Interior Design

Above - My 1940's cottage with solid wood floors If you are building a new house or renovating, one way to add charm and character is with solid wood floors, I say "solid" as there are a few other options including engineered wood, however, if you want quality and durability, you can't go past the  beauty of solid wood. With the many types of wood finishes, I've written this post with hints on selecting the right look for your style of home.  Wooden floors have been around for centuries which proves their durability, they add character and warmth that carpet and tiles cannot. Wooden floors can look rustic or refined depending on the finish you choose. I live in a 1940's brick cottage and lucky enough to have the original solid wood floors which have a durable gloss lacquer. I have lived in the house the past 8 years, it was renovated 4 years earlier, yet our floors are still looking great. The bonus of solid wood floors is that when my varnish eventually wears...

1. The perfect mini mudroom - image by Charlie Kingham   Not everyone has the luxury of a separate mudroom, however, with some thoughtful design, even a small hallway or entry can achieve organisation for coats, hats, shoes and the dog paraphernalia many of us accrue.  I have always been envious of those beautiful mudrooms seen in Hampton style homes, so when I spotted some gorgeous,   black iron coat hooks on a UK website, Abodent.com I had a fair idea of how I could use them.  Abodent is a small company that have not lost their way in the big wide web, I love the personal touch their website has. Abodent  have an array of knobs, hooks and home-ware and more excitingly, ship world wide. Abodent have traditional style hooks and handles plus some rather quirky ones too. I wanted to check if the hooks could be shipped to NZ so emailed them and I was pleased to get a prompt reply from Kate, saying "yes". My hooks arrived quickly, just over a week from ...

Image via CM Natural Designs Company A beach cottage should be decorated in a relaxed style, however that doesn't mean you can't inject some colour and personality, just as the designers have done with this lovely home. I don't believe in "overkill" when it comes to decorating a beach cottage and when I say this, I mean filling it with too many beachy items. If your home is by the beach, I say, leave those shells on the beach and use art and a few decorative pieces to reflect the relaxed nature your seeking, remember "less is best". This San Diego beach cottage has a bold take on design with the use of colour and accent pieces. Grey can be dull but not if it is juxtaposed against white, which gives an instant lift. Using a bold colour such as blue above the white panelled walls, is sure way that you are not going to over do this strong colour.  The interior design of this beach home is by CM Natural Designs  who have added personality through texture, pa...