The Designer Chicks

ISSUETWO | MAY2013

WWW.THEDESIGNERCHICKS.COM.AU

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C

D

A

F

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I H

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M

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P E

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TOP ROW A

Jennifer French

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Nadia Pomare

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Maria Bellissimo-Magrin

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Belinda Grundy

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Jenny Williams

MIDDLE ROW

K J

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Judith Briggs

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Robyn Hawke

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Lucia van Gerwen

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Bettina Deda

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Veronica Tasnadi

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Sharon Newman

LOWER ROW L

Veronica Strachan

M Nathalie Scipioni

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N

Kerrie Freeman

O

Sally Gardner

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Tiz Damianakis

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Elise Harper

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editor’s letter

ell here we are with our second Designer Chicks

magazine… so exciting!! Much has happened in the

past three months, but perhaps the most significant is our selection as finalists in the Australian Small Business Champion Awards in the Home and Garden Improvement Category. Although we didn’t get the ultimate trophy, just becoming finalists in a prestigious Australia-wide competition made us all extremely proud.

We also have a new member, Elise Harper of yELLE Styling.

Elise has joined The Designer Chicks as our much needed PA, and you can read all about her in this issue.

Please have fun with our May Magazine as we love bringing you articles that are not only easy to read, but diverse and relevant.

We would also like to thank our advertisers who have supported us in this issue. Enjoy!

Lucia van Gerwen Creative Director of DC info@morethancurtains.com.au

It is hard to believe it is time for our second edition. We set the bar high with the first edition and it continues with inspiration, information and highlights from a designer’s point of view. As The Designer Chicks continue to expand we will be bringing you new and exciting innovations and opportunities to extend your knowledge and understanding of the design world. Enjoy this edition as much as the first one.

Robyn Hawke Assistant Creative Director of DC robyn@inspiredspaces.com.au

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highlights

Out and About with the Designer Chicks March 2013: The State Library, Sydney n March, several of our Designer Chicks group had the privilege of a private tour of the State Library of NSW to discuss its history and architecture and subsequently drool at the detail and thought that had gone into creating this wonderful building. It simultaneously has both a sense of peace and presence about it. We wanted to sit down and start reading; such was the ambience of the space.

by the intricate detail of the wood work, wall treatment and ceiling, letting the artistic creativity be the focal point. One can imagine using an image from the ceiling of Shakespeare’s Room as inspiration for a feature wall. You could purchase panels from specialist plaster suppliers, place them on a wall and paint in the same colour as the rest of the room. The texture, undulations and detail would create a wonderful talking piece.

So why did we do such a tour? Simply to enhance our creative skills; knowledge is power and it is very easy to forget the skills of the artisans that created such wonderful buildings. By understanding our history and the history of our architecture, we have a catalyst to create more effective designs to meet our needs of today.

One of our favourite pieces was an art deco handle. The shape and curve actually encouraged you to touch it and feel it, a timely reminder that all handles do not need to be long, narrow ones.

This handle makes you want to open the door to see what is behind the door, to see if there are any more interesting features to explore.

We were reminded of the beauty and character of sandstone, the versatility of marble and the longevity of these materials. Quirky characteristics of these materials, such as a fossil in the marble, added to the appeal. We were inspired by the sense of arrival as we walked through the entry doors and into a soaring void in the vestibule, something that can easily be translated into modern home designs.

The doors themselves created a statement and announced you had arrived. Interestingly, new homes are taking on this quality, such as pivot doors with glass detail. If you want to recreate something similar, products such as Axolotl allow this; you could even create your own coat of arms.

We forget about the natural resources that are abundant in Australia and the skill of our forbearers. Yes, we are a young country without the depth of history of places in Europe and Asia, but we still have architecture that we can proudly proclaim. Sadly, the majority of the population are unaware it exists.

The creators of this space also achieved a wonderful sense of scale with a somewhat minimalist layout juxtaposed

In conclusion, The Designer Chicks strongly encourage our readers to visit The State Library when next in Sydney CBD. It is a wonderful place to relax and absorb the spirit of our talented forefathers.

By Robyn Hawke, photography by Sharon Newman

Sharon Newman www.snphotography.com.au

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editor’s letter Lucia van Gerwen Robyn Hawke contributors Lucia van Gerwen Robyn Hawke Belinda Grundy Bettina Deda Elise Harper Jennifer French Jenny Williams Judith Briggs Maria Bellissimo-Magrin Nadia Pomare Nathalie Scipioni Sally Gardner / Kerrie Freeman Sharon Newman Veronica Strachan Veronica Tasnadi photography Sharon Newman Cover photo, pp 16 & 38 by imagetwentynine.com.au magazine designer artwork / production project manage / online Veronica Tasnadi copywriting Lucia van Gerwen Elise Harper

2013 Copyright All rights reserved. Reporduction in whole or part without prior permission is strictly forbidden. Every care has been taken when compliling The Designer Chicks Magazine to ensure that all the content is correct at the time of production.The Designer Chicks assumes no responsibility for any effects from errors or ormissions.

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ontents 5

editor’s letter Lucia van Gerwen ~ More Than Curtains Robyn Hawke ~ Inspired Spaces

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event highlights

Out and About with the Designer Chicks March 2013: The State Library, Sydney Sharon Newman ~ SN Photography

feature articles 12 Wonderful Window Coverings Lucia van Gerwen ~ More Than Curtains Veronica Strachan ~ Curtain Connections 14 Interior Design: Not just for the rich and Famous

Robyn Hawke ~ Inspired Spaces,

Jenny Williams ~ Creative Style Design

Jennifer French ~ Inside Out Colour and Design

18 Pros and Cons of Selling Your Home in Winter

Belinda Grundy ~ BG Property Styling

20 How to Create an Inspiring Home with heART

Bettina Deda ~ BD Colour Design

24 Fashion From the Third Row

Elise Harper ~ yELLE Styling

27 Why Outsource?

Hazel Theocharaus ~ Expert VA Radio

28 Special Feature: Smith and Sons Interview 32 Raging Red and Romantic Notions

Judith Briggs ~ Colour Consultants Australia P/L

34 Ready…and…Action!

Maria Bellissimo-Magrin ~ Belgrin

36 Autumn Colour

Nadia Pomare ~ Stylish Gardens

40 A Relaxing Renovation…or is this just an Oxymoron?

Nathalie Scipioni ~ NS-Studio

42 Light up my World

Sally Gardner & Kerrie Freeman ~ Feature Pieces

44 To Print or not to Print?

Veronica Tasnadi ~ Veronica Graphic Design

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Lucia van Gerwen More Than Curtains The Designer Chicks ~ Creative Director M 0412 225 437 info@morethancurtains.com.au www.morethancurtains.com.au

Robyn Hawke Inspired Spaces The Designer Chicks ~ Assist Creative Director M 0401 068 670 robyn@inspiredspaces.com.au www.inspiredspaces.com.au

Belinda Grundy BG Property Styling M 0433 400 139 info@bgpropertystyling.com.au www.bgpropertystyling.com.au

Elise Harper yELLE Styling M 0433 400 139 yELLEStyling@hotmail.com www.yELLEStyling.com

Lucia van Gerwen is an Interior Decorator specialising in all types of Window Coverings.

Lucia offers a mobile service: her van is fully stocked with thousands of samples for blinds, shutters and curtains. Quality is her number one priority as well as exemplary service. Lucia is present from the initial measure through to installation, and she personally handles all ordering and worksheets.

Inspired Spaces was created by Robyn Hawke in 2005 and is situated in Sydney’s Hills District The business tailors Interior Design solutions for both residential and commercial clients. Robyn designs for the home, office, café/restaurant and other small business spaces, specialising in CAD, plans, elevations and schedules.

