(image @emma_stergoulis_designs) The bathroom, along with the kitchen is generally one of the most expensive rooms in the house to renovate. Accordingly, it is common to play it safe and stick to fairly simple designs in a search for a timeless look that will maintain its "modern" look in years to come, thus avoiding the need to keep updating it to keep up with the trends. I completely get it, anyone who grew up in the seventies is still scarred by "Avocado", Orange and "Au

The bathroom, along with the kitchen is generally one of the most expensive rooms in the house to renovate. Accordingly, it is common to play it safe and stick to fairly simple designs in a search for a timeless look that will maintain a modern look in years to come, thus avoiding the need to keep updating it to keep up with the trends. I completely get it, anyone who grew up in the seventies is still scarred by "Avocado", Orange and "Aubergine" bathroom suites with all out

There are a couple of themes which are running through the world of interiors (and fashion come to think of it!) for 2013, one being the colour of emerald green which was crowned Pantone colour of the year for 2013.  Another being pastels with a modern geometric twist …oh …and a little bit of floral!!  We could be forgiven for thinking it has all gone back to the eighties…fortunately not!! One of the other trends for the year has to be the perfect compliment to these, being t

Being a Brit I was a little bit excited when I heard that Timothy Oulton was coming to launch his range of furniture and accessories in Sydney – it seems that the Aussies are secretly embracing that Union Jack flag… (although I suspect it is more the embrace of the old school charm)…. ….and even more excited last week when I received a very posh invite in the post to the launch!!!! Tim has been given the chance to show case his range as part of the designers collections at Co

Inspired by the fantastic Japanese cherry blossom (which admittedly is not quite in season yet!) I have put together a couple of images for some fun ways to add a little taste of the orient in your home, whether it be wallpaper, murals, furniture or something a little less permanent there is are a few ideas to cover all bases. Based in Surrey Hills here in Sydney, Rock’oco Australia are an interiors company who have incorporated the Japanese influence into a couple of their f

Born and raised in the Big Apple, Thomas Paul began his career in the fashion business in the mid 90’s working as an intern at DKNY. Paul then went on to specialise in neckwear and scarves whilst working as a colourist and designer for a silk mill, where he worked on collections for designers such as Oscar De la Renta, Bill Blass, Calvin Klein, and his original intern base DKNY. This evolved into the creation of Thomas Paul’s own neckwear collection in the late 90’s called “D

Louise Body – source aluncallenderblog.com Louise Body is an internationally acclaimed British designer whose collection includes wallpapers and fabrics. Louise’s wallpapers have been included in the Victoria and Albert Museum’s selective wallpaper archive and as part of collaborations with iconic british designers and brands such as Paul Smith, Dr Martens, Liberty, Ted Baker, Selfridges, Laura Ashley and Topshop who have all chosen Louise’s designs to adorn the walls or coll

The trend for Ikat is nothing new, both in terms of it’s origins, and in terms of it’s resurgence in the designs of current fashion and styles. It’s longevity and continual appearance in interior and fashion magazines is possibly due to the fact that, whilst it is distinctive in it’s style and bold patterns, it will sit alongside most styles and fashions quite comfortably.  Whether you are looking for a bohemian, tribal, or clean modern feel you can generally find something t

Anglo-Irish Luke Irwin has had a varied career, from the world of theatre, PR and antiques when a chance meeting at a lunch party in Dorset in the UK had Luke sat next to a 12 year old boy.  The boy engaged in conversation with Irwin regarding his father who owned three mills in Napal, and was regarded as a Tibetan master weaver. This chance meeting struck Irwin with the Eureka moment that we all dream of…. and well the rest is history.  Luke Irwin is now one of London’s lead

I am loving this collaboration between Netherlands-based company NLXL  and Merci of Paris, who have created a new range of wallpaper called “The Brooklyn Tin”. As the name suggests, the paper has been designed to mimic the look of vintage painted tiles found in factories and warehouses in North America at the turn of the century…. and indeed many of the Australian terrace properties of the same period. The paper comes in a range of looks from the rust through to the pastel pa

