 It’s no secret that I absolutely LOVE vintage interior design. The elegant aesthetics of the past offers a sense of history that transports me back in time that more modern creations simply can’t match. The best thing about vintage interior design is that you can (and should) have a mix of strong bold colours - intense greens, yellows, blues, reds, oranges and teal colours that when mixed together give you a sense of nostalgia… and if you’re an early 70’s child like me, these colours will undoubtedly bring a smile to your face and the memories flooding back in.  Black Vintage Glamour 1940-50's and stunning fabric and wallpaper in the background Vintage FashionNow my favourite vintage era has to be the 1940’s and 50’s. This is most probably because I also LOVE the fashion… infact, it makes my heart sing so much, that the majority of my wardrobe consists of wiggle, pencil and circle skirts and when I am off out somewhere special, you will also see a fluffy petticoat to add to the volume. Oh the times I have been complimented on my skirts only for me to say “Let me do a spin for you” and do a couple of turns but making sure of course that I don’t fall from the dizziness. My own vintage treasures
When you arrive at my home the first thing you see sat outside is my vintage caravan. I was lucky enough to pick it up from Gumtree for an absolute steal at $1200 - so unheard of for a 1970’s Franklin Hunter and I am proud to say that I renovated her myself, called her Cleo (with the help of my lil Angel Ruby-Flower) and feel so proud and blessed that I have a beautiful mobile home to take us on trips whenever we feel the desire to go out and spend some relaxing time in nature. When you walk through my front door you will be greeted by a long 6 seater extender table from the 70’s complete with matching buffet. Another great find at $150 for the pair that are made from the best solid oak wood that you can get and were so well looked after by the previous owner that he even got the fabric on the chairs re-upholstered. Thank you again Gumtree. But it doesn’t stop there as you move around the dining and living area and spot an art deco corner table that I perch my vintage rotary phone on (it doesn’t work but looks great there) and my newest buy being a mid century coffee table. There are red vases with gold gilt, blue royal dalton vases and a gorgeous Tiffany Lamp on another side table beside my chair. I did recently have 2 green modular numero IV modular chairs from Grant Featherstone circa 1970 (as pictured below with the art deco table) but I felt that they no longer went with my current decor and I opted for 2 vintage replica sofas. I have to be really careful when buying vintage upholstered fabric as Ruby-Flower and I suffer from allergies, so anything second hand is a big no-no. Upstairs in my bedroom you will find a vintage dressing table and I am just about to get rid of a kids dressing table as I no longer have the room for with Rubes growing out of it a year ago. Even my crockery is vintage, with my glasses purchased from local op shops and finished with beautiful brown glass.  Grant Featherstone circa 1970 modular chair and Art Deco side table along with Amba Florette 'Raise The Bar' cushion and pouf The Old has inspired my newSo when it came to my latest wallpaper collections I had to draw my inspiration from vintage interior design. My loves are the Victorian and Art Deco era’s which are seen in all of my Nature’s Glamour and Days of Old collections, which is where the ‘Glamour’ came from. Vintage to me has always been glamourous. From the beautiful jazz singers and their timeless voices, to the fashion that adorned their stunning hour glass figures. I feel so blessed that so many love my Australia wallpaper designs.   Lydia in deep blue - Nature's Glamour Eco Wallpaper Australia collection And let’s not forget that vintage is eco-friendlyPurchasing and acquiring something that has lived for many years and recycling it for your home and possibly passing it onto the next generation is the best form of sustainability and the bid to lead more of an environmentally friendly lifestyle. 'Go Bold or Go Home'This phrase was recently said to me by a lovely client who purchased Octavia in deep blue for her bedroom. I can’t wait to see pics of the install that is a feature amongst a gorgeous vintage chaise.  So… go vintage, go bold, go for life and enjoy your vintage inspired space that will never date and will always remain timeless and classic.
