All Seats Taken!

Whether you have a bay window or a glorious seaside view, it is important especially at this time of year to have comfortable seating by the window!

Depending on the type of window, determines your options. 

If the window is not tall, you can also continue the seat cushioning to the back – banquette seat style, great for added support.

 Built in box seating:  this is ideal if you need the storage space that is under the seat.  Dress up with custom seat cushions and accessorize with colorful cushions.

Window seats are a great place to watch the sun over the beach and relax throughout the day.

Enjoy this space over lazy weekend mornings reading the paper with a coffee or a glass of wine on a rainy afternoon.

If you are short of a guest bedroom and extra accommodation is needed, add a trundle pull out bed. 

Great for unexpected guests!

  

Our interior designer recommends:

Dulux wash and wear in Buff It half strength for the timber work panels

Seat upholstered in Warwick fabrics Beachcomber Nougat (a lovely beige)

Cushions from Fabric Pavilion in a Dash Fabric Colour 2 Oyster or Mirage fabric colour 11

Window seats work beautifully in kids bedrooms

Tis the Season...

Follow these tips to ensure that your home is inviting and ready for guests during these Christmas Holidays!

Check that you have plenty of bedding, linen and towels for your guests that are staying over night or for extended amount of days.  Stock up on these bedroom and bathroom essentials early and enjoy some time co-ordinating them into patterns and colours with ribbon for that extra special touch! 

You can create a haven in your spare rooms by setting out these over-night musts that your guests will truly appreciate.

Add some little luxuries in your guest bedrooms including bottles of water, scented candles or diffusers,  chocolates and maybe a few freshly cut flowers in a glass vase. A reading lamp and a selection of books and magazines will also be a lovely touch.

There’s no better way to make a house guest feel uncomfortable than to be working, cleaning, and cooking the whole time your guests are with you. Give you and your guests a chance to relax and really enjoy each other. No one will care if the kitchen is sparkling or the sheets are ironed. And when there is work to do, don’t be hesitant to accept offers to wash the dishes or set the table.

Decorating the Xmas tree
Christmas is the best time of year for gorgeous home and outdoor décor. Decorating your Christmas tree in particular can be a festive occasion when families pull out the boxes of ornaments, lights and other adornments. Combining old, cherished pieces with new purchases creates original recycling chic!

Three top tree themes:

The Traditional Tree
Rich Victorian red, bottle green and classic gold conjure images of childhood Christmases past. This Christmas, David Jones Traditional tree has a slightly more English feel with classic tartans updated in cool champagne tones. Mouthblown glass ornaments are created using centuries-old techniques in Germany, Poland and Czech Republic. These are sure to become instant heirlooms.

The Blue Elegance Tree
Soft turquoise, silver & pearl white create an elegant mood reminiscent of 1950s style. Jewels shine and glitter shimmers while the Snowberry Fairy from Gisela Graham peeks from between the branches.

The Brights Tree
A vibrant palette of turquoise, fuchsia, peacock blue and tangerine work back with gold in a riot of contrasting patterns inspired by Oriental silks. This tree will light up any living room!




Whether you have opted for a simple relaxed feel or a classic Christmas look, there are a few essentials that no table is complete without! Don’t forget Christmas bon bon’s and crackers and Christmas napkin rings.
And remember, like the star on the Christmas tree, the table centrepiece is key for creating your perfect setting.  Most importantly have fun with the theme you choose and have a Happy Christmas!

Summer Style

What better way to relax on a summer's day than with a cold mojito and these hot products from Style Plantation?

Decklife is made from highly renewable bamboo and plastic waste that is termite resistant and low maintenance which makes it perfect for the Australian outdoors. Decklife™ won’t rot or splinter and it does not require regular oiling.

Boards come in 3 colours and Pleated, Ribbed and Flat profiles.

 

Hanging Pod Chair

Featuring a delicate circular pattern this sturdy chair comes in light and dark colours and makes the perfect addition to your deck!

Add some driftwood garlands to get that beachside look.

Keep a stack of Baksana wraps on standby for when the weather gets cool at night - your guests will appreciate it! The Baksana wraps are a multi use 100% cotton waffle fun wrap with fringing. Too cute and comes in a huge range of colours to suit your style.

 

 Another way to introduce colour to your space is to add some coloured glass. Gorgeous on their own or grouped together.

Don't forget to update your table setting to include some of our brand new Ecology range.

Pop in and take a look- we look forward to showing you the whole range!

Have a sunny weekend! - Team SP

All Decked Out

Composite Decking - The future of Australian Decking.

Adding a deck to your house is the best way to extend your home into the great outdoors. By defining a space in the garden that is low maintenance and a 'designated' area for entertaining will completely transform your home (and your summer evenings) and give an extension that can be used almost all year round.

DECKLIFE is made from highly renewable bamboo and plastic waste that is termite resistant and low maintenance; perfect for the Australian outdoors. Traditional timbers normally need regular oiling and maintenance.

Available in a range of stylish colours and finishes, DECKLIFE is a great product that saves our timber forests and complies with ISO 14001 Environmental Management.


To style your decking, consider using tubs and planters for planting that are clustered in groups (three or five in a group) in bright colours for a summer look, or colours that work with your house's existing exterior. Installing irrigation will give your plants the much-needed water on hot summer days, and save your time on watering.  Use bright colored outdoor cushions on your chairs and bench seats that can be matched with tableware and accessories for vibrancy in our less colorful winter months. 

Spring into the new season.

Spring into the new season + freshen up for the sunny season.

