FRIDAY FAVS // TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE

I have two contrasting favourites this week, but together I am sure they could make a sophisticated 

looking interior landscape. 

I love everything about Tom Dixon and his designs but I am in love with

these almost architectural vases... which are just that

pieces of mini architecture to create a unique style and look

 for your home.  They are called "Tank."

My other favourite thing is actually a colour, which is inspired by

Darren Palmers room make over on last weeks 

Thursday evening session of the Block. 

It was a great show full of great inspiration and tips. 

Pastels are in at the moment and they shouldn't be looked upon as 

un sophisticated and child like because used in the right 

context and in a mature way it can be the perfect way

to add soft colour and personality to a dull space. 

Blues are also very calming and can really assist

to create a really sophisticated yet fun look. 

Plus a little metallic never hurt anyone. 

Colour: Dulux

Tank Vases: Tom Dixon

Image sourced from the Tom Dixon website. 

MEET THE DESIGN TWINS

Have you heard or discovered the latest amazing set of homewares yet? You all know how much I love concrete so it is really no surprise when I say how much I love the designs by this dynmaic duo, Crystal and Mitch, better known as The Design Twins.

Last month Crystal took the time to chat to us about all things design and business, what inspires them and what they believe is the key to success. I want to take this opportunity to thank The Design Twins for taking part in this feature to share with all my amazing readers, I have not been able to publish this until I got back on Australian land so now that I am back, it is the first feature of many more to come.

I know music has been a huge part of your life, how do you think it has helped you channel your creativity into what you are doing at the moment? 

Music gave me the strength and persistence to pursue what we are doing now with Design Twins. Our products are definitely influenced by music and fashion, allowing us to create unique and bold pieces. 

You create some really unique and interesting pieces. What is your creative process? 

With our designs, we always think of the craziest idea possible, to the point of where it can't be made and then bring it right back to a products that is practical, logical and beautiful. For instance, with our concrete pillows, we thought of large outdoor pillows. These would be heavy and not practical, so we created mini pillows for candles, keys and jewellery! 

We have noticed you use concrete, what gave you the idea to use it? And is there another material both you and “Twinnie” would love to introduce? 

We started off with a bag of concrete in our kitchen sink and the craziness went from there! We realised it could be shaped into ANYTHING and we wanted to take it from being a DIY project to the next level of crazy homewares. We would LOVE to introduce copper or steel into the designs somehow. We love all things marble, copper, leather, glass and recycled timber!!

What would be the best three words to describe what The Design Twins is all about? 

CRAZY, UNIQUE, FUN!

What do The Design Twins believe is the key ingredient in working to make your dreams come true? 

Love what your doing and keep persisting even when everything seems impossible. There have been so many times when we wanted to give up, but we just knew that if pushed through, something unique was going to be created.

What would you consider would be the most important step you took in making the business happen?

Moving out of our kitchen sink, to a workshop, where we could experiment with designs in a bigger and better scale.

What do you believe is the best part about having your own business and what would be your piece of advice for those wanting to follow their passions? 

We get to work the hours we choose, although lately its been from 10am until 1am most days, we hope to reduce that to some type of normality soon. We get to do fun things like snorkel on our lunch breaks, as we live on a reef! If you have a dream, don't give up on it! Stay curious. Stay creative. Stay hungry!

You can find The Design Twins website and products by clicking here. 

All images have been sourced from The Design Twins website and Instagram page. 

THE WONDERS OF CONCRETE

Image sourced from Hard Goods

Have you been noticing it everywhere too? Well, if you have not, start paying attention because concrete is a material which is used almost everywhere, foot paths, buildings, roads, homes .... did I mention it is everywhere? Well, now concrete is becoming the latest and hottest trend right now in furniture and decoration. I know what you are thinking... really? Yes, really it is and trust me, it works so well and can really look fantastic.

I think it is very interesting how this new trend is being approach and it is quite refreshing to see how many can adapt the use of a material that is primarily used in major construction, break it down and turn it into something really stylish that can be used around the home. It is literally popping up in everything, pendant lights, pot plants and even furniture.

