In this episode, friend of the show Claudia Brdar explains how to make your chosen interior design style for your home This episode is part of a very special DIY renovation series. ⠀ Claudia from @therenovateavenue and Founder of the DIY Renovation Academy will join us once a month on the show to take you through EVERYTHING you need to know to DIY your reno.⠀ ⠀ This is like a little sneak peek into her super popular DIY Renovation Academy course.⠀ ⠀ This series is exclusively for Dream Home Movement listeners. Listen to Claudia's episode on How to choose a design style for your home How to contact Jo and Carl from Violeta Finance [email protected] 03 9775 0532 www.violetafinance.com.au Follow Claudia and The Renovate Avenue Facebook Instagram Website Follow the Dream Home Movement Facebook Instagram Web Follow Carl and Jo Violeta Facebook Instagram Web Guest bio Claudia and her husband Pete have renovated small properties right through to large scale projects. Several years ago they bought a run-down 1960's weatherboard house (purchased for $460K) and ended up completing a major renovation ($75K), creating a beautiful sought after home ... on a tight budget! They set the suburb record for a property price of $1.035 million (2017)! They're currently renovating a 1960's brick house to sell. Both Pete and Claudia have a real hands-on DIY approach when it comes to renovating, focusing on achieving that ‘WOW’ factor ... thinking bigger, outside-the-box, and never afraid to take a risk. Claudia created The Renovate Avenue to share her knowledge, and inspire others to climb the property market via the renovation avenue, building a financially stable future to retire earlier (and do what you love). Transcript *This transcript is automated, so may not be 100% accurate* How to make your interior styling work - easy, practical tips with Claudia Brdar 00:00:00 - 00:00:04 I've got a confession to make. I'm not very good at interior styling. I don't 00:00:04 - 00:00:10 know how to make things look good around my home. I know what I like, but 00:00:10 - 00:00:15 I don't know how to make it work. I don't know how to translate my vision 00:00:15 - 00:00:20 what's in my mind into reality. And I know that might come as a bit of a 00:00:20 - 00:00:25 surprise or might seem a little bit weird, considering I host a podcast about 00:00:25 - 00:00:29 home improvement and renovation. You would think that I had some interior 00:00:29 - 00:00:36 styling skills, but sadly, I don't I guess that's kind of why I host this podcast, 00:00:36 - 00:00:42 because I can tap into experts who do have the skills. And so, for this episode 00:00:42 - 00:00:47 , Claudia Brdar from The Renovate Avenue is coming onto the show to take us 00:00:47 - 00:00:54 through how to make our design style work. Welcome to the Dream Home 00:00:54 - 00:00:59 movement. This is your weekly dose of home and property inspiration. 00:00:59 - 00:01:04 Bringing you clever tips and advice from the very best experts and real life 00:01:04 - 00:01:12 reno stories with your host, Jo Violeta. Hey, thank you so much for tuning 00:01:12 - 00:01:16 into this episode of the Dream Home Movement. I think you're going to love 00:01:16 - 00:01:22 this one. Lots of really practical tips from my dear friend Claudia, who is the 00:01:22 - 00:01:28 founder of The Renovate Avenue and the D.I.Y Renovation Academy. So 00:01:28 - 00:01:32 you might want to grab a paper piece of paper and a pen and take notes. But if 00:01:32 - 00:01:37 you're not able to, that's okay, because I’ve transcribed the episode so you'll be 00:01:37 - 00:01:42 able to see transcription and I will pop all the relevant information in the show 00:01:42 - 00:01:47 notes as well. So I've got you. Don't worry. And oh, hey, if we haven't met 00:01:47 - 00:01:52 before, my name's Jo Violeta, Thank you so much for listening to the show. I 00:01:52 - 00:01:57 Co-own an award winning finance business called Violeta Finance with my 00:01:57 - 00:02:02 husband, Carl. He is a mortgage broker. So if you need a hand financing your 00:02:02 - 00:02:07 home renovations, organising a home loan, refinancing your mortgage, maybe 00:02:07 - 00:02:10 you need to organise a loan for your next investment property or your first 00:02:10 - 00:02:15 investment property ‘exciting’ we would love to help you our contact details 00:02:15 - 00:02:21 will also be in the show notes, and if you're a regular listen of the listener to 00:02:21 - 00:02:25 the show, then you might be familiar with Claudia because Claudia is actually 00:02:25 - 00:02:31 delivering an exclusive little miniseries for Dream Home Movement listeners. 