Australian Made for Australian Living - 8 New WARATAH Colours

This September, LUXAFLEX® have introduced eight new colours to the Waratah fabric range, inspired by current trends in interior design to refresh your windows.

Waratah colour trend inspiration

Continuing the tradition of local affordable quality, the LUXAFLEX® Waratah range has gained 8 new classic trending colours to the existing range. Cluster, Chi, Pluto, Greyshee, Stonehenge, Oxide, Metalcon and Gravity are the new colours that have been inspired by the influencing themes currently shaping the Australian home interior market. These colours are here to refine any space with just the right evolved style.

20 colour Waratah range

So what inspired these new colours?

CHI is where boundaries are blurred and colour is yearning for vanished epochs. Think tones of greys and blues. 

CLUSTER is where neutral meets illusory aesthetics. The colour takes the surfaces into the recreation of faded hues and emotions. 

BISQUE is about injecting comfort with a touch of muted drama. The new rugged natural takes flight. 

TRUFFLE is tactility and the subconscious drive of the senses to retrace urbanism and truth. Think natural brown with an underlying grey tone. 

PLUTO is the revelation in grey. The light compliment of the universe mixed with the lush softness that breaches texture play. 

GRAVITY is about the forces of prisms revealing the deceptive truth. It is where micro becomes macro and highly flexible. Think dark and moody tones.

Waratah is a 100% polyester blockout fabric providing the capability to beautifully coordinate looks and styles across different rooms and window types, as the fabric can be fit with Roller Blinds, Panel Glide Blinds and Vertical Blinds.

Waratah Fabric is proudly Australian Made and is now available in 20 essential Australian fashion forward colours. The fabric has been designed and tested for Australian conditions and consumer requirements.

Roller Blinds in the Waratah fabric

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Style your home with 4 NEW DESIGNER fabrics

This September, four stunning new fabrics have been introduced to the LUXAFLEX® Window Fashions Designer Series. The new fabrics, named Aria, Tempus, Alto and Luceeda all feature a diverse colour palette and modern stylised textures.

The new Designer Fabrics all deliver that finishing touch that will complement the many styling trends that are shaping the interior world. Each collection is available in a colour pallet that not only off sets its aesthetics, but delivers a surface design and unique appeal of perfection.

The four new fabrics allow for true co-ordination, providing the ability to match fabrics across both Luxaflex Roller Blinds and Luxaflex Panel Glide blinds, in every room in the house. The fabric choices include:

ALTO BLOCKOUT - Introducing the Glitz behind the Glamour of Alto Blockout. 

The Glamour pop of a plain metallic like no other in the range, Alto Blockout transforms any room from ordinary to extraordinary through its impeccable metallic lustre finish on its face surface. Alto features in 3 colours that will ignite any space.

TEMPUS - The light transcendence of Tempus Sheer

Capturing the true essence of a breezy Voile, Tempus fabric creates a meditative mood through its play on light in any room through its 5 astonishing atmospheric colours. This sheer is available in Roller and Panel applications, for that ultra-contemporary styling solution.

ARIA - The right understated Linen texture.

Encapsulating traditional yarn slubbing and delivering it through a modern de-tuned textured surface, Aria Translucent is all about delivering a simplistic modern realm. The range colourway’s allow for easy classic coordination to ignite any room.

LUCEEDA - That bold statement piece. 

Luceeda blockout fabric is all about that Sensuous appeal being delivered through elegantly woven lustrous yarns. Showcasing true elegance and harmony through its 5 statement colours at 2.8m wide, Luceeda adopts tonal foam backing to continue the range delivery of grandeur. A further delight to the offer is its sustainability of being Oeko-Tex certified

Selling Houses Australia – The Ramshackle Country Mansion

The LifeStyle Channel’s Selling Houses Australia Episode 8 Season 8

The Story: When Julienne Wilson saw her ramshackle mansion in country New South Wales, it was love at first sight. For 17 years she battled to restore its crumbling beauty, but when her husband died she decided it was time to move on. The place is falling down around her ears and Julienne doesn’t have the energy or funds to fix it. To add to her woes, country markets are slow and after 3 years and just 7 inspections, her chances of a sale are looking slim.

