New project Tour: Hampton Residence

Located in the bay-side suburb of Hampton, Melbourne this family home showcases a unique and relaxed residence that blends the allure of Palm Springs. Through meticulous design choices and a touch of playfulness, this residence offers a haven of casual liveable sophistication for a young family of four, creating a constant feeling of summery bliss all year round.

Originally constructed in the early 2000s, this substantial build offered the ideal foundation for the transformation that awaited. The house had excellent bones and was well-designed and built for its time, but it required an update to match the client's vision. The property served as a blank canvas, offering the perfect opportunity to enhance and reshape its existing charm.

The kitchen, living area, dining space, master bedroom, and ensuite were meticulously renovated, incorporating serenity and improved functionality. The overarching heart of this home is steeped in a foundation of dusty pinks, blonde timbers, pastels and rust accents, creating a light, airy, and calming atmosphere reminiscent of the chic nonchalance of Palm Springs, despite being in Melbourne where the winter blues are known to take hold.

The entry and staircase were reworked, featuring fluted walls that stand out as the most significant statement piece. Embraced by the clients, the concave fluted walls that line the hall and stairwell required some compromises with the builder, but the rhythmic and impactful first impression it creates is well worth the effort. The fluted walls set the tone for the entire residence.

This rhythmic style seamlessly connects the open plan living, leading to the kitchen island. Its fluted base and natural stone bench top provides a robust yet decorative solution, paired with azure blue kit-kat tile splash back and American oak cabinetry, transform the kitchen dining into a tranquil and serene space for family living.

Moving through to the living space, the ambiance of warmth and depth greet you with dappled sunlight that passes through the sheer linen curtains anchored by the refinished original red gum timber floors to take on a more bleached modern look. Oak timber joinery provides handy storage and display for beautiful objects and vases, connecting to the fireplace clad in hand made terracotta tiles. A handcrafted Jardan sofa with timber base upholstered in rust toned boucle textured wool with aztec cushions and built-in side table provides a structured yet casual seating whist providing a space for a wattle flower moment. While a rusty pink hand tufted rug delineates the living room space. Overall the living space is a captivating play of tone, texture and warmth.

The dining room further boasts American oak in the form of a joinery bar, and dining table encompassing the similar palm spring vibe and play on textures via the boucle wool dining chairs and rusty blush tones counterbalanced with the living room connecting the dining space, kitchen and living room to the outdoor BBQ area for seamless entertainment for family gatherings.

The master bedroom exudes a captivating and mysterious atmosphere, evoking a sense of intrigue and allure. Its dark and moody ambiance sets it apart from the overall style of the house, creating a sanctuary after a long day of work. Featuring a fluted floor-to-ceiling headboard and Memphis inspired pendants light that gently illuminates the space, casting enchanting patterns and creating a mesmerising visual display.

Style like a pro: Decision Fatigues

Plan your strike. Get your colour palate locked and loaded.

No, not a typo.  I am indeed using dramatic military vernacular for this particular topic.  The topic that is the never ending despotic tyranny of “consumer choice”.  

Hundreds, thousands of choices. All marvellous. All waiting for you to meticulously sift through to find THE perfect piece for you home.  Before you know it, you have 157 grey modular couches on your short list with not even a glimmer of a final decision…Sound familiar?  Those of you that have attempted to DIY their own interiors will know what I’m putting down and it’s something I hear quite often from my clients.  They thought “how hard could this be?”  They donned the fatigues, unholstered their credit cards and waded into the swampy (but oh so pretty) marsh of the homemaker centre only to met by a formidable barrage of choice, running at them like hungry Raptors in a jurassic cornfield. Panic sets in, the white flag hastily goes up and suddenly that old ratty couch isn’t so bad. 

