Bistro blinds are the perfect way to make your outdoor area a space that you can enjoy all year around, regardless of the weather. When we purchased our home in sunny Perth 3 years ago, we loved having a decent size patio area for us to enjoy, as well as the for the kids to use as a second play area. Anyone with kids knows that over those cooler months, they hate being cooped up inside and love to head outdoors to play with their toys and make general kid messes! So to save our interior, we decided to install bistro blinds to close in the space so that it could become an area for my husband and I to relax and entertain, as well as somewhere for the kids to play and make mess, any time of the year.

Cue my friends from Smart Home Products who I’ve had the pleasure of working with a few times now. Their products are quality, affordable items which are available from Bunnings, meaning they are accessible to pretty much anyone, anywhere across Australia. Having installed roller blinds from their Riva Blinds range, I was excited to now try their bistro blinds from their sister company, Bistro Blinds. Made from durable, heavy duty PVC, their blinds not only protect from the elements, but also maintain air flow and also add insulation to the home as well.

The order process with Bistro Blinds is super easy:

• Measure up windows.
• Take sizing into the special orders desk at Bunnings.
• Fill out and sign cut form.
• Bunnings will place the order and email the cut form through to manufacturer.
• Warehouse cuts the blinds.
• Warehouse package up the blinds.
• Direct freight deliver them to the Bunnings store the order was placed with.
• 7- 10 business day turn around.

The range of bistro blinds are available in a range of finishes. We went with the clear blinds with white edging to go with our light, neutral colour scheme, and also so I can still see the kids when they were playing outside of the patio area. Once our blinds arrived, it was my turn (well, my husband’s turn) to do the work. With all the screws and hardware supplied with the blinds, installation was as simple as drilling in to the steel beams that the blinds were to hang from, and holding the blinds in place with the provided screws. Once hung, we then attached the base anchor plate to the brickwork base so that the blinds could be tied down with the attached straps. The final DIY was to drill in the holder for the excess rope. And that’s it! To hang the four blinds in total took us (I supervised) around 2 hours.

During the cooler months, we will leave the blinds down to create a barrier from the weather, however in the summer when we want to let that cool afternoon sea breeze in, we can use the pulley system to roll up the blinds with ease. With our blind design, we installed four separate blinds which sit in between existing brick pillars. However, if you had a larger space which required multiple blinds to be hung together, they are available with a zip joiner which allows you to extend and connect your blinds for more enclosure around your outdoor area without placing them in between the pillars like we have.

For the entire project which was 4 separate blinds plus all of the included hardware, the total cost was just over $1100. That includes the initial blind cost, $99 cutting fee for each of them to make them a custom fit, plus the various sized trim extenders. A very reasonably priced project to enclose our patio area so that we can use it as an entertainment area and kids play area no matter the season.

 

 

 

 

Zoe Gilpin – The DIY Decorator

The living room is our most used room in the home. It’s Not only a place to relax, but also where we are gather and connect. So it’s important that not only is it a comfortable and functional space, but one that looks great as well. Even though each living room in each individual house is different, there are some key decorating tips to keep in mind that can help you create a homely and inspiring space.

Above is a living room mood board I created using items from popular furniture and homeware retailer, Interior Secrets. An example of what furniture pieces to use, from coffee tables to entertainment units and seating, it shows the key pieces often required this room to make it both a functional and attractive space.

• Gabie bamboo tripod floor lamp, beige linen shade. $279.
• Sonia 3 Seater Left Chaise sofa, light grey. $2500.
• Hunter marble coffee table, natural. $895.
• Kaia next side table, white. $162.
• Raven fabric cushion ottoman, light grey. $169.
• Giant bird of paradise plant. $220.
• Artificial maiden hair fern in pot. $35.
• Colombo floor rug, cream. From $347.
• Palma wall mirror, natural. $378.
• Felix 1 framed art work. $659.
• Linear portrait art print. $266.
• Bellano Acacia Wood Armchair. $660.

A mistake often made in homes is using the incorrect amount of furnishings, or the wrong sized pieces within a room. Using too many items in a smaller space or not enough in a larger one instantly puts the rooms proportions out, which can result in it not looking or feeling right. Use smaller scaled furniture and not too many pieces in a smaller space. And for a larger one, select larger sized pieces that fill the space rather than get lost in it.

A common problem people have is not knowing how to arrange their living room furniture.  Furniture doesn’t just need to be pushed up against the walls of a room. Position them facing a focal point. In the past, furnishings were usually directed to a focal point of a room which was the fireplace. These days that focal point is the generally a television. So the seating should be arranged in the best position to it for comfortable viewing. If you don’t have a TV in the space, create a focal point using an item such as large artwork to direct the seating at instead. Also think about positioning furnishings so that they create conversation areas as well. Consider too the traffic flow in the room. Position the pieces so that they are easy to walk between and not in the way.

