Design Dilemma

Its official - I am facing a design dilemma. No, make that a design crisis!

Yesterday I returned home after a long days work at the office, walked in to our empty house and heard the sound of music greeting me as I entered. What on earth, I thought. Have we been burgled by a music loving burglar? As I crept into the living room I was soon greeted by possibly the most hideous monstrosity that has ever set foot in our house - a vintage record player and radio. Now, I'm not just talking about some gorgeously stained timber piece of beauty here, no, I am talking gigantic, in-your-face, cant miss me - record player with two over sized speakers to boot!

Steven is a lover of all things retro (I think he was born in the wrong era) and has been hankering for a record player to play his vintage record collection on for many months now. We have argued about the style, size, look of what he should get (I would have been happy with the invisible kind) and most importantly where the hell it will go! Which brings me to my current predicament now that this record player has magically appeared in our home - where to put it?

Interior design is all about translating the tastes of two people (or one or more in some cases) into one functional and harmonious design. Steven and I flounder between loving the same things and at other times being polar opposites. He wanted a rug made from artificial grass for his office, I would have preferred a hand-knotted silk rug for a more luxurious feel. He loves ultra-modern and I love classic.  It can be very hard at times to unite two people's styles and personal tastes into a successful design - but that's what our jobs as professionals is for! So while I sit here self-pitying the predicament I find myself in, I really should sign off now and put my time into finding a solution and vacant position in the house for this new permanent fixture. This needs a lot of thought!

The offending piece of equipment in question

Ok, this last photo looks half decent and quite modern I must admit.

Rapp Scarves

I recently came across the work of Melbourne textile designer Eloise Rapp and her amazing label Rapp.

A lover of all things beautiful, Eloise works unusual colours, evocative prints and sublime textures into her stunning scarf designs. Not sure if is just me but I can see some parallels between Rapp's latest range and the work of well renowned interior designer Kelly Wearstler.

While these bright colours and abstract prints are perfect for tying around your neck or head, at one full meter square they are perfect for framing and creating unusual pieces of art for your walls.

Not convinced? Here is some framed scarf inspiration to help convert you.

These gorgeous Hermes equestrian scarves make a stunning wall display. 

Beautiful vignette

Bold, graphic prints make this hallway a winner

Simple yet striking

image sources: 1. / 2. / 3. / 4.

7 Vignettes

Well the 7 vignettes challenge ended on Friday and I am officially feeling a little lost! Well done to all those who took part - there were so many amazing vignettes created and I got so much inspiration from looking through the images each day.

I had great fun tearing the house and office upside down, pulling out items that have been in storage for months to create a vignette around each days topic. What fun!

For those of you who weren't following - here are my remaining vignettes.

And for all you other addicts out there - the 7 vignette challenge is back in March!

Day 3 - Love                                   Day 4 - Shiny

Day 5 - Cushions                           Day 6 - Old

Day 7 - Pattern (I got carried away again and did two)

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday! It seems that lately I am jumping for joy by the time Friday rolls around. But this week I kind of wish there was an extra day or two in the week as I have so many things on my to do list that should have been completed this week. So it looks like I will be putting in a little overtime over the weekend. Apart from that I plan on doing a lot of relaxing. I have just received three new interior design books in the mail and will be cosying up with a cup of tea for some good inspiration! Hope you all have a fantastic weekend.

A pic of the 'neater' side of my desk right now.

p.s. Were any of you following the ‘7 vignettes in 7 days challenge” via theinteriorsaddict.com? I will post my remaining vignettes over the weekend. Would love to see some of yours if you took part!

7 vignettes in 7 days

For those of your who follow Jen Bishop and her note worthy blog theinteriorsaddict you will already know about the '7 vignettes in 7 days' challenge. Well its back again and bigger than ever!

Some of you may be wondering just what on earth a vignette is? There are many different meanings to the term vignette, however one of the most concise I have seen is "any small, pleasing picture or view" (dictionary.com). When we talk about vignettes in interior design we refer to a beautiful arrangement or cluster of objects. A vignette can have a theme or more often than not at the very least aims to induce a certain emotion or memory. Vignettes can consist of practically anything from books, vases, accessories, photos, you name it.

I decided to take up the challenge and have been arranging and grouping vignettes all around the house. We are two days into the challenge (day #1 - Books, day #2 - Texture).

With 5 days to go its not too late for you to join  in the fun too. Hop on over to theinteriorsaddict to find out more.

Here are my first two vignettes.

Day #1 - Books

Day #2 - Texture (got a little over excited and did two - just because I could!)

Follow me on instagram (Elishabryant) or here to see my remaining vignettes over the course of the week!

The importance of Colour

'Remember, colour is not just colour, but mood, temperature and structure' Van Day Truex, Interiors, Character, and Colour. 

Welcome to the weekend! And its a lovely long weekend here in Australia as we celebrate Australia Day. Its unfortunate that we are currently experiencing torrential rain here in Brisbane. It just keeps coming and shows no sign of stopping. Which means I am locked up in the house with a puppy who has cabin fever because he cant exert his energy outside. As I sit here writing this post I am having a pork roll (dog treat) thrust in my face as he begs me to play with him. But we are here to focus on more important things, so lets get to it!

Today I want to talk about colour and the importance of colour in interiors. The use of colour in interior design is an essential element in design. The role of colour serves not only an aesthetic purpose but it also has a huge impact on our moods and how we feel in a particular space.

