sneak peek: real living march issue

March 2009: it's all about pattern on pattern on the cover

I know what you're thinking: it's still January and the March issue is hitting shelves on Monday? Ker-azy! Good for you readers who get another issue filled with goodies, but horrid for those working on it who had to work over Christmas to get it to the printers on time. Hopefully the April issue is a longer deadline... Here are a few pages to take you into the weekend. A little bit teasy, isn't it? Unless of course you subscribed - my mother-in-law got hers on Tuesday!

Tie-dye is, erm, leaving its mark on homewares

Office spaces you'll want to work in

Small-space tricks and plenty of eye candy

I didn't post too much exciting stuff this week, so apologies. I've been working crazily. But I have a few projecty things to show you soon. And if I can ever get hold of my builder, we should have a kitchen reno happening SOON. Hooray! Have a great weekend and happy Australia Day for Monday!

pssst: a few more pages from the issue

Love the nursery - my collection of driftwood was (previous post) to make a mobile but seeing as I left it on the beach I'm sure it's drifted back off to sea!

Happy new year! I'll be back properly from Monday, so until then, drool over these. Or just look at them! I posted them on Deb's blog today, which by the way will be updated more regularly this year - our new year's resolution! Bx

out now: jan/feb issue

The Jan/Feb cover: my new fave!

Hope everyone had a lovely Chrissy and that you were all spoilt rotten. Am still on a break but had to pop on to let you know the Jan/Feb issue is out now and show off a few pages. Aren't they lovely?

Decorating with driftwood. I actually starting collecting pieces today down the road to possibly do one of these projects. But they're still sitting on the sand because I forgot about them!

Shopping for your bedroom: 3 looks

Folktastic! For a huge shopping guide for all things folk, go here

How to find your own style - from moodboard to room

And of course this means that the site has also changed so head to http://www.reallivingmag.com.au/ for great links, projects like how to make a giftwrap bedhead, a folk shopping guide, beach beauty, yummy summer recipes and a refreshing fruity margarita and a real reader's nursery makeover. Also, there is a free carpet bag pattern download that Amy Butler herself raved about while in Oz in November and an entry form for the British Paints competition where you could win one of five $1000 paint packs. Phew.

Style my... outdoor chill-out space. This was fun: I love, love the range of outdoor fabrics I found (7) and that beautiful recycled plastic rug (3). I have one of these chairs (2), footstool (6) and chimes(4), so I guess I was a little influenced by my own outdoor chill-out zone! And the tyre tub is on my to-buy list to stash the multitude of bats and balls and outdoor toys Zak keeps accumulating! Go here to find out where to buy all these items.

These last couple of months I've started a "style my..." section where I've had fun putting together little collections for a room. Last month I did style your party table; this month it's style your outdoor chill-out space. Ideally I'd love this space to be budget-friendly so I'm thinking things like "style my living room for less than $2000" just for the challenge. Is there anything you'd love me to try? A particular room? Colourway? Theme? Budget? Let me know!

my kitchen: update

I wish I could say this is it, but nope, mine is still how it was a month ago only with less cupboard doors and more ants (does anyone else have this problem? What is going on with the ant invasion?) This, however, is a rather lovely looking kitchen from our October issue. Image by Dan Magree/Real Living magazine

Before I start, you just might think this week's lot of posts is sponsored by Ikea, but for the record, they're not! There just happens to be a whole lot of Ikea-related things to write about, so I thought I'd cram them all into one week.

On Friday I convinced my parents to come all the way up from Canberra to meet me at Ikea and help me get my head around the whole kitchen design thing. Well, they were coming up to Sydney anyway, but I used the babies as bait so they'd make a detour to Ikea. So mum babysat Zak and Layla and I put my blinkers on again and bypassed all the cool stuff and headed straight to the kitchen department (I did spot one thing - tomorrow - but that's because it was right in front of me. I swear I didn't look to the side once.)

It was rather helpful having Dad along - I can't imagine doing this with someone who hasn't done it before. He had clever inside knowledge such as how the wall microwave cabinets they have aren't deep enough for a lot of microwaves so I should just get a normal base cabinet and smaller door. And how the Gripp handles will avoid a repetition of my wardrobe handle debacle because unlike most handles you just screw them into the side of the door instead of drilling through it. And how I can use any size wall cabinet for the fan cause he'll adapt it. And that yes, I can use two small wall cabinet frames (because they're not as deep as the base ones) on the end of one bench side as open shelves into the dining room. Excellent.

