I so hope that May was kind to you and life is peachy? June in Australia is traditionally a time whereby we’re indoors more.. Escaping the wet wild and woolly days that do remind us that we do in fact experience some cold in this wonderful country of ours.

So, if you’re hibernating in your space and thinking of tackling some DIY design/ decoration/styling at home, below are some sexy tips that may help you avoid making tragic and expensive mistakes!

Dont let this be you after making serious DIY design gafs.

1. 60/30/10 rule

This one is an oldie but a goody. With this clever rule you really shouldn’t go wrong.. fingers crossed! 60% of the scheme should be the dominant colour . Generally it’s the wall colour or wallpaper or significant hero pieces say a sofa. Say the dominant colour is White.

The 30% percentage will be your secondary colour, that works like a treat with the dominant colour. Say this colour is black .. this could be picture frames your accent chairs , cushions ..

And 10% will be your accent colour. This one can be the fun one! And this one can be say .. Brass .. vases the legs to your accent chairs..

This is a simple and effective rule so you won’t make any big nasty boo boos, keep your marriage and not send you broke.

2. Go big or go home

This one can be open to misinterpretation.. so let me make this clear for you?
You will most definitely create a more magazine worthy space if you use items with not only a good scale, but items that are larger rather than smaller.

Generous proportions make for pleasing visuals. Small items peppered around willy nilly, NEVER LOOK GOOD. I always use this example re so many design themes. So pardon me if you’ve heard me utter this before.

Have you noticed that rooms full of piddly little items never make it to the cover of BELLE or VOGUE or HOME BEAUTIFUL? Rooms full of piddly little items never even make it to the middle or the back of any decent magazine.

You know why? Cos, piddly cluttered rooms look naf.

Multiple small items, confuse the eye, they overwhelm people, and create anxiety.

So the solution is invest in beautifully curated, larger pieces that mean something to you. They don’t have to cost a king’s ransom.

Look for accessories that relate to the scale of your existing pieces and the ceiling heights.. . If you have eclectic tastes, even better! Try to stay in the same realm? You can most certainly mix colours even with the 60/30/10 rule.. the 10% part can be a mix of a couple of colours.

The “Go Big or Go Home” idiom also relates to rugs, sofas, coffee tables.. Its always better to go a little over sized than undersized.

Rugs, that are too small for the space look horrendous! The onlooker will see the space as mean, and also you!

Generously proportioned interiors are positive! Make you look like the generous awesome human that you are! Or would like to be!

3. Styling in odd numbers ..

When styling your space.. even numbers look OK. Where as odd numbers look “kick ass”

There are few occasions whereby I’ve spied a stunning “even numbered” styling vignette. [ Don’t you love that word “vignette”?]
They are, as mentioned before. OK. But not interesting. And don’t we all want to be interesting?

Styling in 3’s – 5’s – 7’s – 9’s .. [you get where I’m going] creates enormous interest and complexity. Then the other tip is DON’T STYLE IN A LINE. Lining up items of different sizes looks terrible. See below mantle aberration. EEK.

Better to use less or style in a triangular fashion ..

I so hope that this will help you with your DIY designs! So go forward and style with abandon

Are you existing in a dark and dingy interior?

Have you ever thought how these depressing interiors can affect your mental health?

Here’s some great tips to help you dump the dark and dingy and embrace a fresh new look.

Now, honestly how does the image above make you feel?

Are you encouraged to enter this space?

Ten out of ten people I canvased recoiled in horror! And YOU will be horrified at how many people exist in these dingy, dull and lacklustre spaces. And the inhabitants that do, cant figure why they felt so down and depressed. They’ve lived on these spaces for so long they’ve forgotten to reassess the space.

Environment is EVERYTHING!

Here are some quick tips to make your space feel less like a jail and more like a beautiful sanctuary that you SHOULD be living in.

• Decluttering. and reassessing… for any space really, but especially the dark and dingy.
• Let the light in! The nightmare space above for instance : removing those “stale cheese” coloured sheers and heavy drapes would do wonders for this space straight up. Install shutters in a warm white or if budget is an issue some beautiful ready made linen sheers!
• Paint it out: If you take on this job yourself, painting is an inexpensive and easy way to spruce up any scary space! Discover your go to colour that puts a smile on your dial. And suits a small space. Heads up, Dark colours DO work in small spaces as long as you have contrast!
• Don’t overcrowd a small space. Overcrowded small spaces, full of stuff, yell hoarder and creates a feeling of introspection and sometimes anxiety..!

