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Author	Message
Andrea 17 Jan 13 3:38pm	Hi, I saw your home in the NZ House & Garden, and really like your art wall. I'd like to try the same but haven't got a clue how to go about it. How do I work out the best arrangement? Should the frames be the same? Can you help? My husband will have a fit if I just start making holes in the wall! Thanks!
Small Acorns	Gallery walls, hung salon or french-hang style, are definitely popular at the moment. Personally, I love them because they are the perfect way to display a higgledy piggledy or quite disparate art collection, which mine definitely is! On my wall I have a mix of pieces done by my girls, old vintage finds, sketches by friends, right through to the odd 'genuine' art piece! The key to this style of wall is that the odder the mix, the more it seems to gel. Definitely do not go for a wall of the same thing. I don't think your frames need to be the same either. Many of mine are black, but this is definitely more by accident than by design, and they are certainly not the same black frame. I am building on and adding to and changing my wall all the time. But to start things off lay your pieces out on the floor and play with the arrangement. Then you can begin on the wall itself. Choose one piece to build around. In my case it was the huia bird screenprint. Once your centre point is up, work around it. Have confidence! You have to hammer sooner or later. And nothing is permanent. Move and play as you go. It will look great.
Andrea 17 Jan 13 3:08pm	Hi, I'd like to put some wallpaper in my bathroom but I'm worried about the wear & tear. I see in the latest issue of NZ House & Garden that you have wallpapered your bathroom. Any advice?
Small Acorns	Hi Andrea, There is no reason why you can't hang wallpaper in a bathroom. Firstly, make sure you follow all the instructions to hang the wallpaper properly, and make sure you use the correct and recommended paste, or have a professional hang it for you. Condensation is really the only thing you need to worry about. If this is an issue for you, you can buy a clear wallpaper sealant from Resene which you simply paint over the wallpaper with, and this should protect the paper from moisture problems.
Kate 9 Feb 11 10:59pm	Hello, after many years on the road our family has finally settled down. Over the yrs we have collected an odd bunch of much loved furniture. In our new lounge I would love some advice on lights and the colour of curtains/blinds - as you can see I don't like things that match but would like it to work. Thank you so much for taking the time to lend some much needed advice, regards Kate.
Small Acorns	Wow Kate! I'm very envious of some of these fabulous pieces. I think that a room filled with personal treasures like yours is very special. And I love rooms that don't match! For your curtains and blinds I think you should look at a stripe. Designers Guild have some amazing new Brera soft linen stripes which come in a multitude of colours and stripe width, and I can see these working beautifully in your lounge. They would add a softness & different texture to the room without competing, and would be far from boring. Large drum shades in something from the Deltona stripe collection in a colourway that pulls everything together would be fabulous for your lighting. The image I am showing here is from the Deltona collection and is a great example to show you different stripes, & textures used to great eclectic effect. Amanda x
Tina 19 Aug 10 5:09pm	We are in the process of buying a new fitted bed/desk. Whilst I would love it to be wood...it is only available in Melamine. Is it better to purchase the bed/desk in a plain colour or a "mock oak". The colours available are White, Half Spanish White and Double Tea. The room is very small. Thanks, Tina
Small Acorns	Hi Tina, It's a dilemma isn't it! Personally, I'm not normally a fan of the faux wood look, but in this instance I think your best bet is either this option, or the white. Half Spanish may look dirty cream over time, and double tea is a distinct 'colour' which you may not always love to decorate around. Classic is sometimes best, allowing you the best of practical options, and a room that can change around the desk/bed over time too.
Anthea 7 Dec 09 5:32pm	Hi there, I'm thinking about having a lovely Designers Guild wallpaper feature wall in my bedroom, however my mother says they're a fad and are becoming unfashionable. What do you think?
