It’s no secret that the living room is ‘where life happens’, as we at Kenz like to put it. This is where we sit on the couch, put our feet up, sip on wine and have long chats; where we watch our children play with their toys while we have a family movie playing in the background; where we host our friends for tea and dessert after that Sunday barbecue. It’s the space in our home where we put in the most thought and effort when it comes to design.

So then, begs the question – how does one style the living room?

Once you discover your personal taste, the styling, colours and textures will come together. But there are some simple tips and tricks you can follow to ensure you get the most out of your space!

Mood board

Before the design process begins, it’s important to discover or confirm your personal styling taste as well as your must-have pieces and accessories on a mood board. This can be a really fun process – don’t hesitate to try new styles and different combinations before settling on the perfect pieces for your space! Your mood board will evolve as you start to choose your pieces and confirm what works for you.

Check out a couple of examples below of mood boards we’ve created in the past:

The focal point 

Wherever your eyes land as soon as you enter your living space – that’s your focal point. The focal point could be wallpaper, a fireplace, a large window with a view, a large artwork or mirror or a statement furniture piece.

A focal point should invite you to enter further into the room but it doesn’t need to be the centre of the room.

So, what’s your focal point? Here are some ideas to start you off:

Project by Kenz Designs – gorgeous custom-made floor to ceiling sheer curtains coupled with our custom-made Chanel sofa in a bold velvet instantly draw you into this space. 

Photo by GlobeWest – this stunning fireplace surrounded by the raw texture of a brick wall is so inviting. 

The conversation starter 

Choosing a sofa or a combination of sofas and occasional chairs can be quite the task! This will be determined by the style of your living space. Does your home have a minimalistic and modern feel, a classic luxury feel or a Hamptons feel? Do you prefer a bold and plush sofa or a sleek slimline sofa? Here at Kenz we offer a wide range of custom-made sofas, all made in Australia with a solid timber frame and a 10-year warranty. These sofas are very affordable and have only a 4-week lead time! Take a look at a few to see if any of these tickles your fancy!

The custom-made Zoe sofa – bold, plush and beautiful from every angle.

The custom-made Roxy sofa – slimline, modern design brings elegance and an airy feel. 

The custom-made Belle sofa – linearity and symmetry provide a simple and classy look.

And how about an occasional chair or two to bring the room together!

The ever-so-luxurious Darcy and Duke Coco Velvet Slipper Chair

Stunning Darcy and Duke Kennedy Armchair 

Flooring

The existing type of flooring you have in your home will determine the type of additional flooring you choose (should you choose to add any extra flooring at all!). If you have tiles or floorboards, it may be wise to add a rug to frame your living room while maintaining open space living and bringing warmth to the room. If your existing flooring is dark, a light rug might create contrast and open up the space.

A rug is the perfect opportunity to start telling the story of your living space which is carried through to your cushions, decor and accessories. Choosing a larger rug can create the illusion of a larger living room; Always choose a larger rug over a smaller one. Textures and multiple tones of rugs can instantly bring character to the room.

North Sydney project designed by Kenz Designs.

Haymarket project designed by Kenz Designs. 

Walls

Experimenting with the vertical aspect of your room can completely change the visual dimensions of that room. For example, the addition of a floor-to-ceiling wall cabinet can create the illusion of a larger space.

If you’re lucky enough to have some extra space, an effective alternative would be a sideboard or entertainment unit to bring character to the room. A sideboard can speak volumes about your personal styling and taste. It can also double as some extra storage – because, let’s face it, we all need a bit of that!

Photo by Ethnicraft featuring the Teak Graphic Black Sideboard.

Photo by GlobeWest – the Marley buffet – the detail is in the panelling, this piece brings personality to the living space. 

Project designed by us, featuring the Dahlia Entertainment Unit – Rippled detail creates textured interest and plenty of storage.

Space and balance 

It’s important to note that overall, regardless of your personal style, you should always consider balancing the quantity and size of furniture pieces and decor with the space you have available to you.

Colour and tone also play a role here. Although you may be certain of having a ‘light and airy’ space or a ‘dark and deep’ space, there should be small contrasts within your living space to offset the overall colour and tone of your room.

Have a look at this gorgeous project of ours which is a perfect example of achieving this balance.

Project designed by Kenz Designs 

Decor and accessories 

This is your perfect opportunity to choose those distinctive pieces – those finishing touches – which mean something special to you.

These pieces should continue to tell the story of your journey to creating your amazing space.

This shouldn’t be complicated – whatever brings you happiness and is pleasing to your eye – these are the pieces you should choose to compliment your living space.

Have a peek at these decor ideas – part of several projects, designed by our team at Kenz Designs:

For more tips and tricks on how to style your space or to speak to our interior designer, feel free to contact us via our socials, email or visit us at our Showroom!

In recent times, we have seen a complete mind shift in work culture, including the increasing acceptability of the concept of working from home.

Employees have now found themselves in a position where they are working from home quite frequently. It’s now becoming evident that many organisations will continue to adapt this flexible working arrangement, even after workplaces go back to their usual working routines.

And of course, with this, comes a longing for a comfortable and stylish space in the home to work from. Because, let’s face it, a beautiful and functional room or space is exactly what we all need to motivate us to work to our full potential! Ok, maybe our work ethic goes beyond this, but it certainly helps.

