In this episode, friend of the show Claudia Brdar explains how to make your chosen interior design style for your homeThis 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 homeHow to contact Jo and Carl from Violeta Financeinfo@violetafinance.com.au03 9775 0532www.violetafinance.com.auFollow Claudia and The Renovate AvenueFacebookInstagramWebsiteFollow the Dream Home MovementFacebookInstagramWebFollow Carl and Jo VioletaFacebookInstagramWebGuest bioClaudia 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).TranscriptThis transcript is automated, so may not be 100% accurateHow to make your interior styling work - easy, practical tips with Claudia Brdar00:00:00 - 00:00:04I've got a confession to make. I'm not very good at interior styling. I don't00:00:04 - 00:00:10know how to make things look good around my home. I know what I like, but00:00:10 - 00:00:15I don't know how to make it work. I don't know how to translate my vision00:00:15 - 00:00:20what's in my mind into reality. And I know that might come as a bit of a00:00:20 - 00:00:25surprise or might seem a little bit weird, considering I host a podcast about00:00:25 - 00:00:29home improvement and renovation. You would think that I had some interior00:00:29 - 00:00:36styling skills, but sadly, I don't I guess that's kind of why I host this podcast,00:00:36 - 00:00:42because I can tap into experts who do have the skills. And so, for this episode00:00:42 - 00:00:47, Claudia Brdar from The Renovate Avenue is coming onto the show to take us00:00:47 - 00:00:54through how to make our design style work. Welcome to the Dream Home00:00:54 - 00:00:59movement. This is your weekly dose of home and property inspiration.00:00:59 - 00:01:04Bringing you clever tips and advice from the very best experts and real life00:01:04 - 00:01:12reno stories with your host, Jo Violeta. Hey, thank you so much for tuning00:01:12 - 00:01:16into this episode of the Dream Home Movement. I think you're going to love00:01:16 - 00:01:22this one. Lots of really practical tips from my dear friend Claudia, who is the00:01:22 - 00:01:28founder of The Renovate Avenue and the D.I.Y Renovation Academy. So00:01:28 - 00:01:32you might want to grab a paper piece of paper and a pen and take notes. But if00:01:32 - 00:01:37you're not able to, that's okay, because I’ve transcribed the episode so you'll be00:01:37 - 00:01:42able to see transcription and I will pop all the relevant information in the show00:01:42 - 00:01:47notes as well. So I've got you. Don't worry. And oh, hey, if we haven't met00:01:47 - 00:01:52before, my name's Jo Violeta, Thank you so much for listening to the show. I00:01:52 - 00:01:57Co-own an award winning finance business called Violeta Finance with my00:01:57 - 00:02:02husband, Carl. He is a mortgage broker. So if you need a hand financing your00:02:02 - 00:02:07home renovations, organising a home loan, refinancing your mortgage, maybe00:02:07 - 00:02:10you need to organise a loan for your next investment property or your first00:02:10 - 00:02:15investment property ‘exciting’ we would love to help you our contact details00:02:15 - 00:02:21will also be in the show notes, and if you're a regular listen of the listener to00:02:21 - 00:02:25the show, then you might be familiar with Claudia because Claudia is actually00:02:25 - 00:02:31delivering an exclusive little miniseries for Dream Home Movement listeners.00:02:31 - 00:02:38And it's based on her course Thie Renovation Academy. So last season she00:02:38 - 00:02:43took us through planning a home renovation. And then this season she's taking00:02:43 - 00:02:49us through actually planning your styling and doing the styling for the home so00:02:49 - 00:02:53last time she was on, she comes on about once a month to deliver these little00:02:53 - 00:02:58sort of like many lessons I suppose last month we spoke about choosing your00:02:58 - 00:03:02design style so it could be a Hamptons or industrial or contemporary,00:03:02 - 00:03:07she explained what those design styles are. And then she took us through. How do00:03:07 - 00:03:11we figure out what design style we're going to use for our home Oh my gosh, I00:03:11 - 00:03:14love that episode so much. If you haven't listened to it