Thursday 24 March 2016

We Have Moved

It seemed like an eternity ago that I started this blog. It was the beginning of an exciting new chapter in my life and helped me move from graphic design into the world of interior design. I feel blessed to be making a living from something that I am so passionate about. As my interior design business has grown it made sense to combine everything under the one brand - Bibby + Brady. So the blog will continue with the same look and feel, but just in a different location. You can find it here now. Bookmark the new page, and follow us on Bloglovin (by clicking the bloglovin logo on the top right of the new blog), this way you will get an email when new blog posts are published.



Thanks for being a loyal Cush & Nooks follower, you guys are awesome. Please join me as the journey continues.

Friday 18 March 2016

Annise Design Candle Giveaway

Dael & I have recently been introduced to a range of candles by Annise Designs and our office has been smelling pretty darn good ever since. The candles come in a range of shapes, sizes and scents, and we are thrilled to have one to GIVE AWAY.






With the cooler weather upon us we often spend more time at home, and a beautiful scented candle is always welcoming. To be in to win this Coconut Lime candle (below) simply "like" Annise Designs on Facebook, and for a further entry share this post on Facebook. Once you've done that email me to let me know and I will pop you in the draw.




The winner will be randomly drawn and announced on the Cush & Nooks Facebook page approximately 3pm next Thursday 24th March - what a great start to your Easter!
(Entry only open to New Zealand residents).

Wednesday 16 March 2016

Design Boards | Bibby + Brady

I remember when I used to blog five days a week. Heck, when I first started this blog I used to post seven days a week! A blog is a huge commitment and takes hours and hours of work and planning. I love blogging, but as my interior design business, Bibby + Brady, has grown, the amount of time I've had to dedicate to blogging has diminished.

I thought you guys might like to see just a tiny bit of what I've been doing that has left me less time to write posts. One of the things we do at Bibby + Brady is to create design concept boards for our clients that are tailor made for their wants, needs, and budget. We spend a lot of time finding out what they are hoping to achieve, who will use the space and what it will be used for. We include paint colours, fabric for curtains, blinds, and cushions, flooring, furniture, wallpaper, art, accessories, as well as inspirational imagery. Other than the inspirational images, we can supply everything we put on our boards, and pass on discounts wherever possible.




We love working on the exteriors of homes as well as the interiors. It's great to make an impression right from the start.




These are just a few of our boards, and I've chosen ones that give a bit of a cross section of our work.









If you would like to hire Bibby + Brady to help with your home or workplace, don't hesitate to get in touch. Dael and I work with clients from all around New Zealand with our e-design service, as well as local Hawke's Bay clients. We can help you with jobs as small as making a roman blind for your bedroom, and as big as designing every room in your house. Our aim is to create beautiful, unique spaces that reflect their owners.

Monday 14 March 2016

Monday Inspiration

Let's kick this week off with a super cool house tour to inspire you, and hopefully encourage you to push the boundaries a bit. If you've been thinking about a new paint colour in your home, maybe this post will spur you on to embrace the dark side, and/or make a statement with some amazing art.







It's the holiday retreat of designer and entrepreneur, Terry Kaljo, situated in Sydney's Darling Point. I love the drama and the elegance she has created in this home.








The downstairs floor was designed for guests and has quite a different, more contemporary, Pacifica feel.





To read more about this amazing home, pop over to Vogue Living. (Photos by Prue Ruscoe)

Wednesday 2 March 2016

Portrait of a Lady

I am often drawn to portraits of women, and I love seeing them used in interiors. It doesn't have to be (and more often is not) someone you know, just an image that "speaks" to you. A vintage painting is always nice, I think, to contrast the more modern elements that a lot of us have in our homes.








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Although he is a contemporary artist, David Bromley's "Nudes" series is a favourite of mine.


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And Tretchikoff is another favourite, especially Miss Wong.


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Anna Spiro created one of her famous picture walls, featuring mostly women, at the Halcyon House restaurant. I sometimes think I should do that with my collection.


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Photographs can also be really striking, especially if they're larger than life.



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Do you share my love of lady portraits? Which is your fave from the selection above?

Thursday 25 February 2016

Favourite Space | Florence Charvin

Dael & I are really excited to be bringing you a new series of blog posts called "Favourite Spaces". We are surrounded by amazing, clever people and we wanted to share these people with you, and show you the places they love the most. You'll usually find creative people in cool surroundings, and that's definitely the case with the lovely Florence Charvin.




Florence is an amazing photographer, and will be our photographer for all of our Fave Spaces posts. I've featured her on the blog before here and here. Originally from France, she's now a true blue Hawke's Bay-ite and has recently moved into a cute wee cottage in Clive with her three young children.




