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The Front Door

Rich colours stand out against a crisp white frame, beautifully complementing the exterior. If you're opting for colour—any shade, really—it will look stunning in a high-gloss finish. For durability, an oil-based paint is ideal. Keep in mind that gloss paint will highlight any imperfections, so ensure the surface is meticulously sanded and primed in white. This is especially important for bold colours, as their pigments tend to be thinner. You can do a matte, satin or gloss finish, the choice is yours. Metal-clad doors: a blend of strength and aesthetic appeal. Metals such as Stainless Steel, Copper, Brass, Aluminium and Zincalume are commonly used.  Steel door cladding highlights the natural beauty of metal, adding style and sophistication to your home.

Whites, greys, neutrals, and blacks remain popular choices, as they are timeless and unlikely to date. Their appeal lies in their simplicity and versatility, unlike nuanced shades, say, sage green, compared to Hunter Green.

Your front door serves as the first impression of your home, setting the tone for what’s inside. A bright, bold door suggests vibrancy and personality, rather than leading visitors into an all-white interior. To find the perfect shade, start by selecting paint swatches and placing them on the door. Ideally, a shade with enough intensity and strength to feel sophisticated. Remove those that clash with your home's existing materials—whether timber or brick—and observe the colours throughout the day in different lighting. Ask yourself: Is it too bright? Too dull? Does it harmonise with the house? Ultimately, the home itself will dictate the colour that works best.

Timeless Chambray

Chambray Blue: A Gentle Hue with Timeless Appeal

Like denim, chambray comes in a spectrum of blues—from whisper-light to deep navy—making it a versatile accent across a range of interior styles: contemporary, modern, coastal, even country. When used in paint, textiles, or decorative accents, chambray blue brings a sense of warmth, friendliness, and lived-in comfort to a space. It’s the home’s equivalent of your favourite chambray shirt—easygoing, familiar, and effortlessly stylish.

Chambray itself is a lightweight, plain-weave cotton fabric that originated in Cambrai, France. Though it closely resembles denim, it’s softer and more breathable, lending its name and character to the colour we now associate with relaxed elegance.

Colour-wise, chambray blue sits within the sky blue family. It’s a medium-dark, medium-bright shade with cool undertones, balanced in lightness and saturation. What sets it apart from other blues is its gentle, calming quality—ideal for bedrooms, reading nooks, or any space designed for rest and reflection.

Psychologically, chambray blue is known to reduce stress and promote a sense of peace and stability. Like the daytime sky or the open sea, it evokes vastness and serenity. It’s a non-threatening hue, even shown to lower blood pressure and body temperature, making it not just beautiful but beneficial.

Blues have a natural ability to create tranquil, restorative spaces. Chambray blue, in particular, offers a unique blend of strength and softness—a timeless shade that embodies effortless elegance. Its relaxed character and subtle grey undertones make it a versatile choice for interiors, striking a balance between sophistication and serenity.

Darker blues lend depth and moodiness to a room, while lighter tones evoke calm and clarity. Chambray sits comfortably in between, often appearing as a light, powdery blue with a gently faded, washed-out look—much like the fabric it’s named after. This muted quality allows chambray blue to function as a neutral, adding laid-back refinement to furnishings, walls, and textiles without overwhelming a space.

Chambray’s versatility extends across a wide spectrum of shades—from deep navy and true blue to cornflower and whisper-light hues. This range offers endless possibilities for layering tones, creating contrast, or establishing a cohesive palette throughout the home. Whether used in a coastal retreat, a modern loft, or a bohemian hideaway, chambray blue brings a sense of ease and understated charm.

High-Performance Fabrics 

Performance Fabrics That Elevate Every Space

Solution-dyed acrylic fabrics are a top choice for upholstery, celebrated for their exceptional cleanability, fade resistance, and comfort. Whether you're styling a beach house, refreshing the backyard, or designing interiors, these versatile textiles adapt beautifully to any setting.

