interior design

A Little Bling Never Hurt Anyone!

by Chavah Kinloch on December 2, 2010

Says she with the silver glitter on her face…

Don’t worry, I’m not trying out some new make up regime. I’ve already been a tween, those days have long come and gone. It’s only there because I woke up far too early and went to my sons kindergarten for craft day.

Me + a bunch of children + first thing in the morning = Parental torture.

I did love spending time with my son though and I was sad to leave him after our morning was over. I was even nice enough to help out another child with her crafts. Good for me lol. Really… if you knew how much I hate mornings…

Boston loved it as well but thank goodness that’s over for another year. You’d think after doing this with my other kids I’d have learned to love it by now but no. Maybe when it’s Boston’s turn I’ll love it because then I won’t have anyone smaller to run around after while trying to sit and do crafts. There’s always hope, right? I think I did pretty well though, I didn’t try to take over making the crafts, I let my son do it with just a little guidance here and there. No easy feat for this over-the-top crafting Mother. Although, I did avoid the Angel making table because I think I’d have to had made those paper doilies into something bigger and blingier than anyone’s ever seen before. Those doilies wouldn’t have known what hit them! Usually nothing is safe when I’ve got glue and glitter in my hands.

I think I woke up in a bling bling mood because even my outfit is accessorised today.

Speaking about the bling bling... one of my favourite things at the moment (and it has been for a while now) is metallic wallpaper. For many, it will be a design feature that isn’t for them but if you haven’t figured it out by now, I like bold statement pieces, so this would go great in any home for me. Hopefully one day I’ll get my hands on some but for now, I’ll just lust over these rooms in the photos.

Feel free to drool with me!

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8 of My Favourite Colour Trends

by Chavah Kinloch on November 4, 2010

I thought I’d put together something for your visual pleasure today. Below are some of my favourite colour trends from both the interior design and fashion worlds. The thing I miss the most since gaining weight, is the ability to wear cute clothes! So this post helped me get my fix too. Which is your favourite trend? It’s always interesting to learn which colours people are drawn to.

Grey and yellow: Sophisticated

Wear it:

Black, white and yellow: Playful

Wear It:

Green white and brown: Natural

Wear it:

Purple and gold: Dramatic

Wear it:

Black and white: Sleek

Wear it:

Silver and blue: Stylish

Wear it:

Yellow and turquoise: Flirty

Wear it:

Red, black and white: Sexy

Wear it:

Image Credits: chicisimo, dresseduplikealady, you were never lovelier, style guidance, style hive

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You Light Up My Life

by Chavah Kinloch on October 5, 2010

Look what arrived in my mailbox!

This is totally my favourite time of the month. Without fail, at the beginning of each new month my subscription to NZ Your Home and Garden magazine shows up in my mailbox. It makes me giddy each time I open my mailbox to see this crisp new magazine sitting there, waiting for me to unwrap it. I have been a subscriber for at least four years now. Best thing about it is, I get the subscription for free because I use my Fly Buys points.

I used to have a ritual where everything stopped until I’d flicked through the magazine and then gone back to the beginning and read every last thing written in it. Once that was done I’d start browsing through it again from the back this time,  right to the start; taking note of the colours, fabrics, lights and furniture I had found a new love for.

Then I had Boston.

Now I put it aside and only unwrap it when I know I can sit uninterrupted for at least 5 minutes. Most of the time he ends up reading it with me on my lap hehe.

I adore the cover page for this issue. The green apple paint featured in the kitchen is perfection to my eyes. (I love green!) Throw in the textured lamps and spotted tile splash back, as well as some yellow flowers, red appliances and a wooden butchers block on wheels and you’ve got me drooling over one of the most adorable kitchens ever featured in this magazine.

This months issue is filled with colour. Yay! I love colourful homes. Everyone has different preferences, I prefer homes to have bold patterns and colours throughout.  What can I say, it’s the artist in me.

As I’m working through turning my beige nightmare into something more reflective of my personality, I find this magazine a great source of motivation and inspiration.

So if you don’t have your copy already, head out and grab one today for $7.60. Cheap as chips!


Don’t forget to leave a comment on this post to win a $50 package from Grab a Scab. Winner announced on Saturday!

