Embracing the Dark side

While I am known for my penchant for 'white' interiors, I have recently been gravitating toward a darker colour palette in my work.

There is something decadently luxurious about a dark interior scheme; deep natural tones in charcoal, black, chocolate, and tobacco, teamed with deep oak joinery and other timber interior details.

It's a slightly more masculine look, that suggests the feeling of an old school gentlemans office or library.  There are leather bound books, cut glass whiskey decanters and a collection of timber walking sticks.

As the following images suggest, using darker elements in a traditional scheme will not look dated or overly fussy; what we see, in fact, is a slightky contemporary edge.

By using a clever mix of beautiful fabrics, natural timbers, sophisticated colour schemes, and perfect accessories the look can be stunning, elegant, and utterly timeless.

BILL BLASS - NO 1. SUTTON PLACE, MANHATTAN.

I have always admired the style of the fashion designer Bill Blass - his work was classic and simple - with beautiful detailing and classic tailoring. His apartment in New York, which he designed with the help of Chessy Rayner and Mica Ertugun of the interior design firm MAC II, reflects the same aesthetic. 

Situated at No. 1 Sutton Place, Manhattan, I was fascinated by the interior. I remember the first time I saw it, perhaps twenty years ago. It was timeless, gracious and and it oozed the most exquisite classic style that I had ever seen.

The furniture was very Regency in style and the decorative details were wonderfully quirky, featuring globes, architectural models, and columns. The apartment was masculine, monotone and to me it was... perfection!

I love this quote from the man himself...

"There is a sense of dignity, a simplicity and a classicism in my clothes which can be read into the apartment. As I am surrounded with colours and fabric all day I look forward to a monochromatic home. I work in fashion - I don't want to live somewhere that looks fashionable." - Bill Blass

FROM MY DESK 06

STYLING WITH BLACK

Winter in Australia is drawing to a close. We will soon see the colours of Spring and feel the warmth of the sun, and all it brings!

Before we embrace this welcome change, I am still holding on to the last moments of Winter. (It's secretly one of my favourite seasons) A recent evening in Sassafras saw snow falling in abundance. It was truly magical! Winter suits my classic 'gentleman's' style perfectly. It's a timeless indoors aesthetic, be it a traditional dining room with an open fire, or a well-loved home office with vintage books and leather furniture. Dark moody winter style, to me, is perfection!

A feature of this style is the colour black. We see it in soft furnishings and hard finishes. Black timber panelling, black velvet curtains, black marble floors or a painted black accent wall can bring classic, traditional elegance to a room. Especially when used for contrast in an otherwise monochromatic scheme.

Classic black can add character and drama to a space, and this month I am embracing it. 

Classic details in my home office, Sassafras. August 2020

PRODUCT REVIEW 05

BLACK ACCENTS

When looking for some contrasting black accents, I search for classic pieces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Quality is, of course, another important factor, and below are some pieces that I feel really hit the mark...

Reproducing a late 19th Century French double ended bath, the new 'Martha Bath' by London based company The Water Monopoly is a luxurious addition to both modern and traditional bathrooms.

With an opportunity to select brass or copper as the bath’s base material, finish options include high polish, tinned or painted.

The baths may be lacquered or remain unlacquered to patina naturally over time. With a deep base and curved sides for additional comfort, the Martha inspires long hours of soaking, preferably with a glass of champagne in hand.

Available at The English Tapware Company
www.englishtapware.com.au

The 1459 18 'Dame Anglaise' tap in black has been hand made in Italy by Bruno Nicolazzi using low lead brass since 1960. Nicolazzis handmade organic mixers are stylish in design and can be ordered with a variety of handles and in a range of finishes. In black, it is a perfect contrasting accent to an all-white kitchen, or it can be used with other black finishes for a very dramatic look.

Available at Canterbury Sink & Tap
www.sinkandtap.com.au

Wall panelling is a lovely addition to any interior! In black, it is stunning and practical choice for a hallway. It will take all the knocks and scuffs that a plain painted wall or wallpaper won't. It's a dramatic look that can be easily replicated, as a DIY project or call in the experts.

Choose a straight black or a deeper shade of paint for a low-maintenance look, and be sure to pick a paint with a wipeable finish. Team it with neutral furnishings for a truly timeless look.

Black granite is one of the most beautiful stones that you can choose for your countertop, backsplash or vanity top. Black granite countertops are very stylish and easy to maintain. When it comes to black countertops, choosing black granite is one of the best options available on the market.

While a black bench top can sometimes be a severe selection visually, when teamed with subtle warm white joinery, in a flat or low sheen finish, the look will be soft and more forgiving.

