Vintage poster colour pop

I love the look of vintage advertising posters! They’re a great way to add a pop of colour or pattern to your walls and make a statement in their size. The posters can date anywhere from the late 19th century, when new printing techniques allowed for mass production of the coloured posters, through to the 1980s. Their original use was as a street poster, like the paste-up advertisements we have today, however they were often designed by known artists (ie Toulouse-Lautrec) which lends towards a more “high-art” status.

Due to the fact that they’re essentially a mini-billboard, the designs are often very graphic in composition; simple designs with areas of bright, eye-catching colour. With so many subjects being depicted in a range of styles, it’s easy to find one to suit any room of the house: food or drinks in the kitchen, or fashion in the bedroom etc… Or go for an unexpected subject placement, which can add a bit of quirkiness to any room.

Today there are lots of replicas available at a variety of different price points, however if you can get your hands on an original you know you’re onto a good thing; they can become a great investment due to rarity and collectability. As well as specialist stores, there are several sellers offering originals on eBay… The biggest problem is choosing which one to buy!

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Doggy style

Apologies for my absence, things have been busy and a lack of home internet has not helped my blogging at all…

One of the biggest changes to my life is that we got a puppy! Meet Maybe, she’s a labrador-retriever cross (although we do suspect there’s a bit of something else mixed in there as she is quite small for her breed and age).These pics were from when we first brought her home around three months ago, so she’s at least four times bigger now.

Adapting to life with a dog got me thinking about keeping your home, and pet, looking sharp. There are an abundance of designer collars and leads available these days, but nice dog beds are surprisingly hard to come by. I’ve rounded up a few of my favourites below. (I can’t wait to upgrade the ugly fleece bed we bought out of necessity!) Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Hot seat

I love the look of red chairs or bar stools in a kitchen area, they’re a great way to add a burst of colour and warmth to a room which is often decorated in more neutral tones. Dining chairs or stools aren’t large or ostentatious pieces of furniture, and so a pop of crimson is not going to overpower the space.

The colour red is also an appetite stimulant, so it’s fitting that it be used in an area where people are likely to have headed to find food (rather than in a bedroom or living area where you have perhaps gone to avoid the fridge!).

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

Quirky vases

I’m totally smitten with this headless dog vase, ever since spotting it in fashion illustrator Megan Hess’ home, which was featured in the June issue of InStyle magazine. I felt like it was meant to be when I saw the exact same one in a shop that same week!

It got me thinking about vessels which even when empty can stand alone as a decorative piece, rather than being hidden away in a cupboard. The contrast of a quirky, weird vase with the organic beauty of flowers makes you stop and look twice – the vase commands just as much attention as the bouquet it displays!

1. This trio of guns is a great way to bring a hippie-style peace message into your home.

2. My favourite! This puppy looks like a surrealist sculpture when filled with florals.

3. A cat’s head vase by Kiki Smith would be a great shelf partner to the headless dog.

4. Mounted on the wall, this horse head vase designed by Jaime Hayon for Bosa looks like a mounted taxidermy piece, add some flowers and it sprouts a unicorn horn.

5. Harry Allen’s hand vase/candlestick is reminiscent of The Labyrinth.

6. Create a floral hairstyle with this wig vase by Tania da Cruz, or leave it bald for a mannequin-esq decorative piece.

7. An alternative to a love-heart, the Flower Pump by Veneridesign lends new meaning to the term ‘blood vessel’.

8. Go bananas over this Jonathan Adler Banana Bud vase for a tasty way to display some stems.

Timber accents in the home

The addition of timber accents to a room is definitely back in vogue. However, unlike in the 70s and 80s this time around it is being used in a modern, softened-industrial style, especially when used in contrast with materials such as metal, glass, concrete or stone, combined with neutral blacks, whites, and dark greys.

A staple in Scandinavian interiors, the beauty of natural wood is a great way to add an element of warmth to rooms which are traditionally more functional, ie kitchens, bathrooms, and laundries. That being said, it works just as well in living areas or bedrooms of a modern home via shelving or architectural elements.

Whether you’re looking to make an impact with a feature wall or ceiling, or to just add a hint with a benchtop, cupboard door, or shelving unit, timber is a fantastic way to create a completely unique feature. By making sure that you use FSC Certified or reclaimed/recycled wood you will also be doing your part for sustainability, ensuring your home is more eco-chic than ever!

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Renovation Inspiration: Ensuite bathroom

I don’t think I’ve mentioned this here, but we are currently in the middle of renovating our single-fronted Edwardian weatherboard house. The past couple of months have involved a lot of demolition and rebuilding, but the walls are nearly completely up now and it’s finally starting to look like somewhere you could live again!

We have been looking at colours and tiles for our new ensuite, and so I wanted to share some of the images which I’m using as my inspiration. I love the drama of dark walls contrasting with the white enamel of the bathroom fittings. Dark grey or black walls create a calm space, and when paired with glossy white and chrome fixtures, thick white towels, and a carrara marble topped vanity I am hoping that the room will exude hotel-quality luxury.

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Malachite Accents

With Emerald Green named as Pantone’s 2013 colour of the year, it’s no surprise that there has been a sudden surge in the incorporation of malachite pattern across the design sphere.

