4 minute read
Interior Advice
Interior Advice with Avril Heard-Woollcombe
- Karibu Interior Design
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‘Tis the season...
Decorating your home for Christmas can be fun for the whole family. Avril shares her tips for creating the perfect festive theme for your home this holiday season.
Make decorating for Christmas fun for the whole family with these tips for creating the perfect festive theme to suit your home. Start with sensory
One of my favourite ways to decorate the house during the festive season is to bring the sights and smells of the outdoors in, by filling large bowls with pinecones, rosehips, lavender, and a large vase of scented Christmas lilies.
Create your own festive wreath
Create this delicate decoration by arranging sprigs of foliage such as ivy, eucalyptus, olive leaves, conifer, and cones around a wire wreath. Secure with fine green florist wire, working around the frame in a clockwise fashion. String mini baubles in the centre and hang with lengths of vibrant ribbon. Choosing a tree
Consider purchasing a real Christmas tree! There is something special about a family outing to choose your own tree. Alternatively, grow your own potted version which can be decorated each year. Nothing is more Kiwi than a driftwood Christmas tree, so why not make your own. Make it a fun time for the whole family to decorate their tree. The pine tree aroma says Christmas is here. Decorations
Think visual. The best Christmas decorations are family heirlooms that emerge year after year. You may wish to limit the colour palette to two or three colours; like metallics, red, white, and green. Homemade biscuits cut into festive shapes, decorated, and then threaded with ribbon and placed on the tree make for a wonderful family activity. Create your own Christmas crackers by customising plain crackers with bands of fabric around the centre, and then attaching embellishments, foliage, and baubles onto each. Search online New Zealand companies that sell all the products required to make your own, even with the essential ‘bang’ and hats! Let there be light
Unlike the Northern hemisphere, we are heading to the outdoors for our pleasure and entertainment. Create a festive alfresco area with fairy lights, Christmas lights, bright cushions, rugs, and furniture. Thread fairy lights into the trees and pots, and around the front door, and entwine greenery into the lights both indoors and outdoors to create a festive feel.
Wrapping it up
Make your own wrapping paper by using newsprint or re-cycled paper decorated with rubber stamps, stickers or paint, then tie with fabric ribbon, colourful wool or twine.
“Christmas is all about family, friends, and do not forget the pets,” says Avril. “You want to create a wonderfully festive, warm, and inviting home. Christmas is the mark of the year's end; it is a time to unwind and celebrate surrounded by those you love and give thanks for what we are lucky enough to have.”
Caroline and Bruce Abbott.
From winemaking to decorating
a change in career for Guthrie Bowron’s new owners
New owner of Guthrie Bowron Marlborough, Bruce Abbott, says he is fast finding his feet in the managing director’s role with the support of his incredible staff. Absolutely loving every day, he says his small amount of background experience in painting and decorating has definitely helped him, but there is still plenty to learn from his teams’ combined experience. “I am thoroughly enjoying the challenge and my staff are just incredible! They are very patient and every day I enjoy waking up and going to work. I am lucky enough to have fantastic staff with over 60 years of experience in the industry between them. One staff member has been here for nearly 30 years and their knowledge is just unbelievable." A one-stop shop for home decorators, Guthrie Bowron is one of New Zealand's most trusted decorating specialists. Stocking everything from curtains and blinds, to paint, wallpaper and flooring, they offer expert specialists in every store. For Bruce and his wife Caroline, part of the draw card behind the change of career was the calibre of respect people had for the franchise. “After being in the winemaking industry for 19 years, I was looking for a change. We stumbled across an advert for the store, and we decided to go for it. Everyone always has really positive things to say about Guthrie Bowron, and the support we have received from them has been incredible.”
Passing on the Guthrie Bowron torch, previous owners Colin and Katrina Legg have been extremely supportive of Bruce. “I would like to thank Colin and Katrina who have been fantastic during the handover, and in providing ongoing support. Also, the staff and Guthrie Bowron for their backing. Everyone including the suppliers and sales reps have been brilliant throughout the entire process. “They have such an in-depth knowledge of the industry and our products, and I love tapping into that.” “I love being creative. Both of my parents are artists so it I think it runs in the blood.” With a clear vision for the store and plenty of ideas in the pipeline, Bruce looks forward to bringing a fresh new look to the brand. “In time I would like to do a complete makeover of the store and I would like to create a real focus on our ability to put together interior design schemes for our customers.”