Available at CDK Stone and various stone suppliers.
www.cdkstone.com.au

Large statement furniture pieces are a favourite of mine. Ralph Laurens Sheltering winged club chair is updated in distressed black leather. Featuring an ultra blendown cushion, upholstered back, and nail trim. Casters on the front legs are available in antique brass, polished nickel, or pewter.

It is a handsome piece that will add a dramatic punch to a classic interior!

For stockists go to: www.raplphlaurenhome.com

Porter's Paints create rich and beautiful colours, designed by their expert colourists. Crafted with a blend of fine quality pigments to create depth, complexity and character. Their 'Van Helsing' black, is almost black and beautifully subtle.

It's a nice selection for walls or timber work in a dark moody interior.

Available at Porters stores and through Dulux
www.porterspaints.com

And just for fun, don't forget to accessorise. Black accent pieces left sitting on a chair or a stack of books can be wonderfully theatrical. This Bowler hat, sometimes known as a Derby or Coke is a true British classic. The Bowler hat is believed to have been originally designed for Edward Coke. He needed something to protect his head whilst out riding and the Top Hat, typically worn, kept getting knocked off from over-hanging branches. The Bowler's popularity, which once defined civil servants and bankers has increased over the years and become a fashion statement. The Christys' luxury Black Fur Felt Bowler hat comes with a 2.5cm Grosgrain Ribbon Band and Bow. Fully lined with Christys' Red Satin.

Available at Christys' London
www.christys-hats.com

DESIGN ADVICE 06

SELECTING A FIREPLACE

A fireplace is a welcome feature in any space, especially during winter! I was recently interviewed for an article, in Australian House & Garden, where I discussed my top tips on selecting the perfect piece!

Is a fabulous fireplace about more than just heating - what can it add to the look and feel of a room?

JB: A fireplace can be an ultimate style statement in any interior, it gives a room character and visual strength. A fireplace can ground a room by adding a focal point. Seating and occasional tables can be grouped around a fire to create an intimate setting for conversation and entertaining. A fireplace can instantly create a mood that welcoming and inviting
 
How should you go about choosing the right style of fireplace for a room? I.e. what are the main 3-4 things to consider? 

JB: Select a fireplace that features the existing style of elements of the architecture, the interior, or landscape design; ie: think about any existing timber panelling, rock or plaster detailing. It is important to make your selections cohesive, creating a harmonious and continuous style throughout the home. Consider bringing the outside in, by using elements from your home exterior, i.e. matching a rock fireplace face to a rock wall in your landscaping. Also, Decide between real or artificial! There is nothing like a real wood-burning fire for awakening your senses, however, gas-burning fires have become very realistic in recent years and can be a welcome alternative to the work involved lighting a natural wood-burning fire. If choosing gas, avoid unnecessary gimmicks such as OTT built-in neon digital light effects. These will date and be a costly feature to replace.  

How can you go about getting the proportions right?

JB: Definitely consider the proportions of the room the fireplace will be in. A large room with high ceilings, for example, will require a large statement piece for balance and scale. Generally, a mantle should sit at almost half the height of the room itself. A small room could perhaps be best with a simple fireplace with minimal to no surround at all.  
 
What are 2-3 of the latest trends in fireplace design? I.e. shape, profile, materials, statement flues etc?

JB: Rather than looking at what’s in fashion, I would suggest that it’s far more important to choose a fireplace that suits the existing features of a home. However, we are seeing a resurgence of natural rock surrounds as mantle pieces and entire floor to ceiling installations. Classic panelled style mantles are also popular and are always a timeless choice
 
What about wall-mounted heaters - is there any way to disguise them or get them to blend into a room scheme?

JB: Rather than trying to disguise wall mounted heaters, I prefer to embrace them by making them a feature in themselves. Decorative heating panels or metal over grills are a fabulous way of adding another design element to an interior, and there are some great options available at the moment. Just make sure you work with the existing style of the room, not against it!

For assistance in selecting the right fireplace for your next project, please contact me via email or book a consultation by following the link
below.

A limestone floor to ceiling fire surround at a recent project, Brighton 2020

Two traditional fireplaces in a recent project. Timber and cast iron. Canterbury, July 2020

DESIGN ADVICE 05

Finding inspiration

When it comes to interior ‘inspiration’, you should give yourself permission to think outside the box. There are so many wonderful ways to define who you are when creating a magnificent living space. Inspiration can be found all around you!

I find that most people tend to play it safe and think that good design is about following fashions and trends. This can be a good starting point but it can also be restrictive. 

You could be inspired by your life experiences; Think about places that you've been, things that you've seen, think about the things that you have found visually appealing. Think about the visual elements of these things, the colours, the textures and the shades of light and dark. You can then apply these elements as inspiration to develop your own individual style.

