BTS : COUCHELO & INTERIORS ADDICT

Had a very busy and creative weekend, it started on Friday night with the second Sydney 7 vignettes event at BoConcept with Darren Palmer as well as a fun photo shoot with team Couchelo. Here are some behind the scenes pictures of what I have been up to as well as a sneak peek at the Couchelo first product shoot. The shoot included lots of goodies from different suppliers around Sydney, new and vintage pieces as well as some very cool retro ones. Stay tuned for the final shots, we were very happy with the results. Make sure to stay up to date with what is happening with Couchelo by clicking here.

The lovely Jacqui Turk - She is a great photographer. You can find out more about her here. 

Styling my only little vignette for Couchelo on Saturday

My BoConcept Vingette on Friday night

Preview of the Couchelo shoot 

Jen and Darren in action

GUEST POSTING FOR THE INTERIORS ADDICT

The lovely Jen gave me the opportunity to Guest Post on Interior's Addict whilst she is away on her honeymoon. Those who follow her and her fabulous blog will know that it was a very big and exciting weekend for her and I am sure just like I was, many of you were checking instagram every so often on Saturday to see any pictures. Whilst Jen is honeymooning around different parts of the world she has a trusty mix of guest posters and a blog sitter who is making sure it is still running and the content is great. There have been already some great guest posts that I am loving and I feel very privledged to be amougst the writers chosen.

Here is a little back story: One of the destinations Jen is off to is the UK, so I wanted to focus on some great talent from Europe and talk about the inspiration that one can get from travelling and exploring different countries. London in particular is very well known for it's markets where you can find many treasures for your home, it is also produces many fabulous designers including Claire Coles, who makes amazing wallpaper. I wanted to showcase her fabulous designs but also capture and inspire the art of being able to find treasures around the globe to fill your interiors.

You know you want to know a lot more, so make sure to head over to Interiors Addict today by clicking here and having a read of my guest post. 

Go now... and get readings! Let me know what you think.

FUN WITH JEN, STEVE & BOCONCEPT

The weekend that was, was a pretty good one especially because it started off with a very exciting event hosted by the ever so lovely Jen Bishop of Interiors Addict. I am a very big fan of Interiors Addict and of 7 vignettes, which was started by Jen herself combining her love of interiors and her love of Instagram. It has reached amazing heights and so many Insta users and Insta lovers from all walks of life. Jen had this brilliant idea to have a 7 vignette meet up where everyone who joins in via social media can meet together in person and get to known one another. It is such a great way to connect with those who you do follow online as well as meeting new people which turn into great new friends, network and gain new followers. It is a win win on all different levels if you ask me! 

This event was held at the BoConcept Store in Sydney, which is a showroom I love and have visited every time I am in the Crows Nest area. It was a great opportunity to have the store to ourselves, look at all the beautiful furniture, enjoy some good food, get instagraming and create our very own vignettes. 

The other amazing part of the night was getting to meet and learn from Interior Design Editor of Belle magazine, Steve Cordony. Such a great experience and we all picked up some great tips from Steve himself on how to create the perfect vignette, not just for photos of course, but for your home. It is a great way of putting all your lovely and funky collectables together on show in an interesting and interactive way in your home. 

Jen herself introducing the event and talking about her love for 7 vignettes. 

My favourite photo of the night, Steve sorting through all the collectables to create his own vignette.

Have you ever wanted to know the secret to creating such great little vignettes? I thought I would share not only my personal unedited behind the scenes look at the event but also some of the great tips Steve gave us all. 

Steve started by making such great points on using height when creating a scene or vignette in your home and having a good base to work from, wether this is a console or a stack of books. Some of his main tips also included, using different textures, flowers, coral, candles ( always have a candle ) , painting, image, statue, vase .... anything you have that you love and shows your personality. It is then important to gather it all together in a manner that allows it to demonstrate a theme or story. You would not put every single object you could find in the one vignette, you have to be selective according to the story you are trying to create. Steve also made the point of using objects that show personality and that you should always mix it up by change the objects around, using different ones, different colours, textures to continually create new stories. He point out that this way you keep your home interesting and refreshing. 

Some great tips there to help you create your own little vignette in your home or even for the next 7 vignettes that will be starting on, the first day of spring, which is in fact my birthday.  

Below you can get a sneak peek into my unedited images that I took myself from the night. I think it is so refreshing to showcase images that are maybe not entirely professional but give you a great insight into the space and the night. There are some great professional ones too on Jen's blog today. I am actually in a couple of the pictures...woohoo... except I didnt know they were being taken, so I do not seem too happy... but I assure you, I was very happy and having a great time. I think I am going to have to get thinking about changing up my candid face for better candid images! 

