FEATURE FRIDAY: FOR THE KIDS

A couple of weeks back I was watching one of my favourite lifestyle shows, "The Living Room." Channel 10, 7:30 every Friday night... I highly recommend you tune in and Barry Du Bois showcased his hot product of the week, Burgerdoodles Wallpaper. It was a great segment and I thought the concept behind the wallpaper was genius, so clearly it was no surprise that Barry got a unanimous "hot" from the audience.

There is just something about walls that screams to a kid... "draw on me..." I know I did it as a kid once and never attempted it again because my mother was far from impressed with my "wall art." This wallpaper really solves a lot of problems when it comes to the kids wanting to colour in the walls as well as being entertained. It makes for great artwork for the entire wall as well as serving a purpose. It is so important to be creative and kids love to colour in, so this product really ticks a lot of boxes. It would be perfect for a play room or kids bedroom and would give the kids the ability to have an impact in the way they wanted to colour and decorate the room with their Burgerdoodle wallpaper.

Here are two links where you can find the wallpaper online, so make sure you take some time to check it out. 1. through the Hard to Find website and 2. through Burgerplex ( just hover over the names, click and it will direct you to the websites. )

Images sourced from Burgerplex & Hard To Find Website.

Happy Colouring,

JDZ x

AND THEN SOMEONE DOES THE NICEST THING FOR YOU

I have lots and lots to share and talk about today because I was absent yesterday, yes I know, I am truly sorry, I have to get my blogging game more organised, but it means that I will sharing a whole three posts today. To start off a Feature Friday day we are so excited to announce that one of our fellow bloggers Susan from One Woman Circus nominated me for a Liebster Award!! Yes, I am jumping for joy a little inside because this blog is very important to me, not just because I love writing but it really is my way of connecting with the world, design or not and giving back what I can and inspiring people.

Image sourced from One Woman Circus blog. 

Liebster Awards are about the blogging community and assisting other bloggers out there grow their reader base. What a fantastic idea because we have to agree, sharing is caring. One Woman Circus does a great and funny wrap up on what the awards are about, so I really suggest you go and find out a little more from her. Get a little more insight into me and check out the answers to the questions from the lovely One Woman Circus:

1. What was your last dream about? 

The last dream I can remember was from last night and it actually included my boyfriend's dog Britney... yes she is name after Britney Spears, but she was not acting like her in the dream that is for sure.

2. If you woke up tomorrow and were 8 years old again, what would you do? 

I'd make myself practice my violin and would not give it up! After a good 6 years of lessons as a kid I now as an adult cannot remember a thing... a bit of a waste if you ask me.

3. One Direction - awesome or shite?

... not really a huge fan.

4. What are your favourite tracks you're listening to right now?

Anything by Haim, it has been on continuous repeat for a couple of months now. 

Hold on, we're going home- Drake 

5. If you could have one superpower what would it be?

The ability to be invisible... something akin to Harry and his invisible cloak, but a bit better than that. So if necessary I could not be seen but still be present...yes a little sneaky I know. 

6. What food do you hate the most?

Oysters! Yuck! ... Much to my boyfriend's disapproval I might add.  He has taken it upon himself to have various attempts at making me eat them. Just saying... it is never going to happen, sorry Ev... time to give it up! 

7. If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?

Tough question! But it would be pasta with fresh tomato sauce.  I am from an Italian background... I think that says it all. 

8. Cats or dogs? Pick a side.

Dog all the way! Sorry Sylvester ( Much to my initial disapproval my parents adopted a cat when our 15 year old dog passed away. Syl is slowly winning me over... slowly... ) 

9. If you could have your time again, what profession would you take?

Id like to think I would always be true to my creative self and I love my job so I would not change it... but... and I know you could feel the but coming. I have always wanted to do Pharmacy, so I think if I could have my time again, I may try it out. However, you'd probably find me changing back into design. There really is no escape for me! 

10. Aliens - real or not ? 

Real! There has to be other life forces out there. I mean, if they look and are like Max Evans from Roswell, it's fine by me. By the way... best Alien show EVER! It was an after school ritual, thank you Fox 8 from 12 years ago. 

Blogs I nominate: 

Lona De Anna

Ben Gowing's  Art Blog 
Our Little Home

Questions you can answer if you would like: 

1. What is your favourite colour and why?

2. If you could be a 18 year old again, what would you do? 

3. What inspires you?

4. What are you listening to right now? 

5. Winter or Summer? Pick a side!

6. If you had to have dinner with one celebrity who would it be and why? 

7. When I hear the word creative, what is the first thing you think about? 

8. Who is your favourite Superhero? 

9. If you were stuck on an Island and were only allowed three things, what would they be? 

10. You are looking forward to Christmas because...? 

Thank you again to the lovely One Woman Circus for nominating me and getting me to answer all these questions. Hope you enjoy the post and a huge hello to all my new readers! The blog will be getting a makeover soon, so make sure to watch this space! 

LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT FLOORS

Seeming as I was rattling on about custom rugs yesterday and I have a rug guide on my blog, which you can quickly find by clicking here, I decided to continue the talk about floors today AND tomorrow.

