Brag factor on the mantle: Vintage Greek bust, Anglepoise 1227 lamp, Seletti skull.

“Without black, no color has any depth. But if you mix black with everything, suddenly there’s shadow – no, not just shadow, but fullness. You’ve got to be willing to mix black into your palette if you want to create something that’s real.” – Amy Grant

The gorgeous appartment of Australian designer Chelsea Hing & partner Nik Epifanidis, an architecture photographer, is a showcase of beautiful vintage finds set on a magic black baskdrop.

Brag factor: Panthella table lamp by Verner Panton, Chef portrait on wall – ‘Le Chef De L’Hotel Chatham’ by William Orpen.

Brag factor: Vanity by Frank Cadogan Cowper, Altered antique plates sourced from Beat Up Creations via Etsy & Third Drawer Down, Ventana mirror in by Jonathan Adler, Joker bowl in gold by B&B Italia, Bespoke console custom designed by CHDC, Rosy Angelis floor lamp by Flos.

Brag factor: Vintage Gaetano Sciolari 1970′s chandelier, Fat Fat ottoman by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia, Strata sofa by King Furniture, Navy chevron throw by Jonathan Adler, Vitsoe shelving by Dieter Rams, Untitled photographs on wall by Nik Epifanidis.

source: The Design Files

Hi, Gabrielle from Savvy Home here again! John Robshaw is a man after my own heart (not literally, I’ll leave that to his future girlfriend). But he is one of my favorite textile designer from bedding to pillows and headboard; basically anything that can (and should) be upholstered.

Robshaw has an art background and is incredibly well-travelled. You can see it right away from his textiles and his home. I just adore that layered look of Indian and South-East Asian influences combined with a more traditional lines. I wanted to get a better understanding of how to get that worldly-layered look, so I put a few tips together below for y’all. And if you’re looking for more inspiration, check out his home in Matchbook.

1. I dare you to upholster a classic sofa in a printed fabric. And then send me a photo. I have a small loveseat with similar lines that I’m now dying to re-upholster in a JR fabric.

2. Choose an oversized flatweave rug that’s in the same tones as the rest of the room, and has a pattern solid enough to anchor the room.

3. Throw out your coffee table (not literally – give it to charity maybe) and try an ottoman instead.

4. Keep things tidy on your new ottoman with trays made out of textured materials like bone inlay and rattan.

5. Use large decorative bowls as planters.

6. Mix and match more patterns on top of your patterned sofa. Balance them out by playing with scale but keep them in the same color scheme.

7. Speaking of color schemes, stick to one. This one is mainly muddy pink and taupe. I just LOVE that paint color. I bet it’s fancy paint like Farrow & Ball or Fine Paints of Europe. Sometimes it’s worth splurging on paint.

8. Make a gallery wall using mismatched art, masks, baskets or other items you’ve gathered in your travels.

9. Use furniture pieces that have worldly shapes and intricate details like an octogonal bone-inlaid Moroccan side table (one word: eBay).

10. Guess what: more pattern! Patterned curtains won’t make the room look overcrowded if you stick to the general color scheme.

I’m curious to know what worldly items have you added to your décor?

See you next week!

Gabrielle | Savvy Home

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Hi, Gabrielle from Savvy Home here again! Here’s a bedroom by Carrier & Company, designed for Town & Country magazine for Hearst Designer Visions. This bedroom is set in a small New York apartment, and what I love about it, is that the small space doesn’t compromise the big style present in the room.

This goes to show that you don’t need a lot of space to create an elegant designer style. All you need is a little art, a few antiques, some color and a bit of decor courage.

1. Oversized art can really add dimension to a small room.

2. If using smaller artwork, try to display it in a symmetrical fashion for more impact.

3. An antique armoire can hold a lot of storage and it always looks chic in a bedroom.

4. Don’t forget to decorate the top of the armoire with bigger items like vases and urns or baskets.

5. Chairs are useful in a bedroom to drop some clothes or your purse on, or to stack books and things.

6. In a bedroom, especially one with furniture in front of the window, curtains left open finished with a simple black out shade works like a charm.

7. If you find yourself challenged by your bedroom’s layout, putting the bed underneath the window is totally acceptable. Choose a statement headboard, like this one from Oly Studio.

8. A couple of throw pillows covered in a bold fabric is a simple way to add style to an otherwise all white bed.

9. Don’t hesitate to layer furniture in front of curtains, just pull them away a few inches to leave enough space to open and close them.

10. No space for storing winter throws? Display them at the foot of the bed.

How have you saved space in your bedroom?

See you next week!

Gabrielle | Savvy Home

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Hi, Gabrielle from Savvy Home here again! Do you miss Domino magazine sometimes? Any die-hard decor fan does. Although my decor style has evolved since then, every once in a while I find a space so unique and visually interesting in a Domino-esque way, that it brings me right back.

Understated grandeur is what I call the look of this house, set in a historical house in NOLA (New Orleans). The house belongs to Sara Ruffin Costello, former creative director of Domino magazine, so you can see where the edgy style inspiration comes from. If your house is full of historic architectural features, these tips are for you.

1. Go the extra mile and choose a custom paint color that will look more rich. Paint the mouldings the same color for a more modern effect.

2. Recycle old family heirlooms, from paintings to furniture.

3. Especially in a classic space, a whitewashed floor will really help modernise the room.

4. Velvet sofas are the best kinds. They’re incredibly soft and they age well. Choose a good quality velvet.

5. Roman shades are my personal favorite. They give a more formal space a modern and relaxed vibe.

6. Scour for antiques in your local shops or online. An antique or two will always elevate a room.

7. Throw in a modern piece of furniture in the mix just to create visual tension.

8. Personalize your space with books and things.

9. Everything doesn’t have to match. Mix fabrics fearlessly, from velvet to chintz to linen.

10. Art lighting really does wonders for a piece of art you want to showcase. And it makes your home feel like a museum. Win-win.

Are you channeling the Domino look in your home?

See you next week!

Gabrielle | Savvy Home

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