Milou Ket goes digital
Respected international trend forecaster and life style consultant, Milou Ket has launched her new website, Ket Styling & Design.
Drawing on her 40 years in the field of fashion, design and innovation working with customers such as Samsung, Walt Disney, Ikea, Marimekko, Volvo and Swarovski, the new site is a visual feast with corresponding intelligent analysis for the discerning design devotee.
Be inspired by various categories such as architecture, design, innovation, textiles/surfaces, colours, fashion, interiors, window displays and video's.
"As an international speaker I travel the world and report from my trips and from international trade fairs and design events," says Milou. "It (website) will be a work in progress, with regular new additions on the latest trends."
Some of Milou's products, lectures and presentations will also be available via the new site.
Furniture Online readers can take advantage of a 2-month free trial subscription, visit: www.milouket.tv
Given Milou's recent schedule that takes her from the Asian Luxury Hospitality Projects in Singapore to Surtex in New York and the Evteks in Istanbul next month, her website is sure to be brimming with international reports.
We caught up with Milou en route to Milan Design Week to chat career highlights, design trends and the importance/relevance of trends today.
You have been working in the design and lifestyle consultancy business for almost 40 years, and now you finally enter the digital space, how different is it working online?
I have been working with a computer already for 27 years, in fact I was the first one in my profession who had and even designed with the computer. My computer at that time could even speak!
I have had a website since 2000, but about 5 years ago I realised that I didn't know much about social media, so I took some courses, bought some books etc. to get to know more about it.
I enjoy Linked-in, I am on Facebook and Twitter a little, but I really enjoy Pinterest. I will even have a blog for a manufacturer in China.
What are some of the highlights and features of the new website? What exclusives will subscribers have access to?
I focus on the subjects that I am familiar with from the beginning, such as fashion, textiles and surfaces, and colours. Of course interiors and design are also some of my topics.
After being a consultant architecture for Swarovski, it inspired me to make a book on innovation, so architecture and innovation are also my specialties.
Because I travel so much, I have added 'Trips and Travels' as a category. Last year I gave a lecture on window display, so I have added that as well.
I report from fairs, exhibitions and the cities where I shop for my profession. Recently I gave a seminar on Luxury Hospitality Projects in Singapore, and I have added that lecture as a download against payment on my new website.
I intend to prepare more special downloads, for instance for print designers.
You have an impressive travel schedule, speaking around the world from international trade fairs, including Decoration + Design, and various design events. What have been some of the noticeable trends that have stood out in your recent travels?
Designers are focussing on the process and are explaining that to their audience.
There are new exciting products possible, because of 3-D printing.
There is a lot of interest in food design and food preparation.
Opposites attract, such as old and new, industrial and handcrafted, smooth opposed to textured etc.
Interest in honesty, authenticity, plain values, basics, and homeliness,
DIY products and low-tech ideas.
Taking herbs and plants into our homes and the development of new products for that.
The return of colour.
There has been much debate on whether trends are still relevant today, especially given the speed at which our world moves thanks to technology - what are your thoughts? Are trends still important to keep track of? Why?
For people who work professionally in the field of interiors, trends remain important. I even notice that spotting trends in several areas, is gaining interest and importance.
It is just a way to see the relationship between products, and to make it easier to get a grip on it, in a commercial way.
There are currents that last quite a long time. I don't want to annoy consumers with trends, as they will feel manipulated by it.
There is possibility for co-creation, and crowd-funding.
What is the best part about your job?
I enjoy being faced constantly with new impressions, by reading magazines, visiting fairs, shopping, travelling, actually I enjoy most aspects of my work.
But I also enjoy thinking about what I have seen, seeking relationships and to express my thoughts and aesthetics in mood boards.
To discover more of Milou's work, visit milouket.tv
10 ways to achieve a designer look on a budget
Words David Harrison via homelife.com.au
Just because you don't have buckets of cash doesn't mean you have to forego the designer look.
While money does make this easier, there is an ever growing number of affordable furniture and lighting brands that can help create an interesting and beautiful interior without resorting to copies of big name items. Don't forget that it's not just about objects.
Finishes like paint, wallpaper, flooring and fabrics can emphasise quality beyond their price - adding to the overall look and making the interior scheme more convincing.
Here are our top 10 tips to getting a designer look on a budget:
1. Take your time
Take your time to develop a good theme for your room or entire interior look. Browsing through quality interiors magazines and websites will provide initial inspiration and will focus your ideas. After a few hours you should definitely know which designer looks you love and those you hate.
Assess what makes the look successful. Is it the use of chrome? The abundance of earthy textures? The slick use of colour or perhaps a combination of several factors?
2. Create a mood board
Once the key component is confirmed you can mock up your own version in the form of a mood board using cut out images or ones downloaded from online sources. Online research is the fastest way to see where you can find pieces with similar detailing, finishes or shape.
There are now a number of aggregated websites that show products from a huge number of manufacturers.
To READ MORE, visit homelife.com.au
8 fixes to propel your bathroom into the fast lane
Guest post by Abigail Ahern via Rated People
Bathrooms, I find, are often one of the most neglected rooms in the house. We spend a small fortune on fixtures and fittings but then pretty much leave it at that. For me, bathrooms should reflect the rest of your space so when you walk into them you won't just find a sink, loo and tub; you'll find maybe a chandelier, a chair, a rug, wallpaper - even art.
Sound a little crazy?
Stay with me- clinical, sterile bathrooms with very little in look utterly space age plus the vibe they give off is exactly that, clinical and uptight - not somewhere I personally want to linger. I've been in the business a long time and the bathrooms that stand out for me are ones that push it - whether that is through colour, wallpaper, accessories, pattern, texture or both, these bathrooms take risks and in so doing they stand out from the crowd, they have an element of the unexpected.
Below are some quick-fix ideas in no particular order of importance to up the style ratings in your bathroom if it's feeling a tad neglected.
Going for gold
This trend has been simmering for a while now but this year it's getting huge and whilst I am not an avid follower of trends I do adore this one, especially gold fixtures in a bathroom.
Warmer and sexier in feel than their stainless or brushed chrome counter parts, they look fabulous in bathrooms particularly if you play around with some dark inky hues on the walls.
You can opt for bright and shiny, or polished and soft, and it's even filtered down to the high street. I brought the sweetest little sink with gold taps from B&Q recently for a song - £60 and I love it!
Wallpaper
Forget all that mumbo jumbo about not being able to paper bathrooms, you absolutely can. In the past there was a problem with humidity but now bathrooms are ventilated well and almost all papers work.
Wallpaper is an amazing enhancement to a bathroom because it is so unexpected, it's one of those game changers that elevates the space to a whole other level.
What is even more exciting is the choice out there - you can go down the architectural route - tin tiles, concrete, wooden panels; you can go down a pattern route or a colourful route almost anything goes.
To read more, visit ratedpeople.com
How to create an Australian palette
Colour tells us when things are ripe, whether we are mad, in love, hot or cold.
Colours can heal, make us sad, lift our spirits, bring us luck, enhance our food, define our culture and give us personality.
Colour is a personal thing. if you want to enhance your life, then ColourUp! Feel good, laugh and enjoy your Australian individual and colourful personality.
Mizerek the artist who works with light was quoted; "I'm intrigued that one can recognise different parts of the world solely by the particular colour of the water ..."
What do you see in our Australian oceans? Blues? Greens? Teals? Greys? So vast, so different, yet the colour depends entirely on where you are, the surrounds and the light.
In Australia, what makes our land 'feel' like home'? My guess is it's the light and how it plays with our palette.
The light in Australia is harsh, bright and hot.
This is probably why Australians love what I call the 'dirty tertiaries'. These are the tones, the pure colours mixed with greys.
Remember too, colours are promiscuous they react differently when surrounded by other colours and variances in light, they become wanton in nature. This is why, your paint samples 'change' depending where you use them.
This makes it important to adapt our colour preferences to our great Southern light.
A really useful indication for your palette and texture choices is to look out-side your windows. Take the colours you see outside, the ones you love, and bring them in. Mix a touch of grey ( to make a tone), or black ( for a shade).
Or choose one of the many ready-made colours that are inclusive of these.
My advice is in Australia, never use warm colours over large areas, they will be hot and uncomfortable.
Take your textures you see outside, mix them up and bring them in. Textural drama is the other side of the colour body.
Here are some options and colour tips to create your own Australian Palette:
The Beach
Here we have the beach colours, the blue and green tones, a shade of yellow, white and grey.
Think drift wood floors, course sand grain upholstery and water marks on walls.
The City
If it is the city scape, an inner city home. Go to town! There is so much scope for the colours in your concretes, tars, and bricks. Here you have the perfect canvas to add your favourite colours.
The Bush
If it is the bush. Go to gum tree hues. Those soft muted greens and blues, bark colours and busy cloudy sky's.
Take the rough terrain textures inside. Tree trunks offer brilliant texture options, have a look around.
The Outback
Here you could be all about the khakis, tans and earth hues Add grey whites ( like the sheep).
For laughter use the colours of homemade jams.
Textures would be wool, stones and wood. Pale with a tinge of dirt.
Take note of what is happening outside. What are you seeing? What are the environmental colours?
Enjoy being Australian, we are unique.
To learn more about ColourUp, visit their website at colourup.net.au
The life of a trend
A trend by definition is a general direction in which something is developing or changing, the direction in which something tends to move, and what's hip or popular at a certain point in time.
For many years, trends have had a huge impact on interior design. They influence the way in which consumers buy and style their own decor - but are they still relevant?
Given the evolution of technology and the speed at which we consume and reproduce new media and decoration ideas, we have to question whether trends continue to impact our decisions?
Michelle Lamb, editorial director of The Trend Curve has fielded many questions and calls about the lifespan of a trend throughout her 20+ year career and she says "it's not surprising given today's economic realities."
In this short video, Michelle guides us through the life of a trend and what's changing.
To view the video, click the image below or visit trendcurve.com
About Michelle
Michelle Lamb is co-founder and chairman of Minneapolis-based Marketing Directions, Inc. Established in 1987, Marketing Directions specialises in home furnishings colour and trend forecasting, working extensively with clients to provide individual direction and colour specification. A sampling of past and present clients includes ACCO, Hunter Douglas, Target Stores, Home Depot, Walmart, Gerber Baby Products, Tarkett, Hunter Fan, EK Success, Petmate and Day-Timers.
Marketing Directions publishes The Trend CurveTM. Michelle Lamb is the Editorial Director of this trade newsletter which forecasts trends in colour, pattern and design for manufacturers, interior designers and retailers. She also creates The Trend Curve ColoursTM forecasts for décor and Christmas, as well as the Trend AlbumTM series of European trend reports, with extensive trend insights from her travels to industry major trade fairs. Her blog is in its eighth year.
Ms. Lamb was a founding member of the Sustainable Furniture Council, and she served on the board of directors of WithIt and Color Marketing Group.
To view more of her work, visit trendcurve.com
The eclectic aesthetic - has everyone gone mad?!
Have you noticed that you no longer need to be an eccentric to be eclectic these days?! The two words or should I say characteristics, used to be almost synonymous, with one presuming the other...... universally.
Now, everyone is getting in on the act. Everyday, run of the mill decorators, seemingly conservative home owners and even slick minimalists are pulling it off oh so nicely.
Jennifer Sargent is the creative conscience behind award winning Zing Interiors. Starting out with her own wholesaling business featuring unique giftware and home furnishings she moved into her next project of designing/building her own residence. After many inquiries into the distinctive architectural design, dynamic colour combinations and presentational flair of her home, she quickly formalised her talents to become a qualified stylist and member of the Design Institute of Australia with a Diploma of Creative Visual Arts-Interior Styling and Certificate IV in Design.
Interior styles "de jour" are being blended together so artfully, with respect to both the design tools used and the accomplished effect. We are currently being commended for not being "matchy matchy" with our patterns, colours, textiles and materials. Instead we are layering our contrasting textures, tones, furniture and furnishings as a way of presenting an intriguingly complex & considered, personal design approach.
The once mutually exclusive styles such as earthy organic, classically Hampton, retro, rustic, country, coastal, ethnic, vintage, bohemian etc. etc. are being fused together within rooms and between adjoining spaces to create wonderfully cohesive compositions. At the same time also, delightfully original style signatures.
Various design styles are being crafted together seamlessly to create a unified aesthetic, much like a patchwork quilt achieves a comforting coherence. Not only does an eclectic design method surprise us with its harmonious crescendo, it also forgives us for that which strict adherence to a single style can't. It allows us to hold onto our grandparents' dining table and to partner it with contemporary Freedom chairs; conflicting lines, timber tones, sheen and all.
It not only excuses but encourages us to hold on to family heirlooms, as well as personal treasures from vast corners of the world where we have ventured, previous connections and chapters of our lives which we wish to recall. In so doing, eclecticism enables us to feel truly and comfortably "at home".
The most fantabulously worthy (and my favourite) virtue of an eclectic aesthetic is that it invites anything and everything upcycled. Ingenuity of design function and form, afforded by re-purposed pieces; sits perfectly within an eclectic interior scheme.
You can't get much more original than a Bowler hat converted into a light pendant, right? (bisqueinteriors.com.au) Oh, that's right, you can; using your grandfather's Bowler hat!
The synchronistic emergence of both eclecticism and upcycling has made it hard to discern which pre-empted the other.....is eclecticism the design chicken and upcycling the egg, or vice versa? No matter, the result is pleasing and principled either way.
The International School of Colour and Design has identified "Nostalgic nest" as "the current leading trend. It is the style you can't buy from a shelf. You have to mix the old with the new. It's the most individualised of the all the groups." (smh.com.au)
Today's style gurus are enticing us to embrace our homes as an extension of who we are and an expression of our personality. Eclecticism is THE design aesthetic which congratulates us for being brave enough to tell our story through our 'pieces' without succumbing purely to contemporary dictates. It allows us to sit on the fence between design styles so that we can have our cake and eat it too. We can be so now whilst also indulgently reminiscent about when. We achieve great resonance through blending both in a way that celebrates our uniqueness.
Visit Zing Interiors for more information, at zinginteriors.com.au
Colour Predictions 2013
Random colours may attract our eye but the choice we make is far from random. It can be determined by a memory, either good or bad, a smell or simply by the choice of colours available.
What is most interesting is how the colour combinations we choose give an insight to whom we are.
Hence, each hue below has been treated as an individual and placed next to unlikely neighbour, forcing you look closer at each colour independently to decide on whether you want to get it know it better!
Head to The Colour Field to see her colour palate predictions, visit thecolourfield.net
The Crossover Continues: Fashion icons re-emerge in interior design
The artistic elements involved in both the interior design sector and the fashion industry have long overlapped. Clothing and room dressing fabrics can often be interchanged, with furnishing pieces such as tassels and buttons often interchanged between the two sectors.
That crossover has reached a new level with a growing number of star fashion designers entering the world of interior design.
With Derek Lam recently taking on the role of designing the green room for the highly acclaimed Emmy Awards and runway favourites showing up in wallpaper patterns and soft furnishing, the prevalence of fashion in design is an ever-growing trend.
jean paul gaultierThe most recent example of this cross over is in designer Jean Paul Gaultier's collaboration with Paris-based fabric specialist Lelievre. Some of Gaultier's most famous and iconic designs will be transferred onto interior design features and fabrics.
Some of the designer's most classic prints will now adorn sofas, ready-made curtain and rugs.
According to Lelievre's Emmanuel Lelievre, the iconic fashion designer will "awaken the world of interior design."
The real question is, does it need awakening?
To continue reading, visit designbuildsource.com.au
Sustainable Fabrics Reign in 2013
The celebration of sustainable timber flooring and LED lighting products has heightened design expectations, with textiles now being judged at least in part on their environmental impact.
The textiles industry is renowned for using harmful chemicals and generating pollution from the coating, finishing, dyeing and printing processes. Interior designers are now moving to support suppliers who consider how their fibres and fabrics are produced.
Textile manufacturing is trending toward raw and natural materials while reducing the use of harsh chemicals along with water and waste reduction through the production process.
Colour in organic fabrics, textiles and yarns fabrics is being applied with metal free and herbal dyes and water-based inks or using digital printing processes.
With emerald being named the Pantone Colour of the Year for 2013, the industry's desire to reconnect with nature aesthetically is evident. Textiles that offer earthy tones and natural touch and finishes are coming back in style in a big way.
To read more of this article, visit designbuildsource.com.au
VIVID 2013 Applications now open
Furnitex is pleased to announce applications for VIVID 2013, Australia's longest running design competition and innovation showcase for new and emerging designers, is now open.
Winner VIVID Student Award - Tryst Stool designed by Tate Anson, RMIT
Australian based designers and students of design are invited to submit their new products in furniture or lighting.
Celebrating its 11th year in 2013, VIVID at Furnitex will be held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, Southbank, from Thursday 18 July 2013 until Sunday 21 July 2013.
Furnitex is Australia's largest furniture and furnishings trade fair, attracting over 17,000 qualified national and international trade visitors.
VIVID provides a much coveted industry platform for new design talent from across the country. To this date it has assisted over 400 designers with more than 700 products to kick‐start their careers.
With the categories, student, concept and commercial and since 2008 a fourth award for the most sustainable product across all entries, VIVID is the biggest drawcard and most interesting and exciting part of the fair pulsing with creative energy and talent as the heart of Furnitex.
VIVID 2013 is a design event not to be missed. Applications now welcome.
Applications close 5pm AEST Friday 31 May 2013.
For more information or to download the application form, visit furnitex.com.au
If you have further questions please contact the curator Scott Lewis on telephone +61 3 8672 1223 or email scott.lewis@aec.net.au
"Colour sells and the right colours sell better" - Mark Woodman on the power of colour
"Colour is our life. It is what we use to separate ourselves walking down the street, how we can identify in groups, how we envelope ourselves at home and on a broader sense, it is how brands can be instantly recognised around the world. It has the power to make us feel better and to transform something from plain to bold, foreboding to serene and mundane to exciting," - Mark Woodman.
A dynamic designer, writer and speaker, Mark Woodman has lived a life in design and colour. As an avid traveller, Mark's roving eyes are constantly scanning to discern new directions and the stories behind them.
The world of design and colour has brought him to Londonbased consultancy, Global Color Research, where he serves as their North American representative. Mark is also the President of the international association at Colour Marketing Group. When time allows, he continues to design residential and corporate spaces. Mark frequently lectures on colour and design for prominent organisations such as ASID, CMG, 100% Design, Heimtex Frankfurt, Surfaces, TexWorld and Decorex London.
His mantra is to bring colour to the lives of as many people as possible.
"Every corner we turn offers influences and inspirations," says Mr. Woodman, "from the colours in a garden to the rust on an old ship, inspiration abounds! Join me on a colour journey."
From paint to sticky notes, storage containers to flooring, transportation to communications tools, there is, frankly, almost nothing you touch or use on a daily basis that hasn't had a hand from a member at Color Marketing Group.
We caught up with the colour expert before he presents his `World Colours - The Tour' seminar at Decoration + Design International Industry Seminar Series next week.
You are the president of the Color Marketing Group, what does this role entail and what has your experience brought to the group?
As with most organisations, the president's role is varied. I've found it important to personally reach out to members and prospective members and the media. With something as passionate as colour, I think one must be on the road to spread the word, so to speak, letting people know that the world of colour is more relevant than ever and has the ability to shape products and lives.
My years in design and colour marketing have probably been a good plus to my years as a design professional. It has afforded the opportunity to combine the world of marketing with intimate knowledge of where all this colour leads.
CMG was founded in 1962 as a not-for-profit to provide a forecast in colour directions for manufactured products and services - did this revolutionise the design and interiors industry at the time?
It was likely the first time that people from different companies and products came together on equal ground to discuss the world of colour and the inspirations and influences that bring it to consumers. The best thing about it has always been that we meet and share together to enhance one another's research. It is the ultimate professional sharing experience.
How do you identify what colours will trend? What's involved in the selection process?
The selection process is top secret and I cannot divulge the information. Haha! Seriously though, it is a distillation process where members research and discuss coming trends seen across industries. It includes technology, cuisine, travel, fashion, entertainment... you name it, and we look at all of if to discern where the hot buttons are and which ones will move forward to make products better and what colours will emerge from the directions.
This is done via workshops around the world, culminating with, and an international summit that brings it all together. Aside from North America, there is Asia/Pacific, Europe and Latin America all leading to a World Palette.
When you compile the colour selection, how do you package them into 'saleable' colours for business's to interpret?
The colours are shared digitally and notations for NCS, Munsell, Pantone and RAL provide ways for our members to interpret the colours. With all of the sharing that goes on, at the end of the day, it is still important for design professionals to interpret what they see and know for their products, for people's life spaces and for their brands.
We are always tracking what's happening in world culture to help determine direction.
Why is colour so important?
Colour is our life. It is what we use to separate ourselves walking down the street, how we can identify in groups, how we envelope ourselves at home and on a broader sense, it is how brands can be instantly recognised around the world.
It has the power to make us feel better and to transform something from plain to bold, foreboding to serene and mundane to exciting.
What are some of the ways in which colour impact our buying decisions?
It has been studied that, statistically, upwards of 85% of a consumer decision is based on colour. And this isn't even buying a new sweater or car. It is as basic as food. Would you buy an apple that was the "wrong" colour? Or meat?
We use colour to define ourselves, describe our moods and find our way and all of those things can help define product and design.
Even though indigo might be one of the colours you forecast, this might not be a suitable colour for every industry. Do you provide individual colour directions based on their market? And how do you determine this?
We produce full palettes of colours as the entire spectrum is important. The difference lies with the individual professional to determine the best nuance of a colour for their product line or project. The most important thing we say is that it is "colour direction, not dictation."
For instance, the importance of blue going forward will manifest itself differently for different products. In fashion, it may be deeper, taking on a bespoke form of navy, whereas in home, it may be lighter, to reflect easier living. The important thing is the strength of blue across industries. How it results is dependent on the individual.
How does colour impact society and industry? How can colour give your business an edge over competitors?
We like to say that colour sells and the right colours sell better. And it's true. When we capture the zeitgeist of a societal trend and can discern colours that speak to the mood, then products can represent the mood as well. Knowing that a spiritual approach to living, as many now seek this, allows us to look even closer at the feel and look of products that would appeal to people seeking a calming mood.
As we are also consumers ourselves, we have a direct link to seeking products that speak to our own lives as well as to those who may be buying our products or asking our advice. Knowing that hard-edged neo-punk won't appeal to someone seeking a quiet spa experience begins to create a look and palette that makes sense to the consumer.
The colours have to be right and it is the years of experience, research and sharing that allow us to get it right!
You will be heading to Australia to speak at the Decoration + Design International Industry Seminar Series next month, what are some of the insights you will be giving the audience here? Can you give a sneak peek into your session?
I'm going to be sharing everything from some amusing (hopefully) video clips to the actual stories that are emerging. To preview one of them, "Authentic" we will all be going on a journey about the importance of being real, how the look, feel and stories behind what we produce need to be authentic and true.
It is an overarching story for practically everything nowadays and especially for things we hold dear in our lives...our life spaces!
BOOK NOW to hear Mark Woodman present 'World Colours - The Tour!' at the Decoration + Design International Industry Seminar Series
Thursday 7 Feb, Seminar 3
Colours don't just appear, proclaiming themselves victors and commanding the world of design. In reality, they morph and evolve and make a statement about where they come from. There are myriad source stories behind the world's colours.
Whatever the source, inspiration is the key, so join Mark's colour "tour" as he leads you through "a-ha" moments to uncover colours' direction. Whether inspired by technology, lifestyle or cuisine you will get a glimpse of what's up for design and decoration.
Get ready for colour on a world scale, with stories that will bring it home.
To find out more or to secure your seat for the Mark Woodman seminar, visit decorationdesign.com.au
The 2013 colour trend forecast
The Dulux 2013 Colour Forecast draws on the themes of "movement"; social change, people power and the march of the digital age.
Dulux forecasters have identified six palettes, each reflecting a major trend in paint colours. Merge is warm and earthy. Seek updates vintage shades. Empower's blue-greens speak of confidence. Relaxing Rise uses a soothing Japanese-inspired aesthetic. Share is monochromatic with metal and stone influences. Blur is bold and daring.
Australian interior designer Miriam Fanning, of Mim Design, says "concretes", whites and soft parchments, will be a consistent thread in the next 12 months.
"My personal favourite palette is the Share palette, in particular the colour 'Clear Concrete' as I believe this colour will have a lot of versatility," Ms Fanning says.
Dulux Colour and Communications consultant Bree Leech predicts that muted red tones such as Dulux Persimmon, Helena Rose and Diva Rouge will prove particularly popular over the next year.
To read more of this report, visit bpn.com.au
Or watch the video below featuring conversations with the Dulux forecasters;
Include social media in your online marketing strategy
An effective online marketing strategy will include a variety of online channels to ensure you are reaching every section of your target audience.
An inclusive strategy will also allow you to communicate your brand in a variety of ways to ensure your target audience sees it.
Social media is a valuable part of this online marketing strategy as it gives you the opportunity to communicate with millions of people worldwide including potential and existing customers.
Social media can also compliment other areas of your strategy by promoting your online business directory or driving traffic to your website.
Here are some of the benefits of including social media in your online marketing strategy.
Kylie Tabrett is the Account Manager for GoHospitality.com.au, an online business directory servicing the Australian hospitality industry. With degrees in Hospitality, Events Management, Sales and Marketing, Kylie began her career in events management and online media sales. She has worked on national online advertising campaigns, created proposals and promotion ideas for major Australian hotels and has worked with major sponsors at industry trade shows.
Build relationships with customers
Social media can allow you to create a high level of engagement with your customers by starting conversations and encouraging them to interact with your business.
If this is done successfully you can build a relationship with your customers and increase their trust in the brand, leading to greater customer loyalty.
You can increase your engagement on social media by posting content that your target market will be interested in, such as asking questions or sharing photos.
Attract new customers
If you have great content on social media your followers are likely to share it with their networks. This means you can reach a wider audience of potential customers and raise their brand awareness.
If people recommend your content to their friends it provides a greater credibility to your content, which may persuade more people to engage with it or inquire about your business.
Social media also allows you to directly communicate with potential customers who may not have otherwise searched for your business online.
Drive traffic to your website
Social media is a great way to drive more potential customers back to your website and encourage them to purchase your products or services.
A study in America has found businesses gained a 185 per cent increase in website traffic after they achieved 1,000 Facebook likes. The study also found businesses with 51 to 100 Twitter followers generated a 106 per cent increase in website traffic when compared to businesses with fewer than 25 followers.
To help drive traffic from social media you can post content about your business with a link back to your website. However don't be too overly promotional because it will deter customers from following you.
Backlinks to your website
Having an active profile for your business on social media can help to build natural backlinks to your website. This can then have an effect on your search engine rank and help your website to get seen by more people online.
Google has stated they track publicly shared links on Facebook and Twitter. This means if you gain a large number of followers on social media and encourage them to share your content many times it will positively affect your search engine rankings.
Informal market research
One of the benefits of social media is it's a great informal market research tool.
During your conversations with followers you can get to know what they are interested in, what they like and what they are looking for from your business. You can also ask your followers questions to receive their valuable feedback on a particular issue.
Customers can also use your social media profile to express their opinions about your brand or comment on your products or services.
This valuable customer feedback can help your business to improve its products and services while also allowing your customers to feel valued by the business.
By using a comprehensive online marketing strategy which includes social media you can help to increase your online visibility, attract new customers and build your brand online.
`Rethink: The Way You Live' with Amanda Talbot at Decoration + Design Seminar Series
Her career has spanned countries, categories and some of the world's leading titles from Associate Editor of British ELLE Decoration to Home Editor of Livingetc magazine, but it all started for Amanda Talbot at David Jones as assistant to the Saatchi & Saatchi art director where she worked alongside some of Australia's most renowned stylists.
"It was so long ago now, I actually had telephone books in my car to help me source props," she said.
Amanda soon ventured out on her own until current CEO of Harvey Norman, Katie Page enlisted her skills to style shoots for her new venture, Domayne Furniture. Here she styled for all the big advertisers including Myer, Sheridan Nike and the Australian Olympics.
But her `adventurous and curious side' soon found Amanda in Los Angeles and then London where she says `architecture and design took over my life'. She quickly settled into her editorship at Elle Decoration then Livingetc, as well as consulting on interiors for Studioilse and trend forecasting for some of the world's largest brands including IKEA.
Amanda is now an internationally-renowned authority on interiors, style and design, forecasting trends for global brands such as Louis Vuitton. She worked closely with WGSN to manage the launch of their interior and design arm, homebuildlife encouraging brands to rethink the future of their industries, and worked on design projects with the industry greats including Ilse Crawford, Karl Lagerfeld and Tom Dixon.
On top of that, Amanda has worked as a creative consultant for Conran, Dulux, Habitat, Selfridges and Christies to name a few.
But after 10 years travelling and working overseas, Amanda recently packed up her global life to return home and set up shop in Sydney citing home sickness as the motive.
"Although my career was in London I had a yearning to be back in Australia close to my family," she said. "One of the things I missed most was feeling the sun on my skin."
Now that she's home, we are thrilled to announce Amanda Talbot as a key speaker at next month's Decoration + Design International Industry Seminar Series from 6-8 February in the Sydney Exhibition Centre, where she will present `Rethink: The Way You Live' based on her new book of the same title. This seminar will challenge the way you think about design.
We took five with Amanda to discover her defining career moments; creating `sexy, sophisticated interiors; and the differences between Australia and Britain in terms of interior design and style.
Where did your passion for interiors stem from? Was there a defining moment? Or memory you can talk us through?
My grandfather was a carpenter and I would spend hours with him in his shed while he pottered around and crafted objects out of wood. I loved watching how he created beautiful pieces of furniture or extensions to a house from wood. He was a genius when it came to problem solving when it came to building. It drives me mad when a builder says 'It can't be done". I always know they are wrong. For my 6th birthday he made me a cubby house. It was incredible and it was my space to decorate it how I wished.
I was so proud of this little space. My grandmother made me gingham pattern curtains for the windows, I got my grandfather to lay carpet from an off cut I found in his garage. I took pride in where everything was placed and I swear I was already colour blocking my books. I even had a large pot of herbs on my little balcony. So I guess it was always curious about architecture and interiors.
You are renowned for your knack at creating 'sexy, sophisticated interiors' - describe for us what this looks like in terms of interiors? How do you achieve a sexy yet sophisticated space?
Ha! I love creating spaces that are full of texture, a playfulness with colour, and a mixture of high and low. I really love to create spaces that evoke a memory and emotion. I avoid a space that feels like it has accumulated dust but I love to create a sense of history and mystery.
You have worked with a range of designers including Karl Lagerfeld, what are some other projects you have worked on?
Other favourite projects in recent years include collaborations with some legendary designers to create one-off design pieces for events I curated, such as Marc Jacobs, Tom Dixon, Karl Lagerfeld, John Galliano, Jamie Hayon, Piero Lissoni, and Marcel Wanders.
Fashion designer Matthew Williamson designed an amazing flower chair for a project I worked on, it wasn't practical but WOW did it look awesome! While Piero Lissoni created an incredible Kartell chair for me that changed colour to your body heat. It was very groundbreaking at the time.
You have also branched out into the area of trend forecasting working with IKEA and managing the launch of WGSN's homebuildlife.com site - how important is it for people to recognise trends in interiors? Is it important to be aware of them and how much influence should they have on your design/interior work?
If you are a buyer then seasonal trends are essential to keep up to date. If you are an interior or product designer, it is more important to understand global and local trends in environment, economics, technology, and politics. An intelligent and talented designer will explain the psyche why people are using the colour emerald, why timber continues to be a preferred material, and why smarter more considered space saving ideas are becoming essential to any interior space. This helps a designer not to fall into fashion fads and create a space that are forward thinking and suits the lifestyle of the client like a glove.
Do you have any favourite or stand out editorials / projects during your time as associate editor of British Elle Decoration? What was it like working at one of the world's most loved interior editorials?
Working at British ELLE Decoration was one of the best times of my life. I got to meet so many of the world's best architects, designers, retailers and thinkers. From this I found myself lucky enough to consult for many of them and my work became very multidisciplinary.
It was like a fast paced apprenticeship within the design industry whilst I worked on the title. It's a real craft to offer a reader insight into the design world that still connects to someone who just loves their home. This is what I learnt on the magazine. Ilse Crawford's DNA is locked into the team who work on the pages.
The element that makes ELLE Decoration so loved is everyone who works on the magazine are genuinely passionate about what they do and rather than just featuring a famous name every person and interiors featured are selected because the editorial team believe they have created something that we all can learn and be inspired from.
What are the main differences between Australia and Britain in terms of interior design and style? How would you describe Australian style and décor?
Britain is 'old mixed with new' and Australia is 'new mixed with old'. The Brits spend a lot more time indoors so are more likely to use warmer colours to create a cosy environment. Mis-matched furniture and objects from a mix of periods are more likely in a home found across the pond.
In Australia our life is surrounded with the outdoors and we love to connect the inside and out together. Australian's are definitely generally more conservative when it comes to interior design and more likely to stick with one kind of look when designing. We don't tend to layer so many textures and colours in Australia because we want a space to feel light, bright and a simplistic flow to a space. I have seen a large trend since being here with reclaimed timber, clean lines, and modern craft.
Your work isn't just about the look of a room, it's also quite philosophical, delving deeper behind the furniture and how we live with everyday objects in the home - you recently compiled these musings along with beautiful imagery of interiors in your first book "Rethink: The way you live" - what are some of the defining messages in this book that differentiate it from other interior design tomes? And can you talk us through your reasoning's behind it, about challenging the ideals and questioning our lifestyles?
My aim with `Rethink: The Way You Live' is to share that we are not alone. The difference about the book is I purposely haven't put across a certain style or pushed particular designers. However, in the same breath the book is jammed packed with ideas.
In 2009, my life changed. I left my job on a high-profile interiors magazine with no plans what to do next. I had fallen out of love with shelter magazines. I could no longer connect with the content because they didn't relate to the way I lived. I didn't have any friends with a glossy home filled with expensive furniture. My home was filled with IKEA, Habitat, flea market finds, press gifts and handmade bits and bobs.
Another factor also came into play: the global economy crashed, friends lost their jobs and I was feeling scared and overloaded. I began spending hours online reading blogs and looking at Flickr, discovering how people of all ages from all corners of the world were living inside their homes. What I saw was that 'home' was very different from the conventional ideas we have of what a home is.
I became fascinated how strangers used their beds and bedrooms, how people sat in a chair, how teenagers were photographing their personal spaces. Before I knew it, I was documenting living trends that were happening across the globe. After I observed there has been five big factors that have rocked our world - including the environment, economy, technology, terrorism, and China - that have really affected us globally I looked at how those changes have changed how we live inside our home and our communities.
I discovered there were these mavericks who had reacted to the Big Five and set their own rules and have come up with incredible design ideas to live a better life. When I found who I wanted in the book, Mikkel Vang and I travelled to Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Paris, London, New York, Tokyo, Melbourne and Sydney to photograph and interview the people who can give us hope for our future.
You will be speaking at Decoration + Design next year on this very topic, illustrating how we are embracing global trends - what does the future home look like? and how should we reconsider the way in which we live?
The biggest challenge to be tackled right now and well into the future is protecting the planet and this can be done by consciously focusing on living with a very small carbon footprint. `Rethink: The Way You Live' focuses on emerging trends that are propelling design and living revolutions in our urban spaces. From guerrilla gardening and nurturing spaces to mobile living and downsizing; these are innovative ways that people are coming up with to tackle the environmental, living and working conditions.
The future home is going to be smaller, smarter, and sustainable. In the future home, standard buildings will include low carbon emissions, reliance on renewable energy and the use of clever design incorporating elements like solar panels. Materials will be either recyclable or will not end up in landfill at the end of their cycle. The future home is also about individuality and the push away from the mass-produced or current fads in design.
BOOK NOW to hear Amanda Talbot present `Rethink: The Way You Live' at the Decoration + Design International Industry Seminar Series
Thursday 7 Feb, Seminar 4
Ex Associate Editor of British ELLE Decoration & Home Editor of Livingetc, Amanda Talbot will inspire and challenge the way you think about design. She will illustrate how we are embracing new global trends and starting to reconsider the ways in which we live. Ultimately she explores the future home.
To find out more or to secure your seat for the Amanda Talbot seminar, visit decorationdesign.com.au
Seats are strictly limited. So book now.
Meet The EDGE finalist Edward Linacre
Edward Linacre graduated from Industrial Design at Swinburne University in 2010 with First Class Honours and has been working for a Melbourne consultancy for the past three years.
Recently establishing his own business he consults to clients from Medical to Homewares industries, and his own lighting designs retail throughout Australia and New Zealand. Edward spent a semester studying Product Design in Germany where he won the HAWK Hildesheim University furniture design prize.
This led to a 6 month internship at international consultancy Wiege Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH. He has since received numerous national and international accolades for his work, ranging from furniture to product design engineering, notably the Design Institute of Australia Graduate of the Year Award (Victoria and Tasmania) in 2011, and in the same year, the prestigious James Dyson Award (Worldwide).
Edward Linacre's engagement in the principles of design ranges in scale from the global to the most intimate. In design, he is aware of the emotional connection people make with their favourite domestic objects, and he brings to that a consciousness of environmental, social and cultural concerns. He aims to develop appropriate, responsible and elegant design solutions.
Edward is a finalist in The EDGE 2013 competition, where Australia's next generation of ground-breaking designers will be unveiled.
His Cypress pendant light wowed the preliminary judges with its cypress cone form and the geometry of a 12-sided Pentagon.
Don't miss this spectacular highlight of the Decoration + Design trade event from 6-8 February at the Sydney Exhibition Centre, co-located with the Australian International Furniture Fair.
For more information or to register, visit decorationdesign.com.au or aiff.net.au
2013: Five Interior Trends to Watch
Trend forecasters around the world are predicting a strong and imaginative direction in interior design in 2013.
With the market continually becoming less segmented and more global, trends are directed by social, economic and political changes that can prepare designers for today's well-researched consumer and a rapidly changing market.
With uncertain times ahead, interior design trends are moving toward inspiring and capturing personality through the element of design. What follows is the top five trends we believe have staying power in 2013.
1. Colour
Emerald (PANTONE 17-5641) was recently dubbed the 2013 Colour of the Year for its balancing and harmonious properties. It is said to be the colour of "growth, renewal and prosperity," reinforcing the bright and clean colour palettes designed to attract customers back to the market.
There is also a revival of natural finishes and dyes linking colour to products that are both useful and promote comfort. The coming year will see a less structured approach to colour placement, with unusual colour combinations encouraged.
2. The Art of Interior
The use of art in interior design and architecture continues to extend beyond wall art and is being applied to fabrics that produce creative soft furnishing and furniture product.
2013 will see an integration of historic and contemporary works - an approach that will keep the art trend flexible throughout the year.
Be it through colour, subject or pattern, art has an innate ability to define emotion and shape perception and is considered a core element in today's interior design.
