Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert

How Authentic Style Will Elevate Your Home Decor

Understanding and identifying your authentic interior design style can feel like navigating a maze, but it’s a journey worth taking.

Your home should be a reflection of you; a space where your personality, preferences, and lifestyle shine through. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you uncover your authentic style and transform your home into a true sanctuary.

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Interiors and Design, Colour Penelope J. Herbert Interiors and Design, Colour Penelope J. Herbert

The Lust-Worthy Art of Luxury Design: Creating a Luxurious Home with Dark and Moody Colours

You’ll love creating a luxurious home with dark colours! Dark colours have long been misunderstood in the realm of home design.

Too often, they’re seen as sombre, drab, or even oppressive. However, when used correctly, dark hues will infuse a home with elegance, luxury, and a sense of dramatic sophistication. Let's explore how you can transform your living spaces with rich, dark colours, creating a stunningly chic and inviting atmosphere.

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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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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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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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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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Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert

Creating a Focal Point in Every Home Space: Essential Design Tips

In the world of interior design, establishing a focal point in every home space is a fundamental principle that transforms good design into great design.

A focal point draws the eye, adds interest, and serves as a foundation around which to build your decor. Here’s how you can effectively designate and accentuate focal points in various spaces within your Australian home.

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Interiors and Design, Colour Penelope J. Herbert Interiors and Design, Colour Penelope J. Herbert

The Easy Secret Ingredient of Homes That ‘Feel Right’

Ever walked into a room and felt instantly at ease—like it just got you? And then walked into another that looked perfect on paper but felt... sterile? That’s the difference between a home that has soul and one that’s just been styled. The easy secret ingredient isn’t expensive furniture, a high-end paint colour, or getting the cushion arrangement just right. It’s emotional design—spaces layered with memory, mood, and meaning.

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Interiors and Design, Renovating and New Homes Penelope J. Herbert Interiors and Design, Renovating and New Homes Penelope J. Herbert

5 Signs Your Home Needs a Redesign

Your Home is Crying Out for Help! (And No, More Beige Isn't the Answer). Alright, rebels, rule-breakers, and lovers of homes with actual SOUL. Let's have a brutally honest chat. Your house? It’s talking. And if it’s whispering "safe," "inoffensive," or (God forbid) "greige," then it’s basically screaming for an intervention.

These are the Top 5 Design Demons we're slaying.

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Interiors and Design, Child-Friendly Penelope J. Herbert Interiors and Design, Child-Friendly Penelope J. Herbert

Kid-Friendly and Chic: Living Room Ideas That Work for Everyone

If your living room looks like Toys ‘R’ Us exploded, this is your sign: the toys can stay, the ugly can’t. For parents juggling the demands of family life and a love for stylish interiors, finding that balance can seem impossible. But what if we told you it doesn’t have to be? In this guide, we’ll show you how to create a beautiful, functional living room that works for the whole family. From clever storage solutions to furniture that can handle sticky fingers, you’ll discover easy design tips that make your space feel chic, even with little ones around.

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Interiors and Design, Child-Friendly Penelope J. Herbert Interiors and Design, Child-Friendly Penelope J. Herbert

Your Family Haven: Effortless Design for Happy Homes

Creating a family haven isn’t about perfection; it’s about crafting spaces that balance comfort, functionality, and style, all while embracing the chaos and joy of family life. Your home should be a sanctuary where every member—from toddlers to teens (and even furry friends!) — feels welcomed and inspired. Here’s how to design a family-friendly home that radiates warmth and happiness while keeping life’s practicalities in mind.

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Window Treatments Love: Celebrating 70 Years of Luxaflex Window Coverings

Transforming Australian homes since 1954. Now that’s something to celebrate! Window treatments finish off a home and beautifully frame windows in a variety of ways.

Window treatments as fashion! That’s what Hunter Douglas may have been thinking when Luxaflex Aluminium Venetian Blinds were introduced to Australia in 1954. Luxaflex Window Fashions aimed to transform homes with products that delivered revolutionary style and functionality for every Australian home.

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Renovating and New Homes Penelope J. Herbert Renovating and New Homes Penelope J. Herbert

Celebrating Stylish Coastal Interiors Reimagined by Kyal and Kara

Australians love their stylish coastal interiors even when they don’t live near the beach. Curves and unique features abound in this stunning duplex design by ‘The Block’ stars, Kyal and Kara Demmrich. Side-by-side and sharing the same floor plan, this duplex is different. Expert renovators Kyla and Kara have created their own brand of stylish coastal interiors resulting in two homes with unique features. Learn how they did and bring their ideas to your own home renovation.

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Renovating and New Homes, Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert Renovating and New Homes, Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert

Thinking Differently - What An Interior Designer Does

Thinking differently in interior design means creating a home that feels like you, not a beige show home. Discover how an interior designer reads your lifestyle, sees through walls and layers texture, light and personality to craft a truly timeless, authentic space in Adelaide and beyond.

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Renovating and New Homes, Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert Renovating and New Homes, Interiors and Design Penelope J. Herbert

Five Architectural Elements That Come Before Interior Design

Architectural elements support the planning and philosophy of architectural design. They will help you have a more comfortable and functional home. The five architectural elements an interior designer considers before decor even enters the conversation — space, view, air, light and sound.

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Our blog is a treasure trove of knowledge, filled with valuable insights, expert tips, and insider secrets.

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.

Additionally, we keep you updated on the latest building and renovation techniques, as well as innovative products that can elevate your space to new heights.

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.