COUCH GOALS THE $600 IKEA SOFA TAKING THE DESIGN WORLD BY STORM
MAY 2017
THE SEARCH IS OVER
CHAIRS, STOOLS,
LAMPS & BEDSIDES
YOU’LL LOVE!
BEAUTIFUL BEDROOMS
SWEET DREAMS
ARE MADE OF THIS P47
50
BEST
THE
EVER STYLING TIPS
( ARCHITECTS & DESIGNERS REVEAL ALL )
FRENCH
CONNECTION
YOUR DEFINITIVE GUIDE
TO EATING, DRINKING &
SHOPPING IN PARIS
tips
from
the
experts
CLEVER TIPS TO ADD VALUE
AND ELEVATE YOUR STYLE
1
Soft furnishings and decor,
such as seasonal throws
ranging from textured knits to
fine linens, can easily change
the mood of a room. Also,
updating flora and artwork
to reflect seasonal palettes
can refresh the atmosphere.
Adele Bates
@reallivingmag
118
text compiled by erica watson photography james geer (this page & aimee),
kelly geddes (kelvin); kristina soljo (we are triibe, greg), mike baker (adele, emily),
sevak babakhani (natasha), felix forest (nina), amelia stanwix (georgia), caroline
mccredie (CM studio), brett stevens (sarah) | styling aimee tarulli (this page)
WHETHER YOU’RE A first homeowner, renter or serial renovator, the key to nailing
beautiful, resolved interiors that will stand the test of time is all in the details. We hit up
our favourite stylists, designers and architects for their clever ideas for every room.
ROOM S
the ex perts
Alex Hopkins,
interior designer,
Studio Tate
Lauren Macer,
interior designer, Sisällä
Kelvin Ho,
architect, Akin Creative
Madeleine Blanchfield,
Madeleine Blanchfield
Architects
Christina Symes
& Jessica Stewart,
interior designers,
We Are Triibe
Simone Haag,
designer and stylist
Adele Bates,
interior designer
Natasha Levak,
interior designer
Nina Maya,
interior designer
Georgia Ezra,
architect, GABBE
interior architects
Greg Natale,
interior designer
Aimee Tarulli, stylist
Megan Burns
& Christopher
Glanville, architects,
CM Studio
Caroline Choker,
interior designer,
Acme&co
2
Foliage – without flowers –
has the ability to create drama
and beauty in a setting. Display
en masse to really bring a space
to life. Aimee Tarulli A
Emily Ward, stylist
Sarah Ellison,
style editor, real living
Kirsten Bookallil, stylist
real living
119
5
4
NAVY BLUE, GREY AND WHITE IS A CHIC AND CLASSIC
COLOUR COMBINATION THAT YOU CAN’T GO WRONG
WITH. AT THE MOMENT I’M ALSO REALLY LOVING THE
PAIRING OF BLUSH PINK AND OLIVE GREEN. GREG NATALE
If you’re not confident about hanging a
group of frames straight, first lay them on
the floor to get the right placement, then
measure up and transfer to the wall.
Christina Symes & Jessica Stewart
Paint is the cheapest way to change
a room and bring it up to date quickly.
And unlike most purchases, you can
keep changing it. Kirsten Bookallil
9
Bookshelves are
one of those items that
can make or break
your room. Follow
these three fail-proof
steps to style a
beautiful bookshelf
Adler A3 frame
in Natural, $79.95,
Country Road.
Moebe
frame A4 in
Black, $79,
Designstuff.
6
Candles should be
selected to suit the
season. Heavier, muskyscented candles work
well in autumn and
winter, whereas fresh,
floral-based candles
complement sunny days
and warmer weather.
Natasha Levak
3
LIGHT THEM UP
AUTUMN
A
Coqui Coqui “Tabaco”
candle, $73,
Net-A-Porter.
DECIDE ON YOUR
COLOUR SCHEME FIRST
A ND FIND ITEMS THAT
FIT WITHIN IT.
IF YOU’RE STICKING
TO A NEUTR AL
SCHEME, A GOOD TIP
IS TO STACK BOOKS
A ND MAGAZINES WITH
THEIR SPINES HIDDEN
AWAY TOWARDS THE
WALL OR ADJACENT
OBJECTS.
WINTER
B
START WITH THE
LARGER ITEMS A ND
STAGGER THEM UP
THE BOOKSHELF.
C
FINISH WITH MEDIUMSIZED ITEMS, SUCH
AS SM ALLER BOOKS,
ART A ND SMALL
POTTED PLA NTS TO
BREAK IT UP.
