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Gorgeous guest bedrooms + 1st peek at the new collection!

This week’s post was a request from mum, now that 3 of her 4 children have ‘flown the coop’ she is looking to create a welcoming guest bedroom, I too have been pondering what makes the perfect guest room while planning our new place and I thought it would be nice to share some inspiration and ideas.

To kick things of I wanted to share a gorgeous bedroom look from the new Bowerhouse campaign, which has not yet been released!

To me it has the makings of a perfect guest room, with its comfortable layers, warm colours & welcoming, relaxed style…

Image: Photograped by Jody D’Arcy, styled by Jo Carmichael (Style and Focus) for Bowerhouse Summer 14 campaign

All pieces in store soon and available to pre-order, email natalie@bowerhouse.com.au for more info;
‘Your Time To Shine’ Legacy framed artwork
Barrel side table (Natural)
‘Hiranya’ vintage kantha quilt
‘Rupinder’ vintage kantha quilt
Legacy cushion
‘Painted’ cushion
Ikat kantha cushion (Silver)
Jute Rug

GUEST ROOM MOODBOARD

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

A guest room possibly won’t be used or seen as much as the rest of the home, so you can really have a bit of a play here as far as the style and look goes.

What would your perfect comfortable & relaxing space look like? A simple, minimal ‘white on white’ look, a fresh and colourful mix of colours & textures, or something in between?

Go with what you love in this space, but whatever the style, keep the space uncluttered. You want the space to feel welcoming for your guest and you dont want too many objects dotted around collecting dust.

Apart from somewhere to sleep, there are a few ‘must have’ pieces for a guest bedroom - lovely fresh bedding, a bedside table surface, some hanging space, an alarm clock, lamp - then you can have some fun adding some non-essential touches to the space to make it that bit more special and memorable for your guests…

Below I have collated a list of items to help create a beautiful guest bedroom…

Fresh, fluffy towels on the bed really make a guest feel welcome.
‘Palm Beach’ Scented Candle - lit for when your guest arrives.
L’Occitane lavender hand cream - a completely non-essential but thoughtful touch of luxury.
Hanging space - if you dont have space for a wardrobe, an inexpensive free-standing hanging rack from somewhere like Ikea will do just fine, nice hangers are another non-essential but lovely detail.
Cotton Bedding - my go-to guest bedding is Ikea ‘Ofelia Vass’ quilt cover set - its a soft white, cotton with a lovely rippled texture.
Bowerhouse Kantha Quilts - for a pop of colour and interest on white bedding, can be flipped or swapped out when you want a new look.
Alarm clock with ipod/iphone dock
Ikea ‘Mildra’ water glass & carafe or jug
Bowerhouse ‘Barrel’ side table - provide a place for water, a book, alarm clock etc.
Bowerhouse ‘Aztec’ Legacy cushion - more colour & texture

Natalie x

My Home Build Series - The Ensuite…

Last week I shared our light & bright family bathroom design, this week im going to the dark side with a luxe and (can I say sexy?) ensuite, I hope my share will provide some ideas and inspiration for your own spaces…

THE PLANS…

Our ensuite has a pretty nifty layout that I thought I might share, a great way to make use of a smallish space and end up with a double vanity, large shower and separate toilet. The three zones are separated by a 3/4 height tiled wall - frosted glass pivot doors for the toilet & shower add a luxe hotel bathroom feel.

MOODBOARD…

We wanted the ensuite to feel slick, sophisticated & luxe, I was inspired by dark slate tiling, luxurious fixtures and finishes, a charcoal & white pallet & introducing colour pops through floor mats and towels.

Images: 1, 2, 3 & 4, 5, 6

COLOUR & FINISHES SCHEME…

We went with a beautiful slate grey tile in 300 x 600 size on floor and full height on walls but left the 2 side walls in a simple white tile in the same 300 x 600 - it opens up the space so we dont feel too closed in with darkness. The benchtop is in a flecked white composite stone (supplied by our builder - try Caesarstone ‘nougat’ for similar) cabinet doors are in (Polytec thermolaminate gloss - ‘classic white’) with push/pull close so no handles to keep it looking streamlined. We have mirrored wall cabinets above the vanity for added storage.

SHOPPING LIST…

Rain style shower head - for a touch of luxury
Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash - love everything in this range!
Roca Semi Recessed Basin - the square shape matches our square tapware, and keeps with the modern, slick feel.
Towel Rail - A slimline towel rail that matches back to tapware shape.
Missoni ‘Homer’ bath mat - for a pop of colour.

