REVELATIONS

H&G DECORATING
Melissa Penfold
Australia’s keenest decorating eye shares
her secrets to stylish, comfortable living.
Living colour
The quickest way to add warmth and character to
world-weary furniture – or whole rooms – is a lick
of paint. Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is the perfect tool
for the job. It’s foolproof: just slap it on then apply
a simple wax rub. And the colours are simply divine.
from $23/118ml; $40/finishing wax. Côté Maison;
(02) 9698 4449 or www.cotemaison.com.au.
THE ROMANCE OF STONE-LOOK
Meet Raphael, a range of handmade
all-weather furniture and planters made
from fibre-reinforced concrete. It scores
extra points for being about 30-per-cent
lighter than regular concrete. Pictured
are Raphael tapered planters, from $50
(23x18cm) to $130/each, Papaya; (02)
9386 9980 or www.papaya.com.au.
FABULOUS FLOORING
AND SO TO BED
Our own Australian House &
Garden range is the standard bearer
for quality bedlinen such as the
Arrawarra quilt cover set, from $210,
and pillowcase, from $45, in crisp
white cotton (below). Exclusive
to Myer; www.myer.com.au.
Floors have a big impact on aesthetics. The same
material throughout an area will increase the
sense of space; a mixture is great for zoning.
❖ Flooring outlives paintwork, so select something
that will work with successive colour schemes.
❖ Wool, cotton or faded oriental rugs look great laid
over any type of hard flooring. Jute and sisal are
excellent value-for-money options.
❖ Suitability is everything. Busy zones demand flooring
that is robust, bedrooms can take something more
frivolous. Pictured above is Armadillo&Co’s Zinnia
hemp rug (1.5m), $515; www.armadillo-co.com.
Pure
luxe
CLEAN SWEEP
No home should be without
a good dustpan and broom.
We recommend Abode’s
Stadar, a sturdy metal
number with timber brush
– just like the one Mum
used to have. $59, Abode
Living; (03) 9811 7800 or
www.abodeliving.com.
Photograph by Rodney Macuja (bedlinen).
62 Australian House & Garden