The Problem: This grand old home was in definite need of some tender loving care to restore it to its former glory. The home was previously a hospital and turned into a family home, which definitely took its toll on the home. The real buyer turn off was the fact that the outside of the house was decaying, which deterred buyers from even entering the house to see the interior. Even though the home had great potential and was full of history, the kitchen was in a need of a massive overhaul, and was literally falling apart. The walls were cracking, the floors needed changing and bits and pieces around the house needed restoring.

The Solution: The home was packed with potential and history, but just needed a good make-over. The concrete path leading to the home was removed and instead replaced with a deco granite path. New plants and trees were planted to give the home a more country feel, instead of a yard that was cramped by overgrown shrubs. The decaying verandah was completely replaced with new cypress wood, and the exterior of the home was refurbished and given a new paint job. Now the home looked buyer friendly from the outside.

The kitchen was given a complete makeover and a fully functional living space was created, while still maintaining the period feel with the Victorian county look. The kitchen now had all the modern components, including the Luxaflex® Tiered Modern Roman Shade in the fabric Linen Weave and Beechnut colour. Tiered Modern Roman Shades stack up, down or anywhere in between, giving you greater control of the amount of light you let into your home.

The flooring of the bedrooms were pulled apart, and instead replaced with carpet to give the rooms a lift. Luxaflex® Roller Blinds in the fabric Waratah and colour Bounty were installed in the bedrooms to give it that final finishing touch. The colour of the Roller Blinds helped in keeping the heritage of the home, but it also makes a very versatile colour scheme for any home.

The use of Roller Blinds created a simple, yet aesthetically attractive choice for the country mansion. Because of the simplicity of Roller Blinds, it fitted closely to the window, and so blends in well with the décor of the home, and allowed for sheer curtains to be placed on top of the Roller Blinds to create that little bit of special touch.

All Luxaflex® Window Coverings were supplied and installed by Luxaflex® authorised dealer Taylor Home Décor in Wellington, NSW.

Watch Selling Houses Australia every Wednesday, 8.30pm AEDT on The LifeStyle Channel, only on Foxtel. 

24 Hour Make-Over with Luxaflex, Colin, Justin and Channel Ten's The Living Room

Last Friday night on Channel Ten’s The Living Room, saw interior design gurus Colin and Justin, with the help of the team from Luxaflex transform the Parramatta home – a home still stuck in the ages, into something more chic and modern. Colin and Justin have renovated some of the world’s worst homes in the USA, UK, Spain and Canada, and we got the chance to see their marvelous ideas come to life.

This home had been crying out for a good make-over for decades. From the red patterned carpet, to the red velvet chairs, and the yellow window drapes and the gold velvet couches, this house was still living in the 70s.

The horrible yellow draped window was removed, and instead replaced with LUXAFLEX NEWSTYLE® Polyresin Shutters. Polyresin Shutters were also used as a room divider, to divide the kitchen from the dining and lounge room area, and act as a feature wall – showing how versatile LUXAFLEX® NEWSTYLE® Polyresin Shutters can be. The use of Polyresin Shutters brought an elegant modern touch to the Parramatta home, and was the perfect colour compliment to the fresh yellow walls.

LUXAFLEX NEWSTYLE® Polyresin Shutters also bought a soft elegance into the room. The best part is that it guarantees to not blister, peel, flake, corrode or fade due to the technologically advanced Polyresin compound used in the shutters. It creates a soft, matte lustre finish due to the PolySatin finish of the shutters. 

Here are a few key highlights about LUXAFLEX NEWSTYLE® Polyresin Shutters:

-          Durable: LUXAFLEX NEWSTYLE® Polyresin Shutters are virtually maintenance free, because they are not painted, so will never blister, peel, flake, corrode or fade. They are also unaffected by water or wood-destroying organisms and are UV-stabalised.

