FEATURE FRIDAY: RADIANT ORCHID

It is nearing the end of 2013 and with that comes the new prediction and nomination for colour of the year from none other than Pantone. Do you know what Pantone is? Well, it is the universal colour chart of all colours for designers and printers alike, it just makes sure that we all have a reference to every colour combination around and it just makes it so easy knowing that we can reference the colour and everyone/anyone you are working with will know the exact combination to achieve the  exact colouring you are after. There is a real art to the printing process and understanding colours and how they transform from digital to print, from screen to paper etc. It really isn't so black and white, as what you may understand to be black, may not be black at all, it may be a really dark brown or blue, so you have to be very careful. Colour variation occurs all the time and it also just doesn't happen from screen to screen it happens when it is applied to different materials and paper weights as well.

It is an exciting time of year to know the Pantone colour prediction for 2014 is here and we know what will be very popular over the next year. I think it is a very good prediction as for the last couple of months leading into the new summer season, the bright as well as pastel colour combination have been very prominent. Just as the name suggests it is very vibrant/radiant and warming... What do you think of the new colour of the year?

Ps: Orchids are my favourite flower!

EMBRACING THE FESTIVE SEASON

As a lot of you already know I am a contributor to the handy man website " Men Behaving Handy" on Fridays and it is a great way to share a lot more of my ideas and advice with everyone around Australia. I wanted to share a link from their blog today because it is fitting the theme for this week, embracing summer and getting ready for the festive season. I have a very special occasion this weekend for some special friends, as well as helping them pull together their dream party, design invites and decorations for the party, it is going to be such a fun night and I cannot wait. Decorating and styling does not stop in your interiors, it continues to your outdoors and can really help you bring a special occasion to life.

So head on over to the Men Behaving Handy Blog to get a lot more insight into styling for your party! Will share photos of Saturday night next week.

Have a great day,
JDZ x

SUMMER LOVIN'

I just had to post quickly about the first day of summer, because it not only marks the true beginning of the festive season but it means those hot days and long summer nights I always rant on about and dream about are coming our way! Lots and LOTS of awesome stuff coming up over this december and just because it is almost Christmas does not mean in anyway we are slowing down... if anything we are busier than ever and loving it. Look out for lots of fun things including my own wish list and gift guide this month.

To mark the beginning of Summer, I am talking all about preparing for your festive season on The Men Behaving Handy blog... so make sure you go and check it out. It is full of tips you will never find anywhere else.

Happy Monday!
JDZ x

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR GREAT OUTDOORS PART 2

At the beginning of the week I was talking about how to embrace your outdoor space during this Summer. It is such a shame not to take advantage of it especially if we have some amazing weather, which I really hope we do because there is nothing like a good dose of the sun. Add friends, food, music and cocktails to the list and you have yourself one amazing outdoor experience. Interiors wether they be indoors or outdoors are spaces which offer a specific type of experience, the thing that makes space so great, especially outdoor ones, is the ability to adapt it and style it in such a way to enhance or generate a particular experience. Currently I am assisting to style a party for a very special occasion, with a summer nights theme and concept, which we are aiming to re create. There are many different elements that are going to contribute to enhancing and making that experience... which by the way, I cannot wait to share with you. The party which I have been giving style advice for has inspired these outdoor posts, especially because you do not need to do a lot to make an exterior outdoor space look and feel amazing, so there is really no better way to embrace them and make them your own, especially as the Christmas season is just around the corner... ahhhh!! ( Who else is freaking out? )

Ikea currently has a great promotion happening at the moment where they are really focusing on the outdoor space and what you can use to achieve a unique and exciting entertaining area that will surely be a great place to enjoy those still summer nights. Here are some images from the Ikea promotion sourced from the Ikea website where you can see how you can create a great outdoor space.

How do you plan on enjoying your summer outdoor space? Hope you have all been having a good week!

All images sourced from the Ikea Outdoor Inspirations page.


JDZ x