A Before Master Bedroom: And simple inspiration to create calm

Small bedrooms can be such a challenge.

Would you like some tips for your small master bedroom?

So many of us have small bedrooms these days. If you’re living in an apartment or unit, you can certainly relate to feeling the squeeze when it comes to the best bedroom layout for your space.  In reality you may only have one or two layout options that would work for your space – so you want to know you’ve picked the right one!

If you’ve stumbled upon this blog it’s actually one entry in a bigger story that is the journey of designing an Airbnb for my sister and brother-in-law. The challenges to make this happen were time, budget and space.

And how did it turn out? Beautifully!

It’s a testament to the fact that these common realities don’t have to limit a wonderfully functional and stylish space! (if you’d like to see the reveal of the open plan living area you can do that by scrolling through the blog titles at the bottom of this post).

But let’s keep on track because today we’re focusing on all things bedrooms - and more to the point designing small master bedrooms on a budget, that can indeed include everything you need without feeling squishy.

THE BEFORE PHOTOS.

One of the before photos of the main bedroom before its transformation.

Here’s a look at the before photos of the master bedroom of the unit. As you can see it was perfect for just my sister in law, but the floorplan needed more tweaking if it was going to work best for rental guests.

A few other angles of the same bedroom that needed a redesign ready for Airbnb guests.

Here’s the master with its former furniture, all of which had to be replaced with robust and budget friendly options. The above photo also shows how space was truly limited – we had to make every centimetre count!

LAYOUT IDEAS.

Here’s a look at the layout I thought would work best. The important thing was to maintain a floorplan that allowed the master to feel spacious, whilst adding elements to create a comfortable, sophisticated space to retreat to.

Here’s the floorplan for the whole unit with the master bedroom up in the top left.

Looking at the suggested floorplan drawing, the design was to incorporate a separate seating area within the master to allow guests the option of taking in the views whilst enjoying a coffee; separate from the open plan living. Having options of numerous living zones when staying at a rental property provides flexibility and an added layer of comfort.

3D DESIGN DRAWINGS.

Here’s the 3D drawings that helped to visualise how the master bedroom would materialise. These initial concept design drawings showed my vision to create a master bedroom with a statement bed (the hero piece in the room), along with a functional seating zone that takes in the views.

The beauty of the 3D drawings is that I could show how the actual art pieces I had chosen would work in the space, along with the colours of the rug. And let’s not forget the actual dimensions of the seating zone, to make sure it acutally fits before ordering anything too big!

SNEAK PEAK OF THE AFTER LOOK.

Here was the plan for how the space could look. Aesthetically it was all about colours and textures that evoked a feeling of the coast. I wanted to incorporate different textures of leather, rattan, timber and soft cottons to create an authentic holiday vibe, along with artwork that referenced the ocean to help guests be immersed in their seaside location.

In my next blog post I will reveal all the AFTER PHOTOS of what became a cocooning and restful coastal retreat. It was a master bedroom makeover on a budget, but with deliberate design choices and layout considerations it didn’t come up lacking. This project helped cement for me that you don’t need a huge master suite, as long as it highly functional and thoughtfully designed for the people who will call it home (even a home away from home). I’m sure many guests will have have happy holidays in this lovely space!

TIPS FOR YOUR SPACE.

What about your master bedroom? I’ve got a few tips for you if you’re working with a small space…

1. Keep your colour palette restrained.

• Choose 3-4 colours and stick with them. Too many colours can make a small space seems even smaller due to the fact that your eye is so busy trying to take everything in!

2. Measure out all your furniture pieces before buying.

• The common mistake is buying a new bed that you’ve fallen in love with, before measuring the room and all the other pieces you might want to include (think bedside tables, rugs, extra seating, end of bed bench etc). Measure and tape out all furniture dimensions first - you’re after a spacious and functional space after all.

  3. Stick to a ‘look’.

• Land on a style or look that most resonates with you, and stick to it. This continuity will help your space feel calming, cohesive and as spacious as it can. Carry your look through all your soft furnishings to look like a pro!

Perhaps this blog has inspired you to transform one of your own spaces. Would you like help with your master bedroom layout or furniture choices? Whether for an Airbnb endevour or your own home, I can help take out the guess work on budget, style and save you pesky mistakes that you just don’t know about until you make them!

Contact me at bec@designrelease.com.au - I’d love to help you in your room transformation.

Behind the Scenes at Design Release: More about Bec

Interested to learn how I moved into interior design?

Want to know why design is my noble profession?

I’m taking a slightly different tack today on the blog. I wanted to share some of my journey to becoming an interior designer and founding my little business, Design Release.

Whilst there are always many defining moments that lead people to begin a new venture, I thought it would be helpful to share a few of mine. This way you can get to know me a little better, but also it might encourage you to chase your own adventures if that’s something you’re considering. The truth is you can work hard in one career (or many careers), but equally you can shift and run after something completely new. All the experiences and knowledge you gain in life prepares and enables you as you move forward, nothing is wasted!

1. Why design matters to me.

So how did I get to where I am today some of you might be thinking. Having my own design business sure is exciting, but it didn’t just happen with the click of my fingers (what a surprise hey!) What I’ve learnt along the way is that you have to be willing to go after what you love, what makes you come alive. For me that’s to serve and teach people through design – to help them create meaningful spaces that inspire and support them as they live their lives.

It sure has been a journey to arrive at this point, with many little sign post moments along the way. Let me share some of the story with you…

2. This design thing, it started young.

It’s a bit cliche, but I’ve always felt a certain way when it comes to a well-designed space. I have childhood memories of simple things like a border of photos that I created to run the whole length of my teenage bedroom, and the way it made me feel. Recognising how that simple photo border design made me feel, which was excited, safe, balanced and clear-headed all at the same time was a powerful early lesson for me. I recently stumbled upon a photo of my old bedroom and immediately I felt all those emotions again. This awareness and respect for how a space makes people feel has always been a bit of a hint that design would be in my future – and here we are!

3. Past chapters shaped my love for design.

Here’s me (many moons ago) enjoying my work as a midwife.

Another part in my story is coming from a career in midwifery. While the realities of being a midwife are different to how it’s portrayed on the T.V. (the shift work isn’t that glamorous), it is still a highly privileged and sacred role on many levels. I discovered what a midwife was in Year 10 at high school. I remember saying to myself, that’s what I want to do!  I think it was the desire to help people and make a difference that fuelled me as a young person, along with all those tiny babies I imagined I’d get to cuddle!

Midwifery taught me vast amounts through all the women I had the honour to help as they birthed their babies. Yes, there’s all the obvious lessons learned and skills gained like the importance of: relationships, trust, communication, listening, perseverance, persistence, organisation, problem solving and working under pressure; but it was the deeper things I learnt like how critical it is to create a safe place for people to feel free to be themselves that has impacted me the most. And I know I’m repeating myself here, but listening and then listening some more to what people are really saying they want or need was perhaps the greatest gifts midwifery gave me.