-          Child Safe: Because there are no dangling cords, LUXAFLEX NEWSTYLE® Polyresin Shutters are a safe window covering product for children and pets.

-          Australian Made: LUXAFLEX NEWSTYLE® Polyresin Shutters are made in Australia and manufactured with a unique vinyl compound called polyresin to minimise impact upon the environment.

-          Easy to clean: In most cases, soap and water is all it takes to remove unsightly blemishes.

-          Energy Efficient: Their macrocellular construction creates effective dead-air insulation and heat exchange is greatly reduced due to the vinyl’s low conductivity.

-          Sustainable: The efficient design and durability of the shutters means that they will last many times longer than a traditional blind or shade.

-          Non-toxic: The safety of vinyl has been confirmed in more than 50 years of scientific study.

To learn more about LUXAFLEX NEWSTYLE® Polyresin Shutters, visit http://luxaflex.com.au/

Selling Houses Australia – Stuck in the 70s

The LifeStyle Channel’s Selling Houses Australia Episode 6 Season 8

The Story - The Gentile’s are your typical close-knit Italian family. They all live in the same suburb and each week gather for dinner at Charlie and Silvia’s place. It’s the family home and Charlie built it with his own hands, but now the couple needs to sell up and downsize to fund their retirement. Tragically Charlie and Silvia can’t afford to stay in Reservoir, but the more money they get, the closer they can buy. Trouble is, the house has the street appeal of a loading dock and an interior straight from the 70’s - this is a tough challenge.

The Problem – Family buyers in today’s market no longer want a renovator that they can make their own, but instead want shiny and new homes. This 1970s solid but very outdated Reservoir home is therefore at the bottom of everyone’s list. Inside the home was like stepping back into time, to a place where disco and bad patterns ruled the world. The home had bad patterned floors, and the bedrooms were still stuck in the 70s. In today’s property market, bedrooms have become a real selling feature. The kitchen had good bones, but was in desperate need of a facelift, and the background was a concrete playground, not appropriate for young kids to play around.

The Solution – Take the outdated and ugly 1970s style and bring it into the next century. Street appeal was created by removing the carport and adding in some turf and plants. The turf and plants gave the exterior of the home a breath of fresh air, and made it look more inviting. The concrete background was also given a facelift. The concrete was removed and replaced with turf, making the backyard child and family friendly.

The bedrooms throughout the home were looking drab, so to give the bedrooms more appeal and selling power, a feeling of luxury in the bedrooms were created. New modern lights, beds and furniture were installed in each bedroom, along with Luxaflex® Roller Blinds in the fabrics Versailles (colour Ivory) and Calypso (colour White). Luxaflex® Roller Blinds helped to get rid of the 70s drab, and turn the home into fab. Roller Blinds were also installed in all the dining rooms to replace the old boring curtains.

The choice of the two fabrics in the colours Ivory and White make very versatile colour schemes for any home. The use of Roller Blinds creates a simple, yet aesthetically attractive choice for the Reservoir home. Because of the simplicity of Roller Blinds, it fits closely to the window, and so blends in well with the décor of the home – fashionable and functional.

All Luxaflex® Window Coverings were supplied and installed by Luxaflex® Gallery dealer Decorator Curtains & Blinds in Greensborough, VIC.

Watch Selling Houses Australia every Wednesday, 8.30pm AEDT on The LifeStyle Channel, only on Foxtel. 

DESIGN TRENDS FOR 2015

A new year brings with it the opportunity to refresh the interiors of our homes. Looking to emerging design trends is a smart way to ensure your interior has longevity and makes the most of the products that are becoming available on the market.

But what are the fresh design trends for 2015? We’ve discovered three that are going to give your home a new lease on life this year.

Earthy Botanic

Both Dulux and Paint Place revealed deep greens as the major players in their colour trend forecasts for the coming year, with Dulux in particular giving a generous nod to the desire to have greenery in both our homes and workspaces.

While Paint Place’s Forge Ahead trend had a muddier and moodier colour palette at play, the general consensus in the marketplace is that a desire to get back to nature is a strong one for 2015.