tags: eco-friendly wallpaper, wallpaper, childrens wallpaper, nursery wall decor, kids wallpaper, natural wallpaper, eco wallpaper, leaf wallpaper, botanical wallpaper, nursery wallpaper, eco interiors, wallpaper australia, wallpaper online, bold wallpaper, vintage wallpaper
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Written by Sharyn Kidd of Coveco Interior Design - Eco Interior Designer  Alvin Natural Rubber & BPA free Teether Teady by Little Earthnest You’ve got the essentials, now let’s give it a designer touch …You all should know that I love choosing sustainable products and anything eco-friendly. Why choose sustainable products over regular products, I hear you say!? You have a brand new, beautiful being to look after now, so let’s begin by giving them fresh, clean air to breathe. Nurturing the health of our beautiful children is not made easy with so many products harbouring hidden, nasty chemicals. Keeping them safe from things such as harmful chemicals and VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) is so important, now more than ever. VOC’s, by the way, are released as gases or vapours into the air, hence making the air quality all the poorer. I’ve been lucky enough to find some thoughtful companies to recommend who are doing a wonderful job ensuring the safe and healthy future for our young ones. Wall DecorLet’s start by giving the walls a shake up. A nursery can be themed up or given a colour lift by adding a touch of kids wallpaper. If you are starting your nursery from scratch, your building blocks for styling start here. There are also some eye-catching neutrals if you’re styling for a gender neutral look. I can highly recommend Amba Florette for eco-friendly, FSC certified wall paper which is pvc, formaldehyde and phthalates free. Not only that, this wallpaper also come with a Class A Fire Certification and are Greenguard children and schools certified.  Play TimeBaby is eventually going to be old enough to play, so a playmat is a definite essential for your nursery. Freddy & Co. offer designer, reversible play mats. Your personal style on one side and a fun, educational design for baby on the other. The playmats are non-toxic and have passed European and US standards with flying colours. Freddy and Co. also offer 100% bamboo hooded koala towels. They are just gorgeous and great for home and beach days.  Ceiling Decor and Wall ArtI love turning to Etsy for beautiful, handmade in Australia products. The styles and colour palettes here are endless. You will have no trouble finding a mobile your baby will find stimulating and some ultra-cute wall art to go with your theme. BeddingThere’s no other choice here but organic cotton or bamboo as they are naturally sustainable fibres. These organic fabrics are chemical free and will allow your babies body to breathe naturally. If you visit Elkie & Ark™ you will find the most beautiful 100% certified organic cotton and linen, bleach free, toxin free and fair-trade sheets for baby.  Ambient LightingNight time feeds are a given - hopefully only for a few months! This is where you will need soft lighting, just enough to find your way around. That way you can both remain in ‘semi sleep mode’ during feeding time and get back to what’s most important a little easier - sleep! Look for sustainable lighting designers who state they are looking after the environment during production and are utilising sustainable resources. I’m loving the table lamps at Mutating Creatures.  I hope these tips help you on your way to styling a sustainable, eco-friendly, designer nursery. Feel free to contact me if you need help moving in the right direction with your nursery design — that’s what I’m here for!
tags: eco-friendly wallpaper, wallpaper, childrens wallpaper, nursery wall decor, kids wallpaper, natural wallpaper, eco wallpaper, leaf wallpaper, botanical wallpaper, nursery wallpaper, eco interiors, wallpaper australia, wallpaper online, bold wallpaper  photo credit - Andy Lewis I get such a calming and serene feeling when I’m out in nature. From the whistle of wind as it blows through the trees catching every leaf on its way and gently kissing it to let it know that it is there by it’s side. As the birds soar above in their clusters dancing in perfect unison before nestling themselves amongst the branches. The tiny pitter patter of their little feet hopping by always brings a smile and laugh to my face and I imagine their lives… without a care in the world hunting for food, playing with their friends and connecting with the trees. I sometimes pretend that I can understand what the birds are saying to each other and laugh at the conversations that I make up in my head.  And then there are the flowers... what amazing creations these all are, with so many different varieties and colours dancing around in the sunlight whilst being nurtured by beautiful little bees. Flowers have the ability to make me smile immensely and with their very exisitence giving us a feeling about the soulful connection we have with nature. We can look at flowers and let go of our negative feelings, not to mention the love, respect appreciation and good wishes we to give to others when we gift them with a heavenly bunch. I also find beauty in a wilting flower... and with the imperfections that are often seen on their buds it reminds me that character lies beneath just like it does within us all. Hundreds of species of plants and animals can live amongst each other in one small area. This is the way the eco-system is meant to work - each fragment contributes to a greater balance as they coexist. It’s quite beautiful and I find myself feeling quite jealous… wishing that one day humans would finally be able to do just that… live in Harmony.  Oh My Darling Cockatoo - Flights of Fancy collection - Eco Wallpaper When time is spent in nature is reminds us that life can pass us by in the flicker of a moment… sometimes we need that perspective in order to remember what truly matters... it reminds us just how small we are compared to the grand scheme of things and this makes us realise just how precious life is.  Why Nature is my muse...So why did I decide to make nature my muse and base my bold wallpaper designs on the beauty that I experience. SIMPLE… because of the warmth and joy I get every time I look at the leaves on the trees as I pass them by. It’s like I can feel them alive and no matter what stresses I am going through - at that moment everything is forgotten. This is the reason why I feel so passionate about making sure that my products are good for the environment… imagine being in a world where we weren’t able to experience this beauty, this love? and knowing that my eco-wallpaper is helping to play it’s part gives me a sense of inner peace.  Octavia in Olive - Nature's Child Collection - Eco Wallpaper  Beleaf In Yourself - Nature's Child Collection - Kids Wallpaper - Eco Wallpaper So.. when you look at the leaves and flowers that feature in my wallpaper designs… Imagine where they were initially. How at one point the sun warmed them and the rain cooled them down. How they listened to the conversations of the birds and how they must have their own stories to tell. Shop my wallpaper online Australia collections to bring the beauty of the outside into the beauty of your own surroundings.