Commonly placed on furniture, there is a distinct relationship that artwork produces with the space in which it is placed. It can effortlessly bring personality to walls and furnishing products, while in commercial spaces it can communicate a business' brand identity.
3. Wall Decoration
Walls will continue to receive a huge amount of attention and be viewed as a foundation for design and decoration in smaller urban spaces.
This will be achieved through wall art, the new wave of flooring materials placed on walls and ceilings along with vertical gardens bringing walls to life both inside and out.
Wallpaper and 3D wall tiles will expand in design offerings, giving people the opportunity to be more flexible with respect to depth, texture, colour and print compared to the limited options available when painting walls.
To read more of this article, visit designbuildsource.com.au
Online marketing New Year's resolutions
It's the start of a New Year and what better time to think about New Year's resolutions for your business.
One great resolution to think about is to start an online marketing strategy for your business, or if you have one, to update it for 2013. An online marketing strategy can benefit your business by growing your brand, attracting new customers, increasing your online visibility and ultimately building your business online.
The online space is growing rapidly and will only continue to grow as more and more customers are going online to purchase products and services. Now is a great time to start building your business online to take advantage of the many opportunities it presents.
Here are some tips to for creating or updating an online marketing strategy.
Kylie Tabrett is the Account Manager for GoHospitality.com.au, an online business directory servicing the Australian hospitality industry. With degrees in Hospitality, Events Management, Sales and Marketing, Kylie began her career in events management and online media sales. She has worked on national online advertising campaigns, created proposals and promotion ideas for major Australian hotels and has worked with major sponsors at industry trade shows.
Update your website
The start of a new year is a great time to update your website with new content and new products or services. Whether you completely overhaul your website or just update a few things it can have a positive effect on your search engine optimisation.
When you add fresh content to your website, search engines will view the website as active and index your content faster. This can help your website to appear higher in search engines results and get your business seen by more potential customers.
Update keywords
When updating your website it's also a good idea to review your website copy to ensure it still describes your business correctly. Your website copy will contain key words which search engines use to help potential customers find your business online. You should review these key words to ensure they are still relevant to your target customers. You can do this by using Google's Keyword Tool to find the most searched terms for businesses in your industry.
To include these new key words in your website you may need to rewrite your copy as well as adding them to your page titles, Meta tags and page descriptions. With the right keywords you have a better chance of driving the right traffic back to your website.
Start an eNewsletter
Is your New Year's resolution to start a company eNewsletter? eNewsletters' are a great way to communicate directly to your existing customers and maintain a relationship with potential customers. They provide a cost effective way to distribute company information and to keep customers updated on your current activities. Customers may even share the eNewsletter with their friends, thereby increasing your exposure to a wider audience.
Join an online business directory
If your New Year's resolution is to boost your online visibility, then you should join an online business directory. Online business directories help to improve your SEO and provide better quality leads back to your website. Industry specific online directories, such as GoHospitality.com.au, allow you to advertise directly to your potential customers who are looking for businesses in the hospitality industry. This is a great way to get your business seen by more potential customers and help boost your sales leads.
Join social media
By being active on social media you can communicate directly with your target customers and gain valuable customer feedback. Social media also allows you to build your brand awareness and drive more traffic back to your website. By using social media effectively you can build a good relationship with your customers, which may lead to increased customer loyalty and sales inquires.
When planning your online marketing strategy include some of these New Year's resolutions and have a successful 2013.
Decorating Abigail style!
Her name is synonymous with eclecticism and her penchant for dark interiors has garnered a global fan base in awe of her knack at fusing the two together with effortless ease. Heralded as the hottest designer in the country, UK atelier, Abigail Ahern's work spans various mediums from luxury resorts to commercial installations and lavish residential projects.
Her trailblazing designs have been featured inside the most prestigious interior titles celebrating her `glamorous, dizzyingly colourful and multi-layered' style. And to think it all began on the picture desk for Sir Terence Conran's publishing house sourcing all the interior pics for his beautiful books.
"I realised then that interiors was something I loved," said Abigail. "And on relocating to the States for a few years decided to change careers."
Here she studied design by night and worked at an architectural practice by day until a newly launched magazine contacted Abigail to front up the interiors section. "I had the most amazing few years, styling and designing," she said.
We caught up with the enigmatic designer on the eve of her next Australian tour as keynote speaker for the Decoration + Design International Industry Seminar Series to delve further into her design philosophy; fitting everything in from interior design to creating her own line of furniture and running her a store; and the difference between Australian and UK interiors.
Designer, style maven and author Abigail Ahern is recognised among design aficionados and devotees alike for her enchanting take on interiors. Heralded as 'style spotter-extraordinaire' by The Times newspaper she has established her position at the front of the design trail with her original interpretation of trends, unique sense of style and individual approach to interiors. Her commissions include accessorising a 42,000 square foot Grand Spa for the Ritz Carlton in Palm Beach, Florida; re-styling and branding a chain of hotels in the Middle East as well as numerous residential and commercial projects. Abigail's London store has been voted one of the coolest places to shop in the UK by Elle Decoration magazine.
You have an obvious passion for interiors which is contagious and it seems to have passed onto your many Australian fans - do you think your success has come about as a result of your unique eclectic style fused with an effervescent enthusiasm for what you do?
I am obsessed with interiors literally live, breath and sleep it. I think when you are passionate about something it inspires others and filters down. It's like at school when the teacher is fabulous and passionate you get really interested in the subject matter. My style happened organically I didn't use to be that eclectic, but confidence, age and the ability to finally listen to my gut has I think paid off.
Pulling of an eclectic interior is the hardest thing in the world to do since nothing matches and yet it's all got to make perfect sense. That takes confidence and the ability to get back on the wagon if you fall off or if things go a bit awry. But when you do it right magic happens and that is what keeps me going forward to create fabulous interiors, stores, books that literally make jaws hit the floor!
Apart from your interior design work, you also design a range of furnishings including lamps and chairs, blog daily tips and inspirations, manage your own store, and host workshops - how do you manage to fit it all in?
I fit it all in because I love it and it doesn't feel like work. Having said that days are long generally 12 hours plus but I get up extremely early and I am pretty good at juggling many different balls in the air. Also I am very focused I know what I want so there is little dilly-dallying going on. Occasionally very occasionally I think how amazing it would be to get home at 5 and open a bottle, but those thoughts are few and far thank goodness!
Do you have a preference for one medium over another? Or are they all essential elements to Abigail Ahern Atelier that you enjoy equally?
So hard to choose, the store I guess is like my child. We've grown up together it hasn't always been easy but I would fight for it tooth and nail over anything else.
I love designing products and to have other cool retailers around the world buying them gives me the greatest buzz. On the teaching front I had no idea how much I would enjoy it, I love it. Having said that I have scaled back on the interior design side as something had to give and now just take on a few projects that I whole heartedly love which is a lovely position to be in!
You have a penchant for painting dark colours, it's sort of an Abigail signature in a way - why are you drawn to dark colours? And is there a delicate balance when using deep tones in a room? how do you achieve this without making it appear claustrophobic?
I am obsessed with dark colours - I think once you convert across to the dark side there really is no going back. Everything feels in my humble opinion so much more sophisticated and cocooning. I think the whole claustrophobic thing is a bit of a misnomer, paint a wall dark and stuff will just pop out. There are a few tricks, lighting being one. You will need more lights than you would in a paler interior and also if you are going dark then try and introduce one or two oddball high statured hues to take the space to a whole other level.
So ditch dull, on-the-fence hues and instead think bursts of saffron yellow, teal, lime, scarlet. The trick is not to go over board limit your colour palette to a few intoxicating hues and just wait for the complements to come flying in!
You have a love affair with Australia, having visited here several times in the past two years including Decoration + Design where you headlined in 2011 - what is it that keeps bringing you back down under?
I adore Australia, it's such a friendly country and more than anything you guys are as obsessed about interiors as me so it's like finding my kindred spirit on the other side of the world. All the things that the Brits have in the past been a little shy about - pushing colour, taking risks, going for it you guys do it with aplomb and I love it! Plus your weather, your food and your COFFEE what's not to love!
What major differences have you personally noticed between UK and Australian interior design styles?
Obviously the weather plays a big part we spend more time in than out and architecturally our houses are not as open plan as yours which is reflected in paint colours and furniture choices. We have a penchant for dark inky hues it works so well with our soft light - a bit like a Vermeer painting if you will and we tend to layer and mix more than you guys a hodge podge of styles. I would say your interiors are beautifully laid back and you give the outside as much attention as the inside creating outdoor rooms which I adore.
Our style is more kaleidoscopic, and magpie like particularly in London where anything goes so we all kind of embrace that and ditch trends and just goes with our path. Obviously we have flea market galore over here and Paris with the largest antiques market in Europe is a 2 hour trip away so it's much easier our end to find vintage. We are certainly not as laid back in our style of decorating, something I would like to see a little more over here, it's that British stiff upper lip thing going on, although we do embrace quirk in a big way.
You will be coming back for D+D Sydney in 2013 to present 'Decorating with Style' - can you give us a preview of what this seminar will entail and what interior fans can expect from the presentation?
Decorating with Style (the title of my seminar and new book) also launching at Design and Decoration is all about how decorating can change lives. Get your pad right and I promise you it will make you happier, raise your spirits, relax you and make entertaining more fun.
BUT and there is a big but if you want interiors of that kind (the ones that make your heart beat just that little bit faster the moment you walk thru the door you have to take a few risks and bring to the table an open mind. This seminar opens your mind, you won't need huge amounts of dosh, wonga, big bucks, dollars or pounds but you will need a little confidence and the ability to be broad minded. I'll show you how. Cannot wait!
Do you have any other plans while in Australia?
We are in Australia for the shortest time so regrettably I have very little time to do much as we are relocating to a larger store literally at the same time as the seminar.
What projects are in the works for 2013?
Plans for 2013 are rather exciting I've just designed a range of accessories for a huge high street chain launching Autumn 2013. We're expanding the business and relocating the store to a larger premises and I'm working on a range of jaw on the floor vases for spring next year. Busy days!
Be there for Abigail Ahern x Decoration + Design International Industry Seminar Series
Decorating with Style Seminar 1 & 5
Abigail Ahern is internationally acclaimed for her trend setting designs that are synonymous with glamor, eclecticism and wit. Join Abigail, as she decodes all you need to know when it comes to decorating with panache. You'll be taken on a visual kaleidoscopic journey that's dizzyingly multi-layered, idiosyncratic and a little tongue in cheek. Fasten your seat belts. It's called Decorating Abigail Style!
To find out more or to secure your seat for the Abigail Ahern Decorating with Style seminar, visit decorationdesign.com.au
This is one seminar not to be missed!
Bedroom makeover ideas
This calm master bedroom beckons parents to take time out in a sophisticated, tranquil space.
This sun-drenched balcony overlooking a bright tree like this robinia, is the ideal reading spot and a great extension of this bedroom. If you have the option, move your bedroom to the side of your house that offers sunshine or a garden view.
Colour choice is critical - for example, this pale coffee-toned quilt cover makes the room feel larger, while pale blue and lemon stripes provide subtle accent colour. An upholstered headboard in neutral tones adds texture and a sense of luxury.
Mix colours and textures
A collection of white and cream objects in varying sizes and organic shapes offers virtually endless display possibilities. Neutral shades shift the focus from colour to the subtleties of light and shade.
Finding a way to combine the aesthetics of two individuals and fashion a space they can enjoy as a couple is a challenge for even the most seasoned decorator.
The relaxed style of this bedroom illustrates how to begin with a neutral base, then introduce muted shades of blue, lemon and oatmeal. Mixing striped, checked and floral fabrics in complementary tones adds dimension without weight, and makes the room feel more spacious.
Read more at homelife.com.au
Your Health, Your Home - Why it matters
With the increase in respiratory conditions such as asthma, allergies and illness, our home environment is being linked to health concerns.
The materials that are used to build our homes, materials and finishes used to decorate our homes and the products that we buy have the potential to pollute our home environment.
Global Organizations acknowledge that indoor environments are taking a toll on human health. There are substantial bodies of research on health effects linked to indoor chemical exposure (emissions/gasses).
As the latest and greatest products hit the market place we are embracing them into our homes with little or no thought as to the health consequences of living with these objects or materials.
Many of the products within our homes have had no testing for indoor emissions (air pollution) and how they may excrete toxic pollutants into the indoor air we breathe.
Many people have an assumption that if a product is being sold it has been thoroughly tested and deemed safe to human health - this is not true. Many people do not know what a VOC is, or that materials, finishes and products can off gas toxic emissions that are odourless and harmful to health.
Making informed choices when choosing materials, finishes and products is essential to minimise chemical exposure within the home.
In 2002, Melissa Wittig launched Relish Designs, an interior design service with a focus on healthy interiors. The concept of health-focused interiors resulted from a culmination of events including personal experiences within Melissa's own family, professional experiences and research outcomes.
Melissa is incredibly passionate about creating healthy interiors for her clients.
"I now know that when I had young children I did many things wrong in relation to renovating our home and the materials and finishes that we used in our home in relation to health," she said.
"We experienced health issues with our children that I now know we contributed to. I have learned of links between the home environment and human health, as a designer and mother I feel these issues should be fundamental considerations when building, renovating or making lifestyle decisions."
Melissa will present Healthy By Design at the Decoration + Design International Industry Seminar Series from 6-8 February, 2013 at the Sydney Exhibition Centre.
We took five with Melissa to chat further about the potential toxins in your home; what the common problem areas are; and some quick fix solutions to make your living environment healthier today.
During your research in setting up Relish Designs, were you surprised at the potential toxicity levels within our homes?
My initial interest into household pollutants started when I was looking into the ingredients of a baby shampoo product I had used on my infant. One shock led to another and after researching ingredients for many of our household items I felt very naïve and deceived by branding.
As a designer I then moved on to asking questions about building materials and finishes, production processes and ingredients used to create items installed into our homes. I am constantly surprised and motivated by studies documenting findings about products that we use every day and links to detrimental health outcomes.
What are some of the common problem areas you come across when working with a client?
Clients who have health issues within the family such as asthma are generally more receptive to making compromises that are at times needed to make the healthiest choice with material selections, compared with clients who currently do not have any health issues.
What are some of the quick fix solutions people can correct right now to make their living environment healthier, without tearing the house down and starting all over again?
Altering lifestyle practices are small inexpensive ways occupants can improve the health of their home. There are many great tips, a few are:
1. To improve indoor air quality ensure that effective exhaust fans are always used when
cooking or using wet areas.
2. When weather permits open windows to regularly generate air flow through spaces.
3. The introduction of indoor plants will help remove pollutants from indoor air.
4. Opt for natural cleaning products to avoid chemical residues and vapours.
5. Opt for natural pest control rather than chemical treatments. 
For those who are starting on the design of their dream home now, do you have a mini checklist of things they can mark on the blueprint now? or is it more complicated than that? What do you suggest?
Everyone's dream home is unique with many elements to be considered including site location, building materials, surface finishes, joinery, furniture, lifestyle practices and pest management.
A great place to start if sourcing your own products is to look for products that are independently certified. However ensure you look into what the assessment criteria of the certification is, for example "green products" does not always equate to low emission products or healthy option products.
You will be speaking at Decoration + Design International Industry Seminar Series next year on 'Healthy Design' to explore the connection between indoor environment and human health'. Can you give us some insight into what people will gain from this seminar? Why is this such an important topic to consider when designing your living space?
The Healthy by design seminar highlights a collation of my findings in relation to the indoor environment and health. Information as an interior professional I wish I could have learnt while studying, issues I wish I had known years ago as a parent and renovator. Giving greater depth to the word "sustainability". Interior health is an issue to consider because no one cares more about your health than you do. Knowledge is empowering, a win personally - a win for clients.
Do you see sustainable practices becoming the norm in the future?
There are a passionate minority that aim to alter their lives where possible to incorporate sustainable lifestyle practices, however sadly it seems the majority at this stage require incentives. I would like to think that the Government will continue to explore initiatives across different industries that will
culminate into the momentum needed to make significant improvements so that sustainable practices become the norm.
Healthier interior environments in the commercial sector are reportedly realising financial benefits which will motivate many in this sector, and I believe demand will motivate supply. In relation to the residential sector the home environment can contribute to a selection of health issues that are on the rise.
As we embrace preventative approaches to illness and professionals across different disciplines recognise the benefits of collaboration home environments and health issues will rise to the forefront as a means of preserving quality of life and cost reductions which consequently could be a turn around for environmental health.
Healthy Interiors x Decoration + Design International Industry Seminar Series
Healthy By Design
Seminar 6
Join healthy interior advocate and interior designer Melissa Wittig to explore the connection between the indoor environment and human health. Gain insights into creating healthier spaces and discover how products, design and sustainable practices provide a competitive edge.
To find out more or to secure your seat for the Healthy By Design seminar, visit decorationdesign.com.au
Attract new customers with online marketing
Business owners understand they continually need to retain and attract new customers in order to maintain continued growth for their business.
The key to attracting new customers is to find out where your customers are and position your business in front of them to ensure they receive your key messages.
Kylie Tabrett is the Account Manager for GoHospitality.com.au, an online business directory servicing the Australian hospitality industry. With degrees in Hospitality, Events Management, Sales and Marketing, Kylie began her career in events management and online media sales. She has worked on national online advertising campaigns, created proposals and promotion ideas for major Australian hotels and has worked with major sponsors at industry trade shows.
With so many people now using the internet the best place to attract new customers is online. Your business then needs to implement online marketing strategies to gain new customers and grow your business.
Here are some online marketing strategies to help you get started. 
Social media
With over one billion monthly active users on Facebook and 500 million users on Twitter, social media is a great place to find new customers. By starting a business profile on social media you can communicate with existing customers as well as reach a wider audience of people with your message.
You can turn some of your social media followers into new customers by building a great relationship with them. You can do this by providing information of value to them, responding to their comments or complaints, providing great online customer service and engaging them in the business. Once your followers trust your business and feel valued they may turn into loyal customers.
Social media also helps to drive traffic to your website, which will encourage your followers to become new customers or clients.
Website
When searching for information about a business most people go straight to an online search engine such as Google. This means your business needs to appear in search engine results to be found by potential customers. You can increase your website's search engine rank by improving your search engine optimisation. This involves adding better keywords to your website copy, regularly updating your website content and creating backlinks to your website.
Search engines drive people back to your website but it's up to you to turn these leads into new customers. One strategy to achieve this is by providing great content on your website, which your customers will be interested in reading. Your website should also be easy to navigate and show customers exactly what they were looking for. Your website should also provide a reason for people to keep coming back or to purchase your products.
Online directories
Many people use online directories to search for business information. Industry specific online directories such as GoHospitality.com.au provide a comprehensive list of businesses in a particular area e.g. hospitality. It's then a great strategy to get listed on an online directory because it positions your business directly in front of potential customers. Online directories also help to increase your SEO and provide quality backlinks to your website.
Word of mouth
Don't forget about your existing customers because they can help you to achieve consistent sales and grow your business. By engaging with your customers online and providing great customer service you can build up their loyalty to your brand. Happy and loyal customers will then recommend you to their friends or share information about your business through social media. This is called word-of-mouth marketing and is an effective way of attracting new customers.
These online marketing strategies will help your business attract new customers by getting seen by a wider audience of people and by building great relationships with existing and potential customers.
5 minutes with Greg Natale on design philosophies, inspirations and trends
Some people have an uncanny creative knack, gifted with an innate sense of style that's only enhanced by design school, but could never be taught.
Australian interior designer, Greg Natale is one such design talent who seems to have the Midas touch. From his interior styling and decoration work to his design collaborations with some of the industry's top brands, everything he touches turns to design gold. His bold signature style has quickly earned him a reputation as one of Australia's top designers.
Since 2001, Greg Natale Design has been pioneering the integration of design and decoration; focusing on residential, retail and commercial design. His work has won numerous awards, appeared in local and international press including Wallpaper, British Elle and has been published in many design books flanking renowned international designers.
Since opening, Greg Natale Design has expanded into residential architecture and in 2009 they collaborated with Designer Rugs to release a new range for both commercial and domestic use, realising the firm's objective of diversifying into other design disciplines.
The integration of architecture, design and decoration is the firm's primary motivation and design philosophy.
We took five with the mastermind behind Greg Natale Design to explore the influences behind his bold design approach; how he has transitioned from interior decorator to designer; and discover what future collaborations they have in the works.
You are a renowned interior designer spanning all areas of design and decoration from residential to retail and commercial - many aspiring stylists will be in awe of your success, can you share how you got your start in the interior industry?
I studied interior design at Enmore Design Centre and once I completed this I started my first job with Garth Barnett. After which I worked for HBO, EMTB and then SJB interiors. Once I had gained 5 years' experience, where I had great mentors, I decided it was time to start Greg Natale Design and this year will be 11 years.
You are known for your 'bold signature style' and this style has been recognised with numerous awards - how would you personally describe your interior design style? What is the Greg Natale Design signature? Or is it always evolving?
I think that we definitely have a distinctive style. Architecturally we try to approach design with clean lines and a neutral materials palette. Ironically, from a decoration perspective however we are generally known for bold use of geometric pattern and colour.
It's really important to keep pushing ourselves, and in turn, see our clients evolve. At the moment we are exploring more fluid patterns and block colours on big ticket items such as curtains and sofas.
I am also being inspired by the 1980's use of colour and pattern and Memphis design, which has had a big influence on my new wallpaper collection with Porters Paints.
You have had your work featured in several of the best industry magazines from Wallpaper to Belle and British Elle - what does it mean for you and your business to have the work represented here? How important is it to the long term success of your business?
I will always be grateful for the support of industry publications and the exposure this has given to the business. As a company this has been invaluable to building a successful business and subsequently allowing me to also broaden the brand into other pursuits which I'm passionate about including rugs and my upcoming carpet, furniture and wallpaper collections.
In recent years you have collaborated with Designer Rugs on a new range for both commercial and domestic use, how has the transition been into another design discipline? Are there any other future collaborations in the works? 
I am always thinking about what would make a great pattern for rugs, wallpapers or even fabric and I love sketching up these thoughts. I have really loved the fact that I can add this layer of creativity to our work.
My latest collaboration has been with Porters Paints which is being launched this December. It is a really easy to use collection of 'stripes' which is playful, but at the same time very glam.
I am also in the planning stages of launching a wall-to-wall carpet range with Designer Rugs as well as a furniture range with Stylecraft.
What is your advice for aspiring interior designers looking to break into the industry or start their own interior company?
I really think it's about passion and persistence and of course you have to have a good eye for it. I also suggest that any aspiring interior designer looking to start their own company needs to really get a sound education and spend at least 5 years working and learning from experienced designers.
The other really big piece of advice is to understand the business side - this is key to being successful.
You have been announced as a key speaker at the AIFF Sydney 2013 International Industry Seminar Series, titled 'Design philosophies, inspirations and trends' - what can attendees expect from this seminar? And what do you hope to gain from speaking at the industry trade event?
Lisa Green from House and Garden and I will be having a conversation about our design work and the directions we are headed in our current and future projects.
This type of open discussion can be a great opportunity to interact with the audience which makes it an interesting event for both me and them.
Greg Natale Design x Decoration + Design International Industry Seminar Series
Design philosophies, inspirations and trends
Seminar 2 Wed 6 Feb, 2013 / 12.30pm - 1.30pm
With a bold signature style, Greg Natale is instantly recognised alongside Australia's top designers. Greg Natale and Lisa Green, editor of House and Garden, discuss Greg's design philosophies, current inspirations and his thoughts on the latest design trends.
To find out more or to secure your seat for the Greg Natale Design seminar, visit Decoration + Design, decorationdesign.com.au
Why Abigail Ahern loves Australia and our obsession with interiors
Written by Jen Bishop, editor of Interiors Addict
Her masterclasses at Megan Morton's The School were a sellout. "We sold 90% of the seats within the first few days of putting them on the site," says Abigail. "I was so overwhelmed, flattered and delighted by the response. The Australian people are so warm and friendly. I was blown away by how many fans we have in Australia. I had an absolute blast and cannot wait to get back over to do more."
Interiors Addict founder and editor, Jen Bishop is a British magazine publisher and editor living in Sydney, who dreams of being an interior stylist. Her blog, voted one of 20 to watch in 2012 by Problogger, contains interviews with the top stylists and designers from Australia and across the globe. Interiors Addict is your one stop shop for industry interviews, beautiful photos, real homes, gorgeous homewares, the best websites, shops and blogs. Jen is a self-confessed neat freak (Hello, Monica from Friends!) who loves nothing more than losing herself in interiors magazines, arranging and rearranging furniture and taking a peek inside other people's homes!
We don't have to wait long for our next Abigail fix either, as she has just been confirmed as a speaker at February's Decoration + Design trade fair in Sydney.
Abigail says our climate makes Australian interiors different. "In Northern Europe we spend far longer inside than outside and our light is very different. Being soft we can dabble with dark sludgy hues much more easily (something which I am pretty obsessed with).
"Australian interiors tend to brighter and lighter and tend to hone in on one vibe, whether that's traditional or contemporary or rustic and in Europe I think we tend to mix far more different periods and styles in more of a kaleidoscopic, ad hoc way. Obviously a lot of that has to do with geography and accessibility of stuff...
Discover Abigail's opinion on global trends, who her favourite Australian stylists are, and why she's looking forward to returning to Decoration + Design next year in the full interview over at The Interiors Addict, visit theinteriorsaddict.com
Abigail Ahern x Decoration + Design International Industry Seminar Series
Decorating with Style
Seminar 1 Wed Feb 6 / 10.30am - 11.30
Abigail Ahern is internationally acclaimed for her trend setting designs that are synonymous with glamor, eclecticism and wit. Join Abigail, as she decodes all you need to know when it comes to decorating with panache.
You'll be taken on a visual kaleidoscopic journey that's dizzyingly multi layered, idiosyncratic and a little tongue in cheek. Fasten your seat belts. It's called Decorating Abigail Style!
See Abigail Ahern present `Decorating with Style' when she returns to Decoration + Design International Industry Seminar Series from 6-8 February, 2013 at the Sydney Exhibition Centre.
For more information and to secure your seat, visit decorationdesign.com.au
WGSN Trend Spot: layered designs
By Heloisa Righetto, WGSN-homebuildlife
By layering materials in different colours, textures or finishings, designers demystify production processes and show consumers how ingenious solutions can come from simple ideas.
- Layers of the same material are used to enhance depth and create an interesting visual effect
- Contrasting volumes, different shapes and asymmetric compositions
- Overlapped acrylic tabletops in different colours invite the user to interact and play with colour mixing in Amanda Buckley's side table
- Modularity: separate layers enable consumers to build custom-made pieces, such as Audrey Belin's mirror and the pendant lamp created by Marc Bell and Robin Grasby
- Mianne de Vries uses the concept in a playful way: her vase is made of several ceramic layers which work as a back-up if the first one breaks
- Paul Menand's 3-in-1 stool and Reinier de Jong's coffee table show how layers can be applied to save space
Amanda Buckley
Audrey Belin
Marc Bell and Robin Grasby
Mianne de Vries
Form Us With Love for Cosentino
Philippe Nigro for Foscarini
Paul Menand
Wenchu Man
Reinier de Jong
WGSN-HomeBuildLife is the pioneering online product design and development tool, created exclusively for the interiors market.
Powered by WGSN's unrivalled global research and proven heritage, WGSN-homebuildlife is trusted by the biggest design brands in the world to deliver unmatched expertise in 15 product categories, including furniture, lighting, print and pattern, bedding, bath and tabletop.
By combining comprehensive market analysis and tradeshow coverage with retail trends and consumer insights, WGSN-homebuildlife fuels commercial success while delivering proven return-on-investment.
Visit wgsn-homebuildlife.com
Or the HomeBuildLife Blog at wgsn-hbl.blogspot.com.au
Is fashion dictating interior design trends?
With globalization increasing societal fluidity, trends are faster-paced than ever before, with the recycling of trends or the development of unique modes an ever-present element of interior design.
This kind of trending gives a deep insight into the zeitgeist of an era and a people.
While trends are dictated by various catalysts - from the economy and cultural climes to the backing of the rich and famous - fashion itself has long been a catalyst and a major influence on interior design.
Fashion brings it with it a fast-paced mentality that virtually says "out with the new and in with the even newer."
According to Canadian décor expert Michael Penney, interior design has seen a distinct change of pace since fashion became a key influencer.
"(Past clients) would say, 'I'm doing a French provincial style' and they would do their whole house in one look and they would leave it like that for 30 years - and that was sort of the way people decorated," Penney said. "But now when you look at fashion magazines, you see that designers and stylists are pairing all different kinds of styles, all different looks together, and shoppers themselves are free to create their own mix in their clothing. I feel like in the same way they're doing that at home and they're getting a little more brave, and they're realizing they don't have to do a formulaic look."
To read more visit, DesignBuildSource.com.au
WGSN Trend Spot: hanging storage
By Heloisa Righetto, WGSN-homebuildlife
Storage furniture is being reinvented and adapted for contemporary needs, with designers exploring the idea that bookcases, shelves and even wardrobes don't have to stand-up, but can be hung, saving floor space and providing decoration.
- Design evolution: highlights how the piece interferes with the lay-out of the home
- Focus on aesthetics: storage pieces become wall art and installations
- Simplify: Alice Rosignoli minimised the wardrobe into its essence, the hanger. Designed for Ligne Roset's latest collection, 20 Hangers epitomises this new take on storage. Veronika Wildgruber and Susa Stofer simplified the coat stand with Wardrope, which doesn't take up any space on the floor
- Multifunctional: bookshelves become room dividers when hung from the ceiling, such as Zanini de Zanine's Pássaros shelves and Mehtap Obuz's Bookwave. Specifically developed to be used in the kitchen, Måns Salomonsen's Cocoon combines food storage with plant cultivation
- Interactive: designs that allow transformation and personalisation, such as Read-Unread by Niko Economidis and Box 1-7 by BeaMalevich
20 Hangers by Alice Rosignoli for Ligne Roset
Box 1-7 by BeaMalevich
Hanger Suitcases by Lotty Lindeman
Read-Unread bookshelf by Niko Economidis
Upside Down by Adrien de Melo
Wardrope by Veronika Wildgruber and Susa Stofer
Pássaros by Zanini de Zanine
Cocoon by Måns Salomonsen
Bookwave by Mehtap Obuz for Ilio
WGSN-HomeBuildLife is the pioneering online product design and development tool, created exclusively for the interiors market.
Powered by WGSN's unrivalled global research and proven heritage, WGSN-homebuildlife is trusted by the biggest design brands in the world to deliver unmatched expertise in 15 product categories, including furniture, lighting, print and pattern, bedding, bath and tabletop.
By combining comprehensive market analysis and tradeshow coverage with retail trends and consumer insights, WGSN-homebuildlife fuels commercial success while delivering proven return-on-investment.
Visit wgsn-homebuildlife.com
Or the HomeBuildLife Blog at wgsn-hbl.blogspot.com.au
Connecting Australia's furniture industry online
As a online newsletter, we are obvious advocates of the world wide web. And while selling online has become commonplace for many industries across the globe, it is still a relatively new area for furniture.
Well now comes an online marketplace dedicated to providing a directory of furniture products from retailers nationally. ConnectFurniture.com.au offers retailers the ability to have their own online store, where sales can be made directly online to a market of over 1.6 million buyers* (according to The Market Insights Report which identified that 68% of all furniture shoppers preferred a single source when searching for furniture online and 40% were prepared to buy furniture online under the right conditions).
The new site incorporates a powerful new e-commerce engine and merchandising capability, allowing retailers to manage their own online store and build an entirely new line of revenue. Through the operation of their own online store within the ConnectFurniture marketplace, retailers can transform their geographically-constrained business and reach a national market many times larger than they could access ever before.
Visitors to the site can filter through thousands of furniture products available in Australia, or browse the collection of individual retailers of interest to them.
Joseph Bruzzaniti one of the ConnectFurniture founders, had sold his previous online business (LearningSeat.com) to News Corporation, but an entrepreneur by nature, he was starting to explore other online business models. He joined co-founder, Silvio Salom and looked at dozens of different opportunities before identifying the furniture sector.
What they initially saw was an industry that was quite large, yet very fragmented, and made up of lots of smaller independent 'bricks and mortar' retailers. The overwhelming majority of these retailers did not have an online presence. They then undertook extensive research to identify who were the different types of furniture buyers (domestic, commercial, office, etc.) and what they needed, and the very strong response from the research was that they all wanted one central place to search for and find their furniture of choice.
A smaller but growing percentage were also willing (and some even preferred) to buy online, though the majority still preferred to go into a physical store for more expensive items. As a result of the extensive research which was conducted, and the very strong findings which emerged, the ConnectFurniture.com.au marketplace was created - as the online place connecting furniture buyers to furniture retailers, and allowing the buyer to decide whether to go into store (where that option exists and is convenient) or buy online.
We took five with the Joseph and Silvio to gain further insight behind the new online concept; the challenges in bringing furniture from a physical store into an online environment; and how it all works.
What have been some of the challenges in bringing a physical furniture store into an online environment? How has and will e-commerce change/shape the furniture industry?
Some of the key challenges we have experienced in helping physical retailers to establish their online store within the ConnectFurniture online environment include:
- Making it easy for them from a technical perspective. Most of the independent retailers are running smaller business with a small team of people, and are not necessarily that focused or skilled with technology, so it has been important to make it easy for them to establish and then maintain their online store. At this stage we've found the best way is simply to work closely with them where we do the technical work and they provide the direction.
- Ensuring they can provide the right images and product data. When you move into an online environment, the presentation of the products becomes even more critical since a retailer's products will be exposed to potentially over a million buyers through the ConnectFurniture marketplace. So we've been working with the retailers and emphasising the importance of things such as good product images, descriptions and other data
- Helping retailers be much more informed and competitive on the whole. This is very important since retailers have to change from thinking in a restricted geography to thinking nationally. We work with the retailers to help them better understand: Their uniqueness and competitive advantag; What buyers are looking for, typical price points and other needs. We provide retailers with a Buyer Activity Report (see example attached) which shows the specific demand for each product.
- Providing an easy and effective platform for marketing and campaigning, and e-commerce transactions. Since a lot of traditional retailers run smaller businesses, they often do not have the skills or personnel to have an online presence or effectively market and sell online. We've found that it is essential that retailers be properly supported in their transition.
- Helping to provide a cost-effective national delivery solution for retailers who are typically more used to servicing only a local market
- Helping them understand and predict demand and volume levels. This is a longer-term project but will be very important in helping retailers run more effective and profitable businesses which better match demand from the market.
E-commerce is having a profound influence on the furniture industry in a number of ways:
- Retailers can no longer operate from simply within their own geographic boundaries. This used to be one of the main competitive advantages for a traditional retailer - they had some natural advantage just by the location of their store, and they would capture the market within a certain radius of their store. While this advantage still exists, it is nowhere near as strong since a lot of buyers are prepared to buy online from providers all over the country as long as they get what they really want. In fact we see a lot of products being purchased from one corner of Australia from a buyer in another corner.
On the flipside, this threat to a traditional retailer's normal location-based competitive advantage is also an fantastic opportunity since a retailer also has available to them a whole national market, provided they have compelling products and offers
Overall there has been a significant shift already towards e-commerce, both with the transition of traditional ‘bricks and mortar' retailers and new pure-online retailers, and this shift seems set to continue, but these retailers will be continually challenged to be very competitive since the buyers are becoming very informed and savvy and are demanding high value for money. Retailers will need to improve the way they present, promote and communicate the value of their products, have a much better understanding of how long buyers will wait for furniture, and have very cost-effective delivery costs in order to maximise their success
With this model, retailers still manage their own online store within ConnectFurniture.com.au - what does this entail exactly? Do you assist in the setup only? Or continue on as a partner with them to maintain the site and provide online assistance?
There is a simple web interface inside ConnectFurniture for retailers to have total control over their Online Store, through which they can make any changes they wish to make, and run any campaigns they wish. At this stage, given how time poor most retailers are, and how lean they are with their staffing, we've been more than happy to assist retailers at all stages, and at no cost:
- We handle the initial set-up for them
- We take care of the technical changes to their Online Store whenever they wish to make any changes
- We implement any campaigns they wish to run
- We provide marketing information which details the demand they are receiving on a product-by-product level, which is crucial for proper decision-making (see example attached and reference above)
- We provide them with a broader understanding of the market via our Market Insights Report (see snapshot attached of upcoming 2012 report)
Online retail has become a booming industry, do you think there will always be a place for bricks and mortar? Can they co-exist?
Aboslutely. Our research indicates almost half of the online shoppers still prefer to see products in store, particularly for higher-priced items. This research is very consistent with what we are seeing in practice, with around half the enquiries related to requests from buyers wishing to see products in store. The key is to ensure that products are available, in stock, in areas sufficiently close to the store. Our research indicates that people are prepared to travel to see a product they really like, but it can't be too far away.
In contrast, 29% of people are saying their preference is to buy online right away, but this is still skewed towards the lower-priced items rather than more expensive items
What are the major benefits for a furniture retailer in getting online?
It's essential. The old way of doing business won't survive without some online strategy. Even if a person prefers to see a product in store, it is virtually guaranteed that they will first do their search online. If the product is not found online, the retailer may never be given the opportunity to engage with the consumer or make the sale
The major investment ConnectFurniture has made, and continues to make is two-fold: (1) To effectively aggregate the buyers into one central place so it's easy for retailers to reach them; and (2) Providing a simple yet very powerful technology base for retailers to establish their online store within the biggest marketplace specifically for furniture buyers. It's not enough to simply have an online presence, you need also to ensure that your online presence is established where the market of buyers are looking.
Whether the retailer has e-commerce is a subsequent question. The first thing for retailers is to be seen online by furniture buyers when they are doing their searches and research. If the retailer isn't seen at this stage, they will get bypassed and won't have a chance to make a sale. Once a retailer is seen online, where the buyers are looking, then they can have a chance to communicate the value of their products and get the buyer excited about proceeding to the next stage - whether that means going into store or buying online.
There is no doubt growing interest from buyers to buy online (with around 30% of our online shoppers indicating they would do so for the right product and price points), and e-commerce can become a significant revenue generator in its own right. In fact we are trying to tell traditional retailers to take as much care with their online store as they would if they were thinking about opening another physical store. They need to make the right level of commitment and investment in their time.
What are the advantages of being among the furniture marketplace of ConnectFurniture.com.au, compared to starting their own online store? How will they stand out among the other furniture retailers there? 
It's not enough for a retailer to simply have an online store - they also need to be where the market is. That's the fundamental goal of the ConnectFurniture marketplace - providing the retailer with their own Online Store and having access to the largest possible national market of furniture buyers
ConnectFurniture.com.au has invested heavily to create a simple, single place for furniture buyers. We have effectively ‘aggregated' the market to make it easy for both buyers and retailers. It's one thing to build a website, but how do people know about the site?
Furthermore, even if buyers do know about the site, they will still come to ConnectFurniture because they want to be able to easily search across thousands of products and retailers easily and quickly.
