I want I want I want! on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/iwantiwantiwant
Image from www.thirddrawerdown.com
Yippee!!! I’ve finally got my facebook page properly up and running!
Image from www.tomkelleystudio.com
Which means you can access all the videos I’ve been making ( …yes, the making of them look just like this ) that I can’t upload on the blog. Finally! The videos are a fun mix of gorgeous images and tips…and so far we have…
Chalkboard walls
Multiple mirrors in bathrooms
Trunks and old suitcases
Stencilled floorboards
Decorative ladders
Quirky bedside tables
Pendants in bedrooms
Organised hallways
Hanging a wall gallery (very handy tips!!!)
Not hanging prints
White painted floorboards
Image from www.google.com
So… to follow me on facebook all you need to do is click on this link
http://www.facebook.com/iwantiwantiwant
Click on the “Like” tab underneath the main photo. Then click on the “Mailing List Sign-up” and enter your details.
Easy peasy!
Don’t forget to click on the “like” tab!
Image from www.google.com
This means not only can you see all existing videos, but I can also let you know when there are new ones to see, and even when I’ve posted a blog and what it’s about (to save you from going to the blog when I’ve been lazy and not posted!).
I’ve also been able to load up on Facebook lots of photo albums I’ve compiled…
21 so far and counting! …including room makeovers.
So yay! I’m looking forward to having you all join me on FB x
Image from www.google.com
That link once more….!!!
http://www.facebook.com/iwantiwantiwant
Image from www.dowithlove.wordpress.com
One of the coolest, most eclectic, and budget friendly styles you can get is Boho or Boho chic. Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional and creative lifestyle with a disdain for societies rules…and the Boho look is exactly that. Conventional style rules do not apply. Vibrant colours stylishly clash, multiple patterns elbow each other for your attention, thrift shop finds hold centre stage, while Moroccan lanterns hang out happily with German clocks and Danish armchairs. But… as with fashion, the boho style can go terribly wrong if not done with flair and a good bone structure (Sienna Miller vs Lindsay Lohan…).
Image from www.honestlywtf.com
First stop, as always, is your colour palette. The Boho look is dependent on colour and pattern to give it style, so go vibrant and have fun. Purples, oranges, yellows, reds, greens and blues… they all have a place in a boho scheme. Remember that you will be layering more colour and patterns with throws, cushions, rugs etc. The easiest way to begin is to find fabric you love that has multiple contrasting colours…and use that as your starting point. Once you have found a great fabric you can then be sure the colours work together and all you need to do is find items with similar colours.
Image from www.emeraldsrain.livejour.com
Be eclectic. If you have a love of foreign lands and particularly the colourful patterns of the Middle East, India and Asia then this is the style for you. Bringing together various global influences is an important part of the Boho look. As is the vintage component. Bohemian’s are generally low on money and high on talent, so well chosen thrift store finds reflect their ability to elevate the mundane to the fabulous.
Image from www.anindiansummer-design-blogspot.com
If you’ve saved money at your local Vinnies with your accessories, or even furniture…then spend a little on a truly gorgeous antique mirror and light fixture. These are the “good bones” I mentioned before…crucial to ensure the overall look doesn’t end up a little second hand roseish.
Image from www.blessedwildapplegirl.tumblr.com
Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! More is more with this style, so have fun and be careful not to have odd voids in the room. If you’ve made three quarters of the room beautifully busy with a mix of old and new, then don’t have a sad corner left empty. Amongst your accessories add a little random sparkle. Metallic bowls or lanterns scattered about, or even gold or bronze painted furniture help give a romantic glow to the room. And finally, don’t forget your candles…loads of different sizes, colours and shapes… at different levels throughout the room.
Some more Boho images to inspire you…enjoy x
Image from www.bohocircus.typepad.com
Image from www.bohomarketblog.com
Image from www.curious-places.blogspot.com
Image from www. 4.bp.blogspot.com
Image from www.abigailahern.wordpress.com
Image from www.anindiansummer-design-blogspot.com
Image from www.bohemianshoebox.tumblr.com
Image from www.houzz.com
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.pinterest.com
It’s very easy to make a beach bedroom with a dominant white theme and a layering of soft blue accents as they have above. They look gorgeous, and they’re not very expensive to achieve (see upcoming post…).
But what about him? If you’re sharing this lovely coastal retreat with someone who’d like a look that’s a little less girly …below are some images to inspire…
Image from www.housetohome.co.uk
Love this look! And no boy could complain about it being girly. Painted panelling on the walls immediately beachifies a room. The soft tones of grey and wheat create a relaxed feel, while the bands of black on the bed ground the room, giving it real substance.
Image from www.housetohome.co.uk
This is such a fun look. Everything about it allows you to be messy..and still look gorgeous. From the ettamogah pub style four poster, to the layers of linen and the cool mix of striped rugs on the floor, this look is ace.
Image from www.freemangroupoflbi.com
This is a gorgeous bedroom…and when you’re making your dream bedroom by the sea, generally oars over the bed help in the negotiations!
Image from www.pinterest.com
The mix here of the beautiful woven pieces and the bold nautical striped rug is great. Bright, happy and relaxed..this is what a beach bedroom is all about.
Image from www.housebeautiful.com
My favorite…Love the duck egg blue walls against the limed panelling.
Image from www.pinterest.com
Whilst this is still a predominantly white room, the sturdy wooden bed, bedside table and artwork above the bed ensures it’s not too feminine.