tags: eco-friendly wallpaper, wallpaper, childrens wallpaper, nursery wall decor, kids wallpaper, natural wallpaper, eco wallpaper, leaf wallpaper, botanical wallpaper, nursery wallpaper, eco interiors, wallpaper australia, wallpaper online, bold wallpaper  Imagine yourself as a child again. Every morning you woke was a day of wonder. You open your little eyes and pear around your room. Inside you think “what am I going to play with today - what amazing adventures can I have.” When I think of the space I had as a child 40 years ago I remember that it wasn’t the prettiest of rooms. I had Funky retro wallpaper on the walls, lots of toys, dollies and games scattered in various places. My Mum did try her hardest to add a few touches of pink, but due to me sharing a room with a sister 8 years older, I had to live with her darker choice of colouring of purples, beiges and black when she decided to paint her own mural on the wall to the side of her bed (yes what a mix)!  Image sourced from Pinterest via urbanbabyshop It’s refreshing how far we’ve come…How times have changed with the introduction of beautifully designed interior pieces for our little Angels rooms. Pretty age appropriate wall hangings, ceiling mobiles that are not just for newborns, wallpaper with so many different scenes and subjects, beautiful paint colours and textures, and trendy furniture that ties the space together, leaving the lucky child sooo proud to show off to their visiting friends. Yes times really have changed in the world of interior design and decoration, particularly as we realise the importance of having textile products and using building material that are safe and offer a clean air environment, most importantly for our children. Thank the universe for eco interior design  EASY TO BELEAF - Amba Florette Nature's Child Collection With standards like OEKO TEX Confidence in Textiles and The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), the worldwide textile processing standard for organic fibres, including ecological and social criteria, stating that certain fabrics are suitable to be used for children, shows us that the world is changing and we are conscious about what we wear and what homeware products are good to have at home and most importantly in our children’s rooms. Over 4,200 companies worldwide in the textile and clothing industry are involved in the Oeko-Tex certification network. With more than 20,000 certificates issued to millions of textile products, Oeko-Tex Standard 100’s has become the world’s leading eco-label for testing textile for harmful substances.  BELEAF IN YOURSELF PINK - Amba Florette Nature's Child Collection What does the 'Confidence in textiles' label mean?The “Confidence in Textiles – tested for harmful substances according to OEKOTEX® Standard 100″ label is used to mark textile products that were subjected to a whole range of extensive laboratory tests in recognised and independent test institutes and have proven that the products do not pose a health risk. The quality mark is only attributed to products of which all parts are free of harmful substances. This includes the fabrics (tissues/knits), lining, sewing and embroidery threads as well as metal or plastic accessories (zips, buttons, etc.). Specially applied coating layers such as anti-slip layers on socks are also tested. The OEKO-TEX® tests consist of more than 100 different parameters and go far beyond legislation. Examples of test parameters for child articles:
 NEVER BE BOARD - Amba Florette Nature's Child Collection But it doesn’t just stop at fabrics...Picture this… it’s a hot day and after taking your little angels to the beach or for a swim in the pool they decide to play in their most favourite space - their bedroom. Us as parents want to protect our children as best we can, not knowing that the paint or wallpaper that we have on their walls to adorn their beautiful spaces are emitting gases even at room temperature! You see… a lot of paint products and wallpaper on the market contain harmful substances like lead, PVC, phthalates and formaldehyde which, when inhaled, result in allergies and skin sensitivities. A worse case scenario is the impact they have on our respiratory system.  FEATHERED FRIENDS CHARCOAL - Amba Florette Nature's Child Collection  AN ECO-FRIENDLY NURSERY - image sourced from childmags.com.au website Give them healthy walls...PAINT Thankfully there are eco-friendly non-toxic paints on the market that contain little or no VOC content (volatile organic compounds) which will mean no leaking of harmful gasses into the air that can also cause dizziness, headaches and visual impairment. WALLPAPER PVC, formaldehyde and phthlates free eco-wallpaper is more widely used in the market too and with the introduction of the GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification that offers a stricter certification criteria, considers safety factors to account for sensitive individuals (such as children and the elderly), and ensures that a product is acceptable for use in environments such as schools and healthcare facilities. ENVIRONMENTALLY SOURCED PAPER FSC certified paper has a positive impact on forests, people and wildlife. Providing the highest level of protection for rare and endangered forests and wildlife to combat deforestation.  