For an online retailer the key advantages are:
- We make it very easy for them to set up their own online store
- We support them through all the stages
- We provide them unique reports explaining the demand for their products on a product-by-product level
- We provide them valuable market research for decision-making
- We provide them access to a very large, very qualified market of both domestic and commercial furniture buyers
- In addition, we also provide both the technical infrastructure and a very large, qualified market of furniture buyers
Why are you personally passionate about connecting buyers and sellers Australia wide within the furniture industry?
Because we love innovating and making a difference. We are working with hundreds of retailers and helping them transform their business. It is incredibly exciting to see the way the market is evolving. We are also working with the Australian Retailers Association to provide more comprehensive support to the furniture industry as a whole.
What's in store for the future of ConnectFurniture.com.au?
We will continue to expand in relation to the buyers we reach and also the retailers we have on board and provide more and more education and marketing intelligence to retailers. We will make it easier for retailers to promote their products and allow them to do their own merchandising and manage their own online store directly.
We are implementing a national logistics solution to make it easier and more cost-effective for retailers to sell to and deliver products to consumers wherever they are in the country, and will work with Australian manufacturers to leverage their customisation and ‘just-in-time' manufacturing capabilities.
We will also provide a range of predictive tools to allow retailers and manufacturers to understand what changes and trends are occurring and what this means for their product mix and other important business decisions.
For more information, visit connectfurniture.com.au
How videos can improve your SEO
Many businesses now realise the benefits of including video in their online marketing strategy to boost their websites' Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).
Research has shown that a web page with a video on it is 53 times more likely to appear on the first page of Google results. This means you can easily increase your online visibility by including relevant videos on your website.
A higher search engine ranking will lead to an increase in traffic to your website and improved brand exposure for your business.
Kylie Tabrett is the Account Manager for GoHospitality.com.au, an online business directory servicing the Australian hospitality industry. With degrees in Hospitality, Events Management, Sales and Marketing, Kylie began her career in events management and online media sales. She has worked on national online advertising campaigns, created proposals and promotion ideas for major Australian hotels and has worked with major sponsors at industry trade shows.
How it works:
Google indexes websites based on many different factors including the quality of your content. If visitors stay on your website for a long time then Google believes your content is valuable and will rank you higher in search engine results.
Research has shown that people spend longer watching videos on a website then reading the text. Therefore, by adding videos to your website you can get visitors to stay longer on your site and boost your search engine ranking.
The benefits of video:
There are many other benefits of adding videos to your website - such as the potential for them to go viral. If your video becomes popular it could be shared by millions of people all over the internet. This is a great way to increase your business' exposure and drive more traffic back to your website. However, not all videos will go viral but even if a few people share your video it's still great exposure.
Videos are an effective way to mix up the content on your website and increase your customer's engagement. It also allows you to get more information across in a shorter period of time. This is especially important if you have a complicated product or service you would like to communicate to your customers.
What to make a video about:
- Video interviews: Interview employees, customers or influential people in your industry.
- Product demonstrations: You can make a video explaining how to use your products.
- Introduce new products: Launch a new product with a video explaining its new features and how to use them.
- Training videos: Make a video about operating procedures around the workplace such as how to greet customers.
- Tours: Video a particular room or area of your business to show customers what it will look like. For example, hotels can make a video of their function rooms to show guests the size and features it offers.
- Answer questions: Create a short video to answer your customers' questions.
- Case studies: You could create a video that shows the results you have achieved for your clients or customers.
- Personalise your business: Show a behind the scenes look at your business. This will create a human face for your business and allow customers to engage with you to build a relationship of trust.
- Introduce your business: Make a video that introduces customers to your business by explaining your values, beliefs, products, services, key people, work culture and more.
How to use videos:
Once you've made a video you can use them for a variety of marketing opportunities. You can put them on your social media sites, in email newsletters, send them to customers or clients, use them for employee training or even create your own YouTube channel.
Another way to increase your SEO with videos is by using them on your online business directory listing. For example GoHospitality.com.au, the online business directory for the hospitality industry, encourages it's users to add videos to their online listing. This helps you to generate more back links to your website and increase your search engine rank. It's also an effective way to advertise directly to your target audience.
How to make videos:
With the current technology available you don't need to be a Hollywood production company to make a video for your business. It's fairly easy and inexpensive to make your own video using a simple video recorder and a computer editing program. However, you need to make sure the video is produced to a high standard to ensure your business is portrayed as professional and credible.
Videos should be included in your online marketing strategy because they can increase your SEO, improve your brand's exposure and engage your target audience.
WGSN HomeBuildLife trend spot: Material-blocking
By Sarah Housley, WGSN-homebuildlife
Material-blocking, seen widely at Milan Furniture Fair this year, has evolved from colour-blocking and is an important direction for spring/summer 2014 products. Take inspiration from these best-practice examples.
Utilitarian Ceramic by Ben Fiess
Const Lamp by Ploypan Theerachai
Streamline by Saana Linna
Cristina Celestino by Attico
Judith Jans at Design Academy Eindhoven, Milan Design Week 2012
Hanagasumi tableware by Monochro Design Studio
Drinks mixing kit by Rich Brilliant Willing for Karlsson's Vodka Unfiltered project
Hug stool by Emo Design for Elite, Milan Salone del Mobile 2012
Roche Bobois at Milan Salone del Mobile 2012
ANALYSIS
- The phrase material-blocking refers to products that use layers of different materials applied sectionally. The technique is similar to colour-blocking,in that each layer is bold and distinct from the next
- Design journalist Monica Khemsurov of Sight Unseen defines the term as "uninterrupted chunks of contrasting yet complementary materials" and pinpoints New York-based studio Rich Brilliant Willing as one of the pioneers of the trend
- The aesthetic was seen widely at Milan Salone del Mobile 2012, and informs both our spring/summer 2014 materials forecast and decorative accessories direction,as a key technique for the macro trend Neo Geo
- At the most directional end of the trend, five or six different materials are blocked to create small-scale vessels, with colours used to highlight each section: Ben Fiess's ceramic vessels draw from this season's palette of muted pastels and midtones,while other pieces use natural wood grain, copper, smooth marble, colourful set resin, Plexiglas and even adhesive tape
- Material-blocking can also be used to highlight each component in a product: Ploypan Theerachai's playful lamp is made of only four visible components and uses a different material for each one
- Commercial interpretations favour a simpler style: for example, a single block of material such as wood is contrasted with a colourful rope handle, a powder-coated metal tabletop, or a marble base
WGSN-HomeBuildLife is the pioneering online product design and development tool, created exclusively for the interiors market.
Powered by WGSN's unrivalled global research and proven heritage, WGSN-homebuildlife is trusted by the biggest design brands in the world to deliver unmatched expertise in 15 product categories, including furniture, lighting, print and pattern, bedding, bath and tabletop.
By combining comprehensive market analysis and tradeshow coverage with retail trends and consumer insights, WGSN-homebuildlife fuels commercial success while delivering proven return-on-investment.
Visit wgsn-homebuildlife.com
Or the HomeBuildLife Blog at wgsn-hbl.blogspot.com.au
Top five online marketing tips
Online marketing is now an important strategy for any business wanting to make the most of their online presence.
With so many customers now using the internet to search for business information it's essential for your business to be found online.
Online marketing can help your business engage with your target audience, increase your online visibility, drive more traffic to your website and reach new potential customers.
Don't know where to start?
Here are the top five online marketing tips for your business to make the most of your presence online.
Kylie Tabrett is the Account Manager for GoHospitality.com.au, an online business directory servicing the Australian hospitality industry. With degrees in Hospitality, Events Management, Sales and Marketing, Kylie began her career in events management and online media sales. She has worked on national online advertising campaigns, created proposals and promotion ideas for major Australian hotels and has worked with major sponsors at industry trade shows.
Improve your SEO with keywords
SEO, Search Engine Optimisation, is one of the most effective ways of getting your business found online by helping your website appear higher on search engine results. You can improve your SEO by including keywords into the content on your website, such as on page titles, meta tags and in your articles.
You could use Google's Keyword Tool to view the analytics of the most searched terms in your industry and help you to find the best key words for your business.
Have great content on your website
When potential customers view your website you want to capture their attention, provide them with the information they are looking for and persuade them to purchase your products or services.
You can do this by:
- Including attention grabbing headlines
- Writing great content in short clear paragraphs
- Using images with captions
- Having easily visible contact details
You can also improve your website's SEO by regularly updating your website and providing new content to show search engines that your website is active and relevant.
Start an eNewsletter
An email newsletter is a great way to stay in contact with your customers and keep your business top of mind. It can also drive more traffic back to your website, which can increase your SEO.
They also allow you to track the click-throughs and analytics from the eNewsletter to discover what your customers were most interested in.
To create a successful eNewsletter make sure your content is worthwhile and specific to your customers; otherwise it will be considered as spam.
Use social media
If you are looking for a cost effective way to reach your target audience then social media is a great place to start. You can build your relationship with your customers by creating a strong presence on the social media platform your target audience uses.
Through this relationship you can then communicate and engage with your target audience leading to increased brand loyalty and trust in your business. Social media also allows you to reach new potential customers and raise their brand awareness.
Get listed on a business directory
Online directories can maximise your business's presence online by getting your website seen by more potential customers. By getting listed on an industry specific directory, such as GoHospitality.com.au, you can drive higher quality leads to your website. They also help to improve your SEO ranking and get your website indexed by search engines.
By implementing these simple online marketing strategies your business can maximise their presence online and be found by more potential customers.
GoHospitality.com.au is an online business directory servicing the hospitality industry. The site provides a comprehensive central online source containing the latest product, company and industry news updates.
Tips from 'Secrets From A Stylist' Emily Henderson: 7 ways to turn a bedroom into a multi-functional sanctuary
By Amy Marturana via Styleist.com
It wasn't that long ago that we had separate rooms in the house to do things like read, watch movies and browse the internet due to technological restrictions. But now, we can do all of those things and more from one laptop computer. So with these new conveniences, there really is no reason to leave our bedrooms to get things done if we'd rather just, you know, sit this one out and stay in bed all day. Sounds pretty great, right? We talked to Emily Henderson, host of HGTV's "Secrets From a Stylist," to get a few tips on what it takes to turn a bedroom into a relaxing, multi-purposed space, perfect for everything from sleeping to reading to ordering a whole new wardrobe online.
The biggest benefit of turning your bedroom into a sanctuary is that it allows you to stay relaxed for longer and feel like you're not checking off your to-do list, even if you are, Emily says. Just remember, you want your space to be calming, so leave all of your actual work where it belongs, like your office. It's OK to use your room for the more fun yet still "productive" stuff: catch up on your favorite TV shows, shop online, read a book, or call someone on Skype. To make your space ideal, the overall goal is to minimize visually. "But you still want it to be well-designed," Emily adds. "You don't want it to be boring, and you don't want it to be empty or cold. So it's trying to find that balance between making it feel like home and look like you, but at the same time a little quieter than your other rooms." And when your bedroom is comfortable and serene, you'll be able to transition from completing tasks to getting a good night's sleep. Follow these seven suggestions to design your own bedroom sanctuary:
1. Buy an adjustable bed. This will allow you to raise and lower individual parts so you can sit up to comfortably use your laptop, Emily notes. (And these beds sometimes come with massage options!) Most adjustable beds are sold separately from the mattress, so you'll just need to buy the base and use whatever mattress you want. "A comfortable bed will make your bedroom more comfortable over all," Emily says.
2. Stick to cooler colors. "You want to go in there and feel calm, so the best way to do that is through the color palette," Emily says. She recommends using cooler tones, like blues or blueish grays, or greens even, because they tend to be more soothing than bold and bright tones. And stay away from brown and beige. Those types of colors can make your bedroom feel dated, whereas blues and grays give it a more modern, contemporary feel, she says. Also, be consistent and choose only three colors, four at the most. Too many colors create visual chaos and can make the room feel smaller and messier. Pops of bright hues are fine (Emily has hot pink lamps in her own room), but these loud tones are too overwhelming for the walls.
3. Mix different textures and layers. "More than in any other room, upholstery and fabrics are important in the bedroom," Emily says. Everything should be plush and soft in the bedroom. Choose an upholstered headboard over wood or wrought iron. Layer textures on your bed, combining different fabrics like linen and wool to add some design elements while still keeping it simple.
To read the complete seven suggestions list, visit styleist.com
Customising a rental
Many of us city living types rent, I happen not to but I used to so I know only too well how frustrating it can be to have restriction upon restriction thrust upon you. The thing is to not let those restrictions bog you down, like we used to have this bland grey carpet throughout the house we rented in the USA so I layered the space with rugs to up the style ratings. We also weren't allowed to bang holes in walls so I propped large canvases and boards against the walls and papered them. I replaced all the boring pendant lights with cooler ones and I accessorized big time.
Designer, style maven and author Abigail Ahern is recognized among design aficionados and devotees alike for her enchanting take on interiors. Heralded as ‘style spotter-extraordinaire' by The Times newspaper she has established her position at the front of the design trail with her original interpretation of trends, unique sense of style and individual approach to interiors. Her commissions include accessorising a 42,000 square foot Grand Spa for the Ritz Carlton in Palm Beach, Florida; re-styling and branding a chain of hotels in the Middle East as well as numerous residential and commercial projects. Abigail's London store has been voted one of the coolest places to shop in the UK by Elle Decoration magazine.
A few other ideas, equally applicable (even if you're not renting ) that I have done in my time and which have been hugely successful.
First up and possibly my favourite, decals or vinyl paper that hide unwanted views and add pattern and texture and pizzazz to a space. I used this butterfly vinyl below (from Purlfrost) on a TV show I co-presented , Get Your House in Order. Cozies up a space, adds intrigue and hides hides hides anything ugly - plus you peel if off in a nano second, easy peasy no?
Next idea - taping little areas of floor like Kate Spade did in one of their NYC stores - fabulous again for adding pattern, texture to passageways, hallways, landings you name it. It personalises, it makes a space feel arty and if feels unique.
The big thing about renting is to make the space feel like its yours, its only then that you will want to come home, pop the key in the door and et voila - heaven!
To read more of this article, visit abigailahern.wordpress.com
A fasionable interior - How to create an ombre wall
via stylist.com
Fashion and interior trends continue to cross over one another. While we are swooning over the lust-have looks as they strut the high fashion catwalks, the major homewares and interior design houses are busy crafting a similar offering from cushions to rugs and even paints in the same colourways, in-season prints and textures.
As most of you will know, mint is having a major moment in fashion right now, as is ombre. For those who might still be new to the ombre phenomenon, put simply this is an evolution from the dip-dye trend whereby the colour is shaded or graduated in tone, subtly moving from dark to light. The term is more commonly used by hairdressers to define the cult hair trend.
Popular blogger, P.S.- I made this took a cue from the `go-to hue' and ombre fashions to transform a room in her home.
Visit styleist.com to discover the step-by-step process if you are keen to try this look in your own home...
via styelist.com
Declutter your home
Written by Tanya Lea of Declutterhome via hardtofind
Tanya Lea, professional organiser and founder of Declutterhome, offers her tips on keeping our homes in order plus what being organised means to her.
Tanya: Decluttering and being organised isn't about throwing everything out or living a perfect, spotless life, like in a Martha Stewart magazine (I mean, that's just not practical!). To me it's about having 'a place for everything and everything in it's place', that way you don't waste time (trying to find things) or money (buying stuff you don't need). But most importantly, you have a more decluttered mind, leaving you and your family less stressed and with more time to enjoy life.
I love helping my clients achieve this by turning their homes into a space they love and want to be in. The right storage items are essential to making a space work. This girl's bedroom for example, needed a few cleverly-placed storage baskets to help keep her bedroom in check.
Decide what items are truly useful, what items you love and what items you no longer need, then store all the 'like' items together and keep your favourite items on display. Think about a vision for each room and create a space that answers your brief.
To read more of this article, visit hardtofind.com.au
Is your website internationally friendly?
When it comes to Australian businesses designing and developing websites, it's easy for them to fall in to the trap of designing with a westernised gaze - that is designing your website with the aesthetics and qualities that people in westernised countries have become accustomed to in regards to text size, text direction, colour, style and spacing.
But for businesses that want to attract international clients, owning a website that is internationally and culturally friendly is extremely important. These websites are powerful because they allow you to push through the language barrier and reach a much larger audience - no matter what country your business is situated in.
Below are some tips organisations can use to make their website more culturally and globally friendly.
Kylie Tabrett is the Account Manager for GoHospitality.com.au, an online business directory servicing the Australian hospitality industry. With degrees in Hospitality, Events Management, Sales and Marketing, Kylie began her career in events management and online media sales. She has worked on national online advertising campaigns, created proposals and promotion ideas for major Australian hotels and has worked with major sponsors at industry trade shows.
Create individual international web pages
At the top of your webpage, make it simple for an international visitor to translate your content into their language.
Some thought should go into this process. If you want these pages to be effective, the text should not be the only thing to change. The whole design of the page should change to fit in with the cultural wants and needs of your international visitor.
Do some research into how each culture like their websites designed and follow that structure.
Internationally friendly ecommerce
If you have a shopping cart on your website and offer international shipping it is always good practice to have the option of currency conversion. Not only does it make it easier on the customer but it also gives you a great way to measure exactly where the majority of your client purchases are coming from.
Check your website's load speed
Ensuring your website loads quickly and efficiently is extremely important especially when you are trying to reach a global audience.
If a website takes more than a few seconds to load or start showing content, most visitors will give up and go somewhere else - which is definitely not ideal! When targeting an international audience you must keep in mind effective internet connectivity options and also take a look at how you are showcasing your content.
Do your research before you choose a default colour
Symbology through colour can make choosing a default colour for a culturally friendly webpage quite challenging.
Many colours have different connotations depending on the culture and each meaning must be taken into consideration. Think about who exactly your target audience is going to be and then do some research into the colours you have chosen for your local page.
It's not just back ground colours but colours used in photographs or in text that may give off a meaning that isn't suitable for your brand.
Check for legal complications
Exporting and selling goods internationally can sometimes attract government and legal requirements depending on what you are selling.
If this does apply to you be sure to address these restrictions or regulations on your website - and be sure to have them set up in different languages. If you use ecommerce on your website you may need to program your software to restrict sales on any product that may require certain licensing or regulations.
Be sure to always be clear with your clients - especially when it comes to legal and government notices.
About GoHospitality.com.au
GoHospitality.com.au is an online business directory servicing the hospitality industry. Owned and operated by Catch, an online division of Reed Business Information Australia, GoHospitality.com.au provides a comprehensive central online source containing the latest product, company and industry news updates. www.gohospitality.com.au
Colour Visions sneak preview - Part II
We're just moments away from the fourth edition of Design Futures - Colour Visions. As with previous events, the Design Futures feature is a two-part look at the most striking trends of the coming season.
The first element is the not-to-be-missed central feature of exhibitors, guests, exclusive bespoke designs and top international products never before seen in Australia. The second aspect is the Design Futures seminar this Friday where we'll beyond the product and look at the inspiration that is driving these new and exciting styles.
Here is a sneak peek of the projects and designers we'll be looking to for insight in our three Colour Visions theme - Perception, Provocation and Nature's Laboratory...
Perception -
Sensory illusions are created to induce heightened experiences as designers explore not only what we see, but how we see it.
Mathieu Lehanneur's Demain est un Autre Jour (Tomorrow is Another Day - Image courtesy of Mathieu Lehanneur
Nendo at Carpenters Workshop Gallery, Paris - Image by New Black Global Trends
Provocation -
Unconventional ideas, previously confined to the realm of personal expression, are being embraced as artists and designers use colour to challenge the status quo.
Panic Room by Tilt - Au Vieux Panier
Mutation series by Maarten de Ceulaer - Image courtesy of Maarten de Ceulaer
'altdeutsche grandfather clock' by Studio Job for moooi - Image courtesy of Studio Job
Nature's Laboratory -
The natural world has evolved to seduce and repel and in response we have developed ways to capture these incredible colours and effects.
'Autarky by Formafantasma - Image courtesy of Formafantasma'
Misfit collection by Hella Jongerius - Image courtesy of Hella Jongerius
Genty Marshall represents a new generation in design trend analysis and forecasting. Within this age of trend-watchers, the editing of information to provide a basis for action is a specialised skill. The careful selection of relevant and actionable trends for a diverse range of clients was the guiding principle for Genty to start her own international consultancy, New Black Global Trends.
Design Futures at Decoration + Design has provided an inspirational jumping point for many interior designers and architects, providing an inspired look at the future; how that future influences the way we live, interact, socialise and work; and how that in turn affects design.
Design Futures returns to Melbourne at Decoration + Design from 19 - 22 July 2012 - registrations are now open so you can register to visit and witness Genty's fourth installment of this inspiring trend platform.
Visit decorationdesign.com.au
Design Futures proudly acknowledge the support of Safari Living as the Carnovsky collaboration sponsor;
and Godfrey Hirst as the Design Futures' Flooring Sponsor.
See things in a green light - Putting existing materials to new uses is an exciting frontier in the quest for sustainability
Written by Joanne Brookfield via The Age (Domain) online
A brick holds open a door. Bricks, we know, were not originally designed to be doorstops; however, they can be reinterpreted for this purpose. Would a brick ordinarily be considered an eco-material? Green? Sustainable? No, but in using this existing material in a new way, it suddenly becomes all those things.
As design discourse is dominated by sustainability, the solution is not just using ''green'' materials. The challenge for designers, Chris Lefteri says, is to think about materials in innovative ways. ''How do we reappropriate materials that were never designed to be eco?'' he says.
Lefteri studied industrial design at the Royal College of Art in London. His Wee Willie Winkie college project - a stepped side table with a fluorescent laminate that would glow in the dark to reassure children getting to sleep - marked his interest in the alternative use of materials.
Since then, he has written more than half a dozen books on the topic and is recognised as a leading authority on materials and their application in design.
''I'm really interested how you can take a material from one place and put it somewhere else,'' says Lefteri, who will be one of the guests at the coming International Industry Seminar Series at Furnitex and Decoration + Design, speaking about ''the importance of new materials''.
Designers have always experimented with materials, of course. Lefteri gives the example of the Pratone chair. To sit on the piece, which is shaped like an oversized patch of lawn and has a commensurate sense of play, one must nestle between the tall blades of grass. Using polyurethane foam, it was designed in the 1960s when ''plastic was the future''.
But in 2012, with plastic being ''the worst thing in the whole world now'', the emphasis, and urgency, is on finding materials to work with that are environmentally friendly.
''They're important because we need to change the way that we consume things,'' Lefteri says.
''We will continue to consume things, we will not stop buying products, we will not stop replacing our phones every 18 months. How do we deal with this? How do we address this through design? Through material selection? Through the way we evaluate materials that are available to us?''
Shape-memory materials, for example, can be made in one shape, which will change once heat is applied to it. He says screws for a mobile phone could be made out of this. Once the phone is ready to be discarded, it could be dropped into hot water, activating the screws to change shape and unwind, disassembling to make the sorting and recycling of the other parts much easier.
Lefteri says if you looked up ''shape memory materials'' online, ''you would never see the words 'eco' or 'sustainability', nothing. But if you think about that material in a new way, then you have something which is just as sustainable without carrying that big biodegradable, bio-material label, so that re-appropriation is really important.''
Read more at domain.com.au
See Chris Lefteri discuss `The Importance of New Materials' at the International Industry Seminar Series during Furnitex and Decoration + Design on Friday July 20 at 9.30am
Why are new materials such a big part of contemporary life? By exploring stories of today, tomorrow and the future that capture the innovations in materials defining our lives this seminar will explore why materials have become such an important part of design, culture and business over the last ten years.
Tickets are $49.50 from furnitex.com.au
The Hot 5 EDIT with Interiors Addict
If she had to choose from the 100s of brands on offer at Decoration + Design, what would Interiors Addict editor, Jen Bishop seek out? We asked the popular interiors blogger to give us the top 5 exhibitors she's currently coveting.
Interiors Addict founder and editor, Jen Bishop is a British magazine publisher and editor living in Sydney, who dreams of being an interior stylist. Her blog, voted one of 20 to watch in 2012 by Problogger, contains interviews with the top stylists and designers from Australia and across the globe. Interiors Addict is your one stop shop for industry interviews, beautiful photos, real homes, gorgeous homewares, the best websites, shops and blogs. Jen is a self-confessed neat freak (Hello, Monica from Friends!) who loves nothing more than losing herself in interiors magazines, arranging and rearranging furniture and taking a peek inside other people's homes!
1. Armadillo & Co.
For really cool, on trend rugs that will make a statement, check out Armadillo & Co at stand AC06. Their rugs are all handmade to the highest ethical standards and the designs are really cool. Whether you like a natural fibre look or something more colourful, every piece is fair trade and crafted from sustainable natural fibers including pure wool, jute, cotton and hemp.
2. Unitex International
Unitex Rugs (stand 026) have some stunning quality rugs, whether you're looking for plain, shag, cowhide, patterned or colourful, at a variety of price points.
3. H&H Collections
H&H Collection (stand AF20) s a fantastic lighting range from Hermon & Hermon, a Melbourne homewares institution. You may have seen the store featured on the latest series of The Block.
4. Enjoy Lighting flameless candles
Enjoy Lighting (stand AB24) produce, in my opinion, the best quality flameless candles on the Australian market. Well worth a look.
5. Boyd Blue
Boyd Blue, at stand AG36, source furniture, homewares, art, rugs and lighting from all over the globe and their range is impressive. They've been supplying the industry for 13 years and they always have something new I'm lusting after!
To see the complete Decoration + Design exhibitor list visit, decorationdesign.com.au
Utilitarian by design
Led by product designer Kain Lucas, UTE manufactures Australian designed products with a focus on utilitarian application. The name "Ute" is a simple abbreviation of the word "utilitarian", and is a uniquely Australian word which captures the spirit, belief, and focus of the company.
Their philosophy is to create products that are beautiful in design under their motto `Design that Works', while maintaining a focus on simple functionality and a high level of aesthetic refinement and quality.
"Ute is not in the business of producing products that fit with current fashion and trends; instead we choose to focus on products that possess timeless appeal through honest, simple and creative design and well considered approach to material selection."
Watch our video chat with UTE founder and designer, Kain Lucas before he exhibits at Design:Made:Trade from 19-22 July in the Royal Exhibition Building, concurrent with Furnitex and Decoration + Design. VIsit the website for more information; designmadetrade.com.au
Are back-links to our website important?
A strong web presence is essential to generating leads and sales for any modern business, whatever the product or service. Designing and building an attractive and easily navigable website that complements your company's brand is a solid investment but, however attractive and user friendly your website is, its success is dependent on potential customers in your target market being able to find it.
Kylie Tabrett is the Account Manager for GoHospitality.com.au, an online business directory servicing the Australian hospitality industry. With degrees in Hospitality, Events Management, Sales and Marketing, Kylie began her career in events management and online media sales. She has worked on national online advertising campaigns, created proposals and promotion ideas for major Australian hotels and has worked with major sponsors at industry trade shows.
SEO and links
In order for potential customers to find your website, it is important to plan and implement an SEO (search engine optimisation) strategy. Having good SEO is what helps your website to rank highly on the pages of website engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo; the aim being to appear high up on the first page of keyword search results.
Search engines use sophisticated algorithms to determine which websites are most relevant and rank highest when internet users search for a keyword or combination of keywords. They 'crawl' the web, calculating which webpages are most relevant to the word, question or phrase being searched for.
Linking is one of the most powerful tools available to help the search engines find your website and increase its ranking. Linking should be given high priority as part of your SEO strategy.
Backlinking
There are two types of links - inbound and outbound. Outbound linking is when you place links to another website on your page and inbound, or backlinking, is when other websites place a link to your website.
When search engines are crawling the web, the highest ranking search results it delivers are based on the calculated credibility and relevance of your website. Part of its calculation is based on the number and the quality of these backlinks.
In order for a backlink to be considered high quality it should be from a website that is relevant to the content of your website for example if you sell catering equipment a backlink from a restaurant would be very relevant, but one from a stamp collecting website would not. In fact, links from irrelevant websites may actually help your website to fall in ranking.
In essence these backlinks act as a recommendation from other authorities in your field and industry. They indicate that you have a useful and trustworthy website. If highly ranked websites back-link to you then you borrow from their credibility, helping your site to rank even higher.
In short websites with a high number of relevant websites backlinking to its pages will rank much higher than a website with an even larger number of irrelevant links, or one with only a handful of relevant backlinks. Search engines reward websites with high numbers of backlinks that have naturally built up over time.
Backlinking and anchor text
Anchor text is the name for link text and is a highly effective but underused SEO tool. The hyperlinks on many websites use text or buttons that say 'click here'. This text is completely irrelevant to the content of the web page.
If your website sells gourmet ice cream a hyperlink that reads 'explore the full range of ice cream flavours' and is surrounded by relevant content will enhance the ranking of your website.
What about outbound linking?
Whilst not as highly weighted as backlinking, outbound links are also taken into account by search engine algorithms when ranking your site. For this reason, and the fact that it builds up good will and possible reciprocal backlinks, it is important to link to other websites.
Ensure that you only link to relevant or highly regarded websites, as once again you can find your rankings lowered when linked to untrustworthy websites.
Increasing backlinks
There are a number of methods that can help to increase the number of quality links to your web pages, the starting point of course being to have an easily navigable site with relevant and good quality content. Increase backlinks by:
- Use diagnostic tools that can be found on the web to find out who is linking to you and ensure that the anchor text they are using is relevant
- Submit interesting press releases to credible online publications who will post them online along with hyperlinks
- Use social media to let people know about your company, service and products; posting relevant and interesting links on facebook or twitter can lead to lots of reposting and new links
- Create a buzz; run events, online competitions or surveys etc. that your target market will find of interest and pass on links to
- Let other relevant companies know about your products, services, news and activities
About GoHospitality.com.au
GoHospitality.com.au is an online business directory servicing the hospitality industry. Owned and operated by Catch, an online division of Reed Business Information Australia, Go Hospitality provides a comprehensive central online source containing the latest product, company and industry news updates.
Part 2: The Essential 6 interior insights with trend forecaster Milou Ket
In the last edition of Furniture Online we brought you the first three most influential international themes from internationally acclaimed trend forecaster, Milou Ket's new INTERIORS book.
This is the second installment with their corresponding colour cards. Colour has been the starting point to compose this book and it will take centre place after a less colourful period. We are looking for comfort, homeliness, warmth and consolation in our interiors.
In this issue we reveal the final three themes of the essential 6 including;
Bright Kaleidoscope - bright, almost neon and fluorescent colours, especially meant for accessories and for eye-catching products that stand by itself.
Journey through Time - warm colours for retro recycled, reclaimed products and ethnic products from all over the globe.
"Nocturnal Luxury - based on rich dark colours, for classical interiors with a twist, or minimalistic loft-like interiors, excecuted in luxurious materials.
4.BRIGHT KALEIDOSCOPE
Here very bright colours, especially neon and fluorescent colours determine the theme, which gives an acid contrast. Often they are applied in combination with white, a light neutral or with a pastel colour as ground and act then as an accent colour. The products are not allways entirely coloured, but just the legs, the bottom or a part. Sometimes they are combined with black. With these bright colours the materials are often artificial and man-made, such as glass, perspex, bio-plastics, nylon thread, and resin. Grading of colour is important. The effect of light plays a major role, such as the use of led's, transparency and projections. We see often monochromes, colour blocks, rainbow effects, geometric and pop-art patterns, but also multicolour stripes and coloured photoprints. Shiny and glossy materials are important to make the colours stand out even more. We see spirographic linear, hypnotic and psychedelic prints. Marimekko prints make a comeback. The effect of these bright colours is happy, uncomplicated and cheerful. They remind us of the 50-ies and 6o-ties.
COLOURS
A true change in colour: very bright, almost acid like neon and fluorescent colours. Here the range consists of a few pastel colours, and some brighter colours. They may be applied for solid object, but they are also combined with a neutral colour such as beige, or natural wood, and white. As colours we see neon yellow, lime green, sweet pink, bright orange, bright pink, signal red, sweet blue and bright turquoise.
5. JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
In this theme we see a mix of retro influences, especially vintage products from the sixties and seventies with the patina of wood and slightly faded colours, affected by time. Often we see design classics that are revived. The colour of wood is prominent. Products from the Industrial era make a comeback, such as recycled industrial lamps, large printed letters, old metal drawers. They give the interior character. But also we see ethnic influences, from all over the world, especially the Orient, but also Arabia, Africa, Turkmenistan, the American Indians, India, etc. It is a combination of the traditional, the handcrafted and the handmade, with the industrial. Restored, repaired, re-used and adapted. Traces of the past, imperfections and irregularities give the products their identity, such as oxidation, patchwork, and hand-crafted looks. Traditional handicrafts and techniques are valued again, such as knitting, crochet, dyeing by hand, ikat, embroideries etc. Creased and scratched looks, natural materials and stone-washed effects are in demand. Often dark brown is the basic colour. Think of the colours of old paint on wood or metal. The products are old, or have an antique finish for more authenticity.
COLOURS
The colours for this direction are warm, slightly faded. They are like primary colours on wood or metal, that are affected by time. Often they are combined with a warm brown to evoke this vintage effect. We see as colours: faded pink, faded orange, old yellow, warm red, mid blue, mid green, faded peacock and warm brown.
6. NOCTURNAL LUXURY
In this theme dark colours prevail. The open spaces are luxurious. We see spaces and furniture with clean lines, loft-like with high ceilings, sumptuous and luxurious materials and fabrics. The furniture consists of luxurious wide modular pieces, that can be combined as desired. Black makes a come-back as the most important colour, with different shades of black. Or in combination with white for a bold graphic effect, or with bright colour accents such as yellow, red or orange. With these luxurious materials we see also an emphasis on metallics: gold, copper, silver, but also coloured metallics. Brown in combination with beiges is important as well. The play with different textures is important, smooth opposed to textures such as leather, wood, fur, reptile. Wallpaper plays a major role. We see often large patterns as wallpaper. But we see also luxurious materials, textures and irregularity in the finish of walls. Tactility will play a major role. It is about the tension between different materials, such as matte and shine, the play of light and shadow and high/low relief and different textures, to make it exciting. Everything is extra large and we often see symmetry and repetition.
COLOURS
This colour card consists of very dark colours. We see ink blue, old gold, copper, deep magenta, deep blue green, chocolate brown, anthracite grey and black. Black is for sure the most important colour. It may be combined with white for a graphic effect, or with bright colours such as red, yellow or orange. Matte and shine and opposites in texture give a subtle colour effect.
DON'T MISS MILOU'S STYLING & DESIGN SEMINAR AT DECORATION + DESIGN
Milou returns to Melbourne as special guest of the International Industry Seminar Series to present `STYLING & DESIGN' on Thursday 19 July from 2.45 to 3.45pm.
In this inspiring seminar Milou explores emerging design themes for the 2013/14 home. She will share her inspiring vision of future materials, structures and form in product development, including bedding, bath, ceramics and more.
For more information and to secure your seat, visit decorationdesign.com.au - TICKETS ARE SELLING FAST!
Colour Visions sneak preview
Johannes Itten once said, "Only those who love colour are admitted to its beauty and immanent presence. It affords utility to all, but unveils its deeper mysteries only to its devotees."
As a self-confessed colour devotee, I'll be summonsing the full spectrum for our next edition of Design Futures - Colour Visions.
Visitors will be treated to an exclusive exhibition of Australian debuts, custom installations and leading new products as both local and international designers respond to the personal and universal phenomenon of colour.
Don't miss Godfrey Hirst's collaboration with New Black to produce a custom gradient floorscape in their unique Designer Jet carpet, or the Australian debut of the incredible RGB Wallpaper designs by Carnovsky in partnership with Safari Living.
Bespoke designs by Marc Pascal, North St Flowers and Rowena Martinich will also be presented alongside our select Design Futures contributors. Stay tuned for more glimpses of this Decoration + Design exclusive over the coming weeks.
Custom lighting feature to be produced by Marc Pascal
Rowena Martinich will inspire and provoke in an exclusive custom installation 
Carnovsky's RGB wallpapers are sure to change the way you see colour
For more on this feature within Design Futures, read; "Design Futures: Shifting through the Carnovsky colour spectrum" on the Decoration + Design Blog. 
Experience natural luxury in the inherent colour of Velieris' alpaca fleece carpets
Step into nature's colour laboratory with North St Flowers
Genty Marshall represents a new generation in design trend analysis and forecasting. Within this age of trend-watchers, the editing of information to provide a basis for action is a specialised skill. The careful selection of relevant and actionable trends for a diverse range of clients was the guiding principle for Genty to start her own international consultancy, New Black Global Trends.
Design Futures at Decoration + Design has provided an inspirational jumping point for many interior designers and architects, providing an inspired look at the future; how that future influences the way we live, interact, socialise and work; and how that in turn affects design.
Design Futures returns to Melbourne at Decoration + Design from 19 - 22 July 2012 - registrations are now open so you can register to visit and witness Genty's fourth installment of this inspiring trend platform.
Visit decorationdesign.com.au
Design Futures proudly acknowledge the support of Safari Living as the Carnovsky collaboration sponsor;
and Godfrey Hirst as the Design Futures' Flooring Sponsor.
David Hicks says there's no right or wrong in design, own what you like and be the best at it
Melbourne interior designer David Hicks is living the dream right now. Last month alone he opened an LA office and was a finalist in the Belle | Coco Republic Interior Design Awards.
Interiors Addict founder and editor, Jen Bishop is a British magazine publisher and editor living in Sydney, who dreams of being an interior stylist. Her blog, voted one of 20 to watch in 2012 by Problogger, contains interviews with the top stylists and designers from Australia and across the globe. Interiors Addict is your one stop shop for industry interviews, beautiful photos, real homes, gorgeous homewares, the best websites, shops and blogs. Jen is a self-confessed neat freak (Hello, Monica from Friends!) who loves nothing more than losing herself in interiors magazines, arranging and rearranging furniture and taking a peek inside other people's homes!
Incorporating beautiful vintage pieces has always been a feature of Hicks' work and while importing many of these from the States, one thing led to another and the company now has a permanent base there. "For the past five years our office has had a love affair with vintage furniture," says Hicks. "We incorporate select collector quality pieces in most of our work.
Due to our relationships with suppliers in the US we decided to have a member of staff on the ground there to help with sourcing. From that came a couple of projects and now an office!" It was officially launched during the Legends of the La Cienega design event which they took part in.
David, who has already been to LA twice this year, has an architect over there managing projects so the logistics are surprisingly easy and the international exposure has been fantastic. "We are suddenly seen as an international design company and are receiving some amazing job enquiries that we would probably not get if we were just based in Australia."
The style of work doesn't change between countries, as one might expect. "I like to think of the work we do already being of an international standard so it could really belong anywhere in the world," says David, who prides himself on a signature modern luxe look. While some LA designers are also going for this look, he says they tend to be over the top and not very European in their detailing. "This is where I see our design fitting into a niche. Our clients over in LA are a lot more private about what we are doing for them. It is strange as they are much more into self promotion but when it comes to their homes they are more closed."
