What’s the difference between a stylist and a designer, & which one do I need for my home?

{by Emma Blomfeld of Nest Designs}

People often refer to me as a designer which isn’t exactly true. I am a stylist or a decorator.  I don’t have much interest in where the walls and floors of a house go, I much prefer coming into a finished home and working with my clients on the furniture, soft furnishings, the finishing touches for their home.

So what’s the difference between the two? The way I see it is we work together to make each other look better. 

• A designer reworks the bones of the house to make the space work
• The stylist waves a magic wand and provides the finishing touches to make a well designed house look like an inviting home.

Stylists do presentation and the finishing touches, such as:

• Sourcing soft furnishings such as fabrics for curtains or cushions, rugs and linen. 
• Refreshing your furniture layout and suggesting new pieces to suit the room
• Accessing trade suppliers and often passing on their trade discounts to you
• Suggesting paint and colour options throughout the home
• Presenting you with fresh ideas for your home that you can execute in your own time.  This is something I’m big on.  I like my clients to have input so the final result is a reflection of the households personalities, it’s not about my ego and portfolio.  You need to be happy with where you live, after all I’m not going to be living there!
• Events styling - bridal and baby showers, dessert tables for a dinner party or birthday celebrations
• Magazine or catalogue shoots 

Designers do design concepts, detailed drawings for trades:

• New kitchen or bathroom designs
• Full renovations
• Custom joinery design and finish specifications
• Detailed CAD drawings for trades to use
• Space planning for each room of the home
• Advice on working within council guidelines so your renovation plans are approved faster

Designers are a bit like the undergarments of an outfit for the house and a stylist is the statement jacket, scarf and accessories - you need both to create a harmonious and balanced look. 

So if you’re about to start major renovations where you’re moving walls, knocking out the kitchen and bathroom or completely demolishing the house a designer is the right person for your job. If you’re happy with the functionality of the rooms in your home but just need to give the home a refresh and some loving then a stylist/decorator is who you need. 

{All images from the magic wand of Emma of Nest Designs}

Dipped basket diy with Annie Sloan chalk paint

So pleased with this quick and easy project with Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan (TM), instant gratification diy at its best.  I was sent a can of Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan (TM) chalk paint to try out, and decided to update Miss E's laundry basket with this years must have dipped look.  The paint absolutely lived up to its reputation, went on very easily with no preparation and only needed one coat and half an hour to dry before it was ready to go back in the bathroom.  
I have been wanting to buy a new laundry basket for this space for ages, its never been high on the priority list.  No need any more, I love the finished basket, and looks like I bought it in a high end homeware store.

To do yourself:

• Simply tape an old basket or vase with blue tape (low tac masking tape)
• Paint with Annie Sloan chalk paint, I used Old White
• Top tip: put basket upside down so that you can paint the base easily
• Ta da! You are done

Total time from inspiration to completion 1 hour

My lovely hubby made the incredible shelf mirror above the basin for me last week.  Its also painted with Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan (TM), then buffed with soft wax, giving it a lovely aged look.
A sprig of green vygie from my garden just finished it off.  Its now my favourite bathroom in the house.

This post was not sponsored, I was provided with Annie Sloan chalk paint to test out, but all opinions are as always my own.  Watch our for my next Annie Sloan make over which is taking a little longer but is going to be fabulous too.

Success! Fireplace before and after!

We are loving the gas fireplace from Real Flame.  I do miss the smell of wood smoke, and the sound of wood crackling and popping as it burns, but I surely do love flicking the switch on and off when ever I want to.  The cement shelf feature makes perfect sense of the end of the room, its hard to imagine it wasn't always like this.  Thanks to my amazing hubby for making this happen.

You got to love it when a design turns out like you wanted it to.  The new new couch arrives in a few weeks (the first one arrived with the bench on the wrong side) and I will take some photo's of the whole room when it does.

The shelf is finished with cement render and we love the finish, adding the cement was the one piece Mr B hired in help for, we were worried about getting a really good finish.  The rest, including the gorgeous timber detail above the fire, was designed and built by him.  Just love it, especially this chilly winter!!

get this look...a little bit industrial, a little bit country

I love this kitchen with its mix of country and industrial.  What a really like is that this look could be created, quite realistically, on a small budget.  See below for what I would pick to create this look in your own home.

