Guides

What an Art Fair Taught Me About Curating Small Works on PaperWalking through the booths at Sydney Contemporary last spring, I found myself stopping more often at the smaller walls. The big canvases shouted for attention,…
Styling a fireplace screen when there is no flameIn many Australian living rooms, the fireplace is a heritage feature rather than a working heat source. Whether the home is a Victorian terrace in Paddington,…
Styling a Sofa with a Mix of Velvet, Linen and Fringe PillowsThe Australian living room has shifted dramatically in the last decade. Open-plan layouts in Brisbane and Perth have replaced formal sitting rooms, and the…
How to Bring a Sense of History with a Victorian Picture FrameA Victorian picture frame can make a room feel collected rather than newly assembled. Its ornament, patina and weight suggest earlier interiors, family…
The Craft of Hand-Thrown Pots and Why Imperfections MatterA hand-thrown pot carries evidence of its making. The rim may lean slightly, the belly may swell unevenly, and the glaze can settle into a pool of colour near…
Why a Single Large Abstract Painting Can Outperform a Gallery WallA room can hold many beautiful things without feeling visually settled. Small artworks, framed photographs, mirrors and found prints often gather gradually,…
A Low, Round Basket Tray for a Better Coffee TableA coffee table arrangement can make a loungeroom feel composed or slightly chaotic. The difference is often a simple organising object: a low, round basket…
The Quiet Charm of Mismatched Stoneware MugsA row of mismatched stoneware mugs can give open shelving the relaxed character of a well-lived home. Rather than presenting a perfectly coordinated dinner…
How to Arrange Books with End Caps and Small BustsA shelf of books can do far more than store reading material. Arranged with intention, it becomes a compact still life: part library, part gallery display, and…
Decorating with Objet d’Art: Untouched, Unusable BeautyA room does not have to justify every object through storage, seating or practical use. Some pieces earn their place by slowing the eye: a hand-built ceramic…