WHERE DO WE FIND INSPIRATION?

Architecture; historic and contemporary

Fashion design; textiles and tailoring
Retail design; window design and in-store visual display
Film and television; set, costume and production design
Fine art and artists, both contemporary and historic
Nature and the elements

One of my favourite sources of inspiration is travel. Something we have been sadly missing lately. For example, the rustic textures and styles of buildings in a foreign city or the shades of colour in the landscape of a historic garden can be so inspiring. I always take something away with me, in my memory, that I might use as inspiration in a future project. 

When designing for yourself, finding your own inspiration is the best way to make your very own, absolutely personal, unique personality stamp. Be brave and trust your instincts, you might surprise yourself.

The inspiring storefront of R. H. Macey, W36 Street, New York

DESIGN ADVICE 04

Beginning to build

There’s a strong temptation to dive straight into home remodelling projects. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll be done, right? Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way if you haven’t done some essential planning upfront. 

Here are six crucial steps to help you plan for a successful home renovation, and the reasons they're so important for any project.

1. Choose a design professional. 
To create a plan and detailed scope of work, most homeowners hire either an architect or interior designer, and sometimes both. Architects may take on a wide range of work, or work only on floor plans and permits, and leave the details of the electrical plan, baths and kitchen to another designer. Selecting a design professional usually starts with an in-person meeting. This is your opportunity to understand the services that each firm offers and make sure they match up with what you are expecting. It’s also critical that you have a budget for your project in mind that you communicate clearly to the firm you hire, so the design can align with what you are planning to invest.

2. Create a plan. 
The plans are called working drawings; they usually involve a rough layout of the floor plan and some simple views of the exterior of the home if there is an addition. It takes time for the design professional to work these out, and then usually another week or two for the homeowners to consider them and make decisions. If the project is larger or the homeowners want additional changes made to the schematics, this initial design phase can take several months.

3. Interview contractors
Contractors are typically brought into the process once a final working drawing has been selected. Usually, there is at least a general idea of how the home will look from the outside, a dimensioned floor plan and some preliminary material selections. Contractors are usually asked to estimate from the working drawings as part of the interview process. It may take a couple of weeks to set up the interviews and generally at least two to three weeks after interviews to receive the estimates. After that, you may want to call references, visit job sites or do additional research before making a decision about the contractor you will hire.

4. Go shopping while others are engineering. 
Love to shop or hate to shop? This may determine whether you enlist a designer to help with your material selections. Even those who like to shop may be overwhelmed by all the options and want professional input. Do not underestimate the number of things that need to be selected, from doorknobs and windows to countertops and light fixtures. To really keep a handle on your project cost, it’s best to select every last thing ahead of construction. This will allow your contractor to tell you the prices for what you’d like and properly schedule material purchases based on lead times.

5. Get your permits. 
Depending on the scope of your project and where it’s located, permitting can take a day, months or even years. You should have some idea ahead of filing for permits about the length of the process, which will allow you to identify a likely start date for your project. Permit fees can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars, depending on where you live and how big your project is.

6. Ready, set ... 
With the plan submitted for permits and material selections made, your contractor will be able to finish up pricing and write up a contract for construction. If the selected materials cost more than the budget allows, there may be a round of “value engineering,” which means changing scope of work or materials to reduce cost. By the time the contract is signed, your contractor will have identified the longer-lead items (like cabinets, windows, doors, tile and sometimes plumbing or electrical fixtures) and may even have them on order ahead of the start of construction, depending on the timing of your project.

By the time all of these steps are complete, it may be four to six months or even more since you started talking with design professionals.

The planning process can be lengthy, but each step you take will put you closer to starting your project with a clear vision of what’s to come. That investment of time on the front end means your entire construction team — design professional, contractor and you — can start the project on the same page with a clearly articulated plan. That makes it much easier to say, “Go!” without any hesitation. 

For further information and advice on planning a project of your own, feel free to contact me directly.

PRODUCT REVIEW 04

Natural Marble

An important part of preparing for a renovation or new build is to select the hard finishes that work for you! The type of stone, for flooring, benchtops and/or walls, can be a difficult choice!

I often use a selection of natural stone, in particular, marble in my projects. At first, my clients can be apprehensive, natural marble can be a fearful choice for some. I put forward the pros and cons, and together we made an informed decision.

Carrara, Calacatta, Emperador and Crema Marfil marble - to name a few - like other natural stones, are porous. The lighter varieties (in colour), can show stains and scratches. They also need regular care in order to maintain their beautiful appearance. In addition, cleaning marble and other types of stone must be done properly with a pH-balanced stone cleaner. As a lover of natural products, I believe these drawbacks should be embraced. Imperfections show that a house has been enjoyed, lived in, they tell a story.