Let’s explore some options for the office space in the home.

The nook

For many of us, a dedicated room or large space for an office in the home is just not practical. Particularly with city living, we need to make good use of every nook and cranny we have, which brings us to our ‘nook look’.

The Maxwell Desk is sleek, classy and functional. It combines textures of a metal frame, a panelled oak veneer case with two drawers and a contrasting matt marble top. You just can’t look past the Maxwell for a luxurious, compact working space.

This gorgeous marble desk pairs beautifully with the stunning Abigail Arm Chair in velvet. This chair oozes elegance and class!

The functional, stylish space

Who else loves to love where they work?  In a home office, you can get really stylish, really quickly without having to do much at all! A clean, minimalistic approach is guaranteed to satisfy your cravings for sophistication! It’ll also allow you to work with a clear mind and help get you through your work day (along with a lot of coffee, of course!).

We absolutely love the pairing of the gorgeous BOK Dining Table with the BOK Chair to create a clean, minimalistic and contemporary feel!

For those of us who need a compartment for everything (or those who simply want to hide their mess… we all know one), the Billy Box Drawer Unit is both functional and stylish. Designed to fit under all desks, this piece makes it easy to organise all of those bits and pieces you use on the daily but don’t want to display.

The home office

If you’ve got the space to use an entire room as a home office, consider yourself lucky! A home office space can include endless possibilities to finish the look of your work space and increase functionality.

Whether you want to brighten up your space or create a tranquil mood, a shelving unit can be so versatile and styled however you please.

We are loving the oak textures of the Whitebird Desk and Blackbird Rack. Along with the black Facette Dining Chair, the combination of these pieces brings about a sense of warmth and sophistication – perfect for that home office!

Something simple

To create a simple, modern office space, we are loving the Oak Office U Desk, which is charming and elegant. With the subtle, natural wood grain of oak, and its simple, bold lines, the U Desk is a graceful addition to a simple office space in the home. And how beautiful is the Quattro Arm Chair?! Its angled legs add height, perfect for desk seating. Its simplistic, modern design pairs beautifully with the U desk.

The icing on the cake

Whichever style option you go with, you just can’t dismiss the need to accessorise with decor. A bold statement vessel or lamp paired with an artificial plant will go a long way. And of course, every room needs a bit of artwork!

Drop a comment on our Facebook or Instagram post and share your thoughts on what you think would make the ideal home office.

What do you look for when attending an open HOUSE in Sydney ?

You’re ready to buy a new home, congratulations! This is an exciting time but amongst all the bustle, diligence and practicality are key in making your final decision. You’ve narrowed down the potential areas you want to buy in and your agenda is filled with a list of the open houses to hit for the day. Scope out these rules of thumb when shopping around to be sure you’re buying the house of your dreams and not a hunk of junk!

Cleanliness

If the sellers house looks and smells unpleasant, instant red flag! Don’t even bother, most sellers know to give their home a deep cleaning and to stage with upgraded furnishings before an open house. Imagine how your furniture would look in the house. If you really love what they have done with the place, consider the possibility of new furnishings for when you move. If their house is too fragrant, it could be that they are trying to mask a foul odor. Get your nose working like a bloodhound and keep your eyes peeled for pet accidents, smoke, mold or mildew.

Maintenance

Check for signs of poor tiling, large gaps in the foundation, uneven flooring, leaky faucets, wonky windows, faded paint, damaged roofing or dirty chimneys. A good homeowner will keep maintenance on their house regularly. Some homeowners may do shoddy DIY jobs especially if the house was flipped. Make sure doors and windows open with ease. Poor maintenance and installations are a tell-tale sign there will be some hefty repair jobs down the road. A home inspector will check for many of these things later on, but it is worth it to have a good eye so you don’t waste your time.

Mold & Water Damage

Small black and gray spots on the caulking in the bathroom or kitchen, around faucets, drains, water pipes and patches on the ceiling are all red flags for bigger mold issues down the line. Be on the lookout for a pungent scent caused by potential water damage. Keep an eye out for rust and water lines on the ceiling, walls and around exposed piping.

 Outdoors

A beautiful creek running through the backyard or a giant oak tree perched outside the back porch? May look like a scene out of a fairytale but find out if the creek floods during rainstorms and if the giant oak tree creates a lot of debris in the autumn months. Know what’s in store when changes in the weather occur.

Owners and Neighbors

The area may be a short commute to your workplace, near the kids’ school or have a wonderful town only a few blocks away. However, who are the neighbors? A good homeowner will be there the first day of the open house. Many sellers will give you a property description hand-out sheet. The exceptional homeowners will ask their neighbors to be there to meet their potential new neighbors. They may even make it similar to a party environment with light refreshments and hors d’oeuvres. You do not have to become best friends with everyone in your neighborhood, but having them stopping by frequently and unannounced or listening to their dogs bark until midnight may eventually become troublesome.

Enhancements

Cosmetic enhancements are going to make the place look nice. Do not allow these sellers to fool you. That freshly painted wall or new light fixture will spruce the place up but stay smart. Keep an eye on the big-ticket items like the heating and cooling system, plumbing, roofing and flooring.

Getting down to business and making a thorough assessment of your new home and new neighborhood will ensure you’re buying a great house in a wonderful area. Keep a keen eye and friendly demeanor when attending open houses. Good luck and happy house hunting!