STEP OUTA YA SHELL - Amba Florette Nature's Child Collection Amba Florette - Helping them see the beauty of our environment by bringing the outside in, the healthy way...When I first thought about children's wallpaper for my Nature’s Child Collection, I wanted to create designs that children of all ages could relate to. Leaves and flowers are earths most beautiful, natural creations and I wanted to instil into our little Angel’s the importance of preserving our land at a very young age. If they know that recycling and composting will result in a greener future they will also be aware that in order to forever see the beauty in a simple leaf, flower or shell from the ocean would perhaps make them more conscious about caring for the environment. A beautiful, natural and soft offering for wallpaper Australia. I am proud to say that the eco-wallpapers produced by Amba Florette are made from FSC certified paper, free from PVC, phthlates, formaldehyde and carry the GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification.  BELEAF IN YOURSELF - Amba Florette Nature's Child Collection So in conclusion, make sure you follow these simple guidelines to create an eco-friendly space for your Angels. You may have to spend a little more on eco-friendly Australian-made products, however when we look at the long term benefits, a few extra dollars are most definitely worth it!
A Simple LeafA sculpture so beautifully designed, Becomes a pleasure to the mind, In colours of yellow, red and brown, Wearing a true autumnal gown. It had fluttered down, fully complete, And landed gently, at my feet, I picked it up, and then did view, A passenger, a spider who, Had settled there, a place to choose, And awakening from his lengthy snooze, Quickly skuttled off, making his escape, Leaving me with just, the perfect shape Of a simple leaf, with its own story, Resting in my hand, in all its glory. by Ernestine Northover tags: eco-friendly wallpaper, childrens wallpaper, nursery wall decor, kidswallpaper, natural wallpaper, eco wallpaper, leaf wallpaper, nursery wallpaper, eco interiors, wallpaper australia
 ith a love for nature and all things bright and beautiful, I decided that the world needed an eco-friendly wallpaper that was not only kind to the environment, but also pleasing to the eye. That was back in 2015 when I first launched my Amba Florette wall coverings brand. At that time, the only available offerings that were eco friendly were grass weaves that unfortunately only consisted of a few neutral muted tones - and were mostly not created by Australian wallpaper designers. Whilst they were lovely... they didn't give the wow factor impact that I really wanted to achieve for myself and the colour loving, bold environmentally conscious homeowner. I was a wallpaper designer on a mission... Everywhere I looked screamed beauty and colour and I went about designing my first 5 collections. 'Garden Love' had me collecting leaves, gumnuts and feathers from just outside my door and I smiled with such warm delight at my very first leaf wallpaper design.  Staying true to my love of the environment, I wanted to preserve the beautiful natural colouring of the leaves that Mother Nature had so wonderfully gifted us, so sampling all of the simple colours really gave each design a true sense of authenticity. Using the native leaves really rang true to being Australian eco wallpaper... See the full range of 'Garden Love' nature inspired wall coverings. For brighter pops of colour see the 'African Dreams', 'Contemporary Lines', and 'Days of Old' collections. AND NOW FOR A TOUCH OF GLAMOUR!Now 3 years on, even though I have matured., the love for leaves and flowers still make my heart sing. My 2018 Spring collection combines imagery from leaves and flowers that I collect on my walks through nature, along with designs inspired by patterns from the Vintage and Art Deco era that I have always loved and admired. Vintage wallpaper consisting of real Australian flora imagery. A signature collection that shows everything that I love . See my new 'Nature's Glamour' collection.  So why eco friendly wallpaper? does it REALLY matter what you are putting onto your walls? |
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