I could go on forever about the negativity of dingy rooms!

If you need some help with your space and would like to have a chat, about your space?

Book your FREE DISCOVERY CALL today!

Yours in design,

Now this lovely image is certainly not a design Crime! in fact it’s been designed and styled by little old me…

DESIGN CRIMES

Yes they exist. You know they do. And you may be the quintessential “serial space killer.”

Id go as far to say some are even worthy of a jail stint
Oh, the visual pollution, the feeling of unease, the wrinkles that are now engrained on your brow from frowning… foreva.

Upon spying offending interiors, you know you don’t like the feeling, there’s a palpable unease, and you know there’s something seriously wrong but can’t quite put you finger on it. You know right away, and recoil in disgust! Seriously gurl???

You’ve seen a plethora of them but some aren’t as obvious as you’d think

Below are 5 serious design crimes you soooo don’t want to commit!

1. Cushion crimes:

Okay not wishing to be mean but.. I need to be. [ Yes in know there are children starving in Africa.. but… ]
A lot of us well meaning design lovers just don’t have that “je ne sais quoi” .. or natural ability to “just know” , so our well meaning attempts to give some well needed love & styling to our spaces has failed dismally…

Please NEVA EVA create an abomination like this..

When you can create a delicious cushion confection like this…

2.VERTICAL BLIND CRIMES

“What?” I hear you say? “Really? But they’re so practical!! And cheap !”

“Ummmmmm” I say . Sure they’re cheap, and look cheap. As For your practical comment! “No theyre not!!!!”

Theyre ugly, stupid, impractical and were born out of Satan’s bottom. They can on occasions strangle small children, always look undity and to be blunt.. Criminal.

There are a million other window treatment options that are simply gorgeous compared to this vile scourge that are VERTICAL BLINDS .. even a bedroom sheet would look better tacked onto the architrave!
Shutters , sheers , venetian blinds , plain roller blinds [ equally as cheap as verticals.. ] Roman blinds , matchstick blinds [ making a comeback BTW ] are some stunning options people!

Please explain to me how these actually look great??? I cant deal!

Why not a beautiful pair of Stylish shutters? These Days the pricing is possibly only a quarter of what they were in times gone by.. a great PRACTICAL and cost effective solution.. AND they’re beautiful..

3. HANGING ART TOO HIGH, CRIMES ..

A very common design crime. And one that’s annoyingly committed by most.
It is a practice that is the bane of my life!

Hanging art too high looks .. well lets face it ” Bogun” or for you Americans or Canadians “Red neck” or for people in the UK.. “Chav” .. This Design Crime is simply awful and can ruin a room and a beautiful vibe.

Ive had the occasion to visit clients and their art has been hanging almost to the line of the cornice . Upon asking them ” Do you like you art up so high” Their response was that they “…thought that people needed to stand back to appreciate art , so they thought the closer to the ceiling the better the viewer could take in the art”.. mmmmmmm

News flash!! it looks awful and doesn’t bode well for the ambiance of the room …

This is how NOT to hang your precious pieces ..

Hanging art at a lower level not only makes sense of the wall but it feels good and relates to the furniture around the piece

Here’s a recent project of mine including a large format art..

So as you can see the art isn’t sitting up near the cornice.. It’s much lower and looks divine

So here’s another “well hung art image” to inspire you .! Lower down the wall and lookin’ so fine..

4. LIGHTING CRIMES

Lighting, one of the most important of the design elements. Bad lighting can turn a stunningly curated space into a Crime Scene.

A couple of tips

• Don’t install copious amounts of recessed lighting [ down lights ] The area ends up looking like a landing runway for aircraft so , please don’t overdo the fixed lighting. You don’t need it and spaces look overlit . So theres no real ambience going on.. I mean do you really want to see your beloveds crows feet?
• Do place your fixed recessed lighting where you actually need it.. so near artworks you want to highlight or to highlight over a seating area. You rarely ever need more than one.. for a small area.
• Do use table lamps & floor lamps to create a soft ambience, and I guarantee you everyone will look just gorgeous [ no crows feet] and your power bill will thank you.