yet, you might want to00:03:14 - 00:03:19scroll back and listen to it. And then in this episode, Claudia is taking us00:03:19 - 00:03:24through how to actually make that design style work. So how to practically00:03:24 - 00:03:30bring it together? And can I tell you I needed this episode so so badly? And00:03:30 - 00:03:35I'm feeling far more confident now that I will be able to style, our next00:03:35 - 00:03:38property, which hopefully we're purchasing soon. All right, let's get stuck00:03:38 - 00:03:45into my chat with Claudia. Hey, Claudia. Welcome to the show. So lovely to00:03:45 - 00:03:48have you back again. Thank you so much for having me. I have a lot of fun00:03:48 - 00:03:55when I'm here with its great and I learned so much. So last time we were00:03:55 - 00:04:00together. Well, I just hit my microphone stand. That made a weird sound.00:04:00 - 00:04:05Anyway, last time we were together, we spoke about how to choose a design00:04:05 - 00:04:10style for your home. We spoke about Hampton style and contemporary and00:04:10 - 00:04:16modern and all of that sort of thing. But what I'm wondering now is, once00:04:16 - 00:04:21you've chosen the design style for your home, how do you actually put it all00:04:21 - 00:04:27together? Because for a home styling novice like myself, it can It can all feel00:04:27 - 00:04:32a bit overwhelming. Yeah, Yeah, for sure. Can be. Definitely can be. And I00:04:32 - 00:04:38have a lot of questions about all the time, So I get it. Well, I've got some tips00:04:38 - 00:04:42to share with you, Jo, and everyone that's listening. I wanted to start00:04:42 - 00:04:47talking about the seven elements of interior design. These are really important00:04:47 - 00:04:56because it includes space, line, form, light colour, texture and pattern. Now00:04:56 - 00:05:03just think about all these seven, and the key is to keep them balanced in a00:05:03 - 00:05:08really pleasing interior. So that is the key in a lot of different things as well.00:05:08 - 00:05:15Balance is very important, so I just want to say it again. It's space line forms00:05:15 - 00:05:21Light colour texture and pattern. Getting these balanced in your00:05:21 - 00:05:26environment is important, and if you want to write them down, having having00:05:26 - 00:05:31each of these in your space will make it a very pleasing and aesthetically00:05:31 - 00:05:36pleasing interior. That's what you want your place to really start and have a00:05:36 - 00:05:40think about those things. Incorporating those things into your space is00:05:40 - 00:05:45Important. Now for listeners, if you are driving right now or you're running on00:05:45 - 00:05:50the treadmill or something, like walking your dog or whatever, I will have the00:05:50 - 00:05:56list of those seven elements in the show notes if you can't jot it down. That's00:05:56 - 00:06:01fine. Claudia and I have got you covered, So can you tell us a little bit more00:06:01 - 00:06:09about each of those elements? Yeah,00:06:09 - 00:06:14I'll go through. If you also want to mention when I say colours and textures00:06:14 - 00:06:18and pattern. If you're unsure those three their colour, texture and pattern if00:06:18 - 00:06:22you're unsure of where to start with those because it can be quite00:06:22 - 00:06:27overwhelming. My number one tip stick to three colours, three colours or00:06:27 - 00:06:32shades. Don't go more. If you're really overwhelmed with it pick three00:06:32 - 00:06:36colours or three shades. If you've got a good idea of what your colour scheme00:06:36 - 00:06:42is, and if you're not sure, then grab some paint samples or go online and00:06:42 - 00:06:48have a look at what colours work together. So, that's a really handy tip is00:06:48 - 00:06:56stick to 3 colours or shades to start with. Light is really a00:06:56 - 00:07:05important in any space. Natural light is always beautiful feeling in any space,00:07:05 - 00:07:10so natural light. If you don't have enough natural light, then get it happening.00:07:10 - 00:07:17Get a skylight or, you know the windows light is very important aspect and00:07:17 - 00:07:24also lighting artificial lighting. Really think about where the lighting is being00:07:24 - 00:07:30placed and get rid