Guides

Let a tall branching sculpture anchor your roomA vertical sculpture with branches reaching upward behaves a little like a tree planted inside your living room. It draws the eye, frames the architecture, and…
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…