Jo Pinto is half of the creative force behind Craft Enterprises, which he runs with his business savy wife, Moira who is also an interior designer.

Their stand featured a wide variety of furniture and decor accessories which were visual, authentic, with heaps of attitude. My favourite pieces were the buffalo bowls shown above and the stunning copper bowl.

The unique, stylized Buffalo bowl is crafted by a well know ceramacist, who lives in South Africa.

It comes in white and charcoal.

The Copper Bowl is made from resin from a small factory that specialises in a niche market, crafting resin into highly polished desirable homewares.

For further information and details visit www.crafteneterprises.com.au

A variety of fabulous new lights, soft furnishings and woven goods at this fair for Sala Verde as well as some very interesting paper wall tapestries.

Each tapestry is hand-made by paper artists who use the pulp of agricultural bi-product such as pineapple leaves.

They can be framed as large art pieces, made into room dividers, put behind glass or pasted onto a wall.

The design of Sala Verde’s new Wrinkle Bowls is inspired by the wrinkles in fabric as it falls.

They are hand-shaped and welded together piece by piece. Delicate looking but sturdy, these bowls make eye-catching centre pieces.

Sala Verde’s lights included some old favourites such as the Garlic Pendants, popular with those needing to fill high ceilings or stair-wells.

Accompanying the well-loved Origami Pendant are new wire shaped pendants, the Fuji, the Everest and the Iceberg.

Floating like an ethereal cloud is the new Blossom Pendant. The hand-made white paper diffuses a warm glow of light giving a lovely ambience to any space.

For further information and enquiries contact Nikki at Sala Verde on 0419 198 277 or visit the website,

Third World Trading launched at the fair.

The company has been formed to bring to the world select high-end design that captures the modern artistic soul of Africa.

Each product has been carefully selected to reflect the beauty and integrity of the designers unique vision and superb craftsmanship.

Above are some pics taken at the fair, as well as images from the company’s website which do more justice to these beautiful products, www.thirdworldtrading.com.au which is well worth a visit.

Marpaso Trading released its new season collection.

An eclectic range of natural & bleached colours, yarn dyes & stripes – most of which are accredited with the prestigious Masters of Linen trademark- in a variety of styles and weights suited to most applications: upholstery, soft furnishings, apparel, bed linen, table linen, kitchen linen.

All fabrics are in stock & available by the metre.

For more information visit the Mar Paso website or contact owner, Liz Hensley on 0419 018 821.

LightCo’s new lights includes some truly charming pieces. Above are designs from the Torremato collection.

Made from corten steel and plexi glass diffuser, this collection of exterior light fittings adds a sculptural element to any outdoor environment while producing glare free downward illumination through an energy efficient light source.

Also available in grey powder coated finish.

The white designs are from the IL Fanale range.

The shades are made using white glass and have a delicate and refined look.

The other pieces are made using pre aged copper and are also from IL Fanale.

For further information and enquiries contact Roy Doron on 1300 79 55 48.

LightCo has a huge range, all of which can be viewed on the company’s website, www.lightco.com.au

Tigger Hall never fails to please with her amazing collection of fabrics, lighting and accessories.

Her stand was certainly a stand out at the fair and attracted huge attention.

The pictures tell the story. You can see more on Tigger’s wonderful website.

Wicker Living is fresh and a departure from other companies selling weatherproof synthetic furniture.

These are just a small part of the collection. Have a look at their website for more.

I definitely need the piece above. Sunday papers, a cup of tea ... Oh yes!

The website is www.wickerliving.com.au

Launched at Decorations and Design were new additions Armadillo & Co’s existing collections.

River Weave (above) is part the Earth Collection. Ticking is a sophisticated look perfect for bringing casual flair, and Circus brings a fun streak that kids and youthful minded spaces would especially enjoy , however the balance with the Natural colour versus the muted crimson softens the look so really these pieces are at home anywhere in the house.

Geometric (top image) is part of of Armadillo & Co’s exclusive Designer Collection

The eye-catchingly graphic new range features three designs: Triangle, Hexagon and Crosscut.

They are all available in any colour combination from the 23 on offer, allowing for a kaleidoscope of mix and match possibilities.

To view the full collection visit Armadillo & Co’s website.

Linen & Moore featured its Blue Dragonflies bed linen at the fair (see top image of bed setting) a beautiful pure cotton embroidered collection.