4. My permission to go for it!

It was after I had transitioned out of midwifery to begin my life as a mum, (motherhood and disjointed shift work just didn’t mix well for me), that I was watching an episode of Fixer Upper and enjoying the home owners seeing the reveal of their new home for the first time. I remember being struck by the woman’s reaction to her new home, and how her response in the moment was incredibly similar to how women respond when they meet their babies for the first time (I’m feeling the tears well up even as I’m writing this years later).

I was quite overcome to hear her make the same sounds of pure joy and ecstasy, and whilst I had left midwifery at this stage, I knew it was confirmation to me that I could continue to be part of these sorts of moments as a designer. To play a role in helping bring that sort of joy to people’s lives is pretty profound and it cemented in me that being a designer wasn’t a lesser pursuit compared to midwifery, only different but with an equal opportunity to be just as meaningful. And from there I decided to grab design with both hands, and to choose to swim rather than sink as I moved into this new chapter of my life.

The love of styling my home is also another thing that confirmed my transition into interior design.

What’s this got to do with you?

We’re all on a journey to do that meaningful thing.

So, there’s a couple of snippets of my story that help explain where I am today. As I finish up, here’s the jist of the little pep talk I often have to give myself when I start to question my ‘why’ for going after my love of design (maybe it can be a pep talk for you as you go after your meaningful thing..)

I want to encourage you to go after your dreams, it’s never too late. Dream chasing certainly doesn’t guarantee an easy ride but when you are pursuing what you feel you should be doing with your life; you will feel truly alive in that crazy, flying by the seat of your pants sort of way. And what about those pesky feelings of fear?

What I’ve learnt, especially as a person who isn’t uber keen with jumping into the unknown, is that our bodies experience fear and excitement in much the same way (it’s funny, but true – think butterflies in the stomach, sweaty palms and a dry mouth), so I choose to think about those feelings as excitement instead! And when we think about the times we feel excited about something, it is generally because we are about to experience some degree of growth, change and forward movement in our lives! 

Share your thing!

I would love to hear about any dreams you’re chasing, or new things you are trying. It doesn’t have to be starting a business or changing careers, it could be a new goal you’ve set for yourself or something in the future you intend to experience. I want to cheer you on as you pursue your thing: you can never get too much encouragement! So comment below and fill me in….

Winter Wins: Focus on more warmth in your home.

Are you looking to prepare your home for winter?

Needing some simple styling tips to make your home feel more cosy?

I have been feeling the chill in my home lately. There is no denying that it has been getting colder, and in all honesty my home is not ready to welcome winter with open arms.

I’ve updated my bedroom for winter by adding extra throws and plenty of different types of texture (here I have some linen, velvet and quilted fabrics on my bed, along with different timber tones in the room for that cosy, warm feel.

As it gets so cold in the Adelaide Hills, I’d even announced on a few occasions in Autumn that we are already in Winter (thankfully my kids have sorted me out on that confusion). Reminding myself that the chilly season lasts for around five months in this part of the world has got me needing to warm my place up, and in a hurry!

I sure do love getting outside in winter and enjoying that crisp air, but when I’m home I want to feel cocooned and warm. I’ve got months’ worth of firewood painstakingly stacked outside in preparation for this season because I have to feel toasty inside in order to feel happy (any other cold frogs out there relate?!)

So, I’m speaking to myself as much as to you with these simple updates to make our homes feel more cosy for winter. They’re easy to implement and will make a world of difference.

Warm Floors through Rugs.

There’s nothing worse than cold floors in winter. It’s a big contributor to feeling chilly in your home and easy to fix with rugs. Here’s some ideas on how to work with rugs in your home:

1.      Layer rugs together to create more softness underfoot. Where you might only use one rug for most of the year, you can add extra warmth by layering two rugs on top of each other (the one on top slightly smaller than the other).

2.      If you are purchasing a rug, look for one that is plush and soft while still durable. Also consider the size, as a rug that’s the right proportion for your space feels luxurious and grounding – perfect for the chilly season.

3.      Don’t be afraid to move rugs around depending on the season. If you’d love a rug next to your bed, move a rug from one area of your home into your bedroom just for winter.

4.      Remember to use rugs to create zones in your home. Zones make spaces feel more cosy and can help to enhance the feeling of warmth in your living spaces.

This textural jute rug brings a subtle warmth to my floors, which is so vital when you have a tiled floor as I do.

Layer your lighting.

Paying attention to your lighting and ensuring that you have warm light at different heights brings a beautiful warmth in winter. An overly bright, overhead light makes you feel like you’re in the spotlight, instead focus on creating soft glow lighting in a variety of locations in your home.

1.      Keep ceiling lights off once your kitchen and cleaning tasks have been done for the day.

2.      Focus on using floor and table lamps (with a warm globe) in numerous spots in your room.

3.      Choose lighting with textural and warm tones for extra warm vibes.

Bring in textural throws.

Texture is a key to helping your home feel toasty. Throws and blankets in highly textured materials help the room feel more welcoming to you and guests on a cold day.

1.      Swap out any light weight throws for thicker, heavier ones. Wash and store your thinner throws ready for when things warm up.

2.      Choose materials such as velvet and wool for winter throws. Look for thick cable knit patterns, the thicker the better.

3.      Use baskets to fill with throws in your living spaces, this allows guests to grab an extra blanket easily to stay warm.

4.      Now’s the time to have a few throws draped across your sofa arms, and a blanket across the back of a sofa (especially a leather one) to help keep the chill off.

Cable knit throws are the best for added texture and warmth.

Update Bedding.

We all know the difference flannelette sheets can make, so now is the time to update your bedding with all the warm goodness you can. Even if your bedroom is on the cool side (mine certainly is), having soft textured bedding ensures that you stay warm when you sleep.

1.      Replace cotton sheets with flannelette ones. Swap out your summer quilt for a heavier winter one and you will thank yourself.

 2.      Change your quilt cover if you have options for different times of the year. I have a darker toned quilt for winter, and a lighter one for the warmer months. Just doing this swap over is quite a nice ritual to welcome in winter.

 3.      Layer up your quilts. If you don’t have a quilt specifically for winter, you can layer two lighter quilts together which adds plushness and a cosy vibe for your bedroom.

Throws in different thicknesses make a bedroom winter ready. I’ve got a few options on the ready here.

Try Candles and Scents.

Rather than turning all your lights on in an attempt to beat the darker, colder days embrace this season with the beauty of candles. Even lighting a few candles while you eat dinner, or as you chat in the evenings, brings a considered quality into your home.

1.      Group smaller candles together on a table as a centrepiece for real impact.

2.      Place a few candles at different heights, such as on top of a console or ledge, as well as on a dining table/coffee table to really create a welcoming space.

3.      Use scented candles with lavender, pine needles or anything that reminds you of winter to tickle all the senses.

4.      If safety is a concern with young children, use a scent diffusor instead of candles for a similar effect.

Grouping candles together on a table (like I have here on the chest of drawers), always makes more of a statement than just a single candle alone.

Consider a Warm Palette.

Whilst you can always use whatever colour palatte brings you joy in your home; it is helpful to remember that warmer tones do make your space feel cosier for winter.

1.      Swap out artworks that don’t seem to suit the season. Artworks of a beach scene in the height of summer, whilst a great distraction from the cold will seem out of place in your home during winter.

