House Tour: Troye Sivan’s Expressive Melbourne Home

May 5, 2021May 5, 2021 Rose McClementLeave a comment

by Rose McClement

I was trawling through a small pile of emails, the interiors-related kinda email newsletters, this morning. When I stumbled onto the video featured below. I always love a good house tour video.

The extraordinary thing about this video was that I had no cooking-clue who this fresh-faced young man was. He is clearly a celeb of some kind – why else would he be featured?! Still no cooking-clue. Yet, he had my attention right from the very first sentence he uttered! He entusuatically welcomed the public into his home and then the casual house tour kicked in. I wanted to stop the video to go and google this 25-year-old man (who looks like a 20-year-old), but I just didn’t want to miss a beat.

Somewhat different to your normal house tour video. This young man conducted the tour himself. Spoke to the ins and the outs, the décor elements, the whys and the history of his Victorian-Era home. He was seriously entertaining. Plus, he impressed me with his obvious love for beautiful interior spaces. His home is cleary filled with what makes his heart sing.

How was it possible that such a young man could afford the house of his dreams? Well, as soon as he said goodbye at the gate and the video ended, I popped over to Google. I discovered that this unknown factor (to me anyway) is a South African born, Australian singer/songwriter and actor called Troye Sivan! I am pretty damn sure there are millions who know him and his music – well now I do too. I nipped over to listen to one of his songs and really enjoyed his voice and lyrics.

Okay, enough said by moi – Watch the video and listen to his music. I hope it entertains you as much as it did me. I’m so inspired by this young man and his interior choices.

Read more about Troye’s beautiful home on Architectural Digest: here.

Ciao,

Room Reveal: Entrance Foyer Makeover | via Design Monarchy

Room Reveal: Rose’s Entrance Foyer Makeover

November 10, 2020 Rose McClement2 Comments

by Rose McClement

The Makings Of A Grand Entrance:

It’s time for a room reveal! Furthermore, what makes this reveal extra special is that this space is in my own home. Yes, I am finally doing it! I have gotten to the place where I am ready to show “myself”. This was especially difficult for me because a room reveal cannot be done outside of revealing a part of who you are.

As I have said so how many times: “Your home speaks to who you are, your character, your values, your preferences, etc.”
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So, let me kick-off be saying: Welcome to my home, my world! Grab a cuppa because it’s a long-ish story. Long-ish but hopefully light, easy and fun. I want to reveal the journey of getting into it and doing it. You could say “share the processes” – but that sounds so officious.

Just before I get into the nitty-gritty, I think I should mention something about how I “play this game called Interiors“.

On the one side of the coin, you have designers and decorators who prefer a more structured game plan. They lean towards a more methodical and linear creative thinking (technically-inclined Architects come to mind). On the flip side of the very same coin, you have the designers for whom a more organic and spontaneous game plan is a better fit.

Yours-truly fits into the latter category. Does this make the organic decorator someone who flies by the seat of her pants, or is all over the show? NO – hardly. We still follow a pattern and structure but are open to changing lanes and move into it with a bit more ease. So, this room reveal won’t really be a “5 steps to get to the goal” kinda story.

Pantone Colour of the Year: Classic Blue | via thedesigntabloid.com

Pantone Colour of 2020: CLASSIC BLUE

January 29, 2020January 28, 2020 Design Monarchy2 Comments

Feature image via: Design Monarchy Interior Design Studio

by Marica Fick

Happy 2020 folks! 2020… can you believe?! It sounds very sci-fi. I hope you all had a lovely, rest-filled festive break and are all geared for the new year?

I’m sure by now you have all noticed a certain colour trend flooding your Pinterest, Instagram and blog feeds? You know the colour I’m referring to – it is a bold, almost primary blue… a kind of “delft-meets-school-uniform”. Well, however you choose to describe it, it is called CLASSIC BLUE and it is Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2020.

I know I mention this every year, but I was once again surprised by Pantone’s selection for Colour of the Year – it is never what I expect it to be. Not that I am going to complain because I just so happen to be a blue-girl. While Classic Blue is a tiny bit on the strong and bright side for me, I generally love all shades and hues of blue.

Thinking back on Pantone’s previous selections for COTY, it does seem that they prefer bold and bright above muted and soft. With the exclusion of 2015’s dusky Marsala and 2016’s soft pastel duo, Rose Quartz & Serenity, the last ten years have been pretty bold and punchy. Think last year’s Living Coral, 2018’s Ultra Violet, and 2013’s Emerald.

The selection of Classic Blue as Pantone’s Colour of the Year also came as a surprise to a good few trend-watchers and forecasters who anticipated a shade of green to win out. Plascon, for example, reflected this in their choice for Hue of 2020, Mulberry Leaf, a gorgeous moody green.