In modern times, there are two main pieces to focus on when decorating a living room is the seating and entertainment unit. These are the pieces that in modern times we need in the room to make it functional. After including them in the space, everything else added in can work around them. If there is room, add in items such as a coffee or side table. When it comes to choosing matching furniture pieces or not, I don’t think its a must. As long as the pieces are of similar style, they can work nicely together even if they aren’t from the same matching range.

If you don’t have wall space to hang art or wall decor, or perhaps you are renting and can’t hang items at all, use pieces such a floor lamp and tall plants to add some height and interest instead. When it comes to adding decorative pieces to your living room, remember that they are simply the items to compliment your furnishings. Not take over and distract from them. Adding just a few items on top of a piece such as a coffee table or console table, is all you need to give that stylish look without creating a cluttered or over-decorated space.

If you struggle with setting a colour of style theme for your living room, start with adding in larger items such as art or a floor rug.  From those pieces, pull the tones, textures and patterns from them to decide on what soft furnishing and homeware items to use. Repeating colour and texture within a room is a great way to help it flow while feeling homely and inviting. Choose your decor items depending on the size of the room and use what the space needs, remembering the important decorating rule, sometimes less is more.

My biggest tip when styling your living room, or any room in your home really, is to plan first. Like everything in life, planning ahead can save both time and money by saving us from purchasing the wrong item or perhaps too many of them. Using the above tips, arrange and style your living area so that it’s both a practical and attractive room. But most importantly, remember to use items that you love and ones that reflect you and your family to make it an enjoyable space and the heart of your home.

 

 

 

 

 

Zoe Gilpin – The DIY Decorator 

Sleep is something that is very important to me. Unlike my husband who can fall asleep at a drop of a hat anywhere and any time, I can only catch some zzz’s in the comfort of a bed. And the best sleeps of course, are always had in the comfort of my own. So naturally, I should spend the time to not only make it look great, but also on the items you don’t see which are where the real comfort is coming from.

Thanks to IKEA, I was able to recently visit their mattress and bedding studio and select all new items to assist me in not only getting that better nights sleep, but helping to protect our existing mattress as well. I was quite unaware until my visit, that you could purchase everything bed related from the frame or base, to the mattress, inserts and protectors, all the way though to bedding and decorative cushions and throws, all at IKEA! Your one stop bedroom shop if you will. And if I can get everything I need in one store, that’s a big tick to me! So now knowing that you can do just that at IKEA is news that I had to share!

The staff at IKEA Perth were more than helpful when it came to showing me around and helping choose the right products for our bedroom. Their knowledge of the extensive bedding range was amazing and I left knowing a whole lot more about all the ways to improve your sleep with their products. My brief to what I wanted to get from my visit was simple: Soft, fluffy, warm bedding items that I love due to the feel and look. As well as items suitable for my husband who runs hot and so needs to right product to help him get a better nights sleep.

Below, I have broken down what items I selected for our bed and why, as well as links to them all on the IKEA website.

a. Rosendun Mattress Protector (Queen size $99). A mattress protector is a must to help prolong the life of a mattress by protecting it from stains and dirt. The quilted mattress protector I chose is made from a lyocell and cotton blend fabric, with a lyocell and polyester mix filling. The lining contains tiny wax capsules that store and release excess body heat. If your body temperature rises, the excess heat is absorbed, and when it drops again, the heat is released, helping you maintain an even body temperature and get a restful nights sleep. I chose this one with my husband in mind as I mentioned before he runs hot and often sweats in his sleep. So with this protector, paired with some other bedding items I chose, he should now get a better nights rest and wake up dry in the morning.

b. Sotvedel quilt, warmer (King size $149). A warm quilt made from soft cotton, filled with duck down and feathers. I chose this as I often feel the cold at night so wanted something that would keep me snuggly and warm, and which also looked great as well. The stitched inner walls retain the heat which gives me a warmer sleep environment and is also a breathable insert as well. This quilt also comez in a cooler and extra warm design to suit all sleepers preferences.

 

c. Kungsmynta pillow protector ($9.99). I selected these protectors for the front pillow inserts which we use to sleep on because they are again made from the lyocell and cotton blend fabric and a lyocell and polyester mix filling, which absorbs moisture and helps to give a comfortable and dry sleep. So not only are they protecting our pillows, but helping us get that better night’s sleep as well.