Natalie x

3 easy ways to invite luxe sophistication to your space…

Hi Natalie,

I hope your week has been wonderful? Lots happening behind the scenes here at Bowerhouse with new Summer stock arriving and last minute prep for the Summer photo shoot. I can’t wait to share the new collection with you very soon and of course as part of the tribe you will get the opportunity to see it first!

Although I am a huge fan of starting with a light, white & largely neutral base for interiors, I do love the use of dark painted walls in decorating (we have introduced a few to our new house which I will share in detail later).

If used correctly dark walls don’t need to make a space feel gloomy or small, they will make a space feel cosy, sophisticated & luxe - to get you thinking about going dark for your next painting project, see some ideas and mood boards celebrating the dark painted wall…

Beautiful Contrast..

You can bring a dark wall to life by introducing warm wood and vibrant colour accents - dark walls create a beautiful contrasting backdrop for a space and will make your furniture and decor pieces really pop and stand out. Images: 1, 2, 3, 4

In the bedroom…

The bedroom is the perfect place to introduce a dark painted wall to bring a sense of calm & sophisticated luxury. By just painting the wall behind the bed in a dark charcoal or navy and the other walls in white or a paler shade of that colour you can achieve a less intense but just as beautiful effect.
Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Outside..

Dark walls in the garden are really effective - not only will a dark colour make your boundary appear to recede, natural greenery pops so beautifully against a slate or black coloured backdrop. Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

You can find more dark wall images on the Bowerhouse Pinterest board.

Natalie x

My Home Build Series - The Family Bathroom…

As we progress through our home build I am continuing to share the design details & the process I follow for each space in the hope it may inspire some ideas for your own decorating projects. This week is the upstairs family bathroom & powder room - if you have questions on any of the details dont hesitate to reply to this email, I am very happy to share!

MOODBOARD…

Start any decorating project by collating images that inspire the way you want the space to feel, this becomes a style guide you can refer back to when choosing colours, finishes and decor items.

We wanted this space to feel light & family friendly, a simple, classic design that wont feel dated in 5 years time. My moodboard is full of images of bathrooms with creamy, light coloured tiles, simple but beautiful fittings & fixtures with wood elements for warmth & contrast.

Images Above: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

COLOUR & FINISHES SCHEME..

Our stunning & simple, matt finish tile in a creamy sandstone colour was chosen first & was the basis behind all other elements in the space. We used this tile in 300 x 600 size on the floors & full height on the walls - with such a simple, neutral tile we needed to introduce some punch & contrast, so we went with a textured wood look laminate for cabinet doors (Polytec Ravine Maison Oak) and chose an interesting flecked white composite stone for the benchtop (supplied by our builder - try Caesarstone Nougat for similar)

Keep things simple in the bathroom with beautiful neutrals & you cannot go wrong!

SHOPPING LIST…

Rocca Semi Recessed Basin - Reece - Our tapware designs are a square look so we stuck to a square shape for our sink.
Missoni ‘Niles’ Hand Towel - for a beautiful colour pop, can be changed up when you want a new look.
Planet Luxe Hand wash - Australian made, all natural & no nasties.
Kado Freestanding Bath - Reece - The simplicy of the tiles meant a freestanding bath could become the feature in this space.
Drum Stool (Persimmon Cushion) - arriving soon to Bowerhouse - ties in the wood element, brings some colour and a handy place to perch or place belongings (place a tray on top - add glass of bubbles, chocolate covered strawberries, a good book and you have heaven in your own home!)
Milli Towel Rail - Reece - plenty of towel drying space.

Want to know where I go to escape and be inspired? (when I can’t afford a holiday!)

A couple of lovely tribe members have recently asked me where are the best places to find inspiration for the home - Apart from travel (you can find my tips on injecting travel inspiration to your home here) I spend a lot of time online and today I would love to share my three favourite digital magazines - full of gorgeous, inspiring pages - escape right at your fingertips & subscription is completely free!

EST MAGAZINE

A quarterly e-mag created by two clever Aussie ladies, Est showcases a great mix of Australian & global homes with beautiful photography & styling plus lovely travel, fashion & lifestyle stories.
Images - Est Magazine

COVET GARDEN

A Canadian based interiors & lifestyle magazine - I love the ‘left of centre’, creative, family homes they feature - not styled, so the spaces feel real, the ideas are attainable and so inspiring.
Images - Covet Garden

LONNY MAGAZINE

Launched in 2009, this US based bi-monthly publication is just like a regular print magazine but its completely digital. Focusing on home decor & lifestyle, its packed full of gorgeous homes and gardens, with lots of great hints, tips & ideas throughout the pages.
Images - Lonny Magazine

Make yourself a cuppa and escape to the pages of these fantastic mags, there are plenty of back issues to explore too…hours of indulgence and inspiration awaiting you!