Those who have been following my posts for a while now will know how much I love mixing textures and how that is such a great way to create a layered interior, so it really wont be coming as shock when you hear me say that, concrete in your home, kitchen bench tops and bathrooms is seriously awesome.

Some may think that it is cold and would make a space quite harsh, but like anything treated in the right way, textured and layered with other materials such as timber, copper, gold, brass, warm lighting and other stones it will be anything but. One of the other great techniques we are seeing coming through with the concrete is the rendering inside the home. Usually render is used for outside of the house but more and more it is becoming a much more popular application inside to really create a high end industrial, loft feel.

Here are just a few photos to inspire and demonstrate how concrete is really the hot trend right now!! Let's hope it does not become a fad!

Sourced from My Pinterest 

Image sourced from Wallpaper Decor

Image sourced from Slabhomewares

Image sourced from Pinterest 

MY FAVOURITE ONLINE STORE

My favourite online store is Citta Design! I really love their fresh approach to collections, quirky details as well as how they want to create feeling with their designs. To me design is all about how it makes you feel as well as expressing your personality, well for your home anyway. So for me, these guys would be the first place I would start looking if I had my own place. ( One day heres hoping! )

They have a new winter collection called "A Winters Tale " that has just launched, and just by looking at it I begin to feel warm and fuzzy. Want to check it out for yourself? Here is a preview of the collection below which can all be found on their website by clicking here. 

All images sourced from Citta Design website ... and how cute

is this dog? 

HOW TO GET STYLE WITHOUT THE PRICE TAG

Knowing how to bring a typical room or space in your home to life is something many of us struggle with. How does one bring style and life to a room that is neutral or lacking in colour? It is such a loaded question and I am sharing a story and room reveal with you today that it is going to show you first hand how easy and inexpensive it can be. It is going to inspire you to no end and demonstrate how having a little courage and fun with colour in a pre existing space is the answer.

As you all already know, I am one of the experts on The Design Tribe forum, where anyone can post up questions or topics to do with anything lifestyle or interiors. I love it because it is such a great resource for design addicts and lovers of interiors, as well as many who are seeking a little bit of extra assistance or quick expert opinion if they are renovating. Kellie posted up a pictures of her existing living room ( which you can see below ) and asked for assistance with colour, as she was unsure of what colours would help bring her existing living room to life. She also wanted to know about adding in an open book case and how to style it. I immediately jumped on Pinterest and grabbed a few colour inspirational pictures and gave her as much direction and advice I could. Immediately I pin pointed that filling in the area near the TV was a good idea with the open book case, but I also felt that using existing blue cushions would be a starting point for colour. This neutral palette and beachy blue gave me the impression of a relaxed space, which meant my main advice was to play off it but to contrast it with another bolder colour. A warmer colour like an orange always works well when you have light timber tones and not to mention works fantastically against shades of blue. I had extreme faith that Kellie could take the advice given and make the changes she was wanting to make.

A couple of busy weeks later, I hadn't had a chance to head to The Design Tribe forum for a couple of days, so when I did, I was surprised by these fantastic after shots from Kellie's post. I was extremely happy with the result, not to mention how she and her husband took on board the advice and translated it into their space.

You all know I am super passionate about being an Interior Designer and helping my clients, so for me this was again confirmation that assisting people to make their spaces come to life, even in the simplest of forms is so rewarding. This is also why I am sharing and revealing the before and after pictures ( including their dining room ) with you all. It is a perfect example of how simple principals can be applied to an existing space to create a completely different look and finishes style.

Kellie and her husband utilised simple pieces like artwork, cushions, throws, pineapples ( we all love a good pineapple homewares piece ) birds, candles, books, vases to style the space. What is even more fantastic is that they shopped at really accessible stores that have great products at great prices that won't break the bank.

Products that have been brought and used to style this living and dining room have been sourced from, Big W, Loot Homewares, Kmart, Bunnings, Ebay, Local Opshops, Target, Reject Shop, Groovy Homes, Impodino Gift Shop, Society6, Ikea and Masters... just to name a few. 