Read the complete David Hicks interview at theinteriorsaddict.com
DON'T MISS JEN BISHOP & DARREN PALMER AT THE INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY SEMINAR SERIES AS THEY PRESENT 'HARNESSING THE POWER OF PR & SOCIAL MEDIA TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS'
Learn from renowned industry experts Jen Bishop editor of Interiors Addict and Darren Palmer of Darren Palmer Interiors about blogging, social media and editorial; how you can get your business or practice publicised; and build your profile.
Whether you are a designer, decorator, consult from home, or are a retailer, don't miss this opportunity to hear what makes Jen tick and find out first hand from Darren how publicity and the media have helped build his brand.
Don't miss this rare opportunity, tickets are selling fast. BOOK NOW. Visit decorationdesign.com.au
‘I do it for the clients really' - Thomas Hamel on his passion for design and cross-cultural aesthetic
Although his origins are in the United States, award-winning interior designer Thomas Hamel has been based both personally and professionally in Australia since 1990. It's this unique cross over of cultures that has also awarded Hamel an inimitable design aesthetic, one that combines influences from both his Sydney base and American heritage with commanding results.
"Even though design aesthetic has simplified and modernised globally over the years I have been living in Sydney, the biggest influence Australia has given me is to EDIT," he says. "Rather than cramming ‘more' in a room which American design seems to recommend, I now analyse each element of an interior. Pieces should have room to breathe and be able to make a statement on their own.
"I have simplified my colour palette being I find dark rich colours not really suitable for the strong light. In Melbourne one can be more daring with colour and I love that Victorian clients do experiment more confidently for the drama!"
Before his presentation at the International Industry Seminar Series during Decoration + Design, Hamel took time out of his busy schedule to chat with Furniture Online on the inspirational cities that influence his work; how he creates `total living environments'; and how he prepares for his diverse design projects.
Your work takes you to some of the most inspirational cities across the globe, what are some of your favourite destinations? Why?
For basic shopping and interior inspirations - Los Angeles is fantastic as there is a sympathetic design principle to Australia. The showrooms and shops are good scale and you can find an array of suitable items at all price points. As a side trip Palm Springs less than 2 hours away from Los Angeles is interior shopping heaven. For more exotic destinations nothing beats Istanbul for inspiration. The layers of history are incredible and it shows in the products available. I usually come home with shipments of basics like towels, soaps, silver but also antique inlaid tables and chairs plus there is a strong and creative contemporary scene, great bronze makers! Another place I found shopping paradise was South Africa. South Africans have an Aussie ‘vibe' but mix it wonderfully with ethnic items - I have found wonderful glass and baskets in Cape Town and Plettenberg Bay.
While furnishing and accessorising homes is a huge part of your work, it also states in your online bio that you are equally interested in working tandem with architects, developers, audio/visual engineers and professionals to create `total living environments' - can you elaborate on this concept? What does it entail?
The ideal and most successful projects occur when we are hired as the interior designers for a project at almost the same time as the architects are commissioned. There should be a synthesis from the beginning to make interiors and exteriors work together. My office contains not only designers but architects so we are able to work in tandem with the primary architects - ensuring clients are getting the best results. With the development of 3D visual aides and model making we work with architects and other consultants to show clients exactly how spaces can be created and detailed. With our vision for the "ingredients" that will fill a room, plus the finishes, the interior models we can create are much more understandable to clients than just an architectural skill. Nothing needs to be left to the imagination these days.
You have an incredibly broad design portfolio from residential interiors both on land and at sea on houseboats to redecorating hospitality projects, is this challenging? How do you prepare for such diverse jobs?
We have been fortunate to work on a diverse array of projects; I find there is always a guiding principle though of comfort and avoiding gimmick. Nothing is timeless in our fast paced and evolving world, but I do strive to have my interiors not feel dated. Most of the diverse jobs have also come from repeat clients who understands my design principles and realise they can be translated to interiors as diverse as yachts, planes, ski lodges or beach houses.
Can you talk us through some of your favourite projects? Where and why?
Favourite projects usually come from having an amazing team to work on through the course of the job, hence I usually think of architects and builders I enjoy being with. A project in Provence, France had the most divine young architect called Pascal - I have never seen such passion. The exotic and wonderful surrounds of working in the South of France were just made 100% better by having him on site whistling and showing me a casual approach to life. It also helped that there are amazing resources there for reclaimed stone and wood items - we bought an entire limestone staircase to replace the one in the house - and they delivered it for free - that could never have been a possibility for an Australian house.
You recently released your first publication `Residence', detailing bespoke projects across the globe, how rewarding personally was this project? And was it an opportunity to reflect on your body of work and see how far you've come or the designer you have developed into?
Creating my book ‘Residence' was an enormous chance to step back and reflect upon my accomplishments in Australia. It was also my chance to show the rest of the world how diverse Australian design is and that we can 100% compete with the global market. Nothing has given me greater pleasure than seeing the book in interiors of designers around the world. For example, Jane Churchill had it at the end of her bed in British House & Garden and a Spanish designer had it stacked on a console in his Madrid Mansion in US Elle Décor. I self published the book which gave me the luxurious option of presenting my vision just as I wanted it portrayed. The overseas reaction has been overwhelming and I am thrilled now when I get letters from London or San Francisco telling me how stylish the book and Australian interiors are.
On top of everything we just mentioned, you also launched a collection of hand-printed fabrics in 2010 and custom designed furniture range released early this year, how do you juggle it all?
I have had a very busy few years but I am fortunate to have an amazing team behind me at Thomas Hamel & Associates. My Creative Director, Dylan Farrell and his wife Nicolette have been invaluable in providing me the chance to branch out into the fabric and furniture collections. We spend each day already designing these special pieces and fabric patterns for clients so why not now share them with others. They relocated here from Brooklyn, New York over 2 years ago and share in my passion and love of living in Australia.
What drives you? Where do you draw your inspiration and is it from the industry you work in or otherwise?
Usually one doesn't get the time to reflect and analyse but writing ‘Residence' did afford me a bit of this - when I sat with Barbara Barry in Los Angeles to write the forward she asked me
- ‘and why do you do this work?' My response was immediate - ‘I do it for the clients really'. The money will never be enormous but at the end of a day, when I have received a phone call or note from a thankful client raving about the home I have created for them I am content and satisfied.
There has certainly been added satisfaction from the design industry now recognising my work through the book and publications. I now want to assist young designers as others have
done for me.
You will be a guest speaker at the next Decoration + Design International Industry Seminar Series with your seminar titled ` Current Design & Global Cross Pollination' documenting your journey and discoveries along the way - can you give us a sneak preview of what visitors can expect?
I am looking forward to my upcoming seminar in Melbourne - I hope to share some of my many experiences in an insightful way. My goal will be to illustrate to the Australian design world how fortunate we are. Designers here are amazing at looking to the world for inspirations - it is an Australian trait which I admire very much. It has created a very dynamic country for design which I am proud to be apart of.
CURRENT DESIGN & GLOBAL CROSS POLLINATION
Don't miss Thomas Hamel at Decoration + Design as a guest speaker of the highly anticipated International Industry Seminar Series on Thursday 19 July at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
Today we all have unprecedented access to suppliers and influences from all corners of the globe. The current challenge to designers such as Thomas, a self-professed master of the art of cross-cultural design, is to seamlessly find ways of bringing various cultures together in a harmonious way. Join Thomas as he explains his journey.
For more information on the seminar series or to secure your seat, visit decorationdesign.com.au
The Essential 6... interior insights with trend forecaster Milou Ket
Internationally acclaimed trend forecaster, Milou Ket is renowned for her interior insights and in this special edition of Furniture Online she reveals the most influential international themes from her new INTERIORS book, edition 2013/14.
The book contains both summer and winter themes. There are six themes featured, all with their corresponding colour cards. For weavers, printers and spinners there is a special box with colours, meant for the interior, contract and hospitality market, where cotton yarns are dyed after specification. Besides that, there is a list of the compatible Pantone® cotton colours.
Every theme is shown with it's corresponding colour card, plus more than 200 inspiring materials that match the themes in colour and character.
Colour has been the starting point to compose this book and it will take centre place after a less colourful period. We are looking for comfort, homelyness, warmth and consolation in our interiors.
In this issue we reveal the first three themes of the essential 6 including;
'Harmony and Balance' - It is excecuted in a range of natural colours, where tactility and texture play a major role.
'Sensual & Passionate' - shows a feminine, refined mood, with emphasis on different shades of pink.
'Nature's Evolution' - shades of greens, based on ecological and concious living.
1.HARMONY & BALANCE
This contemporary direction is about space, light and calm. Shaded with peaceful light neutral colours for an austere and reduced atmosphere. To slow down, and to unwind. Natural materials prevail such as wood, cork, braided materials, grass, bamboo, but also fur, hide, leather etc. for texture. White plays an important role. It is back to basic, to the essential, simple and pure. Craftmanship is combined with innovation. Tactility and textures are very important. Eco-awareness and sustainability gain more and more importance. Opposites attract such as soft and hard, light and compact, round and linear, graphic and bulky. Often products are so simple that they look like DIY products, and are inspired by the Scandinavian countries with their nordic light. Motifs from nature are popular such as wolves, feathers, owls, etc. in this theme, often in black and white. Simplicity is combined with luxury, we see metallic shine, but also silver and gold, cellophane, pearls and mother of pearl. Transparency and lightness are important, opposed to the warm naturalness of wood. Striking is the offer of coarsely knitted materials, applied for instance for chairs or to add textures in pillow cases.
Colours
In this colour card we see a range of harmonious neutral colours that fit perfectly together. White is very important. We see bisquit beige, off-white, white, soft yellow, dusty rose, soft grey blue, taupe and coconut brown. Dark brown, grey and black are used in small touches as an accent on these lighter natural colours.
2. SENSUAL & PASSIONATE
In this direction we see several shades of pink, often used tone-in-tone for a very feminine, romantic and refined effect. It is about classical French ideas, but then with a twist, or updated through colour. Florals and lace prevail, especially hand-painted flowers with water colour effect. Jacquards with fruit, and botanical motifs, on light grounds, such as linen, cotton and hemp. Also ikat and tie-and-dye motifs are applied in this direction. Sometimes motifs are highlighted by spots or stripes. Grading remains important, as well as matte and shine, gold and silver as an accent. Animals such as birds, insects, and butterflies are popular motifs. Often prints and weaves are mixed in a free way, for a casual, relaxed effect, like a collage or in patchwork. Old techniques such as embroidery, cross stitch, knitting, crochet, and handcrafted products are very much in demand. 3-D effects continue. White is an important colour to combine, but we see also combinations with a light beige for a more nostalgic, altered effect. Improvising is an important feature in this direction. Vintage finds, and second hand products are repaired and painted. Imperfection is turned into a positive value. This direction appeals especially to young women.
COLOURS
Different shades of rose shades prevail in this theme. We see soft orange, blush, lilac, old rose, raspberry, fuchsia, burned orange, wine red. Mostly these colours are combined with white, for a fresh effect. But they can also be combined with a beige ground. Then the effect is more nostalgic.
3.NATURE'S EVOLUTION
This theme is influenced by sustainability, natural or artificial nature. Florals, foliage, trees and branches are popular topics, as well as all kinds of botanical images, based on natural history books of vegetables, animals, insects etc. We are looking for comfort and soothing consolation by homely products such as warm plaids, textured pillows and cosy used carpets. We share, barter, improvise, recycle and rethink. We enjoy making products ourselves, like knitting, repairing, finding used products, cooking and eating together. Urban gardening has become important, like growing one's own vegetables and herbs and vertical gardening. There are lots of new products to grow plants inside, in bags, bottles and pillows. Eco-awareness and sustainability are important. Country life is valued in the city. Used, recycled, repaired, and improvised products give a casual look. The colours are often vegetal. We see everywhere flexible components of furniture, like hockers and stools, but also modular floor tiles and wall covering. Different shades of blue's and greens are combined. We see collections of all kinds of products, such as frames, but also rare animals as in a curiosity cabinet.
COLOURS
This colour range consists of different shades of greens grading to blue. We see light lime, leaf green, light olive green, moss green, sea green, peacock, deep blue green, and night blue. These colours are often applied tone-in-tone, with light/dark contrasts. They may be combined with white, or beige.TREND FORECAST 2013/14
In the next edition of Furniture Online we reveal the final three themes including, Bright Kaleidoscope; Journey through the past; and Nocturnal Luxury.
MILOU KET / MILOU KET STYLING & DESIGN / THE NETHERLANDS
Seminar 3 / Thursday 19 July / 2.45PM - 3.45PM
Internationally acclaimed trend forecaster Milou Ket returns to Melbourne as a guest speaker of International Industry Seminar Series at Decoration + Design. Milou explores emerging design themes for the 2013/14 home. She will share her inspiring vision of future materials, structures and form in product development, including bedding, bath, ceramics and more.
For more information or to secure your seat, visit decorationdesign.com.au
Trend Spot #5: Metal
All that glitters is not gold and these new precious metal homewares favour character and craftsmanship over brazen bling.
Genty Marshall represents a new generation in design trend analysis and forecasting. Within this age of trend-watchers the editing of information to provide a basis for action is a specialised skill. The careful selection of relevant and actionable trends for a diverse range of clients was the guiding principle for Genty to start her own international consultancy, New Black Global Trends.
Beaten techniques by Tom Dixon and 501 Design Studios give warmth and tactility to cold materials while faceted designs by Kwodrent offer a more intricate intimacy. Lustrous titanium goblets by SUS Gallery are appearing in our favorite European concept stores and give a silken elegance to modern metal.
Metal 001:
Titanium goblets by SUS Gallery
Metal 002:
Galatea cutlery by 501 Design Studio
Metal 003:
Lamp side table by Pols Potten
Metal 004:
Vessels by Sfera
Metal 005:
Eclectic range by Tom Dixon
Metal 006:
Poppy by Kwodrent for FARM
All images © New Black Global Trends
Design Futures at Decoration + Design has provided an inspirational jumping point for many interior designers and architects, providing an inspired look at the future; how that future influences the way we live, interact, socialise and work; and how that in turn affects design.
Design Futures returns to Melbourne at Decoration + Design from 19 - 22 July 2012 - registrations are now open so you can register to visit and witness Genty's fourth installment of this inspiring trend platform.
Visit www.decorationdesign.com.au
Shaynna Blaze on how to use paint colour
The Block judge and Selling Houses Australia co-host Shaynna Blaze is also colour consultant to Taubmans. I asked her some questions about using paint and colour in your home. She reveals how she once painted her living and dining rooms emerald green, that she hates painting ceilings (don't we all?) and she's currently loving grey walls with pops of colour.
Interiors Addict founder and editor, Jen Bishop is a British magazine publisher and editor living in Sydney, who dreams of being an interior stylist. Her blog, voted one of 20 to watch in 2012 by Problogger, contains interviews with the top stylists and designers from Australia and across the globe. Interiors Addict is your one stop shop for industry interviews, beautiful photos, real homes, gorgeous homewares, the best websites, shops and blogs. Jen is a self-confessed neat freak (Hello, Monica from Friends!) who loves nothing more than losing herself in interiors magazines, arranging and rearranging furniture and taking a peek inside other people's homes!
What do you think are the biggest paint colour trends for 2012?
Currently, I am loving greys and tinted neutrals such as Taubmans Abracadabra or Taubmans Silvertop and dark shades such as Taubmans Sheffield Grey and Taubmans Invincible. Teaming grey with hints of tangerines, limes and yellows is also very popular at the moment. As we move towards the end of the year and into 2013, ‘grown up' pastels are becoming increasingly popular and introducing a dark grey to complement these will take the edge off. Accessories are still bold and exciting, with a few more neutrals sneaking in there to balance it out.
Many people play it safe with whites and off whites. Are you a fan of plain walls and adding colour with accessories or do you think people should be a little braver?
I think a combination of both works for a whole house. If you choose bold colours for every room the house can be a bit overwhelming. It's best to select a couple of rooms throughout the house to have a bold colour and keep the rest of the wall colour schemes pretty neutral, then mix your accessories in the neutral areas and pull some of the bold colours from the painted rooms to establish a common link between all of the rooms. If you take a softer approach and add a tinted white or off white, like Taubmans Cosmic Rays which is a soft green, or Taubmans Tightrope which has a taupe colour to it, you can put this in your whole house and give it real impact with Crisp White trims and then add your accessories in either bold or neutral colours or both.
Should you always follow the rule of light colours making a space seem bigger?
It is actually all about linking the surfaces. To make a small room appear larger use a deep, rich colour like Taubmans Ruby Rose and have a matching rug that leads to the wall. By linking the floor and walls in the same colour you are visually joining the surfaces, making it appear bigger.
What's the bravest you have ever been with paint and was it in your home or a client's?
It would definitely be in my own home. I painted the lounge and dining rooms in an emerald green. People were choking when the colour first went up, but when they got used to it I received so many calls asking for the name of the colour as they couldn't get over how great it made them feel while in the space. However, I like to think the company I provided had a little to do with that as well...
Read the full interview with Shaynna Blaze at Interiors Addict HERE.
Trend Spot #3: Illuminating Interiors
Lighting is undoubtedly one of the most defining elements of an interior space and while a simple drum shade can be enormously convenient and practical, it may be time to look a little closer at the source itself.
Genty Marshall represents a new generation in design trend analysis and forecasting. Within this age of trend-watchers the editing of information to provide a basis for action is a specialised skill. The careful selection of relevant and actionable trends for a diverse range of clients was the guiding principle for Genty to start her own international consultancy, New Black Global Trends.
From low energy light bulbs to cutting-edge OLED technology, the innovation over the past few years into energy saving lighting has produced some dynamic and beautifully resolved designs. Keep an eye out for the stunning work of Beau McClellan when he joins us as a speaker for the International Industry Seminar Series at Decoration + Design, Melbourne from July 19-22. Stay tuned for more details.
Cosmic Leaf incasso. Design by Ross Lovegrove for Artemide
Vessel series by Decode, featuring Plumen bulbs
Eclipse installation by Beau McClellan, Design Junction
Close-up - Eclipse installation by Beau McClellan, Design Junction
Big Bang OLED design by Blackbody
Madame Cloud OLED design by BlackBody
Design Futures at Decoration + Design has provided an inspirational jumping point for many interior designers and architects, providing an inspired look at the future; how that future influences the way we live, interact, socialise and work; and how that in turn affects design.
Design Futures returns to Melbourne at Decoration + Design from 19 - 22 July 2012 - registrations are now open so you can register to visit and witness Genty's fourth installment of this inspiring trend platform.
Visit www.decorationdesign.com.au
The perspex boxes that are like tapas for furniture
When I first saw Georgia Ezra's perspex, customisable furniture, I fell in love with it immediately and had to find out more. Little did I know the young designer behind the CAJA brand would also turn out to be a trapeze artist! Seriously cool, no?
Interiors Addict founder and editor, Jen Bishop is a British magazine publisher and editor living in Sydney, who dreams of being an interior stylist. Her blog, voted one of 20 to watch in 2012 by Problogger, contains interviews with the top stylists and designers from Australia and across the globe. Interiors Addict is your one stop shop for industry interviews, beautiful photos, real homes, gorgeous homewares, the best websites, shops and blogs. Jen is a self-confessed neat freak (Hello, Monica from Friends!) who loves nothing more than losing herself in interiors magazines, arranging and rearranging furniture and taking a peek inside other people's homes!
Georgia, 25, studied at UNSW and graduated with a Bachelor of Interior Architecture, first-degree honors. The following year, she moved to Melbourne for her first job, where she completed many award-winning designs, one of which (Suds Launderette) was shortlisted in the 2011 IDA Awards. Then in November last year she went out on her own and started up G.A.B.B.E Interior Design, a multidisciplinary practice, which prides itself on a creative approach.
"I always explore ways to look outside the conventional box," she says. "I concentrate largely on custom made design, placing incredible attention to detail."
Being a trapeze artist, she says the colours, costumes and choreography of Cirque de Soleil inspire her. She is also influenced by the 10 months she spent living in Spain. "I am absolutely influenced by European culture. I draw Inspirations in all my designs - interior and furniture. I am incredibly passionate about textures, colours and art."
Her original perspex bookcase design, Camouflage, was inspired by the illusion of books piled one on top of the other with no support system. "As the books are consciously organised in a shifted manner by a hidden system, there is a sense of structured and controlled chaos. The image of the stacked books draws a strong sense of visual aesthetic and thus it was felt necessary to house the books by a perspex box, framing the beauty of the ordered book spines," she explains. "As the product is constructed for the placement and stacking of books, it mainly acts as a bookshelf. The size, form and thickness of the perspex structure allow it to take on other functions too."
An artwork and display unit in itself, the unit also works as seating, bedside tables or occasional side tables.
To read more, visit Interiors Addict, www.theinteriorsaddict.com
Trend Spot #4: Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan
Once again the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan was the launch pad for the most exciting designs of the season, both in and around the fair. But with so many new products and inspirational installations it can be hard to know where to start!
Genty Marshall represents a new generation in design trend analysis and forecasting. Within this age of trend-watchers the editing of information to provide a basis for action is a specialised skill. The careful selection of relevant and actionable trends for a diverse range of clients was the guiding principle for Genty to start her own international consultancy, New Black Global Trends.
After his visit to Decoration + Design in 2011, we couldn't wait to see what British designer Lee Broom had to offer in his first solo exhibition in Milan. Entitled Public House, the show presented a selection of Broom's hero pieces as well as his new product release for 2012, Crystal Bulb.
Public House by Lee Broom. Image via Lee Broom
Spazio Rossana Orlandi was once again the home of style and sophistication with the release of some delightful designs including the 38 series chandelier designed by Omer Arbel for Bocci, the Colour Porcelain collection by Dutch designers Scholten & Baijings with 1616 Arita Japan and the Growing Vases collection by Nendo.
38 Series Chandelier by Omer Arbel for Bocci. Images via Bocci
Colour Porcelain collection by Scholten & Baijings. Image via Dezeen
Growing Vases collection by Nendo. Image via Nendo
In other zones, the Mutation Series by Maarten De Ceulaer and Molo's Paper Music installation at MOST gave visitors a glimpse of the vibrant designs that we'll be seeing here in the seasons to come.
Mutation Series by Maarten De Ceulaer. Images via Maarten De Ceulaer
Paper Music by Molo at MOST. Image via Molo
Design Futures at Decoration + Design has provided an inspirational jumping point for many interior designers and architects, providing an inspired look at the future; how that future influences the way we live, interact, socialise and work; and how that in turn affects design.
Design Futures returns to Melbourne at Decoration + Design from 19 - 22 July 2012 - registrations are now open so you can register to visit and witness Genty's fourth installment of this inspiring trend platform.
Visit www.decorationdesign.com.au
The Delectability of Juxtaposition and Upcycling
Variance in all elements of design can be used to achieve the desired effect when furnishing and decorating. Colour when carefully calibrated, does much to create a certain mood; cleverly manipulated lines (strongly or softly) entice your visual focus and provide ambient direction. Similarly, the well layered use of texture can be tailored either in under or overtones to harmonise a concept, just as convincingly as the repetition or rhythm of shapes can unify a space.
Jennifer Sargent is the creative conscience behind award winning Zing Interiors. Starting out with her own wholesaling business featuring unique giftware and home furnishings she moved into her next project of designing/building her own residence. After many inquiries into the distinctive architectural design, dynamic colour combinations and presentational flair of her home, she quickly formalised her talents to become a qualified stylist and member of the Design Institute of Australia with a Diploma of Creative Visual Arts-Interior Styling and Certificate IV in Design.
Visual communication, bordering on trickery, is afforded through the subtle or overt differentiation of light, pattern, size and even decor styles or genres. Like a spotted zebra, contrast is a show stopper! "Atelier" Abigail Ahern is well known for her "affinity for mixing seemingly disparate objects". She is a master at using contrast this way. She has a signature ability to strike with maximum impact and her resonant styling of discord is more explicit than most decorators.
I too like to harness the power of bold contrast as an effective design tool. I love the way differentiation adds some 'zing' and demands your attention. As an involuntary response, your eyes are drawn to the 'piece de resistance' that strategically stands out in the crowd, or conversely; the mind is manipulated away from negative space to the contradictory hero. Divergence provides such an effective method of making a focal point, or at the very least, a statement; within a space. Even in its subtler instances, it performs its duty and is victorious in effect (to either attain or challenge balance).
One of my favourite decorating techniques is to feature diversity of purpose. I like to visualise potential alternatives. I particularly love being resourceful and using objects or materials that would otherwise be doomed as future landfill (if left to solely fulfil their original intention). I delight in the creativity of it. I enjoy the irreverence of the innovation and the ingenuity of the new interpretation is totally gratifying.
The unexpected way the new function and old form fuse together so cleverly and with such unpredictable harmony is what impacts as contrast. For example, that a cricket ball (or a collection of them rather) comes back to life as an ottoman. It is often the incongruity of the material and its reincarnation which makes it the design statement or renders the outcome a conversation piece.
Recent years have seen a rapid growth of designers and interior decorators who celebrate their responsibility and opportunities to reduce, reuse, recycle and more recently, re-purpose.
This has resulted from an enhanced awareness of global resources nearing depletion and subsequent demand from a new breed of consumers, who seek products with a conscience rather than mass produced goods and trends with an expiry date. Necessity (remember- the mother of all invention) has compelled the re-instatement of innovation.
Fifteen years ago, when I sold my own hand made range of soft furnishings, craft was almost a dirty word. It was the time when the market was only just beginning to appreciate unique instead of licensed product. Fortunately, the more artful and hand made the item these days, the better. Craft is respected as a design skill and is valued as an end in itself not just as a means to being thrifty. It is now so PC to be resourceful and inventive.
Beauty is recognised through ingenuity and artisans abound at furniture and furnishing trade fairs, known as among the hottest talent to be found. The aisles are burgeoning with a new generation of suppliers who have moved beyond using reclaimed timber (for example) to being industrious with off cuts and considering an alternate destiny for their waste products.
I am certainly not the only design professional on the band wagon (or should I say dump truck) applauding them. A whole new vocabulary has emerged validating this movement of responsible resourcefulness and innovation. "Up cycling" is the transformation of unwanted materials or objects into products with a new, higher purpose or value (economical, environmental or aesthetic).
Inside Out magazine moreover has taken this one step further to label design experts in the art of juxtaposing modern items against 'resurrected discards' as "Supercyclers". There is a "do good" kind of comfortable drama in contrasting the 're-invented' with the contemporary. So enthusiastically embraced and globally validated, we are already content with a balance of the state of the art with relics from the past, to the point where a new style has emerged in its own right.
The utilisation of a material or object in a way which starkly contrasts its original function has become the new style. In a similar way that we indulge the industrial, vintage and retro styles, we embrace the nostalgic and arrive at this; the new acceptable, eclectic aesthetic.
Yet upcycling is not the latest fad. It is borne out of and will be perpetuated by necessity. There is no going back to flippant and frivolous fashions that require the frequent and wasteful renovation and redecoration of our homes.
We now welcome the unexpected, the incongruous yet harmonious mix and we even enjoy the design irony. The irony lies in the juxtaposition of the innovated purpose with the original application.
By way of contrasting purpose, the intriguing juxtaposition of it inherently attracts your attention. Why is it delectable? It is such a revolution of design that it boastfully screams "look at me, look what I can do now.....see how clever I am"! It then commands your respect for having done so.
Up cycling resolve design's former flaw by doing away with functional or fashionable obsolescence and the by-product of wastage. Why is it delectable? We are finally filling holes with pegs. And how!
How wonderful it is that my penchant for juxtaposition and passion for upcycling provides the perfect vehicle for creative expression, as well as the opportunity to support sustainably designed/ made products for my clients' renovating and decorating projects. You should be so lucky!
Head to the Decoration + Design Blog for Jennifer's tips on how you can save from a trip to the tip and `funk up your junk' HERE.
Trend Spot #2: Garden Envy
After spending hours strolling around the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show last week, all I can think about is plants. Ferns, succulents, veggie patches, herbs on the windowsill, graceful natives, bulbs, basil and bougainvillias.
Genty Marshall represents a new generation in design trend analysis and forecasting. Within this age of trend-watchers the editing of information to provide a basis for action is a specialised skill. The careful selection of relevant and actionable trends for a diverse range of clients was the guiding principle for Genty to start her own international consultancy, New Black Global trends.
But despite the perfect weather and a wicked green thumb, there isn't a patch of earth in my 2nd floor apartment and if I put another pot on my balcony it will probably collapse.
So for myself as much as anyone I've put together some of my favorite indoor greening designs for a modern interior. Time to get dirty.
Hanging pods by Agence Art Terre, Paris. Available through Design For Use. Image courtesy of New Black Global Trends.
Herb terracotta pots by Nick Fraser. Image courtesy of New Black Global Trends.
Indoor and outdoor planters by Bacsac. Image courtesy of New Black Global Trends.
Sky Planter by BOSKKE. Available through Design For Use.
Urban Garden plant bag by Patrick Nadeau for Authentics.
Turn the Season rug by Yvette Laduk - YLDesign. Image courtesy of New Black Global Trends.
Green Pillow planter by Agence Art Terre, Paris. Available through Design For Use. Image courtesy of New Black Global Trends.
DESIGN FUTURES at Decoration + Design has provided an inspirational jumping point for many interior decorators and architects, providing an inspired look at the future; how that future influences the way we live, interact, socialise and work; and how that in turn affects design.
DESIGN FUTURES returns to Melbourne at Decoration + Design from 19 - 22 July 2012 - registrations are now open so you can register to visit and witness Genty's fourth installment of this inspiring trend platform.
Visit www.decorationdesign.com.au
Chelsea Hing: the reality of running your own interior design practice
Chelsea Hing had a strong grounding within top interior design firms before starting her own Melbourne practice five years ago. "It was fantastic as I got to see all the working parts of a design business up close. I loved learning on the job and quickly moved onto bigger things."
Starting her own business was, she says, another massive learning curve. "As any creative knows, there's a tremendous amount of not so glamorous stuff that needs constant attention behind the scenes. It takes a lot of hard work to build a practice and reputation, with long hours to get everything right that never get billed. But when you work for yourself there's a great opportunity to shape your world the way you want to and to choose who you work with which is kind of freeing."
Interiors Addict founder and editor, Jen Bishop is a British magazine publisher and editor living in Sydney, who dreams of being an interior stylist. Her blog, voted one of 20 to watch in 2012 by Problogger, contains interviews with the top stylists and designers from Australia and across the globe. Interiors Addict is your one stop shop for industry interviews, beautiful photos, real homes, gorgeous homewares, the best websites, shops and blogs. Jen is a self-confessed neat freak (Hello, Monica from Friends!) who loves nothing more than losing herself in interiors magazines, arranging and rearranging furniture and taking a peek inside other people's homes!
Working from home on her own to start off with, she was always itching to get out into her own studio space. "I was lucky enough to find this amazing 1850s Italianate Victorian mansion in St Kilda, which has been our base ever since. Over the years, I have worked on developing the business, trying to refine it so it's as efficient as possible to allow me time to spend on the fun creative stuff." These days, Chelsea has the luxury of only choosing to work on the residential projects she really enjoys.
"Residential work requires a different set of skills and sensibilities. People are actually going to live in the space you design. I enjoy building those relationships and making people happy." Chelsea employs another interior designer and a studio manager and calls on a number of freelancers. "I have no plans to expand much larger as I like the more personal connection to the work."
Start as you plan to go on is her design philosophy. "The fundamentals are absolutely critical to getting the details right. There are no shortcuts or magic bullets. Invest in smart, thoughtful planning, layer up with good looking natural (where logical) finishes and finish with the things that create meaning around you."
Her own home, like so many designers it seems, is a work in progress. She shares it with partner Nik Epifanidis, an architecture and interiors photographer. "Funnily enough we also live in another one of St Kilda's landmark Italianate Victorian mansions (in an apartment) with soaring high ceilings, plantation shutters and a good mix of contemporary and classic pieces from the 50s & 70s. Nik's personal photographs line many of the walls. I find myself digging deeper into my black book to source a look that captures my personality. It takes time."
Chelsea is now working on a furniture collection. "Moving into a small apartment, we were starved for space. I needed functional furniture that looked beautiful and could multi-task. The first piece was a bedside table that has a drop down lid to rest your morning coffee on (by the time you have lamp and alarm clock, there's not much space left on top, right?) as well as two drawers and a big space for storing multiple books and magazines that are on constant rotation. The second was a hall console that conceals the household filing, in/out compartments for paid and unpaid bills and a drawer for charging phones and iPad plugged into power inside the drawer." They're the first two pieces from a collection she's calling Five Easy Pieces.
To read the full article, visit Interiors Addict.
Making a difference and embracing change in online content
When designing an effective website or submitting content to other websites or online directories there are some things to consider to ensure you are making the most out of your online presence. When making decisions about what content to upload it is a good idea to try and have different types of online content, such as PDFs and video clips. It is also a good idea to take an objective look at your website, content, branding and design to ensure easy site navigation.
Kylie Tabrett is the Account Manager for GoHospitality.com.au, an online business directory servicing the Australian hospitality industry. With degrees in Hospitality, Events Management, Sales and Marketing, Kylie began her career in events management and online media sales. She has worked on national online advertising campaigns, created proposals and promotion ideas for major Australian hotels and has worked with major sponsors at industry trade shows.
Whilst it isn't essential to have varied content types on your website it is advisable for two main reasons.
User experience
This should be obvious, but sometimes there are so many things to consider that user experience can become overlooked.
The number one reason to design and build a website is to attract visitors and potential customers from your target market. However, they have to find your website first (and this is where SEO comes in to play). Once they have landed on your website they will hopefully find the information that they are looking for and ultimately make a purchase or at least an enquiry.
To fully engage visitors to your website it is essential to invest in:
- An attractive website that reflects your brand, product and services
- A strong hierarchy of pages that are simple to navigate through
- Interesting, relevant and helpful content that is engaging
This final point is where different types of content come into play. You will have a whole variety of visitors, with varying needs, explore your website to learn more about what you do and what you can provide for them.
A short, well thought out video clip, can easily demonstrate products and services much more rapidly and succinctly than a written description. They are also engaging and entertaining and if you can engage your visitors with interesting and helpful content then you are one step closer to a sale.
Some of your site visitors may not have English as a first language, or may have difficulty with reading. Quite simply, people take in and process information in many different ways. By including varied content such as pictures, videos and audio commentary you can reach and interact effectively with a larger proportion of your visitors.
SEO
SEO is all about using techniques to drive the right people to your website. These include key words, back links and valuable content that will help search engines naturally find your site without paying for ads.
At least 80% of visitors to your website will have found it by using a search engine such as Google, Yahoo and MSN. There is absolutely no point in building a beautiful website if these search engines can't find you. SEO strategy is all about making sure that they do locate you, and preferably place you at the top of the first page of search results for key words typed in the search box.
Search engines crawl the web using complex algorithms that have been designed to help searchers to find the information that they are looking for simply and easily. These algorithms use a variety of factors to locate the best suited websites that will deliver both content and user experience.
Using varied types of content on a website enhances user experience and leads them to spend more time exploring the site. Varied content is one of the main things search engines factor into their algorithms. When they find varied content on your website this works to raise its ranking in their results.
Similarly, when submitting press releases as well as news and information about products and services to online publications and specialist directories such as GoHospitality.com.au, you should aim to submit them with photos, videos and PDFs as well.
Getting your products and services referenced on other websites that involve backlinks to your page can help to raise your search result ranking, as well as to direct the other 20% of potential customers to your site.
In short by using different content on your website and directory listings, you make it easier for your target market to find you and increase the likelihood of generating interest and sales by informing, entertaining and engaging your visitors.
About GoHospitality.com.au
GoHospitality.com.au is an online business directory servicing the hospitality industry. Owned and operated by Catch, an online division of Reed Business Information Australia, GoHospitality.com.au provides a comprehensive central online source containing the latest product, company and industry news updates. www.gohospitality.com.au
Trend Spot #1: Creating in Concrete
Brutal? Cold? Boring? Not at all! Concrete is the new material of choice for creative designers and is being seen in everything from fashion to furniture. Tints and treatments vary dramatically and challenge old notions of the material as harsh and uninviting.
Genty Marshall represents a new generation in design trend analysis and forecasting. Within this age of trend-watchers the editing of information to provide a basis for action is a specialised skill. The careful selection of relevant and actionable trends for a diverse range of clients was the guiding principle for Genty to start her own international consultancy.
The pieces that work the best are those that surprise us in the context of the material, for example the concrete fashion accessories by Ivanka, or those with enticing contrasts in the design such as the new lighting by Innermost. And for those wanting the industrial aesthetics of a concrete interior without the retrofit, look out for the stunning wallpapers from Norwegian company, Concrete Wall.
Wallpaper by Concrete Wall via New Black Global Trends
DESIGN FUTURES at Decoration + Design has provided an inspirational jumping point for many interior designers and architects, providing an inspired look at the future; how that future influences the way we live, interact, socialise and work; and how that in turn affects design.
Concrete Lace by Doreen Westphal
Lighting by Innermost
Kitchen by Steininger
Homewares by Ivanka
Handbag by Ivanka
DESIGN FUTURES returns to Melbourne at Decoration + Design from 19 - 22 July 2012 - registrations are now open so you can register to visit and witness Genty's fourth installment of this inspiring trend platform.
Visit www.decorationdesign.com.au
All images via New Black Global Trends
Robyn Holt on her own home, creating stylish interiors and The Renovators
If you only know Robyn Holt as a judge on The Renovators last year, or as former editor of Vogue Living for more than a decade, you don't know the half of it. Robyn's achievements in the publishing, fashion, beauty and interiors industries are nothing short of remarkable. She is also a really lovely lady who can't get enough of fresh flowers or sharing her knowledge with anyone who's interested or passionate about something she knows about. She's headed up fashion label Collette Dinnigan and the Yves Saint Laurent beauty brand and looked after magazines like Vogue, GQ and Monocle all over the world. Suffice to say if I were to list all the impressive things she's done I'd be here all day.
Interiors Addict founder and editor, Jen Bishop is a British magazine publisher and editor living in Sydney, who dreams of being an interior stylist. Her blog, voted one of 20 to watch in 2012 by Problogger, contains interviews with the top stylists and designers from Australia and across the globe. Interiors Addict is your one stop shop for industry interviews, beautiful photos, real homes, gorgeous homewares, the best websites, shops and blogs. Jen is a self-confessed neat freak (Hello, Monica from Friends!) who loves nothing more than losing herself in interiors magazines, arranging and rearranging furniture and taking a peek inside other people's homes!
Having worked in fashion and interiors, Robyn thinks the two are closer linked these days. "I think as the world becomes more connected this link will strengthen," she adds. "But I love the way fabric design or colour palette is slightly mixed when a trend crosses over. Take animal prints that seem to appear almost every season; we have seen rugs, fabrics and wallpapers appear in most ranges but in many cases with a slight twist. It is interesting to know what the current trends are but I am not a great believer of following trends. I believe you should follow your passions in design."