 

d. Angsvide pillow protector ($3.49). I chose these pillow protectors for the back pillows that are more decorative than for use. By saving a few dollars using these cheaper covers on them, they are still being protected from stains and dirt, and I’ve still got a few extra dollars in my pocket. This pillow protector is made from of polyester and cotton blend with polyester filling.

e. Jordrok pillow, firmer ($16.99). A firm pillow made from a soft cotton, filled with duck down and feathers. I tend to be a side or back sleeper, so the support of the firmer, higher pillow, is perfect for me. I am a fan of duck feather inserts for both my pillows and cushions as they are nice and fluffy and sit really well as well. The perfect choice of insert for someone like me who likes their bed to look amazing at all times.

f. Blavinda quilt cover set, beige (King size $89). I chose this design to go with our new bedding items as it fits in well with my decor and suits the relaxed, fluffy look I was going for. I love not only the look and feel of this cover, but also that it has the zipper opening and comes with a set of 4 matching pillow covers. For under $100 for the largest bed size, this is a great quilt cover which works for so manh interior styles. It is also available in a grey stripe.

g,h,i. Nattjasmine flat sheet, fitted sheet pillow cases, light beige (From $6.99). This is another temperature controll item that I chose with my husband in mind. The sheets and pillow cases are a sateen-woven bedlinen, made from a cotton/lyocell blend that absorbs and draws moisture away from your body. Keeping you dry all night long. The items themselves, with a 310 thread count, feel very soft and look great as well. I chose the beige to compliment the other chosen bedding pieces and fit in with our natural interior.

j. Aina cushion cover, beige. (50x50cm $9.99). To finish off the bed, I added this 100% linen cushion to add some detail and texture to our bed. The ties make the cover easy to remove and adds a decorative detail at the same time. 

k. Jofrid cushion cover, natural (65x65cm $19.99). This cotton & linen blend cushion is ideal to use as a backing cushion against the wall, behind the pillows. It adds both height and another layered item to the bed. I’ve filled mine with a duck feather & down insert to give it a great shape whilst making it extra comfy too. It works perfectly with the natural, inviting look I’ve created on our bed.

 

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I will admit that it took a few nights to get use to sleeping with new pillows, but I can gladly say that bed time has become that little bit sweeter with it’s makeover! The addition of the new items has softened our bed and helped us have a better nights sleep thanks to the combination of the temperature controlled items mixed with the fluffy, breathable, cosy ones. So now I can go to bed knowing that my mattress is protected and that my husband and I will be getting the best nights sleep we can with the help of the new additions from IKEA.

Zoe – The DIY Decorator 

Gone are the days of unattractive storage solutions. With the likes of Marie Kondo and thousands of organisation obsessed people inspiring us to live a more clutter free life, we are seeing home storage front and centre rather than hidden away. From pantry and laundry storage to smart wardrobe solutions, we are always on the lookout for on trend, affordable storage options to showcase in our homes.

Australia’s favourite home improvement store Bunnings, has listened to the masses and are offering a great range of home storage solutions as a part of their special buys this month. Currently, items including storage boxes and baskets, garment racks, coat stands and free standing wardrobes are available in stores for fantastic prices!

As soon as these items appeared at my local Bunnings store, I grabbed a few pieces to style up and share with you guys to show you just how easy it is to make a standout in your home rather than hiding it away. The items I chose to work with are the following. (Hit link to go to item on Bunnings website).

• Flexi Storage Living Garment Rack. White & Oak finish, $75.
• Flexi Storage Living Coat Stand. White & Oak finish, $35.
• All Set White Rope Storage Basket. Set/2, $30.
• All Set White Rope Storage Basket With Tassel. $30.

The garment rack is a perfect addition to a bedroom if you have a tiny closet, or perhaps an overflowing one. A freestanding wardrobe is a great piece to have on show in a room and perfect for dispaying either your best clothes or bulkier items such as coats and jackets. Having the extra clothes storage space out in the open may even force you to keep your clothes nice and organized instead of in an avalanche pile in the closet 😉

I love the Bunnings coat stand because of its simple design. It’s not often these days that you see coat stands for sale in stores. Espcially not affordable and on trend ones! These are the perfect addition to spaces such as entries or bedrooms, for popping bags, scarves or coats on. An item which is a stand out piece decoratively, as well as as being super functional.

As both a decorator and a product stylist, I love matching pieces within a space via colour and texture. So when I spotted the assorted baskets from the new Bunnings range, I knew they would work well in my home. The baskets are made from thin rope, so are light but durable. The rectangle baskets are perfect for storing items such as belts, scarves and small shoes like sandals in. The large hamper style basket makes for a great place to store shoes.

Storage doesn’t need to look perfect. For this blog I have styled it in a presentable way, however in real life it’s quantity over quality and we are more likely to fill our storage items to the brim so that they are doing their job rather than just looking pretty. However, I have a few tips on how to make your storage look more presentable whilst being functional at the same time:

• Match your storage. Pick a theme. Wether it be a natural theme like I have gone with, or perhaps a more Scandi style using grey baskets, by keeping all the storage items of the same colour palette, it instantly creates order and cohesion.
• Use hampers or large baskets to store shoes away. You can still chuck them in there after a long day at work with ease and not worry about seeing a messy pile of shoes on the floor.
• Clear baskets and containers are great to use as you can see the items from the outside so they are easy to find, but still neatly tucked away. Or if you dont want items on show, opt for a non transparent stosge option and add a label on the outside for a stylish look.

