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Meet the Designer - Kirstin Fowle

Growing up surrounded by her mother's extensive collection of art, fabrics and antique furniture gave Kirstin Fowle a lifelong passion for interior design.

The enthusiastic appreciation led her to study interior design at Southbank Institute of Technology, as well as colour psychology, feng shui and aspects of soft furnishings.  With a career including visual merchandising and freelance design, Kirstin is now an interior designer at Windemere Interiors, styling new and established properties for a variety of clients.

Kirstin says interior design is so much more than just choosing cushions and curtains, it's about understanding the client's style and designing around their needs and desires for space. While creativity plays the major component of her role, there's also the technical aspects, like creating comrehensive construction drawings and electrical plans.

The mix though is satisfying. "I love that every day is different to the last. Very rarely do I meet two clients who have the same tastes, desires and budgets. It's very satisfying to know that you have helped someone create the utmost potential from their home, whether it's a small renovation or a new build," she says.

With a personal style described as "eclectic", Kirstin loves to complement ultra modern design with vintage and antique elements. "Mixing the old with the new is a sure way to add an unique and stylish factor to any space."

Kirstin can be contacted at Windemere Interiors on 1300 606 400.

Throwing Cushion to the Wind!

Throw pillows add that sophisticated finishing touch, vibrant splash of colour and textural depth.

Whether casually thrown over a couch for an inviting comfy look, or carefully arranged on a guest bed for that welcoming touch, throw cushions can be used to create colour and interest to a space.

Katherine Martin from Windemere Interiors says there are unlimited ideas when it comes to throw cushions, but there are a few hints and tips that will help you coordinate the look.

(1) Use a variety of patterns and textures in the cushions to create depth and
interest.

(2) Use a variety of shapes and sizes in the cushion to create interest. A number of larger cushions though will look less cluttered than lots of smaller cushions.

(3) Use an uneven number of cushions on a couch or it will look very symmetrical and staged.

(4) Ensure the pillows compliment your overall colour theme. You don't have to use the exact colours, but hues or touches of complimentary colour will tie in the cushions with the rest of the space.

There's an endless choice when it comes to cushions. Go for quality over quantity and consult an interior designer if the look just isn't coming together for you.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

Mirrors are a fantastic way to not only decorate a room, but can also be used to create the illusion of a larger space and brighten up dark spaces.

The styles and types of mirrors are endless. Modern mirrors with clean, bevelled lines are simple and stylish and suit contemporary interiors and small apartment spaces. The more traditional or heritage homes may suit more elaborate gilded or carved frames.  Mirrors can be the feature decorator piece of your room or in smaller sizes, complement the room's theme.

Katherine Martin from Windemere Interiors, says mirrors are a fantastic way to open up a small or dark space, making it appear more open and bright. "If strategically placed, a mirror can brighten a dark space by reflecting natural light and really brightening it up," she said, "placing a large mirror across from a window can also give the illusion of another window, making small spaces appear much more spacious."

There are mirrors to suit all types of budgets, but it's important to consider that workmanship is a key consideration, especially if it's a decorator piece you want to keep for a while. "Check the construction and workmanship of the mirror carefully," says Katherine, "lesser quality frames will split or break quickly and this will not only look terrible but they run the risk of falling down if they're hanging up on a wall. Always buy from a reputable supplier."

Mirrors can be bought from many places, including departments stores and homewares stores. If you are having trouble sourcing that specific mirror to suit your space, speak to one of the designers at Windemere Interiors. They have access to mirrors not available to the general public, so you're not only guaranteed a mirror that will suit your home, but also one that is unique.