Category Archives: Stories

Downsizing and micro-living are become more trendy as people choose to simplify their lives by living with less and living in smaller spaces. After all, there are a number of benefits to living in a smaller home, like less cleaning, reduced running costs, and of course the affordable price tag. Smaller spaces can be a practical option over mansion-style living; it means less furniture and a certain feeling of cosiness and homeliness.

While it may have been your choice to live in a small townhouse or apartment, creating the feeling of space is a very high priority for many. Having a small home is one thing but living in a pokey space that feels cramped and claustrophobic is another thing entirely.

Have you ever arrived home from a tropical vacation and immediately missed being back on holiday, relaxing with a cool, refreshing drink and surrounded by the sound of running water and tropical plants? How would you feel if you knew you could create the feeling of a tropical resort in your own backyard and feel like you were on holidays again? Of course you could always put up a stunning new patio, whack in a pool, and spend a heap of money on landscaping, but these are not practical ideas for most of us who don’t have either the space or the money. However, you can create a tropical-style outdoor living area and channel resort vibes without breaking the bank.

As we move into autumn and get ready for the colder months, we’re still seeing Rattan as one of the hottest interior trends for 2021. Rattan has become one of the few trends that manages to look ultra-stylish yet relaxed at the same time. And it’s an easy style to create.

If you’re interested in integrating this durable material into your home’s interior style, the styling experts at Abide Interiors are happy to share their tips for embracing this look for the coming winter months. Check out their ideas below, then check out their fabulous rattan living collection.

Colour trends are forever changing and sometimes it’s difficult to keep up; to know what’s in and what’s out. What we do know, though, is that black and white are two colours that are always in style. In this post we’re going to learn the correct colour terms and discover how to make this classic theme work in your home. Perhaps how we use these colours may change over time, but this is a classic partnership that works in many different settings, and one that’s always on trend.

Many people refer to the black and white colour scheme as being ‘monochromatic’ but that’s not actually correct. Let’s begin by sorting out the difference between the terms ‘monochromatic’ and ‘achromatic’.

The intensity and vividness of a colour is represented by its saturation. Colours can broadly be divided into ‘chromatic’ and ‘achromatic’ colours, depending on the absence or presence of this saturation. A chromatic colour is any colour that has the slightest amount of hue while an achromatic colour lacks hues – like the colours white, grey and black.

If you knew that your entrance or hallway gives guests a hint at what lies beyond, do you think you would style this small but important area with more thoughtful and practical decorating items? Many people do of course, but way too many of us use our entrance or hallway as a drop-zone for absolutely everything – from kids shoes and schoolbags right through to coats, parcels, umbrellas, and shopping bags – and we forget just how lasting first impressions are.

A lot of thought and planning goes into interior design and designers must choose very carefully, selecting the right materials for budget, durability, safety, comfort, and flexibility.

In this post we’re taking a closer look at just a few of the more common materials used in interior designing finishes, like timber, rattan, leather, velvet, and linen. Each material adds a different personality and perspective to a space and it’s important that each material’s strengths and weaknesses are considered when used in interior design.

More and more we’re noticing people becoming adventurous with styling their homes, and one question we’re often asked is how to mix timber tones in a room – and get it right! Many people say they’d love to experiment but are hesitant to combine different timbers in a space. Fortunately, mixing wood tones in a room can work beautifully, but there are a few basic rules to follow.