Image from www.housetohome.co.uk
I had to include this image as it totally fits the brief of a beach bedroom for a guy. But I don’t like it…and I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t like the guy who sleeps there.
Image from www.retrotogo.com
“A guide to all things hip and retro”. Loving this site! For anyone who likes the Retro style, this is a site you’ll keep going back to. Filled with hundreds of fab retro pieces and links direct to each seller. Regular articles…galleries for inspiration….even an ebay watch which finds retro pieces up for auction and critiques them…this is a pretty cool website.
A selection of really cool, freightable (yep..it’s a UK based site…) stuff for you…..
Image from www.retrotogo.com
It’s probably Monty Python that makes me find all references to spam hilarious…this tea towel is ace.
Image from www.retrotogo.com
Roy Lichtenstein’s images will never go out of fashion…they’re just way too cool. These Pop Art cushions from Dwell, with the stylised classic hero and heroine, are great.
Image from www.retrotogo.com
…you’ve got to love a vinyl tablecloth.
Image from www.retrotogo.com
These printed roller blinds can be made to your measurements. The images are magazine covers( mainly from the 1920′s and 30′s) from an archive at the Mary Evans Picture Library ….love them.
Image from retrotogo.com
Hooks are the bomb…and these are dead cute.
Image from www.retrotogo.com
And finally…my favorite product on the site. A really cute and quirky take on the on the old favorite, Three Ducks Flying. And they come with velcro dots for easy hanging…clever.
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
Image from www.pintrest.com
A distressed wall, when done well, is badly named. The greater the level of distress (ie: the heavier the sanding) the more layers are exposed. Given that the best look in distressed walls exposes the old brick underneath the layers of plaster, paint and wallpaper…and given that the brick is the skeleton of the wall…then distressed is probably underplaying it.
Image from www.theshootfactory.com
If you’re renovating an old house then have a think about whether any of the walls would come up well with some love and the right furniture. Don’t disregard old walls they can be absolutely beautiful.
If your brick walls are in good nick, but the wall is boring… then some serious sanding can bring a lot of interest into a characterless room. Then be sure to add the softness! A look like this needs lots of beautiful, tactile fabric around. Velvet and brocade properly finish off the whole down at heel aristocrat vibe, but I’d rather a combo of linen and knits.
Image from www.trendey.com
The best look, always layers…the more layers you have to expose, the better the look is. Each old wallpaper and paint layer contributes to the sense of history and character in a room. Following on from that…if you continue to add layers of texture and softness with your furnishings you’ll have a great result.
Image from www.pintrest.com
This one has more of a sense of disrepair rather than just the wearing of the years. The cracks have been roughly filled in, but not painted over… so a serious of spidery veins creating their own organic pattern spread across the wall. It’s a good look, but it has a structural instability element to it that as a house owner I don’t want to have!
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.theshootfactory.co.uk
I thought I’d start doing a weekly (ish!) run down of different interior styles…what they are, where they come from, how best to incorporate them in your home and where to find the fundamentals.
So…today it’s Industrial. It’s also referred to as Urban industrial and Industrial chic…much of a muchness really.
Image from www.theshootfactory.co.uk
The Industrial look evokes early 20th century manufacturing and utilitarianism…the doctrine that virtue is based on utility. I love it.
Image from www.theshootfactory.co.uk
Especially now with the popularity of found objects, and our need to re-use and re-purpose… this look is not going anywhere. Exposed brick walls, cement floors, metal filing cabinets, industrial lighting, rough hewn wooden tables and oversized wrought iron letters and numbers are all recognisable elements of the Industrial look.
Image from www.hindsvik.com
The downside is that you need to balance out the austerity of it. Rich textured fabrics and over-stuffed couches combat the coldness of metal, brick and well worn wood. A lot of these houses/factories are taking Industrial to the nth degree and you can see the austerity that comes with a wholehearted Industrial look. Remember balance and comfort. Rugs, curtains, comfy couches and soft throws are even more important when you’re playing with crusty pieces of history.
Image from www.theshootfactory.co.uk
Of course, the look is more easily achieved if you live in a fab factory or warehouse, but industrial pieces can add a much needed edge to a more traditional home. They also blend beautifully with the modern, clean lined look. Contemporary kitchens, with big commercial stoves and stainless steel appliances already have an industrial feel. Add some industrial lighting and you immediately have a downtown edge.
Image from www.theshootfactory.co.uk
Experimenting is key here. Use an old trunk or crate instead of a side table. Flank a beautiful, soft armchair with a large industrial light. Exposing brick on an interior wall is also a great base to this look. Note…Don’t concentrate all your pieces in the one space…have them spread throughout the house or it can start looking a little trashy. And if your look is way neat and shiny…then this is not the path for you. The more wear and tear on industrial pieces the more authentic the look.
Below are some really cool images of the full-on Industrial look. (I know my mum will hate them…but they really are amazing. )
Image from www.ideastosteal.com
Image from www.theshootfactory.co.uk
Image from www.theshootfactory.co.uk
Image from www.theshootfactory.co.uk
Flea markets are a great source for oversized, quirky pieces. Guy Matthews at 154 Johnson Street Fitzroy always has a fab range, and www.davidmetnicole.com and www.thesecondhandshop.com.au are always worth checking out. www.douguponbourke.com.au in Sydney has an amazing range and their website is terrific.
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
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
