styling shoot: bathroom decor ideas

The bathroom is not only one of the most expensive rooms in your home to renovate and decorate, but also the one that (often) ends up most lacking. Functionality always seems to win over fun. Colours are boring. Ideas get left at the door. So when I was asked to create three bathrooms for the June issue of real living, I wanted to help people rethink how they might decorate the smallest room in the house.

British boho - was all about using wallpaper in the bathroom. It's done often in the USA and UK but not so much in Australia. It was also important to use a pendant light rather than downlights or some other meek option. And ever since I saw Burley Katon Halliday use a tribal rug in a Bondi bathroom, I've wanted to do that too.

Retro brights - okay, so the yellow is strong. But it works with the overall design scheme. Black and white work wonderfully when contrasted with another colour. I also like using a non-traditional bathroom mirror.

Modern beachy - has to be my favourite of the three spaces. That chocolate brown on the wall was so calming to look at that it made me realise I might never want a white bathroom again. I also liked it combined with the tongue and groove panelling.

images courtesy of real living and maree homer

store-bought storage styling shoot

The November issue of real living went on sale today so I thought I would share with you one of the features I styled: "Store-bought storage". It was not an easy brief, mainly because there are not a massive amount of products that are NEW, which is a requisite for the category. If I was able to make/create/revamp storage, that would have been fine. But the "shopping" section is all about products that you can BUY. After much searching and research I did end up tracking down some good products, though. These included the screenprinted boxes from Bonnie & Neil, as well as some beautiful wooden containers from Citta Design.

I got to work with photographer Maree Homer, which was a real treat. She's not only incredibly kind and caring as a person, but she's highly experienced and so was a great teacher too.

images courtesy of real living and maree homer

w.s. traders pop-up sale

I produced a lot of features when I worked at real living. One of the sections I was asked to look after was "Fave Finds". This involved tracking down a cool and interesting person who was working in design, and ensuring they had a cool and interesting space so we could photograph them there. Usually the photo would run as a single page shot with a half page detail. It was a lot of work, but I got to meet some amazing people - many of them have gone on to be featured in the posts for Daily Imprint. For a while I've been trying to pin down Tim Leveson. He's a lovely guy. The photo shoot we did with him is one of my favourites. He came to meet myself and photographer Steve Baccon (who I interviewed here) on his bike in a warehouse complex. His dog was running beside him. "We've got to get that as a shot," I said to Steve. He was onto it.

Well, Tim is crazy busy with work so hasn't had chance to answer the questions - although he promises they are coming soon. Not only does he run an interior design business but he also designs furniture. If I wasn't also up to my eyeballs in work I would head over to his pop-up sale in Sydney's Redfern today. Hopefully I'll get there tomorrow, and hopefully there'll be something left. Details are on the flyer, above.

Sorry for the lack of posts this week. I have been absolutely floored with work since going freelance. Not quite the work/life balance I was aiming for, but I can't complain. On Monday the April issue of real living goes on sale and I have a few features in there that I worked on, including 3 shoots with photographer Mikkel Vang. Can't wait to share those pics. Have a great weekend.

images courtesy of real living, steve baccon and tim leveson

"holiday at home" styling shoot

My last shoot for real living was supposed to have been a kids garden feature, which will feature in the JanFeb 11 issue (on sale 10 Jan). However, I was asked to squeeze one more in before the break. It was for a "Holiday at home" feature. Click on the images for a larger view size.

What a year it's been. As I've mentioned previously, this time last year I had only just styled my first shoot, and now I have a merry little collection under my belt. Even more thrilling was this week I saw one of my images in the latest Living Etc. It's the Young Explorer room from this shoot.

Who knows what next year will bring!

images real living (photography chris warnes; styling natalie walton)

artist dion horstmans

Dion Horstmans is a Bondi artist whose star continues to rise, which is fitting as many of his works have celestial names, such as Super Nova and Nebula. He has just been invited to participate in an art program as part of Sydney's Casula Powerhouse. And one of his works has also recently been acquired for the Artbank Collection. He is now represented at Flinders Lane Gallery. His works have been exhibited at Orson & Blake, and real living readers may remember that his Bondi home was featured in the July 2008 issue. Dion can be spotted most mornings down at the beach.