Some love the look, but question if the maintenance is worth it. The obvious solution, in this case, is to opt for faux stone porcelain. The options here are endless, (be it from Caesarstone, Stylestone or CDK's neolith range) and the quality is superb thanks to recent advancements in technical manufacturing. Faux stone can be a better choice for some.

The majority of the real deal is quarried in the Italian province of the name of the stone, ie Carrara and Calacatta! Imported in large quantities, Carrara is not overly expensive and is available in a variety of shades, from pure white to bardiglio black. Other marbles, including Calacatta, Statuario or Thasos (from Greece) can be more expensive, especially for the more unusual varieties.

This range of shades allows me to create stunning patterned mosaics or to add bold contrasting borders in a room. The simple white and grey tones of most marbles also mean that it can be a perfect base for colour accents, in fabric, wallpaper or joinery.

For me, nothing beats the look of authentic marble but either way, the look is stunning. Marble is timeless and elegant. It transcends period style and can work effortlessly in a modern or traditional setting.

DESIGN ADVICE 02

Create a clear vision!

From years of experience, I believe the most efficient way to begin an interior design project is to establish exactly how you want your finished product to look, before you begin!

Creating an absolutely clear image of your finished home in detail (in your mind, or preferably on paper) will keep you on a steady path throughout your renovation, restoration or new build.

It’s not uncommon to get distracted by irrelevant trends, or by taking advice from others who may not understand what you are trying to achieve. You can be pushed in the wrong direction, which can lead to confusion and costly mistakes. You can end up wasting time and money, holding up builders and other trades and causing unnecessary amounts of stress!
 
A major part of my role as a designer is to guide a project from start to finish, working not only on design with my clients but also on communication with architects, builders and site managers. It’s so important that I specify exactly what is required prior to a build. I provide numerous detailed schedules, from construction through to furnishings, ahead of time, to avoid hold-ups and to get the job done.
 
Of course, there will be questions along the way, and sometimes changes are unavoidable, however, by keeping the focus on the end vision,  decisions can be made quickly and efficiently, to keep the job moving.

I'm happy to offer interior design advice before you begin your next project. Please don't hesitate to contact me.

FROM MY DESK 01

The year in motion

Returning to work from travels on Australia's east coast, being very close to areas affected by our devastating fires, has been bittersweet.

I'm excited to complete some unfinished work from 2019 and looking forward to beginning many new projects this year. However, I'm feeling strangely torn at the thought of working as a designer, at a time when Australia has seen so much loss, so much devastation, so much sadness.

It seems the best way to move forward is to review my design ethics and to adopt a positive, and sustainably viable approach to my work, to consciously respect our environment and our precious country.

Adopting an eco friendly attitude in interior design could include, eliminating wastage by recycling and repurposing furnishings wherever possible, selecting locally made, long lasting products produced from sustainable, natural materials and switching to green power where we can, reviewing our carbon footprint and pledging an ongoing commitment to offset our carbon emissions in 2020.

All good ideas in theory, it just takes a little effort and good decision making to put these ideas into practice. 

Here’s to a healthy and safe 2020.

Cape Byron Lighthouse, Byron Bay January 2020

Travelling south

Travelling through Australia's rural regions - this year along our eastern shores from Byron Bay to the NSW Southern Highlands - always renews my respect for our vast country. I love being at ground level, experiencing the landscape, the colours and the beauty. There's hidden gems, waiting to be found, along the way.

I enjoy the experience of visiting family, meeting friends and discovering new places. Hopping along the coast, through some of our most iconic towns and beaches, even this year with smokey skies and blackened bushland, has inspired me, it's an experience that always stands me in good stead for the year ahead. 

Icebergs, Bondi Beach January 2020

Tacking Point Lighthouse, port Macquarie January 2020

Tallow Creek, Byron Bay January 2020

ARCHITECTURAL ILLUSTRATION

From stained-glass windows to intricate stone carvings, Gothic architecture is incredibly impressive—especially considering many features were crafted by hand. It’s no surprise then that these ornate structures are the inspiration behind Bournemouth, England-based artist Phoebe Atkey highly-detailed architecture drawings.

From the arched doorway of Strasbourg Cathedral to Notre-Dame’s famous rose windows, Atkey captures the beauty of some of Europe’s most iconic buildings. The young, self-taught artist hand draws every ornate detail with incredible precision and perfect proportion. Atkey renders each drawing using a combination of pen and pencil, but keeps her palette monochrome. Clever shading and highlights make certain parts of the drawing appear three-dimensional, almost like you could reach out and touch the buildings’ stoney surfaces.