Small Acorns	Well I know as a mother I think I am always right too, but in this instance your Mum may not be quite on the mark, especially with all the beautiful new papers that we are continuing to see. If anything, the wallpaper trend is just becoming stronger. And, just like paint, wallpaper is not permanent. You can enjoy your feature wall, and, just as you might change your duvet, or repaint, if you really do tire of it, you can change this too. And I definitely know that nothing gives the same amount of impact for a relatively small outlay. I say go for it!!
Julie 29 Sep 09 2:26pm	I have painted my daughters room Dulux "Party Dress" pink on headboard wall, and cardrona half (white) on other 3 walls. Also have bought duvet cover which I've attached a picture of. The pink wall is the same colour as the throw. The window is on a white wall and I don't know what sort of window dressings to go for and what colour. I like Roman blinds but am not sure of what colour. I also have thought of organza and acrylic beaded curtains, poms pom trim for decoration. Blind or curtains will need blockout lining though as room is very sunny first thing in morning. Any ideas welcome. Thanks.
Small Acorns	Hi Julie Because you still have a lot of white in the room, and with the duvet also fresh and not heavily patterned, you can afford to go for something pink and patterned at your window. Designers Guild Greenwich Village, Central Park, Cloisonne and Floral St, are but a few that spring to mind. Romans or curtains is up to you. Romans are good in a bedroom as they keep the window free - this is great if you have another bed or a desk under the window. If you choose a patterned fabric have the romans made flat-fronted so that your pattern isn't chopped wherever there is a seam. Take the blinds across the whole of the frame, and 100mm above, with blackout lining if the early morning light is a factor.
Heidi 28 Sep 09 1:35pm	Hi there, I'm wanting to paint a 'white wash' over wooden walls (the wood is natural and rimu). A roomful of wooden walls is just a bit too much! How wouldyou go about this? Thanks
Small Acorns	Hi Heidi Whitewashing is a great way to go. Slightly softer than just painting your walls, whitewashing still allows some of the wood grain and colour to show through. The result is a hazy, soft, chalky finish that is a little bit vintage, but still lightens and brightens the room. There are 2 ways of achieving this finish. Firstly, talk to your paint shop about a white wood stain. This would be applied loosely with a brush and then rubbed into the wood. The second method is to use a white water-based paint and thin it down with more water. Apply with a wide brush, and keep the stain moving so that you don't end up with a dry edge. This way allows you to layer up the colour until you have the effect you're looking for. In either case, I would then recommend a matt polyurethane as a final layer to protect your handiwork. The same technique can also be used on floors.
Vanessa 5 Nov 08 9:47am	I have just moved into a modern apartment, previously i lived in a turn of the century villa. I have kept my old furniture but it is not working in the space. Do you have any suggestions on how i can update the look without having to replace all of the furniture?
Small Acorns	A style mix-up can be a bit daunting, but the good news is it can be done. Often too, its a matter of getting your eye 'tuned in' to your new environment. But, there are a number of ways that you can update your look without having to replace everything. Firstly, look at your big items of furniture - your sofa and your chairs. Start with the sofa. If there is a piece to be replaced this might be it. It can be hard to make a more classically styled sofa fit with a modern space. (Although not impossible as this modern version of a classic sofa clearly shows). A more contemporary style sofa can be the building block around which it is easier to make all your other old pieces fit, including your chairs. Classic or retro chairs take on a modern look when re-upholstered in a contemporary fabric and move easily into a fresh space. Colourful, patterned cushions also adapt the feel of a room, giving it depth, texture and dimension. Add colour with key accessories. Unify your colour scheme. A good way to recycle everyday objects is to unify them with a quick coat of white paint. This can apply to anything from picture frames, to tables and dining chairs. Lastly, don't try to put everything in your new space, exactly as it was in your old space. Rearrange it and mix things up. Put things to new and different uses. And the real beauty of taking loved treasures into a new space, is that you'll make it feel like a home, and not a clinical room from a catalogue. Karen, our interior designer, works on an 80/20 rule. Gradually move towards having 80% new contemporary pieces, with 20% of your most loved treasures.