Here’s how NOT to add downlights

Here’s a recent project of mine showing minimal downlights or recessed lights usage . Actually there were only 2 lights near the Dining room and Kitchen given that I had specified enough ambient floor lamps and table lamps.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT TIP:

If you’re embarking on a renovation, PLEASE keep a short leash on your well meaning electrician? They’re trained to spread light to the world! So they will want to pepper your ceiling with copious amounts of downlights.. Don’t let them

Your fifth and final design crime , for now.. [ trust me there are thousands of them]

5. Rug Meanies .. They exist.

Using rugs that are too small for the room [ Its a criminal offence]

There is only one rule : Don’t use small rugs.

If you have a limited budget, go for a cotton or jute rug but….

MAKE SURE, SAID RUG IS BIGGER THAN THE FOOTPRINT OF THE SPACE YOUR DECORATING?

Yeah I know I’m shouting [ sorry, passionate.. ] but youre wasting money on a teeny tiny rug when you could wow yourself everyday by using a larger piece .

See an offence below..

Seeeeee? .. it looks mean and does nothing to support the rest of this lovely room.

Do not stop and go straight to Jail!
Meanwhile..on the outside ..

This is sooo purdy..

This is how you do it! Make sure that the rug is larger than the footprint of the furniture.. you’ll want be able to fit your sofa and a coffee table on the rug. The vibe is generous and beautiful.

So avid DIY’ers, with this timely information, you’ll hopefully never commit a design crime again!!

NEWSFLASH!

Im super excited to announce my new BUY NOW PAY LATER service!

So if you’d like to start your new project and need time paying you can now pay via BRIGHTE up to $60,000 over a 5 year period!

This includes

• FEES
• FURNITURE
• LIGHTING
• Basically anything pertaining to my services!

Or for smaller services up to $1200 you can get almost instant access to this wonderful service via my website!

So now you can easily embark on your next project with complete confidence!

Do you need a hand?

If you’re considering a new project in 2021, no matter how small or large, and don’t know where to start ?

Lets chat about all of the stunning possibilities!

Book your free 15 minute Discovery Call, I’d love to chat to you!

We get it, you’re sick of looking at your four walls right now.

After all, being stuck inside is no fun, and even the least creative types among us are having reno/décor thoughts, right?

Well, before you knock down anything you shouldn’t or paint a feature wall you will instantly regret, we’ve got some hints for you.

Rugs. Yep. Hear us out.

You see rugs can instantly change the way your room looks and feels — and all without losing your rental bond or dropping paint on the sofa.

Jane Thomson, Sydney based interior designer, stylist and media presenter, said rugs instantly add warmth and personality — and that’s not all.

“Adding a rug to an open plan living area, say living or dining, can allow you to define areas,” she told 10 daily.

“Often, large open plan spaces can look a tad lost. And the humble rug makes for a good interior lynch pin to your space. It adds another layer, and a delineation of living spaces.”

Once the rug is in place, you can move your furniture around it.

Arranging your sofa and occasional chairs around a rug, you’ll instantly feel the space is more definitive, and the occupant feels more connected.

Then of course, there is the colour you can add with a rug. A white room with neutral furniture may look chic, but a pop of colour never hurt anyone. So rather than getting out the brushes, check out Jane’s advice.

“Rather than painting your walls and coping with all the annoying mess and prep work, look for a rug that resonates with your personal colour vibe, and instead of making the wall your fave colour use the rug to tell your colour story,” she suggested.

“A block colour is best for busy spaces with lots of furniture and pattern. Similarly a highly patterned and colour rich rug is best for more neutral palate.

“Team scatter cushions with a splash of the colour in your rug and hey presto a new colourful room without the mess, fumes and prepwork… and arguments!”

If you’re in a share house and you’re not willing to splash the cash to get some colour in your living area, don’t forget the luxury of having a rug in your bedroom. Jane’s a big fan, and we are too.