CHRISTINA SYMES &
JESSICA STEWART
@reallivingmag
120
SPRING
8
SAVE BY BUYING FEWER, BUT BETTER QUALITY,
CUSHIONS. I’D RATHER HAVE ONE AMAZING CUSHION
THAN LOTS OF AVERAGE ONES. AIMEE TARULLI
Installing a curtain rod at the right height is important.
Too low and it will lower your ceiling, too high and the
room can feel overly formal. A good guide is two thirds
of the way between the top of the window frame and
the cornice profile or ceiling. Natasha Levak
7
Overose “Indasmin”
candle, about $75.60,
The Stell.
SUMMER
Citrus and White
Magnolia candle,
$39.95, Ecoya.
photography maree homer | styling kirsten bookallil
Cire Trudon
Ernesto candle,
$120, Libertine
Parfumerie.
ROOM S
10
OFTEN A SMALL ROOM LOOKS BEST
PAINTED DARK – IT BLURS THE
BOUNDARIES, MAKING THE SPACE
FEEL INFINITE. KIRSTEN BOOKALLIL
11
If you’re buying a bedside lamp make sure it’s
functional, that it can be adjusted for direction
and light strength, then look at it aesthetically.
A good lamp sets the mood! Sarah Ellison A
TRY THESE LA MPS
Milk & Sugar
“Atticus” desk
lamp, $149.95,
Life Interiors.
Oko table lamp,
$491.70, Giffin
Design.
Aröd work lamp
in Grey, $39.99,
Ikea.
real living
121
12
If you love a piece of
art, work other things
around it. Art and
books are important
to give a room feeling.
Madeleine Blanchfield
13
Invest in pieces that will last a
lifetime. You don’t need to go high
end on everything but consider
an artwork or armchair that will
become collectable and will age
and patina with love and use.
Simone Haag
14
CHOOSE SOFT FURNISHINGS WITH
TEXTURE TO ADD INTEREST TO
YOUR INTERIOR. CHUNKY KNITTED
THROWS AND VELVET CUSHIONS
ARE MY GO-TO ACCESSORIES FOR
BEDROOMS AND LIVING ROOMS.
AIMEE TARULLI
@reallivingmag
122
15
Bedlinen in white,
greys and blues will
create a calm effect
– and don’t forget
some bedside blooms!
Megan Burns &
Christopher Glanville
22
ROOM S
16
ARTWORK WILL ALWAYS REWARD YOUR INVESTMENT.
A PIECE YOU LOVE CAN TAKE ON DIFFERENT LOOKS
IN DIFFERENT SPACES AND HAPPILY ACCOMPANY
YOU TO A NEW HOME, SHOULD YOU MOVE. GREG NATALE
LEAN ARTWORK
AGAINST A PIECE
OF FURNITURE FOR
A MORE RELAXED
VIBE
Try floor lamps instead
of bedside lamps and
mismatching bedside
tables to create interest.
Megan Burns &
Christopher Glanville
Beds should be
calm and inviting,
not decorated with
multitudes of scatter
cushions. If you want
to add another layer,
a simple throw in the
highest quality you can
afford will do the trick.
Simone Haag
Aröd floor lamp,
$79, Ikea.
photography james geer (this page), greg cox/bureaux (opposite) | styling simone haag (this page)
Scale is the most
important consideration
when hanging art. If the
piece is large, it can be
used to balance a large
piece of furniture but
if it’s small it will work
best hung in a group.
Natasha Levak
18
FLOOR LA MPS
19
Rubn Lighting “Vouge”
floor lamp, from $1425,
Fred International.
When buying furniture, look
for pieces that offer storage.
Sideboards, consoles and
entertainment units are
fabulous for hiding wires
and cords. Aimee Tarulli
Fiona floor lamp,
$490, Clickon
Furniture.
TRY THESE
17
21
FROM LEFT HAY tray in Gold, $28, Amara.
Medium Terrazzo dimple tray, $29, Zakkia. Bento
tray (29cm), $240, RL Foote Design Studio.
Personalise your dresser
with your favourite
fragrance on a pretty
tray. Trays keep all your
bits and pieces looking
ordered, even if they
aren’t! Sarah Ellison
20
TOP 3 THROWS
FROM LEFT Maya throw
in Natural, $95, Once Was
Lost. Minna knit throw in
Natural, $179, Country Road.
Aura by Tracie Ellis linen
throw in Smoke, $189, Myer.
Style your bedside carefully. Overly-scented candles and
flowers might disrupt your sleep. Best keep accessories
to the basics: book, clock, water carafe. Sarah Ellison A
Design as Art
book by Bruno
Munari, $24.99,
Penguin.
Menu “Stand” clock in
Nude, $105, Arrival Hall.
