Alizarin

Makeover a room that you seldom use – Ideas for decorating

admin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:09:27 +0000

If you have a room that ‘just doesn’t feel right’, you need to identify why you don’t enjoy spending time in that space.
It may be the colour scheme, lack of natural light, unsuitable or disliked furniture, or the complete lack of a focal point. So often a room can be transformed without spending a fortune, but getting started is the hardest stage of the process. Ask yourself the following questions:

What do you like or dislike about the room
Does it suit the intended function
Does it have the right mood or atmosphere
Do the colours and finishes reflect your style, lifestyle and personality
Is the furniture and furniture layout suitable
Is the room chaotic & disorganised
Is the room stark and uninviting
Is there sufficient storage for your needs
Is the lighting adequate

Begin by looking for images of rooms, furniture and accessories such as cushions, throws, rugs, decorative items and artworks that appeal to you. Add fabric swatches and paint colour samples and you’ll build up a ‘picture’ of how you’d like your room to look.
Once you’ve clarified your ideas you can develop a cohesive, co-ordinated scheme and bring new life to a neglected room by creating an inviting space that you’ll want to use. Decide how much you can afford to spend on the project, then paint if required and source products to suit your budget.
Prioritise the most important items then experiment with different layouts for the furniture to get the best result. With the essential items in place, you can enjoy adding finishing touches with accent colour and a variety of different textures.

Ideas for Window treatments to help protect furniture from the sun

admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:05:39 +0000

The trend for floor to ceiling glass in modern homes creates stunning light-filled spaces, but our harsh sunlight can cause extreme fading and damage to interior fabrics and floor coverings, particularly on the north and west facing aspects.
New Zealand has one of the highest ultraviolet ratings in the world; with direct sunlight, reflected sunlight, temperature and the angle of the sun all adversely affecting the contents of our home. As a consequence, any upholstered furniture, carpet and hardwood flooring directly exposed to the sun will usually fade over time. The only way to combat damage completely is to block the sun at its source, the window; but it is possible to reduce the intensity of ultraviolet light by installing one or more of the following options:

Tinted film on windows
Sheer drapes
Sunscreen, venetian or wooden blinds
Wooden shutters
Externally fitted canopies or awnings
External louvres

Tinted film is the least obtrusive because the view through windows is not partially obscured. It is available in a range of tint colours to suit different environments, and can block up to 99% of the powerful ultraviolet rays. It minimises fading, and in addition, reduces heat absorption which causes leather to crack and wooden flooring to dry out.
Selecting appropriate fabrics to use in sun-drenched rooms can also dramatically decrease the amount of fading on furniture and window treatments. Although no fabrics are guaranteed to be completely fade-resistant, acrylic and polyester fabrics are some of the most durable in the marketplace. The use of fabrics woven with 100% natural fibres such as silk, cotton and linen should be avoided in rooms exposed to sun for most of the day, because they will fade and deteriorate more rapidly than any manmade or composite fabrics.

Add value to your property by creating an outdoor room

admin — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:59:47 +0000

No matter where you live in New Zealand, an outdoor room provides an extension of your interior living space, whether it’s an apartment with a small balcony or a rural retreat with unlimited space.
As summer approaches, we all want to spend more time outside relaxing, dining and entertaining. Why not add enjoyment and value to your property by building a deck or patio to create an outdoor room which can be used for many months of the year? When planning, keep in mind that it will be viewed from both inside and out – think about how it will be accessed and the different activities it will be used for. Regardless of your budget, you need to plan and consider the following:

The style of your home
Creating a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces
How you will use the outdoor space
Proximity to living area & kitchen
Protection from the sun as required
Shelter from the prevailing wind
Optional heating from outdoor fireplace, patio heater or brazier
Outdoor lighting

Once the structure and sun shade is in place, select durable outdoor furniture and accessories to link with the style, colours, textures and patterns used in the interior living space. Have fun sourcing decorative outdoor cushions made from solution dyed acrylic fabric, citronella candles, co-ordinated table settings and plants in colourful pots to create a haven which reflects your style and lifestyle.
Arrange furniture both inside and out to ensure that there is clear access through doorways, and landscape around your deck or patio to soften the boundary between the house and garden. In addition, a water feature, sculpture or art installation can provide a stunning focal point.

