Natural Fibre Carpets

Derived from sisal bush, coconut husk, jute plant, seagrass and hemp modern technology has revolutionised these primitive materials to produce simple floor coverings full of texture, style and character.

This natural range of woven carpets are made completely from renewable resources and are available in a wide variety of natural weaves, patterns and colours made from acid free dyes.

The advantages of these products include: especially good for allergy sufferers; their natural tannins repel dust mites; extremely durable and provide good sound absorption.

Available from Style Plantation.

Cavalier Bremworth is a great choice for wool carpet in a range of styles, textures and colours that leave a gentle footprint on the environment. They have been accredited by GECA (Good Environmental Choice Australia) and ISO 14001 as well as being a member of the Australian Green Building Council (GBCA).

Environmentally Sensible Heating

Life Style Plantation went straight to the source to find out more about environmentally sound heating.

These fireplaces are powered by liquid denatured ethanol. Unlike traditional fireplace constructions, no chimney is needed because the combustion emits only small amounts of carbon dioxide and water vapour. And the flames are as natural and captivating as wood fires.

Donna, client manager at Inter-Deco agrees. “Eco heating does so much. Our fire places utilise modern technology and are a fantastic addition to any home. The energy you supply goes straight into the room as heat, instead of being lost through the chimney”.

No flue, no hard connection
Independently tested
Ideal for apartments, houses, bars, restaurants and offices
Unprecedented design flexibility
Environmentally friendly
Denatured ethanol is biodegrabable and a renewable resource.
Contact: 02 9319 7127 118 Renwick Street, Redfern www.interdeco.com.au

Styles influenced by Europe - With Gaby, Great Divide

Whether embarking on a small renovation or a totally new home, most of us will look for inspiration in design features and colours which currently rate high on the popularity scale. The way we use or personalise what we see is very much a way of communicating our own style.

French Provincial This style more than most has tended to be one where there is a cyclic “ back to basics” revival. The use of warm woods, thick ceramics and textured fabrics vary over time but change only enough to stay contemporary.

As we search for a simpler and more casual lifestyle in a modern setting, its popularity continues.

- Handmade items and natural products, thick glazed ceramic bowls, jugs and vases.
- Natural produce baskets, fresh eggs holders
- Woven rugs, candles, wrought iron chandeliers
- Exposed timber beams and walls left in their natural state, or rendered with a matt or chalky finish.
- Wide wooden planks, smooth stones set in concrete creating a cobblestone effect, bricks or terracotta tiles, extending to patio or terrace
- Furniture tends to be unpretentious wooden and/ or upholstered pieces in floral or paisley patterns
- Armchairs and sofas will usually be covered with loose cushions and throws that can easily be moved from inside to outside.
- Windows have louvered or wood shutters, in a natural timber finish or treated with a wash.
- Warm and earthy, a reflection of the light and the natural surroundings of southern France.
- Exteriors strong but fade to delicate hues of rose, ochre, sable, lavender and cream.
- Textiles and ceramics have bold hues.
- Bold tones of red, dark green of the local cypress, blue of Provence includes pale ice blue, sky blue and royal blue.
- Grey is also used to paint metal and wooden pieces such as chairs, bed heads and accessories.

Lighting for effect

Lighting can have a enormous impact on your interior space. Used properly it can be used to create a ‘feature’ in a room, set a ‘mood’ or help you perform a certain task or set of tasks, like in a kitchen or study.