At BG Property Styling, located on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Belinda Grundy assists real estate agents and home owners spruce up their property presentation for a sale campaign. Belinda will advise the client of what furnishings and accessories are required to best display a home for maximum profit.

She works with existing furnishings, adds to the décor if necessary, organise trades for work that might need to be carried out, or fully furnish a property with rental furniture.

Elise Harper is a fully qualified Stylist, Visual Merchandiser and Image Consultant, although her key field of expertise is Styling for Photography. Elise has also appeared on A Current Affair, Ten News and The Project, as well as in The Daily Telegraph as an authority on Fashion and Styling. In addition, she has worked with some of Sydney’s leading photographers, models, makeup artists and hair stylists.

Lucia was recently awarded the Western Sydney Award for Business Excellence as a Sole Trader 2012. She is also the founder of The Designer Chicks.

Her knowledge of Design principles also extends to Personal Styling and Image Consulting. Elise’s work with a wide range of clients has ensured that she has no difficulty styling different sizes, ages, skin tones and shapes.

More Than Curtains been operating from Sydney’s Hills District since 1995.

Robyn’s many years of teaching Design have given her the expertise required to tackle the more challenging Design jobs.

Recently, Belinda opened a new arm called Senior Movers. This is a specialty relocation assistance business helping seniors with downsizing from the family home to a smaller residential property or Aged Care Facility.

Bettina Deda BD Colour Design M 0424 615 503 bettina@bdcolourdesign.net.au www.bdcolourdesign.net.au

Jennifer French Inside Out Colour and Design M 0401 440 088 jennifer@insideoutcolouranddesign.com.au www.insideoutcolouranddesign.com.au

Jenny Williams Creative Style Interior Design M 0416 190 792 creativestyle.sydney@gmail.com www.creativestyle.com.au

Judith Briggs Colour Consultants Australia P/L M 0403 800 888 judithb@colourconsultants.com.au www.colourconsultants.com.au

Bettina Deda is a Stylist, and offers Interior Styling services, Visual Merchandising for small businesses, as well as colour solutions for residential or commercial applications.

Jennifer French is the Director and Principal Designer of Inside Out Colour and Design, a boutique Interior Decorating, colour consulting and sourcing business based on Sydney’s North Shore.

An accomplished and exhibited artist, Bettina can offer clients and Designers commissioned work to match their décor.

Jennifer provides a collaborative approach, developing and interpreting the client’s ideas.

This results in unique interiors, which reflect the personality and lifestyle of the client. Jennifer will work closely with the client to select interior and exterior colour schemes, soft furnishings and furniture items, flooring, wallpaper, and other decor surfaces.

Jenny Williams is a qualified Interior Designer and Colour Consultant with many years experience in creating personalised design and colour schemes for all residential interiors and exteriors across most of the Sydney metropolitan area.

Judith Briggs is the Principal Colour Designer and owner of Colour Consultants Aust Pty Ltd, a successful design business which has been operating from Sydney’s Lower North Shore since 2001. During this time, Judith has provided architectural colour advice for many residential and commercial properties, including high rise buildings, corporate offices and showrooms, heritage buildings, cafes and restaurants.

During tenure in a prestigious custom furniture showroom, Bettina also gained valuable experience in Product Styling for retail outlets.

Bettina’s studio is located on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

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As a qualified Interior Designer, Robyn can assist with colour selection, all surfaces and soft furnishings. She is able to design a bathroom or kitchen renovation and supervise all the trades to completion.

As well as offering a full range of interior design services, Jenny is a specialist in: New builds, Additions and Renovations Empty Nesters and Downsizers • Kitchens and Bathrooms • •

Jenny can recommend quality manufacturers, suppliers and tradespeople and can also project manage some or all of your home’s transformation. Jenny provides her clients with outstanding service and achieves fantastic results.

Judith is also able to source a variety of products for the home to include flooring, soft furnishings and Wallpaper.

In addition, Judith is a graphic colour specialist for both online and offline applications and has designed several carpet ranges.

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Maria Bellissimo-Magrin Belgrin M 0410 033 124 maria@belgrin.com.au www.belgrin.com.au

Nadia Pomare Stylish Gardens M 0417 279 790 nadia@stylishgardens.com.au www.stylishgardens.com.au

Nathalie Scipioni NS-Studio M 0422 211 107 nathalie@ns-studio.com www.ns-studio.com

Sally Gardner & Kerrie Freeman Feature Pieces M 0411 441 969 sally@featurepieces.com.au www.featurepieces.com.au

CEO of Belgrin, a Sydney based communications agency specialising in Design and PR, Maria Bellissimo-Magrin is a woman of genuine accomplishment. Her 12 years in Design, combined with a keenly developed business sense, have served to position Belgrin as an industry leader in online Communications. Sharp design and a smart communication strategy, she insists, are key components in the development of any brand.

Nadia Pomare is a Landscape Designer, and her business, Stylish Gardens is located in Sydney’s Inner West. She caters for residential and commercial properties, new or old homes, renovations, makeovers and Council plans.

Nathalie Scipioni is the owner of NS-Studio, a building and Interior Design firm located in Sydney’s Inner West. Nathalie works in every field of Architecture: commercial, residential, hospitality and Heritage.

Nadia’s motto is “creativity, practicality, balance and beauty for every garden”.

Her European background, training and experience, have made Nathalie a much sought after Heritage Building Designer in the older suburbs of Sydney.

Sally Gardner and her Mum, Kerrie Freeman, founded Feature Pieces in response to an observation that rooms require a unifying element to tie in themes and colours. Located on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Feature Pieces provides many of these elements, including bespoke lampshades, cushions, chairs, bedheads, wall hangings and pouffes.

Maria has a sharp eye for detail and an absolute insistence on getting it right for her clients every time, making her a highly regarded Designer Chick member and widely referred.

Services include: concept design plans, planting plans, landscape plans, horticultural consultancy, construction and maintenance, preparing a house for sale, and sourcing of products.

Nathalie likes to take a project from the sketch design, through the Council process, Interior Design, construction site administration, to handing the keys to the client.

Feature Pieces combines Sally’s skills as an Interior Designer with mum Kerrie contributing her business skills and years of hands-on experience in soft furnishings.

Sharon Newman SN Photography M 0424 166 430 sharon@snphotography.com.au www.snphotography.com.au

Tiz Damianakis AJUNJO P/L M 0411 326 653 tiz@ajunjo.com.au www.ajunjo.com.au

Veronica Strachan Curtain Connections & Home Décor M 0411 419 128 curtconn@bigpond.net.au www.curtainconnections.com.au

Veronica Tasnadi Veronica Graphic Design M 0414 954 437 vgdesign@bigpond.com www.vgdesign.com.au

Sharon Newman has been the owner, manager and pro-photographer of Photography with Sharon Newman for 5 years. She has a broad spectrum of clients including real estate agencies, private clients, builders and manufacturers.

As an Event Strategist at AJUNJO, which means “to bring together”, Tiz Damianakis assists organisations to use events as a tool in their marketing plans, creating campaigns with pre and post promotional activity to maximise the benefits. Recognising an increasing desire for organisations to get involved in Business Social Responsibility through events, Tiz develops relationships between companies and community groups, showing that “you can do well by doing good”.

Veronica Strachan started Curtain Connections and Home Decor in 2000 from her studio in Horsley Park. Her business offers a complete range of quality curtains, blinds, pelmets and shutters, all measured, custom made and installed to suit the client’s needs.

Veronica Tasnadi manages an impressive range of Graphic Design projects for clients ranging from non-profits to corporate accounts.