2.      Choose more subdued, simple artwork that echos the season (line drawings and winter nature prints would work well).

3.      Replace bright, cool tone coloured cushions with warmer alternatives. Tones such as gold, mustard, burgundy, cream, beige and taupe work a treat to warm up a space. These colours compliment beautifully a room with other cooler tones (such as wall paint colour, or furniture choices that can’t be updated as easily).

I love these tones of taupes, greys, blacks against the texture of this chunky basket and plywood wall. This mix of colours encourages a hunkering down and an embracing of winter. Rather than fight against the sort of colours you see in the winter landscape try bringing them inside for a cohesive look.

Plants and Foliage.

We all know the benefits of having plants in our home. When helping our homes feel cosy in winter our plants are key, as when it’s raining and difficult to get outside, we still can benefit from nature in our homes.

1.      Some of your indoor plants may need more sunlight in winter, so consider moving them for maximum light. Some plants are prone to drying out from the heating systems in our home, so research their watering requirements. We need our plants looking their best!

2.      Do some foraging outside for foliage. I often bring in some small branches from my deciduous trees, and even if the leaves fall after a few days the beauty of the bare branches bring depth and interest. Hardy natives and wattles look lively and interesting inside too.

3.      If you don’t have a big garden, reach out to a friend or neighbour for some greenery.

4.      Don’t underestimate a small arrangement of foliage in your bathroom or second toilet. These little touches make us smile and help our homes feel cared for when all is dreary outside.

A reached out to a friend for this beautiful blue gum eucalyptus. Any foliage on mass helps to bring the outdoors inside - this is particularly helpful when it can be harder to venture outside in the colder months.

Create some Winter Nooks.

The way we live in summer and winter is different. In winter, the aim in our homes is to feel warm, cosy and secure. Creating little nooks and areas in our home that promote stillness, conversation and selfcare will go a long way in the winter months. Being open to changing up the layout in your home may make all the difference to how well your home embraces all things winter.

1.      Are there corners of your home you could could create a reading nook? All you need is a comfortable chair, something soft underfoot, a small side table and a lamp. You may find yourself relaxing and using your home in a different way that is just right for winter.

2.      Consider bringing your living room furniture closer to create a more intimate zone that can easily be cocooning with candles and soft lamps.

3.      A sure way to create that elusive cosy factor is to move your furniture closer to your heating source. If your split system is at the opposite end of your living space for example, think about swapping zones around so you are closer to the heat when you appreciate it most.

4.      If you have a combustion fire this is one of the best ‘cosiness’ features and you want to soak it in at every opportunity. Set up a conversation zoom near the fire, you’ll never regret you did.

A combustion fire is always the winner in warming up your space for winter. This is why my wood pile is bigger than Ben Hur!

So there you have it…

Follow all these steps, or just pick a few that you think you could pull off to help create a home that can beat the winter blues. I’d love to hear what tips you implemented, or if you have some tips of your own that you can recommend. Leave a comment below or connect with me at bec@designrelease.com.au and let me know your winter busting strategies!

In the meantime, just know that I’ll be hunkering down next to the fire with my cup of tea – my happy place when it’s like the Artic outside. Until next time!

The Secrets to a blissful Airbnb Coastal living space

Are you considering setting up an Airbnb and would like to learn some secrets for setting up the living space?

Like to learn more on how to inject some coastal style into the space?

In this post I will I want to take you through the steps I considered to turn a slightly tired looking unit into the fresh Airbnb coastal living space I knew it could be.

Before we jump in, let me refresh you on the back story…

The backstory to the Airbnb worthy makeover.

I remember standing in this tired looking unit trying to imagine all that it could be. I felt slightly out of place measuring up the dimensions of each room while it was still filled with a stranger’s belongings. It was obviously somebody’s home and they had set it up to work perfectly for them, but I needed to turn this little unit into something that would appeal to the holiday rental market – and I didn’t have a lot of time on my hands to make it happen.

The unit had been the home of my sister in law until she had decided to rent it out. And to recap on my previous blog post, she had approached me with the idea of turning it into a seaside Airbnb. She asked if I could help her bring the future holiday rental to life and of course I said yes!

But like anybody, standing in the unit that day I faced feelings of overwhelm thinking how was I going to deliver on the vision I knew my sister in law had for her future Airbnb. I can relate to the challenge that it is to look past what is already in a living space and see it with fresh eyes!

My tips to achieve a coastal Airbnb living space.

Here’s the steps that helped move me from confusion to clarity as I tackled the transformation of the living area. I hope these steps are helpful if you’re trying your hand at your own coastal Airbnb makeover, or if you’d just like to know more about how I pulled it off…

The best layouts for Airbnb living spaces.

There is lots to consider when it comes to layout. I could probably spend a whole blog post just focusing on what makes a great Airbnb layout (one for another day perhaps). The main thing I’d like you to focus on is your future guests, not what would work for your own personal living room.

There needs to be enough seating options for the number of guests your Airbnb can sleep. Consider moveable seating, items like occasional chairs work at a treat because they bring some interest into the room and they are flexible. Your guests will feel at home in a space that encourages conversation, and that doesn’t happen when everyone is sitting on one long sofa.

Make the room feel spacious. Practically if you’re working with a small area (like I was) it’s good to think about how people will move around the room as you want it to have an instinctive flow. This means leaving plenty of space to move around your seating and coffee table, and ensure that you can easily access doors and walkways.

Specifically, for a small Airbnb living space:

1.  Have artwork, not the TV be the focal point as you enter the room.

2.  Maintain a connection between the living and dining spaces (for an open plan layout)

3. Keep the styling and colours cohesive throughout the whole room.

4. Block colours work well for small areas (e.g. furniture that is all one colour rather than mixed).

Coastal style touches.

Typically, a coastal/Scandinavian look is light and airy, fresh and textured. Think about how your layout can highlight those styling choices best as your guest first enter your property.

1. Position furniture so guests can see all your cushions/throws on entry. It’s these items that pick up your coastal colours and textures.

2.  Have lightly toned furniture as a feature (I chose a white coffee table and wanted this fresh element to stand out).

3.  Always feature texture in your layout. Use small elements such as rattan and jute as a highlight to draw the eye (I used a rattan occasional chair and textured wall décor in this way).

Here you can see the artwork as the focal point as you enter the property.

Here is the T.V. positioned on the entrance wall as you enter the property. It’s tucked out of first sight but situated for comfortable viewing in the evenings.

The best Lighting for Airbnb living spaces.

One overhead ceiling light doesn’t evoke a feeling of mood or relaxation. In the same way that you use lamps and dimmers at home your guests want to feel that ‘home away from home’ feeling too, not the ‘I’ve just stepped into a government building’ sort of sterility. Use warm LED globes and have multiple options of lighting for that cosy feel. Think about including a combination of floor lamps, table lamps and overhead lighting to give your guests options to suit a variety of tasks.

Coastal style touches.

When choosing a lighting fixture that is in keeping with a coastal style think about the material type.

