GIFTS THAT GIVE

What do you give the person who has everything?

How about a goat? Or a chicken? Or a pig? Or a pile of seeds? Oxfam Unwrapped offers a range of more than 40 totally unexpected gift ideas that will also help transform the life of a person living in poverty.

When you buy an Unwrapped gift card, your donation helps support Oxfam Australia's life-changing work around the world. Best of all, your family member, workmate or friend receives an extremely memorable gift card explaining how their special gift is helping others. It's a way that those of us with a lot can help those with a little.

All Oxfam Unwrapped gifts are real items that are used to fight poverty. Most gifts in the catalogue are already located in the country where Oxfam are working, so they're not impacting on their  global footprint either!

Our choice?

What about a gift that supports community-led solutions to health care delivery in remote Queensland, ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are getting the health care they need?

How This Helps

The healthcare needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians can be vastly different to that of other Australians. In the Lower Gulf of Carpentaria, Oxfam is working with Yippippi Gulf Indigenous Health Council to support community voices to be heard by decision-makers. They are helping to establish community organisations and advocating for the delivery of community-controlled health services.

“Oxfam gave our people incentive and self-esteem. This is the type of service we need in community. It gave us hope for the future — that we will own our own services.” Robyrta Felton, Mornington Island Elder.
Visit the website for more details - https://www.oxfamunwrapped.com.au

Clutter Control - by Fofi by Design

Customise your wall system and transform it into a functional design that reflects your personality.

Wood is good! This adds texture, colour and warmth to a minimal room, although the entire storage unit should be a combination of wood and a painted two pac polyurethane finish.

Try to incorporate different cabinet and shelving sizes to create a unique and interesting look.  Sliding doors are good to conceal books, multimedia and personal items, but elegant or items from your travels should be on display.

We like dark veneer or even black, it is a timeless classic.  Dark toned woods with black leather add a masculine touch. Contrast this with bright splashes of colour such as abstract art to give a vibrant optimist ambiance.

Room dividers are great as they separate and define a space without impacting on light or view. These allow you to change the room’s layout at a whim!

Remember – flexible, functional and style are musts!!

Room with a view

So you have just bought an apartment - “a room with a view” - maybe a sun-drenched living area with a fabulous outlook. The real estate agent didn't need to point out the view - maybe the outlook is so good that you didn't notice the room at all.  Now, how to make the space work in a way to enhance the view, and create a truly successful living room. 

We recommend furniture & accessories that work in harmony to create a comfortable relaxed space.  Here’s how to maximize this great asset.

Colour:  opt for a pale neutral tone, not bright (appliance) white - With the amount of natural light that the room will capture, vivid white is too harsh and brilliant.  Try Whisper White, ¼ strength White Duck or ½ strength Buff It – all by Dulux. Grand Piano is a great colour too (as used in this example) - with a green / khaki base.  

Wall coverings:  go for stripes that lie horizontally only on one wall.  These can play on the horizon outlook, make sure there are no bold colours, mild neutral tones are best.  See some inspiring and clever designs at www.wallcandy.com.au. 

The palette:  generally a neutral palette which has been layered – ie taupe, beige, white.  Then use highlight/accent colours to change the desired mood or season.  Think about 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, you can’t go wrong.

Try to frame the view - use table and chairs of different styles and colours if possible to create an interest in each corner - while still giving the room a sense of balance. Think about proportion, height, scale and size. 

Floor coverings: Add an extra dimension to the space by using a gloss level that can reflect the light (and part of the view). Traditionally, floor boards should run towards the biggest light source (as pictured). This owner has used Walnut Bamboo, and has installed a higher heritage profile skirting board to add to the age and formal feel of the room. 

 Before -

After -

Window coverings: Important to the success of the room, window treatments need to be thought through - block out blinds are either up or down - and will block out the view when the sun is shining through, or at night - not great if the view is interesting at night. Shutters are a good option, as they can be tilted and opened right up, as with Venetian blinds. Dual rollers (with one block out and one transparent) is a good alternative, as they allow full block out for privacy and sun control, as well as shading. 

(In the example above, the owner has since installed sun shade blinds in white).

This scheme: 

Walls 1/2 Grand Piano, Dulux

Trims - Vivid White, Dulux

Decor: 

Scatter Cushions by Great Divide 

Trojan Horse by Boyd Blue

Glazed pot by Great Divide 

Walnut Semi Gloss bamboo flooring by Style Plantation 

Plantation Shutters by Style Plantation 

Colours / Scheme by Fofi by Design 

Product Releases, All Things Current + New!!