Her work is renowned for its quality, promptness and reliability. Sharon also works with aspiring models, babies and family portraiture. She is a member of the prestigious AIPP (Australian Institute of Professional Photography) of which there is a stringent process to gain membership.

Sharon’s new studio is located in the Blue Mountains.

Over the last 10 years Tiz’s experience has extended to the management and marketing of events ranging from promotional presentations, conferences, gala dinners, media launches, networking events, workshops and awards presentations.

Veronica guides not only clients, but architects and builders, by sourcing the best quality fabrics, and all types of tracking including motorisation.

Her business provides custom made window coverings to Residential and Commercial clients. She can also provide Antique reproduction furniture.

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Whether it’s environmental graphics, posters, brochures, calendars or packaging, Veronica has a passion for creating design that delivers a clear message with an extra creative push to make the work stand out.

Veronica’s passion for great design is only rivalled by her commitment to quality design and open collaboration with clients.

Veronica’s studio is located in Sydney’s Hills District.

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wonderful window coverings Lucia van Gerwen of More Than Curtains, and her Designer Chick colleague, Veronica Strachan of Curtain Connections, get up close and personal about curtains and roman blinds. n our last issue, Veronica discussed how fully lined curtains can protect your home from the elements and in turn save you money on your energy costs. However, there are numerous other benefits that are highly desirable in today’s society, based on how we live.

Living in a Goldfish Bowl.

Privacy is perhaps one of the most important issues in today’s society that we actually don’t think about. When push comes to shove, we all enjoy and demand our personal space, away from the hassles of everyday life. We don’t really like someone getting too close and it’s the same with where we live.

In today’s society, homes are being placed closer together and as this century rolls along, people are becoming less engaging with their neighbours.

Incentives such as Neighbourhood Watch have albeit disappeared, as people don’t wish to get involved in the lives of others and certainly don’t 12

want anyone else to know what they are up to. Our homes are our sanctuaries and woe betide anyone who enters uninvited!!

an assistant in saving your sanity.

They won’t completely block out everything noise wise, but they sure do make a huge difference.

So if you can almost lean from your window and touch your neighbour’s house, there must be a way to prevent reciprocal peeking??

Saving the World.

Curtains or romans are the answer!!

Rest assured no one can see in when they are closed, provided you have the right blockout. You can always peer from behind just in case you need to see what your neighbours are up to!!!

A Bit of Shush!!

Noisy neighbours?? Busy roads??

Construction sites nearby?? Insulation of walls goes a long way to reducing outside noise, but of course we still have the problem of glass allowing noise to pass through virtually unfiltered.

If neighbourhood noise is a challenge, maybe one must consider curtains as

Using the right draperies can actually contribute towards saving the environment. If you don’t use motorisation to operate them, curtains significantly reduce your home’s carbon footprint because no energy is required for them to work (except your own body’s energy!!) Greenies can go even further and select their draperies from ranges of eco friendly, naturally and ethically produced fabrics such as hemps, linens and wools.

Advancements in manufacturing can now use recycling, less power and less water to produce cloth. That’s what we call doing your bit for the globe!!

Of course if you are the original Polyester Girl, there’s a myriad of fabrics available that imitate the naturals: often it is

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almost impossible to tell the difference!

Modern polyesters are more durable, stable, crease resistant and cost effective than their natural counterparts, but you alone have to decide what is best for you and your conscience.

It’s All About the Fit. The worst crime in our opinion, when purchasing curtains or romans is buying something that does not fit!!!

Sure, custom made is more expensive than what you can purchase in a plastic packet, but you know it will fit your windows perfectly and do the job for which it was intended. It doesn’t look great when someone squeezes into clothing that is two sizes too small so please don’t be tempted by cheap products that you end up having to replace quickly due to poor fit and performance!!

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Just Looking Pretty.

Aesthetics…perception…

Some people purchase curtains or romans simply for the look or how it makes them feel!!! Our personal appreciation of what we deem to be attractive is very important in our surroundings. We have very little control over many of the environments we encounter, but we can control what we put in our homes. If we are to suggest that home is sanctuary, then how must your sanctuary be defined?? Do you require attractive items around you to help you relax or reflect your personality and taste?? Given the choice (and perhaps the budget) we would say most of us do. We all generally have opinions on our likes and dislikes, we all have some sort of taste (or lack thereof!!). This can be translated into our window coverings.

Because curtains can accommodate an infinite variety of weights, textures, patterns and colours, it is quite possible to assume that there is something for everyone. Many consumers are put off by the myriad of choices, but you can and probably should hire a professional Interior Designer to assist and narrow down the options.

Lastly, make certain that if you do hire a window covering expert to assist you, ensure they come to your home… samples will always look different online or in a shop!!

Lucia van Gerwen www.morethancurtains.com.au

Veronica Strachan www.curtainconnections.com.au WWW.THEDESIGNERCHICKS.COM.AU

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Hampton inspired Study and Kitchen by Robyn Hawke of Inspired Spaces.

interior design: not just for the rich and famous Our Interior Designers, Robyn Hawke of Inspired Spaces, Jenny Williams of Creative Style and Jennifer French of Inside Out Colour and Design, all share the same ethos when suggesting the importance of their services…

ost of us want our home to be our

own special haven, somewhere we can relax and entertain our friends.

Our home is our castle and we want it to reflect our style and personality. The entertainment industry makes it look very easy, but if you’ve tried to renovate or decorate your home, you’ll know that it’s not a matter of calling into a handful of shops and coming home with a car full of cushions and lamps. It takes time and “know how” and dare we say it, patience; let alone negotiation with the other occupants of the house so that everyone has a say and ends up with a space they love.

Engaging a design professional can cut through the hard yards, as they do this every day. They have a keen eye, are able to refine your desires and convert them to reality, as well as an extensive and up to date knowledge of their field, the design industry and suppliers. This means they can execute your changes 14

quickly going straight to the right supplier to make a selection of items to suit your style and budget.

A professional will also have a list of tried and tested tradespeople. Usually they have worked with them on a number of previous jobs so they know how they operate and can ensure your makeover is as stress free as possible.

Finding good, reliable tradespeople can be half the battle of a renovation!

If you’re worried at all about making the right design & decoration decisions and choices, then working with a great interior designer, decorator or stylist will save you money and time, and from the anxiety caused by costly mistakes, because you’ll get things right the first time. They’ll work with you, to your budget and your brief. The old view of a designer or decorator that waltzes into your home or office and tells you what you have to do and buy, is long gone.

Most are collaborative and realistic in their approach. As Benjamin Franklin said, “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low cost is forgotten.”

Knowing which professional to engage to assist with your home or workplace renovation is paramount in achieving the look you want. There are interior designers, interior decorators and interior stylists and most people aren’t sure exactly what each does. This is largely because there’s quite a lot of overlap between their roles. So here’s our explanation to help you lift the veil of mystery surrounding them.

A stylist is a decorator who concentrates on maximising the space with a mix of your own pieces together with hired furniture and decorative accessories, usually in preparation for sale or photography.

An interior decorator is mainly concerned with the look and feel of a

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The original plan did not take into account furniture placement, traffic flow and storage.

The amended plan created a highly functional and aesthetic space.

space. What colours, materials and finishes, furniture and furnishings, lighting, etc will work best for you and your space. Their goal is to achieve the look and feel you’re after with minimal or no change to the actual physical space.

So while they may move the furniture around they won’t move the wall. They can help you create a particular design style and can advise you about historical furnishing styles.

An interior designer is capable of helping you to simply change the look and feel of a space as well as manipulating the space itself, including changing a space’s function and layout, knocking out a wall and moving doors and windows. You can ask them to design as well as decorate any space in your home or workplace, including your kitchen or bathroom, so that it not only looks fabulous but works efficiently as well.

