October 2012

It’s all in the finishing touch …. the detail, the icing on the cake. Who could resist when you have trimmings as gorgeous as these from Designers Guild to play with. They are as enticing as candy.

Be brave …. start with trims on cushions. It is a way of pulling together various elements in a room into a coherent scheme. By picking up the curtain colour in choice of trims on cushions, for example, you immediately bring it all together. Choose curtain tiebacks that incorporate the shades in upholstery.

Trims can certainly add a touch of glamour however can also be frivolous and fun. Who doesn’t love a bit of old fashioned bobble fringe !!

My Week in Sydney

Pottery barn, west elm and williams-sonoma headed for sydney 1844

Deirdre Brennan October 25, 2012 9:04 amJune 20, 2019

I have had an interesting but exhausting week in Sydney, doing the rounds of my suppliers in search of just the right pieces of furniture, lighting and decorative items to complete a current project. The excitement of finding the perfect piece followed by the frustration of not finding another. However, there is nothing quite like the elation and satisfaction of seeing it all come together at the end … when it exceeds your expectation, when you take photos and when you receive the positive feedback from clients. It is even better when it exceeds their expectation as well.

In amongst all of that, I did hear on the grapevine that the North American giants … Pottery Barn, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma are coming to Australia … and opening under the one roof in Bondi Junction, Sydney. These retailers offer upmarket quality homewares …. however, sitting below Coco Republic, I imagine. These companies have not put a foot wrong to date … and are now looking at global expansion.

I do feel for the smaller retail design establishments, particularly in the eastern suburbs, as this will take the town by storm and be a hard act to follow. Do have a look at the Pottery Barn website as a taste of what is to come …. it is just so extensive!!

My Design World

Jamie’s italian ….. design that just keeps getting better 1922

Deirdre Brennan October 22, 2012 7:18 amJune 26, 2019

Jamie’s Italian restaurants are opening all over the UK … some 30 of them actually. Also Dubai, Singapore, Sydney and Perth. He has more recently collaborated with design company Blacksheep on their design. There seems to be a trend in restaurant design … it is all about the sensory experience … taking you to a place … a country … it’s not just all about the food. The fitout is authentic in what they are trying to achieve. Justin Hemmes in Sydney is on a similar trajectory with each new restaurant he opens outdoing the last in authenticity … think The Fish Shop and Mr Wong.

For Jamie it was all about the environment having the ‘neighbourhood feel’. Taking inspiration from the Italian Table where one relaxes, shares and enjoys each others company.

This is modern italian over two levels with openness … broken up into different spaces each with a different dining experience. I do love these vintage chairs from Tolix … they are everywhere and so ‘of the moment’. Every smart new restaurant and cafe has them … in one form or another … either vibrant colours or straight galvanized. They work in any interior … slick, bistro or industrial street furniture. I love them and tracked them down at Thonet, Sydney.

My Week in Sydney

Treasures from afar at arida gallery 2349

Deirdre Brennan October 21, 2012 9:09 amJune 20, 2019

In the fabulous gallery space beside the iconic Yellow building (and once Yellow cafe) Arida have opened their new Arida Gallery. This is a delectable combination of the fashion we have come to know and expect of Arida and exotic homewares, furniture and antiques, large and small.

All just a little bit different …. classic but not !!

Couldn’t help but think how appropriate it all was for the Potts Point clientele and inner city apartment living.

Something for everyone and they are still unpacking …

Arida: 61 Macleay St, Potts Point 2011

Arida Gallery: 57-59 Macleay St, Potts Point 2011

PS. The really good news is that next door a little bit of Yellow the cafe may be back … Yellow Pop Up is open for breakfast and lunch and awaiting a liquor license for dinner. (Brass was a bit of a disappointment for the local residents who continue to mourn the loss of their beloved Yellow.)

My Design Tips

5 things you should know about kilim rugs 2454

Deirdre Brennan October 14, 2012 6:07 amJune 21, 2019

1. Kilim rugs with their flat weave (or no pile) seem to sit particularly well in almost any modern interior …. rustic, contemporary, city or country, sitting room, kitchen or even bathroom.

2. Their geometric designs are available in a range of colour tones. Kilims add warmth, fabulous colour and a distinct personality to any neutral interior.

3. Finding a kilim to compliment any scheme or interior is not all that difficult. From recent experience most rug dealers have a number of kilims to look at.