Dezign Talk – Lifestyle Ideas & Designs with Minkz

Hi, Fiona here, owner of Minkz Furniture and Homewares. I’m excited to bring you our inaugaral edition of dezign Talk.

I’ve had some fun indulging my passion for painting and have designed a series of new artworks whcih have just arrived. These large paintings are standout pieces whcih will make any room come alive.

 

How to Decorate Your Home and Turn it from Drabulous to Fabulous!

Do you know how easy it really is to change a room from “Drabulous to Fabulous?” 

It is really quite simple if you follow these 4 easy suggestions:

•   New cushions can easily freshen up your rooms.  Buy the most beautiful, decorative, textured cushions you can afford – leave the run of the mill ones.  Cushions can make or break a room.  They are the perfect accessory to pull a room together.  Pick a background colour in the cushion fabric to use as a guide for decorating the rest of the room, and use it for choosing vases, art, floral arrangements and your finishing touches.

•   When choosing art and statues, the secret here is to “Think Big” – choose a few big stunning pieces instead of lots of cheap little pieces.  Everyone can tell the difference between the two and considering the time you have them for and the visual statement they make, it is worth making the investment to have statement pieces.

•  Use texture shag rugs in a solid colour as they help define the areas and are great at minimizing the “druminess” in the room due to high ceilings. Use single or mix of coloured fibres and plain rugs instead of patterned as they are more contemporary.

•  Use beautiful quality artificial flowers arrangements for a contemporary way to breath freshness into your rooms.  They are also fantastic in fiberglass pots in alfresco areas. 

•  With your furniture, buy quality pieces that stand the test of time and together create a story.  Having an entertainment unit, coffee table, side table, dining table, buffet and console all in the same design and materials looks classy is much better than having a mix of mismatched pieces.  This is especially important in apartments and open plan areas.

If you need decorating assistance, visit a Minkz Showroom in Mandurah, Melville or Osborne Park for Perth’s best range of furniture and homewares.  One of our Interior Designers or friendly consultants will be happy to assist you in-store free of charge.  If you would like a Interior Design Consultation in your own home, enquire online at www.minkz.com.au or ring 08 9581 7336.

Choosing the Right Furniture for Your Living Room

The living room is the place seen first and foremost by all guests – it is an important reflection of your taste and creates an everlasting impression on their minds. Spare some time and make it a true reflection of your graceful personality.

You have been thinking hard recently about how to refurbish your house to spruce it up and make it more smart and modern, but don’t know where to start? Worry not, for after going through this article you will have a fairly good idea of how and where to do the needful for giving that new look you to your house you so desire.

Get one of our interior designers to suggest you themes and a layout for your house. Our team have a good knowledge of what is available to suit each budget and taste, and would be able to advise you on this aspect as well. They will also be able to suggest a theme to suit your personal preferences and help you make your decisions accordingly.

Let us start with the room your guests are likely to see and appreciate first when they come to visit after you have redecorated your pad – the living room.

Start with a theme – you can decide on a traditional or a modern look. While hand crafted stuff like bamboo furniture is more suited to the traditional look, the modern look and feel is accentuated by the use of smart wooden or leather furniture. A set of leather sofas adds a touch of class to any living room, and is associated with aristocracy and elegance. You can choose from more than 100 colours to go with the overall look of your room. Choose black or dark brown for a touch of sophistication that gels with your overall image. Brighter shades like red or green would look good if you have overall designer settings. Even if the colour of your set is a sober black or brown, you can add red leather recliners to add a dash of colour to the settings.

Look at the placement of your sectional sofas next. Preferably, the largest piece; i.e. the three or five-seater, should be placed along the longest wall. If your settings are in a large hall, place your five-seater so that it does not constrict the entry and the exit spaces. Place the single pieces evenly in comparison to the three/five-seater. They can either be placed along one side of your living room, or placed one each on either side of the main sofa. The latter is better if you have another sofa set to place, or have a five-piece set that needs more space, and would balance out the settings. If you have a stand-alone leather recliner, it is best placed in a corner where it will go well with the sitting pattern. Children generally love recliners, as it offers them a degree of comfort exceeding the normal sofas.

Look for a smart centre table to go with the overall settings. Glass tops are mostly preferred for their elegant looks and large variety in which they are available. A combination of a glass top and chrome-plated frame is the latest ‘in’ thing, and will definitely give that extra special look to your room.

So don’t just procrastinate. Go ahead and make a start, and I am sure you will soon end up with a living room you will be happy to invite your guests to.