An interior designer is also fluent in ‘builder speak’ and can provide, and more importantly, interpret plans and elevations. They combine the creativity of a decorator with the expert knowledge and understanding of the design and building industries. They can also project manage the whole design and decoration process should you need them to – from organising tradespeople, liaising with your builder, sourcing materials and furnishings right through to the fit out, to ensure a smooth transition from old to new. Or you can just use all their advice and information and run the project yourself.

The Designer Chicks’ philosophy is that your home or working environment should be a reflection of the individuals who live or work there and of the business’s identity and image. We work across a broad range of styles and designs to personalise your space

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to suit you and your lifestyle or your business’s brand.

By working with a professional designer, decorator or stylist you’ll be confident you’ve achieved not only perfect results but, you’ve saved your valuable time and money (and possibly your sanity too).

Robyn Hawke www.inspiredspaces.com.au

Jennifer French www.insideoutcolouranddesign.com.au

Jennifer G. Williams www.creativestyle.com.au

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19 Karloon Road, West Pennant Hills, NSW 2125 Postal: 12/2 Carmen Drive, Carlingford, NSW 2118 Phone: 02 9873 4139 • Fax: 02 9872 6170 Email: janice@sydneytaxationservices.com.au

Partnership + Performance = Profitability 2

Call +612 9113 0777

Australia’s fastest-growing Business Club for women www.shebusiness.com

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Helping our clients make smart decisions about their money on purpose.

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Sheila 02 9687 1966 www.carnegie.com.au

VISIT US AT

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ISSUETWO

| MAY2013 right move

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BEFORE

AFTER

pros and cons of selling your home in winter Once again, Belinda Grundy of BG Property Styling imparts her wisdom on getting the best value for your home sale.

Are you looking to sell your home this winter?

Most homeowners are discouraged to do so, but it doesn’t mean you can’t. Winter is said to be a slow time for home sales unlike spring, a time of the year where homes are most beautiful. But there are advantages on listing your home on the market during winter.

Pros •

Motivated Buyers are out there.

In an interview in Your Investment Property Magazine, Raine & Horne CEO Angus Raine explains that winter actually represents a great time to be selling. “Generally, sales volumes are down by as much as 20% in the colder months and as a result fewer homes are for sale; however this doesn’t necessarily mean there is a smaller pool of motivated buyers”.

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In the Winter 2012 Property Market Review by John McGrath, Chief Executive of McGrath Estate Agents, stated that in March of last year, “the country’s largest mortgage broker, AFG, had its second biggest month ever in NSW since their index commenced in 2004 with $842M in new lodgements,” indicating that there are more buyers out there.

These buyers are more serious and are ready to make the deal as soon as possible.

•

Spring means more competition.

Typically, owners tend to hold out for spring. In winter however, you can take advantage of less competition and easily market your home to sell!

Winter is the best time to showcase your home’s cosy vibe.

Raine added, “... in many cases the cooler months enable a property

to show off its very best features.”

Light up your fireplace and candles to give warmth, contrasting the harsh conditions outside. To add to this, use thick and fluffy fabrics, like wool or fake fur. Have a lot of pillows, blankets and fluffy carpets for that cosy effect. This welcoming feel will certainly seduce potential buyers.

Cons •

Uncontrollable Weather

Because of the cold, dark and unpredictable weather, marketing your home during winter would require more work. The changing weather may give your potential buyers a great deal of inconvenience. They may not have the time and energy to see your home. You will need to have strategic schedule of your open house. This will require you to be flexible enough to make time for them.

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BEFORE

AFTER

Design is intelligence made visible.~ Antoine de Sainte Exupery •

Rain is a barrier.

Winter brings heavy rain! Make sure to always provide safe paths for your clients. If they slip and slide on your walkways, they won’t be able to enter and see your home! You will also need to clear up the falling leaves in your area. Make sure umbrellas are made available for your potential buyers.

•

Your lawn is a no-show.

You may have put a lot of energy to make your yard appealing during summer. During winter, lawn could be a no-show due to more rain and less sun. You will not be able to show off your beautiful garden to your buyers.

It could in fact be the opposite; you might have a tree that has lost all its leaves, so the lawn is really doing well! We believe winter gardens can be great with the right plant selection and fresh mulch.

•

You May not be able to get the best value.

We don’t agree with this one! We hear it all the time though. Best value is for you at the time you need the money or the changeover in property. How will you know if you achieved more money in winter or the other seasons?

There are 3 major factors to a successful property sale 1. A great agent 2. A fair price 3. Great property presentation.

There is no perfect answer on when it is ideal to sell your house. Although statistics show us that the market is more active from spring onwards, you can still sell your home during the winter season.

Belinda Grundy www.bgpropertystyling.com.au

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how to create an inspiring home with heART Bettina Deda, our gifted Stylist and Colour Designer, is also an accomplished artist. In this article Bettina waxes lyrical about the advantages of using individual art in the home. t is only when a home reflects your personal interior decorating style than you can truly relax. Interior Designers, Decorators and Stylists help homeowners who plan to build, renovate or redecorate, enhance their individual decorating style to create a unique home with heart and personality.

When clients are asked to name their biggest decorating challenge, their responses are usually one of the following: • Time

poor

Three very effective strategies to introduce your personal interior style are to add unique original art, cushions and lampshades in a coordinating fabric to your home.

• Trying

to find something different that is not ridiculously expensive

Let’s look at how you can create a home that reflects your personal interior style.

• Fear

1. Introduce art in your space.

These three issues are symptoms of not being properly prepared when starting your renovation or decorating

Art is a very personal thing and I always recommend to trust your gut feelings when deciding about an artwork. If you love it, you will make it work and find it a place in your home.

of not knowing what the designer/stylist is going to do; will it reflect who I am?

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project. By following some easy to implement strategies you will enhance your personal style and become more confident in interior decorating. You will learn how to create something unique for your home and spruce up your space with ease – without having to replace everything!

Browse an art gallery or museum to find out which art you like and notice why you like it. Visit local art shows to learn more about local artists and their work. If you need a certain size canvas for your interior, search for artists who do commissioned work.

If you decorate a room from scratch get your artwork first and use it as starting point for your colour scheme.

This is much easier than trying to find the right piece of art for a room that has been completely furnished and decorated. If you struggle to find the right colours for your space, contact a professional colour consultant.

2. Use cushions to instantly inject colour and texture in a room.

Cushions are a great decorating tool and can be easily changed around your home. Stick to one colour

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Art, fabric and styling: Bettina Deda. Photography: Sharon Newman

scheme and then layer different patterns in your space. Start with one pattern and add the next. Step back and have a look how the cushions work in your room. Mix different shapes and patterns. If something doesn’t feel right, remove one piece and see how the others work together. If you have a patterned rug, don’t overdo it with too many patterned cushions. If your rug is neutral or one block colour, be courageous and add a wow factor to your interior with eyecatching cushions.

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Spring Blossoms by Bettina Deda. Original art on canvas with coordinating cushion.

3 Add a coordinating lampshade to complete the look.

Link your space by introducing a gorgeous pendant, table lamp or standing light with the same fabric as your cushion(s). If you want something different, choose your fabric, research lampshade designs and have a unique lampshade made for your interior. Lights are a

great way to define a living or dining area. Consider a dimmer to adjust the brightness of the light for your needs. Lighting is not only a great decorating tool, it also creates mood and atmosphere in your home.

The most important thing to create an inspiring home with heart is that everything you buy has to mean something to you. You will find if you follow this rule that you can mix and match styles, price points, old and new; and your interior will work.