Spring is the time for renewals, fresh bright colors, and beautiful flowers. Add to that Spring cleaning and you’ll have a home fresh as the new season.  Here are some ideas for home spring projects.

• Closet clean out:  It is that time of year when we no longer need big bulky coats and scarves and hats and gloves. A thorough clean out of the hall closet will give you more room to store other things and make it easier to find what you’re looking for.  Start by emptying everything from the closet.  Throw out or donate things that haven’t been used in the last year. It’s either junk or something someone else could use.  Store the winter coats and accessories somewhere else.  Use the space to store spring coats, handbags and umbrellas.

Fix up your outdoor areas too!!  When it comes to choosing outdoor furniture there are a few things you should keep in mind: 

• Space: whether you have a veranda, a large or small space.
• Style or theme: what ‘look’ are you trying to achieve
• Use: how many people that will use the space

Lighting:  Use hurricane lanterns + candles outdoors for great ambient lighting + far cheaper than installing outdoor lights. 

Interior Inspiration By Fofi By Design

So you have just bought an apartment - “a room with a view”!!!

Perhaps its a sun-drenched living area with a fabulous outlook?  Make the space appear larger by keeping the interior simple, have the view work for you rather than compete with it.  We recommend furniture and accessories that work in harmony to create a comfortable relaxed space.  

Here’s how to maximise this great asset 
Paint colour:  opt for a pale neutral tone, not brilliant white.  Try Whisper White, ¼ strength White Duck or ½ strength Buff It – all by Dulux.
See dulux.com.au
  
 Wall coverings:  go for stripes that lie horizontally only on 1 wall.  These can play on the horizon outlook, make sure there are no bold colours, mild neutral tones are best.  See below from Wall Candy www.wallcandy.com.au  

 

The palette:  generally a neutral palette which has been layered – ie taupes, beiges, whites.  Then use highlight/accent colours to change the desired mood or season.  Teal blues, pale lime greens as these will also highlight the colours from outside + bring them inside.   
  

The interior:  clever positioning of a console table with a large mirror to reflect the view, if this is not an option – try at the entry.  It will create a strong entrance.  Solid timber furniture to incorporate a natural element, teamed with a sisal rug and interesting lighting and you can’t go wrong.

 

ChinaHeart

www.chinaheartinternational.org


“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

ChinaHeart is called to serve the poor, needy and orphaned in China. To express love and compassion in action for those who often through, no fault of their own, are struggling sometimes even to survive. One young girl ChinaHeart care for was abandoned as a baby, then her foster father was drowned in a flood and now his brothers care her for.

ChinaHeart have now opened 3 foster apartments under the banner of Doves Wings, caring for babies who were living in orphanages. The orphanage staff are usually stretched to the limit so ChinaHeart take these babies and provide a loving and nurturing atmosphere.

The ChinaHeart “family” is growing and now numbers 140 children with more coming soon. These include Doves Wings babies, children living in quite poor and destitute conditions, sometimes only in a cave, and university students who passed the exams for university entry but whose family could never be able to afford the fees even though they are much lower than here in Australia.

More information is available at their website, www.chinaheartint.org.  Please join Style Plantation in making a difference - visit the website and make a pledge to help change the world. 

BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL STRIPES!!

Horizontal or vertical stripes add definition and perspective to a plain room. Stripes are lively, young and happy; use different paint effects together such as Dulux Design Metallic, Silk and Pearl, or you can stick to the same effect and vary the colour or shade. This is a much cheaper option than wallpaper and can be easily changed by painting over the whole wall or by simply updating the colour of one stripe.

Make an impact with stripes!

Make sure you plan your design while the room is still furnished as it will affect your perception of how wide and where the stripes need to be.

If you’re having trouble visualising, get some coloured pieces of paper and stick them to the wall where the stripes will be. Use differing widths to see which one you think works best.

This look also works well in children's rooms as you can choose the colours based on your child's current favourites. If you only paint one wall behind the bed then it becomes easy to change down the track when your little one decides she now loves yellow!

A gorgeous two tone pink stripe

French inspired!

Limewash Designer Series Bamboo Flooring has been used in this living room and provides a modern and daring contrast to the furniture and accessories. "We love the blend of styles" say Brendon King at Style Plantation - "it's edgy - the modern lines of the couch with the hides and flamboyant art pieces set the scene - the combination is a true reflection of the owner".

Wonderful at Woolloomooloo

We love the contrast of the light and dark in this spectacular Woolloomooloo apartment. A striking combination of metallic striped wallpapers, fabulous lighting (including a red feature lamp) and gentle pattens in the furniture give this apartment the wow factor. Using Walnut Semi Gloss Designer Series Bamboo Flooring gives the space an additional dimension as it throws the light and reflects the beautiful views around the apartment, and works with the vertical wallpaper patten and feature lighting (not shown). "It's elegant and very much on trend" says Fofi, from Style Plantation. "The combination of light and dark makes a sharp contrast, and gives the space an luminous quality". 

Inner West Make Over

The inner west property gets a full makeover that is simple yet refined. Inspired by oriental lines, the owners were keen to retain as much of the property's original style as possible. Red accents with neutral stone and earthy colours work to create a splash of colour with out being too heavy.

Walls are in Dulux Antique white to help open the small house (rooms are 3500mmW) and reflect as much light as possible.

Kitchen is in a 'light-cream' by Miton Sydney, with Sage Caesar Stone Bench-tops, integrated dishwasher and stainless steel oven. Flooring is Savannah semi gloss, with White on White Trims. The feature wall in the living room is 'Baresque' textured wallpaper, with a 'Hip-Home' rug by Boyd Blue in a stone with metallic threat - selected by Fofi by Design.