Robyn is currently preparing and presenting a monthly segment for Channel 10's The Circle and loving it. "I thought about all the questions I have been asked over the years and now I'm trying to put them into simple design segments. The one on wallpaper coming up followed the installation of my own powder room. I wanted to show how wallpaper can be as mad and surprising as you wish in a small room that won't dominate or really influence the rest of your interior scheme. The end result is wonderful. I love to just go into that room now. It is so much fun."
Her style at home has changed over the years, starting as traditionalist with a flash of eclectic. "But now I think I am more eclectic with a healthy dose of nature. My house is layers: years of collecting and also living in Russia for four years have influenced my interiors. I love black and white photographs (probably my years in magazines) and I have collected amazing fashion photos over the years. They sit really comfortably side by side with modern art in my house. This is all wrapped up in a deep neutral palette of creams, browns and putty. My way of adding colour is in the form of accessories that can come in and go out."
Robyn's top tips for a stylish home are comfort, fresh flowers and personality. "I really believe your home should be welcoming and comfortable. You know I love flowers in the house and they always say welcome. Add colour and texture. You can't beat a good sofa that you can sink into. Then add your own memories into a room, on a table, on the walls in photos or a collection of books; something that says something about you."
To read the full version of this interivew, visit Interiors Addict at, www.theinteriorsaddict.com
Use online to create a better business environment
Online has made a significant impact to most industries. Whether you are in retail, marketing or hospitality, online has impacted the way you now interact and engage, not just with your target market, but internally throughout your organisation as well. Here are some popular (and maybe some not so popular) ways that businesses can use online to create a positive business culture.
Kylie Tabrett is the Account Manager for GoHospitality.com.au, an online business directory servicing the Australian hospitality industry. With degrees in Hospitality, Events Management, Sales and Marketing, Kylie began her career in events management and online media sales. She has worked on national online advertising campaigns, created proposals and promotion ideas for major Australian hotels and has worked with major sponsors at industry trade shows.
Internal
Internal communications
It may seem obvious, but seeing as some employees are glued to their computer screens all day, make communicating with each other a fun yet efficient task. Communication is a necessity in all businesses so why not make it a part of your internal online strategy?
Such online chat programs such as Skype or MSN are great programs to have internally to allow employees to have quick conversations with another. However these programs would have to be monitored for time consumption as you would only want them to be used in professional and timely manner.
Another great program, that is free to use and great for communication throughout the entire office, is Yammer. Yammer is a free private social network specifically made for mainly larger organisations. It allows employees at all levels to talk, collaborate and share what they are doing, what their team is doing and it allows the entire organisation to keep up to date with internal news.
Internal website
Creating a website or intranet that is for employees only is a great way to keep everybody up to date with what is happening. Also it's a great way to get employees involved in initiatives within the company to encourage great work ethic.
In industries like the hospitality sector, customer service is an integral part to many organisations. Making sure that employees live up to the organisations standards and beliefs is important and a great way to get people motivated is to get them talking about moments during the day when they have seen, heard or been involved in best practice.
External
Customer service via the web
You may have noticed that some websites have installed a chat window for instant over the web customer service. This is a great alternative to picking up the phone or having to drive all the way into a store.
It is practically instant and customers don't need to speak to, or engage with, an automatic phone message asking them to 
press certain numbers or state certain phrases in order to speak to a real person. It also is a great option for those who are multitasking and are either already on the phone to someone else or can't be on the phone at that point in time.
So many organisations reach their customers via their websites nowadays so why not integrate a customer service messenger to the mix?
Creating easier access for customers
If your organisation sells products, make sure your website is ecommerce friendly. There is nothing more frustrating than hearing about a great product then looking up the website to find all they list is what products they sell and the stockists.
Online is such an important part of business now - why would you not incorporate an online shopping cart into your strategy?
Even organisations that provide a service, such as hotels, can use ecommerce to their advantage by allowing their customers to book online, check in online, get a quote online or even take virtual tours of a hotel without ever having to leave their home.
This not only makes it easier for the customer but it also frees up some time for your staff to deal with other customer service activities such as helping with a complaint, an enquiry or building relationships with clients.
Additionally, creating a listing on an online directory is another great way to create easier access for customers. An online directory that is specific to an industry - like GoHospitality.com.au - provides greater visibility for a business's website due to the fact that relevant directory listings can help your business appear in the first page of search engines and provide an important link directly to your website.
There are so many different online services that organisations can use to in their marketing strategies to create a better business environment for both the consumers and employees.
Online technology is becoming more and more prominent in today's society, and the more online savvy your business becomes, the better your business environment will become.
GoHospitality.com.au is an online business directory servicing the hospitality industry. Owned and operated by Catch, an online division of Reed Business Information Australia, GoHospitality.com.au provides a comprehensive central online source containing the latest product, company and industry news updates.
Pied a Terre
For those people who live in an inner city apartment, space is always an issue. Creative storage and furniture proportions are key to ensuring you're able to accommodate all your needs. The largest room is generally dual purpose pairing living with dining or living with home office. As this image shows, a good way to create a clear division of functions is to physically separate the space with furniture. To date all the rooms I've featured have been quite large and spacious, so I thought it might be nice to deconstruct a room where space is an issue.
Originally trained as an Interior Designer, Melinda Ashton Turner has been working as an interior stylist and art director since 1990. The talented décor specialist boasts an impressive portfolio that includes Style Editor at Australian Vogue Living, Decoration Editor of Homes & Gardens UK and Style Director of Inside Out UK. On a freelance basis she has worked for magazines such as Elle Decoration and Living Etc as well as being the weekly columnist for both The Sunday Times and The Guardian Weekend.
When you need to cover dual functions within a room physically dividing it helps give the impression that there is more room than there really is. You could use a screen, or as in this case, use the sofa to separate the room, alternatively you could hang a curtain or blind. The interesting element I find in this room is that the walls have been painted in gloss. This is not a thought you should even entertain if your walls aren't as perfect as a newborns skin. Should this not be the case, it would be like looking at your skin in one of those magnifying bathroom mirrors (never an attractive vision) with blemishes appearing that you never knew existed.
The interior of this room has two design elements which make it interesting - the yellow curtains and the Grecian patterned rug. Delete either of these two treatments and the space would look rather dull. It's a simple and calming scheme that doesn't challenge the visitor. The cluster of opaque glass vases on the table and the photographic portraits on the wall help give the space a sense of character.
A very subtle pale grey takes 56% of the room scheme. Apart from the walls and sofa grey also appears in the rug. The deep buttoning of the sofa utilizes how the light falls across it and in turn creates texture to the design. Life is added with the soft sheen and reflection caused by the gloss finished walls.
To read the entire article, visit The Colour Field at, www.thecolourfield.net
One Enchanted Evening - Oly officially launch their first Australian concept store
The first Australian Oly Concept Store recently opened in Richmond, Melbourne housing the complete Oly San Francisco line of furniture, thus making it the first stand-alone store to launch out of New York City. Effectively fusing tradition and `old world' style in a contemporary fashion, Oly San Francisco is the perfect complement to our Victorian furniture and design marketplace. David Clark, editor of Vogue Living will officially launch the new Oly concept store on February 22 with a grand cocktail affair titled, 'One Enchanted Evening', along with founding members from Oly San Francisco who have flown in especially.
Furniture Online squeezed in a quick chat with Anthony Spon-Smith, Director at Coco Republic - 'leading furniture and design brand' - who are behind the Melbourne launch to discuss the history of the brand and why it's a perfect fit for the Australian market; their key design peices for the coming season; and what people can expect from the Oly Concept Store.
The oly brand are an esteemed furniture lifestyle company from the US but only just now entering the Australian market, can you tell us about the history of the brand and why you thought it would suit the Australian aesthetic?
The Oly collection has a wonderful organic, casual yet historical aesthetic that I think Australians relate to. It also has playfulness whilst being so well made and detailed that you just have to take it seriously. That's unique, and I think that's something that Australians recognise and value in their design.
Oly as a line is still quite young and mainly sold in the US via decorators and interior designers. It's a boutique brand. It was born in 1999 by artists Kate McIntyre and Brad Huntizinger and is a baby to their parent company - Ironies. Ironies is a bespoke high end (very high end!) individually specified furniture line. Oly is the baby - being more accessible and 'ready to wear' (Olivia is Kate's daughters name - hence 'Oly')
What are the key design principles behind the oly brand? What makes their furniture different from the current offering?
It's versatile and eccentric at the same time, meaning it can be made to suit any existing space quite easily. The brand prides itself on its organic aesthetic and the way it marries old world charm with modern finishing. There's nothing quite like Oly in the Australian market, so it certainly stands out to home stylists and interior designers alike.
Tell us about the oly concept store and what new customers to the brand can expect when they visit?
The new showroom is the biggest representation of the brand in the world and visitors can expect to see most of the collection on display - albeit that there are hundreds of options with finishes, stains and upholstery. The showroom is a feast for the eye with so much shape and form - a truly inspiring space for anyone to visit.
What are some of the key pieces from the Oly range this season?
Key pieces are classics with a twist; the Faline table collection which is a beautifully made dining table or side table with horses hoove legs. Or the Morgan Chair, inspired by classic French design with a contemporary mirrored finish to add a little sparkle to an ordinary living room. Then of course the Oly lighting selection - there are too many incredible statement chandeliers to pick a favourite. To check out the entire product selection available in store visit www.cocorepublic.com.au/oly
Interiors and decor are popular culture now, and people are more interested than ever before in creating a space that defines them and their passions, looking to others for inspiration with design blogs taking us behind closed doors of other people's homes to share their inspiring spaces with the world - does this influence furniture design now too? What do you think of this new movement and how does it impact the Oly concept?
Oly's collection is one of the best tool's to allow a client to 'choose their own style' as so many of the pieces have options and distinct styling. The line is what I'd call 'descriptive' if chosen to represent someone's personality. People become instant design professionals when in the Oly showroom.
It's so inspiring and easy to put a room together that reflects your own uniqueness using the Oly collection. The line was not created to respond to a 'movement' it is created by artists that wanted to offer something different. I think that gives it an integrity that people can use to their advantage when styling.
Where do you hope to see the Oly brand in the near future in Australia?
Oly isn't a brand for every street corner. It's a discerning line that is exclusive and should remain as such. We now have two 500sqm2 site's housing the collection in Australia (Sydney - Coco Republic Design Centre & the Oly concept showroom Melbourne) and with the Melbourne only just open, we're concentrating on its own launch. Should that take off the way Sydney did, then more Oly stores possibly will follow.
The Oly concept store launch is this month, how much preparation has gone into this evening? And what can people expect on the night?
The Oly concept store launch will be an evening to remember. David Clark, Editor of Vogue Living and special VIP guests from the Oly brand in San Francisco will all be in Melbourne for the event. Veuve Clicquot will be serving champagne and cocktails designed by Melbourne's famous Everleigh Bar, George Colombaris will be designing a specially tailored menu, Katie Marx will be styling the floral and the Soseume Djs will be on the decks.
All in all we have some amazing collaborations lined up for the night. We've made sure the level of detail on the evening really reflects the level of detail in the furniture design from the new Oly collection.
Visit the new Oly Concept Store on 488 Church Street, Richmond.
The Situation Room
My collection of paint fan decks has multiplied this week with the addition of the US colour breakdown. Some are as thick as a phone book (a redundant expression now I suppose!). To ensure I'm giving you the best possible match along with colour palette being harmonious, I cover my desk, which sits next to the window, with all the decks so I can view them in natural light, it even amazes me at times how much the colours can alter. As with all colour palettes, each colour is there for a reason and changing one because the hardware store doesn't have the right tint base is where it can all go a bit Pete Tong (Cockney rhyming slang for wrong).
Originally trained as an Interior Designer, Melinda Ashton Turner has been working as an interior stylist and art director since 1990. The talented décor specialist boasts an impressive portfolio that includes Style Editor at Australian Vogue Living, Decoration Editor of Homes & Gardens UK and Style Director of Inside Out UK. On a freelance basis she has worked for magazines such as Elle Decoration and Living Etc as well as being the weekly columnist for both The Sunday Times and The Guardian Weekend.
The collection of furniture in this room is varied in style, period and genre, the perfect example of eclectic. The most welcoming and interesting homes are the ones that integrate hand-me-downs with modern purchases together with the odd vintage and antique pieces as they all tell a story about the owner. Like most images of interiors you wonder who lives there, my guess this is the home of a Professor of Russian literature (sorry my imagination running wild).
Please don't be put off by 65% of the space being consumed by grey and the use of concrete. This can easily translate to the more traditional finishes of grey textured wallpaper, paint or limestone tiles. The mix of the grey concrete and stone would generally feel quite cold, uninviting and noisy but the use of a natural material like wood answers the feeling of cold and the textural rugs along with the upholstery jointly absorb the noise.
Another element that makes the space feel relaxed and inviting is the visual messiness of the wall of books. The ash bookcase together with the elm wood console and sofa frame collectively add 19%.
This is an exerpt from Melinda's new website, The Colour Field. To read the rest of the article, and for more of her musings on colour psychology visit www.thecolourfield.net
Adapting to the changing landscape of SEO with quality content
With the internet now the most used channel for communication, promotion and transactions, a strong online presence can make or break a business. SEO and SEM have become part of everyday business vocabulary, however with the developing search engine algorithms and the ever-changing user generated content, the application of these concepts is constantly evolving.
Kylie Tabrett is the Account Manager for GoHospitality.com.au, an online business directory servicing the Australian hospitality industry. With degrees in Hospitality, Events Management, Sales and Marketing, Kylie began her career in events management and online media sales. She has worked on national online advertising campaigns, created proposals and promotion ideas for major Australian hotels and has worked with major sponsors at industry trade shows. Kylie quickly rose through the ranks in her career and now works as Account Manager for GoHospitality.com.au 
Search engines are smart, and they are changing on a daily basis. However there are a few recommendations around managing online content that can assist in getting search engines to consider your information as a useful and relevant source. Beyond your website, you need to manage the content via alternative channels. The use of Google Maps, online directories and social media are becoming much more important to consumers as sources of relevant and up to date information. Businesses need to ensure their details on these channels are current and provide the right information to engage with their market.
Find the right keywords
The right words are paramount in effective online marketing; more so than a glamorous site design. If a consumer begins reading your content and the copy is badly written, too complex or not relevant, they won't be convinced on the credibility of your company. Choosing the right words for your audience is the initial step in building a relationship that can hopefully turn into a transaction.
You need to have an in-depth insight into your audience and what language or keywords they'll be searching for online. Try using Google's keyword suggestion tool for developing your SEO and SEM strategies. This tool assists in the identification of the most popular search terms around your content. Using the right keywords, but not overusing them, will drive better results and maximise your return on investment online.
Relevant copy
Your audience is more likely to share relevant content and this should be a key objective in managing your online presence. When your information is shared, it increases your visibility to search engines and in turn increases your rankings in search results. Tailor the content to your audience by:
• Capturing them through relevant and targeted language
• Telling a story, it's a great way to hold onto a reader
• Prompting a desire to interact with your brand or product, instinctively positioning your company as the best to service their needs
• Call to action - include a link to the next page or contact window.
Quality content needs to constantly evolve. Every piece of content should be relevant to current news in your industry and either provide intelligence or entertain your readers. When developing content for your website and online listing think about what issues or challenges your audience might be searching for solutions to, and cover this in your content. It conveys the message that you are knowledgeable about your industry, and builds trust and authority towards your audience. Make sure your content across the different channels is consistent, repeating your message will have a larger impact than trying to cover different topics on different mediums.
The importance of quality social content
Search results are now producing not only company driven content on your website and online directory listings, but it also brings up comments from social media. Negative comments through social media next to your links on Google can lower the engagement of the audience, so it's imperative to have a social content management strategy in place.
Generating positive buzz through conversations on social media, maps or online directories can impact your search engine rankings. Search engine robots are designed to consider social content or recommendations as more authentic, and the more positive comments and ‘likes' around your brand, the more credibility search engines attach to it. Your social content should be authentic, simple and succinct, while also maintaining a conversational feel to it.
Measurement and Tracking
Gathering data around what's being said about you online, what your customers are searching for and where they are coming from is key to keeping you ahead in the SEO game. Integrate online and offline tracking tools to ensure you are maximising your SEO and SEM campaigns.
SEO and SEM processes are changing, and changing at a faster pace each day. Consumer's expectations are rising and they can easily access a balance of positive and negative information online. However this doesn't necessarily mean a challenge for businesses. Ultimately, having quality and relevant content, processes and measurement tools, is the best way to respond to the evolving online landscape.
GoHospitality.com.au is an online business directory servicing the hospitality industry. Owned and operated by Catch, an online division of Reed Business Information Australia, GoHospitality.com.au provides a comprehensive central online source containing the latest product, company and industry news updates.
Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair Trend Report
The Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair was held this month and stands as the world's largest and most important meeting place for Scandinavian furniture and lighting design, for both home and public environments. The fair caters in particular to the contract sector, although many brands choose to launch new products at the Milan Furniture Fair or Maison&Objet to ensure good press coverage, WGSN homebuildlife reports that many exhibitors say this fair is particularly beneficial for them in terms of sales.
There is no doubting the level of sophistication, ingenuity and creativity of Swedish design with several innovative design companies having huge success internationally. They continue to forge new territory in furniture fabrication, tailoring inventing new streamlined forms with contemporary colourways. WGSN homebuildlife attended the show and pulled together the top three trends.
Beyond Couture:
Beyond Couture is the name of the cafe and textile installation at the fair by Swedish desginer Fredrik Färg. Elsewhere, other designers are also incorporating tailoring and fabric details that are more typically found on fashion rather than furniture, such as zip and wrapped leather details on the Vilda chairs at Swedish brand Gemla.
New Windsors:
Traditional comb back Windsor chairs feature contemporary updates - such as neon colourways, sleeker streamlined forms or larger, more generous proportions, and sheepskin cushions with giant proportions like this low armchair at Swedish brand Form o Miljö.
Springtime colours:
Exhibitors usher in the new season with springtime colour palettes of grass green and daffodil yellow, both worked separately on statement pieces or colour blocked together like the One modular sofa by Rumbler.
Find out what the WGSN top three exhibitors were, visit www.wgsn-hbl.blogspot.com.au
Decorating Changes Lives
I've been in a lot of spaces recently where the neutral palette prevails and if I'm lucky I might see the odd picture (normally in my opinion, way too small and hung way too high). I'm guessing it's a confidence thing, or a pain and what if it doesn't work - you know that sort of mentality. Which to a degree I understand everyone has busy lives and the easiest most liveable option is to stay pale and neutral. Yet if you take the plunge and dare to go dark or clad your walls with beautiful paper, or wood there is no looking back. You will become addicted and obsessed with decorating I promise you and it will change your life!
Designer, style maven and author Abigail Ahern is recognized among design aficionados and devotees alike for her enchanting take on interiors. Heralded as ‘style spotter-extraordinaire' by The Times newspaper she has established her position at the front of the design trail with her original interpretation of trends, unique sense of style and individual approach to interiors. Her commissions include accessorising a 42,000 square foot Grand Spa for the Ritz Carlton in Palm Beach, Florida; re-styling and branding a chain of hotels in the Middle East as well as numerous residential and commercial projects. Abigail's London store has been voted one of the coolest places to shop in the UK by Elle Decoration magazine.
I sense a change in the air, maybe it's the fact that spring is just around the corner or maybe more people are just wanting something a little different. Heston Blumenthal endorsing my work, cooking and hanging out in an inky sludgy space that I designed, and being watched by millions has certainly brought a lot more attention our way. Good attention people emailing in or calling the store about paint colours, about how to add a twist to their homes.
My sort of decorating (if I may be as bold to say) changes lives. No matter how late you get home, and believe me I've been pulling some long days of late, the moment that key goes through the door and you walk into, for example a hallway painted deepest darkest black, a row of tongue in check art on the wall, a bulldog lamp sitting proudly on a console sprayed a high voltage hue, topped off with a big bunch of blooms, you feel instantly happy. This sort of decorating is all about creating the most tantalising, mesmerising background to your lives, to my life. You will have to take risks (no gain, no pain) but it's worth it. There is no place I would rather be in the world than here at home and that's what it is all about.
Read more of Abigail Ahern's musings on her blog, visit www.abigailahern.wordpress.com
FREE Download of the AIFF and D+D workshops
In an age where the digital and the real are one in the same, where the economy is as fickle as the trends each season, and an Australian dollar that continues to climb above parity, it can be a tricky task juggling it all, let alone find the time to run a successful business.
That's why we incorporated free, informative workshops into the recent Australian International Furniture Fair and Decoration + Design because we understand how crucial education is during these challenging times. International trainer and coach, Mark Davis delivered the free workshops focusing on the hot topics of social media, pricing strategies, growing your business through Facebook, the psychology of why people buy, and managing staff retention.
Mark has generously offered each of his workshop presentations for FREE download. Simply head to the Decoration + Design Blog for all the links, visit www.decorationdesignblog.com
Classic Chic - The Little Black Dress of Interior Design
Suzanne Trocmé has certainly lived her life by her own philosophy - "Always talk to interesting people. There is a reason they are successful and it is often charisma and brains." The esteemed author, furniture designer, mother-of-four and lauded authority on architecture and design has shared intimate encounters with industry icons including King Karl (Lagerfeld), Andrée Putman, Tom Ford, American academic and political scientist Henry Kissinger, and Luciano Benetton, the latter whom she worked closely with at Benetton in its early days and who she notes as being the 'man who shaped my career'.
Throughout her highly successful career, Trocmé has travelled from New York to Paris writing about art, fashion, music, interiors and architecture for The New York Times Magazine, Architectural Digest, House & Garden, The Telegraph, Interior Design (European Editor) and Wallpaper where she was appointed Editor-at-Large. Adding to her significant line-up of achievements, Trocmé has also written several books including 'Attention to Detail' (Designed to be informative as well as visually stimulating, this book offers the best and latest solutions to both old and new interior design problems and queries) and crafted the "little black dress" line of furniture for Bernhardt Design, a family-owned furniture manufacturer out of North Carolina. Her Alee chair now takes pride of place at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre where the Queen, along with Prince Philip, sat for the Theatre's inaugural luncheon.
How does she keep it all together? With a musical flair actually, Trocmé explains "My writing life is a little like a drum kit. The high hat cymbals are the blogs, the snare and tom toms are the print journalism and that big bass drum under foot is the continuous beat of the books. Always there and holding it all together in a calm and placid way."
Furniture Fair Online sat down with the prestigious talent on the eve of her Australian presentation at the International Industry Seminar Series titled 'The Little Black Dress of Interior Design' during Decoration + Design next month, to discuss her interest in the Futurists, Symbolists and love of Russian poetry; bringing together industry idols for New York Times magazine's Living Legends series; and how her seminar will take you on 'a journey through shape, through classical proportion to contemporary proponents of the Golden Ratio'.
You kicked off your career in architecture and design after working in store development for Benetton, how did this role shape your career now? why?
The period with Benetton - the fledgling years for the firm - began with me dressing the windows in Knightsbridge, London, when at University studying Russian, and my passion for Russian was partly an interest in the Futurists, the Symbolists, Russian poetry and art, the collections of a man named George Costakis. I suppose my interest in architecture and design came from a fascination for form, for shape. Education was invented by concrete and linear thinkers and most creative people are abstract thinkers which is why we tend not to work out what we really want to do until formal education finishes.
My work with Benetton over five years was a blessed time, since it was the early years and I learned from Luciano Benetton himself, as later I learned from Paul Smith himself, sitting in his garrett office in Covent Garden (with Luciano it was the Villa Minelli in Treviso). Great people make great mentors. Luciano was, and is, an original. He thinks differently, is an innovator. He had the first robotic factories and used the Scarpas as architects and Toscano as photographer for the ad campaign. The man shaped my career, as have other mentors since, most recently John Pawson, whom I have engaged in certain projects including for the London Design Festival this year where he produced a piece for Sir Christopher Wren's St. Paul's Cathedral. It was my idea to invite John to design a piece and it as very successful, but my joy is in watching other people, seeing how they tick.
Andrée Putman was a very good influence in Paris. I knew her really well and we would see each other all over the world. She too has come from stores (Printemps in Paris) through journalism into design and encouraged me to do the same. She taught me how to edit, John Paswon taught me about light and I guess Luciano taught me about space in the early days. Or lack of! Paul Smith taught me whimsy.
You have enjoyed many years working across the world from New York to Paris for various publications from The New York Times Magazine to Editor-at-Large for Wallpaper, what have been some of your more memorable moments?
A very memorable moment was when I was writing and producing a piece for the New York Times magazine's Living Legends issue and interviewing Andrée Putman, as it happens. I knew she and Karl Lagerfeld had known each other for years so suggested to Andrée that he should take the portrait. She asked "does he want to" to which I responded "of course". Then approaching Karl Lagerfeld's office said that we wanted him to photograph Andrée to which came the response "Does Andrée want this" - to which I responded "of course" having no idea they had fallen out and not spoken for two years.The shoot happened on a busy Saturday during Paris Fashion week and it secured their relationship going forward.
As Wallpaper's Architecture and Design Editor, another role I held for over five years, I was given twenty pages for the celebratory story for the magazine's tenth anniversary in 2006. I decided to ask fashion designers who were their favourite architects and then had each pair photographed by a brilliant art photographer. But where to start? I began again with Karl Lagerfeld and phoned his people who informed me he was in New York at the Mercer Hotel. I phoned the hotel. He said that Zaha Hadid was his architect of choice although had not met her. I phoned Zaha to tell her the news, "where are you?" I asked - "At the Mercer in New York about to open at the Guggenheim" - "Wait" I said. Within less than an hour I had persuaded Roe Ethridge, who was showing at the Gagosian, to jump in a cab, go to the Mercer and snap the two of them together (once hair and make-up had arrived of course). It was a good photograph and then opened up the doors for the others. Tom Ford was next and once he and Karl Lagerfeld were photographed and interviewed it was easy persuading the other eight protagonists. It can sometimes be all about serendipity.
Apart from your print journalism contributions, you have also written several books, how did you make that step from journalist to author? Do you have a preference for one over the other? Do you have another book in the works?
I have just contributed to a book which shows Arik Levy's art, as opposed to design, work. I worked on his recent "Osmosis" book and co wrote a fashion book last year called "Three Quarters" with Clair Watson, a couture specialist in New York. I work on books all the time but it is true that many are my sole works, Classic Chic, Fabric, Retro Home, Hot Homes, Attention to Detail and others.
Journalism for me is really about the people I interview or the buildings I witness. Books have a very different time frame and I approach them completely differently from print journalism. Even when working with a photographer on books about houses, there is no point photographing all rooms in a house, as you would for a magazine. You photograph elements in order to be able to make a point.
The books really are about my own opinion and my own preferences are prescriptive as well as descriptive. My writing life is a little like a drum kit. The high hat cymbals are the blogs, the snare and tom toms are the print journalism and that big bass drum under foot is the continuous beat of the books. Always there and holding it all together in a calm and placid way.
What advice do you have for people just starting out in the industry? Or hoping to be a successful author in the interiors 
industry?
Cold call people you want to work with. Just pick up the phone to editors, publishers, introduce yourself, sell yourself and a few minor ideas, and do not write more than a synopsis as a presentation. No one even wants a first chapter. It is all about ideas, energy and an ability to empathise.
Where do you source your inspiration? What stimulates your creativity?
People, always people stimulate me. I have had a bit of a "Forest Gump" existence, finding myself next to interesting people. I have found myself at dinner at times seated next to the most extraordinary people, not just the Marc Newsons and Ron Arads of the world but Vidal Sasson last year, for example and once Henry Kissinger!
Always talk to interesting people. There is a reason they are successful and it is often charisma and brains. And good work. I go to museums all over the world most recently seeing the Californian Design exhibition at LACMA in Los Angeles. It was incredible to see work by designers and architects I have not heard of and to see the visual representation of the City of LA between the 20s and the 50s, to really understand Modernism.
Not all inspiration has to be visual. The written word has great power. Just reading the colour theorist Josef Albers gives a great insight into design and our feelings surrounding design.
What do you think it takes to be a success in the furnishings, interior and architectural industries? Why?
It is vital to be able to edit, in writing to throw away bad work, in interiors and architecture to start again if it is going belly up. It is important to recognise good work, whether it is your own or someone else's, and to try to be original. The greatest challenge I find as a furniture designer is creating pieces that do not look as if they pertain to a period or a place. A chair can look retro with the wrong curve, or Ming with the wrong straight line. Originality is hard to achieve, especially when not dealing with extraneous detail. Clarity is the watchword for success.
Adding to your monumental list of achievements, you are also an award winning furniture designer, even winning a Gold award at Neocon for your debut collection, two Good Design Awards and a Guggenheim Award - how does it feel to have your furniture so widely applauded?
It feels fantastic to have my furniture widely SOLD (I have four sons to feed) and to stumble across various designs in art galleries, hotels and in restaurants around the world, from plush surroundings in Dubai to Wolfgang Puck eateries in California. My bar stools also grace three American stadiums, the Mets, the Yankees (different designs I might add) and the 49ers. This was such a surprise! They have taken root in the VIP boxes at the bars. I had designed them with beauty and jewellery counters in mind. So I suppose my main thrill is that my designs have reached the masses and the awards are lovely, because I measure true success to be defined as respect from peers.
Your 2009 Allee chair now sits at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, this must be a true honour.
The interior designer Russell Sage, a former fashion designer, tends to use my furniture quite a lot for his schemes. But the true honour was that the first visitor to the refurbished theatre in April last year was the Queen, who along with Prince Philip, sat in my chairs for the Theatre's inaugural luncheon. I do hope they found them comfortable!
Are you planning a new collection? Can you tell us about it?
I constantly add to the collection and the initial designs are still current. The collection is meant to be like a wardrobe of clothes, that can be added to. The pieces have a particular DNA that might not be discernible to others but there is a thread that links the pieces. Mathematics come into my designs. Something else Andrée Putman taught me.
You are about to head to Australia to speak at Decoration + Design titled, The Little Black Dress - can you talk us through this seminar and what people can expect from the presentation?
My interest in design comes from as far back as Palladio, in fact before, Roman and Greek precision. The seminar is really a journey through shape, through classical proportion to contemporary proponents of the Golden Ratio. The seminar is about precision and logical design which becomes emotional because of its beauty of form.
What are you looking forward to most from your time in Australia? Do you have plans to visit Melbourne and other design studios etc while here?
I am afraid I am on the ground for three days and in the air for three. I am unable to go to Melbourne but look forward to judging the Edge and seeing what Australia has to offer. It is my first time in Sydney so I imagine you know where I am heading first, being an architecture aficionado, apparently.
For more information and booking details on the Suzanne Trocmé (UK) seminar visit, www.decorationdesign.com.au
Moderated Panel Discussion
JUST ANNOUNCED!
We welcome international guest Martyn Lawrence Bullard to this exclusive panel alongside Australian design talent; Thomas Hamel, Greg Natale and Marco Meneguzzi.
This moderated discussion will see 4 design experts talk about HOW DESIGN WILL PLAY ON THE INTERNATIONAL LANDSCAPE OF 2012.
Moderated by Robyn Holt (judge on The Renovators and editor of Vogue Living for over a decade) this intimate panel discussion is not-to-be-missed for anyone in the design industry.
Date Friday 3 February 2012
Time 8.45am light morning tea & refreshments followed by 9.15am - 10.15am panel discussion
Venue Sydney Exhibition Centre, Convention Parkside Ballroom, Level 1
Tickets $49.50 inc gst each - seats are strictly limited
For more information or to book, visit www.decorationdesign.com.au
Lighting - The Cornerstone of Interior Design
Petra Kleegraefe originally studied interior architecture in Germany before moving to London in 1998 and working for two international lighting design firms on a number of major hospitality, commercial and urban landscape projects.
After moving to Australia and working for two Sydney based lighting consultancies, Petra founded Architectural Lighting Design Pty Ltd, with the objective to maximise the potential of each project through a well designed lighting scheme.
Petra has qualifications in lighting technology from London's Southbank University; she is a Professional Member of the Professional Lighting Designers' Association; an Associate Member of the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD); a Member of the International Dark Sky Association; and she has lectured in Lighting Technology at the University of New South Wales.
Petra will present her seminar `Lighting - The Cornerstone of Interior Design' on Friday 3 February from 12.30pm - 1.30pm at Decoration + Design co-located at Australian International Furniture Fair at the Sydney Exhibition Centre.
The seminar will discuss lighting as the cornerstone of interior design, creating the ambience and distinction within the four walls. Petra Kleegraefe takes us on a journey of how lighting shapes our interiors and the impact lighting can have on us. Hear practical tips and information to plan for clever lighting designs to create the perfect interiors.
Book for this not-to-be-missed seminar now. Seats are strictly limited. Visit www.decorationdesign.com.au
Telling your story online: it's not just about advertising
Online may be a whole new world for many people, but it is a very effective way of promoting your business to a vast amount of potential customers. When you think about promotion, you make think advertising - which is important - but it is also about sharing your business stories. One way to share stories is through using publicity tactics such as media releases, articles and online industry sites.
Kylie Tabrett is the Account Manager for GoHospitality.com.au, an online business directory servicing the Australian hospitality industry. With degrees in Hospitality, Events Management, Sales and Marketing, Kylie began her career in events management and online media sales. She has worked on national online advertising campaigns, created proposals and promotion ideas for major Australian hotels and has worked with major sponsors at industry trade shows. Kylie quickly rose through the ranks in her career and now works as Account Manager for GoHospitality.com.au.
What are your stories?
Every business has a story! It could be a new product you have released, what systems you put in place to manage increased demand, how to deal with the issues of the GFC, how you support local charities. If you think about it, you will find you have many stories. But how do you share them with the public?
Write a Media release
Media releases are a great way of distributing relevant and topical information to a group of potential clients and your peers. You can send them to targeted media including publications and upload them to online industry sites like GoHospitality.com.au. A media release can contain information such as the work your business is doing, a new product release, the signing of a new contract or commenting on industry issues and trends.
The release must be newsworthy and cover the "who, what, where, why and when". The main rule is that all releases have to be newsworthy. What makes items newsworthy differs greatly from one publication to the next or even from one section to the next. News is something new, up-to-the minute and of interest to the readers.
Write an article
Publishing articles is a fast and effective way to gain online exposure and are a great way to position you as an industry expert by providing topical, helpful information. If you upload them to online sites they increase the chance of your company appearing in the first few search results on search engines such as Google.
Articles don't have to be hard to write! Articles need be written in an objective, informative and entertaining manner. Try to avoid 'sales' style language, so write them impartially - i.e. from a neutral and/or 3rd person standpoint, without superlatives ('best', 'fastest', 'cheapest'), or exaggerated statements ('the largest tool range ever launched!').
If you are planning on uploading them to take advantage of online exposure consider the keywords about your products and services. What do your customers type into search engines to find a business like yours? You should include these in the article, and the greater the density or repetition of a keyword, the greater its chance of ranking highly. Although the article does still need to make sense!
Top places to promote your stories
Once you have written your media release or article you can send them to your local paper or industry publication. Finding the right journalists to send your media release to can be as simple as looking through the publications you want it to be published in. You should also think about the type of people you want reading about you and think about which media outlets your target audience get their information from.
Don't forget that uploading them online gets your message to thousands of people and increases the traffic to your website. Upload them to online directory sites which increase the chance of your company appearing in the first few search results on search engines such as Google.
New Year Home Resolutions
New Year resolutions are usually filled with hopes of getting fit, eating healthier, quitting smoking or cutting back on your alcohol consumption, but let's be honest, many of these personal declarations usually run out of steam a few months in. So why not think about resolutions that will stick? Such as clearing the clutter in your personal space instead and doing a bit of house keeping at home. This is definitely a great way to set the tone for the new year and design a truly inspiring space to motivate you in your career ambitions to achieve your short and long term goals, as well as invite new energy into your home for a happy, fun-filled year.
Furniture Fair Online scoured the web and came across some tips and tricks to update your room, office or home, and clearing the clutter to simplify your life.
1. Organise your bedroom in the new year with these 5 easy tips - Considering this is the place where you reportedly spend up to a third of your life in sleeping, it makes sense that you should prioritise this space in order to be super charged and at the ready for a busy 2012. While some of them may seem a little obvious to most, such as moving your computer station or laptop to another room, it is probably one that is the most overlooked. For more on this, visit www.casasugar.com
2. 10 ways to lose the clutter and keep the cozy - After you've organised your bedroom, time to clean up the rest of your home. This article gives you 10 simple instructions on how to edit each room down to a few stand out features giving it a cozy, inviting and charming appeal. To read more visit; www.houzz.com
3. Decorating on a Budget: 10 Repurposing Ideas - One of the biggest trends in 2011, as a consequence of the GFC, was refashioning your old worn out junk into modern and inspiring pieces that can be put to use again around the home. This DIY crafty decorating trend is still strong going into 2012 and this article offers some great ideas without being wasteful or spending money. Just like this adorable retro dog bed crafted from an old Samsonite suitcase. For instructions on how to create this bed and others, visit www.houzz.com
Creating harmonious, life-enhancing interiors
I have always been inspired by beautiful residential architecture and interiors, and their influence on how it feels to live inside them. Since 1998, when I started my own practice, my focus has always been on creating harmonious, life-‐ enhancing interiors. Each client and the architecture of their home are a unique combination, so the designs we produce are also individual, rather than reflecting one particular style.
In the same way that a good black suit remains in fashion, interiors can be timeless if they are well proportioned, employ good materials, and suit the people they are built for. Beauty, quality and functionality are my long -‐standing design principles. Strong, highly functional planning is always our starting point on any project. Well laid out, generous spaces and natural light are key to the overall quality of a space, given that a strong base will make everything within it function smoothly and look beautiful. Quality rather than quantity guides me in selecting materials, fittings, furniture and artwork .
Good quality materials and workmanship give longevity and aesthetic appeal, and save time, energy and cost in the long run. Beauty is always my prime goal... For its ability to ease the mind, lift the spirit, and for the pure, lasting pleasure it brings. I feel very fortunate to have found a career that I truly love in interior design. Working in close association with our clients, talented architects, tradesmen and craftspeople, we create successful, beautiful homes that bring harmony to your world.
‘Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected.’ - William Plomer
Furniture Fair Online took five with interior designer, Sarah Davison on how she knew at the age of 16 she wanted to be an interior designer, why it peaked her interest so much, and some of the interesting clients she has worked with over the years.
When did you first start out as an interior designer? How did you get your break into the industry? 
I decided very early, when I was 16, that I wanted to be an interior designer. My mother had taken me to an open day at Sydney College of the Arts to look at the fashion design faculty. (Like many 16 year olds, I was obsessed by fashion, and wanted to be a fashion designer!) However, it only took two minutes looking at the architectural drawings and colour boards in the interior design faculty, and I had changed my mind irrevocably... I took the 4 year degree in interior design straight from school, and began work experience half way through my degree with Pia Francesca, a highly respected Interior Designer working in Paddington at that time. This combination of a technically focussed degree, and quality hands on experience, gave me a wonderful entree into the interior design profession.
Why did interior styling and designing appeal to you? What do you love most about your job?