Happy decorating!

Create something unique by introducing cushions that mirror your artwork. Choose the design and material and create your unique designer cushion.

Bettina Deda www.bdcolourdesign.net.au

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The Design process at its best, integrates the aspirations of art, science and culture.

Jeff Smith

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fashion from the third row Our newest Chick, Elise Harper of yELLE Styling was invited to attend Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia 2013, and here she gives us an insight into the world of Spring/ Summer designer fashion.

he moment I received

that first, unexpected invite, I was overcome with excitement. As I unwrapped the beautiful invitation from Alice McCall, which was embossed with exquisite jewel prints, I couldn’t wipe the smile away. In total I was invited to attend the shows of sixteen designers and after many weeks of raiding my wardrobe and creating looks for Fashion Week, I was ready to begin.

Upon my arrival at Carriageworks, Sydney, it was apparent that the fashionistas were out to play, with the fashion circus in full swing. Rules were thrown out the window in artistic statements… retro swing skirts with neon printed tops, floral bomber jackets with striped chiffon trousers. It was mayhem of the most poetic kind!

Dominant in most of the collections were fine silks, voiles, jacquards and cottons with white being a prevalent

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colour choice. Styles varied between masculine androgyny, to floaty and feminine, though a certain sense of power was conveyed across each collection. There were two collections which piqued my interest in particular, not only for the beautiful pieces and meticulous details, but a certain drama and electricity in the air.

Perth designer, Aurelio Costarella celebrated his 30th year of trade and implemented a fashion installation

worthy of the celebration. Upon entering the ‘show’, viewers were confronted by an ethereal melody and handed little bottles of sparkling water before glimpsing Costarella’s collection. This was no ordinary fashion show; the collection was showcased as a three-sided installation, with models poised on individual white square platforms.

If a model moved, it was a very deliberate change of pose. It was very intimate, one being able to move up close to the models and capture the intricate details of the garments on display. The magical combination of these somewhat ethereal, avantgarde gowns, along with the painted backdrop by Waldemar Kolbusz, and the enchanting voice of acoustic artist, Grace Woordroofe, made the experience exquisitely memorable.

New generation designers, Jedda Daisy-Culley and Caroline SundtWels of Desert Designs, showcased a collection of street wear inspired by

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Indigenous artwork. Bold patterns in black, white, neon green and hot pink made their presence known on the catwalk in kaftans, leggings and unitards. The crowning glory of the collection came as the final model emerged, shrouded in polka dots and geometrics, who proceeded to dance interpretatively along the runway.

It was a spine-tingling moment as this single model carried the scope of the entire collection in every movement.

Each show had it’s own beautiful story to share and told it in breathtaking detail. It was truly a whirlwind of a week, which I hope to repeat next season with new thrills to share.

Elise Harper www.yELLEStyling.com

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why outsource?

This is a question all too regularly bemoaned by business owners, whether home based, small or even larger business owners. But the answer is quite simple: outsourcing frees up your time and allows you to continue to grow the business you love.

Unfortunately many business owners think it is going to be too expensive for their business.

Hazel Theocharaus ~ Expert VA Radio Small Business Program / 2RRR 88.5FM www.expertvaradio.com.au

In reality, we are constantly outsourcing for items such as lawn-mowing, cleaning, car mechanics, plumbing etc. Yet when it comes to our business we feel that outsourcing anything will not be cost effective.

Simply put it is actually more cost effective to outsource a portion of your business which may be too difficult or too time consuming for you, as the business owner, to complete. Remember, everyone in business has their own area of expertise and by outsourcing to an expert at cost A and working for your client at higher cost B, you can maintain a profit, your client is happy and your business needs are being met.

A WIN – WIN for everyone.

Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.

Vincent van Gogh

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INTERVIEW

smith and sons interview The Designer Chicks have forged a strong alliance with Smith and Sons, a well respected Australian building franchise. In this article, we interview Tony Lucien, owner of Smith and Sons Maroubra, to find out what makes him tick…

Could you give us a little insight into the Smith and Sons concept?

When restoring an older home, what would be your greatest challenge?

Apart from the fact that all Smith and Sons’ builders are experienced, this franchise group is like a family.

The structure encourages rapport and support between the franchisees so that each owner can articulate any issues they may be having, and be offered solutions within the group. It’s great to have our own community of talented builders who are not precious about sharing ideas. (Rather like The Designer Chicks!!!)

I love doing heritage work, and restorations are always challenging.

I try to keep items as original as possible, and with advances in technology, there is no excuse not to locate suitable materials that provide authenticity.

What attracted you to connect with The Designer Chicks group?

As a keen net worker myself I am always proactive about making new connections. I met Robyn Hawke of Inspired Spaces via another contact and when Robyn explained about The Designer Chicks I was immediately on board!! The Designer Chicks add value to my business and offer my clients a point of difference.

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Can you tell us about a project you particularly enjoyed?

Recently I completed a very challenging heritage restoration on an old building in Point Piper (pictured above). Most of the tasks were awkward and downright difficult. Attention to detail was imperative to the finished result. It was a great learning curve for me. I also met some fabulous skilled tradies who now work on many of my projects.

Do you have any advice for those considering a restoration or renovations?

Oh yes…find out specifically what you want to do and don’t generalise. Make sure you do your homework... uncertainty slows the process.

What should potential clients look for in a builder? Why choose Smith and Sons?

Clients should always look for experience and in particular references from other clients.

Look at the work first hand and learn a bit about the builder before you hire them. Communication is key to forming this significant relationship.

Smith and Sons offer great resources and suppliers. Teamwork is important and our warranties are fully supported.

We specialise in attention to detail, after all, it is all the 1% that make up 100%. Most importantly, if there is a problem, we fix it straight away.

My motto is: “build it as if it were my own home”.

What has been your greatest triumph?

Well I have to say my daughter.

Having kids makes you want to succeed more and work harder to provide the things we didn’t have as kids.

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Smith and Sons is Australia’s Number 1 fastest growing franchise by outlets and Number 2 by revenue.

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10 Reasons why Smith & Sons are the best choice for your project!

1. We are fully licensed & insured holding all valid Workers

7. All building works have a 13 week maintenance

Compensation, Public Liability, Home Warranty Insurance

and Construction Works Insurance policies, which allows us to carry out all building work whilst giving our clients peace of mind that their project is in good hands and protected through governing and supporting bodies.

2. Each project receives our personal attention, so construction of your project is achieved to the best standard possible.

3. We offer flexibility in accommodating any additional changes/ variations you may have at any stage, to ensure that you are completely satisfied with your final project; any changes will incur costs and will be clarified in detail prior to any works being undertaken.

4. With every building site being unique, we can offer your project if required, differential construction methods in order to get the maximum potential out of your block’s location to take advantage of sun, views and outdoor living spaces.

5. Adding to those finishing touches to your project, you can have flexibility in endless choices in a range of fixtures,fitings, appliances, finishes and quality construction materials.

6. We provide you with full support and communication holding site meetings as required throughout the duration of the project and have an open door policy, you are always welcome to ring us for a site visit or arrange extra meetings at any time.

period after hand over.

8. All building works carried out will comply to current

Australian Standards (AS) and Building Code of

Australia (BCA).

9. All work will be certified by an accredited Private

Certifying Authority (PCA) and issue all Certificates

of Compliance.

10. Insure to supply a valid Home Owners Warranty

Insurance for a period of 6 years after the completion

date of your project.

WHAT WE DO At Smith & Sons we create unique individual custom built renovations for each and every client, that provides a seamless transition between the indoors and outdoors, where homes reflect our clients own unique personality.

