how to balance colour in a small space

I saw this list of wonderful hints in one of my favorite on line mags - Adore. I think they really make a lot of sense and take all of the guess work out of pulling a room together. The hints are simple but effective as you can see by this picture.

A colour repeated in three separate places creates a colour theme.

Match at least one cushion on the bed/sofa with a rug or carpet in the room.

Connect the colours of the cushions, accent chairs, and lamps with those of the drapes or window treatments to maintain the theme.

Bring in pops of colour with smaller objects while letting the larger pieces of furniture and the walls be a neutral foundation.

Be sure that any colour you see in the foreground is connected on the other side of the room.

My Desk

here's a peek at my moodboard, sitting above my desk this week

style to steal......

more playing on photoshop - page by me!

BRIGHT STARS

I love colour, and so today I decided to create this page

Designex 2011 round-up

on Friday, I was lucky enough to spend the day at Designex with the lovely Leah from Celebrated Style and student buddy of mine. We had a great day, chatting and catching up, see, this year she is doing her subject full time and me, well I am still part time - but the exciting thing is we will be pairing up again in the second half of the year to do 2D together - should be fun.....We had lots to talk about, she loves fabrics and the soft side of Interior Design and I love the hard finishes like benches, floors and walls - we could make a good team!!!!!!

We saw lots of new and exciting things and we also got to attend an excellent seminar by well known Architect and Interior Designer Matt Gibson. He was sooo good to listen too and so inspiring. All his favorite things, just happen to be mine too. He loves to use mirrors, especially in kitchens and courtyards, he loves natural light and maximising it all all costs. He has done a number of terrace renovations in Melbourne, most of them featured in Belle and other homey mags. He has this wonderful ability to marry the decorative old with the comfortable new. Check out my favorite Reno of his yet - you can see it here

holidays

well I did promise that I would update you all on my exam last week, I DID IT and it wasn't that bad! Don't know my result yet, but I was happy with what I answered and that is all that really matters, and now I have three weeks off to blog blog blog!!!! hopefully anyway!

mr jason grant teams up with one of my old haunts!

look who's styling for Officeworks, the very talented Mr Jason Grant who you will be familiar with for working on numerous homewares mags. I love this pic he styled for their soon to be released catalogue. Good on Officeworks for turning up the heat and getting a bit more stylish with their catalogues......well done. I am a fan of that Polaroid too!

designEX

ohh ahh, this is a little bit exciting, I am headed here this week for a day jam packed with inspiration, and some serious drooling....I can't wait, designEX here we come!!!!!

"keep your eyes open and your mind excited. Through passion and participation things open to you and opportunities arise" Eve Bartolo

Decor 8

I am a serial stalker of Holly Becker from Decor 8, I love everything about her and her blog and her latest book Decorate. It is a bit of yesterdays news, but I am on Holidays and haven't had the time to mention it until now. I have flicked through the book at my local cafe, Volumes, but as yet have not made a purchase, but don't worry Holly, I will! and you should too, its full of ideas and of course, inspiration which I love!!!!

I also love her moodboard, posted on her blog last week, I do love a moodboard!!!! and her "moodboard to go" is very clever too.

I plan to do her E-course when it is next run, just need some more time!!!!!

All images from Decor8 blog

only one more night

some inspiration for me - sorry no source for this one, apologies....

tonight is the last night to get some study in before I take my first exam in a very long time - I have had to train myself to study again, and it hasn't been that easy - there are so many others things I would rather be doing - like "look book" pages...or drying my hair!!!!

Wish me luck, will let you know how I go..........

kt xxoo

when it happens, it's like magic.......

my favorite picture from new emag - Est

This week has gone so quickly, I have been helping a friend with some party planning, helping another with her new daughters bedroom, studying for an exam on Wednesday - boo hoo! and lastly but not at all least, debriefing a client on their interior and exterior colours. It's always a little scary, wondering if they are going to like your choices, but when they look at you with a smile and a sense of relief, it's like magic......that's whats been happening to me this week!

In my latest colour plan we used Caesarstone Nimbus in the bathrooms and Almond Rocca in the kitchen with some Dulux Hogs Bristle and Laminex Fossil and Antique White USA walls, very much a neutral palette with a sense of glam!!!!! I can't wait to see what it looks like when its all complete.

this week I also discovered this new emag - Est Australia - it's worth a look!!!