Many companies have been busy with their striking new and innovative designs. From current on trend paint colours, new wallpapers and wall panels to name a few; we have done the research for you – with pleasure to keep you up to date. 

Baresque are known worldwide, they offer a wide range of fabrics and wallpapers and now added to their extensive range are screens, namely Mirror Acrylic.

 All designs offer the ability to have a frameless progressive design and a flush finish through biscuit joins between each. Mirror Acrylic offers the sophistication and timelessness of mirror with the ease of use and cost effectiveness of acrylic.

 

Also new to the Baresque range is FlexTex. This is a range of decorated thermoplastic panels that are three dimensional. FlexTex is flexible able to be cold formed to a range of curved shapes, yet completely rigid when laminated to a substrate. FlexTex is similar to High Pressure Laminates in thickness and in size.

FlexTex has impact, chemical, abrasion and stain resistant properties. FlexTex is suitable as wall panels, ceiling tiles, splashbacks, furniture, display fixtures and many other interior design applications.

Continuing on with wall applications is Arte International from Unique Fabrics who are trend setting wallcoverings as well as quality interior fabric collections.

Here is a design from the ornate Metal x Glass collection (design number 85053). The baroque-styled pattern is created by millions of shimmering glass beads set on an antique mirror background...

Lux!

For further enquiries call and speak to our Design Team, on 1300 ECOSTYLE  (326789)

By Fofi Gourlas

Woodland by Style Plantation

Our new WOODLAND™ Strandwoven EUCALYPTUS flooring range, is set to completely redefine everything you knew about solid hardwood flooring. This EUCALYPTUS flooring is an exciting new collection which transforms previously unknown or sensitive wood species into an innovative range of premium quality environmentally friendly flooring. 

The WOODLAND™ Strandwoven EUCALYPTUS flooring collection, captures the character and charm of the original wood grain in a unique and contemporary visual. With beautiful rustic features, each board is an original masterpiece guaranteed to bring warmth and exclusivity into any interior and delight designers, architects and homeowners alike.

Using only fast growing and sustainable species to minimize the impact on the environment, our WOODLAND™ Strandwoven EUCALYPTUS collection, is excellent for both residential and commercial applications due to its exceptional hardness and indentation resistance.

Our manufacturing process known as the strand woven technique, combines science with hydraulic technology to compress the original timber to 3 times its original density creating an extremely hard and durable material measuring over 12.5kN on the Janka scale. In addition, this EUCALYPTUS flooring range is finished with the market leading Treffert coating which preserves the natural texture of the timber, and gives the solid floor a warm and comforting feeling underfoot. Combining a low sheen oiled appearance with high traffic durability of a UV lacquer.

The real beauty of the WOODLAND™ Strandwoven EUCALYPTUS flooring collection, lies not only in its exciting visuals and extraordinary performance, but in its value for money. With the WOODLAND™ Strandwoven EUCALYPTUS flooring, you get a solid and permanent flooring solution which meets or surpasses the hardness and stability of old growth tropical hardwoods, but at a fraction of the price.

Available with the easy to install Uniclic® floating floor lock system, and an excellent limited warranty, the applications for this unique product are endless.

KEY FEATURES:• Unique and contemporary visual with beautiful rustic features

• Extremely hard and durable with excellent indentation resistance

• Exceeds performance of most old growth tropical hardwoods at a fraction of the price

• Made from a fast growing sustainable species

• Solid timber product excellent for high traffic commercial application

• Premium quality Treffert coatings for easy cleaning and maintenance

• R10 Slip resistance rating

• Solid boards can be resanded and refinished

• Excellent Limited Product Warranty

For more information and to request sampleshttp://www.styleplantation.com.au/eucalyptus-flooring, contact us. www.styleplantation.com 

Light Up

Lighting has an 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, as in a kitchen or study.




“Careful planning is essential for functional and stylish lighting” says Fofi Gourlas, founder of Fofi-by-Design and senior stylist at Style Plantation. “Factors to consider include the purpose of the room that will determine the wattage and the desired mood. Like colour, the use of light and shadow can give a space that extra dimension. Think not just about what you are illuminating, but what you are casting into shadow. We all know that light is an extremely important factor for us, our health and spirit – so it is good to know how to use it properly”.



