Welcome to my monthly update on all things to do with creating homes with classic charm and relaxed appeal.

This month, I have been busily finishing off two new homes for clients to move into last week, juggling end of financial year and kids at home for school holidays during lockdown in Sydney. They just seem to be always asking for food!

As we are in the middle of winter and I am in the middle of finalising selections for our new build, I am going to be talking about how you can add warmth to your home not just through the heater or the fire place being on, but through colour of fixtures and fittings, colour of paint on the walls and through colour in décor.

DESIGN IDEAS

If you have been following me lately you will know that my husband and I are building a new place and I am just finishing off the selections. Dame and I are creating a home that is based around a modern take on a traditional ‘Arts and Crafts’ home. It is going to have a striking palette of black and white but needs warming up with touches of bronze. This idea of warming a place up through fixtures, fittings and décor is what I want to share with you today.

1. WARMTH THROUGH FIXTURES & FITTINGS

Firstly, what do I mean by fixtures and fittings – things like tiles, tap ware and handles.

Our tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms are going to be black and white so the rooms could come across as quite cold so how do I add warmth to these rooms? Well you can do this with your tap ware, handles and rails.

Dame and I were at Astra Walker last week and we chose their lovely Old English range of tapware. We have used this in the past in chrome but look below and see what a difference the finish of the tap ware can bring to the feeling of warmth.

Chrome v’s Tuscan Bronze – It’s only subtle but I do believe that the aged bronze here feels warmer than the chrome. — *Chrome v’s Tuscan Bronze – It’s only subtle but I do believe that the aged bronze here feels warmer than the chrome.*

2. WARMTH THROUGH WALL COLOURS

Warm colours on the wall can also give you a wonderful sense of warmth. I do love the greys of Dulux Grey Pebble, Heifer and Calf skin for creating warmth as they have an undertone of yellow. This gives these grey tonnes warm qualities. But I hear you ask what if I want a white home, how can I make it feel warm. I know my husband thinks white is white when you are painting but alas no. He couldn’t understand that I need a day to decide on which white to use on our new place. There is a whole page dedicated to white in the Dulux atlas and that is just one brand. Then these whites are divided into “warm whites and “cool whites”. Depending on what else is going on in the room, how you want to feel in the room and the light aspect of the room, these things will drive what white you wish to paint.

Dulux have a great explanation of how warm and cool whites can work in different situations. Follow the link below to read further about this.

dulux.com.au/colour/whites-and-neutrals/popular-whites

3. WARMTH THROUGH DÉCOR

Well I discussed changing your cushions and throws when we were looking at spring and yes things like cushions and soft furnishings can add warmth to a room. Check out these great Etro Velvet cushions by L&M Home. The colours are certainly warming and who doesn’t enjoy snuggling up to velvet in winter. L&M Home also have some beautiful Cashmere Mix Throws to cuddle up with whilst sipping your hot chocolate. This one below in Eucalyptus Gum is just beautiful.

You can also add warmth through warm coloured vases in a matt finish like these wonderful Mona vases in Umber also by L&M Home. Add some warm foliage and bingo!

So, if you’re feeling a little cold this winter and have time on your hands for a little project, look around your home for ways in which you can add a little warmth to your life without turning on the heater.

3 THINGS I’VE LOVED RECENTLY

I’ve given away a few of them above but let me share the colour ways that the Mona vases come in from L&M Home. They are made of Iron with a matt finish and come in a stunning range of shapes and sizes, just gorgeous.

I’ve been talking about how to add warmth to a room through décor well this new lamp from Canvass & Sasoon is certainly a good example of this. I love the ticking stripe on such a textural shaped base. https://store.canvasandsasson.com.au/lamps/ticking-lamp

If you love reading about interiors the following website has a great range of articles. https://theinteriorsaddict.com/

PROJECT UPDATE

Here are a few sneak peeks from one of the jobs that I have been busily finishing off. I love the vaulted ceiling in the family room, the warm tiles in the powder room, the double herringbone tiles in the ensuite, the black fire place and the lights in both the bathroom and bedroom. Better shots to come.