Sustainable House Day 2014

Open the door to sustainable living by touring some of Australia’s most environmentally progressive homes on show at Sustainable House Day. This Sunday, 14th September, you have the opportunity to tour an amazing array of everyday Australian homes all built and created around the ideal of reducing their footprint on the earth.

By partaking in Sustainable House Day you can tap into local knowledge to learn how to successfully integrate renewable energy, recycling, and other sustainable practices into your home and lifestyle. This unique event is a valuable resource for anyone looking for inspiration, ideas and the key to sustainable living.

Homeowners, sponsors and local sustainable groups look forward to sharing their knowledge with you, plus I'll be volunteering at the Harrisdale home in WA for the day. There are homes and gardens open to the public throughout Australia. You can find more information about each house and its features on the webpage. This is a national event, but since I'm volunteering here in Perth, I've just highlighted a few WA ones below.


Carla & Bens House, part of #Sustainable #House Day 2014.
{Carla and Ben’s House, 128A Roseberry St, Bedford WA}

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Terrariums and Potted Green

Here's a follow-up from your requests for more, after posting Vertical Green #2. These fill the gap for some even smaller and affordable greenery options when you have limited space, budget or garden know-how.



Ceramic Diamond Planters on table and Petite hanging Vase on the wall, both by LoveHate and available at Cranmore Home.
{Ceramic Diamond Planters on table and Petite hanging Vase on the wall, both by LoveHate and available at Cranmore Home}

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Melbourne Life Instyle 2013

More than a week late, but since it was my birthday last week (and it’s my blog) I’m cutting myself some slack.

Last week’s Melbourne Life Instyle event was set inside Melbourne’s beautiful Royal Exhibition building. I had been to events here before but never have I seen it so crammed full of designer goodies. I swear they somehow increased it to twice the size than the last time I was there - and I had the blisters and aching calves to prove it!

Unfortunately, my BFF and I were so caught up dragging each other between stands, squealing (yes, big girl squealing!) and jumping on the spot in excitement that I completely forgot to take any onsite pix. No excuse, but, well, we were basically sprinting between stands since they were all so beautiful and we only had a few hours away from kids in which to see it all. Although if you ask our wonderful husbands, we were gone much longer than anticipated! I may have to do another post on some of the best designs because we saw them pre-release and I prefer to let the actual designers launch their products (and not get in any trouble - no-one likes a PO’d artist!)

Here are some of my favourite stands from the show and their pretty pretty wares.


#Cloud coat hangers, Pom Pom #garland and furry #animals by Down to the Woods. Who wouldn’t want this entire setup for a cute little girls room? More products from Melbourne Life Instyle 2013 on the RSD Blog.
{Cloud coat hangers, Pom Pom garland and furry animals by Down to the Woods. Who wouldn’t want this entire setup for a cute little girls room?}


Hello #sign in limited edition #Gold by Down to the Woods. More products from Melbourne Life Instyle 2013 on the RSD Blog.
{Hello sign in limited edition Gold by Down to the Woods for some fun glamour}

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Vertical Green #2

So the design and decoration world was going a bit nuts over green walls in 2013. I personally hope the trend continues. I don't think you can overdo it and kudos to anyone who has built, designed, installed, planned, housed or dreamed green walls in any form. No matter what you call them - vertical garden, green wall, wall planter, wall garden, living wall - and no matter what form they take - green wall, green roof, floor planter, tabletop or even suspended in midair - they inject much needed life, colour, oxygen and fragrance into our surroundings.

I have been through some of the benefits of green walls with some examples previously, here, but since there have been so many fantastic examples of late, I felt the need to give you all a second helping of green delights.

The Florafelt F12 Greenwall growing panel by Fytogreen as used in Kim & Matt's outdoor space on The Block Sky High 2013. The panels are made from 100% recycled PET plastic felt. More #greenwall ideas on the RSD Blog.
{The Florafelt F12 Greenwall growing panel by Fytogreen Australia as used in Kim & Matt's outdoor space on The Block Sky High 2013. The panels are made from 100% recycled PET plastic felt and are available from The Block Shop}

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Australiana

In honour of Australia Day coming up on the 26th January, I thought I’d round up a few of my favourite Australiana products out in the design world at the moment, as well as those classic pieces that gently state where they still call home.

Corro Bowl from Design By Them. More Australiana on the RSD Blog www.rsdesigns.com.au/blog/
{Corro Bowl from Design By Them}

Although I am sure I have shown you this before, I still abso love the Corro Bowl from Sydney-based design collective, Design By Them. Distinctly Australian, it is formed from polished corrugated stainless steel, synonymous with both rural and contemporary Australian architectural vernacular. There aren’t many of their products that I don’t lust after.

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Industriart

I had hinted at this post a looong while back while soaking up the Australiana for Aussie Day. Forgive my tardiness, but I really wanted to get the best of the million Instagram pics I took at this wonderland of vintage and eclectic treasures. Industriart is the brainchild of the amazing Roni DiCandilo (and I’m sure husband Nick gets a word in to). This hidden gem (actually, it’s more like an epic, Aladdin’s cave of gems) is tucked away in the industrial maze of Bellevue, Perth.

“The idea started initially as an outlet for the many and varied things that my husband and I have collected over many years. However, for two hoarders, it is difficult to part with all your treasures at once, so the concept then became a shop of 'Pure Indulgence' selling only things that we like - retro, vintage, new, serious and not-so serious.”


