Soft Furnishing 2008...

How appropriate - next semester our first project is designing & creating a bedroom makeover.

Check out the Boudoir style post from an article in last weeks SMH - essential magazine.

We'll be designing & creating bedlinen, doona sets, luscious cushions, simple window treatments, bed throws etc etc....

Start collecting ideas - catalogs, pictures, web sites.

You might light to add any interesting sites (web addresses) in your replies - we/I can start creating a de.licio.us site for next year's unit for all to access.

NB - Del.icio.us is a social bookmarking website -- the primary use of del.icio.us is to store your bookmarks online,which allows you to access the same bookmarks from any computer and add bookmarks from anywhere, too. An added benefit - the whole group can access.

The boudoir beckons....

Create your own bedroom haven by appealing to all your senses.

Soft Lighting - bedside lamps with a warm glow and a chandelier are popular boudoir choices. Avoid harsh down lights.

Furnish for relaxation - crate a nook where you can sit and enjoy quiet time.

Character windows - the key to a beautiful boudoir is in the drapes. No featureless blinds here, but rich, personality drapes that are lined and heavy and puddle extravagantly onto the floor.

Subtle colour - soothing hues are those that are greyed down so the colour is less clear and pleasantly shifts with changing light. Popular choices are warm mochas, celadon greens, through to richer plums and chocolates.

Block out noise - for serenity, shut out the world with heavy curtains and thick carpets.

Texture - sensuality is king - opt for feelgood fabrics such as satin, velvets, mohair and linens.

Scent - an incredibly potent way of influencing our moods. Feel happy, relaxed and comforted by a favorite scent, be it jasmine wafting through the window, a bouquet of roses by the bed, a spritz of linen water on your pillows or even a splash of your favourite perfume.

SMH - essential. October 18 2007

Style Tip 11

Surround yourself with the bets you can afford. It's cheaper in the long run.

Style Tip 10

The more expensive the piece, the more useful & versatile it should be.

Style Tip 9

Good taste doesn't cost any extra.

Style Tip 8

Don't make the mistake of thinking style is dependent on money.

Style Tip 7

Trends come and go, but your taste stays the same.

Visit Prebuilt homes

Interesting segment on Better Homes & Gardens - thanks Cheryl for the video.

I checked out the the site. Well worth a look.
http://www.prebuilt.com.au/

Go into the homes link and you are able to view all the styles. Click on the small thumbnail photos to view in a larger size and scroll through the shots for each house.

They look really impressive.
Which was you favorite? Mine was the Freedom.

Australian House Styles - Research Task

Hi all,

I'm looking forward to your class presentations next week on your choosen house period.

Just a couple of followup pointers:

• You should have choosen you preferred house style
• Have two photocopies of this sample house - 1 painted in .. colour scheme & 1 painted in contemporary colour scheme.
• Reseach the house style.
• Your presentation should be no longer than five minutes and include an overview of the interior & exterior feature of this style. Also include influences that coccured at that time e.g. use of australian motifs during the federation period due to our emergences as a nation.

Please present your work in your folder on a black A3 sheet

Australian House Styles

Interesting session today - creating dot points for the various housing styles. Well done.

Government house NSW

The web sites of interest include:

Hastings Heritage Register - Places of Significance

http://www.hastings.nsw.gov.au/www/html/669-hastings-heritage-register-places-of-significance.asp

Port Macquarie: 13 heritage sites

http://www.hastings.nsw.gov.au/www/html/670-hastings-heritage-sites.asp

Colonial Georgian 1788-1850

Australian Architectural styles (click on the two links - Australian residential & non-residential styles at the bottom of section 1)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_architectural_styles

What house is that? A guide to Victorian housing styles

http://www.heritage.vic.gov.au/pages/pdfs/what_house.pdf

House styles in print - Includes features & influences for each period

http://www.allegria.com.au/houses/house_styles.htm

Historic Houses Trust

http://www.hht.net.au/museums

Decorating Style & Glossary

Checkout the glossary for a full range of decorating style definitions.

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_styles_art_deco/article/0,1793,HGTV_3507_1704576,00.html
Have a look aroung the decorating styles & designers' portfolio.

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_988/text/0,,HGTV_22056_33320,00.html

Paint Colour Cues for 2008

Resene Paints - a NZ company.

This is an amazing site.