1. Table lamp bases made out of rattan, lime-washed ceramics or glass would all fit nicely within a coastal aesthetic.

2. Aim to choose light fixtures that are cohesive to the overall coastal inspired colours you are using within your living space. Remember that the lighting should complement your furniture choices.

The floorlamp ties in beautifully to the overall coastal look and gives addition mood lighting.

The Best Art choices for Airbnb living spaces.

Even on a tight budget you need add to bring personality into the space. Art is a must and this is an area where I would allocate ample budget and not skimp! Choose artwork that ties in with your scheme, and for me using art from an Australian photographer show casing local beaches was a must.

For your living space to feel cohesive the art needs to make sense in the room. You can do this by thinking about your location or any history that makes your holiday rental special and unique and choose artwork that reflects that individuality.  

Coastal style touches.

For a more sophisticated take on coastal style, branch away from the typical shells, beach hat, footprints in the sand type of artwork.

1. Artworks that references the texture of rope or driftwood reminds us of the beach without it being too obviously beachy.

2. Abstract pieces with curves that connect to the shape of waves could also work nicely.

3. Consider the colours of the coast; greens, blues, browns and whites all speak of a coastal vibe.

Styling the living space makes it feel like a home and this is something that will make guests come back for more!

The Best Styling tips for Airbnb living spaces.

If it feels empty, it feels unlived in and cold. Your aim is for guests to walk into a warm and inviting space and this is where the design is in the details. Think about all of those small touches like books, vases, flowers, baskets – these are the things you can’t skip on if you want your guests to feel at home.

For your styling to really elevate your living space up a notch, remember to keep your book choices within your chosen theme (for coastal, think beautiful books on beaches, coastal living, coastal inspired recipes for example). Even consider the colours of the book covers and remember that they will stand out like a sore thumb if they aren’t consistent with all your other carefully chosen accessories.

Coastal style touches.

If you love the coastal, Scandinavian style choose styling items that are within this style’s colour palette. Colours like pale blues, greens, creams and whites always feel coastal and fresh. You can also contrast these soft colours with some depth found in rust, terracotta, beige and greys. Remember these colours can be picked up in your choice of sofa, rugs and other furniture too.

I added some jute wall decor above the T.V to bring some softness and warmth through texture!

The Best Comfort tips for Airbnb living spaces.

Two cushions on the sofa isn’t enough. More is more when it comes to comfort, and your guests will feel well taken care of when they have ample cushions and throws to cuddle. It also helps to think of throws in different weights and cushions with different textures. Different textures in a living space really elevates that feeling of comfort, if everything is flat in terms of texture there is nothing to sink your toes into, or wrap yourself up in and it just doesn’t feel as homely does it?!  

1.  Aim for at least five cushions for a sofa with one-two throws.

2.  Two cushions for an occasional chair.

The next must have is a rug for your living space. Not only does it help to create a zone for relaxing and conversation, it also makes your guests feel more comfortable. Whilst it does make sense to think about a rug that is durable and practical please don’t skip on it all together. Another big plus for rugs are that they reduce echo and absorb sound. These qualities are key for guests to feel comfortable and secure.

1.  Your rug needs to be large enough for the front feet of your furniture to sit on (sofas and occasional chairs).

2. The rug needs to be wider than your chosen sofa so it doesn’t shrink the room.

Coastal style touches.

Mix up your patterns and textures with your cushions and throws. This adds to the comfort level in terms of interest and depth.

1.  Move away from the overdone blue and yellow coastal colour theme (unless you absolutely love this combo, then go to town). Rather think about highlighting different textures that you might find in a coastal environment such as rope patterns or baubles.

2. Choose a rug that highlights coastal elements such as jute or sisal.

The colours of greys, greens, blues, creams and whites add comfort when paired with some browns and rusts for depth and contrast. The cushions have texture to bring added comfort and warmth.

It’s a wrap….

There you have it, all the goodness on how you can transformation your living space into one that ticks all the boxes for a perfect holiday rental getaway. Follow these tips for a smooth and considered Airbnb coastal living space makeover.

Did you know that I love helping people with their Airbnb projects? I will be sharing more in future blog posts on how to ‘Airbnb ready’ other rooms in the home to help you feel confident in this quite specific market, so follow along to learn more.

In the meantime if you’d like to see the before photos for this delightful project and my design for the space, you can check that out in the latest blog post below.

Or if the overwhelm is real and you’d like specific help for your holiday rental project, then reach out to me at bec@designrelease.com.au or find me on Instagram or Facebook. We can brainstorm and problem solve together!

Spotlight on a living space guaranteed a remarkable new look

Who can relate to the challenge of having to redesign their space with a limited budget – and not a lot of space to play with?

Anyone living in a unit or apartment could well relate to this dilemma. There are only so many places where things can go in a tiny space, and so you have to think hard to land on the best layout.

I came up against this scenario when I was lucky enough to help my sister and brother in law in setting up their apartment to be rented on Airbnb. The limitations were primarily space and money, but on top of this they also wanted to get the apartment ready for occupancy as soon as they could. The result? A design with lots of restraints, but as you often find that can produce the best sort of results.

Their preferred style was a mix of Scandinavian and Coastal, and it was important for all the furniture and décor to be child-friendly and robust enough to handle holiday rentals wanting a weekend away at the beach.

THE BEFORE PHOTOS.

But before I get ahead of myself, here’s a look at the before photos of the main living area of the unit. As you can see it was perfect for just my sister in law, but needed a total floorplan revamp if it was going to work well for four rental guests.

One of the before photos of the unit before its transformation.

As you can see it was quite a cute little space. This photo shows the front door and a sense of the amount of space we had to design a workable living and dining area for up to four people. That generous sized sofa had to go!

A second photo looking from another angle in the room.

Here’s a view of the room looking from the front door. Again, it brings home how space was of a premium.

LAYOUT IDEAS.

Here’s a look at the layout I thought would work best. The important things were to create a space where the dining table was close to the kitchen, while still creating a relaxing lounging zone.

Looking at the suggested floorplan drawing, the design was to incorporate a round dining table close to the entry to the kitchen, re-orientate the sofa and television to provide plenty of room for guests entering the apartment and to place artwork on the wall for a beautiful focal point

3D DESIGN DRAWINGS.

Here’s the 3D drawings that helped to visualise how the new dining area would materialise.

From this view looking back from the entry into the unit, these initial concept design drawings showed my vision for a cohesive space that allowed for a separate zone for dining and living. The space might have been small, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t function at its peak whilst still looking stylish and welcoming.

SNEAK PEAK OF AFTER LOOK.

Here was the plan for how the space could look. Aesthetically it was all about natural materials like jute, rattan, leather and timber. I wanted to mix these with some contrasting and fresh white pieces, along with touches of blues, greens to reference the ocean in the artwork and the location itself.

In my next blog post I will reveal all the AFTER PHOTOS of what became a fresh and welcoming coastal retreat. It was a living room makeover on a budget, and a small living room at that, but with careful thought and consideration proved that lovely things can come in small packages!

How to work with a Virtual Interior Designer.

Would you love to update a space while stuck in self isolation?

Do you have plenty of design ideas but unsure on how to pull them together?

Lacking inspiration but determined to make a change while you have some extra time?