Paint colours – Using Warm colours to beat the winter blues

admin — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 20:58:46 +0000

When temperatures drop we’re drawn to warm, inviting interior spaces that feel intimate, relaxed and welcoming. What is it that pulls us in – the interior paint colour of a room, the size of a room, the furniture arrangement, or fabrics and finishing touches? A well-balanced peaceful space is created when all of these elements work together in harmony, but colour has the greatest influence on the mood and atmosphere.
Introducing warmth to your living room can be easy and inexpensive. Start with the selection of a paint colour for the walls, then use accessories to add layers of accent colour and texture. Choose warm colour tones, and if you prefer a neutral colour scheme, prevent blandness by using tonal variation and different textures for visual interest. Link them together with striking artwork and accessories. For more of a punch, add richly coloured, textured cushions, throws, floor rugs and enveloping drapes to suit your style – think rich autumnal tones of red, orange and yellow or fresher warm spring colours.
Comfortable rooms exude personality and reflect the style of those who live in the home. Add interest and character by displaying your favourite family photographs, personal treasures and travel memorabilia. Arrange furniture around a focal point such as a fireplace or view, and if the room is large, use rugs and other furniture groupings to define zones for other activities within the same space. Use diffuser sticks for a subtle background fragrance, and create a relaxing environment where you want to spend time with family and friends. Enjoy scented candles or dimmed lights for a cosy, softer and more restful atmosphere in the evening.

Colour schemes – Timeless interior colour schemes using neutral colours

admin — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 04:17:18 +0000

Inspired by nature, neutral paint colours vary from bright white through to ebony and black, with the range in between including subtle and stronger shades of brown, ochre, earthy green and grey.
Diverse in colour from light to dark, and warm to cool in tone; lichens, bark, foliage, alpine tussock, riverbed stones, rock formations, sandy beaches and seashells found around New Zealand all inspire our interior and exterior colour schemes.
What makes them so enduring is the soft, muted natural tones, their suitability for traditional or contemporary building styles and their ability to blend rather than compete with our urban, rural or coastal environment.
For interior background wall colour, off-whites, soft greys, creams, beiges and taupes generally work well and provide a backdrop for more vibrant colour to be added with fabrics, rugs, artwork and accessories. As in nature, texture, pattern, tonal variation and accent colour is necessary to prevent blandness and create visual interest.
A neutral exterior colour scheme needs to be well planned, with consideration given to the style of architecture and the surrounding buildings, countryside or seaside. Muted tones suit any style of architecture if the intensity of colour and choice of accent trim is well balanced and co-ordinated. For maximum impact, the presentation and ‘street appeal’ of a home should be further enhanced by making a welcoming front entrance, landscaping the garden, and selecting complementary paving or tiles and outdoor furniture.

Finding the perfect off-white paint colour for interiors

admin — Mon, 16 May 2011 04:17:52 +0000

Just want “designer white”?! Trying to find the perfect off-white can be a challenge – who knew there were so many different subtle cool and warm undertones?
Does that small colour swatch you loved on the fan deck or another home look totally wrong on the wall? Too grey, too pink, too buttery…how do you get it right?!
If you’re starting with a ‘blank canvas’ to decorate a space, paint colour is only part of the overall colour scheme. You need to think about co-ordinating flooring, colours and fabrics on every other surface as well.
Alternatively, you may want to choose a neutral background wall colour to complement all the existing colours and finishes in the space.
As a guide, a cooler off-white will complement schemes using grey, black, brown and blue; whereas a warm, creamy white is ideal with autumn tones such as softened gold, green, orange or earthy red.
Because colour is affected by the amount of natural light in a room and strikes each wall differently, you need to move samples around to see how they look at different times of the day. Check again in the evening under the appropriate light source before making a final decision.
Don’t forget that off-white walls will reflect adjacent colours and finishes – the effect can be quite dramatic in an expansive area where there is a strong contrast with the floor colour or a bold feature wall.
Getting it right before you start painting will ensure a successful outcome which can be enhanced with accessories such as artwork, rugs and decorative items to provide accent colour, texture and pattern.

Ali’s angle on interior design… time for a change

admin — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 20:28:35 +0000

We thought it was about time to update the Alizarin space. So here you have it – our newly designed website. Thanks to the great creative teams at Duffy Design and Maple Marketing, we’ve got a new look!

The layout of our new site highlights the different areas we work in – Interior Design, Colour Consulting and Product Sourcing.

We also want to get across the message that using an interior designer is not just for a small segment of the market with money to burn. We truly believe that using a professional designer before you begin any new build, refurbishment or renovation will actually save you money. You won’t make costly mistakes, you won’t waste time running around looking for products and test pots, and you won’t pay full retail price for products.

So let us know if you’ve got a particular design or colour query you’d like help with – we’re keen to hear from you. Contact us now on +64 (09) 524 9233 or info@alizarin.co.nz.