Look for green feature walls and emerald homewares to become prominent, indoor plants (and pots) to grow in popularity and vertical gardens to dominate balconies and courtyards.

If you’re looking to channel this vibe in your own home, connect with nature by opting for

LUXAFLEX Pirouette® Shadings, which will allow you to see your garden from inside your home, let in light but still retain a sense of privacy.

Baroque Revival

Love Game of Thrones? You’re set to revel in the medieval interior revival that’s been inspired by this TV genre. Leading UK-based trend forecaster Victoria Renshaw who presented at Australia’s Décor + Design Show says that people are looking to history for inspiration, with sumptuous fabrics like velvet, damask patterns on walls and brass decor making a comeback. Expect to see vintage store finds with a baroque quality returning, too. A sense of opulence is strong in this trend.

Pantone’s colour of the year for 2015, Marsala, is a rich red that further proves the baroque interior aesthetic is set to return. Its deep, romantic qualities will give your home a soulful and seductive edge, so expect to see more of it pop up across homewares and fabrics.

If you want to play to this alluring interior aesthetic, look to the introduction of the latest Silhouette Shadings Designer Series fabrics. The colours French Linen, Myst, Brio, Mystere, Monaco, Chateau and Nouveau all evoke classical elegance in a contemporary and striking way.

Future Industrial

Industrial design is going to be pushed further in 2015, with darker and moodier colour stories at play. Expect to see charcoal grey, dirty blue and muddy purple paints making their presence known, while raw textures like weathered woods and beaten metals will be prominent.

Both Colourways (a leader in local trend forecasting) and Victoria Renshaw seem to agree on this, with Victoria pointing out that the metals we’ll see won’t resemble the shiny varieties that were big last year, but materials that are beaten, stamped and chiselled to look as though they’ve been through something.

A more masculine interior trend with a lot of hardness at play, you can elevate this look in your own home with a set of LUXAFLEX® Newstyle Polyresin Shutters, which will further enhance the rawness of the Future Industrial look

Interior Design Insights: Art Attack

... Or a beginner's guide to starting an art collection.

Written by Lynn Malone, exclusively for Luxaflex with expert art adviser, Brenda Colahan of Brenda Colahan Fine Art.

Street walking for art
Entry to many London galleries and museums is free including the Tate Modern. Without question Tate Modern is steeped in history and its collection of modern and contemporary art is extraordinary; however, my interests were in the streets. Finding London street art and commercial galleries was equally intriguing and time well spent visiting... Here are my picks.  Happy trails.

Hebru Brantley Six, 2014. Courtesy of Mead Carney Fine Art, London

Mead Carney
meadcarney.com
Representing megastar artists Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst, Mead Carney are on top of their game when it comes to identifying artists who have potential to be highly collectible and purchase prices to soar. Hebru Brantley is one of those handpicked by Mead Carney and the Gallery hosted his first international exhibition. Brantley’s work first came to attention at Art Basel in Miami when hip-hopping zillionaire, Jay Z acquired several pieces.

David Zwirner Contemporary
davidzwirner.com
Fostering the careers of some of the most influential working artists today and estates of internationally acclaimed artists, David Zwirner Contemporary Gallery is one not to miss. While the Gallery represents a wealth of talent, my selection as an emerging artist to watch comes closer to home and is Matt Glenn, a London-based, Australian-born visual artist and coincidently the David Zwirner gallery assistant manager. Glenn is represented in Sydney and Berlin by Michael Reid Gallery.

Matt Glenn, Green screen for an action film, 2011. With permission of the artist.

Street Art London
streetartlondon.co.uk
Here today and gone tomorrow literally describes London’s street art scene with the city council removing artworks often before the paint dries or artists painting over redundant works and viewing the works becomes a moveable visual feast – if you know where to look. East London is the most prolific precinct with Street Art London operating private and group walkabouts. Their guides know where to find the best pieces and in many instances, is one of the artists whose work is viewed.