DESIGN SERVICE We provided a complete integrated design service from concept drawings and construction drawings whether you choose to engage our in house designer to design your project needs or select one of our leading architects who is committed to meet all expectations bringing you the finished project that will add true value to your home.

COUNCIL PERMITS We know getting your project approved can be a painstaking and a time consuming process on your own, that’s why we’ll leave no stone unturned as we can focus on getting your home approved with your local council authority ensuring that compliance with relevant legislation is achieved.

CONSTRUCTION With vast experience, attention to detail and workmanship we can deliver you a finished product in construction that boasts premium quality bearing in mind the difficulty of the site be it either narrow blocks with difficult access, sloping blocks in a front, rear or side direction and large acreage blocks.

LANDSCAPING Through the use of your selection of plants and materials together with our landscape architect we can design an awarding winning front or backyard which compliments your lifestyle and practical needs.

POOLS We focus on all your swimming pool requirements in your newly renovated home giving you your dream pool and outdoor area situational with your surrounding landscape.

Tony Lucien n

Smith & Sons Renovations & Extensions - Maroubra

Justin Burrows n

Smith & Sons Renovations & Extensions - Dee Why

T 0414 423 418 n E tony.lucien@smith-sons.com.au

T 0402 113 442 n E justin.burrows@smith-sons.com.au

www.smithandsonsmaroubra.com.au

www.smithandsonsmaroubra.com.au

raging red and romantic notions In part 2 of our Colour Psychology series, Colour Designer, Judith Briggs, suggests how to use red for maximum benefit and effect.

f all the colours, RED has the

most significant effect on us physically. In the visible light spectrum, it has the longest wavelength. This means we see the colour red before other colours; it motivates us to action, hence stop signs are red.

While blue (covered in the previous edition) relates to our mind, red is the most physical of all the colours.

It is associated with our life force, particularly since our blood is red.

It is warming, stimulates energy and can increase our blood pressure, circulation, breathing, heartbeat and pulse rate. True red has the most potency with the effects diminishing with tonal reds, like burgundy, and blue reds have less energy than orange reds.

Red socks warm cold feet better than blue ones!

In spite of its strong physical effects, red has the most personal associations: action, strength, practicality, courage, martyrdom, romance (Valentine’s Day), fertility, anger and rage (seeing “red”).

Research has shown that sports teams wearing red win more often against teams wearing blue – a major disadvantage to NSW against Queensland. Just as well Queensland wears a more muted version of red in maroon!

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How to use red when decorating.

Red is stimulating, exciting and immediately draws our attention, as red objects appear closer than they really are. This aspect is very useful when you want a wall to appear closer or to make a room cozy. More often than not, red is used as an accent colour, because too much red can be overpowering. When something is red, our attention is immediately focused on it. A red front door provides a warm welcome for visitors.

Because red increases enthusiasm, it is great for encouraging communication so it is a good choice for dining rooms, restaurants and cafes. It also aids digestion. Promoting action and confidence, the inclusion of red in the workplace is ideal for creating a dynamic and lively working environment – wonderful for motivation.

However, like all accent colours, it is important to use the colour in more than one place. For instance, don’t have a red splash back and white cupboards in an open plan kitchen unless you also include this colour combination somewhere else in the adjoining rooms, otherwise it can look very odd and disconnected.

A warning about using large amounts of red in the bedroom: great for passion, but not conducive to a restful sleep.

Also, beware of using red if your child has ADHD, as it will be too stimulating for them.

Red Colour Combinations.

Green always works well with red as it is its complementary colour. Red is an ideal partner with blues, especially navy and turquoise. Teamed with grays, black and crisp white, as well as deep chocolate browns, red is in its element. Cleverly use red with particular shades of orange and purple for surprising and quirky combinations.

Have fun with this dynamic colour to create an energetic space and consult a colour expert if you need help.

In the next issue we will delve into the controversial colour of Yellow.

Judith Briggs www.colourconsultants.com.au

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ready…and…action!!!

Our creative Web Designer and Online Communicator, Maria Bellissimo-Magrin of Belgrin, outlines the steps to making a promotional video by sharing her recent experiences….

ecently, Belgrin was immersed

in a promotional project for one of their clients, Bingo Skip Bins.

A video was created that featured Bingo’s major sponsorship with the NRL Wests Tigers.

There was much preparation needed even to create a relatively short thirtysecond clip. The desired delivery of the video’s message needed a completely new angle in the inundated advertising world.

The creative process took the team through six major stages before reaching the final product.

1. Brainstorming: This was the longest of the six stages.

It took a while to figure out the best way to couple Bingo’s main message with the Wests Tigers.

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The initial brainstorming process was centered on how to connect Bingo’s tag line, ‘Cleaning Up’ with the players. After ideas bouncing back and forth, synergy was finally found between the two parties. The best way to bring this link to life was to film the players cleaning up their mess after a hard training session. This involved players kicking and throwing training cones to footballs in a skip bin. A seed was planted and an idea was formed!

2. Developing the idea: Four different ideas were pitched to Bingo. The ideas were slight variations of our original thought processes around the ‘Cleaning Up’ notion.

When creating content, it is best to provide the client with at least three variations so that there is space to find what works and what doesn’t.

3. Approval from the clients: Once Bingo signed off on one of the ideas, the concept was taken to the Wests Tigers for approval. This was thankfully a relatively smooth process.

The team received the go ahead to turn the idea into a reality!

4. Putting together the storyboard: The most straightforward method to organize the sequences of the video is by using a storyboard. Belgrin’s was a mixture of sketches and text to determine how the players were filmed, the rough time frame allowed for each sequence and where the footage would be suitable in the video. The storyboard could also discover how long the sequence will appear in real time during the video.

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This format of planning helped to understand the logistics behind how many cameras needed to be set up to create multiple angles. The storyboard also needed to get the green light from Bingo Skip Bins before the start of filming.

5. Planning the filming on the day: It was a relatively early start to the day of filming because of needing to orchestrate the arrival of Bingo’s trucks and skip bins for the shoot as well as set up the Bingo’s branding around the field and set up the necessary equipment for filming. The team communicated via walkie talkies to find the most suitable camera angles from both ends of the field. It was great to see the Wests Tigers daily training routine first hand and

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work around their schedule! Filming occurred between their media presentations, training sessions and interviews.

days on completing filming. Only a few tweaks were needed with music choice and shot sequence before the team was happy with the final video.

Some specific sequences on the storyboard took over an hour to complete, but once the shot was caught, it was treated like gold! There was more than enough coverage by the end of the day and the requirements were met from the storyboard. The next process was editing the content.

Overall, working with Bingo and Wests Tigers was a successful and joyful experience, one that Belgrin hopes to set up again in the near future!

6. Editing:

Maria Bellissimo-Magrin www.belgrin.com.au

There wasn’t a long time span to edit and send the final cut to Bingo and Wests Tigers if the first video was to show during their upcoming match.

The first edit was received from the video agency, Film Stretch, within WWW.THEDESIGNERCHICKS.COM.AU

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autumn colour In Part 2 of her Garden series, Nadia Pomare, our brilliant Landscape Designer from Stylish Gardens, entertains us with her” autumn enthusiasm”.

Why I love Autumn.

Where does the green go?

Choosing the right plant.

The flowers are colourful of something magical and amaze me.

Within the plant itself! Leaves contain green chlorophyll which produces the tree’s energy. In the winter, the energy is drawn into the plant for storage.

With the light green stripped from the leaves we are left with the red, orange or yellow base that has been present there all along. This is the waste of the plant and will eventually fall off.

