Well... seven eight nine for sure!!!!
Our ninth room consisted of sanding, sanding and more sanding (which we swore we
would try to avoid such massive jobs). The "wow I found a cheap lounge at the op shop"
quickly turned into.... "should we just take it to the tip???" The intricate detail of the
Avalon lounge will haunt Rachael forever and possibly caused long term RSI.
Paired with a unique timber armchair, the lounge did look fantastic but failed to meet
expectation on price (we got more for the armchair). The rest of the room didn't require
as much effort but looked great with a Fred Ward table, Meadmore style chairs and
a couple of Danish style sideboards that all blended into the space perfectly.
This room saw Everyinch introduce modern, sophisticated homewares from Melbourne's
own This...design & living. They team perfectly with retro, industrial and modern interiors,
forcing us to start building our website with an online store as they weren't too happy about
us wanting to sell their items through ebay (hence their first appearance being for looking
only). We quickly put together a splash page that was simply just a gallery of pics.
Sophisticated mid-century classics
room #09 - dining and living
Our ninth room consisted of sanding, sanding and more sanding (which we swore we
would try to avoid such massive jobs). The "wow I found a cheap lounge at the op shop"
quickly turned into.... "should we just take it to the tip???" The intricate detail of the
Avalon lounge will haunt Rachael forever and possibly caused long term RSI.
Paired with a unique timber armchair, the lounge did look fantastic but failed to meet
expectation on price (we got more for the armchair). The rest of the room didn't require
as much effort but looked great with a Fred Ward table, Meadmore style chairs and
a couple of Danish style sideboards that all blended into the space perfectly.
This room saw Everyinch introduce modern, sophisticated homewares from Melbourne's
own This...design & living. They team perfectly with retro, industrial and modern interiors,
forcing us to start building our website with an online store as they weren't too happy about
us wanting to sell their items through ebay (hence their first appearance being for looking
only). We quickly put together a splash page that was simply just a gallery of pics.
Our eighth room was time for some pattern and colour and something a little out of the ordinary....
We'd tried green before without much success but we were determined to make it work this time
(and we now had a sample of the proper colour at both ends so tones could be matched). We'd
purchased a Federation style wardrobe a while back and it was simply getting in the way....
time for a bedroom.... As much as we liked the simplicity of the wardrobe, it had to be something
more.... retro apple green!!! It injected life into it and made it way more unique than your standard
wardrobe (much to Rachael's dismay, but Maria was determined...)
In keeping with the era of the wardrobe, we found a stunning bed that fitted perfectly but was a
little drab, so black it went. A set of old lockers fit perfectly with the antique yet funky industrial
look we were after. We prefer the look of hand painting with its brushstrokes over preloved materials,
which isn't the quickest but gives a much better coverage.... enter Stu our on site professional
painter (even with all his experience the lockers took ages and ages to paint).
Maria's Nana's cupboard and Sister's desk had been taking up room in her parents garage for
close to five years now and really needed to be moved. The desk was an ex-government desk
from the 40s and Dad had already started redoing the top so was very excited to hear we were
going to finally use it. We intended on painting the bottom but when it arrived at the workshop/studio
the top looked so beautiful (Dad certainly doesn't do things by halves), we had to do the base to match.
We took risks with this room and Maria spent far too much time and money on making the organic
hemp and cotton bedlinen (and then wondered why no-one would pay over $500 for it) but we stepped
outside the square and made it unique which was appreciated by our loyal followers.
Federation classics with a retro and industrial twist
room #08 - bedroom and study
We'd tried green before without much success but we were determined to make it work this time
(and we now had a sample of the proper colour at both ends so tones could be matched). We'd
purchased a Federation style wardrobe a while back and it was simply getting in the way....
time for a bedroom.... As much as we liked the simplicity of the wardrobe, it had to be something
more.... retro apple green!!! It injected life into it and made it way more unique than your standard
wardrobe (much to Rachael's dismay, but Maria was determined...)
In keeping with the era of the wardrobe, we found a stunning bed that fitted perfectly but was a
little drab, so black it went. A set of old lockers fit perfectly with the antique yet funky industrial
look we were after. We prefer the look of hand painting with its brushstrokes over preloved materials,
which isn't the quickest but gives a much better coverage.... enter Stu our on site professional
painter (even with all his experience the lockers took ages and ages to paint).
Maria's Nana's cupboard and Sister's desk had been taking up room in her parents garage for
close to five years now and really needed to be moved. The desk was an ex-government desk
from the 40s and Dad had already started redoing the top so was very excited to hear we were
going to finally use it. We intended on painting the bottom but when it arrived at the workshop/studio
the top looked so beautiful (Dad certainly doesn't do things by halves), we had to do the base to match.
