JDZ STYLE | CHRISTMAS WISHLISHT

I tend to add things consistently throughout the year to my Christmas wish list as well as my own gift ideas for my family and friends, as it is a time that allows me to give back as well as create a meaningful list that will allow me to steer my gift givers in the right direction. 

Today I am sharing what is exactly on my Christmas wish list and consider it a gift guide with all these fabulous websites having so much to offer. All the details are below! 

1. Cool cushion from Sparkk

2. Cant go wrong with a Fiel Sol piece

3. Have to be organised in 2015

4. So I can take on my boyfriend and show him who's boss

5. Add some colour and style to my desk - Shop in store at Coco Republic 

6. A unique ornament for the Christmas Tree - Shop in store at Coco Republic

7. Cant go past great scents and relaxing candles

8. A constant reminder from my favourite mag

Seasons Greetings and happy shopping!
Make sure to click on the items to be directed to the websites.
All images were found directly on the linked site. 

THIS YEARS SEASON GREETINGS

I have been so very quiet and not attentive to the blog in a long time. Working on the new website and all the new projects rolling in has really taken up a lot of time, but do not fear in 2015 I will be back consistently and this blog will be getting a make over again to suit the new look website.

If you have not checked out the new site yet, make sure you do by clicking here... it has only recently been finished and completed! Have to say I am very proud of it and the direction in which the business is going!


Thank you to all my lovely clients, readers, supporters, cheerleaders and friends who have been so supportive of my work and my business from the get go. This is our second year celebrating a business christmas and I have to say I love it. During our last stay in Albury over the weekend, finishing off one of our longest standing projects, we celebrated the end of the year with a 4 hour canoe ride down the Murry River. It was so peaceful and a great experience... even if we were singing Taylor Swift.

Wishing you all a very safe, peaceful and joyful Christmas and New Year!! 

Look forward to a very creative 

New Year and 2015!

JDZ


Ps: 

We're on holidays from Friday the 19th of December till 12th of January 2015

DO YOU LIKE SYMMETRY?

Today's post is an extension of last weeks popular blog on "How To Think Like An Interior Designer." I am going to be blogging about each individual tip I mentioned for the next couple of weeks to bring to you an extended understanding and inspiration on how to manage your renovation and spatial planning more effectively.

The first point I made, which is something that I consistently think about, but mainly when looking at a blank canvas is... symmetry. So, if you are right in the middle of sitting down with an architect or designer to sort out the bones of the new space you are renovating, make sure to think about it's composition. Now not all compositions are symmetrical, but what I mean when it comes to symmetry is attempting to achieve a sense of "even-ness" ( yes I just made up a word ) within certain elements in that space.  Think about windows, heights of windows, lines matching up with other lines, walls matching up or in line with other walls, entry spaces opening up into symmetrically placed windows or positioned centrally looking onto a whole set of bifold doors. Think about how the lines will impact the space visually when it is complete... which by the way is NOT an easy task to achieve, but if you flex that imagination like a muscle it begins to grow and grow. These are all very important things and details that often get missed, which can often take your space from "oh it's lovely" to "wow." Spatial planning is all about experience as well as functionality so having these points in the back of your mind will assist in creating a very unique but functional experience for those who occupy the space.

The thing is, space is all about YOU, which is a core belief of my business by the way, YOU have to love your space, YOU have to understand your space and YOU have to live in your space, so symmetry and things being consistant in a home is very important wether you realise it or not. People love things being symmetrical, it is aesthetically pleasing and it allows you to feel comfortable. It is almost like a little obsessive compulsive disorder in having everything in its rightful place and positioned correctly. This is why for me and someone who is quite compulsive about the details, symmetry in spatial planning is essential, even if it is just as simple as having the windows symmetrically next to each other in a wall or even in lighting or a simple pattern.

That does not have to say that things cannot be a little uneven. Compositions come into play a lot more when it comes down to styling, which is a whole other blogpost for another day.

Hope you are inspired to be a little more even and symmetrical in your day today. Images in todays post are sourced from my Pinterest so make sure to follow me.

THINK LIKE AN INTERIOR DESIGNER

I cannot help but examine whenever I walk into a space, it can be any space, a new hotel, restaurant I am eating at, home etc. I love taking in all of the different elements and I always ALWAYS look up, which by the way not many people do… really there is a ceiling? Lots can be

achieved when it comes to a ceiling. I love touching walls and often feel like a bit of an odd ball when I secretly try and feel the wall to see what kind of finish it is, especially if it is a wallpaper, 

material, metal or timber… I cannot help it, it is built in.

When it comes to renovating and designing a home, these are kind of details that we as interior designer think about when planning. We also very much consider how the space is going to be used and experienced. It is a pretty difficult skill but if you can get it right and nurture it, you can 

become a real pro at understanding how to best use a space and how to make the most of what 

you have.

