Survey finds what people value most in a ‘perfect home’

We've heard Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz say, "there's no place like home", and many buzzy bee jokes end with the punchline "honey, I'm home!" – but now, we can actually get a sense of what makes a house perfect, at least in the minds of Australians.

A recent survey by the Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia (REBAA) has found the top 10 housing features that would be on a wishlist for potential home buyers. Once you see what these are, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that many homeowners would likely want the same elements in a house, as many of these are modern and in-line with coastal living.

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Team of university researchers find colour affects our ethical judgement of brands

As any interior designer will know, colour psychology is a major part of the industry and has helped countless designers pick the perfect colour palette for a space. Picking a hue that is especially suited to the use of a room is a seamless blend of form and function, using colour theory and practical design ideas together to offer clients the best possible solution.

Now, a team of researchers from the University of Oregon (UO) and University of Cincinnati (UC) have found that when brands use the colours blue and green, consumers see them as more ethical. In a series of studies and focus groups, the researchers found that seeing these two shades makes consumers imagine that the imaginary, fictitious brand was making ethical, moral decisions in their business practises simply because they associate these blue-green tones with being kind to the planet.  

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Attract Christmas shoppers to your retail business with these decor tips

Deck the halls of your retail business with boughs of holly, because the Christmas shopping season is in full swing!

You'd be surprised just how much money is spent on gifts around the silly season. In Australia, for example, a whopping $45 billion was estimated to be spent on Xmas pressies in 2014, according to research by the Australian Retailers Association. What's even more impressive is that this amount was spent in just a few weeks, between November 15 until December 24. 

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Show off your Santa workshop skills with these DIY gift ideas!

Jingle bells are going to start ringing soon, so it's time to unleash your inner elf and show off how creative you are with DIY presents! 'Tis the season to be jolly with paint, scissors, art supplies and craft goods as you whip up goodies that are just as wonderful as if they were made in Santa's workshop. 

These DIY gift ideas are ideal for anyone keen to be budget-friendly with Christmas shopping while also adding a unique personal touch to the presents that can't be store bought. 

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Ho ho how to make your own Christmas wrapping paper and gift tags

Help your stack of presents stand out from the pile under the Christmas tree by designing and making your own wrapping paper patterns and DIY gift tags! Here's how to make both. 

Wrapping paper

Grab rolls of eco-friendly brown recycled paper. Spread them out on your workstation, using paper weights to keep the edges down. Use sponges to cut shapes of Christmas trees, or if you're short on time, just use round make-up sponges to create the shape of Christmas baubles. Dip into paint test pots of red and green colours such as Resene Havoc and Resene Bingo, then stamp across the paper. Voila! A custom printed wrapping paper.

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Bring the magic of Monet to your space this spring

Springtime is the perfect opportunity to take a tired, stagnant interior and refresh it with some new inspiration in time for the new year. A staple of spring trends, while florals and pastels help to brighten up a wintry space, some may shy away from them due to their predictability. 

However, it is still possible to infuse a botanical essence into your home or professional space without being too stereotypical. Simply look to one of the great masters of Impressionism, Claude Monet. 

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Spotlight on nautical inspiration for Spring

Whether you're a home decorating enthusiast or a designer by trade, when Pantone releases its seasonal report every few months it can help to inject new inspiration into your plans, putting the spotlight on colours which may have previously slipped under your radar.

Pantone's Spring 2015 Fashion colours may have been designed to breathe fresh life into the runways, but that doesn't mean you can't take a little inspiration for your home decorating projects. Here we take a look at some refreshing ideas for spring that can vitalise your space. 

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Top 3 wallpaper worthy views to photograph on your travels

When you head off on that whirlwind holiday you've been dreaming of, you're bound to have some must-do attractions on the itinerary – from trying the local cuisine to visiting that incredible museum.

One of the best ways to make these memories last is to document your trip with photos of some of the incredible sights you encounter along the way. But instead of just flicking though them on your computer, or even printing them out, why not bring the magic of your adventures home by immortalising your favourite shot as a feature wall? 

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Harvard research proves ‘green’ offices with low VOC have higher productivity

 

As an interior designer, being contracted to decorate commercial office spaces is often considered ‘the ideal gig’. Why? Because it gives you a chance to showcase your brand, talent and personal style to mass audiences. The likelihood of word-of-mouth marketing is also high because businesses can recommend your services to other companies. Not to mention, it looks great in your portfolio!

However, there are certainly ways of being even more impressive with your … Continue reading

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What’s the best colour scheme and design for a cafe business?

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. 

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