Whether it’s due to the Covid-19 self isolation situation, or wanting affordable interior design advice, working with a virtual interior designer may be your answer!

I’ve got lots of samples of paint, fabric and finishes to help me make the best choices for your space.

One of my values for Design Release is to make interior design and decorating accessible to people of all walks of life. Even though Design Release is based in Woodside in the Adelaide Hills, I have clients all around the Hills and metropolitan Adelaide. It’s wonderful to be able to travel and meet clients face to face, but in this current climate there is another way that we can work together. Thanks to Zoom and other video chat software, I can work with clients in any location as a virtual interior designer. In the same way that so many small businesses are jumping online to continue their service at the moment, the design, decorating and styling process can happen virtually too.

If you’ve never heard of virtual interior design (sometimes known as e-Design or online design), you’re not alone as I’ve found that it’s an unfamiliar term to many. So, let me fill you!

The great thing about virtual interior design is its flexibility. Whether you are looking for help to refresh a whole room or multiple rooms, right down to wanting some advice on small decorating decisions – all this is can happen virtually.

Here’s an example of a selections board I put together for an eco-friendly, gender neutral nursery.

So, how does it work?

My e-Design package consists of 3 steps.

1. Questionnaire & Measure Up

   Fill out my e-Design questionnaire which helps me understand your style, lifestyle, budget and timeline. This helps us be on exactly the same page when it comes to your specific needs and wants.

   Then take some pictures of your space and measure it up. I will walk you through this part of the process, and it’s no way near as complicated as you think.

2. Moodboard & Selections Board

The next step is where the fun really begins. I’ll put together a moodboard, which is a collection of images, digital materials and colours to make sure I have understood your vision clearly. Once approved I get started on presenting you with a selections board. This can incorporate anything from furniture, paint colours, flooring options, light fixtures, window coverings, styling accessories and more.

This is a collaborative process and I make sure that you are completely chuffed with the selections before sending you the completed board. Along with the selections board you’ll also receive a shopping list of all the items, along with a styling document so you have confidence in putting your new space together.

3. Online Shopping

Now that you’re armed with all the resources you need, it’s shopping time! You simply use your shopping list to order items online (or organise to visit retail shops to see items in person) and then use the styling guide to create your space down to the last detail. If you’d rather skip this step due to lack of time (or patience), I also offer an extra service where I organise the ordering and delivery of all your items. How easy is that?!

Here’s a selections board for a shared bedroom for a brother and sister.

Like to know what’s included in a Design Release e-Design package?

• A personalised moodboard. Personalised to the colours, style and images that resonate with you. This helps me check that I am understanding your wants and needs. Includes x1 revision if necessary.

• A selection board which shows all the items that will be going into your room. This can include furniture, paint colours, lighting, accessories and window coverings, and shows how they will all work cohesively together. Includes x2 revisions if necessary.

• Your shopping list with quick links to take you straight to the websites you need to purchase your items.

• A floorplan to show where your new furniture will be placed.

• 3D digital drawings so you can visualize your new space.

• A styling document which ensures you know exactly how to ‘finish’ off the space with all those little details.

• Don’t forget your optional service where I will organise ordering and delivery of all your items if you prefer.

So if you’re feeling cooped up and would love to get working on a space on your home that could do with a refresh, update or re-do, now’s the time! With the help of a virtual interior designer you can access design expertise in an affordable and accessible way, and that’s something that Design Release is passionate about.

Next Steps

If you’d like more information about my E-Design service to see if you would be suitable, or if you have more questions book a complimentary 15 minute phone call with me to find out more.  Or you can email me at hello@designrelease.com.au I would love to help you create meaningful design through the wonders of e-Design.

What You Need To Know To Arrange Furniture The Easy Way

Well there doesn’t seem to be much that feels easy at the moment.

In the midst of Covid-19 and a concerted effort to curb its spread, we find ourselves staying at home. Like many of you I am attempting to work and home school children simultaneously! No easy feat.

But even with so many things feeling challenging, there are still positives to be found. One of them being you can unapologetically work on your home! Improving it, updating it, loving on it.

If you’re lacking inspiration on where to start, can I recommend something?

Rearranging furniture! There is nothing quite so satisfying and revitalizing as the simple task of moving some things around. It can quite transform your space, and your mood at the same time.

I was inspired this week to make some small tweaks in my home. Though I only moved a few things around it really changed the feel of areas of my home that weren’t working so well. Here I created more of a designated entry way with a mirror, a place for some indoor plants, books and magazines.

If you feel inspired I’ve put together 5 simple tips to show you all you need to know to rearrange furniture easily and simply. May they be the reassurance you need.

1. Tackle what doesn’t feel right.

I’m going to get all touchy-feely on you, but if you have areas in your home that just don’t feel right then trust your feelings and fix them. Have a walk around your home and choose 1-2 areas that have always felt a bit off. These are the areas you should focus on. These are the places in your home that you will yield the biggest results for your efforts. You want to get the biggest bang for your buck after all!

2. Get your inspiration, but don’t get stuck.

I know you are probably spending time on Pinterest anyway (especially if you love interiors and design), so make it count and research the types of rooms that you are wanting to rearrange. If it’s your lounge room you want to re-jig then spend 20 minutes specifically pinning lounge room images that resonate with your style or floorplan you’d like to try.

Be strict on your time limit here, as it will force you to stay on track and only pin what is relevant. Pay attention to how the furniture in these images are arranged, along with the room sizes. If Pinterest isn’t your bag you can look through interior magazines or jump on some design blogs. In all your inspiration finding remember that you don’t want to over plan. Getting started with some basic ideas of where you’re heading is a  must – don’t get stuck in the planning phase.

Another angle of my new entry way showing a spacious and light-filled area. It’s become such a functional and beautiful space in my home.

3. Measure and tape.

Now we get down to the nitty gritty. It’s tape measure and masking tape time.

Once you have your inspirational images sorted it’s time to look realistically at your own space. Don’t feel overwhelmed or discouraged here. Your home may not look like that sun-drenched, gorgeous image you have on your Pinterest board, but that’s not really the point. Remember that your home is a reflection of you and any improvement you make to it is positive.

Ok, let’s get back on track. I find that measuring out the room I’m wanting to change is super helpful. Especially measure the furniture pieces currently in the space, and any others you hope to move into that room. If I know I want to move a large piece of furniture like a bed or sofa, then I will tape out its dimensions on the floor to check if it will fit (you can do this with the furniture still in its current position). This way you have confidence when it comes to moving things around.  

You can get fancy and do a scaled drawing on graph paper of your room, and check out how your furniture might work best in 2D first. If you don’t have the perseverance for this, I recommend that you remove as much out of the room as you can before you start rearranging things. By removing all the small items you can get a much better sense of how the room needs to flow.

I used to have our bed in a different orientation but since moving it closer to the window, I am enjoying the beautiful morning light so much more.

4. Lights, camera, action.

Another helpful tip is to take photos of your space. By taking pictures of your room as it currently is you will be able to see clearly what needs to be changed. For some strange reason things seem a lot more noticeable in a photograph than in real life, so use this to your advantage.