I also - finally - put to good use a commenter's suggestion from way back and took a stick of wood in my wall paint colour to match the colour. On my last Ikea trip I was horrified to discover that the Applad white is actually not that white at all, rather a cream. However, it seems my Whisper White paint is also not that white and so the two together should come up a rather good match after all. So it's back to Applad! With Gripp handles. And birch wood benchtops. And a stainless steel sink with mixer tap. And if Domayne can't beat a price on the appliances, it'll be their ceramic cooktop, silver oven and rangehood too.

This almost made me want to reverse my materials, but I have a feeling - as lovely as it is - the wood bottoms will date quicker than white. Image by Dan Magree/Real Living magazine

So, if my estimations are correct (oh please let them be!) I'll be forking out around $2350 for cabinets, $2018 for benchtops, plinths, legs, handles, sink, cover panels, taps, and $1310 for the appliances. A total of $5678. My carpenter quoted me $3650 for all the other stuff (ripping it out, putting in a new window, resheeting the walls, the plasterer, the plumber and electrician) so that brings it all to a grand total of: $9328 which is UNDER the $10,000 budget we set out to do. Oh, hang on I forgot to add the dishwasher, but still, close enough. We can afford more, but why go crazy when I'm happy with this? Plus, we won't be here forever, so I can design and do my dream kitchen in the next place if it doesn't have it already.

My only drama was that when I checked the stock availability at Ikea I noticed some base cupboards and oven cabinet weren't in stock. I was all ready to call them to ask when they can expect more in when I discovered this nifty little tool: Ikea Webchat. It's like instant messenger - you ask a question, they answer rather quickly, and I found out the actual frames are in, it's the doors that aren't in stock, but they'll be in in a week and a half. Everything now rests on when I can get my electricty box upgraded because it's not going to be able to handle anything else and I'm not keen on finding out what will happen if it gets overloaded.

Soo, it finally looks to be happening. In fact in needs to be happening because my little '50s kitchen is literally falling apart: the cold water tap came off a while back and we didn't bother fixing it because "we were doing the kitchen soon". And then the other day the door under the sink fell off. We discovered that one tiny nail (not even a screw!) had been holding it on for the past five years. I think it was tired of holding up the fort and just gave up. Damn good job though. So, yes, it's time!

In celebration of my near kitchen renovation, I thought I'd share these pictures of two pretty kitchens from recent issues of Real Living I'm adding to our website's brand spakin' new image gallery (from next month, fingers crossed!) Aren't they lovely?

are the doors closing on homes titles?

Is Domino going to go down like, um, a pile of dominoes? Hopefully not! Despite the fact I can't buy anything from its pages (sometimes due to price; mostly due to geography), I love flicking through it and stealing ideas. Image from Habitually Chic

It would seem so in the States where, like everything else in the world, they're in a little trouble. According to the Observer, when times are tough, people usually look to making their own homes that bit nicer - hence the need for magazines full of ideas and inspiring images. After all, they'll be eating and hanging out there much more than usual seeing as movies and entertaining luxuries are usually the first things to be scrapped from the budget. But the feeling out there (especially in the comments section of the Observer article!) is that the magazines on the stands aren't catering for those who need them the most. That the overcrowded "shelter" market is fillings its pages with items so expensive, it'd be a good few months wages for some households. And yet, the magazines that did encourage stylish, budget living (Blueprint; Budget Living) have - poof! - vanished from the stands. I wonder if people were snubbing the mags more suited to them for the more aspirational images and glossier lifestyle. And because they didn't want to be reminded of their situation. Or is the internet to blame? Why fork over cash for inspiration and ideas when you can get it for free on a blog, design website or Flickr? I, of course, am guilty of all of the above, but there is still nothing quite like flicking through a brand-new magazine.

I'd like to think that Real Living is a magazine for this era - from the start we've challenged ourselves to fill our pages with items that are both stylish and inexpensive. Occasionally, we slip up, and boy do we hear it when we do! But it's a good thing to be kept on our toes by our readers who want us to live up to our title. So we should! (And for the record, everyone has been briefed again recently to "keep it real") It's more of a challenge to create a stylish room on a budget - as I'm sure real homeowners are aware - so are we doing the trick? Why do you buy our mag (and others for that matter) - for the pretty pics? The info? The ideas? The shopping? The recipes? The projects? The articles? The fact the prices are (usually!) in your price range? And what would be your ultimate interiors mag? I'd love to hear. Call it a little market research!

real living december issue

Oooh so summery! Out now!

Feel like you just got the Chrissy issue? Yes, it's only been three weeks. Which means everyone worked like mad people to get this to the printers in time. And just to keep us extra busy, we also had to put together a fabulous cookbook too as a free gift to you - even subscribers!!!! Hooray! So enjoy!

