HG DECORATING
52 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN
8
MIX IT UPTo create an easy and casual
vibe in your home, as in the
living room above, introduce
an array of materials and
patterns. “Matching furniture
is my worst nightmare,” says
Fiona. “I love to mix up
patterns in floor rugs, paired
with bold colours in furniture
and accessories.” As a bonus,
mixed colours and patterns
are more forgiving in an active
family environment. Instead of
using a traditional coffee
table, Fiona prefers the
multifunctional aspect of an
ottoman, which can act as
an extra seat or a place
to display books or hold
a tray of drinks.
9
CREATIVE KIDSIf you can, allocate space for
a dedicated children’s zone
(right), where you can stow
play paraphernalia and display
the artwork of budding
Picassos. Storage is key, and
to that end Fiona has used
wall-mounted Booksee
shelves from Ubabub (under
clock) as well as a sliding
storage-bin system. “This
space is all about them having
room to play and make mess,”
she says. “If it gets too noisy,
you can build a sliding door to
shut it all out.” Using washi
tape to display artworks
means that they can be
changed easily, without having
to worry about the cost or
sizing of frames. >Artwork by Rebecca Cool (this page, top).