Then when you are in the process of changing things up take more photos. These will help you see what areas of the room are working, and what parts need extra attention. All this being said, the aim here isn’t perfection. Remember a change is as good as a holiday.

5. Doorways are the great equalisers.

This tip is a seemingly small thing, but has brought furniture rearranging endeavors to a standstill. Remember to measure your doorways and staircases before you move any mammoth furniture pieces. You know that sick feeling in your stomach when you can’t shove the sofa through the doorway? It’s that scenario I’d like to save you from. I want to see you succeed and not trip at the finish line, so don’t overlook this one!

So, there you have it, my easy tips to making rearranging furniture doable and successful.

It’s not as hard as it seems and you’ll feel amazing once you make it happen. If you decide to try these tips out I’d love to hear from you and see pictures of the finished results!  

Even with my tips if this sounds like something you don’t want to tackle alone then perhaps you’d benefit from a virtual design consultation. I can help you with the best way to rearrange your furniture so your spaces function and feel how you need them to, and yes we can do this together online (thanks to Zoom and Facetime).

Here’s an example of a floorplan for an outside deck area I’ve recently helped a client with, along with a moodboard to show the sort of furniture sizes and style that would work best. If this is something you’d like help with, email me at bec@designrelease.com.au

How to create a cosy home with 7 simple tips.

How can we make our homes more peaceful and enjoyable places to be in?

Creating a cosy home is important more than ever. We all have a lot going on at the moment.

For us in the Adelaide hills, we’ve had the recent bushfires and now we have the effects of this virus. But what a resilient bunch we are because from what I can see, we are all getting on with things as best we can and taking things one day at a time.

Cosy Example 1. Mantle Styling. I used a round mirror in the mix to keep things interesting with the straight lines of the mantle.

Another tip is to group items in 3’s (I used the candles here) and space them by themselves to stop things looking ‘bitsy’. This also allows your eyes to rest with some negative space between your items.

How do we create a cosy space that feels comforting for both us and our family?

When it comes to our homes, we can be thankful that we have a safe place to retreat to. Now more than ever our homes are our sanctuary, the familiar place where our lives play out.

There is a level of acceptance that comes when, rather than resisting the restrictions we are currently bound by, we can look for opportunities for connection and peace within our homes.

Now more than ever I want my home to feel peaceful and function well for all who live in it.

In my quest for a cosier home, here are 7 tips I’m trying on for size.

Cosy Example 2. Mantle Styling. Use organic shapes and pieces (like these AMAZING flowers from www.ivyshed.com.au for my wedding anniversary!), mixed with hard angles like the mirror and artwork for lovely contrast.

Use colour like the terracotta and blush to complement cooler colours like the grey blues. Always remember your negative space (at the right hand end of the mantle) when you have lots of goodies to display like I did!

1. Layer up for the cooler days.

Already the evenings are feeling cooler and I’m grabbing an extra jumper during the day, so it’s time to get your home ready for the change in weather. Pull out any extra throws and thicker blankets you may have stored away, and place at the end of beds and on the sofa. This way you can feel warm and comfortable, because there’s nothing worse than feeling cold and cooped up.

2. Create a creative workstation.

If you have kids, or even if you don’t, creating a space in your home for art and self-expression will do wonders for your mental health. Find your art supplies of crayons, pencils, graphic markers, paints (depending on your patience for clean-up) along with plenty of paper and set up a space specifically for creativity.

If you’d like to be more adventurous, you could try your hand at a more advanced home-made project like building a shelf, sewing a cushion cover, making a macramé wall hanging, creating a string of pom poms or trying your hand a line drawing. Whatever you choose make sure it’s something that would add beauty to your home, and bring you joy in the process.

If you’d love to learn how to create your own watercolour art, my friend @jasmine.heather.artist runs online workshops to guide you through the process. Then you would have your own special piece to take pride of place!

Cosy Example 3. Mantle Styling. If you have a few textural pieces that you’d like to display together then a handy tip is to keep to a neutral colour palette. Here I let my love of texture shine and incorporated wood, ceramics, rattan and even a rusty horseshoe into the mix.

Don’t ever forget to add some foliage to your styling, and often the bigger the better. It doesn’t have to be fancy, here I simply grouped some jasmine and wisteria from my garden together for maximum beauty factor.

3. Pretty up the place.

Remember how I said that it really does matter how your home makes you feel? Well, for those of you that can’t see the point in well-chosen accessories (is that even a thing I can hear you saying?), trust me when I say that lighting a scented candle and popping some foliage from the garden into a vase will make the world of difference to how you feel in your home.

It’s not frivolous, it makes you feel better and you can’t put a price on that in this current climate. Yesterday I picked some roses and put them in my daughter’s rooms and that little gesture brought some added joy.

4. Rejig your space.

Now is the time to change the layout of your space. If your lounge room is too pokey with the whole family now residing there, or if you’re feeling a little flat and need a bedroom refresh – there’s no time like the present.

You may only change things around temporarily to suit the fact that we are all staying at home, or to surprise your child (remember the excitement of setting up your room in a different way as a kid?), but regardless now is the perfect opportunity to play around with some varied room layouts and experiment to your heart’s content.

5. Be Sadie the cleaning lady.

I know a lot of us have already instinctively started doing this, but cleaning and sorting is such a satisfying past time when you’re spending more time than ever at home.

It’s productive work and results in us making a difference in our own sphere of influence. So whether it’s cleaning all the windows or sorting through the laundry cleaning cupboard, when your home feels more orderly you feel more peaceful and at rest.

Cosy Example 4. Mantle Styling. Here’s more of a moody collection I created. Adding some black is vital to pulling this off, and then contrasting it with some fresh white pieces keeps it from looking dreary.

Another tip is the use of height to create a hero piece (don’t you notice the branches straight away?!), and yes you can use stacked books to achieve the height you like. I also love using pairs of identical objects for some repetition too.

6. Bite off a DIY project.

When you spend more time in your own digs you automatically notice everything that ‘needs to be done’. Well rather than let the overwhelming feeling paralyse you, why not pick one small project that you could tackle. Now would be a perfect time to repaint the guest room, order a new rug for the lounge or bedlinen for your bed.

It’s a win-win as you are smashing out those things that you’re forever trying to get around to doing, and at the same time supporting the economy and better still; small business! Take that extra bit of time to source your things from a local small business and give both you and them the warm fuzzies.

7. Love your accessories.

Something I love to do is change up my accessories. This is where my love for decorating kicks in as it such a refreshing and addictive activity. I encourage you to give it a go in your own home choosing one mantle, coffee table or display area in your home.

Gather all your accessories into one central location, think things like nice books, vases, candles, art, pot plants and interesting ornaments so you can see them all together. Then pick different groups of objects and rearrange them in a new way. I promise this will make your home feel fresher and you’ll be able to appreciate your meaningful objects in a new way.

Cosy Example 5. Mantle Styling. I love to use the tip of grouping smaller items together so you see them as almost one thing (I achieved this with the vertical books, horizontal books, stone bowl and ceramic cup). Try this with your small bits and bobs, it works like a treat.