We took risks with this room and Maria spent far too much time and money on making the organic
hemp and cotton bedlinen (and then wondered why no-one would pay over $500 for it) but we stepped
outside the square and made it unique which was appreciated by our loyal followers.
Our seventh room combined both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Having too much on offer, we had to move out of our small studio setup
to the house (and the studio had far far too much stuff in their to move).
Lucky for us, Rachael has an amazing indoor/outdoor space, overlooking
an extremely extravagant pool.
The inside room brought together some classic Fred Ward pieces and a
50s atomic style coffee table that had been siting in the shed for quite
some time (well, the dresser was actually ripped out from Maria's
bedroom), some very very very cool industrial chairs and a Fler inspired
lounge (plus a few more bits and pieces thrown in).
The outdoor space was dominated by a stunning converted workbench
with a recycled timber top (that took soooo much longer than we
anticipated..... thanks soooo much Dad for your effort) paired with
six old lab stools that were sympathetically refurbished to match.
It looked incredibly amazing and so much at home where it was,
Rachael was over the moon when it didn't sell first time round it
hasn't moved (or is going to in a hurry).
The inside space was fiercely fought over, with customers from Sydney
buying pretty much everything (except they completely forgot to bid
on the lounge).... so glad it all stayed together, especially the Fred Ward
table and dresser.
1950s modernism in black and oak
room #07 - lounge/dining and outdoor
Having too much on offer, we had to move out of our small studio setup
to the house (and the studio had far far too much stuff in their to move).
Lucky for us, Rachael has an amazing indoor/outdoor space, overlooking
an extremely extravagant pool.
The inside room brought together some classic Fred Ward pieces and a
50s atomic style coffee table that had been siting in the shed for quite
some time (well, the dresser was actually ripped out from Maria's
bedroom), some very very very cool industrial chairs and a Fler inspired
lounge (plus a few more bits and pieces thrown in).
The outdoor space was dominated by a stunning converted workbench
with a recycled timber top (that took soooo much longer than we
anticipated..... thanks soooo much Dad for your effort) paired with
six old lab stools that were sympathetically refurbished to match.
It looked incredibly amazing and so much at home where it was,
Rachael was over the moon when it didn't sell first time round it
hasn't moved (or is going to in a hurry).
The inside space was fiercely fought over, with customers from Sydney
buying pretty much everything (except they completely forgot to bid
on the lounge).... so glad it all stayed together, especially the Fred Ward
table and dresser.
A monstrous effort and many tears later, we finally finished our sixth room.
Going back to the purist mid century style, each piece selected was of the
highest quality and completely restored.
The room divider was picked up from a local op shop with grand visions....
hours upon hours upon hours of stripping and hand sanding and searching
for the elusive handle to replace on that was broken, nearly saw the towel
being thrown in.
The Fler dining suite was stripped and sanded also (we just simply didn't
realise how long it took to restore the timber on four dining chairs), then
reupholstered in white. The white theme was then carried through with
the beautifully crafted, relaminexted Moderntone sideboard and
white tulip lamp.
Not to forget the Danish de Luxe lounge suite (that was found separately
to its matching armchair), having its solid blackwood frame restored and
then reupholstered in a soft warm grey pure wool.
Some have said our best room ever.... it certainly was the most time
consuming but worth it in the end.... tears and all.
Crisp white and stylish grey for mid-century purists
room #06 - dining and living
Going back to the purist mid century style, each piece selected was of the
highest quality and completely restored.
The room divider was picked up from a local op shop with grand visions....
hours upon hours upon hours of stripping and hand sanding and searching
for the elusive handle to replace on that was broken, nearly saw the towel
being thrown in.
The Fler dining suite was stripped and sanded also (we just simply didn't
realise how long it took to restore the timber on four dining chairs), then
reupholstered in white. The white theme was then carried through with
the beautifully crafted, relaminexted Moderntone sideboard and
white tulip lamp.
Not to forget the Danish de Luxe lounge suite (that was found separately
to its matching armchair), having its solid blackwood frame restored and
then reupholstered in a soft warm grey pure wool.
Some have said our best room ever.... it certainly was the most time
consuming but worth it in the end.... tears and all.
It was time to do an absolute stunner.... introducing Room No. 5....
After the flop of the fourth, we set our minds to really create a room
that showed how well we really could source and place items together
that may simply have been overlooked on their own.
The perfect way to tie together was paint. We wanted to freshen up
a few "tired" items so we set our minds to extreme shades and warmth
with timber.
An old textiles cutting bench was restored and repurposed as a kitchen
island bench. A factory cupboard was lightly sanded and cleaned before
a couple of coats of paint.... then for the more intricate items....