I hope this blog has inspired you to get your clothes storage under control with the help of just a few simple items which are both on trend and easy on the budget! I’ve even inspired myself to give our walk-in wardrobe a much neaded clean our and organise!

 

 

 

 

 

Zoe – The DIY Decorator 

Floor rugs. An item which is no longer just used to soften hard flooring, but one which when used correctly, can be a real statement piece in a room. As well as being a functional item used for looks and comfort, a rug can also anchor a room, define it, add warmth, and help layer a room’s decor. Changing the rug in a room is a great way to update the look of a space, as well as being a great starting piece to take inspiration from when decorating.

These days, we are spoilt for choice with quality, on trend rugs, available at retailers such as one of my faves, Bunnings. Which means anyone with any budget can have a great looking rug for their home. So before you run off to buy yourself a beautiful new modern, scandi, boho, tribal or kids designed rug from Bunnings new range, let me give you some tips on what to consider when choosing your rug and when using one to decorate your home.

Choose the right size. The biggest mistake I see home decorators make is using the wrong sized rug. Using the correct sized rug can make or break a room. Using one which is too small can make the whole space look out of proportion and it will get lost amongst your furnishings. Using a rug that is too large for a space can also mess with the proportion and even close in a room if it’s too big against your furniture. For example, using a rug that is too small under a dining table will look odd and isn’t very practical when moving chairs in and out constantly. We want the rug to almost frame our furnishings. Not be the same size as it and get lost.

When laying a rug under your dining table, try to have at least 60cm of the rug from the edge of the table out on all sides. This enables the back legs of the chairs to stay on the rug, even when pulled out to let someone sit. The same applies for your living area. Either select a rug which fits nicely between your couches and under your coffee table. Or, if your living room is larger, go with a larger sized rug which fills the space and goes under your couches.

Use rugs to define spaces. If you have an open plan living area or larger rooms in your home, using rugs is a great way to separate areas. For example, if you have an open plan kitchen, dining and living area, use a rug under the dining table as well as under your couches and coffee table to clearly define the two spaces. Keep in mind however, that when using two rugs in a room, be aware that same sized rugs can visually cut the room in two. If this is not the look you are after and you prefer the room to flow, use different sized rugs to create a sense of variety.

It’s not just the open plan spaces that can benefit from floor rugs. They are also great to use in rooms for both functional and decorative purposes. Stepping on to a plush rug first thing in the morning is far more appealing that stepping on to a hard, cold timber or tiled floor. They are also great under a bed to ground them and give a bedroom space a grand, finished look. Also consider using rugs in areas such as kids rooms and play areas. They are lovely and soft to play on and are a great way to introduce colour or bring in a theme to these spaces.

Play with shape. Although rectangle rugs are most commonly used in decorating, it isn’t a rule that you must use that shape and that shape only. Let the way you group your furniture dictate the shape of your rug. Figure out which shape would look best depending on the shape and size of your furniture and which is going to be practical as well as look best. Sometimes square or round rugs will work better in a space. For example, a round rug is going to look best under a round dining table. Just make sure the rug is a fair size bigger that the table and chairs together. A lounge room setting may look better configured on an intimate square rug over a large rectangular one.

Use the right tones. To start decorating a room, you can choose a rug as the basis of the colour scheme for it. On the other hand, if you add a rug after you have your furniture in place, you can use the rug to accent or tie in your existing colours. Use a rug to visually quieten a room or turn up the volume as needed. If your upholstery or wallpaper has an ornate pattern, choose a rug that is more subtle. When walls and upholstery are fairly subdued, you can try a busier pattern or bolder colours to add more interest to the room. Choosing a rug with similar tones but of a different material can also work to ensure harmony. You may wish to choose a rug with more a textured pile to add warmth and comfort in a living room, and opt for a flat, hardwearing rug under you dining table.

Consider layering rugs. Layering rugs on top of each other has become a big interior trend over the last couple of years and I am all for it! It is a wonderful way to add more texture and interest to a space. The key is choosing patterns and colours that compliment, but are still different. You don’t want to use mismatched designs which compete with each other and end up creating a visual mess. Personally, I like for the bottom rug to be a pattern free, solid colour design, and then add the interest via colour, and pattern with the top rug. Jute rugs work really well for the bottom layer. If the dimension of your favourite rug isn’t going to be large enough for the space you want to use it in, layer it with a larger rug beneath so that it can still be used whilst working proportion wise in the room. Layering isn’t just for hard flooring. It can also work well on carpeted areas. Just make sure that again, your chosen rug doesn’t compete against the colour of the carpet or blend in with it.

One final tip for people with hard flooring, is to use a liner to keep your rug from slipping or creeping. The rug liner should be appropriate for your floor type, and also be the right size to fully keep the rug from sliding.

