Gallery walls...how to nail one!

March 27, 2018 Sarah Uttley

Nothing adds personality to a home like a gallery wall. Whether in your living room, bedroom or stairwell, gallery walls are a great way to infuse your personal style into a space. The key to a perfectly composed gallery wall is finding the right balance of art, framing, and spacing.

Before you even think of tackling a project like this, first consider what you've got to display. Pull out that stash of neglected prints, photos and art hidden away in cupboards or gathering dust under your beds. A gallery wall of family photos is a classic choice and children's drawings make a great display in a kids bedroom or playroom. Don’t feel you are restricted to one genre - rules are made to be broken! 3D pieces can be striking too - think fun antlers, vintage clocks, or uniquely shaped mirrors.

Next, consider your framing options carefully: If you’re using photos or art that all have a similar tone (say, a grouping of black-and-white images or a collection of drawings), add interest by mixing up the size and finish of the frames. Alternately, if your pieces vary in colour, scale, or medium, hang the collection in matching frames and matting. Picture rails or ledges can also be used to create a gallery wall where different pieces can be moved around and changed over easily.

Finally, if you’re grouping items in a grid, try to display an odd number of pieces, like a uniform stack of three frames or a square grouping of nine pieces. Once you’ve got your art picked out, follow the step by step guide below for how we here at Point Dorset Interiors nail (pun intended) the perfect display.

Step 1: Step Away from the Hammer
Avoid putting unnecessary holes in your wall by crafting a gallery wall game-plan. Lay each piece on the floor in front of your empty wall, leaving at least 2 to 3 inches between each frame on all sides. From here, you can start arranging your art in a standard composition—a loose rectangle, diamond, or square shape - or a freeform grouping, allowing your pieces to come together in a more creative way. Start with the largest pieces and build around them.

Step 2: Cut It Out
Once you’re happy with the floor arrangement, pull out some old newspapers or brown craft paper and place each frame on top of the paper, trace it, and cut it out. You should have one piece of paper per piece of art.

Step 3: Test, Test, and Re-Test
Using painter’s tape to tack up your arrangement on the wall as you had it on the floor. Start at eye level for the larger pieces and move out from there. Don’t cut corners: Be precise with spacing on all sides of each piece (using a ruler or measuring tape), and pull out a level to make sure everything is straight. Also, keep furniture placement and ceiling height in mind - if you have very tall ceilings, for example, you may want to shift the whole arrangement a little higher.

Step 4: Seal the Deal
Once your paper collage is complete, it’s time to put hammer to nail. If you’re using vintage or mixed-sized frames, figure out where the picture wire hits the back of each frame when taunt - this will determine where your hanger should go in relation to the top of each frame. Nail picture hangers through the paper cut-outs in the appropriate spots, removing each paper cut-out as you replace it with a frame.

Then—voila! Stand back and admire your handy-work.

Images from Point Dorset Interiors - Katy's gallery wall in her home office.

Santa is coming to town!

November 3, 2017 Sarah Uttley

Have you been Naughty or Nice?

It’s that time of year again and Christmas shopping is upon us. While some of us are yet to put even a glimmer of thought into Christmas, Katy has (rather smugly) completed her Christmas shopping. Yes, all of it. She has a spreadsheet and everything which is a new kinda crazy, even for her.

For those of you who are not quite so organised the festive season is just around the corner, so this month we round up our Christmas wish list with items from some of our fabulous suppliers. We’ve been so very good this year, surely Santa will deliver?!

We all know that Christmas is really for the kids. We love watching our little ones faces light up on Christmas morning when they see their once empty stockings magically full. Well as long as that little face doesn’t appear too early in the morning that is! Rudolph and his posse of reindeer always eat their carrots and Santa never says no to cookies and milk. Katy’s daughter Maisie is coveting one of these beautiful Pod Chairs this year. It won’t exactly fit in a stocking, but it is gorgeous. A hanging chair makes such a great addition to a childs' room, adding a little bit of fun and creating the perfect spot to curl up with a book.