The collection spans whimsical prints, textured solids, symmetrical stripes, and mid-scale graphic designs—each crafted to coordinate effortlessly. Designers can layer plains, patterns, and stripes to create a harmonious story where colours blend seamlessly across indoor and outdoor spaces.

These high-performance fabrics are not only durable but also aesthetically refined. Brands like Sunbrella, Outdura, Crypton, and Fiberguard offer solutions that meet the demands of modern living—where style and resilience go hand in hand.

Outdoor fabrics today rival their indoor counterparts in variety and sophistication. From bold prints to subtle textures, they offer a sensory richness once reserved for interiors. And they’re remarkably easy to maintain—resisting stains, mold, mildew, and more. The protective qualities aren’t just surface-deep; they’re woven into every fibre.

While these fabrics are built to endure, it’s wise to store seating cushions out of the elements when not in use. This simple step helps prevent damage from animals, bird droppings, or unexpected weather—preserving both beauty and longevity.

Stylish Bathrooms and Powder Rooms

"Modern powder rooms, despite their small size, are crucial functional spaces in the home. They should provide everyday convenience for families and guests while maintaining a stylish appearance. When deciding on a style, consider whether it needs to be in keeping with a nearby main bathroom or a standalone space. A separate room offers the opportunity to choose a gorgeous wallpaper, which is affordable as only a small amount is required. Don't just paint the walls a vibrant colour; consider adding wallpaper, perhaps painting the ceiling, choosing beautiful tapware, a toilet, a mirror, stunning lighting, and, of course, tiling the floor. Impress your guests with your creative talent."  

The best inspiration for a stylish bathroom often comes from those found in high-end hotels. If you have a generous budget and ample time to source stunning fixtures and tiles, you can create the bathroom of your dreams. It's uncommon to see white cabinets or tiles in a luxury setting; instead, materials like marble, granite, and porcelain tiles are frequently used, often reaching to the ceiling. A luxury soaker tub is essential, but be aware that many have rounded bottoms, which can make it difficult to stretch out your legs. It's wise to sit in the tubs at showrooms to ensure they suit your height. Go to a showroom, take your shoes off, and climb right in to make sure you fit and are comfortable.  Luxury lighting is a crucial element in achieving a high-end look. Consider adding a statement light fixture, as well as lighting on either side of the mirrors.  Ambient lighting throughout the room can highlight unique features and create a warm atmosphere. Underfloor heating, a towel warming rail, an overheat heater, and exhaust make your time spent in the bathroom a pleasure.  Finally, don’t forget to include thick, luxurious towels and robes to enhance comfort."Modern powder rooms, despite their small size, are crucial functional spaces in the home. They should provide everyday convenience for families and guests while maintaining a stylish appearance. When deciding on a style, consider whether it needs to be in keeping with a nearby main bathroom or a standalone space. A separate room offers the opportunity to choose a gorgeous wallpaper, which is affordable as only a small amount is required. Don't just paint the walls a vibrant colour; consider adding wallpaper, perhaps painting the ceiling, choosing beautiful tapware, a toilet, a mirror, stunning lighting, and, of course, tiling the floor. Impress your guests with your creative talent."  

Emerald Green

Emerald Green: A Jewel-Toned Classic That Transforms Spaces

Emerald green is a jewel-toned hue that exudes sophistication—especially when paired with velvet textures and gold accents. Glorious and vibrant, this shade takes its name from the precious gemstone and sits between blue-green and yellow-green on the colour wheel. Its association with emeralds lends it an air of luxury and refinement, making it synonymous with elegance in both fashion and interiors.

In design, emerald green is a powerhouse. A single splash—whether through cushions, a statement sofa, or cabinetry—can energise a space and infuse it with freshness. Green, in general, is calming and restorative, echoing the serenity of nature. Emerald green, in particular, offers a deeper, more dramatic take on this tranquility.

Its versatility is unmatched. Emerald green pairs beautifully with greys, blush pinks, crisp whites, deep blacks, creamy neutrals, rich reds, and mustard yellows. Once introduced, it’s hard not to fall in love with its transformative effect. Take the kitchen, for example: Emerald Chic is a modern, colour-forward approach where bold green cabinetry meets neutral flooring, bright white walls, and simple gold drawer pulls. The result? A space that feels both cheerful and refined.

