transform
Because every house can be a beautiful home
set the scene
As any stylist will attest,
a considered collection of
adornments is what makes
a house a home, whether it’s a
shelf of age-old curios, a pile of
plump pillows or an artwork that
makes your heart beat
that little bit faster. >
the art of
accessorising
Put the finishing touches on your
home just like you would an
outfit – it’s all in the detail
PHOTOGRAPHY NATALIE HUNFALVAY
WORDS VERA KLEIN
{material
matters{
Introduce colour and comfort
with layers of touch-me textiles
1
CAP YOUR COLOURS
“Use a
maximum of three colours, making sure they
complement each other,” says HB stylist Rachel
Peters. When choosing hues for cushions and
throws, keep in mind the effect you’re trying to achieve,
whether it’s cool and calm or vibrant and playful.
{decorate} transform
3
LEARN TO THROW “To casually place a throw in the
bedroom, pinch it one third of the way down lengthwise
and then gently toss it over a bed,” says Ann King of Sage Colour
And Style. “For armchairs, a throw’s top third should land over
the back.” A more formal scheme suits neat folds: “Place these
over an ottoman or across the arm of a sofa,” says Anoushka
Allum of Smart Space Interiors.
2
4
GET PATTERN HAPPY
“For a cluster of cushions, don’t be scared to
play with different prints in similar colourways,”
says HB senior stylist Heidi Albertiri. “Choose
a variety of sizes, textures and shapes.”
LET THERE BE WHITE
PHOTOGRAPHY (TOP LEFT) CATH MUSCAT, (TOP RIGHT) SUE STUBBS, (BOTTOM) CATH MUSCAT
& JOHN PAUL URIZAR, (OPPOSITE) GAP INTERIORS/RACHEL SMITH
“If your cushions are looking a little dull in tone, add a pure white one,”
suggests Karenza Jewell of Cotter And Jewell Interiors. “This freshens the palette and gives clarity to the colours.”
5
TURN HEADS WITH TEXTURE
Choose textiles with shimmering
metallic finishes, button features or raised
stitching to add depth to an arrangement.
“This is especially important if you’re
working with a limited colour palette such
as all white,” says Karenza. “Chunky knits
and velvet add warmth and texture in
winter, while cottons and silks are cool
to the touch and work well in summer.”
6
SHOP SMART When choosing
new textiles to add to a lounge setting,
take along snippets of your existing chair
and cushion fabrics. If that’s not possible,
snap them on your phone and use
that for reference.
7
SIZE UP YOUR CUSHIONS A good
size for cushions is 50cm x 50cm
– anything smaller used en masse looks
a little tight and forced, rather than
relaxed and welcoming. >
homebeautiful.com.au {APRIL 2015} 127
{a
fine art {
Allow a scene-stealing artwork
to guide your design decisions
8
128 {APRIL 2015} homebeautiful.com.au
CONNECT THE COLOURS
“Artworks are the perfect device for tying
a room’s colour scheme together,” says Ann King of Sage Colour And Style. Choose
ornaments that highlight the hues in a prominently positioned picture; here beachy,
blue accessories pick up the tones of a photograph of Bondi Beach by Aquabumps.
9
CREATE A GALLERY
A salon hang – when many framed works
are positioned closely together on one wall
– is a classic way to display multiple images
at once. Start with at least five pieces grouped together,
then add new images both vertically and horizontally
as your collection grows.
10
CONSIDER FURNITURE “Choose artwork that has
a shorter width than the furniture positioned below
it,” advises stylist Ann King. An oversized picture can
dominate a narrow console or small hall table.
11
GET IN LINE
Picture ledges (pictured below) are a great way to create a display of easy-to-update images.
Their slim design makes them well suited to small spaces and hallways – check out the range at West Elm.
PHOTOGRAPHY (TOP LEFT) GREG COX/BUREAUX.CO.ZA, (TOP RIGHT)
SIMON KENNY, (BOTTOM) AMANDA PRIOR, (OPPOSITE) HAYDEN VALE
ARTWORK (BOTTOM) GRAHAM KUO
12
STREAMLINE YOUR STYLE
Ensure cohesion by mounting
a series of artworks or photos in
identical frames, as pictured above.
13
STAY CENTRED As a rule, the middle
of an artwork should be hung at eye
level. Also consider proportion: a small
picture on a large wall loses impact and can
make a space feel awkward and unfinished.
14
STRAIGHTEN UP Make sure wallhung pictures aren’t crooked or you’ll
notice the angle rather than the art itself. Use
a spirit level for perfectly accurate alignment.
15
SEE THE BIG PICTURE “Position a
large piece at the end of a hallway
to provide a focal point,” says Ann. “A
distinctive artwork gives depth to a space.” >
homebeautiful.com.au {APRIL 2015} 129
transform {decorate}
{ photo
opportunity{
Create picture-perfect interiors
with treasured photographs
16
18
SET UP A SERIES
Compile a
collection of pictures from the same event, such
as a family wedding or children’s photo session,
and mount the images in matching frames to
bring a sense of harmony to a gallery wall.