Intagande
carafe, $7.99,
and glass,
$1.99, Ikea.
real living
123
Small dip pot in Sand,
$135, Pop & Scott,
holding devil’s ivy
plant, $35, Domus
Botanica.
24
FROM LEFT Muuto “Ambit” pendant, $295, Designstuff.
Akoya pendant in Army Green, $1410, Living Edge.
Funnel pendant in Desert Sand, $219.95, Page Thirty Three.
ENSURE PLANTS
GET ENOUGH
WATER AND
FERTILISER AND
WIPE THE LEAVES
FORTNIGHTLY
INDOOR PLA NTS
Plastic pot in White,
$15, Kmart, holding
Ficus elastica “decora”
plant, $8.43,
Bunnings.
PERFECT PENDA NTS
25
People think they need to take indoor plants
outside to get air and sun, however, plants
acclimatise to the light in a location, and if
the room is right, they don’t like to be moved.
Christina Symes & Jessica Stewart
29
FORMULA
26
Replacing a major
item in a living room
is one of the best ways
to give it an overhaul;
a new armchair or rug
always does the trick.
I’m a huge fan of using
a unique armchair to
attract the eye.
Nina Maya
28
Some love art or a
mirror above a mantel
piece but personally
I love giving it breathing
space with just a small
collection of objects and
curios. Simone Haag
TRY THESE
FROM LEFT Small hourglass, $24,
and large, $29, The Minimalist. Treasure
diamond box in Mint, about $50, Ferm
Living. Aalto vase in Clear, $175, Iittala.
124
To create a beautiful
entertaining space,
start with a neutral
colour scheme then
layer it up with lots of
different textures in
the same tonal palette.
Nina Maya
A COFFEE TABLE
CLUSTER
+
A TEXTURED
THROW
+
SOFT RUGS
+
A SPLASH OF
GREENERY
Small utility rope
basket, $79, Life
Interiors, holding Pilea
Cadierei plant, $8.43,
Bunnings.
@reallivingmag
Think about the mood
you want to create
when buying lighting.
Try to avoid placement
that creates unflattering
shadows on people.
Kelvin Ho
27
A GROUP OF ACCESSORIES ON A SHELF,
SIDEBOARD OR COFFEE TABLE ALWAYS CREATES
AN ATTRACTIVE VIGNETTE, BUT KEEP THE RULE
OF THREE IN MIND – CHOOSE THREE PIECES THAT
HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON. GREG NATALE
INVEST
KL70 Kelly
armchair, from
$2996, Jardan.
photography maree homer (this page), alessandro rizzi/livinginsideit (opposite) | styling tahnee carroll (this page)
23
HANG PENDANT LIGHTS
SO THE BOTTOM IS 70CM
TO 80CM ABOVE YOUR
DINING TABLE. NATASHA LEVAK
ROOM S
30
If you’re on a tight budget,
don’t be afraid to decorate
over time. It took me five
years before I committed
to a sofa. It’s nicer to have
a few special pieces than
lots you don’t really love.
Kelvin Ho
31
Painting ceilings
lighter than the
walls will help
them feel higher
and make the
room feel bigger
than it really is.
Georgia Ezra
32
33
Create a balance in levels so your space doesn’t feel
bottom heavy. Do this by using a pendant light above
or a floor lamp next to your sofa, displaying artwork
on a console, or by incorporating taller plants in
the room. Christina Symes & Jessica Stewart
The size of a rug is important. Too small
and it looks like an island, too large and
it can make the room feel swamped.
Rugs can also be clever tools to divide
open-plan areas. Natasha Levak A
real living
125
35
34
Rather than filling shelves with
books or pictures, opt for
plants instead – they breathe
life into the space. In a dining
area, mix in some useful
herbs. Lauren Macer
Mix and match colours by first
picking your hero piece. You can
then build around it with items in
the same colour palette as well as
with neutral tones. Emily Ward
36
For visual calm, try to keep as
much stuff off the kitchen bench
as possible. Also, simple neutraltoned linen tea towels are always
the way to go! Megan Burns
and Christopher Glanville
TRY THESE HA NDLES
Leather 01 handle in
Natural/Black Edge, $20
each, Made Measure.
Bellagio joinery pull
in Tumbled Brass, from
$143 each, Pittella.
Humnle H03150mm handle
in Copper, $121, Auhaus.
@reallivingmag
126
37
For a quick kitchen fix,
change your cabinetry
handles. This is great
for renters. You’d be
surprised at how smart
new kitchen handles can
look on old or dated
doors. They’re also easy
to put on and remove!