Natalie x

Read this if you’re desperately longing for sunshine & pina coladas…

Here is a little teaser just for you - our Summer 14 collection & campaign moodboard..I hope it inspires and brings some sunshine to your day!

Image Credits; 1 & 4 Natalie for Bowerhouse, 2. Styling by Marie Olsson Nylander via Vosges Paris, 3. SF Girl by Bay, 5. via Voges Paris, 6. Bella Mumma, 7. Tales of Endearment, 8. Lauren Bamford, 9. Joanne Coyle, 10. Pinterest

WONDERFUL ORANGE & BLUE…

The 2 key colours for the new collection are a yummy ‘Persimmon’ and ‘Chalky Aqua’, a colour combo I am very fond of for interiors. Orange and blue are known as complimentary colours - when placed together they create a very strong contrast & reinforce/stabilise each other. They are beautiful together in any colour shade - a collection of apricot & aqua cushions scattered on a couch, a zingy orange quilt teamed with royal blue cushions on a bed or a tan leather armchair sitting in front of an inky navy painted wall - it just works!

Orange and Blue also make an exciting and fresh unisex colour combo for a nursery (if you are a fellow Offspring fan - through the tears in last season’s final eposide, you may not have caught a good glimpse of Nina’s beautiful nursery done up in sky blue and bright citrus orange - watch out for it next season!)

You can introduce blue and orange to a space in a subtle way or really pack a punch with something bold - I have put together a moodboard of beautiful interiors working the orange and blue magic…

Image Credits; 1. Pinterest, 2. Project Nursery, 3. Apartment Therapy, 4. Annie Schlechter via Coastal Living.com, 5. Emily Summers Design, 6. Natalie Bloom’s home - The Design Files, 7. Barcelona home by studio eguey seta, 8. via jaclyn paige, 9. Habitually Chic

3 QUILTS, 6 GORGEOUS LOOKS, 1 OF A KIND AND ON THE SHELVES AT BOWERHOUSE…

3 steps to create a living room to fall in love with…

Welcome to part 3 of my kitchen/dining/living space share! If you missed the previous posts in the series - my man and I are in the final stages of our house build and I have been sharing the design process and inspiration for each space in the hope the ideas might inspire your next build, reno or room update.

RESEARCH INSPIRATION & MOODBOARDING

As always I start with mood boarding - collating images that reflect the look and feel I hope to achieve. Continuing from the kitchen & dining the general feel of this open plan space is light and open; a white backdrop with warmth, interest, contrast and texture introduced through furniture, soft furnishings and artwork. You can find more living room inspiration on the Bowerhouse Pinterest board.

Above Image Credits:

Interior Design by Shareen Joel - Photo by Sharyn Cairns, Styling Glen Proebstel for Inside Out Magazine,
Est Magazine
AS House Design by Guilherme Torres Pictures and Gallery via ArchiiNoepahjertet Blog
The Design Files

COLOUR & FINISHES SCHEME

The main pallet for the living space will be neutral with a few pops of colour through cushions & art. Above is the pallette/scheme for our kitchen/dining/living area - below are the living space elements explained;

(10) Flooring - Holcim ‘Eucalyptus’ polished concrete used throughout the whole ground floor.
(2) Walls - Dulux ‘natural white’, a lovely classic white with a hint of warmth.
(6) Charcoal fabric for sofa upholstery
(8) Inspired by the lovely moodboard images, dining chairs will be in contrasting black.
(11&12) Bowerhouse Textiles for cushions on couch

By laying out swatches and samples of all finishes in a space you can easily see the all the elements will work together, rather than trying to imagine a sofa fabric colour against your floor and crosssing your fingers you can actually see it before making the important purchases.