Charlie if you are reading this - here is your top tip for Katy’s Christmas present this year. Just in case you need the details spelt out, this gorgeous necklace is by local Wellington jewellery designer Jane Eppstein. It has one silver cross pendant and one solid 9 karat yellow gold cross pendant on a silver chain. It is a must have. Do you hear that Charlie? A must have.

We know shopping for the man in your life can be quite tricky so we have found the perfect man present. In all fairness he would have to have been a very very good man to be on the receiving end of such a beautiful piece. Although it has a certain masculinity to it, we have a feeling it could be the perfect spot for anyone to stretch out and enjoy a wee siesta after the Christmas Day feast.

Original oil on canvas by Jane Blackmore

Sarah has coveted an original artwork by local Wellington artist Jane Blackmore for a very long time. Jane’s use of oil paint creates an amazing sense of form and movement. Her pieces look at home anywhere – from modern new builds to renovated villas to falling down bungalows! And this landscape in particular with it’s moody hues would look just perfect in Sarah’s house. Don’t you agree?

We’re big fans of flowers – whether it’s flamboyant bouquets from a talented florist, beautiful roses hand delivered from a neighbours garden, or roadside treasures foraged on a weekend ramble…they are all beautiful and bring colour and life into your home. These delightful vases from George and Co ceramics are the perfect gift for your Nana, your Mum, your sister, your girlfriend, …or your boyfriend for that matter! Fill them with some pohutakawa branches on Christmas day and you’ve got yourself a stunning table centrepiece.

By the way, the official names for these two are George and Mildred. The matching pair at Sarah’s place go by the names of Henry and Maisie – named after Katy’s gorgeous kids!

When you’re making the Christmas shopping list, don’t forget the furry friends in your life. While some may be satisfied with a bone, squeaky toy or fancy collar, we think these beautiful pet beds from Bianca Lorrenne deserve to be considered. The zipped removable covers make it easy to keep your pampered pets den clean and cosy. Available in three sizes in your choice of herringbone cotton denim, natural linen, pink cotton chambray and our favourite, the stunning deep teal cotton velvet.

That’s a wrap for this month’s blog. If you would like more details about any of the stunning products featured this month, just drop us a line and we can hook you up!

Join us again next month when we feature all our favourite things about Christmas in the southern hemisphere.

Spring has sprung!

September 29, 2017 Sarah Uttley

Spring. It always seems to take a little extra time to show it’s much anticipated signs here in Wellington, but when we glimpse the first peonies of the season we know it’s finally arrived. And oh how we love peonies, they never disappoint. We could stare at them for hours – the slight variations in colour and texture from pure white to pale pink to deep crimson, rounded petals, ruffled petals…*happy sigh*.

Shaking off the cosiness of the colder months, Spring is a great time to cast an eye (or two…or more!) around your home in preparation for the warmer months. In this month’s blog we’ll run through some Springtime suggestions for sprucing up your interiors, and also showcase a few things we love about this time of year.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, wallpaper is a great way to update or completely transform a space. There are endless gorgeous spring-like wallpapers around. This little number is by Boras Tapeter and comes in three beautiful colourways - Natural, Grey and our fav this striking Green. Wouldn’t it look amazing in a powder room?

It’s easy-peasy lemon-squeezy to give your bedroom a spring update. New bedding is always a treat but just add a new cushion, a throw and some pretty flowers and all of a sudden it’s spring! Blush pink is huge in interiors (and fashion) at the moment and lends itself perfectly to the spring months. It pairs well with grey, green, blue, gold…the list goes on. Plus it’s so pretty and pleasing on the eye, you may just keep it round through all seasons.

Talking of cushions, we recently read a quote saying ‘cushions are like soft toys for adults’ – how brilliant is that? We couldn’t agree more (although Katy has recently been having some ‘time away from cushions’ after picking them up off the floor one too many times!). Cushions are such a great way to give your space a new lease on life and you don’t have to spend a fortune. We approach it a little like we approach fashion – invest in a few beautiful pieces you love, and supplement with some budget friendly options.

