Hallway ideas.

VISUALLY it’s the very first place that guests will see in our home. So why do we overlook our
hallway? Here are our tips for maximising your hallway, big or small.

“For instant impact introduce colour and texture.”

Long corridor (typical in terrace houses)

Think about wallpaper for the smooth, un-interrupted wall. Eg textured grasses or cellulose paper, metallic finishes that reflect light. All available from Baresque. If you’re renovating on a tight budget consider textured paints. There is a big range available from Porters Paints or DULUX. Whatever you choose, it needs to be durable and low-maintenance so any stains or marks can be easily wiped clean.

L-shaped or dog-legged hallways (typically found in an apartment)

Consider a bespoke floating shelf that is fixed onto the wall. This can be in either marble, onyx, timber with dimensions to suit your space. For eg 40mm thick, 1200mm wide and 900mm off the floor (basically kitchen-bench height) - Useful to place an ornamental sculpture, being mindful of placing vase or glassware on high traffic area, as item could get knocked off.

If you have the luxury of a very wide hallway you could have a sideboard or a console table complete with top-drawers and plenty of bench space for decorative items. Interesting artwork hanging above that could be textured and colourful, eg contemporary Aboriginal artwork. Or a thick gilded frame mirror.

Lighting is an important factor and will depend on the style of your home. For a touch of glamour chandeliers are a good choice, for something more under-stated a clear glass dome pendant. For added height consider a coffered ceiling with down lights.

Remember, it’s still a thoroughfare so don’t overdo it with accessories. A few, well-placed items will give maximum ‘wow’ .

Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring is a breathtaking alternative to hardwood timber floors. Plantation grown bamboo saves our ancient forests and is one of the world's oldest building materials, and one of the fastest growing plants known to man!
Bamboo flooring is stronger and more resilient to indentation and scuffing than many native woods, but with the same look and feel.

Why Choose Bamboo for Flooring?

• Environmentally sustainable – Style Plantation Bamboo Flooring is an attractive alternative to hardwood floors, and is the product derived from the forests of a fully sustainable, environmentally friendly and rapidly growing renewable resource.
• Easy installation – Bamboo Flooring compares favourably with traditional solid select timber floors and given it is already sanded and finished with six durable Treffert or Klummp UV coatings. Style Plantation products are capable of being quickly installed ready for use with minimal disruption.
• Coupled with its price advantage, bamboo floors are creating significant interest for their aesthetics and other performance qualities over existing hard wood alternatives. In summary, bamboo flooring provides a highly competitive product for both domestic and commercial applications.
• Style Plantation Bamboo Floors are abrasion resistant and have excellent horizontal surface friction (non-slip).
• Bamboo flooring is allergy free
• Style Plantation bamboo floorboards are sealed with non-toxic glues and are finished with aluminium oxide.
• Style Plantation offers a wide range of colours and are consistent through to the core except in the instances where surface stains are used to achieve the colour.
• Bamboo floors have high UV resistance, blocking the sun's harmful rays and protecting the floor.
• Excellent warranty protection. The manufacturer warrants Style Plantation Bamboo Flooring in the original manufactured state free from structural defects (Structural Warranty) for 10 years in residential applications and 5 years for commercial uses. The manufacturer warrants to the original purchaser that the wear layer (Coating Warranty) of aluminium oxide will not peel or separate from the flooring plank in residential applications for 5 years.
• Easy repairs, since damaged bamboo floorboards can be replaced without contrasting with the pattern of surrounding boards.
• Easy cleaning, most spills can be cleaned up with a mop or sponge. To read more about how to maintain your bamboo floor, click here.
• Very low emissions through waste and pollution; the result is a very environmentally friendly product.
• Endless design options
• Style Plantation Bamboo Floors are very hard and durable
• STYLEBOARD ™ Strand woven bamboo flooring technology is retardant against termites, fire, sunlight, chemical stains, scuffing and indentation.
• Finally, the natural beauty and durability of bamboo flooring far surpasses traditional hardwood floors.

However, above all these extraordinary features are quite simply the look of bamboo flooring. When you walk into a room floored in bamboo you truly do catch your breath. There is a quality, warmth and feel created entirely by the floor itself. Before choosing flooring, you really need to see bamboo for yourself.

Meet the Designer

Meet the DESIGNER: David Tunbridge

David has a motto, ‘less haste, less waste’. And this innovative furniture and lighting designer instinctive and original creations have given him international acclaim.

David’s working philosophy is strongly tied to green/eco principles . He also has a passion for working with wood. His studio workshop is in Hawkes Bay New Zealand where his lighting and furniture are produced and then distributed around the world.

His designs have a remarkable connection to the natural world which he translates into beautiful, sublime shapes. His work is inspiring and nourishing to the soul.

David has a motto: less haste, less waste.

His products available through www.dedece.com

Milan Design Fair 2009

The annual Milan Design Fair.
David Clark, editor of Vogue Living, presented last week at Space - Sydney.
His observations and design 'picks' were so interesting, we really enjoyed!
The July-August issue has a full report.

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.