With the correct plant selection, autumn colour can bring a new dimension to your garden. By placing them correctly you can enjoy a fabulous succession of autumn colour in your garden.

blooming in Spring and signify the start new. But Autumn is it never ceases to

As soon as I reach for extra layers of clothing, I know that within weeks I will be rewarded with a spectacular colourful display outside.

The gorgeous foliage colours of reds, yellows and orange start shouting and suddenly the world around me looks very different. Simply stunning! Actually I prefer being in the passenger seat when I’m driving so I don’t miss any of it.

Yes Autumn is definitely my favourite season.

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The same tree in the Blue Mountains, or any cold climate zone, has a slightly different autumn shade in Sydney.

Consider the mature growth height and width of the plant before drawing a plan. Make sure the autumn colour varies and is placed appropriately. If you are grouping them, know when they change colour in the season and when they drop their leaves.

Remember their colour can vary all over Sydney.

The cooler the climate, the more vibrant the colour will be. It’s interesting too that long, hot summers somehow contribute to an even more spectacular autumn showcase.

If you want to make a statement with one single autumn tree/shrub, make sure it has a suitable backdrop, such as a conifer hedge behind it, to create a dramatic focus.

Cooler climate versus Sydney climate.

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My favourite trees & shrubs.

Go for a drive…

I love the golden leaf of the Ginko biloba: elegantly stunning. The tree has a lovely shape too and suits suburban gardens. Also the Nyssa Sinensis turns a beautiful red colour and is a perfectly shaped specimen tree for larger gardens.

Before all the leaves fall to the ground I suggest you watch this spectacular display from the seat of your car.

Drive through the Blue Mountains, Mount Wilson, Mount Victoria, Hunter Valley or Canberra.

What about the climber Boston ivy Parthenocissus tricuspidata? It holds a dramatic display for several weeks before it drops its leaves.

And of course the Japanese maples.

I particularly like the Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Seiryu’. This turns an amazing yellowish-gold to crimson in autumn. Very beautiful with its upright vase shape. It’s the perfect size for a small garden or courtyard.

Take your camera, I bet you will start a collection of autumn images like I have.

Nadia Pomare www.stylishgardens.com.au

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Design is the fundamental soul of a human-made creation that ends up by expressing itself in successive outer layers of the product or service.

Steve Jobs

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a relaxing renovation or is this just an oxymoron?

Nathalie Scipioni, our Architect and Commercial Designer, believes that renovating can be relaxing if the right steps are taken…

enturing into the renovation of

your own house is always a complex process that requires a lot of energy and planning. In a renovation, it is difficult to plan everything in advance, as there are a few unknowns that will be discovered only at the demolition or construction stage. That said, it can be a fun process and can test your creativity and imagination, and your ability to negotiate with your family members , who will certainly want their demands and needs met.

Here is a checklist arising from my professional experience that I hope will be helpful to avoid (and possibly face) various difficulties.

1. Make programs.

Plan your budget: what is the up limit you can afford, how to organize a mortgage… Express in a calm and rational way what you need and what is missing in your current housing situation.

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Tired of standing in line for the bathroom every morning? Consider doubling it.

Do you need an extra bedroom for a new arrival? The kitchen can become a bedroom and the new kitchen may find a place in your living room.

Prepare an accurate brief with the ideal situation you need. Also collect a scrapbook to understand what you like and then show it to your designer/architect.

2. Ask for help.

After the first phase during which you will buy decoration magazines and read blogs and forums, it is important you contact a professional who has trained and worked for years with renovations.

Doing everything yourself is a full time job and you can make mistakes that you cannot repair after the building is completed. It might look easy on those TV building shows, but nothing could be further from the truth!

The choice of a building designer (architect trained) or architect is important. Ask the professional to meet at your house, so she can better understand your brief and needs. Make the selection not only based on the fee proposal (you get what you pay for) but also more importantly you need to feel confident. The cost of a professional has to be included in the estimate of the work, but in the long run is largely amortized by the lack of hassle, to be able to avoid mediation with the council, the builder and all other people in the process (consultants, suppliers…); providing informed decisions that avoid unnecessary expenses…

Prepare a design that suits your needs and is actually feasible. Obtaining the necessary building approvals, negotiating the tender process, supervising the execution of the works, limiting the damage and lead times, are all activities to be faced with a broad and well established training

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A Designer knows she has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.~ Antoine de Sainte Exupery and experience and go well beyond the simple act of drawing.

To choose a professional to accompany you in the planning and execution there is nothing better than word of mouth: a friend who has just renovated his house, or perhaps your neighbour who has just renovated and cannot wait to let you admire the wonderful work of its architect.

3. Select the builder.

Trust your designer! They work regularly with builders and they can advise on a good one at a competitive cost. The best guarantee that a builder can provide is to show you previous works.

Visit completed renovations and talk with their previous clients.

The renovation of your home is always a matter involving a large amount of resources and personal energy.

Therefore it is important to plan the intervention with the greatest of care and be prepared to face the inevitable and unexpected.

The reality of construction remains, at least in small part, subject to the preconstruction state of the property, which is difficult to investigate thoroughly.

4. Be patient.

The construction process has times dictated by various factors in addition to the measurable and visible work of the trades, for example, inclement weather.

Pushing for unrealistic completion times can only lead to unsatisfactory results.

enjoy your newly renovated house.

Of course, I cannot emphasize strongly enough the importance of engaging qualified professionals every step of the way to make your experience as smooth as possible.

NS-Studio www.ns-studio.com

When choosing a material, a technique or technology from the many options, trust a professional opinion based on training, experience and common sense. This will not eliminate your right to seek clarifications or questions.

Nothing should stop you in the meantime of dreaming of your new home and buying some furniture for the newly renovated house.

I hope it will be helpful to avoid (and possibly face) various difficulties and WWW.THEDESIGNERCHICKS.COM.AU

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A bedroom utilizing natural and artificial light. Image source: Feature Pieces ~ Photography: Chris Gardner Photography

light up my world Sally Gardner, Interior Designer and Creator of Feature Pieces, speaks from the heart about lighting design.

s I sit here in my sunroom,

soaking up the morning’s rays I feel my soul replenished and my mood lighten. Do you know that when we are deprived of sufficient light exposure it can disrupt our body’s natural rhythm?

Since man first invented fire we have been intertwined with light.

Our lighting choices impact our home and work environment and our wellbeing in a substantial way, and can be a great way to add beauty to a room.

There are also a host of “environmental and energy efficiency” aspects to lighting that are important and will be discussed in a subsequent issue. This time we want to give you a general framework for lighting choices - so let’s look at how we tackle lighting design.

Lighting is often referred to within three categories – Ambient, Task and Accent.

Ambient lighting can include the natural light entering a space through windows and overhead lighting such as oyster lights or down lights. It is basically any light source that contributes to the general illumination of a space. It is worth remembering, however, that too 42

much ambient light can make it difficult to create mood in a space. Often the natural ambient light is overlooked when selecting artificial lighting for a space.

Task lighting relates to purpose driven light sources that are implemented to aid a practical activity. Every room has a purpose and in some rooms lighting for this task can be more important than in others. For example a kitchen island bench requires lighting for the preparation of food, or an armchair requires a table lamp for reading a book. This is the reason we should all have bedside lamps. If one follows the trend in bedside lighting we are seeing a lot of wall-mounted lights or suspended lights - which (best of all) eliminates clutter from your bedside table!

Accent or feature lighting is used to highlight architectural features, interesting surfaces and textures or strong elements in a space such as artworks or photographs. It can also be a design feature, such as the simple flicker of a cluster of candles or a fabric lampshade displaying colour, pattern and texture.

Lighting also needs to consider other aspects – natural light sources, orientation, reflection, lighting direction and brightness.

