DIY: wooden stump vase

Here is a little DIY project for a quiet Thursday!

My project weekend was quite effective. I managed to get a fair bit done but there is still a lot to do. The one project I managed to start and finish entirely (and also the one that makes the least difference around the house. oops!) is this one: a tree-stump vase. Steve’s parents have a pile of tree stumps at their place (I’m not sure why) so I stole a couple. This little one was turned into a vase. It’s pretty simple if you have the right tools and are brave enough to drill into something that small without a clamp or vice thingymebob to hold it in place. Or, you could rope your husband into risking drilling into his hand and/or foot like I did. Thanks babe!

Toolkit
1. Small treestump or large branch.
2. Saw
3. Electric drill
4. Wood spade bit
5. Hole saw bit
6. Candle

This post is thanks to The Happy Home Blog. 

How-to1. Work out how long you want your vase to be and mark where to cut. If your piece of wood is not flat at on end, you might need to cut both ends.
2. Cut piece of stump/branch at desired length so the line is as parallel to the bottom as possible. Mine isn’t quite even but it doesn’t lean too crazily when it’s standing up so is fine.
3. Using a wood spade bit in your electric drill, drill into one end about half way. BE CAREFUL! Chock it somehow if you can.
Alternative (like mine): I also wanted mine to fit tealights and thickish candles so Steve did another couple of steps: he used a wood saw to drill a larger hole about two centimetres into the wood. Because it didn’t go all the way through the wood, it just created a border for the circumfrence and he then used the wood spade several times to cut away the rest of the “hole”.
4. Drip melted wax from a candle into the hole gradually and swirl around the sides slowly so the wax coats the entire inside of the hole. It’s now watertight and ready for flowers!

{images by Belinda Graham for The Happy Home}

aura + adore

Win a $1000 shopping spree with AURA- yippee!

To celebrate the release of the new Spring Summer collection AURA are offering one lucky winner a $1000 Shopping Spree! Thats right $1000 to spend on your favourite AURA products! For your chance to win head over and "like" Aura on Facebook and click the "WIN" box. Then visit www.aurahome.com.au and "like" your favourite product. Good luck everyone! 

Nicolle Kaspar's home tour

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012 AT 9:55AM

Nicolle Kaspar from bed linen label Cultiver recently approached Adore Magazine

with gorgeous images (taken by Hannah Blackmore) of her home.

Here we go... Thank you to Nicolle & Adore!

Nicolle's living room (above) is a space where her family love to spend

a lot of time. "The parquetry in the main room of the house is one of my 

favourite features. There are glass doors along the back wall which open 

right back to the garden: the kitchen is also in this room and a TV area. 

Safe to say, we spend a lot of time here! The table and chairs from 

Orson & Blake are one of my favourite pieces we bought since moving in."

Nicolle says of this bedroom "This bedroom came with shelving built

in along the wall - I immediately pictured a collection of black and

white objects - I must have seen something similar in my years of

scouring shelter mags! The bedside stool is from Abode Living, bedlinen

from Cultiver and accessories from Country Road."

"My daughter’s room, although small, was really fun to decorate. It’s rare 

you get to start a room from scratch without having to incorporate some 

already owned pieces. The prints from Etsy are one of the first things 

I bought. The rocker was bought at a junk shop for $10 and refurbished 

by my husband, I had cushions made with fabric from No Chintz."

Thanks so much Nicolle for sharing your beautiful home!

Mr.

Father's day is just around the corner so I thought I would put together some great pieces for the home to suit the male personality & then a little something from the professionals. Enjoy!

Two Toronto designers transform their century-old townhouse into a stylish masculine retreat.

Malcolm Patterson and Rodney Smith know a thing or two about style. As design afficionados who work with private clients, dress windows for top retailers and contribute their expertise to TV shows (you can see Malcolm's work on HGTV's Pure Design, hosted by Style at Home contributing design editor Samantha Pynn), these guys have the inside scoop on where to shop and how to pull it all together. They've embraced their own open-concept small space and created a mood of high style while maintaining the comforts of home. Carefully pairing luxe elements with some real deals from the local antique market brings an eclectic feel to their space.