Which five words best describe you? Father, artist, lover, maker, doer.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I was working for a mate of mine, Jim Elmslie, we were traveling between PNG and Sydney collecting artefacts; the opportunity came up to work on a film in PNG as a local liaison, I jumped at it. I think because I had traveled up there a few times they thought I could speak pigeon, lic lic, a small amount; I winged it. It was an awesome experience. From there I went back to Sydney and worked on every big film production that came into town for the next 12 years, after Superman I'd had enough, since then I've done shorter stints on film, concentrating mostly on my own art and sculpture.What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Work hard, stay focused never give up the dream.What’s your proudest career achievement? Being taken on by Flinders Lane Gallery in Melbourne; I love Melbourne, and Claire Harris, the director of Flinders.What’s been your best decision? To leave film and pursue my own career.Who inspires you? That's varied: my two daughters, the people around me, the guys I run and train with.What are you passionate about? Life, art, food, sex.Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Dr Seuss and Kurt Vonnegut.What dream do you still want to fulfil? I wanna own a 1965 Pontiac GTO, or a 1971 Sox and Martin Stock Hemi 'Cuba.What are you reading? When a billion Chinese jump by Jonathan Watts.

images courtesy of dion horstmans, flinders lane gallery and via yellow trace

outdoor table & chair combos styling shoot

I just did another styling shoot today so my head is still in that space and I thought it was fitting to share some more images from the November issue of real living, which went on sale this week. I styled this outdoor table and chair feature months ago but because of scheduling it's only running now.

The day before the shoot I wasn't feeling well, and the morning of the shoot I was almost bedridden with the flu. But I couldn't bring myself to cancel. Not when photographer Armelle Habib had flown up to Sydney from Melbourne for the occasion. Products had been called in, a plan had been sketched out and a location as well as removalists had been booked. How could I back out?!

I didn't. And I didn't take any medication for fear it would make me drowsy. I felt dreadful. Luckily I had some lovely and helpful assistants, not to mention Armelle and her assistant Lucy, who both chipped in lugging furniture indoors and out because did I mention that it rained for most of the day. Well, actually it showered. We would take the furniture out, it would rain, we would lug it under cover again. And repeated this several times. At the same time a cover shoot was underway in the living room of the house which looked onto the garden. "Natalie, can you just stay to the left," called out a voice from inside. It didn't matter that I needed to set up on the right. All in a day's shooting, I'm fast learning.

Thankfully sometimes some shots fall into place. I just plonked a whole stack of goodies on the "Modern Australian" tabletop and walked away. When I turned back to adjust I realised that everything was sitting nicely together; I didn't need tweak. A rare but sweet moment.

images courtesy of real living (photography armelle habib; styling natalie walton)

trade secrets from 3 style experts

A little while ago, when I ran an interview with Harper's Bazaar editor Edwina McCann, I mentioned what a great day I had shooting with photographer Mikkel Vang.

I got to meet three incredible people - Will Dangar from Robert Plumb, award-winning TV chef Sean Connolly and Edwina.

Their homes were the perfect mix of well considered and well lived-in, complete with young children running around.

The feature is in the latest issue of real living, which went on sale today.

images courtesy of real living and mikkel vang; styling natalie walton

painterly stripes

This morning I mentioned decorating with paper as a great decorating tool. Using paint has to be one of my other favourite options. A little while back I was asked to come up with ideas for this brief: "Quick cures for boring walls". It was a styling shoot for the current onsale issue of real living magazine.

I always gravitate towards stripes in fashion, but didn't want to do the usual vertical (or horizontal stripes) in the rooms that have been done many times before - including at my last home. So I took inspiration from the vibrant Spring/Summer 2011 fashion collections to create anything but boring walls.

images courtesy of real living and prue ruscoe; styling natalie walton

designer & writer david netto

It is little wonder that David Netto was appointed contributing design editor for the Wall Street Journal last year. He has a wealth of knowledge, and experience, on the subject. He grew up in New York City, with textile designer Alan Campbell as his uncle. He has worked extensively as an interior designer, and a product designer. His range of children's furniture, under the name NettoCollection, was bought by multinational corporation Maclaren. For three years in a row David was named House Beautiful's "Top 100 designers in America". His work has appeared in Vogue, Elle Decor, House & Garden and Domino. I interviewed him recently for real living magazine, and his knowledge and respect for the Modernist architect of his LA home, Richard Neutra, was palpable, and inspiring.

Which five words best describe you? Determined, Gemini, frustrated, romantic, optimistic.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I was very lucky in two ways: (a) I met early mentor figures whose encouragement helped me a great deal, such as Nasser Nakib, the first architect I worked for. He really shaped my understanding of how to at least try to be successful and took the time to explain to me what I should do. That is very important to a young person. My godfather, the textile designer Alan Campbell, was another. (b) I never stuck with a school or a job I didn't feel was taking me in the right direction, which does take courage if I say so myself. If I hadn't dropped out of Harvard things would have just taken much longer, and if I'd kept on working for someone who shall not be named I would have become insane. Ever since that time I have done things for roughly five-year stints, then tried to exit honourably, or just torn them apart and started something else. That's healthy to me. I'm on my first year as a design editor for the Wall Street Journal now, and it's going great.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Invest in your own ideas quickly and with maximum commitment, no matter how much people try to talk you out of them.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Not going bankrupt in 2008/9 and instead selling NettoCollection to Maclaren, with the help of my lifelong friend and business partner Claude Arpels.

What’s been your best decision? Marriage to my wife Elizabeth.

