feature article

A real living Wattyl / Home Hardware solution

Real Living Magazine

RICHIE STEVENS Interior designer & stylist. One of the finalists on Channel 9’s homeMADE, Richie has made a name for himself creating stylish interiors. Since the TV show, he has been busy designing homes, apartments, offices and even a radio station studio – “live on air”. Currently, he’s refitting a resort. Watch this space!

How to do floors “The floor is probably one of the most important features to look at when it comes to a final decision on paint colour,” says Richie. “A warm yellow-toned timber floor, for example, needs less yellow tones in the paint to stop it looking like a giant yellow box.”

How to do feature walls “If I want to create an ultra-modern space I can’t go past bold, bright colours, such as Wattyl Desert Lime, (F79w)” says Richie, “especially when it’s teamed with mid-century classic furniture.” How to do rugs “Rugs can be the tie that binds a room together,” Richie says. “If you are on a tight budget and you have to work with your current furnishings, which are a bit tired, painting a room in some vivid tones (like Wattyl Kings Bay (E68w) on the wall with a bold textured rug will ‘surround’ the existing furniture and tie the room together.” Colour is one of the quickest and easiest ways to improve an interior space. And by choosing the right combination you can take your place from drab to fab using the stunning Wattyl Colour Designer colours. Here’s how. expertcolour tips

How-to: get colour right Richie uses a home’s existing architectural features, such as fireplaces or placement of windows, as the starting point for any design scheme. Then he considers the “feel” of a room: this is where colour is important. “If the brief is warm and cosy I steer towards luxurious deep colours like Wattyl Café Noir (B84w) and Wattyl Roasted Capsicum (C37w) layered with lush furnishings and plenty of texture.” Wattyl Café Noir (B84w) Wattyl Tenn essee Dawn (A65w) Wattyl Lemon Verbena (F75w) Wattyl Oracle Bone (B24w)

How to do windows Richie says you have one of two options: emphasise them if you are lucky enough to have a nice view or outlook; or try to hide them. “If the window provides no real ‘view’ or architectural interest, it’s a great idea to cover it with drapes that match the colour of the wall,” he says. Loupe Images/Andrew Wood

“Decorate in a day, thanks to Wattyl Interior Design i.d’s low odour, stain resistant and low VOC combination. It is now possible to choose a Wattyl colour in the morning, paint and move back into the room all in one day”. Drop into your local Home Hardware store for all the assistance you need. For more colour and paint advice go to http://www.wattyl.com.au or visit your local Home Timber and Hardware store.