Before deciding on artificial light sources it is important to discuss the natural light entering a space. Architects and interior designers often supply a shadow plan to demonstrate how much light a space will get throughout the different times of the year and whether it is a cool (south facing) or warm (western facing) light.

The ‘hue’ of light is the term used to describe colour temperature and it is measured in Kelvin degrees.

In Australia, rooms facing north receive large amounts of warm light. These rooms are the easiest to decorate because it works well with both cool and warm colours and the quality of the light doesn’t change much during the day. In a north facing space you can select either cool or warm lamps, but be sure to keep this consistent to create a harmonious environment. Your colour selection is quite broad as this is a clean light. South facing rooms receive a small amount of cool blue light.

Therefore any blue colours or lamps used will be intensified. If a room has an

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easterly orientation it will have a strong bright light in the morning that casts a white or light yellow glow. Some yellows and oranges may be overwhelming in an eastern facing room, so a ‘clean’ neutral light will suit this room best.

Finally, if your room faces west it will receive strong light in the afternoon that casts an orange glow into the room. As with the eastern facing rooms, the use of orange and reds are intensified in a western facing room and need to be carefully considered.

There is nothing worse than investing in a stunning feature light installation and then discovering that it reflects onto a painting or television and detracts from their visibility. Light and reflective surfaces will always have an impact on each other. Polished surfaces often create glare; light coloured walls and floors reflect light back. Make sure you consider mirrors, glass-framed paintings, polished concrete floors or high gloss cupboards before you make your final choice.

Another common mistake is to ignore the direction and spread of the lighting.

You could have the perfect light for a room but the direction is slightly off and the room feels unpleasant. The spread of a light can vary from the very wide (100 lux) like a down light, right through to a wall sconce that has an even larger spread (1000 lux). Direction comes back to purpose - are you performing a task or trying to achieve a certain mood?

Directed light creates mood more than overall or ambient light, because it allows focus as well as illumination.

When choosing a lampshade you should consider the height, size and fabric choice and make sure that they achieve the desired direction. White and cream backgrounds will allow more light through than a colour, and the size and height of the shade determines it’s spread.

While bright lighting is needed for many tasks, too much light can actually be a bad thing. It can cause discomfort; in contrast, darker and more ambient

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spaces can create a pleasing and relaxing feeling. Having dimmable features on light sources can transform a homework table to a dimly lit formal dining table and is a great way of controlling the mood in a space. In a commercial space you might be trying to achieve a different purpose. It has been found that increasing the brightness of an office early in the morning and for an hour after lunch can increase alertness during the day and users will have a better sleep at night.

Design tips • Remember

dark flooring and walls soak up light and require more artificial lighting, whilst light coloured walls (whites and neutrals) will bounce more light around a space.

• Lighting

a room from the ceiling will make the room appear larger because of the ceiling’s reflection, whilst lighting from the floor or a table lamp will make the room feel more intimate.

Example of accent lighting with a strong direction.

Image source: Feature Pieces, Photography: Chris Gardner Photography

• Bedrooms

are often the best room in the house to use dark colours and mood lighting, so that an intimate feel is achieved.

Questions to consider • What

kind of mood should the lighting create?

• What

different activities take place in the room?

• Varying

the height of the light sources in the room adds depth and interest by creating separate areas of light and shade.

• What

decorative elements do you want to attract attention to?

• Allow

for varying intensities of light and alternate switching patterns between general lighting, task lights, lamps, and accent lighting to suit the purpose, task or mood.

Type

Candela

Sally Gardner & Kerrie Freeman www.featurepieces.com.au

Lumens

Lux

Description Luminous intensity

Quantity of light

Illumination on surface

Example

Torch bulb – 1 candela

Bicycle lamp – 10 lumens

Luminous flux per unit area

60 Watt halogen globe – 50 candela

150 Watt Halogen spotlight – 2,000 lumens

1 lux = 1 lumen falls on each square meter

Twin florescent tube – 400 candela

140 Watt sodium street lamp – 13,000 lumens

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Offset Printing :: Business card

to print or not to print…

Veronica Tasnadi, from Veronica Graphic Design, gets a little bit in depth about the printing process…

Benefits of Offset Press Offset lithography is the most common printing technology when high numbers of material are needed. In this type of printing, the desired image is burned on a plate and then is “offset” from the plate to a rubber blanket and then to the surface to be printed on.

One of the benefits of the offset process is superior image quality. This press also works on a wide range of materials including paper, wood and metal.

Another benefit is that as the quantity of prints goes up, the cost goes down.

Benefits of Digital Press Digital printing presses have been used since 1993. The idea of a digital printing press began with the development of the computer. Unlike other printing methods, digital presses can print a different image on each paper, while other types of printing involve plates that get used repeatedly.

In digital printing, a majority of the mechanical steps required of the offset press are eliminated. This makes the turn-around time much shorter.

A great benefit of the digital press is every print is exactly the same with less waste of materials.

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If low volume printing is needed, digital presses provide cheaperprinting option.

Another benefit of this type of press is what is called variable data printing.

Using information from a database, font and graphics can be changed on each individual piece without the need to stop or even slow down the press.

Digital Printing is either Laser or Inkjet depending on the machine. These printing processes eliminate many of the mechanical steps required for traditional printing and provide economical solutions for short run printing. For example HP Printer, Epson, Fuji, Xerox, Canon to name a few.

Different types of Finishes The finishing process and embellishment come at the end of a print run and put the final touches to a print job. Many can be expensive and time-consuming so one needs to plan carefully.

Examples of Finishes include: Varnishes, embossing, foiling, cello finishing, creasing, die cutting, gloss laminating, foil stamping, matt laminating, spot colour or varnish, texturally finish, 5 colours CYMK, spot colour PMS (Pantone Management System), special inks: fluorescent.

Examples of Binding: saddle stitch, soft or hard bound case, prefect binding, gold gilding, wire Examples of Folding: single, double, engineering, gate, concertina, closed gate, letter The finishes are determined by the actual job and client budget. The Graphic Designer should educate the client on options of quality, touch, look and tactile nature of paper and print finishes for the end result. Showing a sample is a valued tool for printed potential.

Different types of Print Applications advertisements, newspaper, magazine, annual reports, banners, books, brochures, calendars, catalogues, clothing, direct mail, invitations, manuals, medical print collateral, newsletters, packaging, labels, posters, promotional material, presentation folders, programs, prospectus, school diaries, school yearbooks, signage, stationery, visual merchandising, website, emagazine

Veronica Tasnadi www.vgdesign.com.au

BIBLIOGRAPHY - Publications

Internet

A History of Graphic Design – Philip B.Meggs 3rd Edition A The Design Manual - David Whitbread 2001

Digital Press Vs. Offset Press - eHow.com

International Paper Company - Pocket Pal - A graphic Arts Production Handbook 1979 – 12th Edition

http://www.ehow.com/info_10023737_digital-press-vs-offset-press.html#ixzz2PBWW78KJ

Desktop – The Culture of Design - Magazine #288 November 2012

http://www.dynodan.com/printing-process-explained/printing-history-files/index.html

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PRINTING HISTORY TIMELINE OVERVIEW

618 - 906

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PRE-INDUSTRIAL AGE PRINTING

1841 - 1953

INDUSTRIAL AGE PRINTING

1955 - 1984

EARLY DIGITAL PRINTING

1984 - 2007

DIGITAL AGE PRINTING

2007 - CONTINUE

NEW AGE PRINTING

Online ePublication

Offset Printing: 60pp Art Catalogue / Prefect Binding

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Design is the search for a magic balance between business and art, art and craft, intuition and reason, concept and details, playfulness and formality, client and designer, designer and printer, and printer and public.

Valerie Pettis

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