17GET
FLEXIBLE
For displays that can be
rearranged with ease, place frames on floating shelves,
as above, or use a specialised hanging rail system. “A track is
fixed to the wall and then adjustable wire drops and hooks
hold artworks in place,” says Karenza Jewell of Cotter And
Jewell Interiors. Try the selection at Art Hanging Systems.
EMBRACE MONOCHROME
19
CONJURE MOOD A photograph
can form part of a stylish vignette –
choose a neutral frame and team it with a
curation of favourite objects – don’t think
too hard about it, sometimes unexpected
touches work best.
20
FRAME UP Collected empty photo
frames – preferably ornate, decorative
designs – can act as artworks in their own
right. Create continuity by painting them
in on-trend copper tones; try Haymes
‘Designer Finishes’ Real Copper Paint.
21
MAKE IT STICK Washi tape,
a crafting staple, is possibly the
simplest way to attach your pictures to
the wall, and looks stylish to boot. Check
out removeable tapes in a range of colours
and patterns at Notemaker.
22
TRICK THE EYE Embellished or
gilded antique frames will make
family photos resemble precious artworks. >
130 {APRIL 2015} homebeautiful.com.au
PHOTOGRAPHY (TOP LEFT) JOHN PAUL URIZAR, (TOP RIGHT) GREG COX/BUREAUX.
CO.ZA, (BOTTOM LEFT) MELISSA HEATH, (BOTTOM RIGHT) MAX ATTENBOROUGH
Black-and-white photos have a beautiful depth, offer a sense of nostalgia, and work
well in groups. Choose black or white frames for a neat, minimalist look, and remember that to hang frames, it’s usually not
essential to drill into the wall. Look for damage-free hanging solutions, such as 3M Command picture hanging strips.
transform {decorate}
{creative
collections{
Turn everyday items into exquisite visual vignettes
24TIDY
UP WITH TRAYS
Arranging collectables on a tray will help to
frame the smaller items. “It makes the display easy
to move when the coffee table turns into the Friday
night dinner table, too!” says HB stylist Rachel Peters.
23
CHANGE THE SUBJECT
Rework your displays every three months to
keep a room looking fresh – using seasonal
flowers and textures is a great start. Otherwise,
arrangements that once caught your eye may lose their appeal.
25
COUNT ON ODD NUMBERS
Odd numbered or asymmetrical arrangements generally look best. “Keep
vignettes to a maximum of seven pieces,” says Anoushka Allum of Smart Space Interiors. “Anything more starts to feel jumbled.”
REACH NEW HEIGHTS Create
visual interest by grouping together
objects that vary in height, as pictured far
left. “Try stacking books beneath smaller
pieces to raise them up,” suggests Rachel.
27
THINK COSY IN THE KITCHEN
“Kitchen shelves need a sense of
homeliness and relaxed comfort,” says
Karenza Jewell of Cotter And Jewell
Interiors. “Add objects that are beautiful
yet functional for everyday use, like timber
storage containers or a herb in a fab pot.”
28
BE CONSISTENT “Group similar
items together – whether treasured
travel finds or vintage tea cups – to create
a consistent theme in your displays,” says
Ann King of Sage Colour And Style.
29
EDIT YOUR CHOICES Remember
Coco Chanel’s style mantra: after
putting together an outfit – or vignette –
take a step back and remove one item. >
132 {APRIL 2015} homebeautiful.com.au
(TOP LEFT) GRAHAM JEPSON, (TOP RIGHT) SIMON KENNY/CONTENT,
(BOTTOM LEFT) ARMELLE HABIB, (BOTTOM RIGHT) JOHN DOWNS
26
transform {decorate}
{ paperback
heroes {
Tell a style story with a careful curation of books
31TOP
YOUR TABLE
“A few favourite
tomes, coupled with a bunch of flowers and
a gorgeous candle, bring an easy, decorative look to
coffee tables,” says Ann King of Sage Colour And Style.
30
FLOAT AWAY
Turn your favourite novels
into a design feature with some creative storage –
these clever floating shelves, fixed to the wall with
inexpensive L-brackets, allow magazine and book
spines to add flair to this neutral bedroom.
32
THINK OUTSIDE THE LINES
33
MIX IT UP “Introduce accessories
to your bookshelves, such as vases
or vintage shoe lasts,” suggests HB stylist
Rachel Peters. “Place decorative accents,
photographs and small artworks
on a pile of horizontal books.”
34
GO BY THE BOOK “Try grouping
your books by size, colour or theme
to catch the eye,” says HB senior stylist
Heidi Albertiri. “Books become a talking
point in a home; people are drawn to them.”
35
CREATE AN END POINT “Position
colourful objects – think pot plants
or vases – at the end of a book shelf to work
like a visual full stop,” suggests Karenza
Jewell of Cotter And Jewell Interiors.
134 {APRIL 2015} homebeautiful.com.au
PHOTOGRAPHY (TOP LEFT) DEREK SWALWELL, (TOP RIGHT) SIMON WHITBREAD,
(BOTTOM LEFT) ARMELLE HABIB, (BOTTOM RIGHT) JOHN DOWNS
When working with large bookshelves that stretch across a room,
break up endless rows of vertical paperbacks by turning a small stack of books on the horizontal every so often. “The
negative space gives your eye a place to rest and helps you see the books themselves,” says Ann.