You could have that fresh spring feeling all year round with a little paint! A new lick of paint really does do wonders for your walls - inside or out, and it’s relatively cheap and easy to do. We love this mix of cool and warm colours; they work perfectly together and would make a beautiful scheme for a girls room. It’s such a pretty feminine spring inspired palette, just bursting with good vibes…right where’s the paint brush!

As the temperature warms up, we also start thinking about outdoor eating and entertaining. While we might not all be lucky enough to have such a stunning outdoor space as this beautiful spot, it’s worth dusting off the picnic rug, washing the windows and getting rid of any outdoor cobwebs in anticipation of some alfresco eating. We believe that lighting plays a huge part in creating atmosphere inside and out. You don’t have to spend a fortune either - string lights or candles in glass vases are cost effective way to add a touch of magic to your outdoor space.

Asparagus anyone? We love springtime produce! It lends itself perfectly to fresh, lighter meals, rather than the rich, comforting dishes of winter. This recipe for Chicken and Coconut Rice Paper Rolls from the super clever Donna Hay is one of our favourites. Shame it doesn’t feature asparagus but it’s still pretty delicious! And once you have the process down you can play around with the fillings. There are so many delicious combinations. A great vegetarian option is avocado, peach and spinach. Pair these babies with a chilled glass of Pinot Gris, or Gewurtztraminer for the more adventurous, and voila, it’s springtime!

Spring is a good time to declutter any excess ‘stuff’ that may have crept into your home. We’re not quite converts to the minimalism of the KonMarie method, but we steer away from hoarding as much as we can!

Do you have piles of magazines that need sorting through, or repurposing as part of a display on a shelf (refer last month’s blog on perfecting the ultimate #shelfie).
Is some of your crockery chipped, cracked or faded? Perhaps it’s time To update the all important coffee cups?
How about sorting through that ‘clutter’ drawer we all have? You know the old saying, ‘a place for everything and everything in it’s place’!
Cupboards can so easily get out of hand – out of sight out of mind! We try to go through ours once a year donating or repurposing what we can and keeping the good stuff in labelled baskets or containers, ready to be used when needed.
Time to go through your kids toys and donate any they have grown out of. Sometimes we involve the kids in this process…and sometimes the toys just magically disappear (wink emoji).

And that’s a wrap! Thanks for tuning into this months blog, we hope you are suitably inspired to freshen up your interiors and exteriors for the warmer months. Xx Katy and Sarah

The ultimate #shelfie

August 31, 2017 Sarah Uttley

Photo by Jane Usher for NZ House and Garden

Ever wondered how to style the ultimate #shelfie? And no it doesn’t involve a selfie stick! This is something we often get asked to help with, and can result in hours of tinkering and faffing (some may say time wasting but not us - we love that sort of thing!). Just like a selfie, getting the perfect shelfie ain’t easy and we know it’s often dumped in the ‘too hard’ basket.

This month we’re showcasing some beautiful displays and passing on a few of our styling tips to help you with your shelfie game.

First up we couldn’t go past Katy’s beautiful vintage record player which sits happily in a light filled atrium in the centre of her hallway. You may have seen this image featured in the June 2017 issue of New Zealand House and Garden. Katy bought the record player from Hunters and Collectors on Cuba Street here in Wellington many years ago. The broken handle is a recent feature created by Hurricane Henry - Katy's delightful 2-year old! On this particular day (Katy tinkers with this display often) the black and white photograph sets the colour scheme for the styling which is complimented with accents of blue, green and brass.

