an entertaining deck complete with a swim spa pool with an electric cover and an integrated outdoor TV. Features include an impressive formal entry foyer, timber floorboards, ducted heating and a high tech surveillance system.

Retaining plenty of traditional charm, the original 1905 gatehouse presents the perfect guest cottage or caretaker’s quarters. The two-bedroom plus sunroom home features an ornate timber kitchen and an array of character features such as leadlighting, sandstone foundations and fireplaces. Nearby, the property’s original stables have been updated to provide workshop and storage space. Adjoining the main residence is a triple garage, accessed via a circular driveway behind security gates with an intercom.

The residence is surrounded by romantic meandering gardens with expanses of level lawn punctuated by water features and enclaves of towering established trees. A sun-soaked pool features a poolside cabana built in classic style, while a former cricket pitch provides ample room to add a tennis court if desired. A unique man-made cave sits among a thicket and an ornate gazebo provides a focal point among manicured hedge gardens. Beyond the landscaped areas lies private bushland, with pathways cleared to such picturesque spots as Pulpit and Gipsy Rocks and The Falls.

Originally built as a boys’ home, the residence offers a number of versatile business opportunities, subject to the requisite council approval. The sheer scale of the home lends it to a host of income-earning options. It can currently operate as a bed and breakfast and could be configured to contain up to 10 bedrooms. It would also be ideal as a guesthouse, a grand function centre, reception/wedding venue or even a prestige retirement facility.
The historic township of Woodford.

Property ID: 2008809672

images via domain.com.au

Note Taking...

NOTE (n.) A reminder; a brief record of facts, topics, or thoughts, written down as an aid to memory; a scribble that is susceptible to strikeouts

Today I am madly writing & typing copious amounts of notes!

I feel like I am back at uni trying to capture every little detail from notebook messages, scrawled quick wirting and a few print outs! Some of these notes are forming some special lesson plans for some of the design classes I will be taking later in the year. And other notes are forming processes that I need to remember - like this one to you today - to have a wonderful Tuesday!

Enjoy,

images from tumblr agabout via pretty stuff