The printed dragonflies cushions are 30cm x 50cm and 40cm x 65cm. Also featured was the company’s Boston line voile hand stitched quilts and shams available in grey, white and pale taupe in three sizes.

My particular fave was the gorgeous bright yellow Pom-pom velvet mini cushions. Just lovely and remiscent of the pom-pom mumus of the 60s.

I also loved the beautifully textured throws and cushions.

For further information visit, the Linen & Moore website or call Anna Lofts on 03 9419 6800

Theo and Joe featured some beautiful recycled pine pieces, upholstered furniture pieces and soft furnishings.

The deep royal blue cushions in various patterns were very eye catching. I haven’t seen this rich, lustrous blue for a long time.

Very Royal! For further information visit the Theo & Joe website www.theoandjoe.com

The Yantouch Jellyfish mood light (above right) is designed to produce stunning lighting effects.

With its intuitive touch control panel you are able to control the colours with your fingertips. According to Luminous Space, there are 16 million colours to choose from.

I think I tried at least 100 of them!

It’s not hard to see why the above lights are called Auriela (the Moon jellyfish).

Inspired by the amazing underwater creature the energy efficient LED lights are a delightful lighting option and have a three way touch ring sensor which allows the user to select the lighting effect desired.

Crystal is a modular LED light with colour-changing features.

Composed of various crystal shapes, you can assemble them in a host of ways and using the remote control you can also change the lighting mode to create different lighting effects.

Very ingenious and a real time waster. One of these on your desk and no work would be done.

For further information about Luminous Space’s lighting contact Mike Audino , mike@luminousspace.com.au or visit the company’s website, www.luminousspace.com.au

I can’t walk past the Silk Trader stand without running my hand across the beautiful silks and taking in the gorgeous array of colours and textures.

The company sells online. For further information, go to www.silktrader.com.au

The Essential Detail A host of original ideas on the Essential Detail stand, my picks being the feature bird stand above and the delightful little white porcelain vases.

Just the thing for one perfect bud. For further information, contact Lloyd Simmons on 0417 696 489, Lloyd@essentialdetail.com.au or visit the website, www.essentialdetial.com.au

Delighted to see TRVM Lighting again at the fair, with an expanded range of their timber chandeliers and lights.

The stunning, oversized chandelier pictured was an amazing centrepiece for their dispaly. For further information visit www.trvm.com.au

Lovers of quality Asian Antiques will be happy to hear that Water Tiger has opened a retail outlet in Sydney.

The company was recently a wholesaler only, so good news for our consumer readers.

Above are some of pieces currently available. The Water Tiger store is at 289 Young Street, Waterloo, NSW. Call owner, Kathrin Bruce to organise your appointment 0419 163 268.

The website is www.watertiger.com.au

I spent quite a while at this stand and the images really don’t do justice to the wonderful range available through Boyd Blue.

The four poster bed setting was stunning and again featured the rich royal blue.

The blue fabric used to make the bed cover is surprisingly inexpensive and can be purchased by the metre. You really need to visit the company’s website to see what’s available.

It’s very clear and easy to use ... there’s half an hour gone .... www.boydblue.com

You’ll also find links to some other terrific companies that Boyd Blue represent such as Bandhini, Designer Boys, Tantra, Pure Linen and more.

The brass foil mirrors featured in a group (above), make a great impact ... thinking a spare wall available in our hallway.

For further information, visit www.boydblue.com

Some new designs and some repeats of popular pieces at this fair from Lazy Susan.

Yellow is still strong across the board of interior design but loved the soft rose colours available in this collection from the company.

To see more visit, www.lazysusanaustralia.com.au

Inside Africa has a very original collection this season.

The African men with pitch helmet are from the Ivory Coast and are chiselled from one piece of timber.

These were brought into Australia some years ago but I haven’t seen them for some time. The beaded bamelike statues above come in a range of sizes from 42cm to over 1 metre.

For enquiries contact Bindou and Jason Burns on 02 66 85 5818 or visit the website, where you can order see all that is available, www.insideafrica.com.au

Some brilliant new pieces on Emily Ziz’s stand and brilliantly colourful as usual, but my favourites were the black and white Ronel Jordaan felt sheep.

Apparently you can put a light inside their belly to illuminate them to use as lamps or features. What a bright idea.