Moodboard by Point Dorset Interiors: New Yorker Sideboard, Stacks; Autumn Storm Print, Shut the Front Door; Black Seagrass Baskets, Collected; Astral black & white Vase, Shut the Front Door, French Mustard Organic Small Plate, French Country Sto… — Moodboard by Point Dorset Interiors: New Yorker Sideboard, Stacks; Autumn Storm Print, Shut the Front Door; Black Seagrass Baskets, Collected; Astral black & white Vase, Shut the Front Door, French Mustard Organic Small Plate, French Country Store; Angular Green Votive, French Country Store; Thumb Cut Ball, French Country Store; Ashley & Co Tui & Kahili Candle, Crave Home; Brass Candle Holder, Collected; Silver Dollar Vine faux plant, Shut the Front Door.

If you are short on a few bits and pieces for your shelfie, it’s a great excuse to peruse the shops. If you’re short on time, never fear because we’ve rounded up a few goodies for you in this months moodboard and placed them on the beautiful New Yorker sideboard from Stacks Furniture. Personally we love real plants and fresh flower arrangements but if you’re one of those people who just have to look at something green and wilts, then opt for a really good fakey.

Monochrome. As much as we love colour, you can really never go wrong with the classic combo of black and white now throw in a little blonde wood and bam! We love how the charcoal background makes the objects stand out. And the simple collection of black and white artwork paired with a few interesting objects is chic, elegant and sophisticated, while also being a little bit playful. The wooden frames add just enough warmth to prevent this display feeling stark. Shelfie perfection.

Books are your friends when it comes to shelfies. They help ground your displays and can also provide a platform for more decorative objects. Stack them vertically and / or horizontally. Flip the spines to face inward or colour code them just like in this stunning image. Magazines are equally good on shelves – which, if you’re anything like us, is a helpful way to justify your addiction to interior mags! First you get to read the magazine, then you can use it to create a beautiful display. That’s a win/win in our books!

This image is a great example of how a simple colour palette, a few stacks of books and a collection of interesting objects can create a great shelfie. The tip here is to layer objects you love. As a rough rule of thumb for every stack of books, add an object – this could be a special collection of treasures, plants or flowers, framed artwork or photos, candles, trinkets, vases etc etc. The key is to introduce constrast in shape and texture to add interest to your display. The more personal the objects are to you and your family, the more character and personality your shelfie will have.

Photo by Hill Collective for Point Dorset Interiors

Another styling tip is to allow space for your displays to breathe. This can be a challenging one and also one we don’t always follow (rules are made to be broken after all!), but generally it’s good to leave room between your display to allow items to shine. This little collection of glassware and fairy lights displayed on a mirror base creates an eye catching display and bounces light nicely around this little nook.

All the colours of the rainbow! We love this fabulous display of kids bits and bobs – such a clever way of presenting some of those childhood treasures in a coordinated way. And what’s more it makes it easy for the small person in this room to return things by putting them back on the appropriate coloured shelf……who are we kidding?!

We hope this months images and tips have been helpful and given you some inspiration! If you need a little more help creating the perfect shelfie, get in touch and we can pop round to work our magic with your treasures!

Pull up a chair

July 31, 2017 Sarah Uttley

August is here already, where has this year gone? We have been super busy working with our wonderful clients old and new! One item that keeps taking centre stage on our projects is the humble chair! Chairs for dining, chairs for lounging, chairs for rocking, chairs for kids, we think you get the picture! There really is a stylish chair for every occasion. This month we will be piecing together a visual ode to those great bottom holders. You know what they say, a chair a day keeps the doctor away…….

We’ve picked an absolute stunner first up. A true classic, Arne Jacobsen’s egg chair was designed in 1958 for Radisson SAS hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark. Danish design at its absolute best.

Beans in a bag, genius! No longer is the once less than glamorous bean bag relegated to kids rooms or a life of living outdoors. No siree, not with beauties like this one from Wilson & Dorset in Wanaka. It’s shaggy, sublime and oh so soft, all that’s left to do is sink right in. The only problem being you may never want to get out!

Get in touch with us if you'd like details for any of these beauties.

