This time of the year everybody is a bit over winter and eagerly awaiting the first warm sunny days of spring!  We’ve cocooned ourselves over the chilly months, creating cosy spaces in our homes. Now it’s almost time to open up the house and embrace the outdoors again!

Bring the garden into your home with green – the new colour movement across all home wares.  If you are confident with colour, mix different shades of green with white – a simple but stunning combination!  Or, begin with a rug, and then layer your room from the floor up. Bring softness into your home with fabrics – curtains, upholstery, cushions, throws.

Sheer curtains filter the bright summer light, creating a restful ambience and look gorgeous with the gentle breeze softly billowing the hems….

Scaled up florals are ideal for bringing nature indoors. Use them also on a statement chair, ottoman or bedhead.
As always comfort is key; tactile fabrics enhance the experience. Cushions with embroidery detail provide a tactile and folksy touch.

You don’t have to completely redecorate to achieve a summery look – be selective and choose one colour that will inject new interest into your room. Repeat the colour in various shades and patterns.
Mix up the patterns in the same colour palette for an original décor, team large scale floral print curtains with a bold chevron stripe on an ottoman or cushion – the effect is Wow!

Orange is still a strong decorating colour – team with naturally warm timber tones.

Fifty shades of blue – from royal, marine and cobalt to pastel, sky and powder – blues are perennial favourites and never go out of style.  Classic blue and white works so well in Beach Hamptons style décor. For a masculine touch work the blues together with sleek, modern feature pieces in black.

My secret ingredient for redecorating has always been to have at least one piece of furniture with a provenance. It provides an intriguing talking point and anchors the room with a history that brings intangible layers to your décor, to create an inviting and welcoming home. A room with brand new everything is not relaxing and inviting. Redecorate slowly. Try moving pieces from room to room. I have a dressing table that has done duty in bedrooms, living area and a hallway!

If you need any guidance with selecting fabrics for spring / summer decorating – we are here to help! Call Spring Crest on (07) 55922200

By Coleen Radford

From Babies To Young Adults

Need help to create a special place for kids? Here are some ideas to help you to achieve a look that your child can grow with.

We all want our newborn to have the perfect nursery; but how to cover all bases from baby to teenager? Unless you can afford to change the décor every couple of years; you are most likely looking to decorate with a décor your child can grow with, and use temporary decorating tricks like adding removable wall decals as their interests change. (Think love hearts, butterflies, super heroes, sports stars.)

If you want smart and timeless you can’t go wrong with a  black and white base theme.  For small windows use white Roman shades framed with black window architraves then add combinations of black and white furniture; finished off with pops of colour in scatter cushions and upholstered pieces. For a full length window use a plain neutral light coloured fabric for curtains and toning slimline pelmet.  Or use a combination of roller blinds for blocking out light teamed with full length sheer curtains.  Remember that a child’s bedroom may amass lots of toys in bright colours that will add the colourful element to a neutral décor.

This neutral room can easily be changed as your child grows…

Cover a wall with a big picture mural, vinyl decals or posters. Add décor that reflects your child’s interests or where you live.

A beach theme always looks fabulous for coastal living and suits both sexes. Blue and white is not gender specific, is easy to live with and always fresh and crisp. Add oars and bold stripes for a masculine look. For a feminine look add a chandelier light fitting – little girls and big girls love them! Then just add favourite colours in cushions and accessories.

Your teenage daughter may not want the cute pink and purple love hearts and butterflies she used to crave…how about a chic sophisticated Parisian look? A sleek Roman blind in black with some diamante bling along the lower edge, teamed with sheer black side drapes pulled back in a dramatic sweep held in place with a gorgeous tassel tieback –maybe puddle the sheer on the floor for added drama? Add a glass top desk, acrylic Louis chair, chandelier light and some French poster prints – Voila!
Prefer New York? Change the posters to the Manhattan skyline, Times Square or any other iconic Big Apple image. Add a picture of the iconic Yellow Cab and some splashes of yellow in scatter cushions.

London? Add the Union Jack as a scatter cushion, posters of a red London Bus, red telephone box…you get the idea!

When your teenage son has outgrown the Super heroes and Thomas the Tank Engine look, he needs a very cool but masculine and stylish room! Striped Roman blinds with a pelmet in a plain fabric (pick out one of the colours in the stripes) is a look that is timeless. A bedhead or headboard in a coordinated fabric finishes off the décor.
There are heaps of fabulous geometric and retro prints available too – you will be spoilt for choice!

Teenagers need their own space; and how to incorporate a study area as well as some casual living space can be a dilemma in a small bedroom.

Think about using a day bed that can double as a hang out area.  For a corner space use two simple upholstered bedhead panels attached at right angles to the walls to provide something to lean against; add some funky cushions and you have an instant chill out area.