Here are some of Fofi’s tips for maximizing the impact of light in three ways:
“Careful planning is essential for functional and stylish lighting. Factors to consider include the purpose of the room that will determine the wattage and the desired mood.”
Task lighting: General lighting in the form of down/halogen lights or a ceiling pendant. Task light in the form of a desk lamp with strong wattage for reading and writing. As well as helping you to read a desk lamp helps you avoid creating shadows in a room. Task lighting in the form of track lights or angled wall washers to direct the beam to highlight diplomas, degrees or art on the wall.
Feature lighting: People use feature lighting to add maximum impact to a room or provide a focal point to the space. Typical areas include an entry or foyer, over a kitchen island/bench-top, in a high stairwell.
Hallway/foyer: a large hanging chandelier works well in either a modern or traditional style.
Kitchen: Large hanging pendant made from glass or a material that is easy to wipe clean.
Stairwell: a cluster of hanging pendants suspended at varying lengths.
Mood or ambient lighting:
This has an important place in the living or dining room here the general background lighting would be pendant or ceiling down lights on dimmers, together with a table lamp on a sideboard; or a stylish floor lamp poised in the corner of a room.
Not to forget the use of scented candles in a
candelabra or on the dinning table to give further warmth and atmosphere providing an ambience to your space.

By Foffi by Design

Life Organic

About: Life Organic, 125 King Street, Newtown(02) 9565 1156 Open 7 Days. Angy & Vicki have been running Life Organic in Newtown for many years.

Angy is professional member of the Australian homeopathic society and the Australian traditional medicine society. She runs family homeopathic first aid workshops and specialises in children's health issues. Vicki is a member of the Australian traditional medicine society and has diploma in herbal medicine. She specialises in rejuvenation, women’s health and iridology.

Sheets & towels, by nature.

Wild, woolly and wonderful the bamboo towel is super soft and superbly absorbent they will indulge your senses and made from a highly sustainable resource. At Style Plantation we stock Baksana. A beautiful and finely woven towel range, they are 40 per cent bamboo and 60 per cent cotton.

Advantages of our bamboo towels include:
· 4 x more absorbent than cotton towels
· Lint free
· Anti-bacterial & naturally pest resistant.
· Enduring softness
· No need to use fabric softener
They will make a stylish and luxurious addition to any bathroom.
Available in white, stone and slate grey in bath towel, hand towel, bath mat and bath sheet.

ECOLINEN is 100 per cent certified organic cotton and while designed in Australia is Fairly Traded from India. The range comes with a 5 year guarantee on fabric and workmanship. The benefits of organic cotton include; improvements to health and will restore your sleep, eliminates allergies and skin conditions for you and your family.

Certified organic in many ways; certified organic cotton fields, certified weaving processes, certified dyes and treatments.

Ecolinen is also available through Style Plantation in white and stone. The range includes pillow cases, quilt covers and flat and fitted sheets in single, double, queen and king size.

Rejuvenate with nature

Chemical and colour free natural personal care and beauty products are not only better for the earth but their eco properties also make them much better for you.
According to Narelle Chenery, the creator of Miessence, an organic skin and cosmetic range, “There has a been a shift in consumer sentiment with more women wanting products with naturally occurring ingredients. People want to invest in their health and well being rather than applying products to their skin that contains synthetic additives”
Life Style Plantation spoke to Vicki from Life Organic to get some expert insight about natural beauty products.

Q. What is the main difference between natural beauty products & conventional products?
They don’t have the harsh chemicals normally found in cosmetics, namely propylene glycol, formaldehyde and parraben.
Propylene glycol is a real ‘baddy’ because it can cause kidney damage and liver abnormalities, contact dermatitis, neuro toxicity and CNS depression, skin rashes and dry skin.
It is found in anything from moisturisers, perfumes and lipsticks, suntan lotions, hair conditioners, cigarettes, paint and ice cream and even anti-freeze brake fluids.

Q Why would you recommend using natural as opposed to conventional beauty products?
Conventional beauty products contain carcinogens, therefore natural alternatives provide better health benefits helping you to avoid cancer. They are also a better environmental choice.

Q What brands do you recommend?
My recommendations would be Dr Hauschka and Lavera and Miesscence.
Dr Hauschka is a German brand that’s been around for 40 years and has a great reputation. European countries have been practicing alternative skin care products much longer than we have in Australia.
Lavera is also German, but slightly more affordable and is becoming increasingly popular in Australia.
Miesscnce is an Australian brand that makes certified organic, home grown cosmetics, body care and health care products.