Everyone needs a chair when putting on boots or shoes. Malcolm and Rodney were drawn to the humour in this artwork. Viewed up close, the oversize piece is pointilistic; it's only when you stand back that the image reveals itself.

Graphic lines and strong accents give a small space big presence. The vintage chair was an antique-market find. It took homeowners Rodney and Malcolm about 5 years to find the right fabric to re-cover it.

The cabinetry blends into the exposed brick, making the space look less like a kitchen and more like an entertaining hot spot that flows with the rest of the home. "The mirror just ended up there when we moved in," says Rodney. But it tricks the eye by visually expanding the small space.

Create balanced tension with a mix of soft and hard lines. For sculptural interest, the oval table is paired with the iconic Cord Chair, designed by Canadian Jacques Guillon in 1953. Custom drapery and layered rugs add comfort and warmth.

"Our bathroom is so big you could park a Mini in it!" says Malcolm. The vanity, a repurposed stereo cabinet found at an antique sale, provides storage and is a great conversation piece. Sculptural sago palms make a style statement.

Dark enveloping walls -- perfect for cocooning in a basement -- and oversize lamps frame the teak bed, topped with a blue Hermes throw for a luxe touch. Glowing cubes add form and function: they're both bedside tables and lighting.

Rodney Smith (left) and Malcolm Patterson share their small space secrets.

Style at Home: What's your design philosophy?

Malcolm Never compromise; keep hunting until you find the perfect item. Stick with classic, timeless looks.

S@H: How do you set the mood?

Malcolm We make sure our home feels calm, warm and inviting. We insist on putting dimmer switches on everything.

S@H: How do you maximize space when entertaining?

Rodney We use the kitchen island as a bar, which frees up the dining table for eating. If we have more than six people over, the dining table becomes the hors d'oeuvres table. The trick is keeping the flow going.

S@H: What do you tell clients who live in a small space?

Malcolm You don't need to buy small things. A larger sofa will carry your eye farther, giving the illusion of a bigger space. The same goes for drapery. Don't just cover the window -- do the entire wall.

http://www.styleathome.com/homes/small-spaces/small-space-interior-masculine-chic/a/29968/8

http://www.betterlivingthroughdesign.com/furnishings/marble-coffee-table-match-off/

http://interiorshowoff.com/2011/05/unique-design-elegant-curving-leather-chair-by-verpan/ib_s_basic_copyright-2/

http://wuoohniture.com/classic-brown-leather-plywood-lounge-christmas-single-chair-design/modern-classic-single-chair-sleeper-design

http://dornob.com/cutting-rugs-creatively-shaped-area-carpet-designs/?ref=search

http://www.amara.co.uk/blog/top-valentines-gifts-for-him/

http://www.google.com.au/imgres?start=153&um=1&hl=en&biw=1163&bih=650&tbm=isch&tbnid=M0WWaA8ZJzuMDM:&imgrefurl=http://www.buy.com/th/sofa-sectional-set.html&imgurl=http://ak.buy.com/PI/0/1000/233880999.jpg&w=1000&h=1000&ei=muo7UJicGMiUiAepy4HwBg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=117&vpy=314&dur=751&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=128&ty=165&sig=114518638122943269562&page=8&tbnh=139&tbnw=139&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:153,i:247

http://www.likecool.com/cate-Home-53.html

matte black on a monday

Check out our new "It's Monday, but... it's ok!" header! What do you think? I have decided to spark up the daily posts with these fun headers made by yours truly! There will be a new one every day and they will change with the seasons. I hope you enjoy them!

Some designers or home creatives are fearful of brown and black, while others are fearful of white on white. I believe there is always space for new design rules, this means we are allowed to break them! One interior belief we are going to break today is black, "a coat of matte black paint hides a multitude of sins." Tired, battered furniture suddenly seems alive and edgy with a coat of matte black. Gloss finishes, on the other hand, draw attention to any small imperfections, such as chips and nicks. For those internationals try, Benjamin Moore's Ben Waterborne Interior Paint, which is a low-VOC, 100-percent acrylic latex (ideal for painting furniture) in a flat finish in Universal Black. For those in Australia try Taubmans endure.

Ikea make over!

So, with the new Ikea catalogue out I think it is the perfect time for a little sprucing of my bedroom. Nothing too drastic, I would just like a few new items that will help create a different vibe and a cooler feel for summer and spring.

