Chalk Talk's HOT LIST

Julia's kitchen - Inside Out this month and Julia's kitchen before - both look fab@!

lots of crazy things happening lately in the decorator world - and it's time to share them with you - Firstly, I posted on Facebook the cover of the latest Inside Out  Magazine, it is all about colour and who better to showcase this than Super Stylist - Julia Green from Greenhouse Interiors - I have posted about her before here, I have been lucky enough to work with her and she is amazing. I love her energy and easy going nature - she love to share her knowledge, I love that about her - I got to work on an amazing shoot with her a couple of weeks ago and the energy was captivating!! She has only recently joined Inside Out Magazine, but what she brings to the table is amazing - her story in the latest issue is actually her very own house transformed for the shoot - her lounge and kitchen areas.  I have had the pure excitement of walking into her home - my eyes went crazy with excitment - just looking at all the details - that's it, she's a details girl, I LOVE THAT TOO!! More about Julia and I later - stay tuned!!!!!

 Image Decor8

I often get asked......how do you find the time to BLOG - well the answer is simple - I LOVE my blog and I make time for it - I love it so much that I am currently doing a course on blogs by the very talented Holly Becker from Decor8 - she is my blogging hero and her Eclasses are amazing - she is based on the other side of the world but runs her courses through web casts - so this month I am busy doing that in my spare time - you may notice some small changes to the blog as I proceed - you can see her blog here - its loaded with inspiration!!!

Image Decor8

On my HOT LIST at the moment is Kip and Co Bright, who specalise in Bright Boutique linen - believe me this brand is going to be hot - and even more hot once it is seen on someones bed!!! more of that later!!!!!!!!!
Check out their website and do yourself a favour and get a piece of Kip and Co,  my favorite thing to do with this "look at me" bedlinen is to match it back with neutrals to tone it down. Whether it be a neutral/linen look fabric bedhead or a linen doona cover and using Kip and Co pillows or flat sheets - never match it - don't buy the whole set - it looks way to contrived - mix it up - go on, give it a try!! 

Pre order Kip and Co - you are going to be seeing a lot more of this brand!

Another thing that is going crazy at the moment is rugs - use them everywhere - even outside, I have seen this and it actually looks not too bad! What a difference a rug can make to a space. Use rugs like a pieces of art - then choose your other decorator items around it - there are some rug rules you need to follow, but right now, BOLD rugs are HOT!!!

My Tip of the Week - incorporate some greenery into your rooms - look at this image - imagine it without the greenery in the vase - it would look a little stark, adding green in terms of leaves, branches etc is simple and effective. Green is the universal colour - it can be used with any colour scheme and instantly looks amazing. Bring some of  the outside inside! take a look at my instagram pics, to see greenery at my place. Picture from Arent & Pyke

Lastly, gOLd ChaLK is going to be holding a decorators shopping trip - it is going to be  limited to four spaces ONLY. Date will be advised soon. I plan to take you to some fabulous places - all purchases made on the day will be at wholesale price plus 20% - Four places only - Ticket price is $60.00.
the trip will take place in Melbourne and it promises to be a fabulous day! I will be available to answer any decorating question you have, I am also happy to make a home visit as part of the ticket price to help you choose your decorator items wisely!!
Email me if you are interested in pre purchasing a ticket!!! But hurry as places are limited.

talking Rugs on ChALk TaLK this week

Rugs are huge at the moment - in my opinion they can make a room when used correctly, here are a few things I've learnt along the way about rugs that you may find helpful!

1. Patterned rugs are great for two reasons, they help anchor your rooms colour scheme and visually unite a space, and they're slow to show wear-and-tear in high traffic areas - great when kids are involved!!!

 2. A bold, graphic rug creates a dramatic focal point in a room. Let it really sing by choosing a barely there coffee table made of glass, if it's too bold for your taste,a large sturdy table will break up the print and lessen its impact.

3. Use a rug to define areas within a large room. Particularly useful in big open plan spaces.

 4. If you are working with a small space, light or pastel rugs make a room seem spacious while deeper colours create a cozy feeling.

5. don't get stuck in a retangular rut - circular rugs create a sense of movement.

 5. A large rug topped with furniture is more casual than a small rug surrounded by a formal furniture setup.

6. Rugs just aren't for floors. They can be used as wall hangings to create a focal point within a room.


 7.  Size matters - hallway runners need to show some floor on all sides. Dining room rugs should be large enough for chairs to be pulled from the table without catching an edge and scratching the floor

I can help you find the perfect rug for your room, interested? contact me

Blogging your Way - Decor 8

just finished this amazing e course and learnt so much about blogging ( and more) and everything to do with the blogging world, I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves to blog, the content is highly relevant and I got so much more out of it than I ever thought I would.

thanks Holly and Leslie

Decor8 Blogging Your Way

Decor8

I am so excited, I am into week two of Holly Becker's, actually week three of her Blogging Your Way E-course. The content is amazing, and the tips and hints are so valuable. I am loving every minute of it so far, just trying to fit it all in to this crazy busy life of mine at the moment!!!

I have been on her wait list for some time and every time it popped up, the timing just wasn't right - but this time the timing was perfect and here I am blogging my way....Holly and Leslie are creatively amazing, they have done so many work shops at Anthropologie, and her course now includes that content, she is the queen of mood boards, a girl after my own heart, but for now, I am just soaking up all her inspiration...............

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