A prescription for beginning

Throughout the years, one of the most common questions I get is...

"Do you have any advice for someone who wants to be a designer?"

People in the design business often get into it because we love it. But it takes a while to find your style, no matter how talented you are. This is a truism that applies not only to design but to any other achievement in life — you won’t realize your potential unless you grind through the failures.
So if you are working on New Year’s resolutions, the most important thing is doing the work. Set deadlines, so that every week you finish one thing. It’ll take a while to find your groove; you’ve just got to fight your way through.

Top 10 tips for beginners
1. Go to a design school
2. Get design training
3. Keep sketch books
4. Be self-motivated
5. Assist a professional
6. Acquire a good sense of colour, texture and design. Learn to select the ones that create a harmonious and balanced look.
7. Have a sense of humor
8. Read design magazines
9. There is no secret to success; it’s just hard work and observation.
10. Believe in your dream

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Style Canvas: Decorative concrete driveways

Question:
I have partially renovated a low set house, painted it white inside and out and am not sure how to paint the driveway or what colour would suit it (currently an ugly faded light terracotta). I need a colour that will be darker than white to hide dirt and marks, but not dark enough to look like dismal. The driveway is about 40m long and the entrance pillars are white. There are also steel posts around the veranda that would need to be painted, the fascia boards and under the veranda.

Styling advice
Of all the different types of decorative driveway finishes, such as acid stains, etching, overlays and stamped concrete, coloured concrete is one of the most hardwearing and requires very little maintenance. It should need resealing every two years at most. You should, however, remove stains as soon as possible. Use a pressure-wash to clean the driveway periodically to remove dirt or grime.

Here are some ideas to add interest to your concrete driveway.

(Image credit: Concrete colour systems,
Colours: CCS Black 21 and CCS Lemon crème)

Contrasting colours
A mix of colours: light concrete separated by bands of darker concrete as an alternative to traditional joint lines or a grooved finish.

(Image credit: Concrete colour systems,
Colours: CCS Pewter and CCS Paperbark)

Subtle, naturally coloured ripple pattern for a beach house using two different base colours for the driveway.

Top Layers
Cement driveways can have pebbles added to the top layer of cement. This leaves the pebbles exposed. Usually the pebbles are coloured to give a dimensional effect. Another approach is to saw-cut patterns into the top layer of cement.

Stamped concrete driveways
Less expensive than traditional pavers and natural stone, stamping can give concrete the look of cobblestones, canyon stone, brick, tile, slate or flagstones.

If the cost of doing the whole driveway is out of reach, borders are a less expensive alternative. Just adding a 6” border will make your driveway look more elegant. You can also add depth by using a contrasting colour in the border.

Image credit: www.concretenetwork.com

If it’s too expensive to redo your entire driveway in decorative concrete, then just add a stamped concrete apron for the first several feet of the driveway. With an apron, the entrance to your home will be more inviting, and you won’t risk having it look overdone.

Another way to spruce up your driveway is with plants. Well-designed landscaping can highlight or minimize a driveway, depending on the effect you desire.

Image credit: www.amslandscapedesign.com

Soften a long driveway with cobblestone edging that follows the treeline.

Tools & Tips:
The Concrete Visualiser is a helpful online tool that helps you select a pattern and colour for your driveway.

Styling advice for exterior colours:
I always advise clients to have the gutters the same colour as the fascia and the house because gutters aren't the nicest of things to see. Picking them out in a different colour draws attention to them whereas using the same colour helps them to blend in.
Most of the time I recommend using a single colour for the exterior but sometimes certain colours can look good together. Of course, it costs more to use two separate colours but sometimes it’s worth the expense.


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It’s Epiphany

Put your Christmas tree to good use.

It’s Epiphany, January 6th. The holiday hustle-bustle is over and it’s time to take down the Christmas tree.
Epiphany marks the official end of the Christmas season. It’s exactly 12 days after the three wise men are said to have visited the infant Jesus in the manger.

For me, taking down the holiday decorations is always a little bittersweet, but our eco-friendly tree can be left up all year as a decorative backdrop for other celebrations.

As the season of love approaches, I’m starting to collect hearts, photos, and ideas to decorate the tree for Valentine’s Day.

Image credit: www.etsy.com

Do you have any creative ideas for putting your tree to good use after Christmas?

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Why limit yourself to a Christmas tree?

I’ve been a busy bee getting ready for the Christmas holidays, making an ever-growing to-do list in my light-filled home office.
My Christmas decorations are not the traditional sort, but they’re quirky and fun, nonetheless. Here’s my eco-friendly take on Christmas decor.

Some humble branches from the garden decorated with seasonal ornaments, spring garlands and twinkle lights.

The handmade spring garlands are made from ribbon, scraps of fabric and silk flowers; they’re easy to make and perfect for Christmas in tropical Queensland. If you want to have fun with spring garlands, here are the instructions from Sania Pell.
So join in the fun and share with us your beautiful creations!!

I hope your holiday is filled with joy.


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Gold & Silver Interior Elements

Guest post by Joanna

Hello, my name is Joanna and I'm a writer for Design Shuffle, an online portfolio site which provides a forum where interior designers can share their work. Be sure to visit DesignShuffle.com to see some of the loveliest rooms on the web. I'm happy to be sharing with you today on Fantabulous Design blog with a collection of festive gold and silver interior designs.

With Christmas fast approaching, our thoughts turn to the classic combination of gold and silver. This collection of rooms, styled from traditional to modern, carry our theme in a variation of ways. Some are quite glamorous while others are a bit more subdued. We hope you enjoy the images and find lots of inspiration!

In this very French room, gold and silver take center stage. This is a lovely setting. Wouldn't you just love to see the rest of this space?

A contemporary room has its own subtle version of gold and silver. The brushed nickel walls, rich parquet flooring and mirrored accent pieces work together to create an elegant space.

The rich silver velvet covers two classically curved sofas in this formal space. Herringbone flooring and ornate molding add to the room stately feel.

An intimate seating arrangement gives this sumptuous space a cozy feel even though the furnishings are quite formal. The designer's use of gold and silver is calculated yet relaxed perfect for a den design.

There is nothing subtle about this brightly-hued space. A large gold and silver sunburst mirror and bright silver poufs bold style statements.

A transitional living room boasts silver and gold in almost every element from its silver silk covered sofa to a mix of stylish tables. This room is so cheery and inviting we could picture ourselves visiting there with friends over a glass of eggnog or mug of hot chocolate.

This room is naturally-finished modern trestle table along with similar toned carpet provides a golden palette from which an explosion of silver erupts. It is filled with dining room design ideas! What a fun holiday setting! Does it inspire you?

To get you in the Christmas spirit, here's a glimpse of a brilliantly decorated gold and silver tree set within a very traditional setting. Happy holidays!

[ Images 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 ]

Gold and silver make a terrific color palette! Find more color combo inspirations at Design Shuffle and check out our brand new interior design guide!

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