Florence's favourite space is her dining nook and kitchen. When she moved into the house the kitchen was very old and dated. Although she couldn't afford a super flash kitchen, she has managed to create a beautiful space on a tiny budget. The old cupboard doors and bench top have been replaced with plywood and cut-away detailing instead of handles. Planks of wood on metal braces provide more storage, and the wall hung cupboards were kept, but with the fronts removed.




The open storage means all of Florence's beautiful pieces are on display. Gorgeous pottery and old tins collected over the years, and jars filled with kitchen staples.





The bench seats in the dining nook are made from concrete blocks, topped with a wooden seat and layered with cosy throws - ingenious! So simple, really comfy, and in keeping with Florence's style.




Each "Favourite Spaces" post will have a wee Q&A so we can get to know our creative peeps a bit better...

What do you love about this space?
I love the fact that it's where we all meet to have our meals and be together, work, do homework, play games...

Who helped with your renovation?
I loved that space from the moment we moved in, and I knew I wanted it to look clean, open and cosy. So I painted it myself straight away in black and white, and my friend Rowe provided the plywood that replaced all the old surfaces and cupboards doors. My sister-n-law, Megan, was great with advice, like keeping the cupboard on the wall but getting rid of the doors so they look like modern shelves; and I also wanted comfortable window seats to go around the kitchen table, and she suggested using those concrete blocks, which were really cheap and really useful for storing my cookbooks.

Do you have any advice for people decorating on a budget?
Just work with what you've got and improve it with paint in a colour that's really you. Bring in some fun and modern items (like the concrete blocks, a nice table, plants etc).

Getting to know you better:
What's you favourite time of day?
When the light is soft and beautiful, either early morning or late at night.

Who or what inspires you?
There are a lot of clever, interesting people around, but I am the most inspired by people who are excited about life and it's possibilities.

What are you reading at the moment?
I love reading, in particular French writers. I am reading Marcel Proust's "In Search of Lost Time" (Swann's Way).

Sweet or savoury?
Savoury!! Even when I was little I would ask for cheese and olives as a treat rather than chocolate or cake.

Favourite drink?
Chai tea, and Champagne for special occasions.

Favourite thing in your home?
My vintage mirror collection. I have loads of them, I love their various shapes and the light they reflect back in the house.

Top of your wish list for your home?
A beautiful industrial lamp to go above my kitchen table and a large vintage Cathrineholm enamel bowl in black or yellow.




Thank you so much Florence for inviting us into your home, and for joining us on this journey of favourite spaces. I think you'll agree Florence has a beautiful style and you can see that reflected in her work - Fotographie by Florence Charvin. I hope you come along on the journey as well, and meet all of the clever and interesting people we know.

Sunday 21 February 2016

Colour Crush

I often admire a serene, neutral colour palette when done well with lots of delicious texture. I sometimes even contemplate trying it in my own home. Then I see something with gorgeous, rich colour and am instantly pulled back into my love affair with colour.


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Two of my favourite colours are blue in all it's beautiful hues, and green - lush emerald, jade, a touch of mint... Here, let me show you.


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Gorgeous colours always evoke strong emotions in me. How about you, are you drawn to particular colours, or are you a fan of the neutral palette? Neither is right or wrong, but I believe you should find those colours that move you, and surround yourself with them.

Tuesday 16 February 2016

Home Tour | Stefanie Cove

A mix of Bohemian influences and preppy details is the perfect representation of designer, Stefanie Cove. The Palm Beach preppy comes from her childhood in Florida, while the eclectic Californian style is a result of her adult years in LA.



I love this entranceway. A simple floating shelf big enough for some flowers, a bowl for your keys, and a mirror is all you really need, and is perfect when space is tight. Many homes open up straight into a living room, but it's nice to create a sense of an entrance, even if it's small.



As an event designer Stefanie has developed a knack for finding those unexpected touches to highlight her clients' personalities. This translates so well into her home which is filled with pieces picked up on her travels over the years.




To tie the open plan spaces together, Stefanie repeats the use of natural textures, colourful woven textiles and shots of metallic. What drew me to her home was her fabulous attention to detail and the collection of little vignettes dotted throughout.






An awkward space at the back of the living room has been successfully filled with a custom made bench seat and a large book shelf.




Have you ever seen a more gorgeous home bar?! We've just been working with a local client on a home bar, but it's very masculine with a "shaken not stirred" vibe. I love it, but I must say this beautiful wallpaper, gold mirror and turquoise glasses are pretty divine too.



A simple bowl of lemons and a single flower is enough of a centrepiece in the cute dining room. Three is such a nice number to work with for a grouping - the bowl, the vase, and the little board are simple items, but it's a lovely mix of colour and texture.




The bedroom continues the layering of textiles, and hits of copper and brass add a touch of sophistication. Books and trays are a stylists main tool - they're a great way to encompass and ground a series of objects. I love books so using them in my vignettes is also a brilliant way to have them on display.






To see more of Stefanie's home pop over to MyDomaine.
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