Make sure you get on over and check out the wonders (and bargains!) ASAP. I have my eye on more than a few of the furniture items and eclectic baubles in the front room and that cool secret back area. I can’t wait for the next Perth trip to do some real damage!



Glass treasures. Some of these are now in my personal collection | More #vintage and #industrial treasures at Industriart on the RSD Blog. www.rsdesigns.com.au/blog/
{Vintage glass treasures. Some of these are now in my personal collection}


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Spotlight on Australian Designers | Catherine Martin

Now for another Spotlight on Australian Designers. Two in one week - how lucky are you! Thought I should pack a few in before some Christmas down time, and in case you need a little designer shopping encouragement (as if any of us need that!)

Catherine Martin really needs no introduction. Costume Designer. Production Designer. Set Designer. Art Director. Oscar, AFI, BAFTA and Tony Award winner. Wife to the equally talented Baz Luhrmann. Mum. This chick does it all!

As if that wasn’t enough, design collaborations are now a regular occurrence for her, in the form of wallpapers for Porter’s Paints, rugs for Designer Rugs, textiles and bedding through Anthropologie and I’m sure the list will continue for this extremely talented Australian.

I had to think long and hard about which were my favourite pieces of Catherine’s. I could easily put down every rug in her multiple collections, and the majority of her wallpapers, but have forced myself to narrow it down to just a few.

Circus Silhouettes rug By Catherine Martin for Designer Rugs  - See More in Spotlight on Australian Designers | Catherine Martin on the RSD Blog www.rsdesigns.com.au/blog/
{Circus Silhouettes by Catherine Martin. Rug for Designer Rugs. Wallpaper for Porter’s Paints}


The first should be one that I was coveting for years (in preparation of my first baby’s room, while pregnant). Expectedly highly theatrical, the navy Circus Silhouettes would have been a dramatic and stylish addition to my baby boy’s room, encouraging movement and fun. Of course, budget and the fact that I would HATE to get any vomit or other baby-nasties on this beauty ceased the purchase, but its still on the ‘One-Day’ list - I think the energy and whimsy in this is ageless and definitely is not restricted to kids rooms. The walls in the image above also feature her complementing design for Porter’s Paints.

Night Bird rug By Catherine Martin for Designer Rugs  - See More in Spotlight on Australian Designers | Catherine Martin on the RSD Blog www.rsdesigns.com.au/blog/
{Night Bird rug by Catherine Martin for Designer Rugs}

Black Pearl rug By Catherine Martin for Designer Rugs  - See More in Spotlight on Australian Designers | Catherine Martin on the RSD Blog www.rsdesigns.com.au/blog/
{Black Pearl rug by Catherine Martin for Designer Rugs}


Now let’s just say I love the entire Deco collection with Designer Rugs. I can’t wait to see them featured in Baz’s The Great Gatsby in May 2013. If I HAD to pick a favourite, it would probably be the magic, flow and art deco romance of Night Bird, although Black Pearl comes a very close second. Hmm... Maybe tied first. It would certainly upgrade a bedroom into a Boudoir. And how about this custom stair runner adapted from her Lace rug design - to die for!

Lace stair runner By Catherine Martin for Designer Rugs  - See More in Spotlight on Australian Designers | Catherine Martin on the RSD Blog www.rsdesigns.com.au/blog/
{Lace stair runner by Catherine Martin}


Imperial Pheasant wallpaper by Catherine Martin  - See More in Spotlight on Australian Designers | Catherine Martin on the RSD Blog www.rsdesigns.com.au/blog/
{Imperial Pheasant wallpaper by Catherine Martin for Mokum Porter’s Paints. Shown here in Lacquer}


Cockatoo wallpaper by Catherine Martin  - See More in Spotlight on Australian Designers | Catherine Martin on the RSD Blog www.rsdesigns.com.au/blog/
{Cockatoo wallpaper by Catherine Martin for Porter’s Paints. Shown here in Black Neutral}


Most of Catherine Martin’s wallpaper range links in with the rug designs, as a complement or feature in its own right. Mokum Imperial Pheasant comes in a range of colourways, my faves being the Ming Blue or Vintage White (seen at Grand Designs here), or for something dark and dramatic but still linking to home and Fauna Australiana, the Cockatoo wallpaper in Black Neutral is divine.

Cockatoo Bedding By Catherine Martin  - See More in Spotlight on Australian Designers | Catherine Martin on the RSD Blog www.rsdesigns.com.au/blog/
{Cockatoo Bedding available through Anthropologie}

Detail of Cockatoo Bedding By Catherine Martin  - See More in Spotlight on Australian Designers | Catherine Martin on the RSD Blog www.rsdesigns.com.au/blog/
{Cockatoo Bedding Detail, Anthropologie}

To add more products to her arsenal, there is this gorgeous duvet and pillow covers in shades of green, teal, aqua and navy (my absolute favourite combo!) on a neutral grey backdrop with her signature Australiana in the form of giant Art-Deco-meets-Arts&Crafts-Movement Cockatoos. Detailed and divine.

As usual, follow the links to enjoy the rest of her collections, and I’m sure get lost in the other millions of perfect products and design collaborations that are on offer at these companies.

Now after all this exciting designer eye-candy, I’m off to Magnolia Square for some more arty goodness. Will try and lock up my cards and cash, but somehow never seem to succeed. If I can stop the retail therapy long enough to take some pictures, I may do a post about. Alternatively, it’s on all weekend so check it out yourself. Be warned. You will spend. Good luck.

xo Romona

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