Loving this rug and artwork from BoConcept Sydney

Very cool Ping Pong table at BoConcept Sydney

Cute candle stick holders! You cannot go past love! 

Steve in action at BoConcept Sydney.

More of Steve in action at BoConcept. So great to see him creating these vignettes
right in front of us.

Steve's very own Vignette.

Very cool simple candle of Steve's.

More Hexagons at BoConcept Sydney.

Funky Artwork at BoConcept Sydney.

Absolutely love this wall paper image at BoConcept Sydney.

JDZ x

SKY HIGH REVIEWS

It was such an exciting and anxious night in many households yesterday as we watched the five teams sell their amazing sky high apartments! I knew it though, Alisa & Lysandra just had the edge and it was really amazing that they are the first female team to ever win The Block. Totally inspirational don't you think? They really do have an amazing design skills and work very hard at achieving their goals and vision, which I think is great. Their apartment was of a very high standard and they are definitely the Kitchen & Bathroom queens, as I have to say the 30/30 bathroom was my absolute favourite!! Such an amazing combination of colours and a perfect example of making brown and black tones work. 

It is such an amazing achievement for all the couples taking home $205, 000 each off their reserves last night. I cannot even begin to image the nerves and emotions you would feel after such hard work, it would really be bitter sweet. The girls plan to put their new found skills to use by setting up their own Interior Design business, which I think is great. It is also great for young woman out there who aspire to achieve big things in their lives, it is beyond true, that if you put your mind to it and keep working hard, it will happen. None of this, woman don't know anything or can't work on site... not true at all! 

Here is a look through their entire apartment and at all the beautiful finishes and colour combinations they used. With good finishes and smart space planning you can achieve great things. 

Congratulations again to Alisa & Lysandra and I very much look forward to posting about them again in the future and staying up to date with what they are doing next.

All images apart from the 30/30 kitchen have been sourced from The Block Sky High website.
The 30/30 kitchen images were sourced from the ever so lovely Jen Bishop's blog The Interior Addict.

Stay turned for more Alisa  & Lysandra news!

Have a great Monday,

JDZ x

THE ROARING TWENTIES, DECO & DICAPRIO

The 1920s has to be one of my favourite eras, the fashion, art deco, elaborate interiors and glam, all of which I think the new Great Gatsby captures amazingly well.

The roaring twenties was a time when the world was booming and with the emerging growth of old Hollywood, the glamour became something that filtered through into large parties, fashion and interiors. 

Can you believe that this was the era that saw the development of the first cocktail cabinet to ever be designed for the home and the radio?

Image sourced from Google Images

What I love about the style of art deco is how simple lines can be turned into beautiful geometric liner patterns. Patterns that were utilised through interiors in window treatments, ceiling detailing and lavish materials. It is my prediction that this period and style is going to become increasingly more in trend than it is now... especially after the display of amazing details in the Great Gatsby. Watch out for 1920s art deco theme parties and events with a jazzy edge, I say. 

Common materials found in Deco style interiors are chrome, gold, black and glass. Co- incidentally we are seeing a lot more of this color combination in particular the use of chrome fittings and fixtures, especially mixed with different timber finishes.  

One of my favourite Interiors Blogs, Interior Addict had a feature a couple of months ago leading up to the premier of Gatsby showcasing one of Australia's famous Interior and Furniture designers Blainey North. Her simplistic and timeless new furniture pieces really capture how art deco has made a come back and how simple elements in a design can really make for a unique piece of furniture. 

Both images sourced from Interiors Addict. Furniture designed by Blainey North.
www.interiorsaddict.com.au
You can read Jen's story on Blainey by clicking on her name.

Another interior that I really feels acts as a great example of how you can take a simple pattern or style and create a really unique feature is this residential design from another top Australian designer, Greg Natale. The gold balustrade detailing is the perfect way to intergrate that little bit of glam and sophistication to a home. 

Image sourced from Interiors Addict. Residential Interior Design by
Greg Natale. 

Even though I have to say I was a lot more interested in the interiors, costumes and Gatsby's extravagant parties, DiCaprio never disappoints and he is still such a hottie! He is looking very sharp throughout the movie and cannot say I would not be completely star struck if I saw him the street. 

Image sourced from Google images.  

Make sure to go and see the movie! 

Enjoy what is left of the weekend, 

JDZ x