The stunning original Fred Ward dining setting had new laminex installed,
chairs painted and table base polished to create a unique and perfect
focal point. The tub chair (that was found on the side of the road) was
given a completely new life with crafted upholstery in a pure wool that
looks and feels like felt (simply amazing, yet very expensive fabric).
Mixing in a dropside antique table and chairs with our (now signature)
vintage tripod lamp, this room just oozes charm and character while
being modern and exciting in its appearance.
Industrial antiques in black & white
room #05 - kitchen and dining
After the flop of the fourth, we set our minds to really create a room
that showed how well we really could source and place items together
that may simply have been overlooked on their own.
The perfect way to tie together was paint. We wanted to freshen up
a few "tired" items so we set our minds to extreme shades and warmth
with timber.
An old textiles cutting bench was restored and repurposed as a kitchen
island bench. A factory cupboard was lightly sanded and cleaned before
a couple of coats of paint.... then for the more intricate items....
The stunning original Fred Ward dining setting had new laminex installed,
chairs painted and table base polished to create a unique and perfect
focal point. The tub chair (that was found on the side of the road) was
given a completely new life with crafted upholstery in a pure wool that
looks and feels like felt (simply amazing, yet very expensive fabric).
Mixing in a dropside antique table and chairs with our (now signature)
vintage tripod lamp, this room just oozes charm and character while
being modern and exciting in its appearance.
A little thrown together (I think we were a little scarred from the amount
of restoration involved in our third room), we put together our fourth room.
Having been kinda talked into purchasing two huge desks, we needed to
offload at least one to make room in our overstocked storage area.
Here began our obsession with black paint - we painted the desk black
to match with the fantastic vintage steel ladders that were being
repurposed as a shelving unit. The contrast of the birch ecoply looked
fantastic against the black frame.
We began an obsession with vintage typewriters that quickly halted
when a large, black, hairy spider escaped across Rachael's kitchen
floor from an old Remington.
The bentwood nursing chair was painted green (completely the wrong
shade though compared to the other objects in the room) and photos
quickly taken without enough light....
Not our best but a learning experience not to rush things and make sure
everything is completely "right" before including it in a room...
Retro industrial workspace
room #04 - study/office
of restoration involved in our third room), we put together our fourth room.
Having been kinda talked into purchasing two huge desks, we needed to
offload at least one to make room in our overstocked storage area.
Here began our obsession with black paint - we painted the desk black
to match with the fantastic vintage steel ladders that were being
repurposed as a shelving unit. The contrast of the birch ecoply looked
fantastic against the black frame.
We began an obsession with vintage typewriters that quickly halted
when a large, black, hairy spider escaped across Rachael's kitchen
floor from an old Remington.
The bentwood nursing chair was painted green (completely the wrong
shade though compared to the other objects in the room) and photos
quickly taken without enough light....
Not our best but a learning experience not to rush things and make sure
everything is completely "right" before including it in a room...
Our third room introduces our passion for mid century, Danish inspired pieces.
The lounge frame had been restored to put in Rachael's house when (surprise, surprise)
she changed her mind after seeing and obsessing over a Danish leather lounge in a
magazine. The search was on for a matching chair (she wanted to keep the 2 chairs that
were purchased with the lounge) which we managed to find and took just as long to
restore as the 3 seater.
Maria's brother kindly decided to sell his sideboard that, although had great bones, needed
a thorough restoration also. Maria had tried to convince Rachael to buy it for herself but she
declined, and now wishes she'd kept it as we haven't come across another quite like it.
The dining table had a bit of a rough start with the veneer being too thin at the middle join.
Time for Maria's dad to step in and fix by trimming the middle sections a little which worked
perfectly (thanks again Dad).
The other items simply fell into place and came together as a stunning example of
mid-century design, creating a room with both sophistication and charm.
Well rounded Danish inspired designs
room #03 - lounge/living and dining
The lounge frame had been restored to put in Rachael's house when (surprise, surprise)
she changed her mind after seeing and obsessing over a Danish leather lounge in a
magazine. The search was on for a matching chair (she wanted to keep the 2 chairs that
were purchased with the lounge) which we managed to find and took just as long to
restore as the 3 seater.
Maria's brother kindly decided to sell his sideboard that, although had great bones, needed
a thorough restoration also. Maria had tried to convince Rachael to buy it for herself but she
declined, and now wishes she'd kept it as we haven't come across another quite like it.
The dining table had a bit of a rough start with the veneer being too thin at the middle join.
Time for Maria's dad to step in and fix by trimming the middle sections a little which worked
perfectly (thanks again Dad).
The other items simply fell into place and came together as a stunning example of
mid-century design, creating a room with both sophistication and charm.