Since I was a child I have always been drawn to, and fascinated by, beautiful buildings, rooms and objects. To work with putting different combinations of finishes , furniture and accessories together is endlessly creative and rewarding for me. I also love the human aspect of interior design.... Working with clients, other designers and skilled tradespeople and craftspeople to create the design and final built form.
What are some of the more interesting jobs you’ve worked on? Interesting clients you’ve worked for?
Each project I've worked on is completely unique, so its a new challenge and experience every time... Designing peoples homes is quite an intimate process.... You really get to know people, what's important to them, and how they want to live. Many of my clients have been inspiring people with big lives in all ways. I learn a lot from them, which is another great thing about this profession. During my career, I've designed incredible beach houses, ski lodges, country houses and slick city apartments... Its been very varied.
What would be your dream job or home to style?
My dream jobs are working within beautiful architecture, be it a new build, or an old, period house. I love working in spaces with high ceilings, and great natural light. Nature is always an amazing inspiration, so to design houses on the coast, or in the bush or mountains is always incredible.
Who are your interior idols?
I do like Christian Liagre's sensitive use of materials and incredibly elegant lines. Frank Lloyd Wright's interiors are also one of my great inspirations with their warmth, human scale and timeless natural materials.
Who would you love most to work with and why?
(I would love most to work with Frank Lloyd Wright, but sadly that's not possible!) Generally to work on interiors in conjunction with great architects is always my ideal. We have some amazing residential architects practising in Australia at the moment: Kerry Hill, Peter Stutchbury, Glen Murcutt, Alex Tzannes, Popov Bass.... The list goes on!
What are the most popular interior design styles for residential in Australia? Or corporate?
I think residential design in Australia is becoming more layered and sophisticated. A decade ago, many interiors were quite stark white boxes, with recessed halogen ceiling lights and off the shelf new furniture. Now, many people want warmer, and more unique interiors that reflect their personality. There seems to be more eclectic mixes of new, vintage and antique furniture, more use of atmospheric lamps and feature lighting. There is a greater range of styles in interiors here now, which is very exciting.
You are about to participate in the panel discussion alongside Melinda Ashton Turner and Chelsea Hing at Decoration + Design International Industry Seminar Series from 1-3 February, how do you know these women and why did you choose to participate?
Melinda Ashton Turner approached me to be part of the panel... I didnt know Melinda or Chelsea previously, but greatly respect their work.
What are you looking forward to most about the panel and why do you think these events are important for the industry?
I'm looking forward to an inspiring cross pollination of ideas. I think the topic, defining what luxury is in residential interior design is very pertinent at the moment. We are in a time of huge change socially, environmentally and economically.... What gives us a sense of luxury and pleasure in our homes is also changing, and worth investigating!
The AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR & DECORATION + DESIGN have developed a reputation for delivering an outstanding line up of leading design thinkers from across the globe who present inspiring and thought-provoking seminars as part of the three day International Industry Seminar Series. These interesting forums provide the interiors industry with some valuable insights and worthy discussion points about topics and trends affecting the industry.
Sarah Davison will join Melinda Ashton-Turner and Chelsea Hing on a thought-provoking panel discussion about CREATING LUXURY IN INTERIORS. Melinda, Sarah and Chelsea will give their individual opinions on what luxury means to them, whilst giving tips and advice on how to create luxury in interiors by using beautiful objects and materials that are luxurious to the touch and the eye. Learn how to create luxury in interiors by understanding that luxury is relative to the individual and can be achieved in the same space on many different levels.
Held within the fair, each seminar runs for approximately one hour. Pre-booking is essential as seats are limited. `Creating Luxury in Interiors' - panel discussion will be held on Friday February 3, 2012 from 10.30am - 11.30am.
To reserve your seat at this event, be sure to book now at www.decorationdesign.com.au
Interior Design Architect
Taking their cue from architecture, Chelsea Hing's design philosophy is based on interiors that make sense with the surrounding environment. Mix that with clever planning and a practical understanding of how people use space to live and work. `That's how good design makes good sense'.
Chelsea Hing Design Consultants’ interior design philosophy is based on taking cues from the architecture, so that the interiors complement and respond to the surrounding environment. Combined with clever planning and a practical understanding of how people need to use space to live well, the result is interiors that mix great looks with good sense.Chelsea Hing MDIA began her career with Nexus Designs, one of Australia’s leading multidisciplinary design consultancies renowned for their contemporary Australian interiors. Chelsea went on to establish her own practice in early 2007 and has been building a reputation for well considered contemporary interiors ever since. The firm has been shortlisted for numerous awards including the Dulux Colour Awards, IDEA Awards, National Interior Design Awards and Chelsea was profiled in The Age Melbourne Magazine’s design issue as an up and coming designer to watch.
Chelsea will bring her design nouse to the panel discussion at Decoration + Design Sydney from February 1-3, 2012 for the International Industry Seminar Series. There she will join Sydney-based interior designer Sarah Davison and Interiors Stylist Melinda Ashton-Turner who will lead the discussion titled `Creating Luxury in Interiors'.
We took five with Chelsea to discuss her background as an interior designer, what she loves most about her job, her interior idols, and what the most popular interior design styles are in Australia right now.
When did you first start out as an interior designer? How did you get your break into the industry?
I started out in professional practice in 2000 with a shaved head and big does of enthusiasm. My first job was with Nexus Designs who are largely credited with educating a great many of our current practicing designers. Janne Faulkner started the business in 1967 (and incidentally has just won the IDEA Lifetime Achievement Award) and was still very involved during my time there.Nexus were my mentors whilst I was studying and I met with them after graduating to see how I should go about getting a job and they said "what about us?". So they took a punt on this tough looking girl, and it paid off.
Why did interior styling and designing appeal to you? What do you love most about your job?
Oh many things. I grew up dreaming of houses and at the age of fifteen I re-arranged my mothers furniture so we could use the formal rooms in our house. Such a simple thing changed how we used and enjoyed the house. In many ways I'm still doing that now. I get a lot of enjoyment from creating spaces that people love.
What are some of the more interesting jobs you've worked on? Interesting clients you've worked for?
Over the years I've worked on both large and small scale residential and commercial projects. I find the most interesting is always the private residential work as its really about the people we work with, what we learn about their lives, the things we need to know to design what is essentially their intimate private spaces.
What would be your dream job or home to style?
Ooh probably a villa perched on some Meditteranean clifftop. My partner (interiors photographer Nik Epifanidis) is Greek, so it just might happen...one day.
Who are your interior idols?
I love Ilse Crawford's work, Andree Puttman, Paola Navone, Achille Castiglioni, Vico Magistretti, Patricia Urquiola - a mix of interior designers, architects, furniture designers past and present.
Who would you love most to work with and why?
Paola Navone - I just love her take on everything, everything she does feels vaguely familiar, like it already existed before.
What are the most popular interior design styles for residential in Australia? Or corporate? 
I'm more interested in what personal design perspectives I can bring to a project. As a creative you cant help but be influenced by popular culture and what's fashionable, the trick is to mix that in with your original editing process to produce work that is timeless and interesting at the same time.
You are about to participate in the panel discussion alongside Melinda Ashton Turner and Sarah Davison at Decoration + Design International Industry Seminar Series from 1-3 February, how do you know these women and why did you choose to participate?
Well I think the concept of having 3 designers speak on the same topic is much more interesting than a single point of view. I think the idea is to shine a light on the designer's process on how we work and approach the same sorts of things differently. Showcasing a difference of approach is vital for keeping our interest fresh with diverging ideas.
What are you looking forward to most about the panel and why do you think these events are important for the industry?
I'm looking forward to sharing ideas on the panel, seeing and hearing how others work, taking the best parts home and building them into my practice. Whatever we can do as professional designers to bolster each other, to share how we do things, can only be good for of our industry.
The AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR & DECORATION + DESIGN have developed a reputation for delivering an outstanding line up of leading design thinkers from across the globe who present inspiring and thought-provoking seminars as part of the three day International Industry Seminar Series. These interesting forums provide the interiors industry with some valuable insights and worthy discussion points about topics and trends affecting the industry.
Chelsea Hing will join Melinda Ashton-Turner and Sarah Davison on a thought-provoking panel discussion about CREATING LUXURY IN INTERIORS. Melinda, Sarah and Chelsea will give their individual opinions on what luxury means to them, whilst giving tips and advice on how to create luxury in interiors by using beautiful objects and materials that are luxurious to the touch and the eye. Learn how to create luxury in interiors by understanding that luxury is relative to the individual and can be achieved in the same space on many different levels.
Held within the fair, each seminar runs for approximately one hour. Pre-booking is essential as seats are limited. 'Creating Luxury in Interiors' - panel discussion will be held on Friday February 3, 2012 from 10.30am - 11.30am.
To reserve your seat at this event, be sure to book now at www.decorationdesign.com.au
Creating a Super Star Interior
Designer to the stars Martyn Lawrence Bullard knows how to create a knock out, bold and individual space. The multiple award-winning interior designer is known for his glamorous and worldly interiors for high profile and celebrity clientele that ranges from Rock Stars to Royalty, including Cher, Sir Elton John and David Furnish, Christina Aguilera, Eva Mendes, Ellen Pompeo, Kid Rock, Sharon and Ozzie Osbourne and Tamara Mellon, founder and President of Jimmy Choo.
In addition to his many commercial projects, he is currently working internationally on a diversity of projects which include America’s first Green LEED certified estate in Malibu for the acclaimed actor/producer Keenen Ivory Wayans. In October of 2010, Bullard received the prestigious Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year Award and in May 2011 he was awarded to Elle Decors “A-List” of the top 25 designers in the world.
Although Martyn has been featured in over 20 design books his first personal book, Live, Love & Decorate will be available worldwide in October of 2011. Also, he is filming a new design and lifestyle show for Bravo, titled “Million Dollar Decorators”, the latest addition to his design television career which has included programs on CBS, The Discovery Channel, E! Entertainment, HGTV, TLC, Style Network, ITV and Channel 4 in the UK.
CREATING A SUPER STAR INTERIOR
Join Martyn on this special occasion during his first Australian visit as an exclusive guest of the Decoration + Design International Industry Seminar Series. Join the conversation as he takes us on a journey through his impressive portfolio of award-winning work and understand how he approaches each design project. In addition, Martyn will also share his key learnings on how he has been able to build his design and lifestyle brand.
Held within the fair, each seminar runs for approximately one hour. Pre-booking is essential as seats are limited. `Creating a Super Star Interior' will be held on Wed February 1, 2012 from 10.30am - 11.30am, and REPEATED Thursday February 2, 2012 from 12.30pm - 1.30pm.
Don't miss out on this special event. Purchase tickets today, HERE.
To see more of Martyn's work, head to the Decoration + Design blog, visit www.decorationdesignblog.com
Achieving Designer Style on a Budget
There's an art to staying on the cutting edge of design trends while keeping expenses low. Although name brand top-of-the-line designer products are often quite pricey, the options available to the budget conscious buyer of wholesale lighting and home furniture are certainly not lacking.
It's important to remember that the premise of a style or trend is not the brand name but rather the aspects of the style that are found on furniture and decoration items. For example, a currently popular equestrian-esque style of furniture features leather and tweed finishing that can be found from the bottom range items right up to the top of the market.
When you're in the market for wholesale lighting and furniture consider the market you are appealing to, or the use of your furniture. How important are brand names to you and your clientele?
If you're looking for a particular style rather than brand then it's worthwhile researching the various features of that style so you are well informed on your product choices. Establishing a set of criteria for your home furniture, lighting and decoration purchases will make it easier for you to narrow down the products you need. You'll then have the ability to select wholesale lighting and furniture that creates an atmosphere without the brand price tag.
To read the full article, visit www.cafelighting.com.au
Why a multichannel online strategy works
We now live in the age of the educated buyer - an internet savvy, well learned and extremely smart consumer who knows what they want, when they want it and how they are going to get it at a price they want it to be at. Today, each of your consumers will have different preferences, behavioural patterns and interests and you will have to tailor the way you communicate with them to suit these differences. Having just one communication platform is no longer an effective marketing strategy. In order to reach, communicate and engage with consumers effectively, you and your business should be starting to implement a multichannel online marketing strategy into your overall marketing approach.
Kylie Tabrett is the Account Manager for GoHospitality.com.au, an online business directory servicing the Australian hospitality industry. With degrees in Hospitality, Events Management, Sales and Marketing, Kylie began her career in events management and online media sales. She has worked on national online advertising campaigns, created proposals and promotion ideas for major Australian hotels and has worked with major sponsors at industry trade shows. Kylie quickly rose through the ranks in her career and now works as Account Manager for GoHospitality.com.au.
What does a multichannel online strategy mean?
As implied by the name it means to use multiple channels of communication to engage with your consumers and get them to keep coming back to your business's website. There are many different platforms to combine and use in order to ensure you are targeting a wide range of your market. Only relying on one or two channels at most might lead your business to fall behind.
The trick is to get consumers to engage with you through different channels that will always lead back to your website. Here are a few channels you can use and combine to create your own multichannel online strategy and begin engaging with new and existing consumers.
- It all starts with and ends with the website
It doesn't matter how many platforms you have - if they don't lead back to a solid foundation your marketing strategy may not work in the most effective way. Most businesses do need a website that reflects their image. Everything that you show through brand image in real life should be reflected through your website.
The same goes for your website content - whether you choose to include a blog or just have small amounts of writing here and there - make sure it reflects the key messages of the business.
Use keywords to your leverage your potential. Key words and regularly updated content is great for your website's SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). The more key words you place on your site and the more you update content the easier it will be for people to find you via search engines such as Google.
- Socialising is key
Engaging in even one social media platform is a great idea for most businesses. It's not about being seen, it's about engaging with your target market in the environment they choose to be in.
You don't have to use them all, but creating business accounts or fan pages on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Foursquare or Google+, or creating and using a blog is a great way to interact with your consumers and find out their likes, dislikes, feedback or questions.
Social media is also a great way to promote your expertise in your industry. Getting involved in conversations with your target market, broadcasting the fact that you've posted a new blog or article on your website and answering people's questions is a great way to show that you care and that you know what you're talking about.
The idea with social media is to use the channels to drive consumers back to your website and get them interacting with you and buying your products or services.
- Market online through directories
Online directories provide a list of businesses sorted by business type, with contact details including phone number, email and physical addresses and a link to your website. They are most useful to potential customers who are looking for a product or service, and are a more effective channel for your strategy than being listed in a generic directory.
The most effective way to use an online directory is by ensuring you link your listing to your website. Again, just like social media, use your online directory to drive people to your website to create more sales opportunities.
Your online marketing strategy shouldn't stay completely the same. Overtime you will begin to understand which channels work, which don't and which will ultimately lead you to more sales opportunities.
Today, things change constantly. The buying behaviours of consumers today will be completely different tomorrow - it is essential you stay flexible and open to change - such is the nature of the internet.
About GoHospitality.com.au
GoHospitality.com.au is an online business directory servicing the hospitality industry. Owned and operated by Catch, an online division of Reed Business Information Australia, GoHospitality.com.au provides a comprehensive central online source containing the latest product, company and industry news updates. www.gohospitality.com.au
The Collector, The Creator and The Connoisseur
The opportunity to see behind closed doors is incredibly seductive. As our satisfaction with generic styling wanes, more and more blogs, magazines, television shows and books are offering to take us into the real, lived-in spaces of interesting people. What we find once we are inside is often a striking reminder of how vast our similarities and differences can be.
In 2012, Decoration+Design will showcase three very different interior profiles in the third edition of the definitive trend forum, Design Futures. Resident trend forecaster, Genty Marshall, considers what it is that we reveal when we invite someone inside in this season’s central feature - The Collector, The Creator and The Connoisseur.
Genty Marshall specialises in the translation of international living and design directions for the commercial and residential interiors market. Genty will present the central feature `The Collector, The Creator and The Connoisseur' at the upcoming Decoration+Design, from 1-3 February 2012 at the Sydney Exhibition Centre.
Revealing ourselves through design Transparency is a term that has resonated through every business, social and political sphere in the past couple of years. We’re leaning towards more open modes of professional behaviour with an emphasis on communication. People want to know how we operate.
Apply this to our social behaviour and again we see a fascination with what others are doing, seeing, who they’re meeting and where the action is. While we understand that we rarely get full disclosure, we are also becoming fairly good at spotting the highly produced personal image and the different ways that we can shape what we share, with whom and the impression that it gives.
Where authentic, these glimpses of our private worlds can reveal something intimate and allow us to feel as though we know a person that little bit better. This connection may be through the discovery of a shared interest, the admiration of similar tastes, or a curious fascination with one of many differences.
Apply this curiosity to directions in design and we see innumerable blogs, books, magazines and programs dedicated to offering us a glimpse behind closed doors. The Selby, Design Sponge, Paul Barbera’s Where They Create and local design blog The Design Files are just a few sites that take us into the private spaces of interesting people.
The fascination is understandable. The way we create a sense of place and the way we relate to objects around us, reveals more than a list of material possessions. As one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, the way that we assign value to an object says as much about us as it does about the piece itself.
The next installation of Design Futures will present three distinctive ways of relating to design and through these personalities, demonstrate some of the trends we’ll be seeing in 2012. Check back in over the coming months as we reveal how personal tastes and individual obsessions are influencing emerging design in the The Collector, The Creator and The Connoisseur.
Images via The Selby and The Design Files
Interior Insights
Originally trained as an Interior Designer, Melinda Ashton Turner has been working as an interior stylist and art director since 1990. The talented décor specialist boasts an impressive portfolio that includes Style Editor at Australian Vogue Living, Decoration Editor of Homes & Gardens UK and Style Director of Inside Out UK. On a freelance basis she has worked for magazines such as Elle Decoration and Living Etc as well as being the weekly columnist for both The Sunday Times and The Guardian Weekend.
Melinda brings her expertise as a feature speaker to the upcoming Decoration+Design in Sydney 2012 from 1-3 February at the Sydney Exhibition Centre. We caught up with the busy atelier to delve behind the glossy pages of her career and find out what it’s really like working at the offices of Vogue and Elle.
You were trained originally as an Interior Designer, what made you become an interior stylist and art director instead? Or are they closely related? Explain for us.
I didn’t even know there was such a job as an ‘interior stylist’ when I started 20yrs ago! After studying I took a job at Ikea as a showroom decorator. I was only in the Melbourne store for 2 years when I was shipped off to design and implement the building of a new store in Sydney. After the store was opened I was then based in head office traveling between stores along the east coast implementing changes. It was around this time that Australia was about to produce the first IKEA catalogue outside of Sweden. I was told I would be working on it and would do so for the next three years. This is when I first learned Interior Styling existed, part of this involved working in the Swedish IKEA studios I then spent the following three years crossing between styling for photography then planning the new range into stores. It wasn’t until I started working in the UK 11 years ago that I progressed into art direction as well. As an Art Director you need to understand the bigger picture and how it works across different mediums. I’m expected to problem solve for clients. I started to find myself being given complete control over a project from production, to art direction to styling then finally art direction again.
You boast an impressive resume as the Style Editor of Australian Vogue Living, Decoration Editor of Homes & Gardens UK and Style Director of Inside Out UK, including freelance over the years for various glossy interior titles and newspapers, give us an insight into this world? What is it like to work on these titles, what’s involved behind the scenes?
It’s a world like no other and it’s not for everyone. Long days and back breaking work at times. My role on a magazine title generally involved managing a team of up to six people. I was responsible for all imagery and product content across the title working closely with the creative director or art director. Vogue Living was a small team of eight so it was quite something else to work a title in the UK where the team consisted of 18-20 people. The position as head of a style team on a magazine can be called anything from Style Editor to Decoration Editor or more commonly now, Style Director. Essentially they are all the same role. You would work on a four-week turnaround and three months in advance.
In the UK I would work on my own styled features as well as attending all other shoots. So this would involve me being mobile at least four days of the week. Styling is one of the cogs in the wheel. If we don’t deliver images on time it slows down the magazine deadline, which is everything in publishing. A very important part of a stylist’s job is to know the market; what to find where and what’s new. This involves product launches, nurturing relationships with shops and PR companies. One of my proudest moments as a freelancer was when I was first commissioned by Elle Decoration. As it’s quite a tight team and like Habitat, whom I’ve also worked for, they are seen as a benchmark for the creative industry. The main differences between being on-staff to freelance are you need to be aware of who the magazine is targeting and adapt accordingly. 
How are those positions different to your current role working as consultant to Jo Malone and Wilton Carpets? What is involved in your consultancy role?
There are many ways you can consult for a company. For companies like Jo Malone and Portmeirion it was a case of being given a product, discussing what style imagery it required along with ideas on how it could be launched into the market. For Wilton Carpets, they wanted to launch a runner collection and I was asked to give direction on what the collection should be from number of design to colours etc. It’s calling on my styling knowledge but from a different prospective. You need to understand the market and who is the end user.
What is the best part about what you do? What do you love most? And how difficult is it to achieve the experience you have?
The best part of the job is also what I love the most. It’s thinking of concepts then working together with creative people to achieve them. This could be imagery or events. It’s the excitement of converting something on paper into reality. My experience is unique. Planning 7000sqm of a showroom and project-managing builders etc has given me the basis on which everything else has been founded. It’s allowed me to see the bigger picture and how each stage and person is as important as another and the same can be said of magazines. Over my career I’ve worked on almost everything, apart from two things, pure food and fashion styling. Experience is only achieved with time and broadening your horizons and for me it happened as a consequence of moving to London.
Why is it so vital for clients to bring in a specialist interior stylist or consultant like yourself? What can they add to the brand or project?
A client can utilise my experience having worked on-staff and freelance for monthly glossies, broadsheets, and weekend magazines. I am able to see how product imagery can be maximized for each usage with only slight changes and minimal cost. All mediums require different treatments and for someone like myself, and having worked in all of these areas, I can advise on how the product should or could be presented.
Would you ever consider compiling your own book of styling tips and interior ideas for the DIY decorator?
Absolutely! There is no point me taking everything I know to the grave. And as anyone who has worked with me would know I’m only too happy to explain the whys and there fore’s. There are a few things in the pipeline so you’ll have to watch this space. A heads up regarding one project I’m putting together, an interior styling master class, this will be happening early next year in Sydney and Melbourne. It a continuation of what College’s in the UK invited me to talk on.
Where do you source your inspiration from? How do you compile ideas for interiors?
Inspiration comes from everything at any time. Hence, I constantly have pen and paper close by. Compiling ideas comes in two forms; for commissioned work it’s at the time of being briefed and seeing the room or product that I envisage the direction that should be taken. I then start to scour for images to convey this. This could involve several images, one for lighting, another for colour, a piece of art but the full concept only takes shape with sketches. In other cases like editorial, it’s a theme or trend I see emerging, I then would compile a list of products but again it comes back to needing sketches.
Do you love to work with colour? What is your personal interior style?
For me colour is where it all starts. Never under-estimate how simply changing a colour of a wall or sofa can transform a space. I like seeing how colour can vary when light reflects on it. Colour evokes emotion and for me, I want people to connect emotionally to whatever I do. Love it or hate it, but the outcome is I’ve made you feel something. I’m about to launch a blog dedicated to demystifying how to use colour and all its combinations in an interior. I would have to sum up my personal style as Minimal European. Form, colour and comfort are my personal mantra.
With exposure to so many new products and evolutions in design, is your own home constantly evolving and changing with your new ideas and influences?
When you have two creatives in a house, the conversation of what chair we should buy can take months but step into my office and it’s a different story, it’s packed to the brim with objects. My husband is a purest but I like mixing it all up so our home as a whole doesn’t change but artwork and objects are constantly rotated every month or so just to keep it interesting. At the moment all the shelves in my office are colour blocked.
Anything you would like to add further?
What are you working on at the moment? Apart from launching the Colourfield blog, and the masterclasses, I am also working on new imagery and window concepts for Bison Australia. Throw in the school run and life is busy, but it’s exciting.
How to strengthen your online presence
So, you have your business website up and running, you have an understanding of what Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM), you have listed your business on an online directory and you are using social media – fantastic! Using all these online marketing techniques are a great way to get your business seen by your target audience. But, creating a website and making sure you are on social media and online directories are only the beginning.
Now the question is what are you going to do to ensure that all these channels are working together to maximise your online presence? Maintaining a strong online presence and ensuring you have good SEO is essential to maintaining growth and development online. The stronger your online presence, the easier it is for people to find you. Here are some tips all businesses can use to ensure that they are maximising their online presence. 
Integrate your messages
If you have taken advantage of all the great online platforms that are available to businesses i.e. social media, blogs, websites and online directories etc. then also take advantage of the fact that these mediums can be integrated to form one strong online message. Not only will this help with SEO, as you can use the same key words to create better search results, but you can also use each medium to drive traffic to the other. Use your twitter to drive your audience to your blog, website, Facebook or YouTube Channel, use your online directories to link YouTube videos and drive customers to your website or use your blog to drive people to connect with you on Twitter or Facebook. All online mediums can be integrated in a way that will strengthen your online presence and drive traffic to your sites.
Create new content
A lot of businesses fall into the trap of creating an online presence and then abandoning it because they did not plan ahead. This can be detrimental to your business as customers can still find your old content and see that you didn’t make the effort to create more content and information for them to see. Creating new content is a great way to keep your target audiences up to date with what is going on with the business. It also shows key consumers that you are up to date with today’s new technology and you care about what your customers have to say.
Share your news
Businesses will always have great news to share. And if you have a strong social media presence you should have a community of followers who are excited and interested to hear about what’s new in the world of your business. Create a “news” page on your website and use that to upload news about your business for example: you can upload media releases about new products, services, employee promotions or changes in the business; you can upload snippets of media coverage your business has featured in or you can simply advertise an event your business may be hosting. Alternatively you can use your online directory to upload media releases about your business to keep your clients up to date with the latest changes and business news. Online directories are a great place to upload content to generate more sales leads and improve your SEO.
Update regularly 
To maintain a strong online presence it’s crucial that you update the content on your website at least a couple of times a week. Websites don’t need to be updated every day (unless you would like to do so) but it is important to upload frequently. Search engines love websites that are constantly updating with new content. The more regular your updates the better your SEO. Not only will regular updates help with people finding you via search engines but it will also help increase traffic to your website and increase sales leads.
It is not enough to just create a website and hope that it will build itself. Although you do not have to spend all your time online the best way improve on SEO and create sales leads is by making sure you have a strong online presence. In today’s multichannel world engaging with customers through a strong online presence is a fantastic way to build and promote your business.
GoHospitality is an online business directory servicing the hospitality industry. Owned and operated by Catch, an online division of Reed Business Information Australia, GoHospitality provides a comprehensive central online source containing the latest product, company and industry news updates.
Inside the Maison et objet
It's the well-established favourite on the design afficianado calenders, and the principal place of worship for all things interior. It is of course the Maison et Objet, the most important European trade event for interior design. Design globetrotters from all over the world pound the Paris pavements for the event, including talented Australian design analyst and director of Melbourne-based consultancy, New Black Global Trends, Genty Marshall.
Genty Marshall specialises in the translation of international living and design directions for the commercial and residential interiors market. Genty will be a feature speaker at the upcoming Decoration + Design, from 1-3 February 2012 at the Sydney Exhibition Centre.
You recently flew to Paris for the Maison et Objet, why do you attend this show every year? What does it offer and what is unique about this trade fair above all others?
Maison et Objet is one of the standout European shows that makes my annual list. When you’re taking such a long journey, the content has to be worth it and this one is fairly reliable for a number of reasons. The primary reason for me is their biannual trend pavilion. The Inspirations trend area changes theme from show to show and demonstrates, in the most sophisticated way, how social trends relate to product development. It is also a great place to catch up with some of Europe’s most influential design teams and also catch newcomers as they enter the global market.
What are the most popular products / styles in Europe right now?
There are a lot of new directions coming through, some that we’ve seen before and others completely fresh. In terms of materials – stone, concrete, terracotta, toffee coloured hides and light stained or raw wood. In process, dip-glazes, and two-toned upholstery in harmonious colours. The latter emerged last year and we’re seeing it filter through in both contemporary and classic styles. In terms of products, elegant desks, vanity units and occasional 2-seater pieces have definitely been making there way into a lot of collections.
Who are the most inspiring designers / products / brands that sparked your interest?
Thomas Eyck is always a favourite of mine and their 2011 Oak Inside Collection by Christien Meindertsma is a lovely exploration of traditional techniques by these leading contemporary designers. The urban garden pieces by Authentics and the (re) collection by Art Terre offer a very chic way to bring the green inside, a practice quite close to my own heart, so they also make it into my top picks.
Did you discover any new interior design ides or new ways to change up your décor? 
For residential I’d focus on the harmonious tones in upholstery. Colour blocking with a harmonious palette in high quality linen is the ideal. But this isn’t a direction for those keen on smooth lines and hospital corners. If you can’t keep it real and let the creases add character then this styling direction may drive you mad!
What did the trade show floor look like? What are some of the things we can learn from the Maison et Objet organisers to incorporate into our own trade shows here in Australia?
Maison et Objet is a great looking show. The areas are well curated and it can take exhibitors a lot of effort and a number of years before they make the cut for the more exclusive halls. The stand designs and content is strictly juried show-wide to ensure that visitors only get the highest quality showcases. As a visitor, you really warm to the exhibitors who demonstrate an understanding of design and beauty in how they display their products. These companies are all selling products for the interior so to be competitive they must be able to show that they value interior design and that their products belong in this arena. It’s not the venue that gives it the ambience – look up and you remember that you’re still just in a large shed near the airport. The organisers keep the energy up with elaborate and sophisticated features and nice facilities but at this fair it’s the exhibitors who make it glamorous.
Will you be bringing anything back for your own home?
Just a renewed interest in shibori techniques and over-dying. I’m pretty sure I still have some synthetic indigo and all the stinky ingredients that go with it so I may go and dig them out of the cupboard when I’ve caught up on the essentials. After my visit to Japan in August and then witnessing a very strong focus on Japanese design coming through in Europe, I’m feeling all inspired!
To register for Decoration + Design, visit www.decorationdesign.com.au
How to maximise your online business profile
When it comes to online marketing there are so many options and opinions about where you should be investing your money and there is always the risk of spreading yourself too thin. Wherever you decide to target your efforts, do your research and make the most of the resources available to you. If advertising in online directories is an option you’re considering for your business, here are some top tips to help you maximise your online business profile.
Paul Ryan is the Sales Manager for GoHospitality.com.au, an online business directory servicing the Australian hospitality sectors. With more than five years in the digital publishing industry working for Catch (the Online Division for Reed Business Information), Paul is an expert in helping hospitality businesses use online marketing techniques to reach customers and market their brand more effectively online.
How to choose the right online directory service? 
There are many directories to choose from and not all of them offer the same breadth and depth of service or are going to generate the most effective leads for your business. Ultimately it comes down to increasing sales for you and raising your profile online. You want to select a directory that is widely used by a range of advertisers so that people searching for your products and services may already be familiar with the site.
By selecting an industry specific directory, your advertising can be much more targeted. If a directory only advertises businesses in your industry, there is more chance of you being found in Google searches. The reason is the directory selects keywords that are commonly searched for by people in the same field as your business, giving you more chance at being found. Customers know they can visit an industry specific directory and find many of the products and services they need, in the one place.
Expanding on this, you want your chosen website to actively use Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) to ensure your business profile has the best chance possible of being seen at the top of Google and other search engines.
Keeping it fresh
Obviously you need to make sure your business information and contact details are up to date in your listing but think about other ways to make your online business profile interesting and inviting. Are you able to submit images of products you sell? Can you offer articles about your business, products, service or industry and include them on the directory?
Perhaps you can create different deals that tell your customers you are active on the site, available and providing them with the best prices possible. Not only does the fresh content help reassure potential customers of your credibility but it also gives you a helping hand with SEO as search engines love fresh content!
When is it worth upgrading to a paid listing?
Many sites offer free business listings, which is fantastic - everyone loves something for nothing. Of course, by investing a bit of your marketing budget into paid advertising on a directory, your business has more chance of attracting attention away from competitors and giving you a better chance of conversion. Consider whether you are able to showcase more products and services or bring more attention to those you are already showcasing by paying for advertising.
Is there opportunity for more exposure to your logo and website on more pages? Does your ad rank higher on Google if you pay more? Do you have more options for creativity in your advertising, perhaps including video or other media by making a small investment? By asking these questions you can ascertain whether upgrading to a paid listing is right for you and whether this will really maximise your online business profile.
About Go Hospitality
GoHospitality is an online business directory servicing the hospitality industry. Owned and operated by Catch, an online division of Reed Business Information Australia, GoHospitality provides a comprehensive central online source containing the latest product, company and industry news updates. www.gohospitality.com.au
5 Furnishing Tips for True Renovation Success
Now is the time to renovated your space, break out of the winter shackles and emerge into the warmer weather and brighter light of the summer months ahead. Cafe Lighting have come up with 5 simple tips to truly bring your house or busines back to life, and we had to share them with you. If you have anything to add, please share them with us on the Furnitex and Decoration + Design Facebook pages.
1) Write down your priorities
Right through any renovation project, you’re forced to make decisions about what to include and what to leave. You’ll forever be asking yourself questions like will this table fit here? Is that colour too dark? Is the cost of this justified? If you write down a list of goals for your renovation, selecting furniture and lighting becomes a much clearer process. You will be able to assess individual pieces against an overall goal. For example, your goal could be to create an eco-friendly environment. This would lead you to wooden furniture over plastic furniture, and low-energy globes over their high-energy counterparts.
2) Stick to your budget
A budget is crucial to the success of any renovation project. It keeps the project under the planned price, and generally within the timeframe you’ve allowed. That said, this doesn’t mean you can’t buy those dream pieces you’ve been eyeing off for years. Smart purchasing is the secret of any experience renovator. Some easy ways to maximise your budget include purchasing large items, such as your bedroom furniture, wholesale. Wholesale bedroom furniture and lighting fixtures give you greater selection and serious value for money. Cafe Lighting is a renowned Australian supplier of bedroom furniture at wholesale rates, and can help you find the right item for your bedroom.
3) Plan your lighting scheme 
If you plan your lighting before beginning your project you’ll be in the fast lane to renovation success. What and where you light affects how big your space can be and where your furniture will best sit. If you’re working in a commercial space, like a coffee shop, this becomes especially important. Coffee shop lighting is often left to the last minute, and leaves the space wanting. Draw up a coffee shop lighting scheme or other appropriate lighting plan before you start your project and you’ll be much happier with the end result.
4) Research different lighting styles
There’s such a wide range of lighting fixtures available today it’s worthwhile investigating what will best fit in your renovation plan. Often a combination of ceiling and floor base lighting can create warm, inviting rooms that make customers or guests want to stay. Floor base lights are a practical way to compliment the furniture in your room and are easy to set up anywhere. Unlike ceiling or wall lights, floor base lamps don’t need cabling run through the walls, and can be moved easily if needed.
5) Know your limits
It’s important to know what you can and can’t do in a small renovation project. From colour selection to construction, there are always experts willing to help you out. Depending on the nature of your renovation, using trained professionals for the hard parts ensures your renovation is safe, legal and good quality. There’s nothing like the satisfaction of completing a DIY project.
If you follow these 5 simple tips you’ll be on your way to some great renovation work. Cafe Lighting can help you with all of your furniture, decoration and lighting needs. Our impressive range has items perfect for projects of any style or scale.
Integrate and manage your online marketing system
Paul Ryan is the Sales Manager for GoHospitality.com.au, an online business directory servicing the Australian hospitality sectors. With more than five years in the digital publishing industry working for Catch (the Online Division for Reed Business Information), Paul is an expert in helping hospitality businesses use online marketing techniques to reach customers and market their brand more effectively online.
‘How do I manage my online marketing system?’ is a question constantly asked by businesses. The internet has been an increasingly popular way to market to existing and potential customers for over a decade now. However, many still find online marketing ineffective because they don’t know how to integrate the different activities. Online marketing is an umbrella term that incorporates your business’ website, social media presence, visibility in search engine results, directory listings and more. The internet offers a huge range of potential marketing activities, with new sites emerging constantly. When it comes to the ever changing world of online marketing, it pays to have an organised strategy. Online marketing can be time-consuming and ineffective, or efficient and engaging – it all depends on your approach. The best way to market your business online is to have a clear idea of what you need to do, and when and how you will do them. Focus on an end goal – usually, this is to drive people to your website. Many online activities are interconnected and when you know how to integrate them, you will save time and see results.
Social media
Research the different types of social media including Facebook, Twitter, blogs and LinkedIn and decide which ones would be most relevant to your target audience. For example, LinkedIn is a waste of time for you if your product or service is aimed at teenagers, because LinkedIn is a network for professionals. But Facebook is perfect for a teenage audience. Blogging is one of the best ways to keep your website fresh and improve Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and engage customers by telling them about new products, services, staff or events. Blogging doesn’t have to be time-consuming. Create a strategy of how often you will blog (1-2 times per week is optimal), what you will write about and when you will write it. You can save time by writing the blog in a Word document ready to be published at a later date.
Online directories
Online directories are the same concept as a Yellow Pages directory. They provide a list of businesses sorted by business type, with contact details including phone number, email and physical addresses and a link to your website. The main difference between print and online directories is that most online directories are targeted to specific industries. For example, GoHospitality.com.au is targeted at the Australian hospitality industry. This means that they are most useful to potential customers who are looking for a product or service, and more effective in lead generation for your business than being listed in a generic directory. Integrate your online marketing activities by ensuring that you link your listing to your website, and posting press releases on GoHospitality.com.au to generate more sales leads and improve your SEO.
Press releases
There are two ways to use press releases. If you have something newsworthy to say, you can release it to journalists in the hope of being published in the news. If you have news about your business that is not relevant to the wider community, you can release your news online. Press releases keep you top of customers’ minds and are great for improving your search engine ranking. You could post the press release on your blog, include it in your e-newsletter or, if you are listed on an online business directory like GoHospitality.com.au, use their free press release distribution service. Integrate your activities by uploading press releases to your blog and online directory listing, and posting your news on Twitter and Facebook.
Who’s in charge?
Your business’ online marketing system will perform at its best if you delegate one person or team to be in charge of organising and running it. If your business is small and you don’t have a lot of time and money for online marketing, you should still do what you can, whether it means concentrating on one social media site, or getting listed in a directory like GoHospitality.com.au.
Monitor your efforts
The effectiveness of online marketing can be difficult to measure. The best indicators are an increase in sales leads through enquiries to your website, engagement and positive sentiment on social media, and website ranking in search engines when you type in your business name or product/service. Online marketing is generally cheaper and more targeted than print marketing, and once you have a strategic, integrated approach that takes into account a timeline, your actions and who will be doing them, you will find that your efforts will start to pay off.
About GoHospitality.com.au
GoHospitality.com.au is an online business directory servicing the hospitality industry. Owned and operated by Catch, an online division of Reed Business Information Australia, GoHospitality.com.au provides a comprehensive central online source containing the latest product, company and industry news updates.
Creative Lighting Design
Bluebottle Lighting Design expert John Ford discusses the multiple sources of inspiration and challenges for creative lighting design. Gain insight into the practical application and approaches architects, interior designers and clients can take to get the right lighting for their project.