I’m a Libra (not an astrophysicist) and decision making is oft fraught and laborious.  Don’t even picture me sitting hunched over the menu like a mad scientist trying to decide which entree to order whilst my fellow dinner guests slowly loose their will to live.  Yet burdened with this terrible affliction, I work very happily in a profession where decision making is king.  But how?!  How do I efficiently pull together a coherent concept, choose furniture, paint colours and battalions teeny weeny little decorator objects without succumbing to design paralysis?  

Put down that Ikea catalogue and read on my dear Comrades, your lounge room needs you.

Laser Like Focus.

You know that look your pet gives you when you’re scoffing pizza on the couch?  That’s focus.  Those steely determined eyes, watching and studying every minutiae of movement, intricately tracking that slice of pizza from the box to your face (and probably down your t-shirt).  Body motionless but tense, ready to strike when opportunity falls from your mouth.  Doubt that you will accidentally drop an entire slice on the floor is never entertained.  Success will be theirs. If not by your careless greasy hands then certainly by the sheer telekinetic power currently being employed by Walter the Puggle.

Be like Walther the Puggle at dinner time when entering the furniture store.  FOCUS. You know you want a modern light grey modular lounge.  “Of course!” says the sales assistant who promptly walks you over to the most perfect and comfortable grey modular you’ve ever seen. GET. IT…..But wait! The sales assistant seductively asks “But have you seen these…?” Your hairs prickle with curiosity, the sales assistant gestures their arm like a tv game show hostess and suddenly a savanna of couches is revealed, all different, all beautiful.  None being a grey modular couch. Now, you’re questioning your plan. Those hours you scoured instagram, measured the room, argued with the other half, gave Walter a bit of pepperoni and said it was the last one, re-measured, given Walter another bit of pepperoni and finally agreed to a solution have now gone.  Hastily surrendered in the face of new and completely different options.  Why? Because they’re simply there.  

Remember, pizza box, face.  Don’t be distracted! Be like Walter. You knew what you wanted and it’s here, waiting for you. Perfect…the store has metaphorically dropped THE most perfect slice of pizza on the floor.  Be. Like. Walter. Snaffle it now without hesitation knowing in your heart it’s what you wanted in the first place and it’s perfect for your house.  Let some other gormless schmuck be ravaged to death in the sofa savanna.  You have the inside scoop, you haven’t won the war yet but the first battle can be notched up as an allied win.

Spidy Senses.

“Let’s just make sure there’s not a better option”  …I hear this a lot. And as Paul Keating once said, this concept “is a shiver looking for a spine”.  Usually mine.

Choosing fabric and colour samples can be overwhelming.

Sure, getting the best option is super important. But that best solution is something you’ve probably already discovered when pulling together your overall colour scheme. Sitting in a showroom with a sales assistant helpfully hovering like an impatient Blackhawk chopper (desperate to make a sale) whilst you’re engaged with a weapons grade toddler tantrum is not the time to start exploring an entirely new design concept.  Then the sales assistant parks a troop carrier of fabric sample books and proceeds to lob grenades of designer fabrics at you in an effort to be “helpful”. Suddenly you can’t decide between the teal velvet, hot pink corduroy or cobalt blue boucle.  What happened to light grey?!  Put down all the other sample books that aren’t grey…Except maybe the one with the cobalt boucle.  Maybe we should just have a look…

I won’t lie, once you have “the colour” locked in, then there’s “which shade?”.  Even talking humble grey we have a kaleidoscope of choices.  Shark grey, charcoal, flint, pavement, graphite, smoke, pewter…I could go on. I won’t.  I do have a client at the moment who delights in the unnecessarily fruity names we creatives come up with for simple colour names.  I’ll admit, it’s become quite a fun game to come up with increasingly ludicrous names for our colour palate and highly recommended to lighten the mood…But I digress.

There’s only one piece of advice I have here.  Trust. Your. Gut.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve laboured over 50 shades of porpoise (not a typo, a legit colour) with clients just to end up selecting the first one that caught our eye…only now it’s dark outside.  Now, I’m not saying don’t look at the various shades, it’s your duty! But if you thought light grey was the colour, then look at the light grey options. Don’t even bother looking at the darker shades. Choose from the handful you do want, not the gazillion you don’t.