Here are a just a few of our favourite chairs from some of our fabulous suppliers. Do you have a favourite? From the classic Butterfly chair to the sublime Quilt chair by Established and Sons from Simon James Design, spoilt for choice really is the appropriate cliché here! We can’t get enough of the blue quilted chair; it’s a little different and looks just so comfortable! That deep blue is sublime but it does come in a range of other gorgeous colours to suit anyone’s tastes. We absolutely love it!

The Togo! A Ligne Roset classic, Michel Ducaroy’s Togo is a bottoms dream come true. This is a seat created especially for lazy evenings, relaxing while your feet are being rubbed by a doting spouse (laughing emoji). It really does make a statement and is the ultimate in luxurious comfort. And how about this gorgeous shade of pink? Yes please! We are loving everything about this room from the home of one of our favourite Australian artists Rachel Castle - including that cute wee sausage dog!

Eating is rather important and something we both love to do so it makes sense that these gorgeous dining chairs made the line up! Would you pick just one colour, or one of each? For us it would be a pick-n-mix situation. We love mixed dining chairs around a table; it keeps things interesting, and with a colour range like this it’s so easy to mix and match. Katy is dying for new dining chairs but is waiting till her youngest stops adding his own two-year-old flare with felt tip markers! Sarah has gone down the classic route of white Eames chairs with the addition of a beautiful wooden bench for her seating options.

Photo by Leanna Hill (@hillcollectivenz) for Point Dorset Interiors

We love bringing new life to old classics like this beautiful mid-century modern Vono chair produced by Don Furniture in the 1960’s. Vono furniture showcased a strong Danish influence with its sleek form, mahogany frames and high quality construction making their pieces kiwi classics that will never go out of style. Sarah snapped up two of these beauties on Trademe many years ago and once their original green upholstery began to disintegrate, she gave them a modern makeover in the striking Unikko fabric by Marimekko. And the best bit….they recline for a little feet up action!

Um….hello! Hanging chairs are big at the moment – and for good reason! They are the perfect place to curl up with your latest bestseller or favourite interiors mag, or just sit back and soak up your surroundings as the hours pass by. Hanging around never felt so good. And if you can’t wait for summer to arrive, these babies are equally as good hung indoors.

And that's all folks! Thanks for joining us this month. We hope you are feeling inspired to treat your derriere to a little pampering.

Winter Warmers

July 2, 2017 Sarah Uttley

It's officially chilly here in Wellington so we thought we would round up some of our favourite things about the colder months. Hot chocolates, slippers, roaring fires, snug cabins…there is so much to love about winter. Here’s a snapshot of how we do the coldest season.

Hygge? Have you heard of it? We'd often wondered how you pronounce such a word! Hue-ga apparently, and put very simply it is the Danish ritual of enjoying life's simple pleasures. Friends. Family. Contentment. What’s not to love about that! Here are our Hygge essentials.

Products starting top left: Aura Jumbo Cable Knit Throw, Shut the Front Door. Peru Honey coffee, Peoples Coffee. Duck Egg Velvet Cushion Cover 30x50cm, Bolt of Cloth. Cocorose Body Scrub, Shut the Front Door. Sanctuary Coat, Twenty Seven Names. Mont… — Products starting top left: Aura Jumbo Cable Knit Throw, Shut the Front Door. Peru Honey coffee, Peoples Coffee. Duck Egg Velvet Cushion Cover 30x50cm, Bolt of Cloth. Cocorose Body Scrub, Shut the Front Door. Sanctuary Coat, Twenty Seven Names. Montana Women's Nap Dressing Gown, Citta Design. Sheep Stool in taupe, Le Forge. Love Potion candle, Shut the Front Door. Ivory Sheepskin, Bolt of Cloth.

The cozy winter retreat below is missing one very important feature…us with wine in hand! A log cabin is hard to beat when it comes to snug winter hang outs and this modern take on one is definitely lighting our fire. What better way to while away those slow winter weekends than watching a frozen world from the comfort of your toasty abode. We love everything about this modern take on a log cabin.