As I mentioned earlier, my go to for rugs at the moment is everyone’s favorite home improvement store, Bunnings. Although they’ve had a range or rugs available for awhile now, this new range, which is appearing in stores across Australia as you read this, is getting home decorators everywhere excited! Including myself! The range includes a variety of on trend designs suitable for kids spaces, scandi styled spaces, beautiful boho abodes and more. How’s the quality I hear you ask? I have picked up 3 for own home and am beyond impressed with them! They are well made. Nice and heavy, so sit flat on the ground. And I haven’t experienced any shedding from them which is a big tick to me! You can find Bunnings huge range of rugs here. And below, is a round up of some of my personal favorites from the new range (hit links to go to each rug on the website. Rugs available in store only).

1. Beckway Rug 230x160cm $169
2. Zig Zag Fringed Rug 300x200cm $229
3. Wemyss Natural Ivy Rug 230x160cm $169
4. Admont Linen Rug 2300x160cm $169
5. Fluffy Mini Rug 200×290 $99
6. Dark Cloud Rug 170x120cm $59
7. Moldova Rug 300x200cm $229
8. Ivory France Loop Rug 230x160cm $129
9. Natural Sicilia Rug 230x160cm $129

 

 

 

 

Zoe – The DIY Decorator 

 

When we purchased our first home almost 3 years ago, the one thing I really didn’t like about it was the choice of window treatments. They were not on the best condition or what you would describe as “Insta-worthy”. Our living room vertical blinds especially annoyed me, and is the main reason I never shared styled photos of the room to my social media accounts or blog. The only before photo I have to share with you is this one from the real estate from our homes listing before we took ownership. As you can see, the area has a large window and a sliding door. So we decided that roller blinds would work best as a replacement to the existing verticals.

Riva Blinds is a part of the Smart Home Products family, who I have worked with a few times now. Their products are on trend, great quality, and of course affordable. And are of course available at Bunnings stores, Australia wide. Riva offers a range of window treatments including roller blinds, roman blinds, pinch pleat curtains and more which are all custom made to size to fit your home. The process from ordering to receiving the products is an easy one. So easy in fact, that even I did it 😉

1. CHOOSE

• Select your blind type.
• Choose your fabric colour at your local Bunnings store
• Or order your free colour samples online.

2. MEASURE

• Measure your windows using the easy to follow instructions.

3. ORDER

• Confirm your selections & retrieve your design number.
• Take your design number to your nearest Bunnings Special Orders Desk to place your order.

4. COLLECT & INSTALL

• Your order will be ready to collect in 15 working days

 

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As you can see from the simple steps above, using the Riva website to order your blinds and curtains really easy. And in a matter of weeks, they are ready to collect from your local bunnings. Now the fun part, installation.

Don’t be scared of this step. I think people often feel that home DIY projects are too hard and often seek professional help to install items such as blinds. Which is absolutely fine! But if you are on a budget and want to save a few dollars, give it a go installing them yourself. My husband and I installed the 4 blinds, two for the large window and two over the sliding door, ourselves in a matter of hours. It’s simply a matter of measuring, drilling and installing. Our home is double brick, so we drilled, inserted wall plugs and then used screws to hold up the blinds. Our blinds are inside mount, meaning that they are installed inside the window from rather than over it. I chose this as I feel it gives a neater look.

 

In regards to cost, it is of course going to depend on the type of window treatment you choose, as well as the additional items such as chains, rods etc. The type of fabric you choose will also alter the overall pricing. We went with the single roller blind in the Tuscan block out fabric in the colour natural. The perfect fit for our neutral colour palette. The overall cost for the 4 blinds in the room was approx $1300. The quality of the blinds is fantastic and they look amazing! They have changed our living room for the better and have made it a room that I will now happily share on my feed!

To view the extensive Riva range, head tp their website here.

 

 

 

 

 

Zoe Gilpin – The DIY Decorator

Decorating with prints is one of my favorite ways to spruce up a room or give it a whole new look, without breaking the bank. If you’ve been following me for awhile now, you would know that I am constantly changing up the prints around our home. As well as everything else home decor related…

When decorating your own home, my top tip is to select your wall art first. From it, you can extract your theme for the space as well as the colour scheme and then match soft furnishings and decor pieces to it to tie the space together and create a harmonious room. To save a few dollars (to spend on home homewares perhaps!!) look at purchasing art prints which are a lot cheaper that original pieces.

Today I wanted to share with you some ideas of how the best way to display and use art prints in your own home using some gorgeous pieces from your one stop online print store, Desenio. Their print range is huge! And filled with not only on trend designs suitable for so many interior styles. But also in a range of different sizes and all at great prices. Not only are their prints stunning, the paper is fantastic quality and their customer service gets 5 stars from me. I ordered my prints online and had them in my hand within a week! Using just a few different prints from their range, I was able to create 3 different looks in our master bedroom as below. 

 

 

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Frame your prints yourself. I am a self confessed scrooge who is always looking for a bargain. Which can be hard when you have a home decor obsession… However, I save dollars where I can by framing prints myself. These days you can pick up some really nice frames in an array of finishes from places like Kmart, Spotlight and Office Works for a great price. A tip for home stylists who often photograph their framed prints, is to remove the glass or plastic so that there is no reflection or flash showing in your styled shots.