For further information contact owner, Emma Levitt on 02 8005 8599 or visit the website, www.emilyziz.com

Both comfortable and very elegant the Kingston sofa above, from Globe Imports is available in both a three seater and two seater with reversible cushions for two different looks.

The sofa features soft curves, nickel studding and black accents giving the piece a very classic look.

The Winward Dune lamp table above is from the Coastal Living collection, my favourite of all Globe’s collections. It’s made with white oak timber combined with aged iron legs.

The Modern Craftsman Colony floating drawer desk directly above has a leather top combined with campaigne metal corner brackets and metal legs give an industrial edge. I could do serious work at this table! For further information contact Jane Buckley on 02 9899 4768.

You can also visit the company’s website to see more of the collections above.

Only a couple of weeks until the Gift & Giving and Life Instyle fairs. I look forward to bringing you more news about latest decor trends from these fairs.

If you’re fan of lacquerware, you’ll enjoy DesignrSecrets’ website, www.designrsecrets.com.au which features a lovely range.

I spent a good half hour trolling through the extensive product range.

New at the fair were the set of three handmade spun bamboo lacquer bowls with lids featuring beautiful metal motifs.

The company’s mango wood vases were also striking.

Some interesting developments in hide rugs and objects now the use of hides has become popular.

Hong Kong based company, MD International Leathers showed some interesting dyed pieces at the fair as well as rugs made in a combination of dyed and patent leather (see black rug above).

The effect was very sleek and contemporary. The blue rug above right was stunning.

The company specializes in rugs, cushions and home decor made using various hides including, cowhide, springbok and sheepskin.

stablished for more than 15 years, purchasers can choose from the company’s established product line or can have products developed exclusively.

For further information contact Mark Dowding on mark@hidestyle.com or visit the website, www.mdileathers.co

Gold Coast based canvas print company; HomePride released some quality digital prints and oils at the fair.

The company has a great range of canvases ranging from the pretty to the witty and iconic.

You can see the full collection at the company’s website, www.homeprideoz.com

Designer Boys Designer Boys, Gavin Atkins and Warren Sonin are are doing extremely well with their Designer Boys Art attracting the interest of major hotels and interior design establishments.

Their collection of more than 120 decorative artworks are ever changing with more than 90 percent of the art personally designed and meticulously handcrafted by their global team of craftspeople, gypsies and artisans.

Below are some new additions to the boys’ collection at this fair The pics above are from the new Central Park Collection.

They collaborated with village craftspeople to launch a series of six unique botanical artworks. The collection is made using traditional embellishments of polished shells and natural beads hand-stitched onto a natural textile.

Pictured above left is Baru from the new Villa Collection, a collation of handmade tribal necklaces with a contemporary twist.

Above right is an addition to the Signature Collection (silver).

Natural Abstract II features the Innovative use of sea anemone spines hand stitched together to form a modern abstract design.

Enchanted is from the Print Collection and can be framed in black, white or silver. It’s an impressive 1205cm x 590cm piece.

Also from the Print collection is the aptly names Tranquility (left) and Irridescent.

For further information and to enquire, visit www.designerboyscollections.com

I fell in love with the sweet faced statue above from the new Amaya Interiors collection.

Their stand also featured some stunning wall features as well as the delightful pink chair above.

For further information contact Anthony Bruce (anthony@amayaiteriors.com.au) or Claudia Roriguez (Claudia@amayainteriors.com.au) .

You can also visit the company’s website to see more of the collection, www.amayainteriors.com.au

Independent Label exhibited for the first time at the Decoration + Design fair with its vibrantly coloured collection of vintage chairs and dress makers dummies covered in a amazing array of fabrics cleverly put together to make each piece a one off statement.

The limited edition collections are similarly creatively named; Timberland Babe, The Invasion of Batkic and Boozy Tequila and Drunken Cavalier & Americano just to mention a few.

The company is based in Hong Kong. To enquire, visit the website, www.independentlabel.asia

I keep running into these quirky metal animals from Think Outside which seem to appear all over the place from butcher shops and nurseries to backyard gardens.

The latest addition to Think Outside’s collection is the bovine beer chiller above, which is made using a 44 gallon metal drum.

At a glance I’d say it holds about six bottles of brew. A great talking point for your next barbie.

Think Outside has also gained a reputation for its excellent industrial style furniture.