Bonus summer cookbook

The website is also up - I'm slowly working on a few changes. This month I've introduced a blog list - I'll add to it every month, so keep an eye out - your own blog just might pop up there soon. There is also a real reader's Chrissy room. And I'm also - FINALLY! - working on an image gallery so you'll get to see a fair few more of the pics online from the mag in the near future. Now if I can just get the site redesigned as well... Oh, and be sure to head there for a cool kikki.K giveaway too.

Make an earring display

How to create a party room

Make over a living room in a weekend. All images from Real Living magazine

And of course, don't forget to let us know your thoughts.
Bx
PS: Go here to find out where to buy a super-cheap leather Moroccan ottoman like the one in the second picture. I'm expecting mine to arrive any day now. In white, of course!

a taste of the chrissy issue

A few new ways to decorate your tree, or lack of tree, like this wall decal

Those screams of annoyance and frustration you hear? Why they would be coming from me! Here's why:
1. Website decided to warp itself today and has no scrollbar. Not sure why. In fact, no one seems to! Not even clever website people as they haven't called me back with a solution. So this means all you get to see is what is on the page when it loads.
2. Free Christmas planner and stencils are still not up to be downloaded. Not that it matters anyway right now because of point 1! Have been promised them tonight.
3. Mag sampler also not up - tomorrow, hopefully. Again, out of my hands. As much as I appreciate all the outside help for the site, I don't like having to rely on other people!
4. Being woken up every half hour last night by screaming son who must have known I wanted an early night to catch up on lack of sleep from last few weeks. Well he HAD slept through three nights in a row, so it was bound to happen eventually...

So I'll let you enjoy these few spreads from the latest issue while I go and cry into a cup of Milo!

The shopping guide. I've already flagged a few items. Not the pigeon cushion though. I think that could enter Design*Sponge's ugliest cushion contest! hehe

Stepped out Christmas party - invites, decorations, themes covered!

sneak peek: real living christmas issue

Christmas is all wrapped up!

Santa is coming! And so is our Christmas issue. It's out Monday, so pick it up for pages and pages of gift ideas, wrapping paper, entertaining, decorating, recipes and also for tips on how to survive all of the above. I'll try and post some of my fave pages next week - there is a beautiful house feature I'm in love with. And don't forget to check out the website for a few freebie* downloads - a Chrissy countdown planner and stencil templates to make cards from - and a few other ideas and projects.
* Freebies might be a tad late in going live as poor old designers on constant deadline with a gazillion things to do. I'm sure my harassment for extra work was just what they needed! Sorry guys!

eye candy: clair wayman

The pic that made Clair internet famous!

Need a dose of pretty pics to inspire? Head on over to Clair Wayman's website. Clair is our Melbourne-based stylist and is kept very busy creating page after page of beautiful styling pictures and projects for every issue of Real Living. If you love, love an image in the mag, chances are it was styled by Clair. Here's just a taste of what she's been up to for us in recent months.

All images from Clair's website

sneak peek: november real living

Notice the camouflaged coffee table? Just one clever colour trick in this issue!

It's out Monday. Be sure to pick it up at your newsagent or supermarket (and buy it too, of course!) and also check out the website. I started back at work on Monday doing the website - my first upload will be the Christmas issue (out early November). So far I've just written a list of some of the content. Hmm, going be interesting working from home with two little ones!
Back to the content: if you want to star on the website - or your handiwork, anyway - shoot me an email at bgraham@acpmagazines.com.au. I'm after great before and afters of rooms/furniture/anything. Cause everyone loves looking at makeovers!


x

sneak peek: real living october issue

October 2008 issue of Real Living

It's out Monday and this month I'm happy to say no member of my family is photographed inside it (that I know of, anyway!). At first it was a novelty reading the mag from scratch without any knowledge about its contents, but that soon wore off and I've found myself logging into the system to check out the pictures and features. There are a some good ones, including an amazing kitchen in the shopping pages, a lucky reader's home makeover with a very dreamy buffet (below), the art of display and a peek into three friends' homes with a similar theme.

I'm a little bit in love with this Rodin Lattice Buffet, from $890, Touch Interiors. I wonder if I can sneak it into the kitchen budget...

You can check out some of these pics on our online sampler from Monday here. Enjoy!

unbiased real living review

it's always interesting to find out what other's think of our mag.

