Archive for year: 2015

Your home relies on great furniture not just for functionality, but also as a reflection of your own personal style and individuality. If you’re looking to create a truly inspiring space generic furniture just won’t do but it can be hard to find distinctive pieces to suit your taste. We can help you make sure your home is as unique as you are with these three unique interior shops in Western Sydney.

Country Interiors

Kathie and Steve have over 20 years experience in the retail industry and their Penrith showroom is packed full of beautiful and distinctive pieces, from furniture to lamps, soft furnishings and even chandeliers for that extra touch of opulence.

According to Kathie, “it’s a real Aladdin’s cave, chock full of beautiful things. When people talk to me they never look me in the eye, they are so busy looking around at everything.”

With a focus on French themed provincial style furniture and more than a dash of luxury, Kathie prides herself on the uniqueness of her store. “People tell me there’s nothing like this in Sydney or anywhere else.” With its timeless appeal, Country Interiors appeals to customers of all ages and from all walks of life. Says Kathie, “We have the broadest mix of customers from five years of age all the way up.”

As well as selling unique pieces at their showroom in Penrith, Kathie also helps clients with their interior design, “It’s amazing how you can make something beautiful with just a lamp or a cushion in the right place.”

You can check them out at http://www.countryinteriors.com.au/whats-new/

Collectika

Looking for furniture with a vintage retro feel and some great Australian and Danish designers? Look no further than Collectika. Founded by set designer Andre, Collectika attracts people from all over Sydney to its renovated warehouse style store in Enmore.

Collectika started out as, “A hobby that got out of hand,” according to store manager Marco. Founder Andre’s personal love of design and mid-century furniture and collectables led to him opening the store in 2011 and it now stocks a huge range of restored vintage and retro pieces.

With a focus on one off unique pieces from mid last century onwards, Collectika is a popular destination for retro enthusiasts from all across Sydney, with customers ranging from young families in the inner west to affluent older couples from the North and Eastern suburbs.

Shop manager Marco says, “Andre has a really good eye and always picks unusual and interesting pieces. As a set designer he has a very design oriented mindset and this is reflected in his choice of original one off pieces from prominent Australian designers.”

Take a look at Collectika’s blog here: http://collectika.com.au/category/blog/

French Folie

If you love French style furniture, and you’re looking for a way to create a truly original look for your home, French Folie has the answer. This unique and innovative Penrith based store repurposes and sells vintage French furniture, but it also goes one step further, running workshops to teach people how to repurpose, rejuvenate and recreate their own furniture using Annie Sloan ChalkPaint.

According to owner Robyn, using Chalk Paint is “an easy way to recycle that old furniture and get a whole new look.” The perfect option for creative types or those on a budget, repurposing your furniture yourself is a great way to get a truly unique look that is all yours.

The majority of attendees at French Folie’s workshops are women with a sprinkling of men (mostly husbands) and a few retirees. Robyn believes French Folie’s chalk paint workshops empower people to do their own furniture upholstery work. “Using chalk paint you can update a tired bedroom suite in a day and sleep in it that night.”

You can also find a collection of French vintage and antique furniture in the store, many pieces having been restored by Robyn and her team.

Take a look at their workshops and gallery here http://frenchfolie.com/workshop/

These are just three of the best unusual furniture stores we’ve talked to in Western Sydney. If you know of any others or you’d like us to consider your business for a future article drop us a line with the details at jamie.ashton@sydneyblinds.com.au.

 

A great space relies on a great design. Interior designers know just how to work with the limitations of a space to maximise its potential and they have the experience and practical know-how to enhance the functional and aesthetic qualities of any environment. Finding a designer with the precise expertise, approach and personality to match your project can be tricky – we’ve made it easy by dishing up three great interior designers in Western Sydney.

Inspired Spaces

At Inspired Spaces Robyn Hawke prides herself on innovation and professionalism. As a fully qualified interior designer who has also taught Design in the NSW Department of Education, Robyn is well known among her broad client base for her capacity to think outside the square.

Providing everything from colour conception to full interior design, Inspired Spaces provides creative and professional interior design solutions for home or office. Robyn sees design as a reflection of the client’s life experience – taking a personal approach rather than imposing her own distinctive style into a project.

