Dior at the St Regis

How fabulous is the St Regis, New York. 

After their collaboration with brands such as Tiffany & Co and Bentley, they have partnered with Dior to create an iconic Dior inspired suite. And who doesn't love Dior? Inspired by the Parisian atelier this stunning suite is ultra feminine and incorporates subtle signature elements of the famous brand. Muted shades of Dior grey blanket the room and soft furnishings feature the traditional Dior motif of roses. The amazing watercolour artwork is a tribute to Dior's glam take on fashion and is by artist Bil Donovan.  

This is one chic hotel that is quintessentially French and drips with glamour.

The view from the living room - stunning.

What an entrance - simple and classic.

The traditional dining room which comfortably fits eight on these exquisite Louis chairs.

Floorplan.

Images via St Regis

All-white Interiors

Within the interior design industry there is always deliberation over the use of colour in interior design. One consistent topic of debate is the use of the classic 'all-white' interior. I will probably be shot for saying this but....I love an all-white interior (there I said it)! Many people feel that white interiors can be dull, clinical, stark, and boring. And I must agree - some white interiors are all these things. However, white done right is second to none.

White interiors are flexible and very forgiving - particularly in older houses as white walls have the ability to hide a multitude of sins. An all-white interior (if done properly) can be cozy, modern, calming, luminous and bold. White walls and floors make borders disappear and rooms feel larger.

If you are thinking of creating your home on a base palette of white or designing an all-white space, here are some tips to help you get it right.

Pick the right shade

White comes in a multiple of shades and the first step when designing is deciding which white is right for your space. Whites can be divided into two categories: cool whites and warm whites. Cool whites generally have a subtle blue or green undertone. Blue-based whites can be difficult to work with as they can often appear clinical. They do however work well in north-facing rooms with an abundance of light.  Warm whites on the other hand have a subtle yellow or red undertone. Warm whites are great for country-style and heritage interiors as they complement timber finishes and traditional colours such as duck-egg blues.  

Here are Wink & Co's favourite white paints:

Cool Whites
Dulux, Lexicon
Porters Paints, Milk
Dulux, White on White
Dulux, Whisper White


Warm Whites
Porter's Paints, Long grain
Taubman's, Plain Vanilla
Dulux, Chalk USA

Choose A Variety of Tones

Next, make sure you mix your whites up a little. Don't make the mistake of filling a room with everything in the same shade of white or you will end up with a room that looks like a snow bomb has gone off. This home (click here) is my favourite example of how not to use whites in the same shade (it cracks me up every time - even the dog is white)! Choosing furnishing and objects in several slight tonal variations will avoid your room looking stark and clinical. 

Texture

Lastly, but most importantly - texture. Layer lounges with throws, blankets and cushions in different textures or add a rug. A good ratio of hard to soft surfaces is the key to making a room feel comfortable and balanced. 

To wrap this up - below are some fabulous white interiors that  demonstrate white done right.

all images via my pinterest.

Thank you Home Beautiful Bathrooms Magazine

We are incredibly humbled to have our ensuite featured in the 2013 edition of Bathrooms (The Ultimate Bathroom Renovation Guide) Magazine. This gorgeous magazine is bought to you from the team at Home Beautiful. The ensuite images are from our feature in Home Beautiful's "50 most beautiful rooms" special in their October edition last year.

Our ensuite is one of my favourite rooms in the house. The stained-glass bay windows and decorative plaster ceilings were our initial starting point when designing the room.  We wanted to incorporate these heritage pieces into the design but with a few modern touches.  Like the rest of our house it is a meticulous blend of old and new. 

The crystal chandelier (which unfortunately you cant see in the photos except a few strands on the third page) is the focal point and feature of the room. The effort that went into purchasing it and having shipped up from Sydney was an absolute nightmare but well worth the effort. Twin basins, an original clawfoot bath, a custom vanity clad in metallic gold finish, metallic wallpaper and a spacious open shower all add to the glamorous feel of the room. It is the perfect room to relax in after a long day!

and some behind the scenes shots from the photo shoot

Thank you to Home Beautiful for including our bathroom in this year's edition - and a special mention to the very talented Tahn Scoon (stylist), John Downs (photographer) and Jane Parbury (editor - and who wrote the copy for the article). 

For anyone who is looking to renovate or design a bathroom be sure  to gran yourself a copy of the magazine which went on sale yesterday.