Some trend observers are of the opinion that Pantone was playing it rather “safe” by selecting a generally liked colour like blue.

In an article written for Dezeen, design consultant Michelle Ogundehin stated that in choosing a democratic colour like blue, Pantone played it safe and still missed the mark:

“… seeing as blue is routinely cited as one of the Western world’s eternally favourite colours – no doubt because it instantly recalls cloudless summer skies and warm calm seas – it couldn’t go wrong with such an inoffensive pick. Or could it?”

Michelle went on to say that this rather safe choice is a result of the backlash and criticism surrounding last year’s COTY, Living Coral. Design commentators and critics felt the inspiration behind the colour and name selection was an insensitive choice considering the rapidly dwindling amount of coral left in our oceans.

Instagram Inspiration: November

November 29, 2019November 29, 2019 Design MonarchyLeave a comment

feature image: Niki Brantmark of My Scandinavian Home via Instagram

by Marica Fick

Most mornings, while enjoying our first cup of coffee and checking our emails, we also take some time to browse through Pinterest and Instagram. It is part of our studio routine and, I would say, one of the key perks off being in the interior design and decorating trade. Seriously, we get paid to look at beautiful images – let’s just call it “Research & Development” shall we.

Every week we spot these amazing, inspirational, drop-dead gorgeous and down-right desirable images on Instagram. From beautiful interiors, furniture, and fabrics to lovely eateries and spaces, delicious-looking food and oh-so-fashionable apparel.

We would love to share this visual inspiration with you. Each month we will post a roundup of our favourite Instagram finds – anything that made us go “wow” or weak at the knees. The instant-likes that turned into #instalove.

Let’s kick off with the lovely feature image above.

This lovely wall light… (feature image above)

Blogger, Niki Brantmark of My Scandinavian Home, shared this inspirational image of a lovely little corner in her home. If you browse through her Instagram feed you will notice that this living room nook in her apartment in Sweden has changed and morphed multiple times over the years. I love the current configuration though!

The feature that first drew me was the gorgeous dove grey and brass long-arm wall light. The ever-evolving collection of framed art and prints on the gallery wall above her sofa further adds to the lovely Scandi feel.

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A post shared by Amber Lewis (@amberinteriors)

This very chic-looking bunk bed…

Now isn’t this the most elegantly put together kids room you have ever seen? Designed by Amber Lewis of LA-based Amber Interior Design Studio, this space is all kinds of beautiful. From the sleek fitted bunk beds with wooden ladder and trim to the built-in book niches at the head of each bed. Not to mention the floating shelf storage unit at the foot of the beds and the stunning brass wall light fittings. The bright white and lovely rusty pink / coral colour scheme is so pretty to boot.

It’s clean, it’s contemporary, and it’s chic, yet playful and feminine enough for a little girl’s bedroom.Read More »

Simonsberg Silos: Unique Cottage Break-Away

September 19, 2019September 18, 2019 Design MonarchyLeave a comment

by Marica Fick

If you are looking for rather unusual and whimsical weekend getaway accommodation, we might just have found the place!

Positioned on the shadowy lower slopes of the beautiful and majestic Simonsberg Mountains just outside Stellenbosch you will find two unique self-catering cottages. Used as grain storage and then stables in a previous life, the dilapidated old silos were lovingly restored by farm owners Alex and Sumari Milner into something all-together different.

The Simonsberg Silos are located on the leafy and historic farm, Natte Valleij, in the Klapmuts winelands district. The farm and manor house overflows with rustic charm. Seeped in history, the Cape Dutch homestead, old wine cellars, brandy stills, magnificent mature gardens with ancient trees, pergolas and ponds are all surrounded by whitewashed walls.

10 Drool-Worthy Luxury Walk-in Closets

July 3, 2019August 23, 2019 Design MonarchyLeave a comment

feature image: Who What Wear

by Marica Fick

I have to admit, for someone in the creative industry, I’m a bit of a fashion dud. Don’t get me wrong, I DO desire lovely, well-thought-through outfits and voguish attire – it is just not high on my priority list. Furthermore, I don’t think I was blessed with the expert “fashion eye”. For me comfort trumps style most days and, to be honest, I am fine with being a Plain Jane.

Having said that, there is something very desirable about a beautifully designed and organized closet. Gorgeous clothes, shoes, handbags and fashion accessories lined up and displayed like the posh shelves of a chic boutique. You don’t have to be a fashion guru, retail addict or materialistic diva to want and appreciate a stylish walk-in closet or dressing room.