Are you familiar with Carpet Court? They have recently over the last year had some great ads and marketing campaigns centred around the concept that every good design begins with the flooring. And to be honest, it is pretty true because floors are like shoes, if you do not have good shoes on with your outfit or shoes that match, it is not a very good look. Floors are a very important surface, as just like walls they run right throughout any given space. It is a surface that we use for sitting, walking, running and cleaning... it is the surface that separates us from our slab in a home and it is what allows us to be comfortable or create a really unified unique look in any given interior. Different floors are often required for different types of interior spaces and environments, which can be a great way to create amazing spaces but most importantly you have to get it right so it is always handy to know about your options.

One of Carpet Court's design Ambassadors is one my favourite Australian Designers, Darren Palmer, who I have had the pleasure of meeting in person and I can tell you he is every bit as lovely in person as he is on television. Darren Palmer in collaboration with Carpet Court have just announced his new flooring range Provincial Lane, which I have to say I am pretty excited about. It is a great range that is going to be cost effective and elegant for residential interiors. The collection is made up of stylish laminates, 100% wool, bamboo and a vinyl that looks like european planks of timber. What I really like about this is that it these products become so accessible to everyone and assists them to achieve a designer look in their home without it blowing the budget.

There are six different flooring options available currently in the Provincial Lane range by Darren Palmer, each with many different colour options. I cannot wait to see some samples of it in person! There is also a huge promotion running at the moment where you can win $15,000 worth of new flooring for your space but entering online at the Carpet Court website, so make sure you do.

You can find out more about Carpet Court and Darren Palmer's new collection by visiting the website by clicking here. You can enter the competition via this link or via their Facebook page.

Image sourced from the Carpet Court Facebook page.

JDZ x

CUSTOM MAKING A RUG

For my current project we have a massive long hallway that needs filling and warmth. Due to its size and the nature of the home I have the opportunity to custom make the runner. I have something very specific in mind so it is great that Cadrys are going to assist me in making it come together.

There is so much to consider which you may not really think about, different pile colours, the loops, what type of material to have made from, should we have texture, no texture and mixtures of colours.
We are going for a very worn rustic look ... but let me just put it out there, it is not your typical rustic brief. Colours have not been exactly decided yet as we have some options, but here are some sneak peek behind the scenes at some of the colours and patterns that inspired me during my recent visits.

Cannot wait to keep revealing more and more! Make sure to keep up to date with this exciting project.

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

BEHIND THE SCENES: HIGH TEA

A couple of months ago I shared with you some progress shots of a design I was working on for my "Paper Art" side of JDZ Designs. Now I can reveal it was for a lovely client who is getting married next year. She is having a very lovely themed "high tea" kitchen tea and came to me for inspiration on creating a unique and elegant design that would embody the theme as well as be a little unique. So we ventured together in creating some pretty awesome tea bag inspired invitations that I have to say I am really proud of. I designed and made them all by hand and cannot wait to deliver her package very soon!

Today I spent majority of the afternoon setting up a shoot that showcased the invitations in a high tea vintage setting, which was also super exciting and lots of fun to do. Here is the big reveal and a behind the scenes look at today's shoot.

All images are sourced and supplied by JDZ herself, the design is copyrighted- "Paper Art" by JDZ.
If you ever want to use these pictures for inspiration, all I request is that you kindly ask me first.

If you have any questions or merely want to comment on them please do so as well as emailing me at info@jdzdesigns.com.au


Have a great afternoon,
JDZ x

WHO KNEW COW HIDE PATTERN COULD BE TAKEN TO A NEW LEVEL?

If you a blog fan like me, you will know that like many, one of my other most favourite interior blogs is Interior's Addict. Seeming as we showcased an interview with the Twins taking out the winning title for The Block 2013 it was only fitting I featured a product which the bathroom queens think is "hot" right now. Both twins have been guest posting on Interior's Addict over the last month and been giving some handy hints on renovating and design. Through the blog post on Interior's Addict, which you can find by clicking here, I was introduced to Parisi Bathware, which is selling the quirkiest bathroom vanities and toilets I have seen to date.  These cow inspired, four legged free standing and wall hung basins/toilets are really cool and such a great feature piece for a fun bathroom design. They are manufactured entirely in Italy by Art Cream and designed by Sandro Meneghello and Marco Paolelli of Meneghello Paolelli Associati.  Bathrooms are often underestimated especially if they are a small area, however, with so many different funky options out on the market, I think it is difficult not to be able to achieve a functional yet fun design. There are no way of getting around it, it is a very functional area of the home that is utilised for many things and should not be over looked when designed. It should be calming, practical and full of personality in my opinion... because honestly why make a space that has so much purpose boring? 

What I like about the four legged "Cow" range is it's slim lime profile that screams of classical and elegant design inspiration. It really demonstrates that inspiration is always all around us and can really assist in creating beautifully designed and functional pieces. To me Cow is a very clever design that has been interpreted through pattern and practicality in a very unique way. It is available in many different colours through selected Parisi Bathware stores. Parisi also has a great collection of bathware and door hardware, which I discovered whilst looking through their website. Cow is not the only funky bathroom range they have, they have some amazing free standing basins that can assist in creating a great bathroom for any given brief. 

All images sourced from the Parisi Blog, which you can find here as well as their website. 

If you want to see more of Alisa's tips on what is hot right now for your home, read more on Interior's Addict by clicking here.