Here I wanted to create a fresher feel by using 2 types of greenery and a bold artwork in a light timber frame. Using glass is another great way to achieve an airy, yet grounded look. Try it out yourself and see how you go!

Well I hope these ideas have given you some inspiration to cosy up your space and make it a place that nurtures you and your loved ones.

Try some of the tips out, I know you’ll be so glad you did.

You’ll find yourself smiling more and enjoying your sanctuary away from it all. If you’d love to try your hand at some accessorising, changing furniture layouts or refreshing a room but it’s not really your bag, then remember that I’d love to help you.

While we have all moved away from unnecessary face to face interaction for the time being, online communication is going from strength to strength. I’ve enjoyed helping clients over the last week via photos, phone calls and video chats with their design dilemmas, and I’d be happy to help you too.

Reach out to us at hello@designrelease.com.au if you’d like to book in a 30min video chat where I can see your space and help you in any way you need. Think gallery wall, shelf styling, paint colour recommendations, furniture layouts… the list goes on.

In the meantime, stay safe, be grateful and enjoy the cosy home you’ve created.

How to plan a girl’s Bedroom makeover right - What you need to know

Do you want to know how to plan for a beautiful girls bedroom makeover?

You may have a bunch of inspiration photos but need guidance to know what ideas will actually work.

Some mantle details of my daughter’s bedroom in the ‘before’ stage. Each accessory is meaningful to her, so that means that they will be making a reappearance in the makeover, or be thoughtfully handed on to another little person who can treasure them.

Come with me as I breakdown the process I took as I planned a long over due makeover of my daughter’s bedroom. It’s more than unicorns and rainbows despite how it might appear on Instagram, but that doesn’t mean it has to be difficult or overwhelming.

These 5 tips will give you a solid starting plan to tackle your own makeover.

MAKEOVER TIP 1.

Find function that flows

Whether the space you dream of creating is a soft, whimsical one, or a bold, energetic one, it will only work as well as it functions. You might have lots of inspirational images of rooms you love, but do those elements fit in the room you’re planning?

This is where thinking about how the room will function comes into play. There is nothing worse than a makeover with lots of lovely details, but you stub your toe on an awkwardly placed reading chair, or your ‘little lady’ doesn’t have enough space for her craft supplies. Here’s how to plan for the function factor…

The craft/homework/Lego playing space gets a lot of mileage in this room. All it needs is a little freshen up in places to help it stay a functional zone for years to come.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• How does she currently use the space?

  Does she like to create a cosy reading nook for herself, or prefer to have space to swing her toy cat? Is she into spreading Lego all over the floor, or does she have a neatly organised gel pen collection?

  Make note of how she uses her room day to day, this will give you a great starting point in understanding how her room needs to work for her.

In our bedroom makeover we wanted to keep lots of floor space for playing so our furniture choices were minimal. The limitations of the room is its size, so we needed to think of ways for it to feel larger than it actually is!

• What are the limitations of the space?

What are the glaringly obvious problems with her space? While you may not be able to fix all of these, recognising them is half the solution. Is the room on the small size, or does it feel too large and cavernous? What are the things she complains about, or the frustration points for you?

Brainstorm your ideas and see what sort of list you come up with. Your list will probably be a mix of practical and aesthetic things, and from there you can prioritise what is most important to your family to change.

• How would she like to use the space?

This is where you can invite the little girl in your life to share her dreams for her new space. Be prepared for A LOT of ideas to come at you here! As you listen hear the repeating threads that might emerge, things like the feel, style, the use of the space.

These are the points you will want to hone in on and address the best you can. For my daughter the overarching theme was for a cosier space, it was all about the feeling of the space for her.

MAKEOVER TIP 2.

Discover a look that delights

When we think about children’s rooms and colour palettes things can get a little crazy. Some mums are happy to embrace the superhero theme, and others are not (honestly, I’m more in the not category here). But that being said, as a designer my job is to listen to what the client wants and not to push my style aesthetic onto them.

We already had some muted colours in the bedlinen that my daughter wanted carried into her bedroom makeover. Being such a sentimental gal she also wanted to keep the patchwork quilt I made for her as a toddler (lucky the colours all sit well together)!

It often comes down to delivering the favourite colours/themes your daughter loves in a cohesive and clever way. For my young client, she loved green and fairy lights and so we chatted about how to incorporate mood lighting and her favourite colour into her new space.

When it comes to room colours, remember that often a muted or toned down version of the colour creates a more calm and mature space that works well into the future. A favourite theme can be incorporated in your accessories, such as figurines or wall decals, which are easier to swap out when the craze has past.

Also keep in mind that a room that has a couple of elements of a certain style, be it bohemian or eclectic works much better than a room that is monopolised by one style. This is especially the case if the rest of your home has none of this design style at all! A collected and personalised room is much more meaningful full stop. Your aim is to create a room that will grow with daughter, and a makeover that is built to last.

MAKEOVER TIP 3.

Pull the practical punches

As pretty as the fairy lights on the mantle are, practically it involves running an extension cord along the wall to have them there. We spent time thinking about how to display the lights in a more practical way that minimised tripping over cords. When it came to thinking about what feature we wanted to highlight, it was the mantle all the way.

Too often the practical aspects of a room makeover are overlooked. But remember your room makeover will only be the bomb if you have ticked all the practical boxes. Things to consider might be:

• Power point placement (you may need extension cords to plug things in)

• Position of light switches (they need to be easy to access)

• Types of window coverings (block out window coverings or sheers, curtains or blinds)

• Heating and cooling needs (ceiling fan or ducted cooling, natural ventilation from windows)

• Sound acoustics (extra rugs and cushions to help absorb noise)

Along with all those important practical points, another thing that is helpful to think about is what do you want to disguise or highlight in the room? If you are working within an existing footprint, work out the number one feature of the room you want to highlight (what you love the most), and one thing you can’t wait to hide. For our makeover, the mantle piece was the highlight, and the smaller than average size of the room was what we set about disguising. Just picking one of each helps keep you focused and not chasing rabbit trails.

MAKEOVER TIP 4.

Nail a fabulous floorplan

It’s common to have so many lovely pieces you want to fit into your new room makeover. Usually though we end up with a cramped space and things don’t fit comfortably.

How do we overcome this dilemma?

Whilst having a log for a bedside table is sorta cute, it’s far from practical. Part of our planning around the floorplan was a bedside table that was at the right height to use, and narrow enough not to block the doorway.

Measure the space (preferably once it is empty), and measure the furniture you know will go back into the room. Tape out the placement of furniture on the floor and walls, including the height to get the best sense of how all your chosen pieces will work together.

Alternatively you can plot the furniture and room size on graph paper at a chosen scale, this way you can play around with different layouts before committing in reality. Don’t forget about the heights of items too. This will help you find solutions to how high the bedside table needs to be in comparison to the bed, or how high the bed can be in relation to the ceiling fan (this was a super important one for us)!

If you don’t skip this step you can be guaranteed of a well thought out space with the perfect amount of furniture for it to feel spacious and practical.

MAKEOVER TIP 5.