Q What ingredients should I be looking for in skincare and cosmetic products?
Anything botanical or made with natural oils. Watch that there is no mineral or petroleum oils. Natural waxes like beeswax are a great choice because they are absorbed by the skin and create a protective barrier and seal to moisturise. Also good are natural minerals which are derived from the earth such as iron oxide, used to give colouring to a product.For shampoos, I would recommend products by Lavera and ‘Wild’ because they do not contain sodium lauryl sulphate. This is a chemical found in a lot of creams and moisturisers or anything else that creates a lather.

Q What about for children and pets?
A good certified organic baby product range is Gaia, these products are enriched with moisturising natural oils to keep your babies skin clean and soft without irritation, dryness and itchiness.
Holistic Select Pet Food is wholesome, gourmet food for the discerning pet. They are made from natural ingredients and without chemicals or harm to the environment.

Accessorise. Add a layer. Define your space.

Accessorise. Add a layer. Define your space.
Hemp curtains & textiles

An ancient product given a new lease of life, Hemp’s eco-friendly textural qualities bring warmth, richness, sophistication and depth to otherwise minimalist spaces.

Inherently organic, Hemp is a highly textural fibre and it’s intricate weave brings ‘nature’ to the interior space. Versatile, Hemp comes in a range of colours and fabric-weights making it suitable for furniture covers, curtains/blinds, cushions, bed-heads and bed throws. Hemp blends harmoniously with many natural or manmade interior finishes.

Like bamboo, Hemp is a renewable resource, harvested within approximately 100 days of planting. It’s cultivation process shuns herbicides, sprays or chemical fertilizers. With twice the tensile strength of cotton, Hemp’s hollow fibres provide thermal insulation and have the best ratio of heat capacity, providing natural thermal qualities.

Hemp also filters 95% of the sun’s harmful UV rays, far exceeding cotton & linen, it can be successfully treated with stain-repellent and fire-retardant properties that increases it’s applications making it suitable for even commercial uses.

Hemp fabrics are available from Style Plantation stores nationally.

The art of creating space - part 2.

Think about your space before creating a feature wall because they don’t work everywhere. Here are a few basic guidelines, that should help make your decision easier.

Small spaces: when you want to introduce another colour into the area without having to bring in a piece of furniture.

To elongate: a corridor or hallway – paint the furthest wall in a lighter colour to the adjacent walls. A large, full length will achieve the same effect as will a carefully placed console table with a gilded mirror placed above it and a bunch of flowers on the surface. This technique will give the illusion of continuing space and is also light reflective.

Other paint techniques you can use to add interest to a room

IF you want to reduce the endless height of very tall ceilings you can paint them in a half-strength colour to the wall, the definition between wall and ceiling, the space will appear smaller and cosier.

To create a feeling of spaciousness, choose a true white ceiling and very pale walls. A pale colour wall with a red ceiling will bring the height of the room down and will bring a sense of ‘drama’ to the room.

Choosing neutral colours like white, beiges and creams will allow you to change the colour scheme without needing to totally decorate because you are able to introduce bright accent colours with cushions, rugs and lamps. Stronger tones like greens and reds or browns will limit your ability to change the room at a whim.

Continue your commitment to the environment by choosing paints that have been created with concern for their impact on the earth.
Our recommendations:

Volvox are made from clay, these paints are solvent and VOC free and guaranteed to be long-lasting, trans-toxic fumes and pleasant smelling. Asthma sufferers and people with skin problems are more comfortable in rooms that have been decorated with natural paints. Available in Australia through ECOHOME

Oikos Natural Paints have a comprehensive range of non-toxic paints for all aspects of painting. From bathrooms to commercial projects OIKOS paints are suitable for use on timber, metal and decorative finishes, like metallic paint, suede effects. The breadth of their range that includes stuccos, pearlescent and travertine stone effects, makes them very competitive with other well-known, traditional paints. Other products include eco-paint strippers to rust converters. The perfect non-toxic solution to all your paint-related projects.