Emerald green is also a natural fit for bathrooms, where it can turn even the simplest layout into a serene, spa-like retreat. Whether you're aiming for bold drama or subtle elegance, this luxurious shade delivers. More than just a colour, emerald green is a mood—one that speaks of health, vitality, and hope. It reminds us of nature’s richness and offers a calm serenity that few other colours can match.

Sloped Ceilings and Feature Walls 

Feature Walls: Creating a Focal Point with Character

A feature wall serves as the room’s visual anchor, ideally positioned directly in front of you as you enter. It draws attention to architectural elements like angled ceilings or generous height, setting the tone for the entire space. To preserve its impact, keep surrounding furniture and patterns understated—let the wall speak, guiding your choices in decor and furnishings.

Feature walls can also define and divide living areas, adding interest and a sense of distinction. When selecting a colour, consider the room’s natural light and orientation—north- or south-facing—as well as its temperature. Warm tones bring comfort to cooler rooms, while cooler hues offer relief in warmer spaces. Above all, choose a colour that reflects your personal style rather than fleeting trends. Timeless design stems from authenticity, not conformity.

Painting Angled Ceilings: A Seamless Approach

If your ceiling slopes or angles, painting it the same colour as the walls can create a cohesive, calming effect—especially when the angled section begins lower on the wall. This technique softens transitions and enhances spatial harmony, allowing the architecture to feel intentional rather than segmented.  

Feature walls don’t need to be bold—but if you opt for a strong colour and already have another feature wall in your home, ensure both share similar tonal value and intensity to maintain visual continuity. As a general rule, limit feature walls to a maximum of two. In exceptionally large homes, three may work—but beyond that, the impact can become diluted.

When selecting paint, avoid low-sheen finishes on feature walls, as they tend to highlight imperfections. A matte finish is preferable—it softens flaws and prevents unwanted reflections, especially if the ceiling is white. A low-sheen wall beneath a white ceiling can catch and reflect the ceiling’s brightness, which is why a true matte finish is essential.

VJ board can add texture and charm to a feature wall, but it’s not essential. Once the room is styled with furniture and décor, investing in timber detailing may be unnecessary. Let the paint colour be the hero—it’s cost-effective and easy to update.

Rooms with sloped, vaulted, or angled ceilings present unique challenges. To avoid visually lowering the ceiling or emphasizing the slope, paint the entire room in a single colour. Interrupting the flow with contrasting paint or wallpaper at the junction between wall and ceiling only draws attention to the angles.

Choose a colour you love, then go three shades lighter if you're painting the whole room. Light neutrals—whites, creams, and pastels—create a sense of openness and help slanted ceilings feel less imposing. A single colour throughout can feel overwhelming, so err on the side of softness. While exterior colours benefit from going three shades darker, interiors thrive with lighter tones.

Dark colours like black are receding—they won’t make a room feel smaller, just moodier. They’re ideal for creating atmosphere, but only if the space has ample natural light. Installing skylights or dormer windows will increase natural light. Whether your walls and ceiling are black or white, light is key.

Finally, let the room’s shape guide your furniture placement. Avoid positioning the bed where you might bump your head when sitting up. Instead, place it under the highest part of the slope. Slanted ceilings can shrink a space visually, but thoughtful colour choices can restore a sense of balance and openness.

Stunning Raspberry

Raspberry: A Bold, Sophisticated Hue

Raspberry is a vivid pinkish-red inspired by the fruit itself — a blend of red’s energy, pink’s softness, and a hint of purple for depth. Sitting between red and magenta on the colour wheel, it evokes richness and sophistication, much like a fine wine.

This bold yet inviting shade commands attention while remaining warm and approachable. Raspberry palettes mix reds, pinks, and purples, offering elegance, passion, and a touch of drama — ideal for interiors that span classic to contemporary styles.

Can’t choose between purple, pink, and red? Raspberry combines all three in one chic, on-trend hue. It’s more refined than most pinks, making it a favourite for updating spaces with flair.

