Image from www.house8810.com
If you love a retro look then your kitchen is a great way to introduce your new theme.
Image from www.blog-craftizine.com
Retro kitchen accessories are readily available and add a great splash of colour to a bland kitchen.
Image from www.nicoleshicole.blogspot.com
Bright cannisters always look great, but there’s loads of other cool retro pieces you can use from aprons, biscuit tins to vintage posters.
Image from www.houseofturquoise.com
Your main pieces of furniture in a kitchen are your dining table and chairs so here is where you can make a big retro statement. Some images to get you going…
Image from www.kitchendesignideasworld.net
Love the red checkered table cloth.
Image from www.pinterest.com
Image from www.countryliving.com
Image from www.apartmenttherapy.com
And the old formica tables are fab!
Image from www.retrorenovation.com
Image from www.shootfactory.co.uk
Image from www.houseofturquoise.com
And then of course there are the big ticket items. If you’ve got the cash these old style fridges and stoves are gorgeous.
Image from www.goodkitchen.com
Love the pale blue and chrome!
Image from www.houseofturquiose.com
And old vending machines are a very cool addition to a kitchen.
Check out www.retrotogo.com www.mattblatt.com.au www.vamptvintagedesign.com www.thesecondhandshop.com.au and keep an eye on ebay for all things retro.
Image from www.housetohome.co.uk
If you’re thinking about using concrete flooring in the future here are some great images to help you narrow down the look you want. Concrete floors in rooms without fabric can seem pretty cold, but the space above counteracts that with multiple points of interest like the bright spots of colour and varied ornate details scattered throughout.
Image from www.designspongeonline.com
If you have exposed brick, concrete floors are a natural companion.
Image from www.bodieandfou.blogspot.com
Add wooden furniture to the mix and you have great base of varied textures.
Image from www.cotedetexas.blogspot.com
Lots of wood, in both the architecture and the furniture will soften the look.
Image from www.desiretoinspire.com
Concrete is a great base for an urban or industrial look. Your metal numbers and over sized accessories work really well with a concrete floor.
Image from www.smgphotobucket.com
And particularly well with industrial windows. I also love the visible square outlines and nail marks in this dining room.
Image from www.desiretoinspire.net
The mat, unlined floor surface in this very contemporary living area is a perfect choice with such an amazing piece of artwork on the wall.
Image from www.amerrymishapblog.com
This highly polished section of floor picks up the natural light, and, combined with the sea grass matting in the background, the look is far from cold.
Image from www.olofjakobina.blogspot
A rougher look, with a more marbled appearance is great for a room with a lot of practical purposes. Just be sure to add some colour and a great piece of art.
Image from www.houzz.com
I prefer concrete when there’s a rug involved. Fabric is crucial for comfort.
Image from www.dwell.com
And concrete can come in many colours. It’s not always grey. You can get some beautiful, natural browns.
Image from www.cement.org
And…you can paint it!
Image from www.janecoslick.blogspot.com
I think this is the coolest floor for kids. Completely un-wreckable, looks fabulous and you can change it whenever you feel inspired.
Image from www.annaleenashem.blogspot.com
And the old favorite white is also an option.
Image from www.freshome.com
But I think the best concrete floors out there have a bespoke pattern. The contrast between the utilitarian concrete and a gorgeous decorative pattern is fab.
Image from www.hgtv.com
You can stencil, or you can have a pattern “milled” or etched into the concrete. If anyone knows where to go to get this done I’d love to hear from you. Transparent house did these ones…but they’re in the States.
So good luck with your concrete floor. Be wary of heating. If you go for under the floor heating that’s a big slab of concrete that’s got to warm up and then down again. In a place like Melbourne our temperature fluctuates too much for it to really work.
Image from www.velvetbrown.co.uk
Another great thing making a comeback, is the tablecloth weight. What’s fab about these are how many different looks you can have with a very practical accessory. Love these stone hearts from www.velvetbrown.co.uk .
Image from www.thegreenhead.com
These twine balls from www.thegreenhead.com are gorgeous. Such a fun outdoor feel to them.
Image from www.mollieandfred.co.uk
They don’t always have to be country cute… Tablecloth weights can add a bit of bling to your dinner party. These ones from www.mollieandfred.co.uk and fab, as are the very contemporary silver tear drops below.
Image from www.shinyshiny.tv
And these black rose weights from www.theroseshack.co.uk are such a romantic look for a garden party.