You may recall a post that I wrote a while back on a Dutch company called Little Owl Design and their “altered Perspectives”  collection which upcycled plates and discarded canvases…. Altered Perspectives – Fisherman Under the Palm Trees Well the creative forces of Bruce Wayland and Marcello De Simone have come up with a new product to add to their collection.  Inspired like many Dutch masters and creatives before them, the duo have used the Dutch sky as their inspiration to

Source Insideout Instagram I am loving the new range of Lantern Classic Cookbooks due to be released by Penguin later on this month…. perfect for those of you who love to cook modern food but have a vintage style!! They are available from 22 August from Penguin with many of the Australian master chef favourites such as Maggie Beer, Kylie Kwong, Stephanie Alexander and George Calombaris.. Even if you don’t cook… they would look great in the kitchen shelf,…. who knows they coul

Manoteca, based in Bologna, Italy, takes discarded materials and up cycles them to create unique pieces of  functional furniture, which in them selves are sure to set themselves as a talking piece.. The designer, Elisa Cavani, likes for her creations to keep the furniture and discarded finds as close to their original state as possible. Elisa has made tables, chairs, mirrors and light stands which all have a magical quirkiness that sets them apart from other things I have see

“If a man knew anything, he would sit in a corner and be modest; but he is such an ignorant peacock, that he goes bustling up and down, and hits on extraordinary discoveries.” Ralph Waldo Emerson  I remember as a child turning up to stay with my grandmother, carrying all of my toys in an oil cloth print bag from Liberty’s of London. My grandmother would not allow me to bring the bag into the house, not because it was dirty, but because of an old age british superstition that

In the midst of Sydney winter… yes it does get cold here… !!! I am now well and truly ready for summer to show its wide brimmed Dame Edna Everage sunglasses…. and what better way to bring a little summer into the home than these simple geometric bowls from Boston based Jill Rosenwald… just as fun as Jill’s introduction to herself…. “Born in NYC, Jill got her groovy crafty start at summer camp designing macrame wall hangings and leather bracelets. After getting caught by NYC u

Up there with choosing a pair of jeans for me is choosing a perfume, travelling through duty free I always think I am going to find the perfect scent but then just get completely bamboozled, and without fail end up squirting that one scent onto me which makes me stink like a tarts boudoir for the rest of my journey. Upon meandering through the must do shops in London I stumbled upon the new generation of perfumeries, which is up my street for a couple of reasons. Firstly I lo

"Evil Thoughts" - Source Sarah Ashley Longshore (copyright) I thought I would add a little colour and cheer for the day. Self taught New Orleans based Artist Sarah Ashley Longshore has a kooky style which is specific to her and, whilst simplistic, you cannot help but have a little smile on your face, with the humour that they hold…especially when you read the titles.  Her style and art work has won her a few admirers over the years, with an impressive collector list including

Ok so the beaches in the UK are not exactly like the fair Australian or Mediterranean shores, but skimming over that little point, they do have their own certain charm… whether it be the image of the 1950’s postcards with the rather rotund sunburnt caricatures with knotted hankies on top of their heads, or the romantic brisk walk on a cold morning walking the labrador hopping over the driftwood and picking up shells. Along with the seaside towns comes one of the national dish

Portobello Markets It seems that nostalgia, no matter what the weather, the era or economic climate, seems to keep coming back as a style or influence, and no lesser so than in the UK. Perhaps because when the hard times hit we love to transport ourselves back to the “good ol’ days”. My last stop in London was the Portobello Markets, despite having lived in the UK for 24 years, three of which were in London, I realised I had never actually gone (very ashamed). For a real nost

As a child / teenager I was always told to not touch the wallpaper and definitely not to attach any of my AHA or Duran Duran posters to the walls covered in wallpaper for fear of damage. Well this fear of parents from the 70’s and 80’s may no longer be a worry with the Magentic Wallpapers of London Based Design company of Sian Zeng. Established in 2010, products from Sian Zeng’s design company are known for their fairy tale style designs designs which have a magical charm. 20