In fashion, raspberry makes a memorable statement — Daniel Craig’s velvet Bond jacket is proof. In automotive design, luxury brands like Dodge and Ferrari embrace raspberry finishes for their sophistication and uniqueness.

Want impact? Pair raspberry with crimson and bright red in a striped or floral pattern — a daring, harmonious combination that turns heads.

Whether it’s fabric, paint, a rug, or furniture, raspberry stands out. Its shades range from delicate pinks to bold reds, adding drama or subtle warmth. It transforms any room — bedroom, kitchen, lounge, or powder room — with its welcoming glow.

Raspberry pairs beautifully with deep orange and soft pinks in an analogous palette, creating a deeply satisfying feel. Though not common, its uniqueness adds value and personality. Choosing raspberry isn’t just about colour — it’s about crafting mood, character, and a space that feels uniquely you.

Large Windows can make the room 

Large windows are a wonderful asset for many reasons. The home will be flooded with natural light, and the room will appear larger, adding value to your home. Another great reason is to enjoy the view. A neutral palette with earthy tones will complement the beauty outside.  Large windows allow more heat to enter the room, reducing heating costs. When you have large windows, it often means you have considered heating and cooling to compensate for both. The orientation of your home is an important factor; note the warm and cool sides of your home. Large windows can be very efficient, especially if made of the right materials and installed correctly. These days, there's a wide range of options for window coverings that cater to hot and cold conditions, so you only cover windows out of necessity. Take a look at the windows in your home: Can some be increased in size? Can some doors be changed out for sliding glass doors? Maybe you will love your home a little more with these changes. 

Unique Coffee Tables 

A luxury coffee table is far more than a decorative flourish — it’s a living room essential. Whether you're entertaining guests or enjoying a quiet evening in, it keeps everything within arm’s reach, effortlessly blending practicality with style.

The size and shape of your coffee table should harmonise with your seating arrangement. If your sofas feature soft, curved lines, opt for a round table to echo that softness. For sofas with clean, straight edges, a square or rectangular table offers a complementary geometry. Scale matters: avoid tables that feel too large or too small in relation to your seating. And if your layout includes multiple sofas or chairs, consider adding a side table to spare guests the awkward reach.

At its core, a coffee table offers a convenient surface within easy reach — a resting place for hot drinks, chilled beverages, and everyday essentials like remote controls, books, and magazines. It protects your upholstery from spills and rings while anchoring the room with quiet functionality.

Coffee tables rose to prominence in the 1950s, when the advent of television transformed the living room. Their low profile suited modern life, allowing an unobstructed view of the screen even when topped with cups and glasses.

Today, the coffee table remains a quiet powerhouse of design: low-slung, stylish, and indispensable. It supports your lifestyle while elevating your space — a true hero in the art of living well.

The Right Coffee Table for the Room

A large, open‑concept living room needs furniture with presence. A substantial coffee table helps anchor the space, adding visual weight and balance. Your end tables should also be scaled appropriately so the room feels cohesive rather than under‑furnished.

Coffee tables are both stylish and functional. Positioned at the heart of the room, they create a natural focal point and act as the foundation the rest of the space is built around. While they often become a landing spot for remotes, books, and magazines, they’re also an opportunity to express your personal style.

Mixing and matching end tables and coffee tables can add interest and character. No living room truly feels complete without a coffee table. Beyond aesthetics, it offers a practical surface for drinks, snacks, and everyday essentials—keeping everything within comfortable reach while you relax.

Ideally, when you’re seated on a sofa or occasional chair, the table should be within arm’s reach. A coffee table that’s too low makes it awkward to pick up your drink, while one that’s too high increases the chance of spills because the proportions feel off.

If you have young children, safety becomes an important consideration. Coffee tables are a common source of injuries in the home. An upholstered ottoman with padded sides is a softer, safer alternative. Be mindful of tables that are extremely heavy or difficult to move—concrete, marble, and stone pieces often have sharp edges and can be hazardous if a child falls against them.