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Your art starts now

When it comes to starting an art collection – there are seemingly endless choices of galleries, artists, genres and media and the process may prove daunting. Brenda Colahan of Brenda Colahan Fine Art and a Sydney-based professional art consultant, shares her expertise on how to start an art collection:

1. Visit leading galleries
By extensively viewing new and emerging talent at leading galleries way before you purchase you will understand the genres of contemporary art that appeal to you and what you can expect to pay for artworks.

2. Seek professional advice
The ever-changing art world is a confusing place for many, particularly the novice collector. More than ever I recommend that professional advice or second opinions be sought, from gallerists, consultants and art dealers. Ask a lot of questions!

3. Buy what you like
The idea of art as investment has been around for a long time, but with markets changing rapidly it’s hard to pick, even for the experts. It’s important to choose what you relate to and will enjoy having on your walls.

4. Subscribe
Knowing the trends, featured artists, prizewinners and whose works are included in leading public galleries are essential reading for the collector. There are fantastic fine art journals to subscribe to and art books galore at gallery bookshops.

5. A personal journey
Make your collection a personal one by choosing art which you love and which speaks to you. Your collection will become your own self-portrait as you look back on how it has formed, expanded and matured.

Interior Design Insights; Sleepless in Milan

In part one of Lynn Malone's insights into the world of interior design, she heads to Milan to get the exclusive first look at new trends and designs for Luxaflex.

Described as a city where design never sleeps, Milan is host to the Salone del Mobile, the largest global design exhibition held annually each April.  In 1961, Salone del Mobile was founded by a handful of Italian furniture manufacturers to promote exports and to recognise Italy for its design finesse and manufacturing prowess.  Today over 160 countries are represented exhibiting furniture, fabrics, finishes, flooring, window coverings, lighting, kitchens and bathrooms; everything imaginable for home interiors.  Further boosting the regional economy during the six-day official event term, Milan inner city hotels are sold out 12 months prior; restaurants and nightlife hot spots are a buzz; and airline tickets are at a premium.

Situated in the outskirts of Milan, the Salone del Mobile 200,000 square metre fair grounds are a 40-minute train commute from the CBD.  There are 20 pavilions housing thousands upon thousands of temporary showrooms complimented by countless pop-restaurants, cafes and gelato stands.

Setting an all-time attendance record, this year over 350,000 paid visitors graced the fairgrounds.  Predominately a trade-only event, Salone del Mobile is attended by Italian and international architects; product and interior designers; manufacturers and suppliers; students and the media – all questing for a greater knowledge of the trends in design.

Biennially there are satellite specialty exhibitions – even-numbered years it is EuroCucina, kitchen and bathrooms; and odd-numbered years it is Euroluce focused on light technology.  This year was EuroCucina with six of the 20 pavilions devoted to kitchen and bathroom exhibitors and one pavilion solely focused on new technologies; and kitchen-related appliances and fixtures.  Viewing EuroCucina in its entirety takes two to three days circumnavigating the pavilions – arriving daily as the gates open at 9:30am and leaving at 6:00pm; not accounting for missed turns and retraced steps despite the explicitly informative guide books provided.

Salone del Mobile purposely showcases innovative and cutting-edge design.  That said, not all products exhibited come to fruition as manufacturers use the exhibition as a test market:  the more popular a product, the more likely it is realised.

As humongous as Salone del Mobile is in its geographical footprint and its number of exhibitors, it is the tip of the proverbial design iceberg. For every Salone del Mobile showroom there are two showrooms located in the city that participate under the umbrella of Milan Design Week.  As if 20 pavilions were not enough – top-tier brands fit out palatial inner-city villas to showcase their products in a compelling residential setting to host gala-events, cocktail parties and product launches.  For many a novice visitor to Salon del Mobile and Milan Design Week, the private showrooms are serendipitously discovered to the delight and dismay of the visitor toward the week’s end.

If trending designs tickles your interest, please tune into our next story covering emerging trends gleaned from Salone del Mobile and its world-class brands, manufacturers and top-notch designers.