“Don’t be shy, rugs in bedrooms look and feel wonderful. Not only adding interest, but a far more grandiose feeling of sanctuary and comfort,” Jane said.

“Be sure to place the rug width ways, though, so there’s enough bare floor or carpet to allow your bedside tables to sit comfortably.”

Her designer tip for making sure you make the most of your new look?

“Pop 65 per cent of the rug underneath the bed…  so you have enough rug to accommodate your tooties on a cold winter morning to the side at of the bed and also enough to the end of the bed,” she said.

“Big payoff is that it looks well considered and gorgeous, makes sense and make you look like a style queen… or king.”

All without knocking down a wall or opening a can of paint! Perfect.

This post originally appears in 10 Daily.

There’s been a long standing tradition of the ‘man cave’. Dad disappears to his back shed or garage and tinkers happily for hours. But for the lynchpin of the family – the mumma, there’s no precedent set for the ‘lady cave’.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when we’re all at home self-isolating, finding a space just for you is even more vital, and with the tips below I can help you find one.

I promise, the whole family will benefit from your new found zen.

The strange feeling of self-isolation is an experience millions of Australian mothers have been familiar with for a long time. You’ve probably heard it before: mum is stuck at home with little or no adult conversation, and only the perspicacity of a five year old for enlightenment.

Thanks to COVID-19, we’re all in isolation mode. And, what a great eye-opener for our male counterparts!

When the whole family is stuck at home, me-time is even more precious and important for mums. After all, mums have been ‘locked down’ for a long time already.

The psychology of our home, in times of stress, affects us. The drive to create calming and relaxing environments is huge for me, as a professional designer. Remember, to put it bluntly, if Mumma Bear and Papa Bear aren’t happy then there will be no porridge! The wellbeing of a household depends quite a bit on their environment.

See how best to create a beautiful space in my tips below …

 

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The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. My handsome son @xx_rawr.b.b_xx and his stunning wife @marylangle ( my awesome sauce daughter in law!!) Did a fine job on their Toronto apartment! Love the precast concrete wall ❤️ Love this guys! Proud of you! . . . . . . #mumsandsons #momsandsons #daughters #interiordesigner #interiordesign #toronto #canada?? #love #clever #proud #giveitago #goldstar #stayhome #stayathome

A post shared by Jane Thomson: Designer (@janethomson_) on Mar 30, 2020 at 4:34pm PDT

Living room reclining

Living rooms are for living! This is not just a room for binge watching our fave streaming service. They also provide a sanctuary for the whole family.

Living rooms should feel inviting and reflect you, Mumma Bear. It’s one of the only places in the home that we can stretch out or curl up and feel that we are indeed protected.

So, my advice is, if there is only one thing you can do, make sure you have a sumptuous sofa. It is absolutely necessary for it to be super comfy. We’re looking for that “I just want to dive onto you” sensation.Comfortable sofas, psychologically, provide a feeling of embrace and inclusion. And, it has to be something generous. No stiff-as-board sofas, please. You need a place to really relax, especially if you’re at home with a small bubba.

A space to yell MINE!

In some cases, this may not mean a separate room. Not everyone has the luxury of a spare bedroom or even a secluded study. So, why not create your own special corner?

That bare corner or spare spot. We all have one, you know, the sparsely decorated part of a room that never gets filled because we just don’t know what to do with it. Or, perhaps a wide hallway. There’s a nook out there for everyone.

Create your own personal sanctuary that screams, ‘you’. A small desk area with a gorgeous piece of art above. Perhaps, complemented by a desk-lamp and plants.

Work your colour palette magic around the artwork. Take cues from it and splash out with decorative items (remember: less is more). Make sure everything ties in with your theme.

For instance, an artwork with a tropical vibe is a good match for a coral crown. Add a beautiful natural framed image of your family that evokes feelings, and a scented candle will add to your own personal serenity. All of these knicknacks can be found online or at a good emporium (if they reopen!) near you.

Happy you = happy everyone.