By contrast, a timber coffee table is easier to move, gentler in form, and wonderfully practical. Timber doesn’t show fingerprints the way glass does, and it brings warmth and texture to the room.

Kitchen Stools and how many 

Choosing the Right Stools for Your Kitchen Bench

When arranging stools at a kitchen bench, spacing is key. Allow approximately 15 cm between each stool to ensure comfort and ease of movement. A 30 cm gap between the seat and the bench provides ample legroom — anything less can feel cramped. If stools are touching, they’re too close.

A good rule of thumb? Odd numbers always look balanced and intentional. Three stools suit most benches beautifully, while five can work well for longer benches. If you do opt for five, consider placing three at one end and two at the other to avoid a crowded, bar-like appearance. Ofcourse,  if four or more stools are required, do as you like.

Kitchen Stools vs. Bar Stools

The main difference lies in height.

• Counter-height stools (65–70 cm) are designed to tuck neatly under kitchen counters, offering comfortable legroom.

• Bar stools (75–80 cm) are taller and better suited to higher surfaces like bar tops.

Choose kitchen stools where the back  legs splay out rather than straight down, reducing the risk of tipping backwards.

Take note of the height difference when selecting stools — one image might show a stool with no legroom, while another offers generous space beneath the counter. Always measure your bench height before purchasing.

Guidelines vs. Real Life

Design rules are helpful, but they’re not rigid. If you have five children, you’ll need five stools — practicality comes first. Just be mindful not to overcrowd the space.

Let the kitchen be the hero, with stools as a thoughtful, complementary addition. Choose stools that are comfortable, well-proportioned, and that reflect the style of your kitchen — whether sleek and modern or warm and rustic.

Above all, ensure there’s adequate space between the seat and the counter to allow for easy movement and natural posture. Insufficient legroom can lead to discomfort, especially during long meals or conversations.

Rooms with Wallpaper

Why Wallpaper Is a Brilliant Design Move

Choosing the right wallpaper is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to infuse your bathroom with fresh colour, pattern, and texture. It offers a wealth of benefits, adds beauty, style, and trend-forward designs suitable for all ages and aesthetics.    Simple to change as your tastes evolve with minimal disruption, maximum transformation.    Budget-friendly without sacrificing impact, with the added benefit of concealing wall flaws with ease. Long-lasting options suited to bathroom conditions that are easy to clean and care for.   Updating rooms easily with wallpaper boosts appeal for resale.    A thought is big room, big pattern, small room, small pattern, but this certainly isn't a rule.    If you're drawn to bold, busy patterns, consider using them strategically. Limit coverage to upper walls and pair with wainscoting around the lower perimeter for balance and sophistication. This approach adds architectural interest while keeping the space visually grounded.   If you're drawn to bold, busy patterns, consider using them strategically.   Limit coverage to upper walls and pair with wainscoting around the lower perimeter for balance and sophistication. This approach adds architectural interest while keeping the space visually grounded.  Powder rooms and guest bathrooms—typically smaller and less frequented—are ideal places to experiment with daring designs. Don’t be afraid to go bold here. For bathrooms with showers or tubs, moisture resistance is key. Ensure the lower wall (the kick area) is tiled all the way around, and opt for vinyl wallpaper to withstand humidity and splashes.

Kitchen Tiles - Bench or Splashback 

Essential Guide to Tiled Benchtops

Tiled benchtops and kitchen islands are experiencing an amazing resurgence, offering a unique and stylish point of difference from traditional slab materials. No longer a style from the past, modern tile options provide a beautiful and often substantially cheaper alternative to marble or stone.

Installation and Design Tips

To ensure a professional and long-lasting result, keep the following installation points in mind:

• Batch Variation: Tiles are made in batches from natural ingredients, which can cause slight variations in colour and tone. To achieve a consistent look, mix tiles from several boxes during installation.

• Directional Arrows: Many tiles have an arrow on the back. Ensure every tile is facing the same direction to avoid size differences caused by the manufacturing edge-cutting process.