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10 Minutes with Lisa Brook of Urban Habitat

by Chavah Kinloch on September 26, 2010

Urban Habitat is one of New Zealand’s up and coming interior design companies. Launched by Lisa Brook – Artist, Decorator and Interior Designer, Urban Habitat offers professional interior design services and designer products to every day Kiwis at fixed prices; helping clients achieve their desired look, within each individuals’ specific budget.

With Urban Habitat’s help, using their concept boards and colour schemes; they will transform a persons space into a fresh, creative, contemporary design. They are proud to support and promote like minded local New Zealand businesses and their products. Find Urban Habitat on their website, Facebook and Twitter.

Favourite interior trend right now?


Definitely wallpaper feature walls.. I love that wallpaper can incorporate so many elements of design in one product – amazing colours, beautiful textures, bold patterns and stunning effects. And the beauty of wallpaper is that if you want a change, it’s easy to remove and replace. And it’s affordable.

When did you realise you wanted to be an interior designer?

I’ve had a love for houses since I was at high school. I left school quite sure I was going to build them so did a 1 year carpentry course. Being the only female in the entire department of nearly 200 blokes, I stood out like a sore thumb (excuse the pun). That didn’t deter me though, my realisation that I wasn’t cut out to be a builder came when I was working as a builder’s apprentice, climbing up the side of a house in the middle of winter in the mud, wind and rain. I decided I’d rather be on the inside of a house! From there it was a close call between studying architecture or interior design.

Where do you find inspiration?


Everywhere. Everywhere I go, I’m looking at things and relating them back to interiors. From things as simple as the trees in my garden and their changing leaf colours, to going to the mall and seeing what colours are popular in clothing and fashion. Even going to the hardware store, I find myself looking at industrial products or garden sculptures and thinking of ways I can bring them indoors. I surf the net and read a lot of interior design magazines and adapt concepts I’ve seen and add my own ideas to them.

What has been your most challenging aspect so far?

The most challenging aspect for me so far has been setting up Urban Habitat with two preschoolers. Any parent out there will know that you don’t get any spare time to yourself except when the little ones have gone to bed. And that for me, has meant many late night’s working.

On any given day you can find me…

Doing the washing. I never seem to catch up with it. As soon as I bring in a load, I have another load to hang out in its place.

My secret indulgence is…


Turkish delight and anything chocolate, I have a real sweet tooth.

My latest purchase was...

A Boston bedside table lamp, since the kids broke my old bedside lamp. Not that I’m complaining, it was the perfect excuse to go shopping.

I can’t live without…

Facebook, I’m a bit addicted (actually a lot). And my parents who happily take the kids off our hands so we can have a break or head out to the movies and dinner for an evening.

Favourite place to be?

In bed, I love my sleep.

Dreams and goals?


I’d love to study architecture. It would be awesome to combine both architecture and interior design and alternate between the two as careers. I’d also love to travel more; a few places on my wishlist are India , Dubai , Rome and Japan . I’d love to experience the culture of these places and see in person the amazing architecture they have.

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Introducing you to Decorating with Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen

by Chavah Kinloch on July 29, 2010

I headed to my local library yesterday. I was in search of Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth, I figured it was about time I read it for myself after having it recommended by numerous people. Unfortunately it was checked out so I browsed the entire non-fiction section instead and came away with four books.

Last night, when all was finally quiet, I started in on the first. A design book called Decorating with Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. I know you’re not meant to judge a book by it’s cover but this time around that’s exactly why I got the book! The collage of bright colours and furniture immediately caught my eye and I knew there was no way I’d be leaving the book behind.

The book teaches you to be your own interior designer and the advice offered up from Laurence right at the beginning (because that’s how far though I am so far!) is great. He guides you through:

  • how to create a design scheme – with a cold glass of chardonnay in hand
  • how to mentally envision the space you want to create (right up my alley!)
  • how to create a mood board to inspire new ideas
  • how to shop for furniture, fittings and furnishings
  • what should be on your to-do list
  • what to remember about positioning furniture and fittings
  • listing all the details in a design presentation
  • budgeting
  • spacial awareness

And that’s just scratching the surface of what’s shared in this book!

Of course today, I jumped on Google to find this ever inspiring interior designer. You can find him here.

It’s well worth the read for all of it’s practical advice and the photo’s are visually delectable. I can’t wait to read more.

Decorating with Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen

If you’re interested in purchasing your own copy you can find it on Fishpond, just click on the image above.

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