Fofi by design blog

Once used for decorative purposes or to “cover” design faults, wallpaper today is a work of art!  Often used as a lamp shade or framed as canvas art, wallpaper just like the painted feature wall, becomes an accessory for your home. 

Used effectively, wallpaper adds a distinctive style and texture to your favourite room – creating two or more dimensions and adding depth and interest.

A bold wallpaper will add more “wow” to a space because of the depth in its design and the vibrant choice of colour and/or pattern.  Using wallpaper to create impact or drama also means you will need to accessorise less.

See Baresque Wallcoverings www.baresque.com.au  and Signature Prints www.signatureprints.com.au for their very decorative and glamorous wallpapers.

Glass, natural stone, procelain and recycled glass are an intriguing yet extravagant surface application for walls.  There are now more than ever more choices to line your feature wall.  From metallic bronzes and golds to something with a natural feel such as  honed limestone.  Not to forget the limitless possibilities of coloured glass tiles in bold graphic patterns or random mix.  Check Bisazza Tiles www.bisazza.com and Artedomus www.artedomus.com  

When considering a feature wall there are some important factors to note.  The colour scheme does properly compliment the space, pattern and scale of the room.  Also important is that the style works with the room’s furniture and accessories.  And of course lighting needs to be  adequate  to highlight any texture and patterns. 

An interior designer can help you avoid design mistakes.  The expertise and product knowledge at Fofi by design is used to develop the client’s brief and solve problems to achieve unique solutions.  Saving you time, frustration and money.

 BEDROOMS.  Your sanctuary.  A place of retreat.  Quiet.  Solitude.  Blissful slumber.  The bedroom should be an emotional and physical retreat from today’s busy world.  It is your own personal space that should match the character of the person using the room.

Your bedroom needs to be comfortable, clutter free, streamlined to enjoy the luxury of space.  A separate place away from the bed for reading, listening to music or writing letters is also good to have.

Team simple basics with soft furnishings and accessories that best speak your style.  Whether you like opulent sumptuous textiles with decadent detailing or classic elegance that is sophisticated with an extravagant use of fine curtain fabrics. 

Keep bed-linen simple and get creative with your bedroom accessories. Throw rugs in mohair or heavy-set cotton. Cushions that sparkle or dazzle with exotic detailed embroidery work well.

EcoLinen bed-sheets and pillow cases have a truly luxurious feel and their natural materials make them low cost to the environment.  Made from 100 per cent organic cotton, they come in a range of sizes and colours.  Frette + Moss River also have a great range to choose from.

Natural light is a wonderful thing. And in a bedroom it can help you wake up with the bright morning light and a fresh sense of the new day.  Your sense of well being can depend on the amount of light entering the space.  Curtains, blinds and shutters are the main options that control natural light and also provide privacy.  Roll blinds, venetians and shutters allow good ventilation as well as block sunlight.  Sheer curtains allow sunlight to filter through and look very elegant but install them as a double curtain with a block out fabric to shut sunlight and noise.

Lighting must be subdued but bright enough for reading, here we recommend bed side lamps for reading/task lighting and a dimmer switch on the main pendant light.  Mood is a very important consideration when it comes to bedroom lighting. Use softer lighting in rooms with strong coloured walls.  Rooms that have white walls will reflect light, so use very low wattage bulbs.

Remember the bedroom’s main role is a place to relax and easy to fall asleep in.  Use the scent of lavender in an oil burner or dried lavender under your pillow for getting the most out of your night’s sleep.  More questions, please ask or direct to info@fofibydesign.com

VISUALLY  the corridor is the very first place  guests will see in your home.

So why do we overlook our hallway?  Here are some tips for maximising your hallway, big or small.  “For instant impact – introduce colour and texture.”

Long corridor:  Think about wallpaper for the smooth, un-interrupted walls. Textured grasses, cellulose paper or metallic finishes that reflect light.

If you’re renovating on a tight budget consider textured paints. There is a big range available from Porters Paints or DULUX.  Whatever you choose, it needs to be durable and low-maintenance so any stains or marks can be easily wiped clean.

L-shaped or dog-legged hallways:  consider a bespoke floating shelf that is fixed onto the wall. For a solid timber or bamboo shelf, go for a bulky look—say 40mm thick, 1200mm wide and 900mm off the floor (basically kitchen-bench height). Display your favourite ornaments, picture frames, interesting trinkets from your travels, being mindful of placing fragile items in high traffic areas.

If you have the luxury of a very wide hallway you could have a sideboard or a console table—complete with top-drawers for your keys, and plenty of bench space for decorative items.  Interesting artwork hanging above that could be textured and colourful, eg contemporary  artwork.  Or a wide gilded frame mirror.  

Lighting is an important factor and will depend on the style of your home.  For a touch of glamour chandeliers are a good choice, for something more under-stated a clear glass dome pendant.  For added height consider a coffered ceiling with down lights.
Remember, the corridor is still a thoroughfare so don’t overdo it with accessories. A few, well-placed items will give maximum ‘wow’ factor.

For more design tips, why not contact us on info@fofibydesign.com for a consultation  in your home—Sydney metro areas only.

Lighting can have a enormous impact on your interior space. Used properly it can be used to create a ‘feature’ in a room, set a ‘mood’ or help you perform a certain task or set of tasks, like in a kitchen or study.

Here are some of my tips for maximizing the impact of light in three ways:

“Careful planning is essential for functional
and stylish lighting. Factors to consider
include the purpose of the room that will
determine the wattage and the desired mood.”

Task lighting:

General  lighting in the form of down/halogen lights or a ceiling pendant.