FURNISHING STORYBOARD

Our living area is a narrow space so this has dictated much of our furniture/decor choices…

• Jardan ‘Nook’ Sofa - We have yet to decide on the sofa, but top on my list is this gorgeous Australian designed & made one.
• Bowerhouse ‘Drum’ Stool - With only space for 1 sofa, a couple of these will come in handy for extra seating and can be pulled across to the dining area if we are ever short on dining chairs for visitors.
• Bowerhouse ‘Barrel’ side table (in store soon!) - due to the narrowness of the room we will go with the more versatile option of a couple of side tables rather than a coffee table - they can be sat side by side and easily moved around to suit how we are using the space.
• Rug - will help define the space and bring warmth as the flooring is polished concrete.
• Bowerhouse ‘Legacy’ cushion for a pop of colour and texture.
• Ikea ‘Besta’ Entertainment unit in gloss white - the simple, streamlined TV unit is practical, good looking and friendly on the budget - its also sold by the individual unit, we will order enough to run across the entire TV wall and go for the wall hung/no legs option so it will almost look custom & ‘built in’.
• Cecilia Gardiner Print
• Max Wanger ‘New York’ print

Natalie x

A behind the scenes peek at my dining room…

Today I am sharing more of my home design inspiration - the dining area! If you missed last week’s post on the adjoining kitchen area plans you can find them here.

RESEARCH INSPIRATION & MOODBOARDING

Our dining space is in the center of an open plan kitchen/dining/living area, a place to gather - close to the kitchen when friends & family visit. We will keep furniture simple and classic in this space with a few pieces of art on the walls for colour and a beautiful feature pendant which will become the centerpiece of the whole room. If space is limited, its always a good idea to go for furniture with simple, streamlined, classic lines rather than bulky and ornate.

As you can see from the moodboard, I was inspired by light, white spaces, with simple, streamlined furniture and large feature pendant lighting & artwork. The moodboard also reflects the general colour pallet of concrete, wood and black.

Above Image Credits: 1. photo Bo Bedre via La Maison Anna G Blog 2. photo Dan Gordn for Skona Hem via From Scandinavia with love blog 3. Copenhagen home - Dwell 4. Bowerhouse 5. Madam Stoltz 6. Abaton

COLOUR & FINISHES SCHEME

Above is the pallette/scheme for our whole kitchen/dining/living area - below are the dining space elements explained;

(10) Flooring - Holcim ‘Eucalyptus’ polished concrete used throughout the whole ground floor.
(2) Walls - Dulux ‘natural white’, a lovely classic white with a hint of warmth.
(7) Dining table in wood - will ground the whole space and bring warmth, important for us in a largely white space.
(8) Inspired by the lovely moodboard images, dining chairs will be in contrasting black.
(9&11) A pop of chartreuse green & warming orange in our artwork.

FURNISHING STORYBOARD

Decorative elements on my wishlist…

Marimekko ‘Paaryna’ fabric framed - beautiful fabrics are an economical way to create large artworks - fabric panel widths are often around 150cm wide.
Bowerhouse ‘Legacy’ vintage textile art
Bowerhouse ‘Islander’ pendant light - (in store soon) - the contrast black will tie back with the dining chairs and be a beautiful stand-out feature in the all white space.
Freedom ‘Henderson’ dining table
Casamania ‘Stereo’ chairs
Bowerhouse ‘Harvey Bar Cart’ - to assist with easy entertaining and a way to introduce fun and colour to the space with glassware and bottles.

I hope by sharing my design notes it may trigger some inspiration or ideas for your space - next week I will share our living room plans!

Natalie x

Revealed: My new kitchen design plans & inspiration

We are finally on the ‘home’ stretch for our build which is very exciting, I have been sharing the design adventures of the house in previous posts in the hope that it may inspire your next build, reno or room update; today I thought I would share the design plans and ‘inspo’ for the all important kitchen space….

INSPIRATION & MOODBOARDING

As with many homes these days our kitchen/dining/living is an open plan space, therefore the kitchen style was designed in context with the whole space which we wanted to feel white & light. We decided on adding wood elements for warmth, some black for a beautiful contrast and colour & fun through art, rugs & textiles.

As you can see from our kitchen mood board above, I have collected images of spaces with lovely white kitchens that have feature decorative elements that bring interest and spark to the whiteness - I hope to achieve a similar look and prove that an all white kitchen need not be boring!

Above Image Credits:
1. ICI cafe, Brussels, photo via Studio Nord
2. loftenberg
3. Domus Nova Property for sale via Desire to Inspire
4. BaksvanWengerden, SH House via This is paper
5. Desire to Inspire
6. Tracey Kendall Wallpaper
7. Clare Cousins Moor St Apartment Project (Architect)

COLOUR & FINISHES SCHEME

Our open plan kitchen/dining/living is a fairly small area, so the key criteria for decorating this space is keeping it white, light and bright.

The other key design consideration for us is re-sale - although we won’t be moving any time soon, it won’t be our ‘forever’ home so for expensive items like kitchen fittings and flooring it was important to choose neutral, classic finishes that will stand the test of time.