Image from www.theroseshack.co.uk
Or… you could go totally country and DIY it…
Image from www.inbloomeventdesign.blogspot.com
Or keep an eye out at your antique shops for sweet vintage ones like these…
Image from www.sign-maker.net
Or get inventive… (this is my favorite).
Image from www.pintrest.com
Visit our on-line shop…click on http://www.iwanthomewares.com.au/
For an at home or on-line consultation email me at ria@iwantiwantiwant.com.au
Image from www.frenchcountry.co.nz
The style overview today on French Provincial I’m kind of doing under duress. Retailers are flogging this and it’s everywhere!! I predict that there are elements of this style that will go the way of Monet’s Waterlilies in the 80’s. Shoulder pads and perms were not the worst crimes of that decade. Impressionism is a beautiful, spontaneous style of painting and it was positively raped … remember the very stylish “block mounting”??? And it’s happening again, a beautiful style is being wrecked and diluted. Yesterday I saw an “antiqued” French Provincial wall clock in a $2 store. Now, if you think you’ve spotted a bargain with that…you’re dead wrong. Get it home, and away from the toy topped pens and feather boas and it’s going to look exactly as it is…cheap and nasty. So many shops are filled now with over sized Eiffel towers, metal bookends that spell livre and literally hundreds of candlestick holders that it’s a real turn off.
Image from www.frenchcountry.co.nz
But…ignoring the recent bastardisation of this look…when done well this is one of my favourites.
French Provincial is a style of architecture and furniture from the provinces in the 17th and 18th centuries. A rural simplification of style far from the grand and ornate designs of the French court at the time. Elements of the style can also be called rustic or named from the actual districts like Brittany or Normandy. There is a lovely informality in this look…a simple charm that is warm and welcoming.
Image from www.frenchcountry.co.nz
The furniture usually has a finish that clearly shows the grain and texture of the wood, or has a worn painted effect …in a provincial inspired house you won’t feel compelled to use coasters! Beautiful tall armoires and over stuffed couches, large ornate mirrors and gentle pretty fabrics are the better examples of the provincial style.
Image from www.frenchcounrty.co.uk
From an architectural perspective the most recognisable elements of the French Provincial style are French windows or doors where there are multiple smaller windows set into the full length of double doors.
Image from www.ee-houseing.com
Other elements are stone fireplaces with heavy beams above serving as a mantle, rough or distressed plaster walls, old shutters and doors full of character and history.
Image from www.rustique.com.au
As with any style…the trick is to use the elements that work for you and play well with your other pieces, rather than slavishly follow the style to the nth degree. A sweet French lantern on a vintage bedside table teamed with a pretty toile style duvet cover is a great look in a bedroom. And a gorgeous vintage armoire will look amazing in pretty much any room, whilst also giving a lot of storage. In the kitchen and the dining rooms…pewter, silver and old enamel feature prominently.
Image from www.frenchcountry.co.nz
The colour palette for provincial features blues, greys, stone, flax, pale greens, and weathered reds. More sophisticated looks focus on all whites or monocrhromatic schemes.
Image from www.shapeimage.com
For some amazing furniture and decorative pieces and not a single mass produced eiffel tower or bookend, check out www.frenchcountry.co.nz and www.rustique.com (Provincial furniture with a pulse!).
Following are a few cool images of the style…enjoy.
Image from www.frenchcountry.co.nz
Image from www.frenchcountry.co.nz
Image from www.frenchcountry.co.nz
Image from www.frenchcountry.co.nz
Image from www.katrinascottdesign.blogspot.com
Image from www.frenchcountry.co.nz
Image from www.theshootfactory.co.uk
Image from www.theshootfactory.co.uk
Image from www.rustique.com.au
Image from www.rustique.com.au
Image from www.frenchcountry.co.nz
Image from www.housetohome.co.uk
Image from www.frenchcountry.co.nz
Visit our on-line shop…click on http://www.iwanthomewares.com.au/
For an at home or on-line consultation email me at ria@iwantiwantiwant.com.au
Image from www.lovelymorning.com
Bring back the tablecloth!! It doesn’t have to be cottage cute or grandmotherly (although I love both those looks too!) …tablecloths can be any pattern, colour or look you choose. They are a fantastic way to create a special dining experience, and not used anywhere near enough on todays tables.
Image from www.lisabengtsson.se
The beauty of a tablecloth is you can set a mood and a look with just a rectangle of fabric. This fabric from designer Lisa Bengtsson looks fantastic here … a really dramatic look and …very contemporary!