00:02:31 - 00:02:38 And it's based on her course Thie Renovation Academy. So last season she 00:02:38 - 00:02:43 took us through planning a home renovation. And then this season she's taking 00:02:43 - 00:02:49 us through actually planning your styling and doing the styling for the home so 00:02:49 - 00:02:53 last time she was on, she comes on about once a month to deliver these little 00:02:53 - 00:02:58 sort of like many lessons I suppose last month we spoke about choosing your 00:02:58 - 00:03:02 design style so it could be a Hamptons or industrial or contemporary, 00:03:02 - 00:03:07 she explained what those design styles are. And then she took us through. How do 00:03:07 - 00:03:11 we figure out what design style we're going to use for our home Oh my gosh, I 00:03:11 - 00:03:14 love that episode so much. If you haven't listened to it yet, you might want to 00:03:14 - 00:03:19 scroll back and listen to it. And then in this episode, Claudia is taking us 00:03:19 - 00:03:24 through how to actually make that design style work. So how to practically 00:03:24 - 00:03:30 bring it together? And can I tell you I needed this episode so so badly? And 00:03:30 - 00:03:35 I'm feeling far more confident now that I will be able to style, our next 00:03:35 - 00:03:38 property, which hopefully we're purchasing soon. All right, let's get stuck 00:03:38 - 00:03:45 into my chat with Claudia. Hey, Claudia. Welcome to the show. So lovely to 00:03:45 - 00:03:48 have you back again. Thank you so much for having me. I have a lot of fun 00:03:48 - 00:03:55 when I'm here with its great and I learned so much. So last time we were 00:03:55 - 00:04:00 together. Well, I just hit my microphone stand. That made a weird sound. 00:04:00 - 00:04:05 Anyway, last time we were together, we spoke about how to choose a design 00:04:05 - 00:04:10 style for your home. We spoke about Hampton style and contemporary and 00:04:10 - 00:04:16 modern and all of that sort of thing. But what I'm wondering now is, once 00:04:16 - 00:04:21 you've chosen the design style for your home, how do you actually put it all 00:04:21 - 00:04:27 together? Because for a home styling novice like myself, it can It can all feel 00:04:27 - 00:04:32 a bit overwhelming. Yeah, Yeah, for sure. Can be. Definitely can be. And I 00:04:32 - 00:04:38 have a lot of questions about all the time, So I get it. Well, I've got some tips 00:04:38 - 00:04:42 to share with you, Jo, and everyone that's listening. I wanted to start 00:04:42 - 00:04:47 talking about the seven elements of interior design. These are really important 00:04:47 - 00:04:56 because it includes space, line, form, light colour, texture and pattern. Now 00:04:56 - 00:05:03 just think about all these seven, and the key is to keep them balanced in a 00:05:03 - 00:05:08 really pleasing interior. So that is the key in a lot of different things as well. 00:05:08 - 00:05:15 Balance is very important, so I just want to say it again. It's space line forms 00:05:15 - 00:05:21 Light colour texture and pattern. Getting these balanced in your 00:05:21 - 00:05:26 environment is important, and if you want to write them down, having having 00:05:26 - 00:05:31 each of these in your space will make it a very pleasing and aesthetically 00:05:31 - 00:05:36 pleasing interior. That's what you want your place to really start and have a 00:05:36 - 00:05:40 think about those things. Incorporating those things into your space is 00:05:40 - 00:05:45 Important. Now for listeners, if you are driving right now or you're running on 00:05:45 - 00:05:50 the treadmill or something, like walking your dog or whatever, I will have the 00:05:50 - 00:05:56 list of those seven elements in the show notes if you can't jot it down. That's 00:05:56 - 00:06:01 fine. Claudia and I have got you covered, So can you tell us a little bit more 00:06:01 - 00:06:09 about each of those elements? Yeah, 00:06:09 - 00:06:14 I'll go through. If you also want to mention when I say colours and textures 00:06:14 - 00:06:18 and pattern. If you're unsure those three their colour, texture and pattern if 00:06:18 - 00:06:22 you're unsure of where to start with those because it can be quite 00:06:22 - 00:06:27 overwhelming. My number one tip stick to three colours, three colours or 00:06:27 - 00:06:32 shades. Don't go more. If you're really overwhelmed with it pick three 00:06:32 - 00:06:36 colours or three shades. If you've got a good idea of what your colour scheme 00:06:36 - 00:06:42 is, and if you're not sure, then grab some paint samples or go online and 00:06:42 - 00:06:48 have a look at what colours work together. So, that's a really handy tip is 00:06:48 - 00:06:56 stick to 3 colours or shades to start with. Light is really a 00:06:56 - 00:07:05 important in any space. Natural light is always beautiful feeling in any space, 00:07:05 - 00:07:10 so natural light. If you don't have enough natural light, then get it happening. 