Above is the pallette/scheme for our whole kitchen/dining/living space but today I will just focus on the kitchen elements;

• (10) Flooring - We decided on something special for the flooring - Holcim ‘Eucalyptus’ polished concrete - its an investment, but the wow factor it gives the space is so worth it.
• (2) Walls - are in Dulux ‘natural white’, a lovely classic white with a hint of warmth.
• (1) Feature chalkboard wall - we decided to paint a 1m wide section of wall that sits between 2 full height windows in black-board paint to bring some fun & interest.
• (3) Benchtops - white composite stone
• (4) All cabinetry is in Polytech ‘classic white’ gloss
• (5) Appliances are in stainless steel & black glass

FURNISHING STORYBOARD

The decorative elements in this largely white space are important as they will give it the ‘punch’ to take it beyond a plain white kitchen;

• Chalkboard Wall which we will paint ourselves
• Two Muuto E27 pendant lights in black Feature Wall clock like this one.
• Tracey Kendal ‘Fork’ Wallpaper used as feature art
• Two Freedom ‘Tractor stools’ - to sit behind the kitchen island bench
• Nespresso Pixie coffee machine in lime (we already have this gorgeous piece of equipment but wanted to include for a lovely pop of colour:)
• Appliances - Siemens oven & steam oven, LG French door fridge.

I hope these thoughts and ideas have helped in some way for your next interior project! Next week I will share my ideas for the dining space!

Natalie x

An interior designer’s secrets revealed

After recieving such great feedback on the ‘how to plan your dream space’ series, I thought we would continue the theme and asked interior designer Kim Pearson if she would share some of her wealth of knowledge with the Bowerhouse tribe; being the beautiful person she is, she jumped at the chance! Today, Kim talks us through the design process on one of her favourite recent projects in the hope that it might inspire the inner designer in you!

KIM PEARSON - DESIGN NOTES
TEEN GIRLS BEDROOM, PERTH RIVERSIDE HOME

Words - Kim Pearson
Images - Jayga McMullen (Photographer), Kim Pearson (design/production/styling)

THE ESSENCE

Always start with something you love - It’s honestly the best way to start any decorating project!

In this case its the teen’s favourite colour PURPLE.

• Now look at different shades and tones of this colour.
• What other colours look good with it?
• How much of it do you want in the room - remember sometimes less is more.
• How can you use it - don’t just think of a feature wall (careful with those!).

In this case, a teenager’s bedroom, we used many shades of purple - lavender, lilac, plum, aubergine, violet and amethyst, we used it with deep pink, garden green and tangerine. Against a warm white background with walls, wallpaper and bedlinen to keep it light, fresh and contemporary. What we wanted to avoid was any too literal interpretation of purple and risk travelling down the sad bordello/emo/goth route.

THE ELEMENTS

• We started with the headboard - a stunning print of riotous, hydrangeas in a textured linen/hemp.
• Curtain fabric - embroidered heavy linen in jewel tones that will last well into her 20’s and beyond when the room turns back into a guest suite.
• Bedlinen & upholstery - checks, stripes, plains and patterns inc. a stunningly witty twist on a traditional toile in fuschia and orange
• The fabulous ‘hand drawn’ frames wallpaper acts as a backdrop for the room - hugely personal & dynamic, a sophisticated inspiration board for her to personalise, fill & swap out with invitations, paper flowers, notes from friends, pics of cute boys, cards and tear sheets from mags - the ultimate teenage installation.
• We then added layers of warmth & texture and pattern in cushions, rugs, ottoman, chair & footstool in a mix of silk, cotton, linen, velvet & chenille - All super soft, comfy & inviting, lots of cosy spaces to curl up with a book or sleepovers & girly chats with friends.
• We retained the original wool sisal carpet - in excellent condition as the room had originally been the rarely used guest suite, the warm golden oatmeal was picked up in the natural linen cloth of the curtains.
• We placed a cute pom pom rug down to anchor the bed and give a soft floor sprawl option for girly chats.
• Storage/ practicality was also key, so we added a large antique painted French desk for work, a mirrored chest of drawers for a touch of glamour, out of shot is a large bank of bespoke built in robes we designed to accommodate a growing collection of clothes, shoes, bags etc & there’s also a divine French antique glass fronted cabinet out of shot for her to display her favourite shoes, bags & precious bits and pieces.

Kim Pearson is an interior designer and visual stylist, FOLLOW HER decorating adventures on Facebook & Instagram. FIND OUT more about kim and her beautiful work here.