Wonderful in White

Contemporary & Farmhouse had a love child.... There are no bundles of hay or overly obvious country motifs, yet this room still gives the feeling of being miles from the city. The crisp white walls and furniture bounce light around the room and create a feeling of spaciousness, and of course the ceiling helps! Can we just say Ah-mazing! Now, how do you create this look, you say?

• Dare to go industrial! But be careful not to take it too far. Stick to just a few statement pieces.
• Try to find furnishings made from hand-worked metals like iron or copper, worn timber or even add some rope to give that “rough around the edges” look.
• Too much white can be too Psychiatric Ward! In this room the fireplace does wonders to add that spark of colour. If that’s not possible just add flowers, a rug or ornaments with subtle colour.
• Try wall panelling on all or just one wall, this texture will add interest and give the room an inviting country feel.
• Straight clean lines give this room modern sophistication especially in the upholstered furniture. This simplicity offsets the detailed iron pieces nicely.

To get the look with Eco Chic, check out our Parker Sofa in white hemp. We have a number of industrial style pendant lights to choose from and fantastic farmhouse style rustic dining tables to give that warm feeling. If you are so lucky to have a fireplace...do top it off with a nice big round mirror!



Very Merry?

Is it still Christmas without red or green? As expats who grew up with cold, sometimes even White, Christmases in the Northern hemisphere, we have been known to strive for a traditional Christmas. But being here in Australia, where it is hot and sultry during this silly season, we've grown to appreciate that we might need to keep things a bit more fresh and lively. So what do you think of this jaunty Christmas palette?

• The combination of strong jewel tones, pastels and lots of white is just so crisp and chic.
• I love the modern take on the tabletop Christmas tree decorations, very graphic and hip.
• How good is gold! The stocking is festive and the gold utensils are to die for...they scream “Come celebrate!”
• Coloured confetti in wine glasses with candles stuck in them...cheap, cheerful and very, very clever.
  

Festive Season

Turkey, tinsel and tropical temperatures don’t really make for a comfortable Christmas, which is why the traditional Australian celebration often takes place outdoors and has developed a style all its own.  We really like this celebratory setting, and would love to drop by for a cold wine and a lively chat.  Here’s why we find it so inviting:

It’s outdoors, of course!  There is nothing quite like a meal al fresco, be it a sandwich on a park bench, a picnic on the beach or a family gathering in the garden.

The colours used are bright and cheerful, but not predictable. The vibrant Suzani throw used as a tablecloth breaks the rules for a formal table setting and makes for fun. The polka dot cushions don’t match but definitely go well.  The orange placemats add zing while the white chairs give a freshness appropriate for eating outdoors.

The seating just invites you to stay awhile.  Regular dining chairs and gardens don’t really mix, which is why these chairs are just perfect, blending style, comfort and practicality.

Fresh flowers for decoration are endlessly appealing and seasonally stylish.

The little ‘break away’ area in the background confirms that this garden has truly been transformed into an outdoor room that will host and entertain from brunch right through to a candlelit supper.  Merry!

We’d love to help you create an outdoor room for your festive season, and if you fancy one like this, we suggest the Nina chairs, Prisma table linens, Aisha coasters, Indigo Polka dot cushions, Thorn Glass vases.

The Glossies

Ever since we were old enough to appreciate stretching out on a sofa, opening up a magazine, browsing through and mentally compiling a wish-list (i.e. from about age 6), we have always pictured ourselves, or something associated with us, in a magazine.

Imagine how delighted we are when, these days, we can open up a glossy and see the fruits of our labours of love embellishing the pages!  Yes, we're having a boast and showing off some of the great press coverage we've had in the last couple of weeks - and guess what, it still gives us a thrill and we know it always will!

 

Madison, Shop til you Drop and Home Beautiful coming up, so keep a look out and thank you all so much for your support!  

Over It / Into It

Sometimes it's possible to have just too much of a good thing.  Here's our (entirely personal) list of what's making us yawn and what's making us sit up and take notice right now!

                                  Over It........Union Jack anything                                     

Into It ........Tropical everything

Over It........French Provincial

Into it........City Brights

 Over it........birds

 

 Into it........feathers

  

Over it........tram roll decor

 Into it........drum roll decor

 

Over it........replica furniture

 

Into it........reclaimed furniture

 

What about you?  What are you getting into and getting over - we'd love to hear your thoughts! 

                                         

Nice or Nasty - Yellow Peril

Okay, the jury is out on this one – do we love it, hate it or couldn’t  care less?  There’s no question that some of the elements in this setting are somewhat confronting, and taken out of this context would probably not get house room, but they do seem to work together as a whole. So what have we got here?

The area rug is gorgeous - fresh, fun and very ‘now’

The coffee table looks like it belongs in a re-run of “Bonanza”, and even though we love the asymmetric glass top, we find the base rather too rustic for comfort

The art complements the rug perfectly, but is it just too unsubtle to be truly stylish? Should there be something a little more complex and varied in colour there?

The cushions are so retro it’s almost wilful, yet they do have a certain innocent charm and their formulaic natural pattern plays well off the gnarled root coffee table

The lamp shades are very unsettling, yet what else would have worked here?  Not white against a white wall, black would be too stark and more yellow would be overkill. Maybe they are just right!?

Overall, what do you think about this room – is it a winner or a sinner?  To get something like this look, Eco Chic can offer the Camden driftwood coffee table; the Cockatoo lamp with yellow chevron shade; cheery yellow Avery cushions and the glorious yellow Erika armchair.

Effortless Entertaining

Cool, fun and sophisticated? A tall order for any outdoor entertainment area, but this setting pulls it off with stylish ease. We love this ‘room’ because it’s both practical and sexy, managing to bring out the urban nomad in all of us. Here’s why:

Monochromatic - it takes a lot of discipline to avoid colour altogether, but when you do it well the result can be uber chic. This space relies on the greenery outside to provide colour

Pair up - we normally say make groupings of 3 or 5 - odd numbers like the coffee tables - BUT when it comes to seating, a grouping of two is best...it seems to say couple, intimacy, relationship.

Create a division without using a wall - the hanging pod chairs crate a sense of division without being solid. They frame the view and create a complete setting.

Get into this particular groove with Eco Chic! Our Bamileke tables come in white and three different sizes so you can create visual interest wherever your house or garden may need it; the Pasha pod chair in white is a new introduction we are especially excited about; the Byron outdoor sofa comes in bronze just like this one; the Paloma Stool or Atelier bench would complement this setting beautifully; add some mood lighting with the Summer Lantern Set and if you’re feeling adventurous you could throw in some outdoor rugs and beach glass vases – then invite all your friends over!