Background info: Currently

• my walls are white
• I have one feature wall which is dark grey
• my desk has white legs and a mirror top
• my cupboards a white
• white bedspread

It's a really nice blank canvas.

Here is what I am thinking after looking at the Ikea catalogue, it's going to be fun deciding on the day!

Neutral tones and a hit of print, which leaves space for some colour!

You can have a look through the Ikea catalogue online or in their new and improved ipad app!

Feel free to leave comments just below or even on the Facebook page on how you think I can improve my selections.

https://www.facebook.com/designformfunction 

black&white delight

Who said that monochromatic interiors are boring?

http://frenchbydesign.blogspot.com.au/

This one proves its detractors wrong by showing how much the black and white palette - coming back BIG time this coming fall and winter in Europe - can be cosy, classy and oh so stylish! Special 'coup de coeur' for the white canvas printed with the black lettered stencils [a cheap and clever alternative to expensive artwork and very versatile, hung on the wall or standing on its own on the floor, sideways]. I am really enjoying the combination of black, white and a touch of wood. I think I'm in love!

Photo Credits : Fabrizio Cicconi for Elle Decoration

KINGfurniture

"Where elegance and personal comfort meet"

King Furniture’s new Plaza sofa arrived in showrooms around Australia over the weekend. 

If you’re looking to spruce up your home this spring, then you will love this latest design from King Furniture. Plaza delivers a stylish and contemporary lift to any living room, its versatile design allows it to easily adapt to any lifestyle or living space. Easily re-adjust the Plaza setting to create a luxurious long sofa, a comfortable double bed for when unexpected overnight guests drop by or into various other looks to suit your home.

Built on King Furniture’s signature, engineered steel frame and Postureflex^® seating system, the deep seated Plaza also features soft feather and ultra down filled back cushions, guaranteeing a highly comfortable sofa you will want to come home to and relax on each night!

Why not let Plaza create the contemporary look and feel you desire for your living room this spring? This latest design exclusive from King Furniture is available with a choice of polished aluminium or low sheen powder coated legs and removable tailored covers in luxurious leathers and fabrics.

Configuration one:

Configuration two:

Configuration three:

Configuration three:

Colours available in the Plaza

http://www.kingfurniture.com.au/

my favourite: copper

I am claiming today as a selfish day to share something I adore, I hope you all enjoy it just as much!

Spoiler Alert: Adore Home Magazine

Here is a sneak peak into the next issue of the Adore Home magazine. Inside is a feature of Emily Ruddo's home.

Emily Ruddo
Designer

Emily's mission is to create one of kind harmonious environments that provide a sanctuary from the stress of everyday life. Her signature style is a blend of unique color choices and traditional chic style demonstrating her capability of creating polished yet livable spaces. Drawing on her East Coast upbringing and years of West Coast residency, her bicoastal design services are a unique blend of East Coast elegance and West Coast style. Seamlessly integrating traditional furnishings with modern colors, fabrics and lighting are trademarks of Emily’s designs. Emily's attention to detail along with her understanding of different lifestyles results in colorful spaces that are traditional with a casual chic twist.

In the midst of a successful career in technology sales and marketing, her hobby of design and rave reviews encouraged Emily to pursue her passion for design full time. Coupling her design talent with the discipline honed by her previous profession, Emily is able to ensure that every client's voice is heard and translated into a design that is custom-tailored to their needs and desired aesthetic. Emily designs beautiful living spaces that make you feel like you are finally home.

http://armoniadecors.com/bio/

Sneaky Saturday

So, I don't normally post on a weekend but I simply cannot help it! Spring is in the air and I always feel like there is fresh inspiration all around as the seasons change.

One company I believe always gets is perfectly correct with floral textile prints is Zimmerman.

It is so easy to walk into their shop and be consumed by their prints. It's like you are instantly transported to their floral fantasy world. More than that, I feel their textile prints can be transferred easily from fashion into home wares. Their designs would look great as a cushion, a throw or even a wallpaper. 

Here are images from their latest catalogue, let's not even discuss the models... horrible, I know! ;)

Here are some images I took while in the Blue Mountains. They just scream spring time!