Task light in the form of a desk lamp with strong wattage for reading and writing. As well as helping you to read a  desk lamp helps you avoid creating
shadows in a room.

Task lighting in the form of track lights or angled wall washers to direct the beam to highlight diplomas, degrees or art on the wall.

Feature lighting:

People use feature lighting to add maximum impact to a room or provide a focal point to the space.

Typical areas include an entry or foyer, over a kitchen
island/bench-top, in a high stairwell.

Hallway/foyer: a large hanging chandelier works well in either a modern or traditional style.

Kitchen: Large hanging pendant made from glass or a material that is easy to wipe clean.

Stairwell: a cluster of hanging pendants suspended at varying lengths.

Mood or ambient lighting:

This has an important place in the living or dining room here the general background lighting would be pendant or ceiling down lights on dimmers, together with a table lamp on a sideboard; or a stylish floor lamp poised in the corner of a room.

Not to forget the use of scented candles in a
candelabra or on the dinning table to give further warmth and atmosphere providing an ambience to your space.

Try these lighting stores or view their websites for more ideas. 

Yellow Goat Design, Innovative and
creative YG design
regularly works with
designers.
In addition to their own fantastic range of lights they do bespoke designs.

Website http//:www.yellowgoat.com.au/

Phone: (07) 5532 8659

Beacon Lighting

A great choice for a full range of
conventional and contemporary
lighting.

Website: http://www.beaconlighting.com.au/

Artemide

At the high end of the market,
Artemide is an Italian
manufacturer of very modern designs. It’s a great  place to start for ideas.

504-508 Cleveland St,
Surry Hills, Sydney 

Website: http://www.artemide.com

Colour is truly magical!  It can transform a room, create a style, alter perceptions and set the mood.  Remember to never rush into a colour scheme, you will always have regrets later.  Take the time to learn and have fun while you do so.  Use sample pots to test run your colour scheme, this way you are certain of your selection and not left with repainting a whole room!

THE PRINCIPLES of colour psychology tells us that as well as transforming the ‘look’ of a space, your choice of paint colour can have a significant impact on your family’s mood, appetite and energy levels.

Red tones are known to increase blood pressure and levels of agitation but used in the bedroom or dining room of a house, red can also produce feelings of arousal and stimulates appetite.  

Dark reds, like burgundy are the best choice for the home because they add warmth, inviting your guests to linger and stay. Use  true red sparingly as it’s boldness can be brash and you’ll associate it with the branding of fast food outlets…sans stylish!

 Cool and calming, blue will suppress your appetite but makes a great choice when creating a sanctuary, like children’s bedroom or in the bathroom.

Achromatic colours (black and white) can be used as base colours for living rooms. The stark contrast gives a ‘masculine’ feel to and they work best when you introduce an accent colour  like champagne, bronze or gold. These tones add warmth and even a hint of opulence. Think Manhattan style.

Paint Techniques:  if you want to reduce the endless height of very tall ceilings you can paint them in a half-strength colour to the wall, the definition between wall and ceiling, the space will appear smaller and cosier.

To create a feeling of spaciousness, choose a true white ceiling and very pale walls. A pale colour wall with a red ceiling will bring the height of the room down and will bring a sense of ‘drama’ to the room.

 Choosing neutral colours like white, beiges and creams will allow you to change the colour scheme without needing to totally decorate because you are able to introduce bright accent colours with cushions, rugs and lamps. Stronger tones like greens and reds or browns will limit your ability to change the room at a whim.

 Continue your commitment to the environment by choosing paints that have been created with concern for their impact on the earth.

For totally natural paints – go for Volvox Clay Paints or Oikos Natural Paints.  Resene, Dulux and Taubmans have a huge range of colours and now also include less toxic, more eco paints which is better for us and the environment.

Before you start, ask yourself the following questions:  

What is the purpose of the space?

Who will be using the space?

How much natural light is coming in?

What is the colour of flooring and furniture?

Welcome.

Summer dreaming – blue is the new black

Relax, beach, entertain with friends + family are the best things about summer in Sydney – and the perfect backdrop is a beautiful fresh airy room.

Think cool relaxing colours of blues, turquoises, greens and white.

Start with the basics: walls, flooring and furniture. Walls should be washed in a fresh white.  DULUX Whisper White or DULUX White on White are terrific choices. Be sure to remove any heavy furnishings woollen rugs, throws and thick jacquard cushions should be packed away for the next season.

Replace with light bamboo or sisal rugs and  silky fabric cushions. Shell or tassel detail works well.  Think clean fresh and streamlined.

Lighting is an important feature of any room. It creates the mood and can make or break the space.  Too often we see far too many halogen down lights used in all rooms of the house as an easy or contemporary solution.  Remember these lack style and ambience.

To finish accessorise. Think cool tones like blues or greens.  Coloured glass vases or bowls are also effective. Place in front of a large mirror to create an interesting reflection.

Always have fresh bright coloured seasonal flowers. Flicker away with large scented candles in big urns for outdoor ambience or wall-set candelabras.

5 gorgeous decorating tips:

1. Alfresco. Outdoor entertaining is a breeze. Use outdoor cushions and table runners from Kas  and an oversize clear wine bucket from Wiltshire.

2. Be vibrant. Use Joe Coriati hand blown glass decanters or Kosta Boda available from major department stores.

3. Go Raw. Replace a light pendant with a natural rattan light pendant or a David Trubridge design, available through Mondo Luce and Exhibit Interiors.

4. Kartell tables for indoor/outdoor use, available through Kartell stores and Space Furniture.

5. Go tribal. African benin bronze bracelets from Nigeria, available from Orient House.