Image from www.vladimirmarkkeaton.blogspot.com
If you’re keen on vintage there are some great finds out there at antique shops…also, check out www.vintagetableclothsclub.com where you are linked to a number of different sellers.
Image from www.livingetc.com
The quintessential tablecloth is of course the red check. On a table or in the park…they always look gorgeous.
Coming soon to I want I want I want …. Absolutely beautiful 100% creased linen tablecloths. No fuss, no iron, and utterly stunning.
The range also includes placemats, napkins and tablerunners.
Visit our on-line shop…click on http://www.iwanthomewares.com.au/
For an at home or on-line consultation email me at ria@iwantiwantiwant.com.au
Image from www.galeriemontmatre.com
Following on from the colour theme this week…let’s look at orange. If you’re not overly confident about introducing orange, but you love the colour…vintage posters are a brilliant way of bringing it in.
Image from www.galeriemontmatre.com
I’ve blogged on vinatge posters before…but they really are the bomb.
Image from www.galeriemontmatre.com
I LOVE this Bemberg Cat…this would go anywhere! Once you have your perfect poster, you can just add accents as they have in the dining room below..
Image from www.homeandgardens.com
Or…be brave, which is often the best way to go with a really vibrant colour. The floor below looks amazing…
Image from www.livingetc.com
Or hit the walls! This burnt orange in the bedroom with a dominance of white is fantastic. Here, with such a large area of full on colour, they sensibly haven’t used any other accents of orange, and the result is gorgeous.
Image from www.housetohome.com
So..don’t be scared of orange, if you love it, go to www.galeriemontmartre.com and start with a poster that rings your bell. If your budget is limited and originals aren’t an option, then check out www.allposters.com for a reasonalble selection.
This last poster I had to include, not just because of its orange element…it’s just fabulous…
Image from www.galeriemontmatre.com
Image from www.homelife.com.au
Loving this idea of chalkboard paint on a dining table! A great way to re-invent an old table. This makes an excellent surface for the kids to play on, but can also look brilliant for the grown ups. Being able to personalise your dinner party settings so easily is fab. And remember, chalkboard paint can come in loads of different colours, so you can get any look you want.
Image from www.homelife.com.au
Another cool use for chalkboard paint that has both form and function. This old chest of drawers has been given a new lease on life with the pretty blue paint…and it’s now a lot easier to find what’s been stored.
Image from www.lushlee.com
This would have to be my favorite (love a bit of sentiment!). What a gorgeous combo for a little one… your very own wall to draw on, pretty star lights and a beautiful message from mum.
Image from www.housetohome.co.uk
Chair legs drive me crazy. I hate having to move them individually whenever I sweep or mop. I hate how the legs get tangled up and then hit me in the shin when I finally set them free of theselves. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE chairs, it’s the legs that I can’t take. So…if you’re sitting at a table with more than four chairs, you’re not at my house.
Image from www.housetohome.co.uk
I have a three metre long, teak dining table and two beautiful bench seats that nestle alongside the table in perfectly straight lines without so much as a twitch from me. When I can’t stand sitting up straight anymore (often happens…) I can sit crosslegged, astride, even face the other way (if someone is chewing with their mouth open…). And when it comes to sweeping or mopping, I can just slide ’em on out.
Image from www.housetohome.co.uk
If you’re not keen on cushions, then get the benches upholstered in yummy leather or gorgeous fabric. Having benches doesn’t stop you from have a pretty table.
In Australia, our inside/outside life is reflected back in our homes. More often than not, we try to have a real flow from kitchen/dining/living to outside entertaining. The end result, when your interior dining table is in the forground and the outside table is in the background …is LOADS of legs! If you only have a setting for six on each table…that’s 48 legs we’re talking about… hello? … too many legs.
Image from www.housetohome.co.uk
Having bench seats doesn’t restrict you in what style dining room you can have. I’ve posted four images here of entirely different styles, from elegant to country to casual, and no-one in these houses swears when they sweep.
Ria FitzGerald has worked as an interior stylist in Melbournes inner east for the past twelve years.
Now based on the Bellarine Peninsula, Ria continues to offer in-home styling consultations for both the visual and the practical elements of your home, renovation and colour consulting and event styling.
Rias work can be seen featured regularly in Home Beautiful Magazine.
\"The I want I want I want! blog is a weekday (ish!) update with reviews of the best online homewares shopping, styling tips, peeks into my favorite homes and commentary on design, interiors and art.
Hopefully you will find new products, designs and ideas to inspire you to make your home the most fabulous place it can be!\" Ria x