 

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Downie Thomson Daily Design Porn Presents: I admit , having an unhealthy obsession with indoor plants and Interiors. Love how the addition of some gorgeous well placed greenery can make a room shine…Just a little addicted..guilty as charged ? #photooftheday #instagood #plants #design #interiordesign #architecture #sun #awesome #style #stylist #downiethomsondailydesignporn #ihavethisthingwithgreen

A post shared by Jane Thomson: Designer (@janethomson_) on Jan 10, 2018 at 3:47pm PST

Greenery

A pop of green has transformed many a tired and uninspiring space. Plants are my favourite go-to for adding calm to a space. They help relieve stress, calm our overworked minds and contribute to overall wellness. Plants greatly enhance the sexiness of our living environments.

I use plants extensively when designing spaces. In fact, I never complete a scheme with-out at least one. The magic is, they transform the dullest of interiors instantly and are relatively cheap.

In the midst of COVID-19 working-from-home and schooling-from-home, indoor plants have never been so important. My top tip: Go for plants that will survive. Think easy, like succulents. ‘Craussula Ovata Gollum’ is my fave. Or the good old ‘Ficus Lyrata’ works well too. They need little watering, about once every two weeks.

Decluttering, Styling and fixing things

Yeah, I know, I know, we’ve all had our fill of Marie Kondo and feeling so incapable! ‘

But seriously, a bit of decluttering is another go-to tip in my design career. It helps create harmony and removes visual (and mental) clutter and noise. It shows you what you’ve really got to work with.

When knee deep in mess, we feel irritated, confused or maybe even depressed. It’s generally symptomatic of household unruliness. So, it’s time for a family call-to-arms. Channel your inner Kanye and remember, delegation is your friend,. Delegate to hubbies, partners and kidlets. You will be surprised how quickly they take to the task!

This Post originally appears on Bounty.

Working closely with someone on a project, such as the design of your dream home, can be a difficult task, especially when it comes to communication.

For an interior designer to understand your needs, wants and design desires and deliver them, it’s important to provide them with a detailed brief and keep the communication open throughout the project. After all, interior designers aren’t mind readers and they certainly can’t see the moodboard you’ve created inside your head.

And just like an interior designer is required to take your wishlist and wants on board, it’s important that you also listen to their expert advice and ideas and be open to changes.

To make the process run as smoothly and successfully as possible, interior designer Jane Thomson shares some insider tips on what you should be doing to manage your relationship with an interior designer or stylist, as well as outlining the process of working with a designer.

Working with an Interior Designer

Agree at the Beginning

Be sure that everything you want for your house is documented

Be clear about your needs and what you want to achieve

Please be clear about why you want to embark on this journey as well as your financial investment, your living space must haves, and design styles that excite you. A designer wants to hear everything! The more you can convey the better. As a designer the most important time spent with my clients is the initial discovery meeting. This allows us to gather as much info as possible to allow our journey to be a pleasant and inspiring process.

So, what do you want to achieve? What is your main objective? Is it to create more space for your growing family? Is it to simply create a new fresh look for your home? Is it to replace your old outdated kitchen with a brand spanking new, smart kitchen? Don’t be shy – it’s so important to divulge this at the start. No matter the reasoning. We’re not here to judge. Even if it’s to show up your next door neighbour with a superior renovation!

This not only arms us with the relevant info to stay on track, but also the distribution of funds. Trust me, often clients forget about their initial goals, so it’s up to the designer to be your advocate.

Be honest about your budget

Not being honest with your designer is a recipe for disaster. Not being up front about your fiscal input will steer your project into a terrible demise. Often clients will hold back on the ‘real figure’ with fears that the designer may actually spend it! But what ends up happening is the designer is forced to go down a budget-friendly road that doesn’t always meet the client’s expectations.

Do your research on colour selection

Get to know what you think you want. You need to be clear, open and honest with yourself about what colours excite you and the ones that repel you. Deciding on the colour palette of your home can be a huge decision. Make sure you have a vision of what you want before your colour consultation to eliminate the back and forth communication. Chatting colour in your initial consultation with your designer is gold! This allows you to showcase what your heart desires or does not desire. It also allows your designer to get a handle on you as a person.

This is also a great way to utilise your designer’s expertise. An interior designer is highly trained in colour coordination and it’s important to trust and let your designer take the lead at some point if you are unclear of what you want – we may push or challenge you in regards to your tightly held beliefs re colour and trust me, that’s not a bad thing! Remember, this is what they do best.