Image via admagazine.stfi.re — Image via admagazine.stfi.re

Hybernation, bears do it and we love bears. There is simply nothing better than being able to snuggle up in bed on a cold winters morning. On the odd occasion we get a sleep-in without the delightful constant chatter of our children, its pure bliss! The pooch in the image below looks like he’s in doggy heaven and we can see why! So many gorgeous textures and layers to get lost amongst and the neutral palate is perfectly calming. A fire roaring next to the bed seems like the ultimate in winter luxury. All you’ll need is that book you’ve been trying to finish for a month and a cup of tea.

Image via myscandinavianhome.blogspot.se

Now this is the type of food we love to eat on a cold winters night! This recipe is from New Zealand’s very own and very clever Annabel Langbein, slow-baked pork and apricots! We can vouch for its deliciousness and as an added bonus our kids actually eat it. You’ll find the full recipe here. What’s to drink? There is no denying that we are spoilt for choice when it comes to wine here in NZ. If you fancy a tipple with your dinner you won’t be disappointed with Wairau River Pinot Noir 2014 from Marlborough.

Annabel Langbein's Slow-Baked Pork and Apricots

It’s not hard to see why Wanaka is our favourite winter destination and definitely one of the most beautiful spots in NZ. With its crystal clear (and rather chilly!) Lake, surrounded by those breathtaking mountains in the background.

Imagine soaking in the views from the stunning accommodation at Whare Kea Lodge. And once you tire of the view, yes there is skiing but more importantly there is Apres Ski! If you are lucky enough to head to Wanaka for a wee break, here’s our ‘must do’ round up:

Hitting the slopes of Cardrona followed by a mulled wine and toasting marshmallows on the open fire at the Cardrona Hotel.
Get your coffee fix at the Federal Diner and if you really want to spoil yourself book a table for dinner at Bistro Gentil.
Breath in the gorgeous scents at the boutique fragrance company George and Edi.

To end our cold and frosty journey we are indulging in one of our other favourite winter pastimes - dreaming of summers arrival and lying on a beach like this one! This is Waiheke Island, a favourite summer vacay spot of ours but we’ll save our tips for this destination for another, hopefully sunny, day.

OFFICE INSPIRATION

June 22, 2017 Sarah Uttley

If you follow us on social media you might have seen some beautiful home office images popping up in your feed.

As we both work from home, we understand the importance of having a work space that works for your head space! And yes a home office needs to be functional and organised, but it also needs to be somewhere you want to spend time and not somewhere you dread looking at - let alone sitting at.

So in this post we've rounded up some of our all time favourite home offices plus we are sharing our own workspaces…….yes, we're really baring our souls this week!

To get the ball rolling, the image above is Sarah's home office - always tidy and organised according to Katy! - painted in Resene Blackjack. There is an amazing photo of London on the wall, somewhere Sarah called home for many years.

We found this next gorgeous space on Pinterest. We love trawling Pinterest for inspiration and this gorgeous lady boss office is fit for a queen. We are loving the gold accents, luxurious textures and pops of colour in this space. ⠀

And now we have Katy's home office. She has a little double action happening at her house so that her husband can share in her mess. The idea being they have equal space.....its just an idea though!

Another couple of office spaces we love. Just look at this serene, light filled office on the left. It wouldn't really feel like working at all. Absolutely dreamy. 💛⠀And how about that window seat in the image on the right. We are loving this home office. Such a clever use of a narrow space with amazing inbuilt storage and plenty of wood for warmth. We imagine this space would get those creative juices flowing.

We think we are finishing our home office inspiration on a very high note! Do you? Maybe when we grow up we too can have an office like this? Seems more of a whiskey drinking office than an actual work office but that is definitely something we can get behind. The colour of those built-in book shelves is amazing and we love the placement of those two pieces of art, Bellissimo!

If your office needs to be more whiskey drinking or work friendly, we'd be happy to help!