Thanks to everyone who has followed my blog; please note that the Justin Bishop Style & Design blog has moved.
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2012 Inspirations...

When making a fresh start there's nothing better than finding inspiration to help you along. Stay tuned...

Cristmas Wreaths 2010

The perfect Christmas decor shouldn't just be "wrapped up" inside your house... bring it outside for ALL to enjoy.

With my house renovations dragging on and on, I am enjoying some Christmas spirit at my front door step.
A Christmas wreath is a great way to spread some festive cheer amongst your neighborhood. Such a simple treatment but effective in so many ways.
As usual I've opted for a traditional, monochrome and slightly organic style. But the possibilities, as always, are endless.
Choose a color or style that YOU like and go with it... let your personality shine through.
I'll upload some images of the wreath Ive mentioned on my Sassafras home very soon. In the meantime please enjoy these designs, that I found inspirational, with compliments of ... Martha Stewart, a master of festive styling!

Christmas at home...

Last year my Christmas decor was right on the mark!

A magazine editor asked me to provide her with some content for a story on "designer" Christmas decor at home.  I obliged with my take on a "traditional" tree with matching accessories. I worked with a collection of my favorite things; old glass door knobs, my great grandfathers building tools (including his original measuring tapes which substituted for tinsel) and finished it off with pine cones and brown pears - for an organic edge!
Gifts were wrapped in hessian and brown paper, then tied in chocolate ribbon in satin and velvet.
I was very pleased with the "look", a good blend of monochromatic color schemes and interesting objects!
The photos and accompanying story went to print alongside the work of three other designers, all with a very different design aesthetic!

This year I'm eager to do something unique again. Faced with building delays on the house extension, I've been unable to create anything as yet. This week however, things are nearing completion, with a bigger space to decorate! Hopefully I'll have something to show you very soon.

I'll keep you posted.

The Style of Australian "Country"

If I claimed to be an authority on any particular interior design style it would be the style that is Australian “Country”.

From my grass roots, growing up in my families ancestral home in Melbourne’s Yarra Valley, to holidaying on my Aunts property on vast open farmlands in southern Western Australia, the simple, paired down classic style of Australian “Country” has been ingrained in my psyche.

Beautiful country interiors, exteriors and gardens are a perfect vehicle for my knowledge, experience and design ethic. I love to work with a traditional Australian country style with clean, modern influences; Inspired by collections of images, styles and stories representing the essence of Australian “Country” interior design.

I travel and research, write and photograph. I discover visions, places, stories and things that represent the stunning country style that I know and love.

Place settings...

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Vintage Louis

Color accents are everywhere...

This is a definite departure from my usual monochromatic "non" color schemes! The color here is striking and I find it very appealing. As strong as the red accents are, the overall look is toned down with the contrasting natural wood, hessian and paper elements. The organic nature of the subject is also a key it keeping it very genuine and authentic..... something I always insist upon!

The work of Restoration Hardware and Gary Friedman.

California-based Restoration Hardware’s CEO/Chairman Gary Friedman is known for boldly remaking the company and giving it a distinctive new vibe and look.

Last week Friedman launched his newest concept, a dramatic, sun-lit Restoration Hardware design gallery in a handsome Palladian showroom in San Francisco’s design district. It’s placed beautifully behind a tall wall and a pair of grand portals, with a terrace and sunlight galore, right in the midst of top design showrooms and the finest antiques galleries.

I have long admired Gary Friedman for the style he has brought into the management and ownership of Restoration Hardware.

The company was founded in 1980 to sell, what else, restoration hardware.

The original founder opened his first store and launched a quirky catalog because he was restoring a Craftsman house in Marin County in Northern California. He could not find all the authentic lighting, doorknobs, hinges, handles, and flotsam and jetsam of remodeling for a classic and historic residence. Thus the name!

The company grew, catalogs arrived through the mail, and stores were opened around the country. The design evolved and the company offered a classic range, with beautiful bed linens, good solid furniture, beautifully made basic pieces for any residence, and the kick of quirky gifts and accessories.

Gary Friedman, formerly with Williams Sonoma, boldly took over the company and has slowly and thoughtfully reshaped it.

Now he is making an even more ambitious leap—with a glamorous new showroom in a former super-luxe antiques gallery. The gallery opened on September 23, with a party for 600 guests, and hundreds of new designs, furniture, lighting, antique reproductions, and singular modern and period pieces.