Upholstered Bed Heads are a fantastic and very inexpensive way to make the transition between ages.  I regularly changed the bed heads in both my children’s bedrooms for a quick and easy facelift. If you keep the window coverings neutral then you can go all out on the bedhead – bright bold stripes, pretty soft dimity prints, dramatic animal prints – anything at all will go with a neutral base décor. As the fabric required is so minimal, an expensive fabric can be used without the finished product blowing your budget. If you want the room converted to a guest room, just replace with a stylish bed head and add coordinating scatter cushions.

Happy decorating!

By Coleen Radford

Ask yourself these questions:

• What is the room to be used for? (Sleeping, watching TV, office, multi-purpose)
  
• If it is a bedroom – what sort of mood do you want to create? Romantic? Soft and feminine? 
  
• Masculine, clubby? Peaceful and restful? Fun Kids room? Cool funky teenage boy bedroom? 
  
• Chic fashionable teenage girl room?
  
• Is block out from sun important in this room?
  
• Do you need privacy during the daytime in this room but still want light coming in?
  
• Do you need to cut glare but still be able to see out?
  
• Is sound proofing important?
  
• Does it get very hot in this room when sun hits the window? 
  
• Does it get very cold in winter? 
  
• How is furniture going to be placed in this room?
  
• Where will art work & TV screens to be placed on walls?
  
• Where will air conditioners sit on wall, security sensors?
  
• If considering motorized curtains/blinds: is there power close to the top of window for the motor?
  
• Do you have odd shaped windows within the same room? 
  
• Do your windows have an architectural feature that you want to show off (like an arched window or bay windows?) 
  

Should I have Blinds or Curtains or a combination of both?

Here are some points to consider:
Roller Blinds when rolled up will almost “disappear” – giving a clean line to the window and a minimalist look to the room. 

Curtains and drapery fabric have come a long way in the last few years – and many designers are using them in preference to blinds as they add a luxury and style that create a unique individual look. A popular look is to use both – a roller blind for sun block and privacy, teamed with floaty sheer curtains facing the room – this is a designer trick to soften an otherwise hard look.

There is better energy insulation in curtains, especially in winter and even more so if you have a pelmet above the curtain, as these trap the warm air and helps to prevent heat from escaping through the glass. 

There is better light correction is block out curtains as there are no gaps, even more so if you have a pelmet above the curtain, as this prevents the “halo effect” of light bouncing out above the curtain.

Acoustics – a room with all hard surfaces and no softness will echo. Curtains absorb sound.

For more information or to register with us please use our Contact Enquiry Form to request and download our free ebook.
To read the next instalment to my blog - 'All About Curtain Fabrics, Linings and Shears' - CLICK HERE

by 
Coleen Radford

The Second half of my Blog today looks further into the styles and options available to you when decorating or re-decorating your Home. What an exciting time and how diverse the options are now. 

Part One of this Blog looked at Traditional, Shabby Chic and Country styles, now I want to take you through the 'cooler' styles of Contemporary, Minimalistic and Beach House looks.

Cool, Contemporary, Minimalistic

Contemporary decorating style embraces uncluttered, light-filled spaces, open floor plans, minimal furnishings, and slick finishes. Contemporary can be dramatic in a subtle manner; or go for the wow factor in saturated in vibrant colour. Metallic fabrics work well – especially when teamed with glass and acrylic see through furniture.

Window treatments are slimmed down and designed to blend rather than contrast with the wall colour. Choices include fabrics that drape well like poly – cotton blends. Ripple S Fold pleating or reverse pleating works well. No flounces, no frills. In sophisticated bare-bone settings such as these, keep it simple.

Hamptons - Beach house - Coastal Style

This classic decorating style never goes out of fashion. If you're looking for a classic Hamptons beach style feel, start with colour. The idea is to keep things light, breezy and natural. Take your inspiration from nature and dress your interior in sandy creams, driftwood browns and neutrals, all shades of the ocean from aqua to china blue and sunrise inspired splashes of colour.

Don’t be afraid to base your scheme on a neutral.  Touches of black can bring visual interest and drama.  Think natural linens in interesting textures teamed with smart charcoals or navy freshened with crisp white. 

Light is important in a coastal scheme. The individual requirements of the space and need for light control will dictate your choice of window treatment.  Opt for a colour that matches your walls.  

Choose full height curtains in sheer or fully lined drapes, or roman blinds in stripes or an interesting textured textile.  Plantation shutters may be needed in some spaces but beware they can shut out light.

To read the next instalment to my Blog 'Individual Window Treatments' - CLICK HERE

By Coleen Radford - Google +
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For more information about our styling decor ideas or to register for the complete eBook, feel free to complete our Contact Form or email me directly coleen@springcrest.net.au I'm always happy to help with tips and advice for curtains and blinds as well as all your decorating needs.  Ph: (07) 5592 2000