• Spare Tiles: Always keep a box of tiles as spares (or at least $10\%$ extra) to repair any damaged tiles in the future.

Grout and Maintenance for Longevity

The key challenge with tiled surfaces is the grout, which requires specific care for hygiene and durability.

• Porosity and Sealing: Standard tile grout is porous, meaning spills will eventually find their way into the sublayer. To protect the surface and sublayer, sealing the grout is a critical step.

• Epoxy Grout: The Superior Option: For kitchen areas, consider using an epoxy grout. While it is more difficult and trickier to install than ordinary cementitious grout, it provides a significantly more hygienic and stainproof solution.

• Minimal Grout Lines: Keep the grout lines to a minimum. Smaller grout lines reduce the overall porous surface area, making cleaning and maintenance easier.

• Cleaning: Proper maintenance is essential for keeping your bench looking new. This includes regular sealing (if not using epoxy) and avoiding harsh chemicals that can break down the grout or sealant.

Beyond the practical surface, tiles can be used to create a stunning visual display on the face of your kitchen island, adding a dramatic and stylish touch to your overall interior design scheme. While installing a tiled island bench can be a DIY project, careful planning and attention to the details above will ensure a high-quality finish.

Kitchen Alcoves and Canopies 

In the past, placing the stove in an alcove helped contain its heat, fireproof the kitchen, and reduce the buildup of grease and sticky residues. To effectively remove oils, it is essential to capture air containing oil within the alcove and exhaust it outside. A small alcove is usually tiled and easy to maintain. If you have space on either side of the stove, consider adding shelving for supplies you frequently use. It is crucial to keep flammable materials away from the stove and to ensure the alcove is equipped with fire-resistant materials to prevent accidents. The stove should serve as the focal point of the kitchen, so the size of the alcove should be proportionate to the stove itself. As traditional kitchen elements gain popularity, we’re shifting away from minimalist designs—which often integrate everything—toward kitchens that feature distinct cooktops and exposed refrigerators. Keep in mind that an alcove may eliminate any storage cupboards that could have been situated above or beside the cooktop, so be sure to consider this when planning your kitchen layout.

Colour Drenching

Colour drenching—painting the walls, ceiling, cornices, architraves, and doors all in the same hue—can be a powerful way to create drama and intimacy in a space. When done well, it wraps a room in colour, creating a cocoon-like effect that feels immersive and intentional. Colour drenching is not new — it’s a design technique that’s been around for centuries and is again popular with maximalism. 

That said, I’m not a fan of taking it to the extreme where every item in the room—furniture, accessories, even soft furnishings—matches the wall colour. That level of uniformity can quickly become overwhelming and lead to visual fatigue.

Personally, I prefer to keep ceilings, doors, and architraves in a white throughout the home. This creates a consistent thread from room to room, allowing you to move between spaces with ease, even if each room has its own distinct palette. I would never consider painting the ceiling if the home didn't belong to you as changing back to white may be an almost impossible task. 

If you're tempted to try colour drenching, start with a room that’s somewhat separate from the main living areas—think a home office, media room, reading nook, hallway or powder room. These are ideal spaces to experiment without committing your entire home to a single colour story.

Choose a colour you truly love; if you’re going to be surrounded by it, it needs to be one you won’t tire of. Opt for a mid-tone, not too dark, not too light, just enough depth without being oppressive. Pay attention to the room’s natural temperature and which side of the home the room is. If it feels cold, lean into warm tones. If it runs hot, a cooler hue can bring balance. Lighting matters. Colour drenching works best in rooms with good natural or layered lighting. Architectural features like paneling or moulding can also help break up the expanse of colour. Consider partial drenching. Painting just the ceiling in a high-gloss finish can reflect light beautifully, especially when paired with matte walls. 

Timeless Colours That Work Well for Drenching: Deep Navy, terracotta. deep green, burgundy, charcoal and warm black. – These are classic and sophisticated colours-, bold, dramatic, earthy and rich. Ultimately, colour drenching isn’t for everyone—but when used thoughtfully, it can transform a space into something truly special.

Inspirational Rooms

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