Benefits of Hiring An Interior Designer and Interior Architect
Renovating and New Homes, Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert Renovating and New Homes, Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert

Benefits of Hiring An Interior Designer and Interior Architect

Have you thought about the key benefits of hiring an interior designer and an interior architect? If you want to transform your space, create functional beauty, and increase your property value, then hiring a design studio that specialises in both interior design AND interior architecture will be the perfect option. But why?

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There’s A New Room Replacing The Kitchen. It’s A Borðstofa!
Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert

There’s A New Room Replacing The Kitchen. It’s A Borðstofa!

In Iceland, the word Borðstofa refers to the dining area of a home — specifically, the idea that this space is where the household truly gathers. Not the kitchen, with its noise and heat and perpetual motion. The dining room: slower, more deliberate, designed for the pleasure of being together rather than the efficiency of getting food on the table.

Australian homes have been obsessed with the kitchen for thirty years. Open-plan living gave us kitchen islands the size of aircraft carriers and benchtops that cost more than the family car. But something is shifting. The dining room — properly designed, properly considered — is reclaiming its place as the room where life actually happens.

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Adopt This White Paint Guide; Your Walls Really Need It!
Colour, Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert Colour, Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert

Adopt This White Paint Guide; Your Walls Really Need It!

In this white paint guide, we'll delve into the nuanced world of white paint, exploring the differences between various shades, how to test them on your walls, what to watch out for, and ultimately, how to select the perfect white paint for your home.

We demystify white paint and help you find the perfect shade for your home renovation. Adopt this white paint guide; your walls really need it!

White paint may seem like a straightforward choice for your walls, but any experienced interior designer will tell you that not all whites are created equal. The subtle nuances in undertones and finishes can drastically alter the mood and aesthetic of a room.

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The Free E-Book That Will Change How You Use Colour in Your Home (Not Just on Your Walls)
Interiors and Design, Colour Penelope J. Herbert Interiors and Design, Colour Penelope J. Herbert

The Free E-Book That Will Change How You Use Colour in Your Home (Not Just on Your Walls)

When you walk through your front door, do you feel something? Or do you feel… nothing? The interior design equivalent of a firm handshake. If that's your home right now, I wrote ‘Colour Without Apology’ for you.

Colour Without Apology is my free, complete colour guide — and I want to be clear about something from the start. This isn't just a paint guide.

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Why We Love Living Room Fusion… and You Should Too
Colour, Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert Colour, Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert

Why We Love Living Room Fusion… and You Should Too

Living room fusion is what happens when you stop apologising for having more than one taste. Hollywood Glam and Art Deco in the same room? Absolutely. Southern California ease layered with ornate antiques? Why not. The design world will tell you to "pick a style and commit" — which is useful advice if your personality fits neatly into one box and wildly unhelpful if you're a more interesting person than that.

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The Biggest Interior Design Mistake You Don’t Even Realise You’re Making
Interiors and Design, Colour Penelope J. Herbert Interiors and Design, Colour Penelope J. Herbert

The Biggest Interior Design Mistake You Don’t Even Realise You’re Making

Your home is not a waiting room for the life you're planning to live one day. It's not a showroom for buyers who might come along in seven years. It's not a safe, inoffensive backdrop designed to offend nobody and delight nobody in equal measure.

It's where you live. Right now. Today. And it should feel like the most honest room in your life — the one place where nobody else's opinion gets a vote.

The biggest design mistake is choosing everything from fear. The fix is choosing one thing — just one thing — from joy instead. Start there. See what happens.

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Can We Finally Stop Decorating for Instagram? Why Your Home Isn't a Photo Shoot
Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert

Can We Finally Stop Decorating for Instagram? Why Your Home Isn't a Photo Shoot

There was a time when homes were designed for families. Now they seem to be designed for wide-angle lenses.

Don't get me wrong—I adore beautiful interiors. I'm an interior architect. Beautiful is literally my business.

But somewhere between perfectly edited reels and impossibly pristine kitchens, we've quietly started confusing good design with good content.

They're not the same thing. A photograph captures one perfect second. A home has to survive every other one. The perfectly styled home might be getting all the likes—but is it getting any actual living done?

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Your House Isn't a Gender Reveal Party (And Great Design Never Plays by the Rules)
Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert

Your House Isn't a Gender Reveal Party (And Great Design Never Plays by the Rules)

The rooms that stop people in their tracks are never the ones where everything matched. They're the rooms where something unexpected happened — where someone made a choice that shouldn't have worked and committed to it so completely that it absolutely did.

The rough plaster wall in the otherwise polished apartment. The Victorian chaise in the mid-century living room. The deeply saturated ceiling in the otherwise pale space. The antique in the renovation.