Here are my top five favourite things to look and how to think like an Interior Designer when you are knee deep in your next renovation.

1. Symmetry 

2. Zoning 

3. Light 

4. Scale 

5. Little Details 

WHEN PALETTES RETURN

Since getting back from my recent trip, which completely inspired me in all aspects of my work ( Yes you are thinking correctly, there are big changes coming AGAIN to JDZ Designs, including a whole lot more of me... i'll explain closer to reveal date ) I have been in an absolute funk and everything I see reminds me of where I have been and what I was doing. The great thing about this however is that it has really opened my eyes to the emerging pastel palette that is making a come back this spring and summer.

How is it making a come back might you ask? Well, I keep seeing it teamed with lots of metals including the very popular copper. So if you have been seeing these tones around in your favourite homewares shops lately then you are not imagining it. It also makes sense when I was talking about my aqua colour palette merely two weeks ago.

The colours are fresh as well as warm and playful when teamed with copper.

I do have to say you will see some images of my favourite place Santorini as I am still in post holiday funk.

Take a look through my Pinterest for more inspiration, including the images I am sharing today.
These images demonstrate exactly the new season colour trends that are ever emerging and expanding so make sure to keep your eye out.

BROMLEY

I have not spoken much about art on the blog but I have been eyeing off the amazing work of David Bromley for sometime now and thought it was time to share.

David Bromley is an Australian and British artist and is known for a mixture of different genres, but my favourite has to be the series of female portraits. What I love about them most is their intriguing nature and colour combinations. Their simplicity and minimalistic detail in the line work is also to be admired, as the art itself does not at all feel simplistic but gives you a very deep understanding of the persons body and shape. The femininity of the artworks are not over the top and are a perfect piece to create a huge impact in a room, which is what you always want art to do. It allows you to incorporate colour in a very simple way which is what good art should also do for your space. The curated tones of colour are also what give the artworks more depth, which has to be my favourite element.

I first discovered Bromley when working on a clients apartment and was taken a back by the scale and colour of the portrait. It was intimate and the perfect piece for you to be intrigued into how the space opens up into the master bedroom. It has recently been showcased on this season of The Block as the centre piece of a dining room. I have to say I personally really love abstract art however these portraits have caught my eye as unique and striking. I really want to find out more about the girl in all these nude portraits and I will get investigating. What do you think about his artwork? Do you like it?  Let me know by commenting below.

Photograph by Jacqui Turk

All images except the last one can be found on my Pinterest. Follow me and be inspired by clicking here. 

WELLNESS // KICKING INTO GEAR A HEALTHY MINDSET

One of the main things I love about being in business for myself is all the amazing like minded people that I meet and can say are my friends. Building a community of people that you can trust and understand what it is like to be in business is essential. There is no BS when it comes to these kind of friendships and no sense of competition because we are all out there to help each other shine as we all want to live our own dream. Which for me is amazing because there is nothing more that I think is detrimental to business growth and that is not sharing and not opening yourself up to new friendships and networks that can help you in more ways then one.  

Today I want to introduce you to my good friend Jenna, who is on an amazing journey to share her message of wellness and love with her tribe. Jenna has such a wealth of knowledge and not because she is studying and constantly learning about business, health, wellness and couching but because she has been through her own transformational journey that has lead her to this point. A point where she has turned her own health and body around. See Jenna was diagnosed with inherited bleeding disorder at the age of 16 which took her on a journey of many personal up and downs but brought her to a point where she took control of her health and turned it all around.

Jenna believes in making your health your own and so do I. You may be asking, why do we believe it is our own and not for someone else to dictate? Well it is simple, your body belongs to you and you have a duty of care to yourself to do the up most to nurture it to its highest potential. Some may feel that it is really difficult and it is, starting to take control of your health and your lifestyle is so difficult, it brings up lots of fear and resistance but once we take those first few baby steps, the change and what comes with it is worth it.

This is why Jenna has put together a Getting Started Workbook ( ebook ) explaining the key steps that she knows works on making your healthy journey a successful one and one that suits you.

I am sharing this with you all today because not only do I believe in Jenna and her new workbook, plus and super proud of her but because we all need to have a starting point and this is the perfect place. The beginning of this healthy journey that you will take will lead you elsewhere, into creating a healthy home too which is what I am all about!

So how do you get a hold of your free copy? Well, it is easy, head on over to her website by clicking here and sign right up! It is that EASY! She will send you your workbook and you can get started!

Insight without action is worthless so I urge you to take the first initial baby step and turn your health around. 

Image sourced directly from her website, My Missing Factor.