I'm happy to see a fave blog of mine about the magazine industry - Girl with a Satchel - has started reviewing our mag (that'd be Real Living for anyone new). For two reasons: it's always good to hear feedback about the mag and also, Erica usually only reviews women's lifestyle mags (Madison, Vogue, InStyle, Cosmo, Shop etc), so it's nice to be amongst these titles instead of the usual food and lifestyle categories. Now for various reasons I don't do a full review of the mag - just give you a sneak peek at the cover. If you want to know what's in it, see some pages of the mag or just get other people's opinions, keep checking Girl With a Satchel - fingers crossed her guest reviews of Real Living remain a monthly event! And I know the October issue will be out in a week, but if you haven't got September already and want to know all about it, head here. And as usual, check out the mag sampler at our website for a taste of what's in the issue.
Have a great weekend!
x

sneak peek: sept issue

September's summery cover: bring on the warmer weather!

Not sure where the year has gone, but I'm very excited about the fact this is the September issue of Real Living out on Monday, which means it's August and that means one more month of hideous winter. Yay! This is our birthday issue (we're three now!) and it's pretty in pink and packed with all sorts of beautifully inspiring images. I snuck a peek at my mother-in-law's subscription copy yesterday and can't wait to actually read through it. So what's in the issue? Gorgeous party rooms, cool photographic homewares from your pics, globally-inspired rooms and my favourite: the one room, one box of furniture and three amazing ways to make good use of them. It's quite amazing how long this story has been in the works. I scheduled it years ago during a planning session and it's only just appearing the mag now - that's how far ahead we work (in terms of planning the issue anyway. The actual feature was probably only shot a few months ago). But I love seeing the end result of something you had in your head eons ago. Also, making her Real Living debut is my daughter Layla on a "meet the team" page. She was not quite three weeks old at the shoot and was a very good girl. And just so you know: I don't really have an extra arm and I DO know how to spell - was a photoshop touch-up gone wrong (partly my fault - I should have held the sign properly. You'll know what I mean when you see it!) Oops! Enjoy the issue and as usual, feel free to tell us what you think about it! Added incentive to buy it this month: there's $20,000 in prizes to give away!
Have a great weekend x

lovely new things to buy from Real Shopping

The pretty Real Shopping opener

Real Living's little department store Real Shopping has just started stocking the lovely Nordic Designs. Gorgeous cushions, fabrics and manchester (although I just noticed that only the cushions have been put up on the site so far) from popular Scandinavian brands. Here's a little sample of the range.

My fave: Weed Cushion cover in white/raspberry, $75

Pretty spots: Strossel Cushion cover, $75

Classic black and white: Blomma Cushion Cover, $75

Keep checking back for the too-cute kids linen and fabrics by the metre. And remember: shipping is FREE! Don't you wish all internet shopping offered that?!

sneak peek: real living august issue

Bright and cheery: August 2008 issue - out Monday

I'm quite excited about this issue of Real Living - because it's the first one I haven't had anything to do with as I was on maternity leave when they started it. It's so nice to read the mag as a reader and not an employee. Although the poor office probably hates me for it cause last time I was on maternity leave I actually sent them a way-to-long synopsis of what I thought about it - loves, hates, things I would have done/wouldn't have done/should have done (they were used to my annoying changes as deputy ed!). I'll try not to this time! So I can't really tell you what's in it except the one feature I actually know a little about - the kids party! Only because I was at the shoot - Zak was a party guest. My mother-in-law reminded me of this when she called me excitedly yesterday after receiving her subscriber copy (remember, they get them early - an incentive to sign up for a subscription!). I also made the cut, much to my horror. I was told it was kids only, so didn't exactly make an effort. In fact, I was so late leaving for the shoot, I don't think I washed my face, let alone put make-up on or dressed appropriately. A quick thanks to our lovely retoucher, Bi, who magically made my bra strap disappear!

Other than the kids party, there is a great house feature - of Emma Cassi - which we had to shoot after seeing it around the web. I love, love her bedhead. Make sure you check out the issue and of course, feel free to tell me your loves and hates (I'll pass on to the team!).

Have a great weekend
Bx

newsflash: real living is excellent

Winner of General Excellence for Home and Food

Us employees of the mag have thought it for some time - and we know a lot of our readers have too. And now it's official: real living is excellent! Last night, our little mag won the General Excellence Award for the Home and Food category at the Magazine Publisher's of Australia Magazine of the Year Awards. Yay for us! Sadly, we just missed out on Magazine of the Year, but no doubt we'll get there eventually. So congrats to the whole team and thanks to our loyal fan club of readers for whom we bust our butts every month to not disappoint! It's obviously paid off!

July issue out now!