In closing.

I guess the nutshell sales pitch here is trust your judgement and your plan and remain focused.  You decided a light grey modular was the right choice weeks ago, then built a whole room around it.  Don’t go a changing now just because you saw a lovely but totally unsuitable day bed.  Approach everything from here on in with blinkered determination to succeed in the face of choices overload.  Trust me, I’ve been there and done the alternative many times before learning this particular war game. And once you engage these strategies, you’ll be sitting on your new couch eating pizza with Walter in peaceful bliss in no time.

Happy styling!

Dave xx

On another note, Ii’s my hope that these blogs give you practical info to help style your own master piece, intended to be delivered a light and entertaining way.  How am I doing?  If you love it, share it with those you know would love it too. If you hate it or want to me to discuss a particular topic, don’t be shy!  I love all feedback so send me a message.  I have a 3 part series outlining the entire design process which should be a good summer read…and helpful too!  Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter to get all the latest info AND 10% off your first purchase.

Introducing the limited edition "Smells Like...Shazza in Reception"

Life has been way too serious of late so I thought I’d have a bit of fun and introduce a very limited “Smells Like…” product range. The really exiting thing? I’m running a competition to win a Shazza scented candle AND the bragging rights to come up with the next “Smells Like…” scent!! For me info, head over to my insta feed at @_dmpcreative

But, just who is….

In 1986, life is good for Sharon Peterson. 

Shazza, as she’s known around town, landed the plum job of office administrator at the Tootgarook Motor Mechanics in 1982.  Not the most exciting job but it does come with perks.  Free servicing of her new Holden Camira and an early finish on Friday arvos for a couple of cheeky West Coast Coolers with the boys in the workshop out back.  Every Saturday night Shazza and boyfriend Travis enjoys a romantic dinner for 2 at the local Sizzler.  Once a year, Shazza packs up and heads north to Hamilton Island for cocktails on the beach.  Yep, life sure is good.  Mostly.

With Shazza’s desk located in reception, she is the (sometimes) friendly face of the Tootgarook Motor Mechanics.  Not an easy task. The arctic draft from the workshop is relentless and brutal.  On this frigid jetstream carries the noxious wafts of old rubber tyres, WD40 and the crackling sounds of 92.3 EON FM.  Rain, hail or shine Shazza is cocooned in her Jenny Kee jumper with a Holiday Ultra cigarette clamped between her fingers in a bid to keep her warm and the boring customers vaguely bearable.  

But as one of those boring customers, you would never know.  Upon entering reception of the the Tootgarook Motor Mechanics, clutching your Toyota Corona car keys, you are consumed with heady smell of sweet musk from Shazza’s liberally applied perfume.  A mid note of a strawberry cassis from her half drunk Big-M and a slightly smokey top note from a smoke, hastily extinguished under the desk.

This is the smell of Shazza.  Now captured in 100% high quality soy wax for a long and steady burn (just like Shazza’s temper) and presented stylishly in a white frosted glass tumbler (uncharacteristically chic for Shazza).

But hurry!  Shazza is a very limited edition so get in fast whilst stocks last!  Once she’s gone, she’s gone for good (exactly what she said to Travis last night at Sizzler)…

A very special thank you to my good friend Sally from Sally Browne Landscapes for being such a good sport and taking on the role of Shazza. Sally is an amazingly talented landscape designer, check out her work at http://sallybrownelandscapes.com/

Power Decorating

Grab your shoulder pads everyone.  The 80’s are back!

Interior trendsetters are already working with the 80’s influence as seen in the new product ranges from Jardan and Globe West…to name a few.  One thing is certain, it’s a broad interpretation of 80’s design. Spanning everything from pure artisan design (aka not for your everyday home) as seen by some of the pieces coming out of Bohinc Studio to soft, plump couches like Jardan’s Valley range.  This trend can work in almost any space from a frosty art gallery to a cosy family room.

