Seated for the Occasion

Like its namesake, the occasional chair is used...well, on occasions. Perhaps as an additional chair when you have guests or in a parents retreat or bedroom.

Kirstin Fowle from Windemere Interiors, says an occasional chair can form part of a set or as a feature on its own. As part of a lounge suite, an occasional chair looks great in a contrasting or different fabric that is still within the theme or colour scheme of the suite. As a feature on its own, perhaps as a reading chair, the occasional chair can be highlighted with a lamp and book table to create an intimate reading space," she said.

Occasional chairs are fantastic for creating rooms that are multipurpose. A rumpus room can be converted to a sitting room while a bedroom can become a reading nook. They're not just for indoor use either, occasional chairs outdoors on a deck or in the garden create a functional and bold space.

Kirstin's ideas for occasional chairs in your home

• Create a mini reading space in the corner of your child's room with a children's chair, mini table, lamp and bookshelf.

• Upcycle or reupholster an old Danish arm chair or wing back chair and create a sophisticated nook in a study or home office.

• Use brightly coloured chairs on a paved pad under a chair for a relaxing outdoor space.

• In a large bathroom or ensuite, an occasional chair adds a touch of elegance and luxury as a spot to relax or drape your robe over while bathing.

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Bedhead Beauty

Bedheads are the decorating piece of a bedroom that make the bed appear styled and complete.

Kirstin Fowle from Windemere Interiors says bedheads are an incredibly versatile decorating option for bedrooms and can be the feature pieces of the space or work in subtly with the rest of the room's theme. "There are some amazing bedheads that stand alone like pieces of art or they can be custom made to work in with the rest of the room."

When designing a room, it's important to first decide whether the bedhead will be the statement piece of the bedroom. If so, then choose the bedhead first and decorate the rest of the space with subtle attributes to the bedhead, such as colour of fabric.

Fabric bedheads are the most common, but there are many out of the box ideas. Try using different materials.

Some suggestions:

• Recycled timber bedhead for an industrial look
• Wicker bedhead for a tropical resort theme
• A chalkboard bedhead is a fun and personal touch in a children's bedroom
• Leather bedhead for a super contemporary look
• Recycled timber doors for a vintage theme
• Gilded bedhead for an antique theme
• Bedheads with shelving and drawers for extra storage

Kirsten suggests another unique option is to hang artwork low above the bed to create an gallery style bedhead. "A gorgeous piece of artwork works fantastically was a bedhead. Place it low over the bed for fabulously artistic impact to a bedroom space," she said.

If the bedhead is not the statement piece of the space then choose or create a bedhead that fits the theme of the space without standing out or competing with the statement piece.

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Windemere Renovation Profile - Revive and Rejuvenate

Relaxing on the lounge in the midst of her spacious family home, Sandy looks around and remarks on the recently completed renovations, “Perfect! Everything now has a space and function and it looks and feels fresh and modern. I just love everything about it”.

Located on Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast, this is home for Sandy and her husband Phil and their five children.

With a busy printing business and growing family, Sandy and Phil decided to renovate, rather than move, when the home started looking tired and needed repairs. “We really love the neighbourhood and wanted to stay here, but we have a large home and to find a replacement in the same area would have been near impossible. The house needed some sprucing up and repairs, but it was still more viable to renovate than move,” said Sandy.

The couple sought the help of Lindy Evans from Windemere Interior Design to manage and design the renovation project. With firm ideas about the outcome she wanted from the project, Sandy left it to Lindy to interpret these and make them a reality.

“Overall, I wanted a very clean, light feel that was contemporary and modern. We needed to accommodate the storage and study needs of our five children, who range in age from five through to 20, and redesign my home office, which lacked organisation and storage. I had a strict budget which was to include design, building and decoration,” said Sandy.

Interior Designer Lindy Evans said that while the layout and size of the home was a great canvas to work with, the cabinetry needed redesigning to maximise storage and work space, with a colour scheme to flow throughout home.

Kitchen Before	Lounge Room Before

Lindy said, “There is an abundance of space and natural light, but there was a multiple colour scheme of lime green, blue, lavender and salmon which was outdated and made the home feel dark and pokey. The lack of built in storage created clutter on bench tops and work surfaces.”

Working with a neutral palette of white, cream and taupe, Lindy designed a colour scheme that was light and fresh, and flowed throughout the entire home.

“The new colours dramatically lightened the space and created a seamless flow between the rooms,” said Lindy, “and the neutral colours gave us the opportunity to add texture and interest through furnishings and decoration without looking over the top.”

Kitchen After

To address the storage and workspace issues, the kitchen, bathroom and home office were completely gutted and redesigned with inbuilt storage. After shifting the desk and computer from the kitchen, the cabinetry could now span the entire length of one wall, with overhead cupboards, drawers and cabinets providing ample storage and bench space.

The Study Nook

A study nook housed the computer while an extra inwall cupboard gave extra storage. The new space was clean, practical and functional.

The bathroom was given a complete makeover with new tiles, tapware, semi frameless shower recess and full height mirror. Using the home’s new colour scheme, the new space appeared much larger, while new cabinetry provided storage for the family’s towels and bathroom supplies.

Sandy’s work space in the home office, where she runs much of the family business, previously existed of just two bookshelves and a desk. The dark salmon colour of the office made the space seem dark and pokey, while the lack of storage and work space left the area looking cluttered and untidy.

The new design featured cabinetry and bench space that spanned the full length of both walls, creating a galley style space with ample storage and workspace that was functional, uncluttered, light and fresh. The inbuilt storage provides much more space and the entire area is now functional and stylish.

Home Office After

The renovations were carried out by DesignBuild Homes, who specialise in the full project management of renovations. Both Windemere Interior Design and DesignBuild Homes are part of the Home Expert Group, and work extensively together on renovation projects.

Sandy said having the entire process managed made the experience much more enjoyable. “Windemere really listened to our requests and took on board our requirements. They adhered to the budget and presented their proposal professionally as a whole package. I am amazed at their insight and ability to perceive the end result. They were reassuring and approachable throughout the whole project. Every small detail was taken care of during the renovating stage. While we moved out, they even took care of the cat!”

Lounge Room After	Master Bedroom After
Children's Bedroom After	Main Bathroom After

With such a dramatic makeover, the family are enjoying living in what feels like a completely new home and Sandy says the renovations have changed their everyday lives. “I’m loving all of it,” she said, “Each area has a specific purpose and function which I use on a daily basis. I love the natural colours as they are versatile and fresh yet stylish and clean. It is exactly what I asked for and I’m delighted with the end result.”

The Pattern Craze

Lindy Evans from Windemere Interiors says patterns are a fantastic way to express your individual style. "Fabric patterns can be used in so many places and come in so many different styles and textures, the way they are put together will always be completely individual," she says.

Fabrics are used in many different areas in the home, from cushions to rugs, bed linen and curtains, all with the option of patterns. Lindy says these days, home decorating with patterns is much like fashion. "Where once you just had one pattern, today the trend is for multiple, clashing patterns used with confidence. Be courageous and bold with your patterns to express who you are," says Lindy, "there's no end to the spaces you can create."

While clashing and crashing patterns are all the rage, a general rule to stick to is have either a pattern or colour theme throughout. Same pattern in different colours or same colours in different patterns.

The hottest trend of 2012 has been ikat patterns. Ikat is an ancient dyeing technique, similar to tie dyeing and produces an unique and textured look. These have been used on sofas, cushions, quilt covers and even lamp shades. It creates a visual feast for the eyes and can be mixed and matched with other patterns and textures.

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