Tension isn't a risk. Tension is the point.

Your home is allowed to be complicated. So are you.

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How to Choose a Sofa Colour That Won’t Bore You to Tears
Interiors and Design, Colour Penelope J. Herbert Interiors and Design, Colour Penelope J. Herbert

How to Choose a Sofa Colour That Won’t Bore You to Tears

Forget “safe” grey. Here’s how to choose a sofa colour with personality that actually works in your real-life living room.

It’s the colour of safety, of “good taste,” of not offending anyone. And yet, have you ever sat in a beige room and felt your brain quietly fall asleep? Here’s the uncomfortable truth: your beige sofa might be gently murdering your creativity.

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Timeless Is a Lazy Compliment (And What Designers Really Mean Instead)
Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert

Timeless Is a Lazy Compliment (And What Designers Really Mean Instead)

“Timeless” is one of the most commonly used compliments in interior design. It’s also one of the least useful.

Homeowners hear it and feel reassured — like they’ve made a smart, future-proof decision. Designers hear it and immediately ask a different question: Timeless for whom? And frozen in which decade?

Because here’s the quiet truth:Timeless is rarely a design strategy. It’s usually avoidance.

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Wallpaper On Every Surface: The All‑In, No‑Vanilla Guide To Rooms With A Pulse

Wallpaper On Every Surface: The All‑In, No‑Vanilla Guide To Rooms With A Pulse

Wallpaper is my second weapon in a five-part war against boring finishes — and yes, I’m coming for your “safe” walls next. This series is all about giving your home a pulse, not a polite little heartbeat, and wallpaper on all five walls is where we stop flirting with bold and actually commit. If you missed part one on tiles (where I banned basic splashbacks and exposed my tile obsession), you can catch up here: read the first instalment on tiles. Now, let’s talk wallpaper, pattern, and why your ceiling is absolutely not exempt from the fun.

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What You Need To Know About Planning Children’s Bedrooms
Interiors and Design, Child-Friendly Penelope J. Herbert Interiors and Design, Child-Friendly Penelope J. Herbert

What You Need To Know About Planning Children’s Bedrooms

Children’s bedrooms are just about the most fun spaces to decorate. You can be frivolous, colourful, playful and take risks. However, while we love to break design rules, there are a few you need to know when planning children’s bedrooms. It’s an exercise in designing for who they are now AND who they'll be in five years. An Adelaide designer's guide to children's bedrooms that grow with them — without a full renovation every phase.

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Are You Playing It Safe or Designing Bold? Find Out Your Fearless Home Style
Interiors and Design, Renovating and New Homes Penelope J. Herbert Interiors and Design, Renovating and New Homes Penelope J. Herbert

Are You Playing It Safe or Designing Bold? Find Out Your Fearless Home Style

You’ve pinned the inspo. You’ve saved the reels. But when it comes to actually designing your Adelaide home… are you confidently bold or still clinging to beige?

This quick quiz will reveal your Fearless Home Style—where you land on the boldness scale, what’s holding you back (if anything), and how to create a home that’s 100% you. Whether you’re a soft minimalist with a rebellious streak or a maximalist-in-the-making, this is where your real style starts to shine.

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Creating A Cosy Winter Nook: Your Sanctuary for Chilly Days
Interiors and Design, Child-Friendly Penelope J. Herbert Interiors and Design, Child-Friendly Penelope J. Herbert

Creating A Cosy Winter Nook: Your Sanctuary for Chilly Days

As the Australian winter sets in, bringing cooler temperatures and shorter days, the appeal of a warm and cosy winter nook in your home grows immensely.

A cosy nook can serve as the perfect escape for those winter days when all you want to do is curl up with a good book, enjoy a hot cup of tea, or simply unwind in a peaceful spot.

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Did I Make A Mistake Painting My Walls White?
Colour Penelope J. Herbert Colour Penelope J. Herbert

Did I Make A Mistake Painting My Walls White?

White walls have long been hailed as the epitome of chic, timeless interior design. They're clean, versatile, and can make spaces feel larger and more airy. But as any seasoned interior designer will tell you, the choice of wall colour is a deeply personal one.

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We delve into a wide range of topics that cater to renovators of all levels, from the novice DIYer to the sophisticated homeowner looking to transform their space.

Whether you're in the early planning stages or about to embark on construction, our blog covers it all.

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We believe that informed clients make the best decisions, which is why we take pride in sharing our knowledge and expertise with you.

Our blog is designed to demystify the interior design and renovation process, making it accessible and understandable for everyone.

So whether you're seeking inspiration, practical advice, or a deeper understanding of the art of renovation, you've come to the right place.

Join us on this exciting journey as we empower you to transform your home into a space that reflects your unique style and personality.