Replica Eames chairs, 6 for $390 
Yes I know replica is a little touchy but at $65 or less a chair they are a super classic bargain.

Tranetorp extendable table $299
Black or white would both work well, you could use a trestle table too.

Tom Dixon Lustre Black Ceramic Pendants, from $135
A little less used than the ones in the original picture, and I prefer the shapes too.

Subway tiles from $65 a metre, around $350 for a normal size back splash.

Glass vases and flowers (these Iceland poppies were photographed by Leslie at A Creative Mint), lots of white crockery, and the occasional collectible finish it of.
You can get similar industrial look cupboards and shelves at Ikea, but plain white would work just as well.

A really achievable look, and the main elements will cost you less than $1500.
(Top photo via Blood and Champagne, I can't find the original unfortunately.)

some very exciting news!!

I am so excited to share some news with you!!!  We have bought a little bit of land in the country!!!  It comes complete with a little cottage that we are going to do up and then use as a weekender (watch this space you might be able to rent it too!) which means heaps and heaps of diy and before and afters to share with you.  See below for a sneak peak of the cottage and the land!

I am going through all our furniture and bed linen to see what we furnish the space with.  A little tricky since I haven't seen it in real life yet, only in photo's.  I am going to be scouring eBay and the sales to make it brilliant on budget. 

Watch this space!!!

coconut & lime chia dessert...by LUSH loves

This delish dessert comes to you with the permission of Gemma Lush from Lush Loves.
I followed a pin of one of these gorgeous photo's to her recipe and its my new favourite treat.
Gemma is a good, prop and event stylist and her blog is filled with gorgeous things, mostly deliciously photographed food that will make your mouth water, well with a visit!!
This dessert is amazing, quick to make, super healthy, gluten, dairy and processed sugar free, and delicious!!!  If you make one new dish this week make it this one!!

I love chia seeds, we have them in our super seed mix breakfast cereal, but I would never have thought of them for dessert.  What I also didn't know is that most of the worlds chia seeds are grown right here in Australia (thanks Gemma).  I did know that they are a true super food stuffed full of goodness.  So go on, give it a go

INGREDIENTS

1 400ml can organic coconut milk (1 1/2 cups)

2 tbs honey

3 tbs chia seeds (I like to use the black variety, it looks lovely against the white coconut milk)

Juice 1 lime

Handful flaked coconut

HOW IT'S DONE

Pour the coconut milk into a mixing bowl, add the honey and chia seeds.  Stir well to make sure the honey dissolves.  Cover the bowl with glad wrap and place in the fridge for a minimum of 4 hours.  The chia seeds will swell up and absorb the coconut milk, turning the milk into a pudding like consistency.  You can leave the pudding overnight, so can be made a day in advance if you're super organised!

Place the coconut flakes on a baking tray and pop them in a low heated oven, at 140 degrees Celsius for approx. 10 minutes or until golden and crisp.  These too can be made ahead, they can be stored in an air tight container until used.

Before serving, give the pudding a stir and add the lime juice.  This will add a lovely tang to the pudding, and will make the texture a little runnier which is how I prefer to eat it.  Make sure you have a taste, you may need to add a little more lime or honey, depending on how sweet you like it.  I find this ration perfect for me.  Spoon the mixture into ramekins or glasses just before you serve.  Top with the coconut flakes and serve chilled.  This will feed 4 comfortably, or 2 if you're feeling a little more indulgent!

Poached salmon, herb & pearl cous-cous salad, tomato and ricotta almond crust tart, omg raw chocolate caramel slice
Recipe and photographs by Gemma Lush.

A simple dinner party table setting

I love having friends for dinner, cooking delicious food, setting the table and making the house pretty.  When we entertained over the weekend I decided to iron the white table cloth and do something simple.  White plates, pale grey soup dishes, white serviettes and simple white daisies in duck egg blue tumblers from Mud Australia.  Finished with candles in simple glass vases from my favourite two dollar store.

Fresh and simple for a summer evening with friends.

Fresh and simple for a fresh new year.  Hope its a good one for all of us!