The new gallery is at 188 Henry Adams Street, San Francisco, in the former home of Ed Hardy San Francisco Antiques. Ed Hardy, who built this Palladian masterpiece, is knowledgeable and uniquely insightful in matters of antiques and decorative accessories, and he will stay on as a consultant.

Classic design...

Classic architectural detailing, an all white color scheme and neutral accessories. I've featured this interior combination in my designs many times... In fact, I recreated this look in my own bedroom when I was fifteen years old!! Im happy to say that I adopted it as my own signiature style!

Ralph - East Hampton.

Ralph Lauren's East Hampton RRL store... it is stunning.

In the middle of pristine shopping stores is this aged and time warn building. It's a treasure chest of items and color and is perfectly  marketed - all as only Ralph can.

Again its a look that has inspired me over and over throughout the years. Basic backdrops (in this case its white washed lining boards) used as the foundation for clever eclectic furnishing.

All images from Ralph Lauren.

Ralph, Ralph, Ralph!

Love their work...

Three more interiors from the team at R.S. They just keep getting better...

Classic styling...

Great images showing the furniture, accessories and classic styling from the team at Restoration Hardware... love it. I first visited these guys in New York about seven years ago and have loved thier work ever since. They've grown considerably since then but their eye for detail has remained unfaultering. I wish they'd bring their products down under!

Kitchen ideas...

I love this kitchen. Simple lines, not overly designed. Great light from the fabulous entrance and subtle overheads as well. Cream on cream keeping it fresh. I particularly like the break from the complete "built in" with the contrasting turned timber legs extending from the island bench. Hmmmm, this could work well in my own home.

Light, bright and perfectly aged.

Two shots of a classic kitchen by Susan Henderson featured recently in American House and Garden. Simple elegant lines and perfectly chosen accessories. Nicely "aged" with Italian hand made subway tiles. A great blend of old and new.

Workshops

Limited places left for September/October...
"Justin Bishop’s interior style and design workshops will help you develop your own creativity and interior design expertise. Justin will show you how to find inspiration in things around you. He’ll help you define your own unique sense of style and give you the confidence to carry out design projects on your own. Through his decorator knowledge and industry experience Justin will teach you how to turn your ideas into reality. He will give you valuable insider information and share some of the secrets of designing a beautiful home. Justin’s homes and work have appeared in a variety of Magazines and interior publications including Australian Country Style, The Age and the Herald-Sun Home Magazine. His workshops will be held in his own home in Sassafras, in Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges."

The first workshop...

My first Style & Design workshop took place this Saturday. It was a great morning, lots of information was discussed in the session and we went overtime by an hour! For me, it really set in stone the fact that I love sharing my knowledge and experience with others. There's something very fulfilling in that. I look forward to the next session to do it all again. Many relevant aspects of interior design were covered, including discussions on some key design styles, blending old with new, identification of personal style, the importance of the design brief, using color and as promised, everyone created their own individual design board. Each participant received a gift bag containing all the notes from the session, a shopping guide covering all my essential furniture, home wares, lighting and renovation haunts across Melbourne and some other special gifts as well. Thanks to Margaret, Janine, Jill and Felicity for taking part on the day.

Oh Ralph..

 Ralph does it again! His new store in Paris, classic fashion and furnishing collections in a stunning location. LOVE that framed sailing boat print! This article is from Elle Decor.

Finally... Confirmed workshop dates

• SATURDAY THE 10TH OF JULY 10.00AM – 2.00PM

• SATURDAY THE 7TH OF AUGUST 10.00AM – 2.00PM

• SATURDAY THE 4TH OF SEPTEMBER 10.00AM – 2.00PM

• SATURDAY THE 9TH OF OCTOBER 10.00AM – 2.00PM

The workshops will be held in my hills cottage “Linga-Longa” as featured in Australian Country Style, The Age and the Herald-Sun Home magazine. The cottage is currently undergoing an extension and further restoration work that you will be witness to as part of the workshop experience.

Cost:
$175.00 per person per workshop
The cost includes:
Four hour Style & Design workshop
Lunch platters of Local Yarra Valley produce
Justin’s Style & Design gift bag
Mood Board

Please email me directly to request your booking date.
You will then be invoiced for payment.
We will confirm your booking once payment has been received.

I look forward to seeing you at my workshops in 2010.

Best regards,
Justin Bishop