The District Eight Collection is made using recycled timbers and ex-factory metal fittings

Director, Aaron Jackson says the designers are an industrial sentiment that focuses on authentic custom designs, creating clean, vividly unique contemporary designs in a stunning French colonial era.

The company’s workshop/ studio is located in Ho Chi Minh City, also lovingly known as “the Paris of Asia”.

For further information, click here

CLICK HERE TO GO TO PART III OF OUR BLOG ON DECORATION + DESIGN

Decoration + Design and Furnitex Trade Fair day one and I’m sweaty palmed with anticipation about all the new goodies I may find.

Typically I’m attracted by the new designs from Lincolnbrooks.

I loved the traditional designs brought up to speed with new treatments and bold colours, others in the earthy rich naturals we love.

The stand featured a mix of both wrought iron and cane furniture.

The chairs and lounger above were so comfortable ... think sipping a gin sling on a hot afternoon with eager barman in attendance.

The company is both designer and wholesaler and supplies to the retailers, decorators/designers.

For more information, here is their website, www.lincolnbrooks.com

If you’re getting the feeling that everything old is new again, you’re on the money.

My aunt had a lounge suite reminiscent of the chair above right, however her seats were covered in a lumpy nylon fabric.

It was a bit like sitting on an exfoliating glove.

The wonderful thing about today’s interpretations is the new treatments, fabrics and superior internal features available which add a whole new look and feel.

Along with a little design twist here and there to keep them very 21st century, I think they are pieces that will stand the test of time.

The designs above are from Bindi, which was established more than 65 years ago by HW Ford and is today still under the direction of family members at their Revesby, NSW plant.

You can see more of their furniture on www.bindifurniture.com.au

Making its debut at the fair was Entertaining Design.

The company is 100% Australian owned and operated and specializes in manufacturing custom designed entertainment pieces such as the ones as above.

Our design folk will love this company as its website allows clients to custom design their own pieces with a range of finishes ... durable polyurethane paint in a myriad of bright, contemporary and vibrant colours, mirror, natural and reconstituted stone, marble, timber (stained or painted), painted glass, crystal gloss laminex and print behind glass.

Go visit their website to have a play around, www.entertainingdesign.com.au

Some great new designs from Islander Imports at this fair.

There’s nothing like a bucket style chair for ultimate comfort and the coffee table above makes perfect sense to me.

The husband tends to get very unhappy with the pile of decor magazines that start obscuring his view of the TV after a few months.

Islander Imports is dipping their toe into the French furniture category at this fair with excellent results.

The company sold a container of the new designs on its first day of showing.

For further information, contact Islander or visit the company website, www.islanderimports.com.au 

I fell deeply in love with the nook above by Zanzibar Furniture.

I could sit happily here with a girl friend and an endless supply of good coffee and just watch the world go by all day.

Director of Zanzibar, Michael Lewis explained that the style is so appealing because it makes us feel secure, protected and enveloped. I couldn’t agree more.

In fact I loved every piece on the Zanzibar stand from the funky retro style chairs and sumptuously upholstered bed heads to the stunning lounge seat below (the two images showing front and back of the piece).

Zanzibar has been in the business for 25 years, designing and manufacturing furniture at its Sydney western suburbs plant.

They’ve supplied over 3 million pieces of furniture and homewares both throughout Australia and internationally, so it’s not surprising they’re media darlings.

Zanzibar pieces have featured in films, magazines and on almost every television channel ... with the likes of Mel and Kochie and Kerry-Anne Kennelly gracing Zanzibar sofas and chairs with their celebrity bottoms.

Visit www.zanzibarfurniture.com for more information.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO PART II OF OUR BLOG ON DECORATION + DESIGN.

People are increasingly looking for ways to bring the inside out.

From the fence to front door, deck or other entertaining area, there’s a diverse range of exciting painting ideas to try this summer.

Inspirations Paint & Colour has kindly provided us with some of their best tips to achieve that stunning finish to your outdoor space.

Popular Colours this Summer: For a simple but elegant result, team greys with a splash of white or brighter accent colours.

According to Inspirations Colour Consultant Lisa Christie, grey and white palettes provide the ideal backdrop for rustic pieces, timber features and quirky object art.

“The combination of grey or white with timber or stone is beautiful and somewhat timeless but relies heavily on interesting finishing touches and colourful elements in soft furnishings to provide a cosy appeal.”

“Timber features are also effective in softening the look of a white or grey home if there are no architectural feature opportunities.”