of dark corners and things like that. So there's, um, really00:07:30 - 00:07:35quick sort of tips to really think about it. Incorporate into your home. Texture00:07:35 - 00:07:40is really important as well. To add to your home. You don't want just a blanket00:07:40 - 00:07:44of the same fabric, the same material in your home. You want to add texture00:07:44 - 00:07:48on texture. It's so important and really pleasing to have. And when I say00:07:48 - 00:07:54texture, I mean texture in your furniture pieces in your fabrics, in your decor00:07:54 - 00:08:00accessories in your window furnishings. Adding texture is important00:08:00 - 00:08:03because if you've got everything in a blanket of the same fabric texture of00:08:03 - 00:08:09material, then it starts looking very bland right. Okay, so you could have00:08:09 - 00:08:13that very basic colour palette, which is just three colours. Which sounds great00:08:13 - 00:08:18to me because that sounds just nice and simple. But mixing it up00:08:18 - 00:08:25and adding some depth and interest through texture. OK, I like that.00:08:25 - 00:08:31Another key thing to think about in your space choose a hero piece in each00:08:31 - 00:08:39room. So what I mean by Hero piece is a big, beautiful piece of art or a chest00:08:39 - 00:08:47of drawers, or a fabulous rug in your space. So00:08:47 - 00:08:52really think about what your key pieces in each room and then with that piece00:08:52 - 00:08:55Then you throw until complimenting colours as well that have hints that have00:08:55 - 00:09:02hints of colouring your major piece. So if you've got a big piece of art that's00:09:02 - 00:09:06got some blues through it, incorporate some complimentary blues as well into00:09:06 - 00:09:10the space. So it really works and flows together well, so that's that's another00:09:10 - 00:09:16key tip to think about in getting or interior style, right. How does that sound?00:09:16 - 00:09:22Oh, that sounds great. I love that. It's almost like an anchor for the room00:09:22 - 00:09:29. That's really clever Yes, yes, and anchor your room with a beautiful big rug.00:09:29 - 00:09:35Rugs have a great way of doing that. And rugs are a beautiful, a beautiful way00:09:35 - 00:09:40to add colour and texture and soften the room up as well. So the beautiful rug00:09:40 - 00:09:46really anchor's your room? Well, would there be any styles that are rug00:09:46 - 00:09:49wouldn't work with, Like you know how we were talking about the design00:09:49 - 00:09:55styles, for example, industrial. Can you still have rugs? You can for00:09:55 - 00:10:01sure. Yes, I probably wouldn't put a big plush rug in industrial style, but yeah00:10:01 - 00:10:05, definitely. I think rugs can work in any space, just getting the right texture00:10:05 - 00:10:12and colour. Right? Great. Another tip Jo is a mirrors, mirrors and magical00:10:12 - 00:10:16in a room they really are. They add light and depth in a room and can visually00:10:16 - 00:10:21make a space look better so they could bring white in a room. They00:10:21 - 00:10:25look beautiful, so they could really open up a space too. So have a think about00:10:25 - 00:10:31a mirror and have a think about a big one. I’m all about a00:10:31 - 00:10:36big mirror. You've seen my giant mirror in my old house in Seaford, which we00:10:36 - 00:10:40just left there because we couldn't get it off the wall. So our tenants are00:10:40 - 00:10:48enjoying that mirror. The next thing I want to share as00:10:48 - 00:10:54well Jo is for decorating the rule of three, which is a rule in decorating terms00:10:54 - 00:10:59. It means objects look better in a group of three. So there's this way to follow00:10:59 - 00:11:06the rule of threes to display a matching set of decor so it could be three pieces00:11:06 - 00:11:13Or three frames. It could be three vases also placement different sizes00:11:13 - 00:11:19next to each other. So try not to, have things. the same height as well00:11:19 - 00:11:25. Add two different heights and also so get creating odd numbered00:11:25 - 00:11:33arrangements like 1,3,5. So that's another little decorating. Tips00:11:33 - 00:11:39for you have the rule of three and add interest so add depth by adding00:11:39 - 