 

Consider using a picture ledge to display your prints. Recently I added a picture ledge on the walk above our bed and it was the best decorating decision I’ve made for the space! Perviously, I was constantly changing the prints I had hanging on the wall and our poor walk looked like it had been sprayed with bullets with alk the holes I had made in it…So when we updated our master bedroom, I decided that the IKEA Mosslanda picture rail was the perfect solution for me to avoid another ruied wall in the future. Available in 2 sizes (55cm $7.99 & 115cm $14.99), the rail allows you to rest your framed prints on it and simply change them around or remove them when needed. The ledges are also great for displaying small homewares on with your prints as well.

Position your prints right. Something which is very important when hanging your framed print in the wall is to make sure its at the right position. Too often I see prints hung either too high or too low on a wall, which takes away the impact they should be making and can throw off the vibe of a whole room. The center point of either a single picture or a grouping of works should be at eye level. Don’t hang the artwork too high or too low and close to furniture. If you have a small piece, put it in a frame that has a larger mat. A tiny piece on a big wall can end up looking lost and out of place. when hanging multiple frames, leave approximately two inches on either side and below between them. Hanging pieces too far apart from each other can also look odd.

Create a gallery wall. Who doesn’t love a gallery wall? They look amazing and make for a great statement piece in any room in the home. My tip for creating your own gallery wall is to use prints which have a theme; be it a colour theme or a style theme. This gives it order and will look more cohesive overall. There’s no real rules for setting out a gallery wall but do play with using different sizesd prints and frames. Before commiting to a layout, cut some butchers paper or card to the size of your frames and blu-tac them on to the wall until you find the perfect layout before drilling any holes in to the wall. Also consider using something like the 3M command adhesive strips to hang your frames which are easy to remove and means no drilling. Perfect for renters or those who change around their decor a lot like myself.

When selecting your prints, look for ones that fit your own personal interior style rather than ones that are trending. This way you’ll really love them and won’t feel the need to replace them in a hurry. Below are my own picks from the Desenio range which fit my neutral, natural inspired style. Click below links to view prints.

 

1. Dried bouquet No.2 poster
2. Bouquet of Autumn reeds poster
3. Marc Jacobs beautiful poster
4. Texture line faces poster
5. Ceramics poster
6. Mark Twain poster
7. Abstract reeds No.1 poster

Use discount code ‘DIYDECORATOR‘ at checkout on the Desenio website to recieve 25% off your purchase. *Valid from June 18th to 20th 2019. Not valid on frames or handpicked/collaboration/personal posters.

 

 

 

 

Zoe Gilpin – The DIY Decorator

Wallpaper has come a long way over the years. No longer do we need to be scared of the time consuming process of both putting it up and also removing removing. Ask anyone who has worked with it in the past if they enjoyed working with it, and I’m pretty sure you’ll be met with a firm NO! In recent years, we have seen the introduction of fabric, reusable wallpapers and decals. A product which is well and truly a game changer! Easier to put up. Easier to take down. And you can use it again and again. Amazing! Now, I’m going to be honest. Although I knew that reusable wallpaper was a far better product to work with when doing a DIY project, I was still a little skeptical when it came to the installation of it. I’m a need to try kind of person before I can form a proper opinion and recommend it to you guys. So when the opportunity arose to install some myself, I jumped at the chance!

Tiny Walls is an Australian small business specializing in a range of gorgeous wallpaper and wall decals for children’s rooms. Every design is printed by Tiny Walls in Melbourne, Australia and they use an extremely high quality gabric media to print their designs on which is made from a fine woven polyester weave and features a low tack adhesive on the backing. This enables easy removal and reuse of their products over and over, without leaving behind residue or damaging your walls.

 

The Tiny Walls range of wallpaper and wall decals include designs to suit a variety of styles. From floral, watercolour, Boho and Scandi, they have something to help you decorate your Nursery, Boys or Girls bedroom. Some designs I think are even suitable for other areas of the home, or for retail spaces as well. The wallpaper I chose is the ‘gone fishing‘ design and it was to go in Jack’s room. He and his Dad love the beach and fishing so I thought it was very fitting. And also, it’s a style that will grow with him over the years, meaning I won’t need to redecorate any time soon.