The copper-ore mineral has been used in decoration for over 10,500 years, originally in the Middle-East and Egypt. Across many cultures it had a strong female-association, and also believed to hold many protective powers. It was also very popular amongst the Russian tsars during the nineteenth century, when it became synonymous with wealth and opulence – an association which has carried over to today’s 21st century interpretation.

Whether it’s the real-deal or a faux painted or screen-printed version, accents of malachite are a great way to interpret the emerald green trend in your home. I personally love the idea of a stone being printed on soft furnishings, such as cushions or upholstered furniture. The swirls of green induce a sense of tranquility, great to incorporate into a living area or study. Amp up the luxe factor by combining it with glints of golden brass, hints of velvet, reflective surfaces such as marble or glass, and classic furniture designs.

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Try a DIY with the Aestate’s faux-malachite tutorial here, or add some of the following pieces to your room:

1 – Emerald green malachite pillow via Etsy 2 – Malachite rubbish bin 3 – P. Fornasetti porcelain tray via 1stdibs 4 – Malachite and brass side table 5 – Five piece malachite desk set via 1stdibs 6 – Faux malachite chest 7 – Tony Duquette chair 8 – Tony Duquette malachite cushions 9 – Malachite coasters via Zazzle 10 – Tony Duquette rug 11 – Malachite fabric via Spoonflower

Pineapple Punch

Pineapples seemed to be appearing in decor everywhere I looked, but did you know that they have been seen as a symbol of hospitality in America since the colonial times? Apparently back then, giving someone a pineapple as a gift showed them your intention to promote your friendship. These days people may think you’re a bit strange if you gifted them a piece of fruit, but with the motif making its way into so many decorative pieces it’s easy to keep this tradition alive, albeit with a modern twist.

With its unique, spiky shape and texture just begging to be explored in different forms, it’s easy to see why pineapples look great in home decor. While you need to balance out the look with other less exotic pieces (or risk your room looking like a Hawaiian luau!) they are a fun way to bring a bit of tropical, summery vibe to your home – try adding a lamp, a print, or just an ornamental version.

Ceramic pineapple from Alfresco Emporium.

This print is part of the Welcome to the Tropics collection from Wallstudio.

Pineapple wallpaper at Garden Court restaurant, Sofitel, Sydney.

Graham and Green’s beautiful silver table lamp.

A brighter version of a pineapple lamp via Pinterest.

A monochromatic pineapple print via Tumblr.

Below are a roundup of pieces which would be perfect to achieve this look:

1 – Zazzle Retro Pineapple print 2 – 1stdibs Brass Pineapple 3 – Emporium Botanica lamp 4 – Oliver Bonas forks 5 – Pineapple ice mould 6 – Zazzle Pineapple Hawaiian clock 7 – Kristy Lee Interiors pineapple print cushion 8 – Lazy Susan white porcelain pineapple 9 – Frederick Cooper Bermuda wall sconce 10 – Vintage Godinger silver bowl 11 – Wallstudio print 12 – SunnyLIFE candle 13 – Restoration Hardware curtain tiebacks 14 – Silver glass pineapple jar 15 – 1stdibs Vintage Italian Tole Pineapple shelf 16 – Megan fabric from Rubie Green 17 – Arty Pineapples fabric from demigoutte

Graffiti as decoration

Melbourne is well known for the street art which adorns the city’s laneways. That it’s constantly changing and evolving means it’s always worth exploring the walkways and alleys throughout the CBD and surrounding suburbs.

In most of the city, street art is celebrated as an expression of urban life. With graffiti no longer carrying the same stigmatisation which it used to, artists are being celebrated for their talents – exemplified internationally by the likes of Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Shepard Fairey and Banksy – all of whom have crossed over to the world of high-art.

I was impressed when I opened the most recent issue of Houses magazine to see this Fitzroy house (below), which has graffiti incorporated throughout the internal and external design – a reflection of its inner-city neighbourhood. Although it has been used as a feature, the architects (John Wardle Architects) have used just the right amount of restraint, making it interesting but not overwhelming.

Three above images from Houses magazine.

More information and ideas on incorporating street art into your home: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Cop That!

Copper is definitely the metal of the moment, with more stylish choices than ever when it comes to home decor. Today’s copper homeware options have vastly expanded in terms of design – no longer just used in the the earthy, tribal style of the past; the metal’s pinky-orange shine is now emphasised through the use of fluid shapes which catch the light from all angles. It also looks fantastic with both gold and silver, making it easy to incorporate into existing settings.

With so many coppery appliance and decorative options now available, it looks set to overtake stainless steel as the go-to metallic accent.

1 – Comet Pendant light, 2 – Tom Dixon Void light, 3 – Tom Dixon Step light, 4 – Double bowl copper kitchen sink, 5 – West Elm Copper Top Pump + Pour soap dispenser, 6 – Kitchenaid Custom Metallic Series, 7 – Tom Dixon cast mini Jack doorstop/paperweight, 8 – Old Dutch Decor wine cooler, 9 – Tom Dixon Scent ‘London’ candle, 10 – Sambonet H-Art copper flatware, 11 – Jaime Hayon copper Grid vase, 12 – Frigo Design’s copper appliance panels, 13 – Van Heesch Design Copper Bike, 14 – Blue Star  Precious Metals Collection in Infused Copper 36″ Gas Range, 15 – Old Dutch Decor ice bucket with tongs, 16 – YLiving Real Good chair in copper