00:07:10 - 00:07:17 Get a skylight or, you know the windows light is very important aspect and 00:07:17 - 00:07:24 also lighting artificial lighting. Really think about where the lighting is being 00:07:24 - 00:07:30 placed and get rid of dark corners and things like that. So there's, um, really 00:07:30 - 00:07:35 quick sort of tips to really think about it. Incorporate into your home. Texture 00:07:35 - 00:07:40 is really important as well. To add to your home. You don't want just a blanket 00:07:40 - 00:07:44 of the same fabric, the same material in your home. You want to add texture 00:07:44 - 00:07:48 on texture. It's so important and really pleasing to have. And when I say 00:07:48 - 00:07:54 texture, I mean texture in your furniture pieces in your fabrics, in your decor 00:07:54 - 00:08:00 accessories in your window furnishings. Adding texture is important 00:08:00 - 00:08:03 because if you've got everything in a blanket of the same fabric texture of 00:08:03 - 00:08:09 material, then it starts looking very bland right. Okay, so you could have 00:08:09 - 00:08:13 that very basic colour palette, which is just three colours. Which sounds great 00:08:13 - 00:08:18 to me because that sounds just nice and simple. But mixing it up 00:08:18 - 00:08:25 and adding some depth and interest through texture. OK, I like that. 00:08:25 - 00:08:31 Another key thing to think about in your space choose a hero piece in each 00:08:31 - 00:08:39 room. So what I mean by Hero piece is a big, beautiful piece of art or a chest 00:08:39 - 00:08:47 of drawers, or a fabulous rug in your space. So 00:08:47 - 00:08:52 really think about what your key pieces in each room and then with that piece 00:08:52 - 00:08:55 Then you throw until complimenting colours as well that have hints that have 00:08:55 - 00:09:02 hints of colouring your major piece. So if you've got a big piece of art that's 00:09:02 - 00:09:06 got some blues through it, incorporate some complimentary blues as well into 00:09:06 - 00:09:10 the space. So it really works and flows together well, so that's that's another 00:09:10 - 00:09:16 key tip to think about in getting or interior style, right. How does that sound? 00:09:16 - 00:09:22 Oh, that sounds great. I love that. It's almost like an anchor for the room 00:09:22 - 00:09:29 . That's really clever Yes, yes, and anchor your room with a beautiful big rug. 00:09:29 - 00:09:35 Rugs have a great way of doing that. And rugs are a beautiful, a beautiful way 00:09:35 - 00:09:40 to add colour and texture and soften the room up as well. So the beautiful rug 00:09:40 - 00:09:46 really anchor's your room? Well, would there be any styles that are rug 00:09:46 - 00:09:49 wouldn't work with, Like you know how we were talking about the design 00:09:49 - 00:09:55 styles, for example, industrial. Can you still have rugs? You can for 00:09:55 - 00:10:01 sure. Yes, I probably wouldn't put a big plush rug in industrial style, but yeah 00:10:01 - 00:10:05 , definitely. I think rugs can work in any space, just getting the right texture 00:10:05 - 00:10:12 and colour. Right? Great. Another tip Jo is a mirrors, mirrors and magical 00:10:12 - 00:10:16 in a room they really are. They add light and depth in a room and can visually 00:10:16 - 00:10:21 make a space look better so they could bring white in a room. They 00:10:21 - 00:10:25 look beautiful, so they could really open up a space too. So have a think about 00:10:25 - 00:10:31 a mirror and have a think about a big one. I’m all about a 00:10:31 - 00:10:36 big mirror. You've seen my giant mirror in my old house in Seaford, which we 00:10:36 - 00:10:40 just left there because we couldn't get it off the wall. So our tenants are 00:10:40 - 00:10:48 enjoying that mirror. The next thing I want to share as 00:10:48 - 00:10:54 well Jo is for decorating the rule of three, which is a rule in decorating terms 00:10:54 - 00:10:59 . It means objects look better in a group of three. So there's this way to follow 00:10:59 - 00:11:06 the rule of threes to display a matching set of decor so it could be three