Lisa also believes natural shades will remain popular.

“Taupe, golden sandy colours and darker, warmer shades of green provide a natural appeal for exteriors”.

Oiling Your Deck:

A new coat of decking oil every few months will help protect your exterior timbers such as decks, fences and outdoor furniture from the elements while keeping it looking vibrant and like new.

Preparation is essential before treating your deck.

The timber should be thoroughly cleaned with a chlorine and bleach-free solution to avoid premature damage to the wood.

For difficult stains, try pressure washing or lightly sanding. For application use a brush or a sweep pad and apply the oil along the length of each board, keeping a wet edge to avoid overlapping.

Usually, 2-3 coats are adequate with enough drying time between each application.

Choosing the Right Timber Stain:

According to Inspirations Colour Consultant Angie Hinchliffe, timber stains are like white and neutral paints; there will always be one that will suit the style of your home and outdoor space.

“If your style is French Provincial then the grey soft ash stains will work. If you have a coastal or Hamptons style then wood washes of light stains suit and a modern contemporary outdoor space can use more of the rich, deeper stains”.

Tips:

Oil your deck in the proper weather conditions.

Do not apply in direct sunlight, windy weather or in 30 degree or more conditions. Ensure there is no rain on the way.

For best results, new timber must be primed and existing decks should be stripped and blasted.

Observe product recoat times to ensure that there is sufficient drying time between applications.

Painting Your Fence:

Painting your fence can improve the aesthetics of your home, frame your house and bring the landscapes to life.

Lisa Christie believes you need to determine whether want your fence to be the feature or the background.

“For a more subtle effect it’s best to go with darker colours.

For a feature fence choose brighter, bolder shades. Staining your fence is also a viable option to create a soft, textured appearance”.

If you have foliage along your fence, choose a contrasting fence colour to gain maximum impact.

“Decorative fence panels finished with rust effects can also look amazing – check out Dulux Design Rust paint.”

With posts and pickets, there is one golden rule; always use the darker colour of the two on the feature posts to frame the lighter shade.

To choose the right colour, “consider the style of the garden and the fence itself, as some fences could be accentuated by decorative painting elements.” 

Painting Your Front Door:

The front door is the first impression of your home and is easy to makeover.

To make your front door the focal point, you can choose bold statement colours or use decorative elements such as pots to complement whites, natural tones or even black.

Christie suggests choosing a high gloss finish on front doors to add class to any chosen colour.

What Your Front Door Says About You:

Black: elegance, power, strength Red: passion, bravery, honesty

Orange: adventure, love, happiness Blue: charm, calmness, wisdom

Purple: daring, extravagance, wealth

Olive: conventional, sophistication, style

White: simplicity, classical, liberty

For professional and practical advice or to book an Inspirations Colour Consultant to come to your home and help with colour selection contact Inspirations Paint & Colour stores: Call 1300 INSPIRE (1300 467 747) or visit www.InspirationsPaint.com.au

Award-winning Australian furniture designer and manufacturer King Furniture launched its first alfresco range, King Outdoor in late December.

The range recognises Australia’s love of outdoor living and will build on King Furniture’s reputation for outstanding sofas.

Leading the label’s highly anticipated debut is Delta Outdoor, based on the favourite Delta sofa. Available in a range of KingWeave man made rattan and premium King Outdoor fabrics, the Delta Outdoor sofa is as adjustable as its indoors counterpart offering maximum flexibility.

Delta Outdoor’s accessories include a matching umbrella. By inserting different brackets, the sofa can be transformed from an upright sofa to a sun lounge to a bed position, whilst its rectangular and square base offer in-built storage – handy for keeping towels, books, cushions, suntan lotions and other outdoor living accessories tidy.

For those looking to make a stylish statement, the Delta Circle Sofa joins the King Outdoor range.

The fun, comfortable design swivels 360 degrees and also comes in King Furniture’s new range of premium outdoor finishes, made from carefully selected weather resistant materials that are less likely to fade in the Australian sun.

The new King Outdoor range also includes Calypso round tables. Made from the signature KingWeave rattan with a specially designed glass top, the Calypso collection includes stylish coffee tables and side tables to complement the sofa.

Each piece of furniture in the King Outdoor range includes an application of KingGuard for extra protection and a 10 year steel frame warranty.

For further information visit www.kingfurniture.com.au