I have always been well known for my neutral palette. It wasn't until I started designing that I have realised the colours that I am drawn to. From a fashion perspective I like my colours bright (and I mean bright!). Being a typical summer girl my wardrobe consists of hundreds of hues of orange, coral, yellows, aqua's and mauves. But, give me a home or room to decorate and (to my great surprise) I will be whipping out samples and swatches in whites, greys, blacks, taupes and beige. Why?? I am most comfortable and relaxed in a neutral and monochromatic colour scheme - for me, a neutral colour scheme creates a feeling of comfort, coolness, consistency, and ultimately a feeling of 'classicness' . In any of my homes you will find white walls, dark stained furniture and hints of taupe and charcoal greys. Colour is used to add interest and oomph on a restricted basis. But this is me. When consulting with clients I need to understand the colours that they are drawn to and what colours they could live with on a daily basis.

Psychological and aesthetic elements aside, it is also important to keep practicality in mind. For a household with young children or pets it may not be advisable to upholster a lounge in light shades such as white or cream. I on the other hand chose to overlook this and constantly battle with keeping our lovely taupe lounge clean from muddy puppy paw prints on a daily basis. Was this a practical decision - no? But could I imagine my lounge room in any other colour? Nope. We just make it work!

When choosing colour for your home whether it be the wall colour or furnishings you choose, it is important to select colours that not only compliment each other aesthetically but that you are comfortable with. If white walls feel to clinical to you, why not go for a light grey to strengthen the room. Or if you are really brave you cant go wrong charcoal or near black walls. It really brings a room into a whole other dimension.

I now need to run off to a birthday lunch so am off to get ready (and clean the couch of some disturbing (yet cute) paw prints). Enjoy your Australia Day Australianites!

I will leave you with some images from a few designers who I admire for their use of colour.

Kelly Hoppen: The queen of the neutral palette and taupe. People either love it or hate it. I love, love, love it.

Maria Barros: This woman isn't afraid of colour and knows how to use it well. How could you not feel happy in either of these spaces?

Greg Natale: I admire Greg's subtle use of colour in the homes he designs. The use of textures and bold patterns help add strength and a sense of boldness to his spaces.

Introducing a new series to the blog

Since starting this blog late last year we have covered many posts from design inspiration to client jobs and industry news updates. This morning I was thinking - how can we make this blog better? In addition to the things we have already covered,  how else can we add value to our clients? What is it they want to hear? What do they want to get out of reading this blog?

I have a few ideas up my sleeve for the blog in 2013 however I thought it would be a great start to kick off by taking a detailed look at all things design. Yep, it sounds very broad but we are going to break it down into easy-peasy posts that are concise, relevant and (I hope) inspirational. Each week we will look at a certain element of design, a room in the house, styling tips etc. Think of it as your weekly tutorial and dose of inspiration on all things design. From learning the secrets of the design industry to practical tips and tricks to help you create your own amazing place. Let us share with you our practical know-how, for free!

I am really looking forward to this new series of which the first will begin very shortly. On another note, if you have any thoughts on what you would like to see covered on the blog please don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me here.

Here's a sneak peak at just a few things this series will cover....

Till next time.....

image source: 1/ 2 / 3

A wonderful year ahead

Just over two weeks into the year and I am feeling recharged, rejuvenated and ready for what is set to be an exhilarating and jam-packed year. 

We have so much planned this year and I cant wait to share it with you. We have some exciting design jobs coming up with some amazing clients over the next few months. I'm also excited to announce that Wink & Co will be undergoing a complete re-brand including a new website and a new look for the blog (stay tuned). We have booked in a few trips this year to ensure we squeeze in a little R&R - I'm particularly looking forward to visiting Bali again for some tropical inspiration in a few months time. . And as usual we will be pottering around our home - re-decorating here and there and adding a few more projects to our casa. 

2013 is shaping up to be a stella year and I hope it is full of inspiration and great things for all of you.

Wow - how hot has it been lately? This sunny weather of late has been the perfect excuse for us to escape to the beach over the holiday break. Yesterday we took a trip to the beach with Luca. Luca loves the beach  - if he's not splashing in the water or digging holes to bury his head he is running halfway down the beach with us in tow. Gotta love him.

This sweltering heat has got me thinking of beach houses. From gorgeous beach shacks to the modern day home perched on the water's edge. Here is some beach house inspiration to get you through this heat! Enjoy.

Via 1, 2, 3, 4 - unknown, 5 - unknown, 6.

And the winner is...

After much research and many delightful hours trawling the net looking for villas, we have finally booked our villa for our trip. The Puro Blanco villas will be our home during our time in Bali - heaven!

From the white decor, to the outdoor tropical shower and sparkling lap pool - this little haven will provide us with the quiet and sophisticated space we need to relax and unwind. Cant wait!

images via Puro Blanco

The Siam hotel

We all know that first impressions are everything - especially when arriving at a hotel. 

If I were to ever walk through the doors to The Siam, Bangkok I think my first impressions of this hotel would be held with the highest regard. The interior is bold and sophisticated. It is modern yet still has a nod to Thai history and architecture. 

There are many elements that I am coveting - the somewhat monochromatic colour scheme used throughout, the subway tiles in the bathrooms, the wall panelling, graphic print rugs, and the hanging ferns used throughout the courtyard.

Pure stylishness at its best.

images via the siam hotel

Flamboyant flamingo

Pink flamingos, with their elegant shapes and array of hues from soft salmons to hot pinks seem to be popping up everywhere. Have you noticed? From fabrics to wallpapers, cushions to homewares. Is this trend here to stay? I think not. At least not for the long haul. 

But, I am still loving these gorgeous animals and daydream about the perfect opportunity to decorate with them. Given that it is a trend that wont be around to stand the test of time, I think the perfect room to decorate with these gorgeous prints would be a nursery. Here is what I am thinking.... what do you think?

Wallpaper ; mirror; fabric; curtains - custom made; basket; cot; cushion; armchair; pouf; sheepskin; buffet; artwork.