July 2008 issue is out today

Wow the months go quickly in magland - July is on the stands today, August will be put to bed next week, September content is filing into the office, October is being shot and we're talking about features for the summer issues and Christmas already. Scary! No wonder we get confused about what month we're in! Anyway, here is the current issue - filled with ways to decorate with recycled items, a home bar shopping guide, great kitchen and bathroom ideas, house tours and offices that don't look like offices, yummy food, gorgeous gardens... Pick it up, have a read and let us know what you think! And don't forget the website and Deb's blog for all the behind the scenes stuff.
Bx

Reader dilemma: study makeover

Am thinking these colours would work well in a study

A reader, Nicky, asked for some help coming up with a colour scheme for her study makeover. She has one feature wall in Dulux suede effect latte and was wondering what colours would look best with it? The furniture will be all white but she's wondering what other colour to add to make it pop. I automatically thought of this room from an old issue of Real Living - it's one of my faves. I think hits of turquoises and blues will really stand out against a neutral background.

Nicky's feature wall is the Latte - some lighter beige pieces would work well with turquoise, white and mustards.

Love these pinboards. You can buy this here or make yourself with some corkboard and a cross-stitch hoop. Pic from Little Pretty Studio

She could go a turquoise fabric pinboard (like above), aqua vases to hold pens and leave on display, maybe a fabric-covered lampshade in blues, oranges and mustards with light wood or white base and go for light-brown storage items like those found at Kikki-K and Ikea (mag holders, boxes etc) with a few boxes covered in pretty coloured paper or fabric to break up the beige. Anyone got any other ideas for her?

In other news, I HAVE CARPET! It got put in this morning and as soon as I can lift my aching body out of my chair, vacuum the rooms and take a picture, I'll show you what it looks like. Can't tell you how glad I am I'm neither a painter nor removalist. Have spent the past four days doing both jobs - not so much fun!
x

sneak peek: June issue

June 2008: featuring the non-model, real living stylist Alice Flynn

Naughty me - I've been neglectful of this blog this week. Sorry! But to make it up to you... here is the June cover. It's out Monday and it features Real Living's lovely stylist Alice on the cover in her gorgeous home. NO MODELS! So refreshing... Al and I used to work together until we both got pregnant at the same time, along with another stylist, and all three of us left our poor editor Deb within a few weeks of each other. She now freelances for us and is responsible for most of the pretty images you see in our mag. I thought my life was busy... Until I interviewed her for the feature: she managed to have a baby, get married, and knock down her house for a complete rebuild all within the space of a few months. Now her house is complete and we thought we'd give you a look at how experts renovate and decorate (she's a stylist, hubby is a builder - perfect match!). And back to poor Deb - she's on about hiring all men: both myself and our deputy, Natalie, are due to leave her again in a few weeks to pop out babies. Seeing as Nat took over my old job, my chair has been confiscated from the office - just in case!
So what else is in the issue? We show you gorgeous decorating ideas with letters, get warm and snuggly with faux fur, guide you through buying rugs and carpets and give you a house tour of Amy Butler's house. It's my fave issue yet, I think. I might say that every month, but they just keep better in my opinion! Love to hear your thoughts on it next week once you've read. And don't forget the website will change from Monday too with projects, ideas and answers to your decorating dilemmas.
And I haven't forgotten: Danielle and Anastacia - you both scored free issues for your help with the store-window project. Just email your address to bgraham@acpmagazines.com.au. On that topic - the lady beat us all to the post and had decorated before I got the chance to send her some ideas (erm possibly my fault for taking so long. Oops). But, she loved all our suggestions and is looking forward to redecorating in the near future, so stay tuned!
Have a good weekend. Hope to get some projects finished this weekend to share with you next week.
x

got a decorating dilemma?

Give a dressing table love by displaying more than just jewellery or perfumes.

Am here to help. Well, sort of. I'm compiling a list of common decorating problems/questions/dilemmas to ask a few experts for next month's website content and I thought I'd see if you had anything you'd like to ask? Things like "how can I make my living room a kids zone as well without it looking like the set of Playschool?" or "how do I combine my two loves: antiques and slick modern pieces" or "what's the best way to display all my holiday snaps or collectibles". If you had the opportunity to ask an interior designer or stylist something - for free - what'd it be? Let me know in the comments section or email me at bgraham@acpmagazines.com.au and then look out for the answers starting Monday, May 5 on the Real Living website.
And just to be clear - these pics are not demonstrating the dilemmas, but some solutions. Aren't they pretty? I found them on photo agency site: Taverne Agency. Check it out for a whole heap of awesome homes.

Ottomans or old beds can be put to good use in a spare room or even the living room - dress them up in pretty linens, dazzling cushions and pop a screen behind them to make them room features

A nice, stylish way to say "kids live here too" in a foyer or living space

A pop of colour on the walls of a courtyard gives traditional-style furniture a funky feel. All pics from Taverne Agency