Lighting design can involve either decisions about the aesthetics of light fittings and their arrangement in a space, or the distribution and quality of light itself. Lighting is perhaps the most subtle way of affecting how people experience a space, determining whether it feels like a functional space or generates a sense of intimacy. Light can be used to direct attention towards elements of a space, revealing and concealing features. Light can be used to create a narrative, connecting built form to human experience.
Both natural light and electric light create ambience; windows are light fittings in a building as much as downlights are- they contribute light to the space so they should be thought at about at the same time as the lighting is considered. In many buildings the windows are designed by the architect and the lighting by an electrical engineer or contractor. Unifying these aspects of lighting is the first step towards creating spaces that are habitable, as against the utilitarian lighting that is so prevalent. Materials are as much a part of the lighting design process as sources of light- reflected light from surface finishes has a huge impact on the feeling of a space.
Then consider the lights...Only once the distribution and the quality of light in a space has been determined should the fittings be selected. The interaction of functional fittings and decorative fittings is not as simple as it may appear. Many domestic spaces are arrayed with halogen downlights which appear correct on a plan, but then need to be supplemented with decorative lamps to create ambience and reduce the excessive amounts of light coming from the ceiling. The lamps should be considered in the design phase, eliminating the need for so many downlights in the ceiling and ensuring that the ambience is designed, not ignored. Consider directing light towards vertical surfaces or to an object such as an artwork or a vase. These become features of the space, as well as providing useful light.
And the environment...The use of light and lighting is changing dramatically with new environmental regulations arising from efforts to combat climate change, in the Building Code and elsewhere. Both the rise of new technologies such as LED lighting and the need to incorporate natural light effectively are raising challenges that call for integrated solutions to lighting, rather than simplistic approaches, such as unimaginative grids of downlights in every room. A holistic approach to light. One of the defining features of great architecture is the masterful use of light, whether it be religious buildings such as the churches by Le Corbusier and Ando, or domestic spaces such as those by Glenn Murcutt. These architects understand the use of natural and electric light to add an extra layer to their buildings. Their buildings are not so much revealed as transformed by light.
Whilst we can’t all live in such beautiful pieces of architecture, by placing more emphasis on the quality of light we can improve the quality of designed space and make spaces that are designed for human habitation.
Contact John Ford at Bluebottle Lighting Design: johnford@bb3.net.au
Images courtesy of John Ford at Bluebottle Lighting Design
The Selby is in Abigail Ahern's place...
We have featured the interior design style of the enigmatic UK stylist, Abigail Ahern many times. And there is a very simple reason for it. She lives and breathes, eats, drinks and sleeps interior design. Her recent inclusion on popular The Selby is in Your Place blog attests that. As you would expect, her house is filled with eclecticism, brimming with trinkets and her own trailblazing designs such as the popular dog lamps and penchant for colour with peacock blues interspersed with pops of fuchsia and inky blacks.
The Selby founder, Todd Selby followed Ahern through every room, from pouring a cup of tea in her equally eclectic kitchen to sparking up embers in her antique fireplace and `pea potting’ in her English courtyard. It's as though you are taking the walk-through with them, joining in a cup of tea or a quick drive round the block in her 1968 Mercedes-Benz.
Ahern was a recent guest at Decoration+Design, joining the International Industry Seminar Series experts panel to discuss `Creating feeling & emotion in an interior’. See our interview with Abigail on the Decoration + Design blog here.
Below are a few select images from the Selby post, but to view the entire collection visit www.theselby.com
Theming the future
Dutch interior stylist, Milou Ket returned to the Decoration + Design International Industry Seminar Series line-up by popular demand. Her sell-out seminar explored six themes she predicts will be the focus for 2012 - 2013. For those who missed it, we asked Milout to share a summary of her inspiring visions for the future.
Milou Ket is the force behind the highly successful styling company, founded in 1980, that takes her name. Her expertise in design and interiors is renowned in her home country, The Netherlands, and internationally, while Milou Ket interior trend books sell successfully at international fairs such as Heimtex, Surtex and Biennale. Milou Ket clients include some of the world's top retail and design brands.
The themes are:
Bare Essentials - Simplicity and honesty for a theme with neutral colours with a lot of tactility and texture.
Naïve & Romantic - a mainly floral and ornamental theme in bright pastels.
Living the Authentic - the emphasis is on ecological awareness and conscious living, in vegetal colours.
Bright Colorama - we see the return of colour especially for accessories, colour blocking and exotic ideas.
Ethnic & Botanic - global influences, from Africa to the Orient play a role.
Rich & Dark - opulent classical and avant-garde influences and dark mysterious colours play a role.
BARE ESSENTIALS - A contemporary styling direction based on honesty, quality, and sobriety. Reduction is a key word. Handmade products and textures are important. Natural materials such as untreated and recycled wood, rough wool, linen, leather, suede, bamboo and ceramics. Also felt, abaca and paper. We see a desire for pure and simple design. We see open and fragile materials. Irregular 3-D patterns and textures are important. The play of light and shadow gives an interesting effect, especially when it is combine with transparency, such as foam, paper and porcelain. We see origami patterns, iridescent, and tactile materials such as leather and suede. Sometimes the surfaces and shapes can be truly coarse and handcrafted, almost primitive. Materials with heavy textures, such as untreated wool, but also hides, furs, salmon skin, patchwork wood, and irregular ceramics. The colours are off- white, white, pale blue/green, light beige, kit, light taupe, leather, and dark brown. Gold and silver are also applied once in a while.
NAÏVE & ROMANTIC - It is based on a romantic attitude, innocent and naïve. The emphasis is on painterly flowers in different interpretations, water colour and handpainted flowers. But we see also more traditional flowers such as roses, (oriental) blossoms, botanical motifs and huge photoprints for instance for wallpaper. Shine, metallics and a touch of silver and gold are indispensable. We see natural motifs such as flowers, birds, butterflies, branches and botanical subjects like mushrooms, but also naïve polkadots and stripes. A homely atmosphere is evoked by recycling and patchwork effects for carpets. Handcrafted designs and old techniques such as knitting and crochet play an important role. The colours are fresh and romantic. We see yellow, pink, salmon, shrimp, light blue, light green, light lavender and sea green. Sometimes we even see some colours with a tendency towards fluorescence.
LIVING THE AUTHENTIC - The focus is on sustainability and consciousness of our environment. There is more appreciation for the local and the regional. Countrylife is idealized. The vegetable garden is a symbol, we have interest in vegetal colours and bio products. Natural materials such as soy, hemp, corn, bamboo and organic cotton are in demand, as well as linen and wool. Weathered and earthy, faded by time. There is an appreciation for our cultural heritage, that shows in interest in brocante and vintage. We see antique crystal, engravings, worn wood, poor man’s silver, decorated mirrors, and chandeliers, ikat and kelim’s, old leather suitcases, hatboxes and tailors dummies, all for a homely feeling. Imperfect and partly erased. Recycling is very important here. The colours also show this vegetal aspect: aubergine, raspberry, faded berry, old rose, soft yellow, pumpkin, leaf green, and faded blue.
BRIGHT COLORAMA - There are two different directions. One is kind of exotic and tropical, reminiscent of paradise or a tropical island. We see exotic flowers, fruits, orchids, huge leaves, but also a kind of blurred effects. We see handwoven blankets, handcrafted and colourful braided products from Africa and colourful ceramics and colourful walls. The other direction is more geometrical, modern and pixelated. Think of colour blocking, giant multicolour stripes, rainbow effects and transparent modern materials, such as shiny lacquer, glass, resin, plastic, and transparency with Led’s. The colours are vibrant, stimulating and optimistic. We see yellow, pink, orange, coral, faded green, ocean blue, emerald and purple. The colours seem to have an almost acid, fluorescent tendency especially when placed in a tropical context.
ETHNIC AND BOTANIC - a mix and match of different influences from all over the world. It is often about handmade traditional products from several sources such as Tribal Africa, Morocco, Turkmenistan and American Indians, India, Indonesia and Oriental influences. Luxury is in this direction essential. It is associated with gold and a warm yellow. We see Chinese inspired fabrics, embroideries, applications, paisley’s, but also huge patterns with tie and dye effects. We see handwoven blankets, feathers, old wood. Leather, fake leather and reptile remain important. Budha’s, Chinese antique chests, rich handcrafted fabrics and pillows are mixed. The colours are golden yellow, brick, mustard, reddish brown, warm brown, faded green, olive green, and deep olive. When metallic are used, they are often oxidized such as old gold, copper, bronze etc.
RICH AND DARK - used by the avant-garde in a minimalistic way for a very dark interior with hardly any furniture and sober products from the industrial era. Also these colours are used for a classical baroque style. Gold and yellow are definitely a trend colour and give a luxurious touch. We see it in tiles, in glazes on ceramics, in crinckled surfaces, in leather and also in wallpaper. Traditional jacquards and brocades look new again. Blue in all it’s facets will be important too: from Chinese blue porcelain to the blue glaze of oriental pots. Matte and shine make a nice contrast. We see materials with fine laser cuts like lace, fake fish skin, reptile and furs. 3-D textured walls and huge wallpaper prints add a dramatic effect. The colours are deep violet, peacock, indigo blue, deep red, gold, deep brown, dark grey and black.
An Emotive Response
When you pair one of the UK’s hottest ateliers with Australia's Largest Furniture and Furnishings Trade Fair there’s bound to be fireworks. This is what happened when Abigail Ahern flew especially from her London base to speak at the International Industry Seminar Series at Furnitex and Decoration+Design. Abigail spoke about `how to create an emotive interior', she believes; `colour is the most transformative thing you do can do to a space if you want to add some emotional content to your pad. It changes faceless rooms into spectacular rooms. It can turn the simplest abode into an edgy, sophisticated den in which to hunker down.'
The seminar was a huge success for Ahern who was personally `blown away’ at the turn out and post-feedback with a barrage of emails from retailers asking her to return and to consider opening her own store in Australia. Watch this space.
Designer, style maven and author Abigail Ahern is recognized among design aficionados and devotees alike for her enchanting take on interiors. Heralded as ‘style spotter-extraordinaire’ by The Times newspaper she has established her position at the front of the design trail with her original interpretation of trends, unique sense of style and individual approach to interiors. Her commissions include accessorising a 42,000 square foot Grand Spa for the Ritz Carlton in Palm Beach, Florida; re-styling and branding a chain of hotels in the Middle East as well as numerous residential and commercial projects. Abigail’s London store has been voted one of the coolest places to shop in the UK by Elle Decoration magazine.
You recently spoke at the D+D international industry seminar series with your topic `creating feeling & emotion in an interior' - how was the experience?
I loved the experience and was rather blown away at the turn out to my seminar and also the response afterwards. So many people subsequently emailed the store asking if I could return with more seminars and also consider opening a store over in Australia. It was overwhelming but also hugely exciting.
It must have been a great opportunity for you to connect with people in the industry here - who did you meet and what did you learn/discover?
I meet a whole host of people from editors, to designers to architects and retailers to producers! I discovered in the Australian market place as over here in Europe there has been a shift in our business – throwaway design is no longer, instead longevity rules! Whether that’s from an interior design perspective or a product perspective – showy superficiality has pretty much been banished. Design is headed in a fab new direction where environmental concerns and made with care are becoming the norm.
On top of your interior design work, you are also an author of your own book `A girl's guide to decorating' and designer/manufacturer of your own furnishings - did you make contact with Australian suppliers/importers?
I did make contact with some Australian stores who are interested in carrying our line as well as some online stores. In fact a few stores in Melbourne already carry our line so it was great having the opportunity of visiting and reconnecting with them.
Did you have a chance to look around the fair? What were some of your favourite features, anything that stood out?
I covered the fair pretty extensively – being an interiors obsessive I love visiting trade shows particularly ones that I haven’t seen before so this was a great opportunity for me. I saw a number of sleek sofas and chairs from Aus Furniture Imports, and some cool accessories from Craft Enterprises. Lisa Wright who owns African Trading Port particularly stood out, they represent a number of designers/makers in South Africa including Wonki Ware, Mud and Kraufthaus. I adored their stand and their fabulous selection of products from thick, beautiful coloured felt cushions and blankets to hand thrown tableware with the most beautiful glazes.
Did you notice a significant difference in Australian interior décor ideas to Britain? If so, what were they and were you inspired by anything? Is there anything you will incorporate into your own ideas?
I love Australian interior décor (I subscribe to all the interior design mags, from Inside Out , Vogue Living, Belle, to Real Living) so am very familiar with the vibe. I would say its more laid back than the British way of decorating but I’m guessing that’s because of your fabulous weather. So I’ve been very much inspired by this easy elegance – with interiors that feel relaxed, comforting and also protecting. I noticed a lot of handmade items with detailed craftsmanship so very keen to fill my store with some of these unique finds. Also the influence of Asia was particularly apparent and I got really inspired with the balance of Australian design intermingled with the quiet yet enduring aesthetic so synonymous with Asian design. I think it's one of the reasons I am such a fan of eclectic interiors – fill your home with things from different cultures and magic starts to happen!
What else did you get up to while in Melbourne? What was your most enjoyable and memorable experience?
The most enjoyable experience was pottering around – whether that was around the trade show, or around the city, poking my nose into lots of fabulous interior stores and stands and stopping off a zillion times for another fabulous coffee was heavenly. I loved the eclectic vibe of the stores, the teeny tiny little coffee houses and the arty yet quite industrial feel the city has to offer. I haven’t even gotten on to the food yet which was amazing!
What have you been up to since back in England? What's in store For the next 6 months?
We off next week to NY to launch our lighting collection followed by a launch in Paris the week after and then it's flat out sorting the store out for the holiday season, designing a new collection of products to be launched in January, as well as producing two applications on design. Pretty full on to say the least!
How to improve your online visibility
Businesses today are realising the importance of the internet to promote themselves and ultimately increase profits. However, it is not enough to simply be online. Your business actually needs to be found among the millions of businesses cluttering the online world.
Paul Ryan is the Sales Manager for GoHospitality.com.au, an online business directory servicing the Australian hospitality sectors. With more than five years in the digital publishing industry working for Catch (the Online Division for Reed Business Information), Paul is an expert in helping hospitality businesses use online marketing techniques to reach customers and market their brand more effectively online.
Online visibility is what distinguishes successful internet ventures from failures and underachievers. Even businesses that invest thousands of dollars in sophisticated websites struggle to connect with their target audience because they are unaware they even exist. If you type your business name into the top three Australian search engines (Google, Bing and Yahoo!7) and your business website does not appear on the first page, you need to do some work on improving your online visibility to help your customers find you.
Here are some methods to help you increase your exposure online.
Include related keywords
Search engines look at the keywords included in your website copy to assess what your site is about. You need to determine what your key words are and what words people type into a search engine when looking for a business like yours and make sure these are incorporated throughout your website.
These keywords need to be included into the page title, meta tags, page description and then repeated two or three times in the copy on the page. It is a good idea to use a different key word or phrase in each page of your site. By using a range of keywords you should see an increase in traffic from search engines.
Update your website frequently
Search engines like websites that have fresh items, they do not like outdated websites. Each time you add content to your site you improve your ranking in the search engines. It is a good idea to add new content to your site each week. This can be articles, industry news, customer profiles, case studies or videos about your products or services. Adding a blog to your website can help make the updating process easier. A blog not only provides fresh information but provides your visitors with an opportunity to interact with your business.
Enlist the help of Search Engine Optimisation 
Search Engine Optimisation – or SEO, is the strategic process of making a website more search engine friendly in order to achieve improved organic search rankings. The more information search engines have about your website, the better your search rankings will be. In approximately 50 percent of online searches, people select a business found on the first or second page. So if your business does not appear in the first 10 to 20 results, you have already lost about 50 percent of your potential customers.
Get your business listed
As almost 70 percent of Australians use the internet, it is important for your business to be present wherever people are looking for services and businesses online. About 10 years ago you just had to make sure your business was listed in the local print directory – today you have to think internet.
There are hundreds of ways to promote your business on the web but online listings are a great place to start. They can increase traffic and inbound links assist to optimise your website. They help your business appear in the first page of search engines and provide an important link directly to your website. It is a good idea to make sure you are included in your local and industry specific online directories, such as GoHospitality.com.au.
Website copy
Once you have managed to lure visitors to your website, you have just a few seconds to capture their attention. They will quickly scan the page and if they can’t find what they are looking for they will move on just as quickly as they arrived. To convince them to stay, make sure you make it easy for visitors by using attention grabbing headings, short paragraphs and bulleted lists, and images with captions.
GoHospitality.com.au is an online business directory servicing the hospitality industry. Owned and operated by Catch, an online division of Reed Business Information Australia, GoHospitality.com.au provides a comprehensive central online source containing the latest product, company and industry news updates.
Interior Motives
Her `obsession’ with design has seen Abigail Ahern labeled as one of the world’s most exciting ateliers out of the UK. With her Alice in Wonderland style, Abigail has carved a new niche of interior décor design blending unconventional colour combinations and oversized furnishings to create a larger than life space with character and flair. Her theory of creating `emotive interiors’ with drama, intrigue and quirky juxtapositions has been a hit with the international design scene.
Designer, style maven and author Abigail Ahern is recognized among design aficionados and devotees alike for her enchanting take on interiors. Heralded as ‘style spotter-extraordinaire’ by The Times newspaper she has established her position at the front of the design trail with her original interpretation of trends, unique sense of style and individual approach to interiors. Her commissions include accessorising a 42,000 square foot Grand Spa for the Ritz Carlton in Palm Beach, Florida; re-styling and branding a chain of hotels in the Middle East as well as numerous residential and commercial projects. Abigail’s London store has been voted one of the coolest places to shop in the UK by Elle Decoration magazine.
Abigail is know for her curious yet confident eye, coupled with the ability to bring seemingly disparate objects together in which nothing matches but everything makes beautiful sense. Her trailblazing decoration ideas are so popular she recently packaged them into a book titled `A girls guide to Decorating' with easy tips and tricks to reinvent your space over a DIY weekend. Abigail will be the special guest of the International Industry Seminar Series during Decoration + Design from 21-24 July at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.
On the eve of her Australian visit, we asked Abigail how do you create an `emotive interior’?, how she’s breaking away from the traditional `stiff upper lip’ British style, and what the hottest colour trends are.
Your shop has been described as having an Alice in Wonderland quality - how would you describe your design style?
My design style is pretty eclectic its about creating something unexpected with visual trickery that startles, and surprises. You get that through pairing unusual blends of furnishings together, playing around with scale, introducing some scene stealing lighting and fusing texture and pattern with aplomb.
You are constantly rates as one of the world's most exciting decorators, does that reference put pressure on your or increase your performance to continue creating and pushing style boundaries?
I probably put more pressure on myself than I need to but then I choose projects that challenge me and elevate me - I'm obsessed with design and see my creative development as an evolution. I push boundaries because I always want to try something new not for newness sake but because I don't want to create anticipated, predictable interiors.
Your website states there isn't a `smidge of stiff British upper lip ness in sight', can you explain the difference for us in Australia? Why do you wish to break away from this tradition?
The Brits by nature are quite reserved when it comes to expressing emotion. My aim is to break that down with a retail store and interiors that quicken your pulse rate and make you heart beat a little bit faster. That are dramatic, intriguing and emotive. So I create interesting aesthetic juxtapositions that are either tongue in cheek or contradications. For example partnering our dog lights which are quite tough and straight laced with the finest taffetta granny esq shades for example. Frou frou coupled with masculine it creates a notable friction and thats what I am after.
Your design spaces feature loads of colour and texture, what are some of your favourite colourways to clash with?
I pretty much believe that colours can't clash if it works in mother nature it pretty much works in the home so I play around all the time with a tantalising combo of say blue and orange or purple and yellow. I should say that I set all these high voltage hues against inky sludgy backgrounds so it actually takes on a sophisicated vibe rather than a crazy one. Color is one of the easiest decorating tools around you just need a large dose of confidence. Start small introduce say some bright hues in soft furnishings (the 5 minute face lifts of the decorating world). Add a beautiful high octane dose of colour in the form of a rug to wooden floors and magic happens or some metallic purple leather cushions to a neutral sofa and decorative chemistry ensues. Nothing changes the personality of a space quite like colour - and when it comes to paint if you don't like it, you can paint back in half an afternoon. In terms of clashing artfully look to nature, visit florists pour over flower books - barbie esque pink and vermillion look fab when partnered as flowers, use it as inspiration and introduce it into your home.
What are some of the hottest colour trends right now?
Hottest colour trends - burnt orange partnered with a purpleish grey - the sort of colour often seen in the Brassica family of vegtables. Or heather (pale soft soft soft liac - partnered with deepest darkest black) and soft blueish grey (that evening mist sort of colour) couple with barbie esq pink. Heavenly!
What influences your design? Do you take reference from any particular eras, places or designers? 
Travel, museums, interior mags and books, pottering around the streets, flea markets the world over all influence me. Favourite designers, Iise Crawford for timeless classic interiors, Kelly Wearstler and Jonathan Adler for pushing boundaries and making interiors fun again.
How do you draw up on the senses to create an emotive interior? What are some of the key pieces in a room that can evoke mood and passion?
In order to create an emotive interior you need to feel moved, to feel drama, intrigue and surprise. You want a room to challenge you to inspect touch and wonder so there's an aura of discovery about the space. You can only achieve this by playing around with colour, layering lighting and combining pattern and texture with aplomb. There is no single one thing its about combing a whole host of elements - an unusual mix of furnishings for example, playing around with scale, filling the air with a beautiful fragerance. It’s a bit like herbs and spices once you add all these elements together magic happens, a tension that is exciting and alive.
When designing a room, it can be like a painter to a blank canvas - is this a daunting experience? Where do you start?
For me it all starts with creating a sense of place (and it's never daunting, its challenging and exciting) so I look at the architecture, the landscape talk to the client and break it down from there. There doesn't have to be an agreeable relationship between a buildings exterior and interior but it has to be considered. Feel, flow and function are my guidelines - I pull together loose pictorial presentations, swatches, renderings and so forth and it all kicks off from there.
Your book ` A girls guide to Decorating' offers helpful tips and Ideas for people to decorate their home - what is your favourite DIY from the book?
My favourite piece of DIY perfect for a weekend afternoon is to spray paint flea market, junk shop finds - the brown furniture that no one wants that goes for a song and to transform them with some high voltage shots of colour. I've given consoles, mirrors and tables a rock n roll vibe girls guide makeover by spraying vermillion, pink and teal.
You can register for Abigail Ahern's seminar `Creating Feeling & Emotion in an Interior' at www.decorationdesign.com.au
Use Your Difference to Make a Profit
In today's crowded marketplace, standing out from the crowd and differentiating your business, products or services is the best way to keep your head above the rest. The first place to start is the Unique Selling Proposition. It can boost sales and drive business by positioning your business as the number one choice. It also sets your business apart from the competition and gives customers something easy to remember and positive to talk about.
Paul Ryan is the Sales Manager for GoHospitality.com.au, an online business directory servicing the Australian hospitality sectors. With more than five years in the digital publishing industry working for Catch (the Online Division for Reed Business Information), Paul is an expert in helping hospitality businesses use online marketing techniques to reach customers and market their brand more effectively online. GoHospitality.com.au provides a comprehensive central online source containing the latest product, company and industry news updates.
Identify the Unique
Think about your product or service. What is unique about what is being offered? When you look at the other competitors in the marketplace, what can your business offer that is different? Like it or not, customers will compare your business to your competitors and you want to come out favourably.
Ask yourself why a customer should choose your business. It could be as simple as better delivery times, flexible payment terms, or a greater product range or quality. Or instead trade on the brand’s reputation, expertise or industry experience.
Do some research on competitors to find out what they are offering and how this compares to your business. Is there something they are not offering that your business could? This will make your brand more visible to customers who are looking for a reason to buy one identical product over another.
Don’t be fooled into thinking your Unique Selling Proposition has to be price – that’s not always top of a consumers list. Most people when looking for a product or service look for a business that is reliable, trustworthy and worth the money.
Research what customers are looking for
In order to fulfil customer’s needs, you need to know what customers want. Depending on the service or products your business is offering this will differ greatly. For example, in the hospitality industry, what are customers looking for? They are probably looking for efficient and friendly service. It can boost sales and drive business by positioning your business as the number one choice. It also sets your business apart from the competition and gives customers something easy to remember and positive to talk about. What is the Unique Selling Proposition that means your business can guarantee to meet customers’ expectations?
Alternatively, try another tactic: finding a gap in the market. For example, if there is lack of family restaurants in your suburb, meet customers’ needs by opening one.
Selling your competitive advantage
After identifying what your business does well, make a list and consider whether it's realistic. If you try to makes sales off a false promise you will soon be caught out by customers. Make a list of three to five points your business can always deliver on, and focus on those that competitors may not be able to match.
A Unique Selling Proposition needs to be compelling and sellable: something important to customers. Think for example of Gloria Jean’s Coffees. Among the extensive selection of coffee shops available in any given area, there always seems to be a Gloria Jean’s store. Gloria Jean’s have a vision of becoming ‘the most loved and respected coffee company in the world’ and have built a reputation of high quality coffee and environmentally sound practices. Therefore their Unique Selling Proposition is great coffee that customers feel good about drinking.
Proposition customers 
Now that you have a list, you need to let customers know why they should pick your business by getting your brand name in the relevant places. Don’t think this has to be a big, expensive campaign. Simple and effective methods include printing your business logo on the back of business cards, on business signage, displaying it on websites, reception counters and letterheads and promoting it through social media networks. List your business on an industry online directory such as GoHospitality.com.au so that customers can easily find you.
The key is to understand customers, know where they are looking and which tools they use to find your products or services. This will ensure your business spends its marketing budget where it counts for maximum return on investment (ROI).
Your Unique Selling Proposition is a branding tool that helps your business both make sales and build a lasting reputation. Create a message customers instantly recognise in relation to the brand. Remember to keep it simple – it should be able to be summarised in a single line for maximum marketing potential.
GoHospitality.com.au is an online business directory servicing the hospitality industry. Owned and operated by Catch, an online division of Reed Business Information Australia, GoHospitality.com.au provides a comprehensive central online source containing the latest product, company and industry news updates.
Designing interior spaces to help you unplug
Technology has brought us to a point of constant connectivity. The advantages of being able to share, search and socialise regardless of time or location are clear.
However, the negative effect this is having on our psyche and behaviour is only recently becoming evident.
Discover your personal space as resident trend forecaster Genty Marshall brings together an installation of product, form, colour and style in Decoration+Design’s central trend event – Alone,Together. Tickets for the Alone,Together seminar are available through Decoration +Design.
Comforted by the constant background noise of our virtual lives, we are forgetting how to be alone. For designers, this is an opportunity to consider how to create private spaces that encourage us to switch off and cater to our need for solitude in what is becoming an increasingly shared environment.
Personal retreats can be created from something as simple as a well positioned screen all the way through to elaborate colour and sensory therapy rooms. The classic shed is a space that has always represented the importance and purpose of solitude and privacy. The shed is a place to regain focus and composure, be it through toying with small jobs or being completely engaged in a project. It is a space that encourages a mental state of flow, allowing new ideas to move freely and time to lose its hold.
We can see a number of products coming onto the Australian market that invoke the raw, industrial characteristics of the shed.
One piece on show at Decoration & Design will be the the Mold light by Michel Charlot. Designed in Switzerland, this fibre cement light embraces the aesthetics of process and production.
Visit Mosarte for more information
Other products to keep an eye out for include;
The Firwood Ladder from Perfect Pieces.
BBQ lamp range from Vixen & Velvet
Woodblock linen mix jacquard by Laura Lienhard, available through Tigger Hall
London Calling
He's been hailed as one of the UK's hottest new designers with an impressive insight into the hospitality and retail design industry and now Lee Broom is set to head down under as a guest speaker at the Inernational Industry Seminar Series within the Decoration + Design and Furnitex Fair.
Two years after launching his first furniture collection, Lee Broom is already garnering the acclaim most designers spend many years attempting to achieve. His designs are sold in New York, Paris, London and the Middle East, have been exhibited by Boffi at the Milan Furniture Fair, featured in the best design publications across the globe and he rates Kanye West and Matthew Williams as fans. For his first foray into retail design, Broom just designed the first Topman Personal Shopping Suite in London. It’s also the first time Topman have ever used an external designer.
You are about to venture down under for the Decoration and Design Fair, where you will speak as at the international industry seminar series – how does it feel to be involved in this event?
I am really looking forward to it. As a designer, it is a great pleasure to be invited to another country to meet like-minded people and discuss the difference in design across the shores.
Have you ever ventured to Australia before? What are some of the key differences in trends from the UK to here?
It will be my first time visiting Australia and it is one of the places that I have always had on my wish list. I have heard that Australia has a really vibrant design scene which I’m looking forward to exploring.
You have been voted as UK’s hottest designer, how does this title sit with you personally?
It’s nice that people like and appreciate my work but it’s not something I think about much! I prefer to just create my products and interiors and stay focused on that.
This year you launched your first store within leading lifestyle destination, The Shop at Bluebird, how successful has this collaboration been?
It’s been great. The Shop at Bluebird was always one of my favourite stores so to have a space there was a great honour. I think it gave people the opportunity to see my work in a different retail environment, rather than gallery context.
This store is also where you stock the exclusive and covetable `Decanterlamp’, how did you come up with this unique design concept? What is the story behind its creation?
It was important for me to release a new product for the collaboration - The Shop at Bluebird particularly loved my Decanterlight, so it felt right to create a new product related to that.
The piece came about when I was in my studio playing with various decanters, piling them on top of each other to see if I could create some sort of lamp stand. I finally got the right combination and then put the piece into production. I particularly like the white version.
Where do you gain much of your inspiration when designing your products?
London is a very inspiring city so it’s easy to be inspired here; I like to visit art galleries and antique fairs. I also get inspiration by people and fashion – we have a great street style here.
Can you discuss any other of your exciting products coming out soon?
I have a new collection coming out in September as part of the London Design Festival which will be my first upholstery collection. There will be around six or seven pieces within the range – the collection is classic with a contemporary edge.
Your products range in scope, from the `One Light Only’ lights with modern geometric shape to the Carpetry sideboard that has a vintage aesthetic within a smooth modern framework. Do you like to keep a diversity within your brand? Are Lee Broom collections constantly evolving?
I hate to stand still and don’t like repeating myself. I like to embrace new techniques, materials or styles. I find it keeps things fresh and interesting for me, and for everyone else.
What are you looking forward to most about attending the D+D fair?
Seeing new designs I haven't seen before.
Editor of (inside) magazine, Domingo Robledo will be hosting a conversation with Lee Broom on Friday 21 July, 9.30am at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre as part of the Decoration + Design and Furnitex International Industry Seminar Series.
To purchase tickets visit the D+D website, or view the full seminar program here.
For more info on Lee Broom, visit www.leebroom.com
A 21st century wallpaper renaissance
There are more designers working today than ever before, in both the established companies with their extensive archives to draw upon, to individuals with new and often more innovative designs. This means that we have looked again at what it means to cover a wall. To cover a wall is now an expression of taste and modernity rather than a convention. As a young designer working today, I often ask myself how long will this last, is it just fashion? To answer this I look further at why we decorate walls.
Erica Wakerly is an award-winning UK designer based in London, who gained a Masters degree (MA Printed Textiles) from the Royal College of Art before establishing the design label in 2006. Previous awards include 'Elle Decoration Best Wallcovering 2007' for Homes and 'Young Designer of the Year 2007' at the Homes & Garden Classic Design Awards. Wakerly distributes her wallpapers and textiles internationally and also designs for bespoke projects.
Pattern can transform a space. It adds warmth and character, it can humanise and create ambiance. I use a lot of subtle metallic in my designs for the reason that it is sympathetic with its surroundings, reflecting colour and light so it becomes integrated with the interior more as a whole. It helps to link the space together and create atmosphere.
For commercial interiors, applying new wall decoration can be an effective way to refresh a space. For example, a retail brand may use a new wallpaper each season to display that seasons products in store. I work with retailers who use both my stocked papers and bespoke wallpapers and the patterns have become part of their instore brand.
Today the interiors industry has a fast turnaround, and has become more fashion led. The 'latest thing' is perpetually demanded, by the commercial market in particular. This pushes designers to increase output, invent more ideas, so continues to offer wider choice on the market.
Digital printing has also allowed anything to be printed fast, at any scale, with unlimited colours and in small runs. However, I will always love and prefer the quality and handle of traditionally printed papers. In some ways we are too saturated with design, maybe there is too much apparent choice.Under pressuure, designers are often dependent on referential starting points, and can easily and securely fall back on ideas of nostalgia.
An important cha
llenge as a designer for any interior product is to design something with longevity. We see designs from the mid 20th century e.g. an Eames chair, which still remain relevant and widely used (you could say overly used) today, or the Cole and Son 'Woods' wallpaper print designed in 1959, but the challenge now is to create something which both feels 'new' and that will still be selected in fifty years. Today, wallpaper is no longer part of one trend, as it is so adaptable visually. In this respect, I believe we are not likely to see a decline in its popularity, just changes in how it is used.
The 'feature wall' has been prevalent. It has provided a focal point in a room to display our taste, it's role similar to that of a large artwork, but in a more accessible and affordable way. Recently the feature wall, often associated with very bold or statement prints, is being superceded by the use of wallpaper in the whole room - we are returning to a more traditional usage. Surrounding ourselves by one design on all four walls, helps to contain a space, draws less attention to the design itself but focus the look and feel of the room as a whole. The pattern around us can provide comfort and cosiness, a sense of home.
Erica Wakerly will discuss the topic of 'Creating modern interiors with the return of wallpaper' as a guest of the International Industry Seminar Series during the Decoration + Design and Furnitex fair from 21-24 July at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
For tickets head here. For the full program head here.
Stylus: The Aram Gallery: The THENNOW Show
Brought to Australian audiences through forecaster Ginger Trend Consulting, design authority Stylus casts its eye over an inspiring exhibit from London's Aram Gallery.
The THENNOW Show is an exhibition of 15 designers who were among the original graduates selected by Zeev Aram, founder of London's Aram Gallery, to take part in the annual Aram Designs Graduate Shows in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The exhibition revisits their career over the last 20 years, from their designs at graduation, THEN, alongside recent work, NOW. CREATE INTERIORS.
Slimmed down style, tubular layers, 'inside out' and folksy charm...
The latest contemporary furniture trends play with silhouette, modular forms, construction and traditional craft, as Stylus reports.
Slim Profile
Fine, slim edges and profiles are making it big in upholstery, seating and tables. Paper Planes, designed by Doshi Levien for Moroso, is a range of seating made from cold cured foam, upholstered in a Swarovski crystal-studded fabric. The end result is a very thin profile upholstered chair.
Layered tubes
Tubes and more rectangular shapes are stacked on top of each other to create layers in sofas and seats. Karim Rashid's Hot Dog chair design for Domodinamica is a playful sausage-shaped take on the layered theme, while other like Moroso presents a more angular version.
Solid timber poles
Pole shaped furniture is emerging as a trend, which may be influenced by Table, Bench, Chair - Sam Hecht/Industrial Facility's design for Established & Sons, launched in 2009. Studio Juju has developed an organic chair with a table arm rest lacquered to contrast against the wood. Tom Dixon's new stacking chair, suitable for contract use, uses turned elements for all its legs and rails. Jarrod Lim Design has created a dining table, bench and stool using turned legs to create a minimal pedestal leg.
Construction detail
Turning a piece 'inside out' by showing construction details is a continuing trend. These range from simple joint details such as nails, as on a Nils Holder Moormann table, through to details of legs coming through the top of a piece, as in Poliform's yellow occasional table. Mass Production launched Harry, which has a beech wedge to secure the base to the top, while Arco's Nomad table, designed by Jorre Van Ast, has a clever flat pack solution, where a solid timber leg is threaded directly into the top. The thread is longer than is needed and therefore becomes a beautiful crafted detail on the legs.
Folk/Handmade
Another strong trend is towards folk, vernacular and hand made furniture. Irish studio Superfolk has launched a collection of tables and benches made of ash and oak with rope threaded to join the benches together, while Melissa French's collection of embroidered furniture continues the theme. Belts and rope are used to tie up upholstery in sections; Sack Red sofa by Skitsch has rope tied around its main body and around its moveable back rest. Kartell has also launched a plastic version of a spindleback chair designed by Patricia Urquiola.
Stylus offers a comprehensive, authoritative, and expertly crafted design resource for all consumer and creative industries, based on the ethos that the world of design is all-encompassing and cannot be viewed in silo industries. Stylus is represented in Australia by Ginger Trend Consulting.
Stylus- Plywood: Material, Process, Form
Back in 1999, Time magazine named the Eames' moulded plywood chair, created in 1946, as the Design of the Century. A new exhibition, titled ‘Plywood: Material, Process, Form', which opened at New York's MoMA this month, reminds us exactly why the chair deserves its iconic status. Stylus reports.
Although furniture today is readily available in a wide range of materials, from plastics to solids woods, few so perfectly meld nature with technology - a result apparent in the classic plywood designs on display at this small exhibition.
Layers of wood veneer are combined with synthetic adhesives and hot-plate pressure to form modern plywood. It's a combination of many advances in industrialised processes - and yet a testament to the fact that innovation need not be complicated to be revolutionary.
Besides a range of familiar chairs, the exhibition also takes an interesting look at an experimental glider nose designed by Charles and Ray Eames during World War II, created to replace metal planes at a time when conventional materials were limited.
Regardless of size or overall shape, what's striking is that each piece on display looks organic, the layers of wood bent into sinuous curves, at once natural yet calculated to be ergonomic, strong and light.
Spanning aeronautics, prefab architecture and everyday furnishings, this showcase captures how such a modest material has been an exception medium for cutting-edge design.
Plywood: Material, Process, Form will run from 2 February 2011 to 1 January 2012 at The Museum of Modern Art - MoMA, New York.
Stylus offers a comprehensive, authoritative, and expertly crafted design resource for all consumer and creative industries, based on the ethos that the world of design is all-encompassing and cannot be viewed in silo industries. Stylus is represented in Australia by Ginger Trend Consulting.
Exhibitor Profile: The Spirit of Stone
Sydney based importer Stone of Shona is bringing a unique offer to the world of décor, thanks to its links with the master craftsmen of Zimbabwe.
Specialising in world class, contemporary stone sculptures from Zimbabwe, the company places unique works of art with designers, decorators and individuals seeking the distinctive quality of stone combined with the spirit of Africa, says director Trevor McGuire. He adds that the brand's price structure reflects its attainable positioning.
"We guarantee that our Shona stone sculptures offer the best value for money and quality in the world for collector quality Shona sculptural works of art."
Complementing most modern décor and suitable for indoor or outdoor use, each sculpture is an original, authentic work of art. Every piece is hand carved from a single piece of stone in the Shona tradition, sometimes over many months. The individual pieces are carved from hard stone including Springstone, Cobalt, and Fruit Serpentine, with styles varying widely across depictions of animals, the human form, still lives or abstract pieces.