00:11:45different textures to your items and pieces. Textures really, really00:11:45 - 00:11:51adds interest and also different heights and the rule of three. Next00:11:51 - 00:12:01thing I wanted to also mention is 60 30 10 interior design secret and which00:12:01 - 00:12:08I'm sharing with you all So 60 30 10. It's a timeless decorating rule that can00:12:08 - 00:12:13help you put a colour scheme together really easily. If00:12:13 - 00:12:16you're overwhelmed with colours, you're not sure what to stick to. Stick to00:12:16 - 00:12:22three colours or shades. This tip will help you with this. Also, because the00:12:22 - 00:12:3060 30 10 is a 60% plus the 30% plus the 10% proportion is meant to give you00:12:30 - 00:12:37balance to the colours used in any space. So 60 will be the walls00:12:37 - 00:12:43So that's the majority of the colour. 30% will probably be in your00:12:43 - 00:12:49furniture pieces. in room your armchair,00:12:49 - 00:12:56your coffee table that's your 30. And then your 10% ease your let's say, for00:12:56 - 00:13:01example, your 10% is your cushions, your throws. That's your accent colours00:13:01 - 00:13:07that you're throwing into match the rest of the space. So 60 30 10 is a really00:13:07 - 00:13:13good thing to consider when you're putting a space together. So 60 your00:13:13 - 00:13:20walls, then 30% furniture pieces and 10% is your decor00:13:20 - 00:13:27accessories, for example. So keeping all that balance and also sticking to00:13:27 - 00:13:32three colours or shades to really simplify it for you guys is a good way to start.00:13:32 - 00:13:41Okay, so So then what way would have the walls in one colour for example, And00:13:41 - 00:13:46then you don't have your decor and the accent same colour as the walls. For00:13:46 - 00:13:53example, you just write that 10%. That's like your accent colours. Yes, yes,00:13:53 - 00:14:00that's a good way of putting it s o that will help you understand of how a space00:14:00 - 00:14:04comes to get and how it can slow and look aesthetically pleasing as well.00:14:04 - 00:14:10That's another tip. Okay, good. o amongst all that'll amongst all picking a00:14:10 - 00:14:15colour, speaking the shades getting your style, right? Don't forget00:14:15 - 00:14:18about functionality because you don't want to pick pieces, and I'm going to be00:14:18 - 00:14:23functional. You don't want to pick a two seater when you’ve got a family of00:14:23 - 00:14:28five. So really consider what pieces air going to work in your space, because00:14:28 - 00:14:35if it's not functional than it may not be right. So functionality is really00:14:35 - 00:14:41important. Yeah, about everything. Don't forget when you're picking00:14:41 - 00:14:46Stylish and cool items. If it's not functional, maybe don't get it. So, like the00:14:46 - 00:14:54couch needs to be comfy. Yes, yes, we've got a big family yet Don't get a tiny00:14:54 - 00:14:58little so far with a huge living room as well. So I really think about what's00:14:58 - 00:15:05going to work. Yes, got it Gotta say, though. Claudia and I did a bit of a00:15:05 - 00:15:09shopping trip to Chadstone last year to remember that shopping trip, and we00:15:09 - 00:15:16went to Coco Republic, not sponsored by them or anything way. Their chairs00:15:16 - 00:15:21there are so gorgeous and they're so gorgeous that they look like they would be00:15:21 - 00:15:26ridiculously uncomfortable. And then you sit in them and I don't know what00:15:26 - 00:15:32what they've done. But those chairs are magically comfortable, aren't they?00:15:32 - 00:15:37Goodness, yes. And that furniture is amazing. And it takes three, I think00:15:37 - 00:15:41three. Sometimes six months for these pieces to come delivered to you. So00:15:41 - 00:15:48they're made for you. Well, they are absolutely amazing. Coca Republic. You00:15:48 - 00:15:51haven't been a cheque it out, guys. There's got beautiful pieces. And there00:15:51 - 00:15:56was a mirror there. George. Remember the mirror? Yes. And it was almost00:15:56 - 00:16:01like three days, So he'd say, like 100 of you standing in the back of the mirror00:16:01 - 00:16:06. That makes sense. I remember that. I went, I went Teo. I went to Coco00:16:06 - 00:16:10Republic a couple