Colour POP!

There's nothing like a neutral interiors palette with a splash of bright colour - it's the perfect way to 'play it safe' with a clean background but still infuse some fun!

You can get a similar look by bringing the colour through in lampshades, cushions, a chair, kitchen splashback, artwork, a rug, a headboard or front door. Ready for a change? No sweat, because all these things can be swapped out a lot more easily then re-painting all your walls or paying for new curtaining. Check out these great examples!

                     http://praktyczneipiekne.com/

                          http://bodieandfou.blogspot.co.nz/

                     http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/hunter-casies-house-call-132391

                       Source unknown

            http://www.designsponge.com/2012/01/sneak-peek-kate-challis-andrew-    hollo.html/12_kate-3

                     http://www.sarahrichardsondesign.com/

                    http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/emily-hendersons-super-stylish-124719

Wallpaper Wednesday: James Dunlop 'Neo' Collection

Here's something a little different today - a beautiful collection of wallpapers from the James Dunlop 'Neo' collection. Full of metallics, soft pastels and hand painted detail - these papers are perfect for a romantic boudoir setting or a light, airy living space.

1940's Channel Back Chair

Out of storage and into the store - we've just bought this lovely chair over from our storage unit so we can get a closer look and assess it for possible restoration.

As the photos show, it is in definite need of some TLC - this will include having the oak timber work hand stripped, sanded and re-polished, and a full seat re-build with new padding and upholstery - of course retaining that fantastic channel detailing in the back!

Think you might be interested in this chair? Let us know!

Vintage Fabric Lampshade

We've just had a lampshade made from this gorgeous piece of vintage fabric - one of many from our collection of goodies! And how great does it look on a Bob Steiner lamp base? If you're looking for that really true earthy vintage colouring in a lamp then come and check this one out!

Ingrid Anderson: Tui Cushions

This morning saw the arrival of some replenishing stock for one of our best selling cushions by NZ textile designer, Ingrid Anderson - hooray!

Aluminium Bar Stools

One of the most difficult things to find is a decent bar stool - but here's one we love which we've just specified for one of our current projects. It's super light weight in a brushed aluminium finish, a nice small footprint and a really great shape. Success!

Music Monday: The Black Keys 'Lonely Boy'

New Textile Design: Courtney Claire

Today we're bringing you a new range of textiles by NZ designer Courtney Claire - a great collection of fresh, citrus toned patterns on hemp, cotton and linen base cloths. Available as cushions or as small fabric runs for lampshades and other small projects - pop in to see the sampling today. Yummy!

Wallpaper Wednesday: Under the Sea

Here's a mini round-up of some great sea themed wallpapers - think bathrooms, think kids rooms, think laundry and kitchens!

Top to bottom:
Cole & Son 'Great Wave', Mini Moderns 'Whitby', Go Home 'Lobster', Go Home 'Caviar', Go Home 'Octopus'

Cintique Progress

Remember the three Cintique chairs from last week? Here they are, on the home stretch and nearly complete!

Sneak Peek: Student Textile Design

Are you guys ready to see more work by some of our talented Wellington design students? We are! Here's a little sneak peek of something coming through our workshop at the moment, we will be able to share the finished product with you soon!

Pom Pom Fringing

Who can resist deliciously soft pom pom fringing!? Not us!!

Caribbean Flowers

The appearance of one of our restored chairs in a number of NZ newspapers last week has created quite a bit of buzz for us - in particular people want to know more about the fabric we used, so here you go!

It is called 'Caribbean' - and features in the 'bermuda' colour-way on this chair, but comes in some other wonderful colour options too! (see below.) It is $78 per metre, and teamed with a great textured plain or even a vinyl, it makes a fantastic upholstery option for a mid-century styled chair!

We have the sampling in store now, so pop by and check it out!

Feature Fabric Friday - 'Home Sweet Home' Collection

This one is for the kiddies today - a great new collection from Pegasus with some divine nature inspired prints, classic checks and spots, embroidered florals, urban streetscape prints and text graphics.
It's a really great range that can be mixed and matched and at a really cost effective price point. Pop in to see the sampling today!

Sneak Peek - Deep Buttoned Ottoman

Thought we'd give you a little sneak peek of some upholstered ottomans we're in the process of putting together for a large job of ours.

This is a traditional upholstery technique called deep buttoning or diamond tufting, (because of the diamond pattern created between the buttons) and you will often see it used on sofas, chairs and upholstered bedheads. It is a lot of work, but is definitely worth it for the great plush effect it creates!

This ottoman is awaiting some gorgeous timber legs to finish it off, then it will be good to go!

'Echo Panel' - Sustainable, Recyclable Wall Board

Take a look at this great product by Woven Image called 'Echo Panel'  - designed to be used primarily for its acoustic benefits, we've just installed the panels in the bedroom of a teenage boy in a new build we've been working on recently in Seatoun.

These boards make a fantastic alternative to painting a feature wall or hanging wallpaper, especially when you combine more then one colour, or have them cut and laid in any pattern you desire, as you can see here.

It's easy to cut and install, super light weight, has a felt like - fibrous texture to it, and is a 100% recyclable PET product which we love!

In this bedroom, we used a light beige and a dark brown colour to completely cover one wall, which is now used as a massive pin-board for all those important posters (and possibly as a buffer for sneaky indoor practicing of skateboard tricks...!?)

There are many many more colour and pattern choices available, so check them out here!

Wallpaper Wednesday: Harlequin 'Demeter Stripe'

For something a little different today, we thought we'd show you this brilliant new wallpaper from Harlequin, called 'Demeter Stripe' from the Kallianthi Collection. Its watercolour paint effect pattern comes in some fantastic colours, and can be run both horizontally or vertically. Lots of fun!

Vintage Beehive Boxes For Sale

If you've been into our shop lately you may have noticed that we have lots of lovely aged beehive boxes around our store, being used as part of our product display. We have had lots and lots of queries from people wanting to take these weathered beauties home, and now you can!

We have got our mittens onto a dozen or so more, ranging in colour, condition and age from the 50's to the 80's - so if you're keen to get creative, pop in and take your pick today, only $30 each!

Cintique Chair Restoration

So often we show you great images of our restored furniture pieces once they're all finished, but we thought we'd show you a little of the hard work that goes into making the finished product so fantastic.

Chelsea spent her afternoon trying to make heads or tails of a bucket full of springs that need to go back onto these three fabulous Cintique chair frames which have just had their timber work carefully restored.
So far; Chairs = 1, Chelsea = 0. Better luck tomorrow!