With a long tradition of sculpting dating back 2000 yea
rs, the traditions and rituals of the Shona masters of Zimbabwe have experienced a renaissance over the last half century. Each artist works with the stone from the time it is quarried to interpret or reveal its spiritual nature. Only then can the artistic journey begin, with the master chiselling the stone by hand to a point where the piece can be sanded, heated by fire and coated in bees wax to bring out the natural colour and texture of the stone.
"Our passion is stone and we have been collecting Shona stone art for over 20 years. Our experience from living and working in Southern Africa has given us a unique understanding and appreciation of the Shona culture."
Stone of Shona will be a key exhibitor at Decoration + Design, from 2 - 4 February at Sydney Exhibition Centre.
Design Futures: a sneak preview
Resident trend forecaster Genty Marshall provides a foretaste of next month's launch of the Design Futures feature at Decoration + Design.
Design analyst and director of Melbourne based consultancy New Black Global Trends, Genty Marshall specialises in the translation of international living and design directions for the commercial and residential interiors market. Genty will be launching Design Futures, the new platform for inspiration and innovation at Decoration + Design, February 2011.
As the launch of Design Futures is just a short while away and the festive season not long gone, it seems the perfect time to offer a sneak preview of what will be laid out in the Sydney exhibition of A Shared Table.
Festive occasions act as a great reminder of the role of the table. Often described as the heart of the family, the kitchen table can be used as a metaphor for coming together, celebration, open discussion, mutual respect and intimate conversation. The table is uniquely flexible and can be a formal space of manners and etiquette as easily as a casual workstation with no customisation, flipping, folding, or remodelling required.
In the debut exhibition for Decoration + Design's new trend destination, Design Futures, we will use the table as a metaphor to look at the changes in living and work that will be seen over the coming years.
One table, four themes.
The installation will comprise of four identical tables, each focusing on a different desire that is moving both designers and consumers alike.
Connect looks at how we are acknowledging of moments of personal or family significance in new ways as family structures become varied and culturally diverse and formal religious observance plays less of a role in our routines.
Create concentrates on the humanisation of the workplace, the rise is popularity of collaborative workspaces and the social and environmental needs tackled by these creative communes.
Savour explores the move towards authenticity and process in both contemporary gastronomy and design, as both our chefs and makers draw inspiration from original process and materials.
Seduce is an intimate portrait of the act of sharing food as a recognised manner of seduction and presents the prevailing theme of intimacy that is appearing in contemporary design.
Adjacent to the central installation, designer galleries will show two very different approaches to the idea of A Shared Table in installations by two recognised and influential Australian designers - George Harper of Tide and Toby Horrocks of Freefold Furniture.
See Genty Marshall at Design Futures & the industry seminar series at Decoration + Design, 2-4 February 2011, Sydney Exhibition Centre. For more information contact info@newblack.com.au.
Images top to bottom: Tide, Freefold Furniture
Making colour work for you
The adjective "colourful" is not always a compliment, whereas colour itself is as essential and life-giving as oxygen, as Janice Lindsay explains.
With a column in Canada's The Globe and Mail newspaper and a newly-published book ‘All About Colour' Janice Lindsay is one of Canada's premier colour designers and the founder of Toronto-based consultancy PINK Color + Design. She will present her seminar on Wednesday 2 February 2011 from 10.30 to 11.30 am as part of a series at the Australian International Furniture Fair (AIFF).
There is no such thing as too much colour
I am a colour snob. I like to think I use colour in many different ways but I never want to be accused of the cardinal sin: a design that is too colourful. Bold colour where it does not belong looks juvenile and ridiculous. Good colour is logical and appropriate. It is not decoration so much as the foundation of what makes a place feel good and function well. Colour is not tiring; "colourful" can be.
So what makes colour "colourful"? Not too much colour but too many. One colour needs to set the tone, literally. In spaces where there are too many colours, the colour clutter of too many voices all clamouring to be heard - rather than try to orchestrate them it is easier and more effective to choose one to be the voice by making it the wall colour. This large field of background hue will act like a magnet, pulling itself forward out of the competing voices in the fabrics, carpets, art creating unity. Adding big colour to colours adds calm.
Colourful can be the result of not too much colour but too much contrast. How often have clients worked with me on gorgeous colour schemes for their walls and furnishings and then wanted to outline everything in white trim because it is ‘so clean and so fresh'. White trim is only one color option and not always the best. Do trim a tone darker not lighter. Do trim the same color as the walls. Try black.
Ditto ceilings. If the walls of a space are coloured, then don't leave the ceilings some one-size-fits all white that makes them look an undressed oversight! Choose the whites with the same care as the walls - light with light, deeper with deeper - and matching undertone so yellow walls have a yellow based white, will reduce the noise of high contrast and make the rooms main color sing. In small rooms make the ceiling the same color to make the room seem taller - trust me on this one.
Ironically white is the loudest, bossiest, most tiring colour of all unless it is handled with respect. It likes its own company so any other colour you bring into a white room will seem like a noisy interruption - like a loud voice in a quiet situation. Texture and good light and lighting, not other colors, are needed to animate white. Pairing it sparkling objects or natural materials elevate or ground it.
Good colour is not always about decoration or "look-at-me" effects. It has a subtle beauty that balances a space and is felt even if it is not seen. One client told me that he knew I had used almost twenty colours in his mother's apartment but, try as he might, he could only see twelve. Her colours were working, not showing off. Lots of colour, was not "colourful".
See Janice Lindsay's seminar on 2 February 2011 from 10.30 to 11.30 am as part of the Australian International Furniture Fair (AIFF), taking place at Sydney Exhibition Centre from 2-4 February 2011.
Authenticity
Ahead of her upcoming presentation at Decoration + Design (D+D), D+D's resident trend forecaster Genty Marshall explores the evolution of and paradoxes behind the human factor in design.
Design analyst and director of Melbourne based consultancy New Black Global Trends, Genty Marshall specialises in the translation of international living and design directions for the commercial and residential interiors market. Genty will be launching Design Futures, the new platform for inspiration and innovation at Decoration + Design, February 2011.
As a result of constant exposure to new products, trends, fashions and seasonal fads, the labelling of a direction as the "next big thing" can sometimes feel like the kiss of death.
Though partial to the quirky and provocative, experience brings with it a radar for the truth; the directions that satisfy more than just the palette of the day and that tap into something deeper and more sustaining.
The emergence of the handcrafted started out a little kitsch, drawing upon nostalgia and resolving itself in the rediscovery and elevation of craft within a design world that was having great difficulty letting go of modernist aesthetics. The structure and texture of traditional textile techniques has been and remains a strong source of inspiration and we have since seen knit, weave and lace translated as pattern, texture and form from floor to ceiling.
The flipside of this is that as the handcrafted aesthetic turns into the mass manufactured ‘real-looking', it moves away from the human need that sought it in the first place. Fortunately, this search for the authentic run
s deeper than seasonal trends and continues to inspire designers to tread new paths.
In a recent presentation in London, leading design consultant Ilse Crawford discussed the need to make design "more human". In practice, this is not about creating objects that merely have the aesthetics of the handmade. Putting the human being at the centre of design is about creating products that are responsive to the way we live and are tolerant of change, taste and our environmental challenges.
The creative process, sourcing of materials, manufacturing practices and afterlife of a product have grown in importance to our decision making process as consumers. Now that we are mindful of these things, the objects that will sustain us are considered, crafted and speak to us of time - not only in terms of conception and production, but also in terms of the times that they will witness in their life, within and beyond our own.
See Genty Marshall at Design Futures & the industry seminar series at Decoration + Design, 2-4 February 2011, Sydney Exhibition Centre. For more information contact info@newblack.com.au.
Images top to bottom:-
Seating for eating - High back settle by Studioilse
Yves writing desk and Soren pendant light by Pinch
When objects work - pottery by Vincent Van Duysen
Coco pendant by Kate Stokes
All photography copyright New Black Global Trends.
Intimate moments in Paris
Design analyst Genty Marshall shares her thoughts on one of the prevailing trends coming from Europe following her recent trip to Paris for the interiors trade fair, Maison et Objet.
Genty Marshall is director of New Black Global Trends, a consultancy specialising in insightful, world class interpretation of the trends influencing current design thinking. Genty will be sharing her expertise via a special feature area at Decoration + Design from 2-4 February 2011 at Sydney Exhibition Centre.
In a city renowned for its romance, it seems apt to focus on how the more intimate moments of our lives are influencing the interiors market. Seen not only in Maison's chosen trend theme ‘Intime', but also throughout the show, designers are reacting to our growing need to savour the more private elements of what is becoming a very public lifestyle.
For some, the open fire is the symbol of intimacy - both indoors and out. The large Belgian editors, Flamant, captured this heart of the provincial home in their always impressive product showcase.
In a more contemporary translation, the enchanting Fire Kit lamp by 5.5 Designers, casts a sensual glow over the most modern setting.
These glasses by Generique (below) are intimate by design, enhancing the connection between two people as they
Intimacy is not only about romance. It is a place of secrets and desires, of contrast between the hidden and the exposed. It is an atmosphere created by shadow and light. The dreamlike illuminated illustrations in the wall art by iBride draw upon the mystery and sensuality of nature and seclusion.
In the trend installation by François Bernard, the Vertigo suspension light by Constance Guisset curves fluidly and envelops all below by the shadow lines cast.
The Phrena Collection from Artecnica has the sensual beauty of natural form. When coupled with tinted illumination as depicted, you get a more personal relationship between the product and its setting.
Maison et Objet is one of the world's most prestigious trade fairs with visitors coming from across the globe to access the finest and most unique design pieces from over 3,000 exhibitors of residential and commercial interior products.
All images copyright New Black Global Trends
Furniture fact - Shaker style
Ever wondered where the design inspiration for that memorable style of furniture came from? Furniture Fair Online has the answer. This issue looks at a category with roots dating back to early American history.
Although its origins date back to the 18th century, the simplicity and craftsmanship of Shaker furniture have earned it an enduring reputation. Regarded as a furnishing style that is as relevant today as it was when it was first used, Shaker furniture was created in the US by the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing (the Shakers), a religious sect founded by Jane and James Wardley who travelled to America from Manchester, England in 1774. Shakers made furniture for their own use, as well as for sale to the general public, and Shaker designs were inspired by the ascetic religious beliefs of the sect, resulting in furniture that is highly regarded for its simplicity, innovative joinery and quality. Many examples of Shaker furniture survive today, while numerous companies across the US and the globe also specialise in Shaker reproductions.
Furniture fact - The Barcelona Chair
Ever wondered where the design inspiration for that memorable piece of furniture came from? Furniture Fair Online has the answer. This issue looks at one of the world's best loved chairs.
Designed for the German Pavilion at the International Exposition of 1929 in Barcelona, Spain, the Barcelona chair was the result of the collaboration between the Bauhaus architect Ludwig Mies van de Rohe and his partner, architect and designer Lilly Reich, whose contributions have only recently been recognised.
Now considered an icon of modernism, the chair, whose original design was inspired by the campaign chairs of ancient times, has been reproduced, along with accompanying ottomans, too many times to count over the decades. Genuine hand-laboured versions are still produced however, with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's signature stamped into each chair.
IR tip - A guide to employee induction
No matter how big or small your business is, bringing a new employee on board involves much more than providing them with a chair and a desk, as Emma Watt of the Furnishing Industry Association of Australia (FIAA) explains.
Emma Watt is the Industrial Relations & Human Resources Manager for the FIAA (Vic/Tas). She is also an independent industrial relations consultant.
When a new employee starts it is important to induct them properly because:
1. There's paperwork that needs to be completed at the start of the employment relationship;
This should cover a letter of appointment setting out terms and conditions of employment (including specifying which award applies), tax and superannuation forms and the Fair Work Information Statement that all employers must give to employees who started after 1 January 2010.
2. You need to ensure that you have evidence that the employee was told about your policies and procedures; and:-
Ensure you cover your policies such as OHS and equal opportunity, location of facilities such as first aid and the accident/incident reporting book and other matters such as notification and certification requirements when an employee will be absent from work. If you make a list of all the things an employee might need to know, and then ask him or her to sign it once you have covered all the information.
3. The employee needs to know what is expected of him or her.
This includes information about tasks that need to be performed, security routines, and customer service procedures. Essentially you need to be able to spell out for the employee what they need to do for you to think that they are doing a good job.
If you can clearly demonstrate that you have told an employee what is required of them then you have the basis of a performance management process should that become necessary during the employment relationship.
If you have any queries about induction processes, please contact Emma Watt on (03) 8822 3712 or 0411 708 073, or by email on emma@emmawatt.com.au.
If you have any queries about this or any other IR related issue please contact Emma Watt on (03) 8822 3712 or 0411 708 073, or email her on emma@emmawatt.com.au.
IR tip - The ins and outs of unfair dismissal
As unpleasant as having to 'let staff go' clearly is, worse still for all concerned is the potential for such a move to be regarded as unfair dismissal. Furnishing Industry Association of Australia (FIAA)'s Emma Watt provides some pointers.
Emma Watt is the Industrial Relations & Human Resources Manager for the FIAA (Vic/Tas). She is also an independent industrial relations consultant.
Many people ask when an employee can access the unfair dismissal jurisdiction. The current situation is that an employee may not make an application alleging unfair dismissal if they:
• Worked for an employer with fewer than 15 full time equivalent employees for less than 12 months; or
• Worked for an employer with 15 full time equivalent employees or more for less than 6 months.
The qualifying period is counted in calendar months, and is not affected by whether or not the employee was still on probation under a contract of employment.
An application alleging unfair dismissal often occurs where the employee believes that the employer has terminated the employee where:
• There was not a valid reason for the termination;
• The employee was not notified of the reason;
• The employee was not given an opportunity to respond to allegations about capacity or conduct;
• The employer unreasonably refused to allow the employee to have a support person present to assist at discussions relating to the dismissal; and
• The employee hadn't been warned that their employment was at risk because of unsatisfactory performance.
If an employer is contemplating dismissing an employee it is important that they seek advice about the particular situation to protect themselves should the employee decide to challenge the dismissal.
If you have any queries about this or any other IR related issue please contact Emma Watt on (03) 8822 3712 or 0411 708 073, or email her on emma@emmawatt.com.au.
Incontext winner's change of heart
Trudy Allsopp, founder of Colour Confidence Interiors and winner of this year's Furnitex Incontext contest, alighted on her winning creation after a last minute artistic crisis. She confesses all to Furniture Fair Online.
"People tend to describe me as a ‘Toorak hippy'" says Allsopp. "So what I'd created initially for Incontext was a kind of symphony of terracottas, greens and earth tones. However, weeks out from the competition I looked at it and thought: ‘No, it's just not working.'"
"I realised that one of the key things I hadn't addressed in the brief was innovation, as well as the need to address current trends."
After a rapid reappraisal, Allsopp came up with a re-visioned chair featuring a black fabric interior, contrasting black and white exterior and charcoal grey seat cushion, set off with a bright scarlet accessory cushion.
She set her creation against a contemporary backdrop featuring metallic touches including a contemporary metallic lamp shade, multicultural influences embodied in Chinese and Moroccan stools, and a touch of on-trend chic in the form of a black and white calf skin rug. The back wall of her installation was covered with Porter's Dragonfly wallpaper, set off by three dimensional dragonflies, hanging mobile-style from a replica Issey Miyake ceiling lamp.
"A cosy corner to sit, read and fantasise, and drift away with the dragonflies," is Allsopp's poetic summation of her handiwork.
One of the things that attracted her to the brief - which saw six identical chairs interpreted by six interior decorating experts - was its simplicity, Allsopp said.
"It was great to have something that was manageable and wouldn't cost a fortune to put together."
"I was absolutely delighted to win the Incontext award. One of my points of difference is that I'm good at working out clients' personalities and working within that realm. However Incontext was an open brief without a client, so the fact that the public voted for it really showed that I'd tapped into something."
Other designers who took part in Incontext included: Amanda Richmond of Amanda Richmond Interior Design; Diane Bergeron of Diane Bergeron Interiors; Dominique Hunter of Hunter and Richards; Jacquie Pask of Moss Melbourne; Sally Anderson of Niche Interiors.
Speaker Profiles - International Industry Seminars
A wide range of topics, from recycling and sustainability to the importance of critical design decisions or new directions in lighting, are just some of the themes to be covered at the upcoming International Industry Seminar Series at Furnitex.
As Els Zijlstra of innovative Dutch company Materia (Materia brochure images pictured) will reveal, the concept of sustainable fabrics has come a long way in recent years, with environmentally friendly options offering increasing levels of quality, design aesthetics and style. Concrete made with elephant grass, super-insulating glass, nanogel, bio-resins, plastics 
from recycled chewing gum, flexible films with solar cells, houses from paper and concrete made with bacteria are just some examples of this new trend, she says, with further insights to be revealed at her upcoming presentation.
Good design decisions will be the subject of the day at the first ever panel discussion to feature as part of the International Industry Seminar Series. Hosted by Wendy Moore of Home Beautiful, a panel of leading Australian designers will share their insights around the theme ‘Five Best Design Decisions'.
Meanwhile, Nic Burnham, one half of the duo from NDYLIGHT (the other is Steve Brown) will be presenting ‘Lighting The Way Forward', with a view to showing how illumination is not what it used to be.
"LEDs are now becoming an actual lighting tool that can be used for more than decoration," Burnham explains, adding that environmental considerations are fundamental to any lighting installation to the extent that they are now mandated in the Building Code.
"Lighting is becoming more and more fundamental to the design and delivery of projects. In some cases the conversation with the lighting designer comes first and then the design follows as in many cases people don't know what they can do and how much it might cost them. Lighting design is a fundamental element in every project, and with new BCA requirements coming in, lighting design is going to become even more difficult to do well unless you know what you're doing."
Els Zijlstra's ‘Sustainable Materials to Inspire' presentation will take place on Friday 16 July from 9.30 - 10.30am. Wendy Moore's ‘Five Best Design Decisions' panel discussion will take place from 11.30am - 12.30pm and Nic Burnham and Steve Brown, from NDYLIGHT will present ‘Lighting The Way Forward' from 2.30pm - 3.30pm.
Speaker Profile - The harmonics of design
It's hard to imagine a more likely candidate to launch the Furnitex International Industry Series with a seminar titled ‘Design Thinking: The Good Word on Good Design Now' than Belgium based designer Axel Enthoven, whose ‘Opera' van has achieved instant iconic status since launching late last year.
One look at the Opera mobile home and its moniker is self explanatory; a nod to the iconic shell structure of Sydney Opera House - and the blend of wit and aesthetic sensibility conveyed immediately telegraphs that this is no ordinary mobile home.
Further inspection reveals a design masterpiece that literally leaves other models standing on their very prosaic stabiliser jacks. Once opened and levelled through electric power, a manoeuvre that takes inside of five minutes, the Opera morphs into a stunning residence measuring seven metres in length, more than three metres in width and 3.5 metres in height.
It also houses two luxurious, electrically adjustable beds that become one with a single simple movement, hot and cold water, a ceramic toilet, LED lighting and a mobile hob and barbecue. To cap off the aura of design excellence, the Opera features top grade materials such as hardwood, stainless steel and leather.
Axel, who has won numerous international awards for his design project, is the founder and chairman of Enthoven Associates Design Consultants, in Antwerp (Belgium), a study bureau specialising in product development and innovation. At his Furnitex seminar he plans to analyse the current design landscape in the context of current and future design challenges, with an emphasis on design thinking rather than design style.
Axel will present Design Thinking: The Good Word on Good Design Now on Thursday 15 July 9.30am - 10.30am during Furnitex. He will also host a breakfast seminar on Friday 16 July.
Speaker Profile - Colour in close-up
While most of us take colour for granted, a select few are highly attuned to its crucial influence on design and consumer trends. Ahead of her presentation at the Furnitex International Industry Seminar Series, Justine Fox of London colour consultancy Global Color Research (UK) reveals the many shades of her chosen calling.
What will be your key topic at the International Industry Seminar Series?
Global Color Research will focus on the colour trends from Mix Trends Spring Summer 2011, giving insights of what will drive the consumer colour choice next year. There are loads of beautiful visuals to inspire the audience as well as what to look out for in surfaces, forms and mood, along with the most important colours you need to make sound business decisions. Basically we're aiming to demystify the whole trend process.
Where do you get your insights?
As colour and trend specialists at Global Color Research, as well as publishers of Mix magazine, we're constantly looking at all sorts of design, art and technology on a daily basis. A key trend that is really interesting at the moment is the new optimistic approach in colour, which is fresher and lighter with darker undertones.
What are the hottest colour trends at the moment?
Each season we identify a number of main trends in colours that we publish in Mix Trends. For Spring Summer 2011 the main focus is the consumer reclaiming product and design for themselves, away from the big corporations. This is key to the colour choices they'll make. The result in design terms is a surge of new creativity, looking forward rather than back while incorporating multifunctionality and ingenious eco-credentials.
In your view, what's the future direction for colour?
Mix Publications and Mix Projects from Global Color Research work in such diverse areas from architecture paint to electronics to cosmetics, furniture and even paper napkins for example that we'd need a lot more space to pay the question its full credit. If we're talking about the importance of understanding and using colour well, then this is definitely a growth area as we learn more and more about the human response to this powerful tool.
How do specialists in your field identify and respond to market demand?
Within Mix Projects, we work on a one to one basis with clients, helping them to design the perfect colour range for their product and their client base, to increase sales or productivity. The biggest challenge for people using colour is to take their own preference out of the equation and focus on the local as well as the global nuances.
Who or what inspires you?
Pretty much everybody I come into contact within this colourful business, from colleagues to clients to seminar delegates. Local taxi drivers are also always a great fount of knowledge!
Justine Fox's seminar ‘Colour Trends Spring/Summer 2011' will take place on Thursday 15 July, 11.30am - 12.30pm, at Melbourne Exhibition Centre, as part of the Furnitex and Decoration + Design trade fairs.
Speaker profile - A fresh look at modernity
In Linda O'Keeffe's view, the notion of modernity is long overdue for a revamp. Here, the former editor of Metropolitan Home New York provides a sneak preview of the insights she'll share at the upcoming Furnitex International Industry Seminar Series.
Broadly speaking, what will be the focus of your presentation at the International Industry Seminar Series?
I'll be redefining modern interior design which, for so long, in the US at any rate, has revolved around mid 20th century furnishings. I plan to suggest that houses outfitted exclusively with the classic and iconic Eames and Corbusier pieces (which we all love dearly) are really stuck in a time warp.
What are the most significant trends affecting your area of design at the moment?
We are all way more learned about design than ever before and the level of confidence and appreciation for mixing periods and provenances of furnishings is extremely high. I would perversely describe the current interior design phase we're experiencing as "tightly edited ‘anything goes'"! At its core is a renewed sense of individuality and self expression.
What currently feeds your design interest?
I'm currently very interested in the marriage between craft and technology. I don't think there's much space for glitz and bling in most of our lives these days. (Maybe because the price of gold is at an all time high - and I'm only being half facetious here!). I think it's more about a respect for back-to-basics.
I would like to say that sustainability is a huge trend in the worlds of architecture and interior design but I fear that the Green movement is more a creation of the media than the public. I think there's a steady interest in ecology but not as much as we all anticipated a decade ago. Maybe that makes me a cynical environmentalist?
Traditional values are definitely making a comeback whether in the guise of the 'back to the farm' and slow cooking movements or in the revival of crafts and celebration of design that shows the human hand.
Where do you see design heading in the next five to ten years?
I see design becoming more individualistic, as I say above; less about manufactured trends and more about quality of life. I also think that it feels appropriate to embrace seeming contradictions such as craft and technology for example, or as one trend forecaster put it, "we all want to be unplugged and wired at the same time".
What are the biggest design and commercial challenges currently faced by designers in your view?
The design community in the US was very badly affected by the faltering economy and is currently experiencing a period of re-evaluation, but is very intent on finding the upside in the downturn of events. There's more of a community spirit than ever and graphic displays of humility abound... always a good thing in my book!
Who or what inspires you?
I'm inspired by innovation; by thinking outside the box; by the marriage between form and function; by passion; by reinvention, in every sense of the word (from recycling to rethinking the status quo). One of my favourite expressions these days (apart from "name your price") is "I have enough".
Linda O'Keeffe's seminar ‘Redefining Modern' will take place on Thursday 15 July, 2.30pm - 3.30pm, at Melbourne Exhibition Centre, as part of the Furnitex and Decoration + Design trade fairs.
Retail Tip - Merchandise your way to fame!
In a highly competitive market with consumers watching their wallets, it pays to make your instore experience as enticing and engaging as possible. As Mark Davis reports, creative visual merchandising is the key to this. What's more, it needn't cost a lot of money, and if you're plugged in to online networking, it has the potential to turbo-charge your business.
An expert and trainer in all things retail, business coach Mark Davis divides his time between Australia and Europe, traversing the globe to share his retail, sales, business and Internet marketing insights.
Great displays are an art form. For many years they've been the domain of window dressers, merchandisers, company reps and strategic designers. But given the current move to cost cutting, retailers now have to improvise, using their imagination and the tools immediately available. For many this is less about having enough merchandise, or risers, or stands and racks... and more about creativity. In all likelihood it's also about leveraging the power of that little thing called social media.
A display that grabs customers' attention, be they old or new, and tempts them to take more interest in the rest of the store, is a powerful motivator to get them to stick around, hopefully for long enough to buy! Just as a good website encourages users to click and browse, the key merchandise displays in your store are there to grab attention and engage with customers.
In some cases, people will often make the journey to a destination just to see stand-out visual merchandising. Be it a mountain of teddy bears and tigers in the Disney Stores or an eye-catching seasonal display, a destination or feature merchandising ‘moment' can be the thing that makes your store a must-see in your town, city or suburb. Department stores' Christmas window displays are a good example of this, but there's no reason to limit creativity to Yuletide.
And take note; social media has given good visual merchandising an exponential power boost. People love to take photos and put themselves up on Facebook, whether it's next to a living Statue of Darth Vader on Hollywood Blvd, or beside the logo of the store they just shopped in. They hold up bags, they pose, and they promote your store for you. If someone poses with your stock items, in your store, with your staff, next to your renowned merchandising display, then posts the photo to Facebook, you get 100 to 1000 free advertising shots.
And it doesn't end there. Offer to be the photographer for them, take three or four snaps, from which they can create a mini-shopping album, and you get even more photos online. Ask them to add your business to Facebook, and you can tag your store as well!
Remember, people are going to take photos of things they like. Now you can let them promote you for free!
So, to re-cap:-
• Create a merchandise display people want to be photographed beside and tell their friends about.
• Encourage photos.
• Tag people in photos including your Facebook profile.
• Get creative. Have competitions, prizes and offers for all your Facebook friends.
Never forget that the fusion of visual merchandising and social media creates an unbeatable way of driving more business into your store. Good luck with designing that display!
Images top to bottom: Ikea, Entanglements (Melbourne), Matter (New York).
IR tip - Wage increase from 1 July 2010
Perplexed by pay roll? Worried by wages? Furnishing Industry Association of Australia (FIAA)'s Emma Watt provides a quick snapshot of what to expect from 1 July 2010 onwards.
Emma Watt is the Industrial Relations & Human Resources Manager for the FIAA (Vic/Tas). She is also an independent industrial relations consultant.
Fair Work Australia has handed down its first minimum wage decision, which will be operative from the first full pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2010.
All adult pay rates in modern awards will increase by $26.00 per week, or 69 cents per hour, and the minimum rate of pay for an adult will be $15.00 per hour. Junior, apprentice and supported wage rates will also increase by a proportionate amount, as those rates are normally set as a percentage of an adult wage rate.
Employees who are already being paid more than the new minimum rate are not entitled to the increase unless the employer has agreed to pass it on.
Many allowances in modern awards are set as a percentage of the standard rate in the award, and the standard rate is defined as a particular level (hourly or weekly) at the start of the award in the Definitions clause. This means that those allowances will increase automatically from the first pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2010.
A further complication for employers is that many employees are now in the transitional system, i.e. the wage rate or classification they were on prior to 1 January 2010 is different to the wage rate or classification under the relevant modern award. Over the next four years the gap between pre-and modern and modern award wages, industry allowances, loadings or penalties will close by 20% per annum.
The increase of $26,00 per week is comparatively quite high - the ACTU asked for $27.00 per week and employers generally lobbied for between $10.00 and $15.00 per week.
If you have any queries about wage rates or transitional arrangements please contact Emma Watt on (03) 8822 3712 or 0411 708 073, or email her on emma@emmawatt.com.au.
IR tip 6 - Dealing with chronic absenteeism
The occasional 'sickie' here and there is one thing, but when an employee persistently fails to turn up for work, your bottom line is thrown into jeopardy and action may be required. Furnishing Industry Association of Australia (FIAA)'s Emma Watt outlines some key points in coping with chronic absenteeism.
Emma Watt is the Industrial Relations & Human Resources Manager for the FIAA (Vic/Tas). She is also an independent industrial relations consultant.
Imagine you have an employee who misses a lot of work - a day here, a few days there, weeks at a time - making it very difficult for you to plan your staffing needs. What do you need to consider before you take action?
First you must make sure that you have a clear policy on notification and substantiation of personal/carer's leave. This policy should set out when and how an employee must notify you that they will not be at work and must be clearly communicated to each employee. The National Employment Standards states that an employee has to notify their employer that they will be absent, and you may request evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person that the leave is taken for a reason that justifies payment of personal/carer's leave. This is not limited to a medical certificate.
Another key factor is that it is unlawful to terminate an employee's employment because they are temporarily absent due to illness or injury. If an employee complies with your notification and substantiation requirements, and is absent for less than 3 months in any twelve month period, then the absence is temporary. You must also take care not to ‘alter the employee's position to the employee's prejudice' for an unlawful reason.
Dismissing an employee because they are often absent, or are absent for a long period of time, is possible, but absolutely must be done correctly, with all steps taken in accordance with the law, and all interactions between the employer and the employee documented. Employers should ensure that they have all their ‘ducks in a row' before even considering taking this action.
Allegations of unlawful termination are particularly difficult to combat because the burden of proof is reversed - the employee doesn't have to prove that they were dismissed unlawfully, rather, the employer has to prove that they weren't dismissed for an unlawful reason.
Please note that this article only briefly touches on a complex topic, and further advice should be sought before any action is taken. If you have any queries about management of chronic absenteeism, please call me on
(03) 8822 3712 or 0411 708 073, or email me at emma@emmawatt.com.au.
Retail Tip 6 - Don't succumb to fear... or discounts
With commentators predicting a grim half year ahead for retailers, it's all too easy to throw in the towel and join the discounting frenzy. Here, Mark Davis explains why retailers should avoid such strategies at all costs... and what they could try instead.
An expert and trainer in all things retail, business coach Mark Davis divides his time between Australia and Europe, traversing the globe to share his retail, sales, business and Internet marketing insights.
Right now retail is in a danger zone; interest rates are going up, the mortgage is getting tighter, sales are dipping... and everyone seems set to enter panic zone. So if you're sitting at your computer attempting to fend off the jitters, I hope that this issue's double-edged tip helps.
You don't achieve anything by being the same as everybody else. And you really don't achieve anything by panic discounting.
The other day I found myself walking through Melbourne's Crown Casino. Brand new, six-figure fit-outs of designer labels lined the walkway; we're talking sleek chrome, gold, black and silver windows, cool lighting, music and opening hours with guaranteed traffic that the rest of us can only dream of. And what was emblazoned right in the middle of most windows? "10-70% off"!
Let's think about this for a second or two: Was this a discount factory outlet? No.
Was this an ageing strip mall having a closing down sale? No. Was this a brand nobody knew about that was launching with a teaser item to coax customers into the store? No.
This was desperate shock advertising that completely disregarded the surrounding target market. Most people visiting the casino sincerely believe they're in for a win, and will then be able to buy expensive clothes at full price tag that they can show off to their friends. Even those not in the mood for gambling are most likely lapping up the high-tone, luxurious atmosphere.
So when you put a discount as your lead marketing strategy, it's a downer. And in the end, it's all people see. What they don't see is your store.
Arguably it's different if you're in a discount shopping centre, but even there such strategies are questionable... When you watch shoppers in outlet stores, no discount is ever enough... most of them are just window shopping. It's a high traffic, low conversion method.
In tough economic times, what retailers need is to break free from the herd. And here's why: a hundred sales at $100 is $10,000; a hundred sales at 50% is $5000. That may cover your cost and overheads, but not your staff, and you can say goodbye to profit. Discounting 50% should only be ever used for those last 10 pieces on a rack by the door; never for a big promotion, never for attracting people into store, and never in your mind as a salesperson. If your staff focus on discounts, you'll be in serious trouble within three months.
Here's how we get those 100 sales and turn them into $20,000.
1. Teach your staff to cross-sell to other items. Not just suggesting, but walking customers and their initial purchases to the racks, matching the pieces, giving them four or five things to try on and encouraging them to get into the clothes.
2. Teach your staff the rule of three. The rule of three says that if you have three items, people will choose the middle one nine times out of ten. In terms of price, this means - budget option, good, and luxury. It helps to find out the shopping budget first, usually from assessing the customer in terms of their existing clothing, accessories, and attitude.
3. Talk to customers! Some women shop on days they feel great, and will spend a lot, others shop to get out of the house. If you take the time to build a relationship, they'll return, bring their friends, and buy more every time.
4. Remember to tell your staff that it's not their decision when to stop selling. It's the customers' decision when to stop buying. I've had sales of $30 turn into $200 using this method. I've seen stores where a woman just wanted a piece of jewellery, and ended up buying the dress, shoes and bag to match.
Now, more than ever, the professional sales person earns their money. At Christmas they are just order takers; tough times are when they show why they were hired in the first place. Talking of which, the $5000 you were going to lose on discounting, you can now invest in training your staff to double their existing sales targets. Pay them commissions and bonuses, and you'll still be way ahead.
And please, as a favour to me, rip up those discount signs.
Two minutes with Citta Design
Furniture Fair Online caught up with Citta Design's Australian operations manager Maruska Green to get the low down on the company's showing at Decoration + Design this July.
Tell us about Citta Design
Based in Auckland, New Zealand, Citta Design is a design house specialising in exotic yet contemporary homewares and furniture. The brand has a strong design focus, enhanced by inspiration from all over the world. Our winter 2010 catalogue ‘An Indian Soirée' takes the colourful hues and textures of the sub-continent as its starting point.
Is this Citta's first time showing at D+D?
Yes, this is the first opportunity to be showing at Decoration & Design.
What kind of products will Citta be showcasing?
A mix of rustic dining and casual living furniture; rattan woven furniture pieces accessorised by our seasonal designer linen, throws and cushions.
What kind of presence does the brand currently have in Australia?
We currently have around 735 independent retailers, predominantly homewares focused; however in the last year the company has introduced furniture pieces into Australia.
How do you promote yourselves as a brand?
Primarily through our website and quarterly trade fairs. The first Citta showroom was also established in September 2009 and going forward we're planning to have more personal representation of the brand in the Australian market.
What sets Citta Design apart?
Citta is about globally inspired, in-house designed product. We also keep the brand offer fresh by producing seasonal ranges for winter and summer.
Citta Design will showcase its wares at Decoration + Design at Melbourne Exhibition Centre from 15-18 July.
IR tip 5 - Community service leave
Occasionally employees may face community duties that will take them away from their work for a spell. But how do their bosses differentiate between valid and not-so-valid claims? Furnishing Industry Association of Australia (FIAA)'s Emma Watt provides some pointers.
Emma Watt is the Industrial Relations & Human Resources Manager for the FIAA (Vic/Tas). She is also an independent industrial relations consultant.
Under the National Employment Standards, Community Service Leave is defined as a mix of both paid and unpaid leave that any employee in Australia is entitled to take.
An employee is entitled to be absent from work if the employee is engaged in an eligible community service activity. This means jury service (which is partially paid) or voluntary emergency management activity (e.g. volunteer fire service, SES). A full time or part time employee on jury service leave must be paid their base rate of pay for the first ten days of the activity, although the employer can withhold an amount equivalent to any money the Court paid the employee for attending.
Employees on leave to attend to voluntary emergency management activities do not have to be paid unless there is an agreement in the workplace providing for paid leave of this type.
Employers may not prevent an employee from engaging in jury service, but in the case of leave to attend to voluntary emergency management activities, the absence must be ‘reasonable in all the circumstances'. In practical terms, this means that the employer has some control over how many employees are on this type of leave at any one time, how often an employee takes this type of leave, and the period of the leave.
The employee must provide notice of their intention to take leave as soon as possible, although this notice can be given after the leave has started. If the employer requires it, the employee must also provide evidence that would ‘satisfy a reasonable person' that the employee is genuinely engaged in an activity that justifies this type of leave.
Retail Tip 5 - Delegate!
One of the simplest yet most overlooked business secrets is that you can't do everything yourself. Here Mark Davis spills the beans on the art of sharing the load.
An expert and trainer in all things retail, business coach Mark Davis divides his time between Australia and Europe, traversing the globe to share his retail, sales, business and Internet marketing insights.
Being in business can be tough. Operating your own retail venture involves a multitude of skills: hiring staff, dealing with government compliance, keeping everybody safe and making sure you don't break one of the thousands of rules for your store, your franchise, your industry, your council, your state and your country.
So it's really important to consider this: the business doesn't run without you, so you need to replace yourself.
If you ever want to experience freedom in your business, you don't just need to delegate; you need to actively focus on replacing your activities with a skilled professional who can do the same things.
The funny thing is, when you do, you'll find that your replacement for say.... book keeping... does it faster and better than you - after all, it's their speciality.
As a business owner, you're probably a generalist - able to do everything. However if you can do everything OK, it makes sense to hire people who can do some things excellently.
Then you can take a holiday knowing that all the aspects of your business are taken care of. Some things require your physical presence, others don't. Book keeping can be done through elance.com or ymii.com with an outsourcer in India... Writing contracts, agreements, even your payroll can also be outsourced.
Other things, such as sales or merchandising, will require physical staff. For areas such as marketing, it might pay to outsource to an agency or a young graduate, whose fresh ideas will give your business a new lease on life.
Think about it!
IR tip 4 - Flexible working arrangements
National Employment Standards now allow employees who are parents enhanced flexibility. So what do their employers need to know? Furnishing Industry Association of Australia (FIAA)'s Emma Watt shares the low down.
Emma Watt is the Industrial Relations & Human Resources Manager for the FIAA (Vic/Tas). She is also an independent industrial relations consultant.
This is one of the National Employment Standards that now apply to any employee in Australia.
Any employee who is a parent, and who has at least 12 months service (including an eligible casual employee) may request a change in working arrangements to assist the employee to care for a child. The child must be under school age, or if the child is disabled, under 18 years old.
An ‘eligible casual employee' is one who is a long term casual employee and has a reasonable expectation of continuing employment on a regular and systematic basis.
The request must be in writing and set out the details of the changes sought, and the reasons for the change. The employer must respond in writing within 21 days of being given the request. The employer must grant the request unless there are reasonable business grounds for refusing the request. If the request is refused, the employer must give reasons for the refusal.
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