pieces 00:11:06 - 00:11:13 Or three frames. It could be three vases also placement different sizes 00:11:13 - 00:11:19 next to each other. So try not to, have things. the same height as well 00:11:19 - 00:11:25 . Add two different heights and also so get creating odd numbered 00:11:25 - 00:11:33 arrangements like 1,3,5. So that's another little decorating. Tips 00:11:33 - 00:11:39 for you have the rule of three and add interest so add depth by adding 00:11:39 - 00:11:45 different textures to your items and pieces. Textures really, really 00:11:45 - 00:11:51 adds interest and also different heights and the rule of three. Next 00:11:51 - 00:12:01 thing I wanted to also mention is 60 30 10 interior design secret and which 00:12:01 - 00:12:08 I'm sharing with you all So 60 30 10. It's a timeless decorating rule that can 00:12:08 - 00:12:13 help you put a colour scheme together really easily. If 00:12:13 - 00:12:16 you're overwhelmed with colours, you're not sure what to stick to. Stick to 00:12:16 - 00:12:22 three colours or shades. This tip will help you with this. Also, because the 00:12:22 - 00:12:30 60 30 10 is a 60% plus the 30% plus the 10% proportion is meant to give you 00:12:30 - 00:12:37 balance to the colours used in any space. So 60 will be the walls 00:12:37 - 00:12:43 So that's the majority of the colour. 30% will probably be in your 00:12:43 - 00:12:49 furniture pieces. in room your armchair, 00:12:49 - 00:12:56 your coffee table that's your 30. And then your 10% ease your let's say, for 00:12:56 - 00:13:01 example, your 10% is your cushions, your throws. That's your accent colours 00:13:01 - 00:13:07 that you're throwing into match the rest of the space. So 60 30 10 is a really 00:13:07 - 00:13:13 good thing to consider when you're putting a space together. So 60 your 00:13:13 - 00:13:20 walls, then 30% furniture pieces and 10% is your decor 00:13:20 - 00:13:27 accessories, for example. So keeping all that balance and also sticking to 00:13:27 - 00:13:32 three colours or shades to really simplify it for you guys is a good way to start. 00:13:32 - 00:13:41 Okay, so So then what way would have the walls in one colour for example, And 00:13:41 - 00:13:46 then you don't have your decor and the accent same colour as the walls. For 00:13:46 - 00:13:53 example, you just write that 10%. That's like your accent colours. Yes, yes, 00:13:53 - 00:14:00 that's a good way of putting it s o that will help you understand of how a space 00:14:00 - 00:14:04 comes to get and how it can slow and look aesthetically pleasing as well. 00:14:04 - 00:14:10 That's another tip. Okay, good. o amongst all that'll amongst all picking a 00:14:10 - 00:14:15 colour, speaking the shades getting your style, right? Don't forget 00:14:15 - 00:14:18 about functionality because you don't want to pick pieces, and I'm going to be 00:14:18 - 00:14:23 functional. You don't want to pick a two seater when you’ve got a family of 00:14:23 - 00:14:28 five. So really consider what pieces air going to work in your space, because 00:14:28 - 00:14:35 if it's not functional than it may not be right. So functionality is really 00:14:35 - 00:14:41 important. Yeah, about everything. Don't forget when you're picking 00:14:41 - 00:14:46 Stylish and cool items. If it's not functional, maybe don't get it. So, like the 00:14:46 - 00:14:54 couch needs to be comfy. Yes, yes, we've got a big family yet Don't get a tiny 00:14:54 - 00:14:58 little so far with a huge living room as well. So I really think about what's 00:14:58 - 00:15:05 going to work. Yes, got it Gotta say, though. Claudia and I did a bit of a 00:15:05 - 00:15:09 shopping trip to Chadstone last year to remember that shopping trip, and we 00:15:09 - 00:15:16 went to Coco Republic, not sponsored by them or anything way. Their chairs 00:15:16 - 00:15:21 there are so gorgeous and they're so gorgeous that they look like they would be 00:15:21 - 00:15:26 ridiculously uncomfortable. And then you sit in them and I don't know what 00:15:26 - 00:15:32 what they've done. But those chairs are magically comfortable, aren't they? 00:15:32 - 00:15:37 Goodness, yes. And that furniture is amazing. And it takes three, I think 00:15:37 - 00:15:41 three. Sometimes six months for these pieces to come delivered to you. So 00:15:41 - 00:15:48 they're made for you. Well, they are absolutely amazing. Coca Republic. You 00:15:48 - 00:15:51 haven't been a cheque it out, guys. There's got beautiful pieces. And there 00:15:51 - 00:15:56 was a mirror there. George. Remember the mirror? Yes. And it