Just goes to show a price tag and fancy furniture stores are not always the answer and are not always the answer to style. 

 If you would love us to give you advice and assist you on your latest project why not send us an email at info@jdzdesigns.com.au and find out how one of our e-styling packages can guide you to achieve the same. 

Sign up to my Newsletter to get lots of inspiration for free into your inbox! Click here! 

I want to thank Kellie for giving me the ability to share these photos with you all as a great example on how it easy it is with little details and colour to create a new look. I would also like to say that I am so proud and happy of the result that they have created and think their newly styled living and dining room looks great.

 Make sure you check out The Design Tribe later this week too, as we are guest posting about. 

Before 

After

FEATURE FRIDAY: THE SOCIAL SCENE

One of the most important parts about being in Interiors is being in the know with trends and all the very important events. The events season is being kicked off this year by Decoration + Design at the beginning of February this year with many more to continue. They are strictly trade only events but they are so much fun and a great way to surround yourself in all the information and products your brain can absorb.

Here are the three top events happening in February this year! Am I going to be seeing you at any of them?


Decoration + Design 
The Reed Gift Fair
Home and Giving 


Ps: The blog is getting another make over!!! So exciting... and it is coming up in the bloggers world, so stay tuned for some pretty awesome developments.

Pps: What are you all up to this Australia Day long weekend!?

7 ITEMS ON MY CHRISTMAS WISH LIST

I am sharing my top 7 things on my wish list this Christmas, information is below the images. What is on your Christmas wish list this year? 

1. Glass House Candles - Not only do they smell absolutely amazing, they are just really good looking as well. I am very much lusting over the Little Black Dress one and want it to add to my collection. 

2. An awesome pendant light for my office- Yep, you read correctly, I am dying for an awesome pendant light for my office and to be exact, this one is from Matt Blatt and I want it! 

3. My very own designed Isola tote page - Do I have to say anymore? 

4. Another Fiel Sol Necklace - Cannot go past these beautiful pieces, they are my favourite necklaces and you cannot ever have too many. 

5. Marc Jacobs Laptop case - This Island Life laptop case is a perfect match to my lovely new MacBook Pro

6. Kikki K A Sentence a day - Being grateful for everything we have in our lives is so important and what better way than to achieve it with these beautiful stationary pieces 

7. Pastel Triangle Artwork - Beautiful simple pieces to have hanging on your wall in your home. 

BEC MARKS THE SPOT

Were you a fan of The Block Sky High? Well, a lot of you may know that yes we did apply for next years season of The Block, however unfortunately we didn't get chosen! Oh well, it was not meant to be... this time round anyway. I have been a fan for a very long time of the show and last year's season was not only very eventful but had some great constants that we grew to love watching. One of those couples was definitely Bec & George, who really fought their battles and had a very challenging experience, but took it all in their stride with a very positive attitude and kept going. Bec has now launched her own website dedicated to all things that Bec loves, including fashion, beauty and homewares. It is a great space dedicated to sharing a lot about her, her family, experiences on the show and everything that she really loves. She has been showcasing some great new products and I really look forward to following her blog. As you all know I am a big supporter of blogging and love doing it. As an Interior Designer it is so important to have as many resources as possible when it comes to knowing all the new products and what is in trend, so having another great blog on my resource list to check into is very helpful.

Make sure you take a look at her blog here.

Hope you are all having a lovely Tuesday,

JDZ x

WHERE FASHION MEETS INTERIORS

More and more we are seeing a real continuation between fashion and interiors, well, in fact I feel with any kind of design there really is not a huge gap between them at all, so it does not surprise me that they all mix to become one eventually. So really what I am saying is that they complement each other on various levels as well as influence, especially when it comes down to the latest fashion trends, what is hot in Europe and how it continues later in the year down in the Southern Hemisphere.
What makes this more prominent for me is the many fashion labels or homewares labels expanding into each other, same goes for stationary, they are all dipping their design toes into all areas.