Settle a sensible budget

The thing with budgets is we always think we need a bigger one. In reality a smaller budget often delivers a smarter design, as we are forced to get more creative and be content with what we have. Whatever the budget is for your girl’s room makeover, accept it and make peace with it! If you are constantly grumbling about the amount you can invest it won’t be an enjoyable process, and at the end of the day design is meant to be a joy. We found that pricing out our big ticket items was a helpful place to start, and this meant we didn’t overspend on the smaller accessories which is so tempting to do. Sticking to a rough allocation of funds for each item helped us determine a sensible budget for the makeover in the first place, and stopped us going too far over!

Part of our budget planning was using the relatively economical design tool, paint! As you can see here the walls are looking tired, chipped and plain old bare. To fix this doesn’t have to be pricey, nor eat up a lot of your precious budget.

With these 5 tips we were able to plan for our bedroom makeover, and I hope they will give you confidence to do the same. Armed with these guidelines you can be sure that your bedroom makeover will be an enjoyable process, and will give you confidence that you’re on the right track.

Still not sure how to narrow down all your ideas for your bedroom makeover?

Sometimes chatting with someone and looking at the space together can bring the clarity you need. Reach out to Design Release at hello@designrelease.com.au and in a two hour consultation we can brainstorm, talk layouts and colours, suggest what pieces to edit or add, and generally address any uncertainty you might have.

Together we can anticipate the joy and excitement the end result will bring!

4 rules for beautiful kitchen selections

The world is your oyster in the sea of kitchen selections.

With so much choice it can be feel difficult to know where to start when it comes to all the possibilities for your kitchen.

Follow these 4 basic guidelines to make beautiful, cohesive selections for the heart of your home.

1. Know your undertones

It’s all in the feeling. Kitchens can have all the latest mod cons and yet still feel not quite right. Spend time early on thinking about the type of feel you’d like your kitchen to have. Find some images you love, or colour combinations you always go back to, as a way of understanding what feels like home to you.

Deciding on a cool or warm vibe is a good place to start.

If you gravitate towards a cool look you will prefer the bluer whites and greys, so for you choose paints and tiles with a blue, green or purple undertone. On the other hand you may obsess over warm interiors, you will need to choose selections with a yellow, orange or red undertone. Sticking to this idea of cool or warm choices will mean your kitchen will look balanced and tied together as one whole space. It will save you those mistakes like having a neutral wall colour that ends up looking slightly pink, next to your tiled splash back that looks more blue than white! Stay true to your undertones and you’re 80% there.

Here's a kitchen selection I made based on warm orange undertones and complementing them with green. There are so many interesting selection schemes to create, and don't forget to use a mixture of textures and contrast for interest. Here is some leather and stone, along with smooth and grainy fabrics.

2. Think about the whole room

We can often fixate on our dream kitchen, all the while forgetting that it adjoins onto another main part of our living space. Don’t fall trap to this. These days our kitchens are more typically part of a larger, multi-purpose space. If you are only renovating your kitchen and it opens onto your dining or family room, continue to see the space as one big room. This is key to ensuring that your kitchen feels like it belongs in your home, rather than having a clash of styles when all the dust settles.

How do you do this?

Take note of certain colours or themes playing out in other parts of the room, and repeat them in your kitchen selections (unless of course you plan to renovate the rest of the space in the near future). Look at your flooring, window dressings, cushions and accessories as inspiration for your new kitchen space. Trust in your style and what resonates with you - these are the things that will make your kitchen belong.

3. Remember texture

Let’s focus down on a specific design element now. Texture. Want to know what is key to creating a kitchen that feels welcoming and homely? It’s all in the texture. We’ve all been in newly finished kitchens that feel as though they are missing some soul; and if you’re investing your time and money into a new kitchen you want to feel the love right from the word go. This is where texture plays a big role, but as ever the quiet overachiever it is often times overlooked.

What to do?

Consider a balanced mix of shiny and matt, rough and smooth materials. It’s these subtle elements that produce a kitchen that feels considered and enduring. Think in terms of a balance between light reflective and light absorbing surfaces. If you love a highly glossy benchtop, juxtapose this with matt-finish cabinetry, or shiny hardware with a cement look tiled splashback. Play opposites attract with your texture choices, and your kitchen will feel more authentically yours because of it.

Here’s my second kitchen selection based on the complementary colours of green and purple. This is another way to bring cohesion, in the same way that cool and warm undertones do. There's also lots of textures and use of contrast, along with fabric swatches to show how selections can be made with a multi-purpose room in mind!

4. Consider contrast.

We all know less is more, and with kitchen selections it really is. For a feature colour to look it’s best it usually needs to have something understated next to it to allow it to shine. The same can be said for a key material choice (think a gorgeous stone benchtop, or statement metal handles for example). For hero features to be just that, think about how you will balance them with more understated selections. Decide on your ‘wow factor’ and be ok with your other choices playing second fiddle. This considered use of contrast in your selections, and not needing everything to fight for attention, will help to create a beautiful balance in your kitchen. And this is the sort of kitchen that people don’t want to leave!

That’s a wrap on the 4 rules for beautiful kitchen selections. If you follow them you will be well on your way to having a kitchen with an intangible feel good factor, and you’ll know why.

Are you still feeling confused and overwhelmed in choosing your kitchen selections?

Design Release can help. Let us walk you through the process using our wide selection of samples, or we can meet with you at a showroom of your choice. We can work with builders at varying points of the design process, so don’t hesitate to get in touch to make the process smoother for you.

How Design Release will start 2020 right.

What an exciting proposition, a new year and a new decade.

It feels like there is so much potential for new beginnings as we welcome in 2020. I have such a sense of expectancy for all the things this year has in store and want to embrace it all, however it comes.

I’m eager to jump into all things interior design this year on the blog, and to help and inspire you as I do. But already this year has had its challenges for so many, and is causing me to think deeply about what my priorities are for Design Release.

A collection of leaves from my garden. The story of the burnt leaf through to the freshly fallen green Eucalyptus leaf.

December 20th 2019, is a date that for Adelaide Hills dwellers, (especially my little part of the hills), will be hard to forget.

Whilst bush fires continue to ravish much of N.S.W, Victoria and Kangaroo Island, on December the 20th our community was confronted with terrible, out of control fires of our own. Many in my community have lost homes, livestock, farm buildings, infrastructure and gardens. Not to mention the loss of native fauna and flora which is quite devastating. More broadly 23,000 hectares of land around Woodside, Lobethal, Lenswood, Charleston, Mount Torrens, Inverbrackie, Harrogate and Brukunga have been burnt. This sort of event quickly puts all else into perspective.

I am beyond proud of the way that my community has pulled together to support and care for families who have been affected. For Design Release, I want my business to be one that helps when there is helping to be done. I value meaningful design and creating spaces that mean something special to those that inhabit them. So how can Design Release help?

For anyone who has been affected by the Adelaide Hills fires I would be honoured to offer a complementary two hour design consultation.

For many their homes still stand but they are looking out at burnt landscape as far as the eye can see. Whilst I can’t change the landscape, I can help you bring some freshness and comfort into any area of your home where it is needed most. If Design Release can make things a little easier in anyway in the aftermath of these fires, it would a worthwhile way to start 2020.