Resene are another great choice with a large range. They will also dispose of unwanted or ‘leftover’ paint products and will dispose of them responsibly. They have an online paint calculator - helps you find out how much paint you need for your project and happily supply test pots so you can make a confident choice.

The art of creating space.

THE BASE: Paint
The Principals of colour psychology tells us that as well as transforming the ‘look’ of a space, your choice of paint colour can have a significant impact on your family’s mood, appetite and energy levels.

with Fofi by design.

Red tones are known to increase blood pressure and levels of agitation but used in the bedroom or dining room of a house, red can also produce feelings of arousal and stimulates appetite.

Dark reds, like burgundy are the best choice for the home because they add warmth, inviting your guests to linger and stay. Use true red sparingly as it’s boldness can be brash and you’ll associate it with the branding of fast food outlets...sans stylish!

Cool and calming, blue will suppress your appetite but makes a great choice when creating a sanctuary, like children’s bedroom or in the bathroom.
Achromatic colours (black and white) can be used as base colours for living rooms. The stark contrast gives a ‘masculine’ feel to and they work best when you introduce an accent colour like champagne, bronze or gold. These tones add warmth and even a hint of opulence. Think Manhattan style.

Go Vintage!

Everything Old is new again. Express yourself and your own unique sense of style by combining modern design with older pieces. Your new sofa can be transformed by an interesting side table. A conversation piece, it instantly introduces a different ethnicity giving a cultural richness not often found in mainstream showrooms.
Moroccan furniture is known for its interesting, geometric shapes that would complement any modern design- with the mother of pearl and silver inlay adds further interest to the piece.
A traditional rattan-top Chinese table made from elm-wood adds impact as it reflects the history of Asian craftsmanship.
While the classic lines and simple designs of a Danish teak buffet or Wegner armchair give a ‘retro-style feel’ when matched with a leather sofa, either with buttoned or top-stitched detail and a heavily textured rug.
Think: reduce, reuse, recycle
Budget and eco-friendly ‘going vintage’ also means getting great brands at a fraction of their original retail price and giving something old a new lease of life. While markets and your local charity store are bound to have some great choices, auctions are also a fantastic place to pick up art, antique furniture, jewellery, dinner service, bronze statues and other collectables. We recommend:
· Deutsche and Hackett
· Lawsons
· Vickers and Hoad Antiques
These are open to the public but you can also be placed on a mailing list that will notify you of up-coming auctions as they happen.

Ethical Shopping.

Often Referred to as “positive buying” ethical shopping means having an understanding of how our choices affect the outcomes of our actions and an increased awareness of the environment sustainability has led to a plethora of ethically produced goods and materials.
To play your part look for products labelled ‘organic’, ‘bio-organic’, ‘fair-trade’ or ‘cruelty-free’. Also try and increase the amount of items you buy that are labelled ‘Australian Made’ or ‘locally-produced’ as this ensures that the least amount of energy or ‘food-miles’ has been used to bring the product to the supermarket.

Purple - the new black.

Lush & Opulent,the colour purple has made another come back for Winter 2009. Historically worn by royalty the colour has traditionally evoked power, luxury and elegance. It was also a hit colour in the 1980’s, think Joan Collins and those shoulder pads.
Purple is fabulous in the home. Think feature walls in a striking purple or consider eggplant or fuchsia, both cousins of the purple family. For something less permanent but equally stylish what about a purple mohair throw rug tossed over your sofa or folded on top of the ottoman. You can even take inspiration from the garden, a vase of iris or a bunch of hydrangeas.

Welcome.

Welcome to the Design and Style blog from the Style Plantation Studios.
- For the latest in eco-friendly trends, designs and style tips for your home, life and style.