Similarly this broad church approach is applied to the colour palate.  Bold, primary based colours for the more adventurous.  Colours such as Riot Red and Blue Cadet, both tipped to be a 2019 trend.  More sedate treatments include Cantaloupe, Neo Mint, natural terracotta and muted blues and aqua.  Grey is still a crucial grounding element….and not the flat grey seen across many an 80’s office.  Remember the combo?  Flat grey walls with a fire engine red trim somewhere.  Enchanting…can’t believe I begged my Mum to decorate my bedroom like that circa 1986!!  But then again, I also had a red Ferrari 308 GTS poster which was also highly out of character.  No, it’s natural and textured grey in the form of concrete, stone tiles and marble.  

For what it’s worth, I tend to lean to the more theatrical interpretation (surprise).  I always try to encourage my clients to live a bit more on the wild side and working with these crazy colours and designs can be a breeze if you remember to keep it simple.  For me, success lies in setting a few bold key pieces against a simple backdrop of white walls, concrete floors and keeping decorator to a minimum (I can’t believe I just said that!).  Instead go for great art and track lighting to add mood and stylish flair.

Fond memories of those 80’s Bette Midler comedies which seemed to feature huge minimalist mansions with a scattering of incongruous, bold art pieces warm my heart with this interior trend. The house from Ruthless People…#bliss.

A set from Ruthless People - seminal cinema….

Details, details.

Interior styling is all about the little things.

Sure couches, paint colours and surface finishes are critically important. But what makes a space inviting are the small elements of hospitality you can add that welcomes people into the space.  Whether they actually avail themselves of said gratuity doesn’t matter.  It’s the thought that counts.

It’s also a great styling opportunity!  My new favourite thing to include in my projects are glass and carafe sets…and none caught my eye more the Maison Balzac’s brightly coloured glass offerings.  Nestled on a decorator tray and placed on a bedside table or study desk, they look amay-zing as a decorator piece but also evoke that little touch of luxurious yesteryear hospitality that doesn’t seem to exist anymore.  

But of course I wouldn’t be me if I stopped there.  I always add a bowl of irresistibly exotic sweets, stylish decanters filled with amber coloured whiskey and scented candles all with the intention to engage all the sense and create a space that’s just daring you not to fall in love with it.

And yes, I do this in my own house and I haven’t had a single complaint…

#i_hate_scandi

I have a secret confession….Scandi.  Not a fan.

It is a trend that appeals to many and for that I tip my hat.  Millions of people worldwide can’t be wrong?  Perhaps it’s the soft, jovial DNA within scandi that has the ability to soothe and calm that has made it so darn ubiquitous.  Or perhaps it was the never ending push from retailers that took something kinda nice, homogenised it and then gave it an irresistible price point that made it the go-to trend for what seems like an eternity.  Who knows, and even though it dramatically improved the look of the average home (for which we can all be grateful), it’s not enough good will to make me embrace it.

Thankfully, in the midst of a multicoloured, natural wood frenzy the taste makers of the world have been in the lab quietly plotting a darker, moodier alternative.  

Enter “Cassis”.

An aphotic twist on the ever cheerful “dusty pink” and “blush”, the corner stones of the scandi palate (along with pale grey *insert eye roll here*), Cassis is a refreshingly moodier hue that sits somewhere between a dirty pink and purple. Its also flagged by the fortune-taste-tellers to be a big trend over the next few years.  

Hoo - RAH!

Cassis, along with “rubber plant” (basically forrest green to us mere mortals) could very well be the new “it” girls. And boy, do they look good together. Teamed up with linished or distressed brass and scorched wood accents it’s a winning combo that can be either luxe’d up by incorporating black marble and tactile velvet or toned down to a more grounded look by using more humble materials such as wool or linen.

Dark, brooding and super sexy, this is an androgynous scheme that has impact and is literally the goth antithesis to the ditsy blonde scandi look.  And it couldn’t have come sooner!

Time to embrace the darkness people!