General lighting in the form of down/halogen lights or a ceiling pendant. Washing the walls or floor with light, such as a row of down lights in a hallway or over a feature wall can be intuitive – think about motion sensors to illuminate a hallway as you approach. General lighting does not need to just “light up” the space, it should also create definition to the space, and create an interesting visual effect – such as a pattern on the wall.


 Task lighting in the form of a desk lamp with strong wattage for reading and writing. As well as helping you to read, a desk lamp eliminates shadows on your desk. Task lighting in a kitchen is very important – think also about outdoor cooking areas such as a spotlight over the BBQ.


Feature lighting: to add maximum impact to a room or provide a focal point to a space. Typical areas include an entry or foyer, over a kitchen island/bench-top, in a high stairwell, foyer: a large hanging chandelier works well in either a modern or traditional style. Uplighting can enhance the architecture of a space, by illuminating columns or plants giving a more dramatic lighting effect.


Mood or ambient lighting 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 positioned in the corner of a room.



Try these lighting stores or view their websites for more ideas.


Yellow Goat Design, innovative and creative YG design regularly works with designers.


In addition to their own fantastic range of lights they do bespoke designs.
http://www.yellowgoat.com.au/

Beacon Lighting, offer a great choice for a full range of conventional and contemporary lighting.
www.beaconlighting.com.au/

Artemide, are at the high end of the market, Artemide is an Italian manufacturer of very modern designs  http://www.artemide.com/

Colour Design Directions Following Milan 2012

Inject colour is the latest in “What’s Hot” from Milan.  The next wave in colour direction in furniture and interior design.  This year the Pantone palette is almost impossible to avoid!!

Think...gelato shades of teal, green, red + orange with washed out shades of pink, along with blue which is the ‘new black’.

“2012 Colour of the Year” is Pantone 17-1463 Tangerine Tango.

“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. It has shadings of a sunset, with the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red as well as the friendliness and warmth of yellow."

Energize interior spaces with Tangerine Tango patterned home accessories. Pillows, bedspreads and tabletop accessories in this high-impact hue will add spice to any room. Or incorporate Tangerine Tango appliances and electronics for an unexpected pop of color.

Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your home? Paint a wall in Tangerine Tango for a dynamic burst of energy in the kitchen, entryway or hallway.

                    

Ethical Shopping

With a new generation of consumers comes a new way of thinking.

Walk into any downtown grocery store and you will surely notice an increase in the number of ‘free-range’, ‘organic’ and bio-degradable product alternatives on offer.   

Conscious shoppers have started to question the origins of the products they buy and what sort of conditions they were produced under.  Were the primary products sourced locally?  Are the people working in the factories and farms awarded fair working conditions?  These questions are being asked more frequently than ever before, as attitudes shift to become more environmentally aware and compassionate towards humanitarian conditions.

The Great Divide Collection, featured exclusively in the Style Plantation showroom in Rosebery, NSW, introduces a collection of practical, stylish and affordable home wares and gifts.  The collection contains everything from biodegradable umbrellas, ethically made soft toys, organic skincare products to stunning dining wares, recycled beer glasses and ornaments for the home.  All products are environmentally sustainable and produced using fair trade practices.

Ecology Brand kitchenware and glassware

Recycled glass like beer glasses from Bolivia and coloured vases from Spain.

Brelli umbrellas from New York made from clear biodegradable plastic and bamboo with red trimmings.

Hand painted traditional blue and white chinaware from Vietnam via Oxfam.

Eco lunchboxes and Earthlust water bottles from Naturally Sustainable.

Cute Teddy bears knitted from Alpaca wool by women from rural and semi urban areas in Peru.

Weleda organic body products made from fair trade grown ingredients from all over the world.

Style Plantation – Love your World – Shop 246 - 247/ 747 Botany Rd. – Roseberry NSW 2018 – 8399 0242

Ethical shopping is a very satisfying experience and fun.

Designer in Profile

There's something about.... Christel Hadiwibawa

Christelh is a Sydney based design studio founded by Christel Hadiwibawa.

Using a hands on approach in creating prototypes and models, Christel’s work is driven by her interest in sustainability and the interaction people have in public and private settings. Her work is outsourced to local manufacturers combining the use of raw and readily available materials reflecting the 3 key elements in her design process: materials, technology, and craft. Christelh is a studio that is constantly developing new ways and methods of producing work that educates, informs and enhances the lifestyle of the user.

Here at Style Plantation, we are lucky to have two fantastic pieces on display from this amazing designer - the Kembla and Junior Side table (pictured).