The latest is Gorman... are you familiar? If not you can visit the fashion website here, but more importantly check out their really funky, understated, playful and Sportsgirl marketing inspired circa 90's here. What I really like about it is that the products are the usual pieces you would find in any homewares store, however their stock really is the essence of the playful, organic style of the Gorman brand and identity. The products themselves have real personality, instead of the objects being generic and you liking it because it reflects your personality... a huh! Get what I did right there? Made you think didn't I?

Their products would make for a perfect Christmas gift if you have a friend who loves quirky pieces and interiors.

Images sourced from Gormans website.

Happy Wednesday,

JDZ x

FEATURE FRIDAY: GET READY FOR SUMMER WITH KAS

With such beautiful weather and summer just around the corner there has been a lot of talk through my blog and others about getting your home ready for the hot weather. Spring cleaning, de cluttering and brining the summer vibe right through your home are topics which are really hot right now. KAS a leading Australian contemporary and youthful homewares brand has hit this brief right on the head with their new summer campaign. Tropics, Island Escapes, Pineapples, cocktails, travels... it is all the rage this spring summer 2013/2014, which KAS captures without a doubt in their very vibrant new collection. It makes me want to jump on plane en route to somewhere tropical, when looking at the images because clearly it evokes the real need to be hiding away on a beach in the sun! Thankfully it is the long weekend down here in Sydney and we are expecting beautiful weather.

What I really love about this KAS collection is the vibrant colour combinations as well as mix matching of different patterns on the one cushion or bedding range. That is very clever and usually we do not see that type of attention to detail on a retail level,  but more so when the designer has the control over upholstery and knows that mixing two different prints or colours on the one surface will work beautifully. I also like that along with the vibrant range they have interpreted the ever so popular grey and made it a little more fancy and earthy to match the summer theme. Which I think is a great idea, as it gives you the ability to differentiate between casual vs more fancy homewares/accessories. We are also seeing geometric again, which I love but an introduction to the ever so popular water colour prints this season, which are a nice contrast and softer in colour and pattern.

Take a look and be inspired by the beautiful colour combinations and patterns. Images have been sourced from the KAS Summer Catalogue and can be found here. For more information on KAS or to buy any of their beautiful products make sure to visit the website by clicking here.

I'd also like to say, their styling team and design team have done an absolutely amazing job creating these beautiful images. They are very very well done!

Enjoy the long weekend! We hope this inspires you.

JDZ x

LIVING THE GOOD LIFE

Living a good and happy life is all we want to achieve and I believe this is not just achieved through material things but can be complemented by beautiful homewares and accessories that assist in creating your 'perfect' lifestyle. Have any of you ever been to Greece? I am dying to go and it is on my list of places I must visit, along with all of Europe again. Europeans seem to know how to live the life and are always striving for fun, happiness and a life that is good. This brings me to my new online homewares discovery of CITTA Designs, a New Zealand based design house that specialises in textile & homewares design.

Their 2013/2014 summer range is based on the inspirational life and culture of Greece. The designs are to captivate the culture and good feelings that are associated and cultivated around summer, lying in the sun and living in the present moment. A philosophy I believe so strongly in, so you can only imagine my love for this collection, 'Greece Under The Sun.' It is a really tough thing sometimes to translate emotions that we associate with a certain belief or inspiration and them communicate them successfully through your designs so they are able to connect with your clients. When it is achieved and achieved well, it makes for great design. This is what I felt immediately when I started sorting through the CITTA Designs catalogue, I immediately got it! It communicated to me the love of colour, Mediterranean, life and summer. The designs have meaning as well as purpose, which I really love. The colours are exciting and beautiful too, blues, oranges, yellow, white, reds all connecting us back to those days in the sun and the sense of living the good life.

To find out more make sure to head over to their online store and website by clicking here. Take some time to watch their video too, it really explains what they are about and how they go about giving you the opportunity to live the good life through their designs.

Check out some images from their 2013/2014 Greece, Under The Sun collection.

All images sourced from their website. 


Happy Wednesday,

JDZ x