Megan Morton does Freedom Furniture

news just in....Megan Morton (one of my favorite stylists ever! - I even interviewed her here) has styled the new Freedom winter catalogue.  This picture is a teaser of what's to come - I cant wait to see her work - from memory Mr Jason Grant did their last catalogue and it was fabulous - look out for it.  I am loving the rug shown in this pic and also the cushions - its a well traveled eclectic look and that lamp is a bit of a show stopper.

pic via design to inspire

Chalk Talk

space designed by Abigail Ahern - my go to lady of the moment!

why is it that some days are Blah and some are ooh la la???????? I can hear you all saying - I hear you, girlfriend!!!! Well we need to experience the Blah to know when Oooohh la la hits - yesterday I had an Ooooh la la day - I got a new listing from a client - very excited,  and I also got a new project underway called Master Plan.  Master plan has been in the pipeline for a little while now, it is so exciting and really I think its going to be a winner! I can't give away too much detail.  But lets just say that my mission to make Interior Decorating more widely available and to remove the perception, that it is expensive,  is moving a step closer...........sound interesting???? well stay tuned for some really exciting stuff.


This week I had a huge reaction to my decorating/styling hints, so I thought I would continue with this over the coming weeks, and dissect some great pics that float around the internet and take a closer look at why they work. 

Is this not the most amazingly simple home office you have seen! I love this shot, the owner has worked with a white base and added colour with some key pieces.  Always bring some of the outside in with either flowers or greenery - this is a must! I also love to add a little "tongue in cheek" - a touch of the unexpected, sure to have your friends tongues wagging - I like to call it a memorable piece - for me that is the pink pig - unexpected, but it works.

 On My Radar...... 

if you haven't already been here then get yourself there pronto for some great budget designer finds - perfect update pieces, that work perfectly together. They also do an amazing yellow beside lamp for $50 - I need to get myself two of those!

hot right now - Blacklist Studio - great song on their website to listen to whilst browsing their amazing wears, how fab is this gold print - You make my happy when skies are grey!!!!!

and lastly, I am heading out this morning to get a hard copy of the latest Women's Weekly, which has Zuster Designer Wilhelmina McCarroll's house featured in the Yarra Valley- the most perfect example of a neutral palette  with an injection of personality through some quirky pieces that are real talking points!!

Design Quote of the week

Decor must have sentimental value. 

A house must tell a story."

 Mark Hampton

so true, have yourselves a wonderful weekend xxoo

The Design files

it's proving to be a week of reflection, revisiting some work and stories I have done.  The content of some of the interviews I did when I first started this journey are as relevant today as they were back then,  just in case you missed it - I interviewed the very talented Lucy Feagins from "The Design Files"  I recently watched her film on The Design Files Open House - it is must see viewing!!! - I actually went to the house and literally wanted everything in it and I mean everything!, by all accounts it was a raging success.  She is one amazing lady - check out what she had to say to moi!!!! here!!!!

Master Plan...........

gOLD ChaLK is working on a new project called Master Plan, I hope to deliver you all the details very soon.  Please stay tuned - it's a little bit exciting.......

Interior decorating tips........

here's a little secret to help you decorate your next room - mix some straight lines with curved lines. The Straight lines represent masculine tones, whilst the curved lines are much more relaxed and feminine.  As long as your get the mix right, you(and your guests)are sure to feel at ease in the room. Straight lines can be seen in the sofa, coffee table and wall divider, the room is then balanced with a round side table and feature chair - how good does this room look and feel!!!!!! It doesn't happen by chance, there are so many tricks of the trade!!!!

Chalk Talk

some retail therapy and market analysis has been on the top of my priority list this week - I love visiting shops/stores and seeing what's happening and what's new - this week I got to visit quite a few of my old haunts and  even some new ones. I keep a list of all the places, mainly stand alone shops that I hope to get to some time very soon, and slowly I am ticking them off one by one.  I find them so inspiring and  often come away with loads of photos and inspiration, there are so many clever people out there. Anyway this is what I created this week - I might make it a regular addition to Chalk Talk!!! who knows - love to hear your thoughts....10 things I love RIGHT NOW!

1. anything Rachel Castle - cushions, bedlinen, anything

2. Eames Bucket Chair - replica of course!! available here

3.Rob Ryan - Vase

4.Country Road black wire basket

5. Jardan Ned Chair - soon to be seen in my latest makeover!

6. Aesop hand wash

7. LOVE pillow cases - need them NOW!

8. Country Road Jug - for an instant update

9. Gorman Tokyo Platform - available in black too!!

10. Country Road Riley Vase - mix this back with glass and white accessories!

happy weekend and maybe....happy shopping!!!

Portfolio Update

I have updated my portfolio - just a snippet of some of my work - click on the Portfolio tab at the top of the blog for some before and after pictures! hope to keep it updated regularly.

Right Now - tear sheets

excuse the dodgy iphone photos

tear sheets are one of my favorite things to do - they inspire me to try and do new things - I love using them to for  new colour combinations, they help me think outside the box - ooh, one thing I rarely cut - mostly always torn sheets from the magazines I love.  Peep closely at the geometric cupboard covered with wall paper - Zuster have used this same wallpaper in the front window of their showroom - very bold, but nice, saw it today.