Sarah Ellison
ROOM S
39
Get creative when
shopping. Gumtree,
eBay, auction houses
or antique stores all
have amazing pieces
that can be restored
to look more elegant
and high-end.
Georgia Ezra
40
38
WHEN ARRANGING ACCESSORIES, KEEP SOME
NEGATIVE SPACE (SOME EMPTY AREAS) SO THE
EYE HAS SOMEWHERE TO REST. LAUREN MACER
The key to creating long-lasting style is to choose items you
love that speak to you, not only pieces that are “on trend”. This
means your furniture will stand the test of time as it represents
you and your passions. Adele Bates
photography adele bates design ( this page), tatjana plitt (opposite) | styling adele bates design (this page), sisällä (opposite)
44
41
Open-plan kitchen
and living spaces are
ideal for impromptu
entertaining as they’re
the heart of the home.
Make sure there’s
great seating at your
kitchen island bench to
create a hub of activity.
Aimee Tarulli
BENCHM ARK!
Every great
table needs a
great centrepiece.
A beautiful bunch
of fresh flowers will
bring your table to
life and make even
the simplest table
setting feel styled.
Aimee Tarulli
Dowel Jones
“Hurdle” high
stool, $350,
Hunting for George.
CONSIDER THE VASE
Statuario Maximus
benchtop, from
$1200 a sq m installed,
Caesarstone.
AYTM “Globe” vase in
Green/Brass, $100,
Top3 By Deisign.
43
I advise clients to
spend on a good
dining table. These
should be solid and
durable. We don’t
just eat at dining
tables these days,
we use them for
work and even for
children’s homework.
Natasha Levak
Smeg mixer in Cream,
$799, Harvey Norman.
DINING TABLES
Winter dining table
in American Oak,
$6340, Jardan.
Parquet dining table,
$3000, Nick Scali.
Luna dining table
(2m x 1m) $3550,
MCM House.
42
Some stores will allow you to borrow
products, like rugs or occasional
furniture, to try out at home before you
purchase, as long as you leave your
credit card details. It’s worth asking
if this is possible. Sarah Ellison A
real living
127
ROOM S
A BATHROOM NEED NOT BE A PLACE FOR TILES ONLY. THERE ARE
LOADS OF INTERESTING MATERIALS THAT CAN BE USED TO GIVE YOUR
BATHROOM PERSONALITY, TEXTURE AND INTEREST. TRY PAINTED
TIMBER WALL PANELLING TO ADD DEPTH. NATASHA LEVAK
TILES TO TRY
46
TRY
Easycraft dado
rail (4.8cm x 28cm
x 3.6m), $39, and
EasyRegency wall
lining (90cm x
1.2m x 9mm)
$26.48, Bunnings.
TIMBER WALL
PANELLING IS
ONE OF MY
FAVOURITES
47
INSTALL A
RETRACTABLE
CLOTHESLINE IN YOUR
LAUNDRY TO CREATE
EXTRA HANGING/
DRYING SPACE.
45
Bathrooms should
be a sanctuary. This
can be achieved by
choosing tactile
materials that evoke
the senses, such as
handmade tiles,
marble and polished
metal. Alex Hopkins
Florence Isola Statuario
Satin tiles, $149
a sq m, Perini Tiles.
Romance Safari 60cm
square polished tile,
$101.20 a sq m,
Signorino.
Sarah Ellison
LAU NDRY PRODUCTS
Small felt laundry hamper,
$24.95, Freedom.
Statuario 75cm
square polished tiles,
$240.90 a sq m,
Maximum Australia.
Bondi Wash laundry
wash in Tasmanian
Pepper and Lavender,
$22 for 500ml, Koskela.
Instead of buying
marble for your
bathroom, try a
marble-look tile
for a fraction of the
cost. Often, they’re
hard to tell apart
from real marble!
Nina Maya
50
@reallivingmag
128
Redecker clothes
pegs in a bag,
$16.95 for 20, Saison.
49 ALWAYS DESIGN A
LAUNDRY WITH HANGING
SPACE IN MIND. RAILS AND
S-SHAPED HOOKS ARE A MUST
FOR DRYING OR AIRING.
ADELE BATES
DRY A ND AIR
Nomess
Copenhagen
clothes rack
(120cm wide),
$331, John Lewis.
48
Accessorise your bathroom with
beautiful towels. If you have the
space, add some greenery with
a fern or orchid that will thrive in a
well-lit bathroom. Megan Burns
& Christopher Glanville R
text compiled by erica watson | photography sharyn cairns (main), maree homer (inset) | styling studio tate (main), natasha levak (inset)
Marvel Pietra tile,
from $72.50 a sq m,
Beaumont Tiles.