Author

Message

Andrea

17 Jan 13
3:38pm

Hi, I saw your home in the NZ House & Garden, and really like your art wall. I'd like to try the same but haven't got a clue how to go about it. How do I work out the best arrangement? Should the frames be the same? Can you help? My husband will have a fit if I just start making holes in the wall! Thanks!

Small Acorns

Gallery walls, hung salon or french-hang style, are definitely popular at the moment. Personally, I love them because they are the perfect way to display a higgledy piggledy or quite disparate art collection, which mine definitely is! On my wall I have a mix of pieces done by my girls, old vintage finds, sketches by friends, right through to the odd 'genuine' art piece! The key to this style of wall is that the odder the mix, the more it seems to gel. Definitely do not go for a wall of the same thing. I don't think your frames need to be the same either. Many of mine are black, but this is definitely more by accident than by design, and they are certainly not the same black frame. I am building on and adding to and changing my wall all the time. But to start things off lay your pieces out on the floor and play with the arrangement. Then you can begin on the wall itself. Choose one piece to build around. In my case it was the huia bird screenprint. Once your centre point is up, work around it. Have confidence! You have to hammer sooner or later. And nothing is permanent. Move and play as you go. It will look great.

Andrea

17 Jan 13
3:08pm

Hi, I'd like to put some wallpaper in my bathroom but I'm worried about the wear & tear. I see in the latest issue of NZ House & Garden that you have wallpapered your bathroom. Any advice?

Small Acorns

Hi Andrea, There is no reason why you can't hang wallpaper in a bathroom. Firstly, make sure you follow all the instructions to hang the wallpaper properly, and make sure you use the correct and recommended paste, or have a professional hang it for you. Condensation is really the only thing you need to worry about. If this is an issue for you, you can buy a clear wallpaper sealant from Resene which you simply paint over the wallpaper with, and this should protect the paper from moisture problems.

Kate

9 Feb 11
10:59pm

Hello, after many years on the road our family has finally settled down. Over the yrs we have collected an odd bunch of much loved furniture. In our new lounge I would love some advice on lights and the colour of curtains/blinds - as you can see I don't like things that match but would like it to work. Thank you so much for taking the time to lend some much needed advice, regards Kate.

Small Acorns

Wow Kate! I'm very envious of some of these fabulous pieces. I think that a room filled with personal treasures like yours is very special. And I love rooms that don't match! For your curtains and blinds I think you should look at a stripe. Designers Guild have some amazing new Brera soft linen stripes which come in a multitude of colours and stripe width, and I can see these working beautifully in your lounge. They would add a softness & different texture to the room without competing, and would be far from boring. Large drum shades in something from the Deltona stripe collection in a colourway that pulls everything together would be fabulous for your lighting. The image I am showing here is from the Deltona collection and is a great example to show you different stripes, & textures used to great eclectic effect. Amanda x

Tina

19 Aug 10
5:09pm

We are in the process of buying a new fitted bed/desk. Whilst I would love it to be wood...it is only available in Melamine. Is it better to purchase the bed/desk in a plain colour or a "mock oak". The colours available are White, Half Spanish White and Double Tea. The room is very small. Thanks, Tina

Small Acorns

Hi Tina, It's a dilemma isn't it! Personally, I'm not normally a fan of the faux wood look, but in this instance I think your best bet is either this option, or the white. Half Spanish may look dirty cream over time, and double tea is a distinct 'colour' which you may not always love to decorate around. Classic is sometimes best, allowing you the best of practical options, and a room that can change around the desk/bed over time too.

Anthea

7 Dec 09
5:32pm

Hi there,
I'm thinking about having a lovely Designers Guild wallpaper feature wall in my bedroom, however my mother says they're a fad and are becoming unfashionable. What do you think?