Who inspires you? Debbie Harry. Ted Turner. Peter Cushing. Lena Horne. Paul Smith. Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-Ho. Brooklyn Decker. Randy Newman. Q-Tip.

What are you passionate about? I'm very passionate about getting people to see something they are used to and have stopped feeling special about in a different way: Make baby furniture into an object of desire. Write about architecture or design which is maybe so familiar nobody ever bothers to think about WHY it's great anymore (NY apartment houses). I'm passionate about trying to be a good father, and I have arranged my life around that priority. I'm passionate about trying to be a good husband too. I'm passionate about Ducati motorcycles.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? It goes like this: Dudley Moore, Ava Gardner and I and have dinner at the Stork Club and they don't hate me.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? I want to own the Carlyle Hotel in New York. What's the point of having a dream if you're going to get it?

What are you reading? George Hamilton's autobiography Don't mind if I do was one of my favorite recent books.

images courtesy of david netto and via habitually chic

easy weekend projects

March and April were busy months. I styled four of the decorating features in the June issue of real living - as well as wrote the rugs and carpet article. And I styled the 10-page decorating feature in House & Garden. All while pregnant.

The feature above was for the "real ideas" section of real living - projects that you can do over a weekend. These included creating a statement door frame, a privacy screen made from Japanese coloured tape, a guerilla knitting inspired bench, a studded table top and a coatrack made from PVC pipes.

Stylists rarely, if ever, work alone - certainly not on large studio production shoots. And this one was no exception. I had a team of very willing and creative helpers who were busy hot glue-gunning, taping and working with wool. Thanks guys!

images courtesy of real living and chris warnes

paper lantern makeover

Lighting transforms a room, but often it is really expensive. So for one of my first freelance jobs this year I decided to transform paper lanterns into something a little more bespoke. The look here is quite pretty, and a little whimsical. Of course, you could use fabrics that are bolder, such as stripes mixed in with block colours. The project is in the latest issue of real living magazine.

image courtesy of real living and chris warnes

indoor plants can be cool

Ever since I visited the home of landscape architect Daniel Baffsky, I have had a new respect for indoor plants. He had the most amazing fishtail ferns, which integrated beautifully into the interior of his place. It actually made the house seem more welcoming and homely, but was done in an altogether cool way.

So when real living magazine asked me to do a feature on indoor plants I set myself the challenge of creating spaces that were similar to what I found at his home.

I even made an attempt to give cacti a new lease on life.

images courtesy of real living and chris warnes

stylist sarah ellison

Sarah Ellison has had the best training a stylist can hope for. She started out assisting, to some of the Australian industry's best - Glen Proebstel and Kirsten Bookallil. Since going out on her own she has become the staff stylist for real living magazine, a job that has seen her create many best-selling covers. While Sarah started out studying fashion, it was when she worked part-time as a visual merchandiser for a leading Sydney homewares store that she discovered her calling. Our paths crossed at real living magazine, and Sarah is not only a great, hard-working talent, but she's also a wonderful sounding board...

...and she will be one of the stylists on hand (along with Kirsten Bookallil and Lara Hutton) to share her experiences and knowledge of How to become an interior stylist at the Daily Imprint How to live a creative life series of workshops to be held at Apple, Bondi starting on Thursday 4 July. More details to come.

Which five words best describe you? Emotional, grateful, creative, loving, passionate.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I always knew I wanted to do something creative with my career and studied fashion design at East Sydney Tafe. Whilst studying I worked at Empire Homewares as a visual merchandiser. Looking back this is really where my career began as this is where my love of interiors and design started and my path to interior styling led from there.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? That if you work hard enough, everything you want will eventually come your way. It just takes longer than you want sometimes!

What’s your proudest career achievement? Being offered the position at real living magazine; it's hard work but I love it!

What’s been your best decision? To give up my pursuits in fashion design and move toward interiors. It's a tough industry and I was always feeling disappointed that it wasn't going anywhere for me. Once I finally let go and changed my path a whole new set of doors opened.

Who inspires you? Originally, my family. My mother is the "original" stylist, always changing the colour of the house, re-doing old furniture, sewing and making cushions. My dad always bought home a great selection of magazines: National Geographic, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair... it was no accident that I became an interior mag stylist! I'm also inspired by graphic design, fashion and photography. I draw a lot of inspiration from the blog community - so good for instant visual inspiration.

What are you passionate about? Whatever I'm involved in at the time. I find it hard to be interested in something unless I'm passionate about it.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Vivienne Westwood.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? This might sound daggy but my dreams are pretty humble. I'm still renting so I'd love to own my own place, preferably by the beach and always be surrounded by my beautiful friends and family, continuing to be creative in whatever form that may take. I'd like to travel a lot more too.

What are you reading? Right now nothing. I'm not in the right head space, I use any spare "reading" time to literally inhale magazines.

images courtesy of sarah ellison, real living magazine, katie quinn davies (mad hatter), maree homer (lamps and rug) and chris warnes (portrait)