Spend 15 mins looking around - you'll be amazed. I've really only looked at some of the spots under the colour dropdown.

Check out the predictions for colours for 2008.



http://www.resene.co.nz/comn/whtsnew/2008_paint_colours.htm



Under colours, go to colour inspiration and thry the colour personality info & test.



What season are you? Post to the comments button.



Mine interestingly enoygh was the same as my personal colours i.e Winter.

Style Tip 6

Don't have good evertday things. Good glasses and plates should be your everyday stuff.

Warwick Fabrics

Interior Decorators and homemakers everywhere know and trust the name but it's what's behind Warwick Fabrics that has created their outstanding international reputation.

With companies based in Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, and affiliations in Europe, North and South America, Warwick Fabrics export interior upholstery and window covering textiles to over 50 countries worldwide with many new markets and specialized products poised for development.

Visit Warwick Fabrics & subscribe to their email newsletter.

http://www.warwick.com.au/index.asp

Porter's Original Paints

Welcome to Porter's Paints...

"My grandfather, Fred Porter, was a builder in the early 1900s. He built many theatres in Australia, such as the State Theatre in Sydney and homes such as 'Boomerang' in Elizabeth Bay. He loved the look of traditional paint finishes used throughout Europe and often used them in his work.

It was shortly after my grandfather's death that I discovered a number of old diaries with the recipes for these traditional paints and decided to produce improved versions, combining traditional methods and modern technology."

Peter Lewis - Founder of Porter's Paints

Their home page is: http://www.porterspaints.com.au/default.aspx

Check out the products and their E-brouchure is also worth a look. Page 17 of the brouchure is interactive - you can change the room colour from an array of swatch selections.

Style Tip 5

Learn to recognise quality in any price range. The key words are well-made, integrity and good proportions.

Style Tip 4

A really interesting room is rarely perfect in style.

Style Tip 3

The true test of a room is whether or not you choose to spend time there.

Style Tip 2

The biggest secret to style is harmony.
Use the same colours, tones and textures.

Style Tips 1

From lights to furniture, mix big and small. Items that are all the same size look wrong.

Dulux - My Colour

Dulux is continuing to lead the way in colour visualisation software with the release of Dulux MyColour 3

MyColour 3 also takes into account light and shade that naturally occurs in any room by shading the painted area according to how the light falls. The result is a more ‘true to life’ representation of how a colour will look in situ.

This colour visualiser also gives users the opportunity to see how a change in colour can work with existing furnishings.

With updated Dulux Colours and the inclusion of the new Exterior Colour and Texture range, consumers can now see how their outdoor spaces can be transformed.

http://www.mycolour.com.au/#

The Psychology of Colour

Is there psychology to colour?
Much has been written over the years on this subject, the question is are the theories more anecdotal than scientific fact? It can be said without doubt that colour does inspire and it does have meaning in our lives. Here are some theories on emotional, physical and behavioural attributes of certain colours..which colours suit you?

http://www.dulux.com.au/html/inspiration/colour_psychology.aspx


What colours have you decorated your home with? Why did you choose those colours? How do those colours make you feel? Have you let children select colours for their rooms? Ask them what influenced their colour choices?

Taubmans

Nature Inspires this Season’s Colours

Taubmans has released three new colour palettes for autumn/winter.

1. Iris Vase Palette is inspired by the floppy head of Dutch irises. The Palette comprises four warm, rich tones that create a tranquil haven and will be a hit with fans of classic burgundy shades.

2. Landscape Palette evokes images of deciduous tree trunks, grassy paddocks and creeks. It comprises four natural tones creating a clean, fresh expression for the home.

3. Cashmere Palette comprises four comforting tones – a classy collection of colours ideal for updating every living space.

I've taken this info from the Decorators Catalogue Newsletter - April 07 to which I subscribe. If you would like to subscibe to info will appear on the link below.

Let me know your comments on the new palletes.

http://www.decoratorscatalogue.com.au/company_profile.php?s_id=733

Welcome

Hi,

Welcome to our 2007 Soft Furnishing Blog.

This is a new concept for our group. I'm hoping to use it as a learning and resource tool.

As it's a new tool there will also be lots of experimenting. So please forgive any stumbles along the way. Your advice and contributions are most welcome.

Lets see how we go!

Julie

PS if a picture appears it is just as a test.