Small Acorns

Well I know as a mother I think I am always right too, but in this instance your Mum may not be quite on the mark, especially with all the beautiful new papers that we are continuing to see. If anything, the wallpaper trend is just becoming stronger. And, just like paint, wallpaper is not permanent. You can enjoy your feature wall, and, just as you might change your duvet, or repaint, if you really do tire of it, you can change this too. And I definitely know that nothing gives the same amount of impact for a relatively small outlay. I say go for it!!

Julie

29 Sep 09
2:26pm

I have painted my daughters room Dulux "Party Dress" pink on headboard wall, and cardrona half (white) on other 3 walls. Also have bought duvet cover which I've attached a picture of. The pink wall is the same colour as the throw. The window is on a white wall and I don't know what sort of window dressings to go for and what colour. I like Roman blinds but am not sure of what colour. I also have thought of organza and acrylic beaded curtains, poms pom trim for decoration. Blind or curtains will need blockout lining though as room is very sunny first thing in morning.

Any ideas welcome. Thanks.

Small Acorns

Hi Julie
Because you still have a lot of white in the room, and with the duvet also fresh and not heavily patterned, you can afford to go for something pink and patterned at your window. Designers Guild Greenwich Village, Central Park, Cloisonne and Floral St, are but a few that spring to mind. Romans or curtains is up to you. Romans are good in a bedroom as they keep the window free - this is great if you have another bed or a desk under the window. If you choose a patterned fabric have the romans made flat-fronted so that your pattern isn't chopped wherever there is a seam. Take the blinds across the whole of the frame, and 100mm above, with blackout lining if the early morning light is a factor.

Heidi

28 Sep 09
1:35pm

Hi there, I'm wanting to paint a 'white wash' over wooden walls (the wood is natural and rimu). A roomful of wooden walls is just a bit too much! How wouldyou go about this? Thanks

Small Acorns

Hi Heidi
Whitewashing is a great way to go. Slightly softer than just painting your walls, whitewashing still allows some of the wood grain and colour to show through. The result is a hazy, soft, chalky finish that is a little bit vintage, but still lightens and brightens the room. There are 2 ways of achieving this finish. Firstly, talk to your paint shop about a white wood stain. This would be applied loosely with a brush and then rubbed into the wood. The second method is to use a white water-based paint and thin it down with more water. Apply with a wide brush, and keep the stain moving so that you don't end up with a dry edge. This way allows you to layer up the colour until you have the effect you're looking for. In either case, I would then recommend a matt polyurethane as a final layer to protect your handiwork. The same technique can also be used on floors.

Vanessa

5 Nov 08
9:47am

I have just moved into a modern apartment, previously i lived in a turn of the century villa. I have kept my old furniture but it is not working in the space. Do you have any suggestions on how i can update the look without having to replace all of the furniture?

Small Acorns

A style mix-up can be a bit daunting, but the good news is it can be done. Often too, its a matter of getting your eye 'tuned in' to your new environment. But, there are a number of ways that you can update your look without having to replace everything.

Firstly, look at your big items of furniture - your sofa and your chairs. Start with the sofa. If there is a piece to be replaced this might be it. It can be hard to make a more classically styled sofa fit with a modern space. (Although not impossible as this modern version of a classic sofa clearly shows). A more contemporary style sofa can be the building block around which it is easier to make all your other old pieces fit, including your chairs. Classic or retro chairs take on a modern look when re-upholstered in a contemporary fabric and move easily into a fresh space. Colourful, patterned cushions also adapt the feel of a room, giving it depth, texture and dimension. Add colour with key accessories.

Unify your colour scheme. A good way to recycle everyday objects is to unify them with a quick coat of white paint. This can apply to anything from picture frames, to tables and dining chairs.

Lastly, don't try to put everything in your new space, exactly as it was in your old space. Rearrange it and mix things up. Put things to new and different uses. And the real beauty of taking loved treasures into a new space, is that you'll make it feel like a home, and not a clinical room from a catalogue.
Karen, our interior designer, works on an 80/20 rule. Gradually move towards having 80% new contemporary pieces, with 20% of your most loved treasures.

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