 

Installation: My top tip is to make sure you don’t attempt installing wallpaper on your own… I did think I would be able to but thankfully I enlisted the help of Em from Stilettos & Bricks and am SO glad I did!! You definitely need more than one set of hands when it comes to lining up each sheet and getting it up. For the one wall in Jack’s room we used 5 sheets which were pre-cut and labelled so we knew where each panel was to be positioned on the wall. To apply, simply peel back the backing sheet to reveal the adhesive side of the paper which is to be stuck on to the wall. Line up the top of the sheet with the bottom of the cornice or ceiling line. Then using the supplied squeegee tool, push the paper on to the wall in an up and down, vertical motion to both attach it and also to smooth out any air bubbles. Keep doing this until you reach the bottom/skirting board. Trim off any excess by scoring/cutting the edge with a Stanley knife. Keep in mind that walls are rarely 100% straight so the paper may not meet up square with the edges of the walls. Ours didn’t, but it was so minimal that you couldn’t tell unless you closely examine it. Also, remember that if you do create a large air bubble or if you haven’t lined up the paper properly, you can slowly lift it back off the wall and re-apply. The beauty of a reusable wallpaper!

Repeat the process for each remaining panel, but now making sure that the images from each panel line up. We did have a little trouble with this, simply because we had never done it before so thought it would simply be a matter of sticking the panels exactly side by side. Where infact, you need to overlap them slightly so that the designs meet up smoothly to create the final look. Take your time making sure each panel lines up. Due to our uneven walls, some of the little fish are a little odd looking, but overall they look fine. If you have any items such as light switches or power points to wall paper around, you could measure it out and cut in advance, or do what we did and simply cut the holes while we were applying it by again using a stanley knife to cut where needed.And that’s it! Told you it was easier than traditional wallpaper installation!! No messy glues. Less chance of making a mistake. And it looks bloody good! (If I do say so myself 😉). So if you’ve been wondering about using reusable wallpaper in your own home but weren’t sure if you had the skills (or the patience) to tackle the project, remember than Em and I were able to do it with no prior experience of using wallpaper (and a lack of patience from me) So, you’ve got this!! 🙌

Below is the mood board I compiled when redecorating Jacks room. As well as a list of where each item is from.Cork board – Officeworks

Quilt cover – Kmart

Tan cushion – Kmart (old stock) 

Floor Rug – Bunnings (old stock) *IKEA has a similar design

Desk – Kmart

Timber book shelf – IKEA

White metal chair – Kmart

Blue knit throw – Madras Link

Whale plush toy – Kmart

Desk lamp – Beacon Lighting

Plush raccoon wall decor – Adairs

Tray side table – Freedom

Blue seat cushion – BigW

Small prints – Desenio

Large pier print – Boho Art Styling 

Fishing print & hanger – Adairs

Wall hook – Freedom

 

 

 

 

Zoe Gilpin, The DIY Decorator 

Our master bedroom is the most photographed room in our home, mainly because it is a large space and gets plenty of natural sunlight. You may have noticed however that I never shared photos which included the window side of the room… And as silly as it may sound, it was simply due to the dirty, broken black metal venetian blinds which A) do not match my neutral decor at all. And B) are SO not “Insta worthy”… Don’t get me wrong, I love our home, but I was not a fan of the window dressing choices which were already installed when we purchased it. They didn’t suit our decor, they were dust collectors (which did not help with my allergies!) and they weren’t really blocking out much light either due to being bent and broken, thanks to the previous owners and my destructive children…

So to replace them with something beautiful, which I actually loved and which suited our light and bright, naturally decorated home, was a big thing for me! I was like a kid at Christmas when they were being installed. Stalking the poor man who installed them who was probably thinking who is this overly excited woman taking photos over 5 minutes? As someone who hasn’t had custom made window dressings installed in my home before, this was a new process for me. And what that I feel many others aren’t really wary of either. So today, I thought I’d share my experience with you guys.

Living in Western Australia, I was well aware of Curtain World. They have been around since 1974, so I think it’s fair to say that many Perth people have heard of them. I first met with some of the team at The 2019 Perth Home Show. We had a good chat about what it was I was after, and then organised a free in-home measure and quote which happened the following week. What was suggested to me was exactly what I was after! A light coloured fabric block-out blind behind a sheer curtain. The perfect way to block out light, whilst visually making your windows look appealing at all times of the day whether the sheers and blinds are open or not.

Our bedroom is a huge space, so it has not only the one giant window by the bed, but also a bay window on the other side of the room, which I use as a home office. I thought the bay window may have been a bit tricky to dress, but Curtain World suggested 3 roller blinds and the sheer curtain on a curved track, which worked perfectly! I’m not a fan of bay windows, end especially wasn’t with the existing blinds, but now with the new roller blinds and sheers, it looks amazing and has actually opened up the room, making it look even bigger!

For the master bedroom, we opted for the Blockade fabric roller blinds in the colour ‘cloud‘. And for the sheers, a triple pleated Odin fabric in the colour ‘porcelain‘. I can not rave about this fabric enough! Although sheer, it is a thick, textured fabric which adds warmth and depth rather than creating a stark, white look. In regards to costing, the sheers were roughly $500 per window and the blockout blinds roughly $200 per window. Keep in mind that each custom install will differ in price depending on of course the size of the window, and what the room needs in regards to blocking out light, privacy, look/style etc. Something to chat to the team at Curtain World about.

