It's no secret that the cafe culture in Australia and New Zealand is building steam. Baristas seem to be popping up left, right and centre, and people can often catch the scent of delicious coffee beans wafting through the air along many side-streets and laneways.
Some cities within these countries are especially renowned for their quality caffeine – Melbourne in Oz and Wellington in NZ in particular are hailed by coffee enthusiasts as meccas for mouthwatering brews and well-roasted beans.
Fashion designers have often said that they think of themselves as artists. From sketching illustrations to sowing sculptural garments for the runway, big fashion houses such as Dior, Chanel and Prada have treated the fashion industry like a real life art gallery for showing off creativity and quality design.
Why not channel this world of fashion in interior design? Here are some decorating ideas to get you started.
Luxe curtains
Fabrics are, in many ways, the essence of the fashion industry. Dazzle your home with a variety of different luxe fabric curtains, some with reflective shimmering materials, others with pleats or some turned into Roman blinds. The Resene Curtain Collection has a wide range of curtains expertly chosen to match with our paint colours, so you can double the elegance with complementary walls and window coverings.
Metallic accents are all the rage in interior design right now. From copper light fixtures dangling from the ceiling, to laserfoil prints framed on the walls, metallics are everywhere. The good news is there are many ways of incorporating this trend simply by picking up a paintbrush and a can of paint from the Resene Metallics and special effects colour palette.
Here we look at five ways of using paint to embrace this trend.
Don't think that swanky brushstrokes are only meant for the canvas. You can jazz up your walls with artistic painting skills, too!
Here are two masterful techniques for you to try in your own home.
Impressionism ombre
The art galleries of Paris, from the Louvre to the Musee d'Orsay, are full of stunning impressionistic paintings. The art style of impressionism is famous for its delicate, dabbed effects that seem to blur the picture, so that when you see it from far away it makes sense, but the closer you walk to it, you realise it's simply blots of colour brushed on in dots, placed side-by-side.
Magicians use optical illusions all the time to trick the eyes. Coming up with design strategies for organising a room's layout, decor and colour scheme is no different – you can use these simple steps to make a small space, such as a studio or tiny office, seem much larger.
Let there be light
"Cream colours and icy blues are just a few of the best colour combinations that can convert a tiny interior into a seemingly bigger living area," wrote Mihai for Freshome Design & Architecture Magazine.
"I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says "Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again," wrote author Lewis Carroll in the classic novel 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass'.
Winter can be a wonderland, so don't shiver away from it – embrace it in your home decor. Here are some decorating ideas inspired by the chilly season.
"Beautifully designed objects fulfil our desire for art and poetry," said interior designer Cindy Coleman.
It's true – having a tasteful selection of decorative items can add that final touch to bring an entire room together. But how do you know which ones to choose, and how will these accessories complement your lounge? Well, there's no one single right or wrong answer, but it usually helps to pick items that match the room's current style, interior design and paint colour scheme.
When we think of exotic destinations or calm oriental spots, we may feel a sense of bliss or relaxing vibes. Why not enjoy these sensations every day by giving your home a makeover inspired by these styles?
Here's how to achieve both styles in your interior design.
Oriental: Think Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, China and Japan.
First of all, embrace patterns. In an essay published by the Department of Asian Art in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the authors described the Japanese Rinpa style as "vibrant colours applied in a highly decorative and patterned manner" used to decorate not only paintings but also textiles, ceramics and lacquerwares.
"There's no place I'd rather be, then on my surfboard out at sea. Lingering in the ocean blue, and if I had one wish come true, I'd surf till the sun sets beyond the horizon … A wiki wiki mai lohi lohi, Lawe mai i ko papa he'e nalu," sang the cast of the Disney movie Lilo and Stitch for the song 'Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride', describing the essence of this island.
The blissful golden sands, sapphire seas and emerald green palm trees of Hawaii offer endless decorating inspiration for your home. So let's surf onto this roller coaster design ride and get started!
A great way to personalise a wall is by adding your own collages, curating a range of prints, photographs or artwork to show off your personality and interests in an artistic manner.
Those of you who love a vintage look can hang these collages in chunky gilt frames in a salon style by placing the prints, posters, photographs or postcards at odd angles, much like a scrapbook. On the other hand, homes with more of a contemporary design can benefit from collages carefully measured and hung in sleek straight lines.
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