‘The client has to live and relish the space, not me,’ says Robyn. ‘I can sometimes appear very nosy, drilling down into how my clients use the space. I need to know how you function, how you use the room.’

Robyn considers interior design a necessity not a luxury ‘You wouldn’t think twice about employing an electrician or a plumber,’ she says. ‘So why not bring in an expert to help design the space?’

‘If you’re content in your home this runs into your personal life. Good design is a balance between aesthetics and functionality – there’s no use having something beautiful if you can’t use it.’

Check out their blog at http://www.inspiredspaces.com.au/blog

More Designers…

These are just three of the amazing interior designers we’ve talked to in Western Sydney.

Know another interior designer you can recommend in the West? Drop an email to jamie.ashton@sydneyblinds.com.au and we’ll review their portfolio and work for possible inclusion in future articles.

Being a renter doesn’t mean you can’t make the place your own, renting does have some boundaries. However there are things you can do to make sure you feel comfortable in your rented home.

My Husband and I have been renting since we got married two years ago and being interior design focused I researched ways that I could give my home that designer feel, all while turning it into ‘our place’ without losing our bond.

If you have restrictions with doing any renovations, here are some tips to help you transform your place into a comfortable, warm haven and still keep your landlord happy.

Always ask permission
Doesn’t matter how big the change, from nailing in a hook to hanging your favourite picture or re-painting a room it’s always best to talk to your real estate agent or if you’re lucky enough to have one on one contact with your landlord go straight to them.

Check your blind spot
I remember moving in and being horrified at these beautiful roman blinds that were not taken care of, I pulled them down and ordered new blinds, window furnishings will pick up your home and give it a personal touch – after all you did chose the fabric and design. Just remember to keep the old ones so when you leave you are ensuring the place is exactly as you found it.

We’ve got ideas to suit your taste, click on any of the below links:

Roller Blinds Roman Blinds Curtains Shutters Venetian Blinds

Change your knobs
You might have old doors which you wouldn’t want to pay ridiculous amounts of money to replace, give them a good wipe down and visit your local hardware store to pick up some new door handles or knobs or you can do a DIY door handle – it will make your cupboards and doors look new, the best find would be modern looking designs.

Freshen up
Fresh flowers and indoor plants will freshen up the place, and add colour to your room. Most renters don’t invest in that much furniture so why not fill an empty space with a big fern or plant? Another addition would be to purchase interesting vase pieces – depending on your style; you could pick up some very vintage looking statement vases, or alternatively nice modern simplistic pieces.

Invest in some art
Usually the most frequently asked question is… can I put up a picture? Utilise what you already have if you don’t have permission or invest in removable hooks. You can also try a design concept of leaning mirrors and art on the floor or a desk.

Swing from the Chandelier
We all get stuck with those rental lights, you know, the round frosted glass ones, well you don’t have to be, investing in light fixtures doesn’t have to be expensive, pick your favourite, most lived area and incorporate a beautiful lighting piece, it can be the wow factor in your home, you can also use lights as a display if you don’t want to invest in a lighting fixture.

Again, just remember to keep the old fixture in a safe place for when you intend to vacate the premises. Lights can be expensive, so you’ll want to be able to take your new asset with you when you move on.

Versatility is important
When you purchase your furniture don’t buy for the house, buy for you. Pick out statement furniture that will compliment your home, benefit you in the long run and fits!

Accessorize your place
You want to have small statement pieces, books, candles, throws etc. in your home to give it that personal touch; after all you want to make it as homely as you possibly can. You don’t want it to be a rental showroom, fill it with items you love and that mean something.

Wallpaper… because paint isn’t an option.
Lucky for us we were allowed to get rid of the suede burnt orange in our home and paint the walls, for those who are struggling to get rid of those unsightly colours, invest in easy to apply, easy to remove wallpaper. Create a feature wall or cover every wall the choice is yours.

Rug Up
Throw a colourful or statement rug on the floor; make sure the size compliments your living area. Adding a rug adds a sense of warmth, but too can cover up any impurities on the floor.