When it came to installing the new window treatments, it was an easy and fairly quick process. The installer arrived at 7:30am and was done by 9:30am. Not only did he install the new blinds and sheers, but also took down our existing blinds and left not a spot of dust or mess along the way! Once installed, I entered the room and simply said ‘wow’! I could not believe how amazing they looked and how the room now felt finished. It’s been over a week since they were installed and I still find myself going in there just to stare. Or touch that beautiful sheer fabric. Even my husband, who usually doesn’t even notice new additions to our home, was very impressed!

So can I recommend using Curtain World? Absolutely! From start to finish, everyone I dealt with was extremely professional. Their products are of such a high quality and look amazing! I’ve already recommended them to a few people including a client who will be decking out their entire new build with Curtain World products. To view their extensive indoor and outdoor range, which includes much more than just roller blinds and sheers, or to book in for your own free measure and quote, head here to their website or over to their YouTube channel to view some more of their installs.

 

 

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Zoe – The DIY Decorator 

As both a home decorator and an interior decorator, I am always on the lookout for inspiration to use in my own home, as well as for my clients. Scrolling social media, flicking through books and magazines and watching home renovation shows on TV is a daily occurrence for me.

 

I had been wanting to update our master bedroom with an Easy Craft panel wall for awhile. So when House Rules contacted me to undertake a House Rules-inspired project in my own home in celebration of the new season starting tonight, I jumped the chance. I love a good DIY project where I can get my hands dirty and feel a sense of achievement knowing that I did it myself. Something as simple as changing the look of a wall in a room can give it a whole now look and feel. And that’s exactly the project I had in mind for my own home.

 

House Rules viewers will know that for each home renovated, the owners set a set of house rules to help guide the other contestants create their dream home. I think this is something you should take in to account and put in place for every home project you go in to. It sets some boundaries, which makes it easier to stick to the task at hand and not be distracted by other styles or items along the way. Set some rules: style, budget, how you want the room to feel. And if  you reach a point during that project where you feel like you’ve gone off track, refer back to those rules to guide you back to your initial goal.

My house rules were simple: Scandi Coastal Vibes. Minimal styling with plenty of texture. I wanted to create a peaceful space which looked amazing whilst also feeling inviting and calm at the same time. Above is my inspiration board for the room. Making a board helps me to see the finished result before any purchases are made or work is done.

Here’s what I needed for the panel wall project. *Keep in mind, I fit them over a double brick wall.

• –Easy Craft Panels
  -Screws & wall plugs
  -Gap filler
  -Paint (no primer needed)
• Tools
  -Tape measure
  -Circular saw for cutting
  -Jigsaw for cutting out spaces for power points, phone lines etc.
  -Drill  & drill bit (hammer drill for double brick)
  -Corking gun
  -Paint brush, roller & tray

Start by choosing your panels. Easy Craft offer a different range or styles and sizes. We went with the Easy regency 2400x1200mm x 9mm Primed MDF Interior Wall Linings from Bunnings. For the one wall, we needed 3 panels. We measured the wall they were to go on between the skirting and cornice and then cut the panels to fit. Hold in place against the wall (this is definitely a two or more person job). Drill through the panels, where you will be adding screws to hold them on to the wall, enough so that the wall is slightly drilled in to as well. Take the panels down, drill through the wall and hammer in your wall plugs. Lift the panels back in to place again. The holes in the panels will line up with the wall plugs so now you can attach the panels to the wall with the screws. Fill the screw holes with some putty or gap filler and smooth to create a completely flush surface.

Once all the panels are up, you may find that there’s a gap between your board and skirting or board and cornice. No house is perfectly straight and even, so this is totally fine. It’s also a good idea to run the gap filler on both sides of the panel wall to make a smooth line between the panels and the surrounding walls. Simply use something like Selleys gap filler to fill these gaps before painting. Fill the gap using a corking gun. Then to push the filler in to the gaps, run your finger or something like a pop stick over it. Finish by wiping with a wet cloth to take off any left over gap filler and smooth the line. Once that’s dry, its time to paint!

The boards come primed which means you get stuck straight in to painting them in your chosen colour. As with any wall, tape around the edges and then cut in with a paint brush. I also recommend using the brush to paint over the grooves in the panels details as a roller wont get in there and cover the small areas. Once this is done, start rolling paint on to the individual panels. I suggest using a smaller roller which is roughly the size of each panel to save getting any excess paint in the grooves. As I used a light colour, I did 3 coats.

And that’s it! It really is an easy project. One that I am so glad that we did and that I would love to do in another room in the future. I hope you’ve been inspired to tackle your own home reno project in the near future. For more home renovation inspiration and DIY project ideas, make sure you tune in to this season of House Rules on channel 7.

Zoe – The DIY Decorator

 

 

*We budgeted $250 for our project and came in at just under $270 which is still a great price for such a big change!

Some inspiration from previous House Rules finished homes.

 

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