Interview - Megan Morton

sometimes I have to pinch myself, and ask, did this really happen....................a little while back I approached super stylist Megan Morton for an interview, I wanted to pick her brains and getter a little closer to finding out about her life as a Super Stylist, if you missed it, click here........................lucky me!

Chalk Talk

what a whirlwind of a week - my article finally appeared in the Age Domain - I had been hanging to see it since way back and finally there it was on Sunday morning - I was like a little girl on Christmas morning - I had no idea what it was going to look like or how I would be portrayed. In the end I was really happy with it and I had so many people text, call and facebook me, that I felt so very special.......anyway if you missed it, you can see it here and here!! A huge thank you to my mate - Leonie Magnuson for her lovely photography - she did a great job, and I got so many complements on the actual photo! 

another photo of me taken by my very talented buddy Leonie Magnuson

This week has been all about getting organised, for work, home and play - I have been having issues with my desk area for what seems like forever and this week I finally took the bull by the horns and ordered a whole lot of storage boxes and files from here.  I was sick to death of looking at my work space and not having it looking right, so I bought all white boxes/folders and have started setting it up - I will post some pics when I finish it this week. Up until now, I have been able to get away with being a little unorganised, but since freelancing to to a couple of real estate agents and doing some colour plans for builders etc, I feel like I am constantly switching my hats - lots of follow up and making sure deadlines are being met!!!!!

storage from kikki K

This week on My Radar......

 real photography - love this! -source House Doctor

 this colour palette is everywhere at the moment Neon Pink Yellow, I like to add blue - this is my board that I created last year! I just knew these colours were going to be HOT - I even designed my business cards in these colours! I tell you - trust your gut!

 neon pink dipped furniture legs

 Neon pink and blue study - LOVE - this image is everywhere on the net this week. so many things make this room work - lamp - POP, chair POP and wallpaper etc, everything!!!

more POP - Rug as ART - new trend!!!!! look out for it

enjoy your weekend x

look who appeared in the Age Property section today?

that's me in the Age Domain talking about Interior Design, study and my passion for it! The greater article was about styling properties for sale and how a well styled property can help you sell faster!!

A huge thank you to Leonie Magnuson for her ability to take the most

wonderful shots - her work is amazing and I can't thank her enough. Email me if you would like her details.

about gOLd ChaLK

Chalk Talk

it's that time again, time flies when you are having fun!!!! Its been a busy week getting things organised for back to school for the kiddies and its also back to school for me on Tuesday nights.  I am studying two subjects this semester, so I am going to be super busy - hope my teacher is kind to me with homework. It seems like forever since I was there, I am looking forward to starting up again and I am super excited about the two subjects I am doing - more about them next week.

This week the paint job was completed on my latest makeover - now I am just waiting on the furniture to be made and everything should come together.  The school is super excited with hows its all looking and so am I. I must say I was a little nervous to see the completed paint job, always a bit scary when you are changing something so much and using quite a bold colour - but its fun and playful - perfect for a primary school!!!!.

I also received a lovely letter from one of my clients this week - thought I would share it with you, it's so lovely when you deliver a colour plan and the clients are not only happy but excited too!

Hi Kylie

Thank you again for all the work you have put into helping us with our renovation, and I love the choices you have made. I went to xxxxxx this morning to look for the mosaic tiles and I have a couple of samples here for you to look at when you drop off the mood board. Walking into xxxxx just confirmed to me how grateful I am for your help, because I get so confused with all the choices.  I would love for you to come and see how it all progresses and the final result.

On MY Radar......

here are a couple of things that made their way onto my radar this week, as you can see it been a "natural" sort of week, these items would be perfect to add to your home as an update!

Armadillo Rug - Marigold above and Dandelion below

these pillow cases are making there way to my place pronto! and at $60 for a pair - that is a bargain!

available here

lastly these baskets are just what I have been looking for - perfect storage, these three are my favorites - available here

 here's the reception area with a fresh coat of paint and new carpet, and here it is below just before the paint job!  The colour I choose for the wall is Dulux Cronicle - The space has loads of natural light - so it can carry this colour off nicely - we also used Dulux Whisper White on all the other wall - including the panelling.

ooh,and here is one of my colour plans, all boxed and getting ready to be delivered to a client this week.

I did mention yesterday that my blog has had a little spring clean - all my services and prices are now listed,just in time for my interview in the Age this weekend - hopefully!!! - did I mention I am a little nervous???, hope it portrays me nicely! hope you all have a great weekend! 

spring clean

I've had a little bit of a spring clean around here (did you notice!!), thanks to this very clever chicky, YES!!!! Katrina from the BLOCK has helped me do what I have been wanting to do for like forever - I am loving her fresh approach and of course love what she has done to my blog - I hope you all do too! I would highly recommend her if you need any help pulling your Blog together! Her business is called the media maid - check her out!

Est e-mag

here is my favorite thing from the just released Est e-mag - the wall hanging is magic.

"Life is SHORT, live your DREAM and wear your PASSION"! oooh and that sequin cushion is LOVE!