Decision Time!

By Caroline Whelan

Right, we're a few months in to 2011 now and most of you who had good intentions about getting organised this year have either fallen off the wagon OR never got there to begin with.. yes I can see that pile of bills sitting there....

We all have a friend who is super organised.. you know the type, their desk is clean and tidy, their email inbox is empty since all emails are filed accordingly in neat little folders, and as for the paper filing well of course that is all in perfectly colour coordinated folders tucked into drawers. Oh and their bills are up to date or even in credit! Yes credit!


BUT this can be you, the difference between you and your friend is that they can make decisions. Most of us can make the decision to get organised but when it actually comes to doing it, its the indecisive amongst us who struggle.


Start with something easy, your wardrobe.. when you try on something and it isn't working it somehow usually ends up back in your wardrobe and you end up trying it on all over again the next week. Just get rid of it! You will feel so much better and you will be making room for more new clothes - that do fit! 

Empty your wardrobe into 3 piles:
1 - Gee I wish I could fit into that but it really does look terrible
2 - Gee I love this but it really is so worn you can actually see my knees through it
3 - Gee I wear these all the time and I always look hot in it!


You need to hold onto pile 3 for dear life!! Put them on padded hangers, make sure they are ironed and all the buttons are sewn on. Fold them nicely and put them into drawers ready for their next wear. 

Obviously pile 2 has to go - give them to charity or to your local kindergarten for dress ups.


Now I hate to say it but pile 1 has to go too. Yes maybe one day you will fit into them.. but really..if you've just lost 10 kilos wouldn't you want to buy a whole new great wardrobe of clothes? So bag them up and off they go too. 

Now you have got so good at making decisions just imagine how easy it will be to organise the rest of your house!
Have a go at doing your desk, your laundry, your kitchen - once you start making decisions you won't want to stop!! 

Neat and Tidy!

Coffee at my place?

Coffee at my place?

By Caroline Whelan

Ever sat in your favourite cafe with the paper and a coffee and have felt so comfortable you could stay all day? Its no accident you feel that way. The owners have ensured that every element that went into designing their shop has been thought of to maximize your comfort (and to ensure you keep spending money on endless cups of strong coffee and tasty muffins!) 

You can create your very own cafe style setting at home -even if you have a tiny balcony or a simple courtyard!

Set the Scene

Get your furniture right and everything else will come together. Make sure you get outdoor furniture that looks great and is comfortable. Ensure you get something durable and make sure you test it out first. They also need to be portable - chances are you will either want to follow the sun or follow the shade so being lightweight is a must. 

Tables need to be sturdy and big enough to allow you to to open a broadsheet or scatter the supplements. They also need to hold the all essential coffees as well as a basket of buttery croissants....

Chose your theme

Think about your favourite cafe and use it to inspire you. Is it a little French inspired cafe with gorgeous Rattan chairs? Or if you fancy the modern look go for sleek stainless steel. Keep the look light and breezy - remember you want to create a relaxed feel not something overly bright or fussy.

Make it just right

Purchase cushions in a variety of sizes and ensure some of them are oversized. These are great for laying about on (something you can't do at a cafe!) Just make sure the covers are made from durable cotton and are washable. 

Enjoy your weekend x

Our Favorite Quotes.

"Treat the Earth well. It was not given to you by your parents. It was loaned to you by your children"
  -Kenyan Proverb

"Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced"  

 -Kierkegaard

"Nothing is unthinkable, nothing impossible to the balanced person, provided it arises out of the needs of life and is dedicated to life's further developments"
  -Lewis Mumford

"Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them"
 -Albert Einstein

"Unless we change direction, we are likely to end up where we are going"

 -Chinese proverb

"Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
  -St. Francis of Assisi

"Fires can't be made with dead embers, nor can enthusiasm be stirred by spiritless men. Enthusiasm in our daily work lightens effort and turns even labor into pleasant tasks."
  - Stanley Baldwin

"Future generation is the most important thing."
 -Confucius

“It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.”
  -Ansel Adams

"Modern technology owes ecology an apology."
-Alan M. Eddison

"Nature provides a free lunch, but only if we control our appetites."  

 -William Ruckelshaus

"When a man throws an empty cigarette package from an automobile, he is liable to a fine of $50.  When a man throws a billboard across a view, he is richly rewarded.  

 -Pat Brown

"Because we don't think about future generations, they will never forget us."

 -Henrik Tikkanen


"I'm not an environmentalist.  I'm an Earth warrior."

 -Darryl Cherney, quoted in Smithsonian, April 1990

"We never know the worth of water till the well is dry."