of weeks ago just to show car. I can't remember the00:16:10 - 00:16:14designer's name, but there's a specific designer has created a ll these amazing00:16:14 - 00:16:18pieces of cocoa a republic. And you know he's got the little show. They've got00:16:18 - 00:16:23like the back, like his little showroom, virtually just to show him that mirror00:16:23 - 00:16:31and designers work is amazing. We're digressing, though, but comfort is and00:16:31 - 00:16:35functionality is important as well. Really important. Don't don't forget about00:16:35 - 00:16:40functionality because you'll be kicking yourself later when, Yeah, it's not00:16:40 - 00:16:45gonna work in your in your space. You just you can just look at it and admire it00:16:45 - 00:16:55. But not any other tips for us to be a ble Teo. Pull it all together. So look,00:16:55 - 00:17:00that's that's, um, really easy sort of interior design decorating tips to start00:17:00 - 00:17:05thinking about to get it right. Onda again. The seven Elements of interior00:17:05 - 00:17:10design. Like I said, John, if you wantto go over it quickly again, so space00:17:10 - 00:17:16line forms light, colour, texture and pattern. There's a really this is the key to00:17:16 - 00:17:21keep everything balanced in your space. S O space is really important. You00:17:21 - 00:17:26want to get your space right and get the feeling right and the lines so the line00:17:26 - 00:17:32means the lines of your furniture pieces. The line. You know you can have a00:17:32 - 00:17:39curved coffee table, softer line on your sofa instead of a harsher line, which is00:17:39 - 00:17:43a more modern style, so sharper lines or a more modern modern style.00:17:43 - 00:17:48Whereas softer lines amore contemporary, more traditional, really think about00:17:48 - 00:17:56the key pieces of furniture when you're buying it as well On DH again light.00:17:56 - 00:18:01We've spoken about light. Yes, enough light in your space Colo are texture00:18:01 - 00:18:06and Patton. And again, you don't get too busy with your patterns, and you tell00:18:06 - 00:18:10us if you want to really simplify it, stick to three colours or shades. Like I said00:18:10 - 00:18:15earlier, that that will really help you find the balance in your space. The right00:18:15 - 00:18:20balance. Amazing. I love that. Those tips of fantastic. They're really practical00:18:20 - 00:18:26. They're easy enough for a novice like myself to understand an implement but00:18:26 - 00:18:32impactful enough to make a huge difference and good, full it altogether. Love00:18:32 - 00:18:36those seven design elements as well. As I said, we'll have those listed in the00:18:36 - 00:18:43show. No, Claudia, that was fantastic. Thank you so much for so glad If00:18:43 - 00:18:48people have any questions or they want Teo, get some more tips because00:18:48 - 00:18:53you've got loads of great tips on your website. Instagram and Facebook. How00:18:53 - 00:18:58can they get in contact with you? And how can they follow you and learn from00:18:58 - 00:19:04you? Yeah, I'm on Instagram and Facebook, the Renovate Avenue and also00:19:04 - 00:19:08my website. There were never any avenue dot com es so you can get in touch00:19:08 - 00:19:13through either of those avenues. I am always happy to track. They can get in00:19:13 - 00:19:25contact with the renovate avenue through any of those avenues. Yes, a again,00:19:25 - 00:19:28Thank you so much. And I look forward to chatting with you Claudia again in00:19:28 - 00:19:34about four weeks time about a month's time. And this time we are going to be00:19:34 - 00:19:41talking about how to create a style board. And that's a really important part00:19:41 - 00:19:47ofthe styling. Your home, isn't it? Yes, yes, this is fun. This is fun as well.00:19:47 - 00:19:52So it's all fun. Really. It's so much looking forward to that. Thank you again00:19:52 - 00:19:56for joining me and thank you, everyone for tuning in. Bye bye. Thank you.00:19:56 - 00:20:01Thanks for joining us on the dream home movement. Be sure to come over00:20:01 - 00:20:06and say hi on Facebook and Instagram. I hope that your dream home projects00:20:06 - 00:20:10are going well and I look forward to chatting with you again next week