was almost 00:15:56 - 00:16:01 like three days, So he'd say, like 100 of you standing in the back of the mirror 00:16:01 - 00:16:06 . That makes sense. I remember that. I went, I went Teo. I went to Coco 00:16:06 - 00:16:10 Republic a couple of weeks ago just to show car. I can't remember the 00:16:10 - 00:16:14 designer's name, but there's a specific designer has created a ll these amazing 00:16:14 - 00:16:18 pieces of cocoa a republic. And you know he's got the little show. They've got 00:16:18 - 00:16:23 like the back, like his little showroom, virtually just to show him that mirror 00:16:23 - 00:16:31 and designers work is amazing. We're digressing, though, but comfort is and 00:16:31 - 00:16:35 functionality is important as well. Really important. Don't don't forget about 00:16:35 - 00:16:40 functionality because you'll be kicking yourself later when, Yeah, it's not 00:16:40 - 00:16:45 gonna work in your in your space. You just you can just look at it and admire it 00:16:45 - 00:16:55 . But not any other tips for us to be a ble Teo. Pull it all together. So look, 00:16:55 - 00:17:00 that's that's, um, really easy sort of interior design decorating tips to start 00:17:00 - 00:17:05 thinking about to get it right. Onda again. The seven Elements of interior 00:17:05 - 00:17:10 design. Like I said, John, if you wantto go over it quickly again, so space 00:17:10 - 00:17:16 line forms light, colour, texture and pattern. There's a really this is the key to 00:17:16 - 00:17:21 keep everything balanced in your space. S O space is really important. You 00:17:21 - 00:17:26 want to get your space right and get the feeling right and the lines so the line 00:17:26 - 00:17:32 means the lines of your furniture pieces. The line. You know you can have a 00:17:32 - 00:17:39 curved coffee table, softer line on your sofa instead of a harsher line, which is 00:17:39 - 00:17:43 a more modern style, so sharper lines or a more modern modern style. 00:17:43 - 00:17:48 Whereas softer lines amore contemporary, more traditional, really think about 00:17:48 - 00:17:56 the key pieces of furniture when you're buying it as well On DH again light. 00:17:56 - 00:18:01 We've spoken about light. Yes, enough light in your space Colo are texture 00:18:01 - 00:18:06 and Patton. And again, you don't get too busy with your patterns, and you tell 00:18:06 - 00:18:10 us if you want to really simplify it, stick to three colours or shades. Like I said 00:18:10 - 00:18:15 earlier, that that will really help you find the balance in your space. The right 00:18:15 - 00:18:20 balance. Amazing. I love that. Those tips of fantastic. They're really practical 00:18:20 - 00:18:26 . They're easy enough for a novice like myself to understand an implement but 00:18:26 - 00:18:32 impactful enough to make a huge difference and good, full it altogether. Love 00:18:32 - 00:18:36 those seven design elements as well. As I said, we'll have those listed in the 00:18:36 - 00:18:43 show. No, Claudia, that was fantastic. Thank you so much for so glad If 00:18:43 - 00:18:48 people have any questions or they want Teo, get some more tips because 00:18:48 - 00:18:53 you've got loads of great tips on your website. Instagram and Facebook. How 00:18:53 - 00:18:58 can they get in contact with you? And how can they follow you and learn from 00:18:58 - 00:19:04 you? Yeah, I'm on Instagram and Facebook, the Renovate Avenue and also 00:19:04 - 00:19:08 my website. There were never any avenue dot com es so you can get in touch 00:19:08 - 00:19:13 through either of those avenues. I am always happy to track. They can get in 00:19:13 - 00:19:25 contact with the renovate avenue through any of those avenues. Yes, a again, 00:19:25 - 00:19:28 Thank you so much. And I look forward to chatting with you Claudia again in 00:19:28 - 00:19:34 about four weeks time about a month's time. And this time we are going to be 00:19:34 - 00:19:41 talking about how to create a style board. And that's a really important part 00:19:41 - 00:19:47 ofthe styling. Your home, isn't it? Yes, yes, this is fun. This is fun as well. 00:19:47 - 00:19:52 So it's all fun. Really. It's so much looking forward to that. Thank you again 00:19:52 - 00:19:56 for joining me and thank you, everyone for tuning in. Bye bye. Thank you. 00:19:56 - 00:20:01 Thanks for joining us on the dream home movement. Be sure to come over 00:20:01 - 00:20:06 and say hi on Facebook and Instagram. I hope that your dream home projects 00:20:06 - 00:20:10 are going well and I look forward to chatting with you again next week