 -Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732


"Your grandchildren will likely find it incredible - or even sinful - that you burned up a gallon of gasoline to fetch a pack of cigarettes!"

 -Paul MacCready, Jr.

"I have no doubt that we will be successful in harnessing the sun's energy.... If sunbeams were weapons of war, we would have had solar energy centuries ago."

 -Sir George Porter, quoted in The Observer, 26 August 1973


"The use of solar energy has not been opened up because the oil industry does not own the sun."

 -Ralph Nader, quoted in Linda Botts, ed., Loose Talk, 1980

Beach Side

A simple contemporary beach theme is very suitable and practical for family homes, as the finishes are calming and relaxing, as well as durable and forgiving as they age.

Creating a relaxing, casual beach style theme in your own home is achievable by following some simple guidelines.

Pick a colour theme of varying tones of blue, green and pale timber colours. For walls and trims, we like British Paints, Ice Peak 190 or British Paints, June Sky 191 with Dulux Vivid White trims for a nice contrast. 

For flooring, try Style Plantation Savannah Semi Gloss Bamboo flooring that is durable and hard wearing with a contemporary golden glow. 

For carpets, Godfrey Hirst Tendril carpet range suits perfectly with it's colour Skew 550 and durable twist pile. 

For upholstery  and cushions, look for blue grey linen fabrics and accessorize with striped fabrics that are bright and casual, contrast with a spotted cushion fabric. Of course, cushions should be over sized and plump.

Add to the relaxed feeling with coastal books piled on an oversized coffee table, a cluster of beach style plants in white pots or green glass vases, and coir or seagrass rug on the floor.

By not using bold colours will add to the overall look of the space - so when you are choosing accessories such as candles and artwork, choose colours and finishes that will blend in with the walls and fabrics. Occasional furniture such as chairs and ottomans can be in white cane for a traditional look or in a solid white for a more contemporary feel.

Costly Mistakes

Getting the right look is not as easy as you think. Colour, light, traffic, texture, room use, furniture placement, views, aspect, storage, lighting...  there really is so much to consider. In order to achieve a refined look requires training, talent and experience.

When things go wrong, it can be costly. Here are the top 5 mistakes that can be costly to your design budget, and the end result. 

1. Colour schemes that are bland and/or do not compliment the space or aspect. 
Colour is truly magical when used correctly. Cool colours in dark shady rooms can be dreary - bright reds in the bedroom can stress you out - even the wrong feature wall can change a space and make it uninviting and gloomy. 

2. Furniture + accessories that are the wrong scale, colour + style. 
This can be avoided with a scaled drawing of the room, where the room layout is developed for better space planning.  That stunning occasional chair with over sized ottoman can look irresistible in the showroom - but get it home and it can dominate a room - or not even fit. 
Start by cutting out shapes that represent your furniture and play around to see how furniture will fit in your space. A trusty tape measure in your back pocket on all shopping trips and knowing your room dimensions (allowing for walkways, door openings and windows) will save you time and money.

3. Renovations that look like after thoughts or not sympathetic to the rest of the house. 
We cannot stress enough the importance of developing the right design + style to achieve a harmonious flow throughout.  A blend of modern and old fashioned can often look amazing, but there are rules that need to be followed to get it right. 
For instance, a renovated terrace with big skirting boards and high ceilings will not go with a low extension with small skirting boards. Think of the overall image that you are trying to achieve - is there consistency? Do the new and old work together?

4. Inadequate or poor lighting. 
Lighting is very powerful and sets the mood of a room. Depending on the use of the room, various types of lighting are necessary. These range from general or background lighting, to task/work lighting and then ambient lighting. Remember ambient lighting is the key and can make or break a room. 
Try to use warm light globes as often the cool option will give the room (particularly living spaces) a stark and uninviting look. Use lamps where ever possible. Feature lighting is a great way to achieve that designer look - try three pendants above the kitchen island bench, or matching pendants in the bedroom instead of bedside lamps. 
Down lights are a great way to wash your walls and highlight artwork but can be costly to run - so use them wisely.

5. Materials purchased for drapery or upholstery that are not suitable.
Sofa fabrics should have suitable rub test rating and care label. A fabric covering for your sofa that is not going to stand up to winter weekend cuddles (and kid's movie marathons!) will look old and tired in no time. Remember, if you are getting furniture reupholstered - check the wear guidelines of the fabric to make sure they will stand the test of time. Visit your preferred fabric house for inspiration - fabrics are often displayed in a coordinating range - such as charcoal and bronze stripes for the ottoman - with the coordinating reverse stripe or floral patten for curtains.