Hunt for home furnishings (without the meatballs)
Month
Author C.S Lewis once said “I can’t really imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once” so we’ve rounded up our favourite upcycled bookcases that you can DIY to showcase your growing collection.
1. Tree branches
Simple and chic, these repainted tree branches bring a bit of the outdoors inside.
2. Stacked coffee tables
Painted in the same purple hue, these stacked coffee table add a bright pop colour to the muted wall.
3. Baby grand piano
Give new life to an unused baby grand piano, this statement bookcase would be perfect for any music lover.
4. Maze of drain pipes
These repurposed drain pipes are a cool way of incorporating a cultured element into any man cave.
5. Stacked wooden crates
If you have a bunch of identical old crates lying around, why not stack them up and use them to showcase your books and prized possessions?
6. Baroque photo frames
These black photo frames provide a quirky alternative to wall art and the fact they serve a dual purpose is a bonus.
7. Skateboard
Old skateboards can make for a fun and imaginative bookcase and the perfect place to store all your childhood favourites.
Text by Jessica Li. Images sourced from Qaaks; Creative Home Idea; Tina Blaine; iiDudu; Top Dreamer and Fresh Home.
Why watch the Olympics games outside in the cold when you could be watching inside, snuggled up to the fire and drinking hot chocolate in one of these fantastic ski chalets?
1. Chalet One Oak, France
This fabu-luxe ski chalet in France is over the top in all the right ways: amazing open fireplace, balcony jacuzzi, original artworks and a Harley Davidson in the hallway. A stay also includes use of the house keepers and private chef to look after you while you enjoy a spot of alpine skiing watching on the TV.
2. Whare Kea Lodge, New Zealand
At 1.7km above sea level, this ski chalet is only accessible by a 20 minute helicopter ride. It’s surrounded on all sides by mountains and the views of the frozen lakes and landforms below will surely rival for your attention.
3. Little Cottage, Switzerland
This charming little cottage is a modern take on the traditional ski hut with low ceiling, light wood interiors and bright prints. It’s the perfect place to spend time reading a good book next to the fireplace or cheering on your favourite winter Olympics team.
4. Kakslautten Igloo, Finland
Situated in the Arctic Circle, these glass igloos are heat insulated thanks to a special type of thermal glass. Each igloo is equipped with its own bathroom and beds so comfortable that you might not want to leave even when the Sochi Games are over.
5. Godzne Hut, Slovenia
This wooden hut made from organically grown, untreated wood makes the ultimate glamping statement. The interior is furnished simply with only a bed but with the bubbling hot tub and stunning night sky, what else could you need? Maybe just an iPad to be streaming the Olympics on…
Text by Jessica Li. Images sourced from Onekinddesign; DigsDigs; EigthWonder; Design Milk and Tiny House Living.
Now don’t get us wrong, the Couchelo peeps are suckers for love, but maybe not the red and pink heart themed, Hallmark-sponsored, overpriced circus kind of love that you find on Valentine’s Day.
We think that love should be celebrated all year round, and in the little things too: a cup of tea from your partner when you don’t want to leave the couch because Masterchef is on or a homemade cupcake from your BFF just because it’s Wednesday or the offer from Dad to drive you home from the airport after a 30 hour flight.
So this Valentine’s Day, we’re boycotting fancy restaurants, chocolates in a heart shaped boxes, red roses and just for giggles, we’ve rounded up our favourite décor to throw the perfect, unconventional anti-Valentine’s Day parties for you and your loved ones:
1. Love Stinks banner
This expresses our sentiment towards all things Valentine’s Day perfectly, it’s a banner which is perfect for any celebratory occasions.
2. Tainted Love candles
Set the scene with this this cheek-in-tongue candle which promise to mend your broken heart with a mixture of orange & grapefruit, cherry blossom, hydrangea, apple and peach.
3. No Valentine’s Day Heart Piñata
Who can forget Jennifer Garner’s character in the movie Valentine’s Day beating the crap out of this hilarious piñata that probably costs a whole lot less than therapy sessions.
4. A bouquet of black roses
Nothing says “Screw Valentine’s Day” more than a bouquet of black roses, we’re pretty sure we want to have these in our house all year round.
5. ‘I Love You’ plates
Featuring a image of a knife, a bloody heart, and a horseshoe, what could be more fitting to serve your guests at your anti-Valentine’s party than on these Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari designed plates?
Text by Jessica Li. Images sourced from: Etsy, shoppingblog, Remodelista and artnews.
Season 7 of Mad Men premieres on April 13 and the Couchelo team are waiting impatiently for the return of Don Draper’s antics, gorgeous 1960s fashion and most of all, the retro-chic home and office furnishings. The use of bold colours, crazy textures and clean lines makes Mad Men our favourite source of décor eye candy on TV.
So let’s take a look through the past seasons for 5 timeless designs elements that you can incorporate into your office space today:
1. The burnt orange sofa with clean lines
Technically, there are two elements typical of mid-century design we love here (three, if you count Don’s trilby): the burn orange palette is something we’ve come to expect from the era and the clean lines and button-tufted sofa adds a simple pop of colour to the monochrome space.
2. The “tulip” table and “mushroom” lamp in Roger’s Office
Roger Sterling’s office is a light and bright minimalist space where he spends most of his days drinking and contemplating the future of his on-again-off-again love affair with vixen Joan. Styled by his ex-wife Jane, we particularly love the mod-signature pieces such as the white Saarinen Tulip table and the Artemid Nesso desk lamp featured above.
3. The conference chairs in the creative’s lounge
The makeshift copywriter’s conference room reflects the young and progressive crowd who occupy it. The Saarinen Executive Conference Chairs provide an appropriately professional touch to an otherwise eclectic mix of furnishings.
4. The gold chinoiserie folding screen
5. The wooden bar cart in Don’s office
And what post about Mad Men would be complete without an ode to the excessive drinking that Don Draper and Co. take part in at the office. Situated conveniently next to his desk, the wooden bar cart is simple and functional, with everything Don needs to make his Old Fashioneds.
Text by Jessica Li. Images sourced from: GQ; Elle Decor; Modern Digs; The Office Stylist; Be Colorful and The Good Men Project.
Realestate.com.au recently listed an incredible one-of-a-kind house in Brisbane, made of 31 shipping containers. Designed by Todd Miller of Ziegler Build, the three-story property cleverly uses the container’s original interior to create an industrial chic effect.
Shipping container homes are popping up everywhere. With over 200 million empty units sitting in ports around the world, turning them into inhabitable spaces is an eco-friendly solution for those looking for something a little outside of the box.
The possibilities are endless. Here ’s a few of our favourite upcycled houses:
1. Coromandel Beach House
This gorgeous holiday home in New Zealand designed by Crossan Clarke Carnachan Architects makes the most of the beach views with an open-planned living space and large windows in the front and back of the house.
It features two bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen, folding cedar shutters along the length of the house and even has a fireplace for entertaining on chilly winter nights.
2. Redondo Beach House
The stunning Californian multi-shipping container house designed by Peter Maria Design Associates has won coveted architecture awards. It boasts two bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen, an artist’s studio, a library and an outdoor lap pool.
The living space has an impressive 6m ceiling with an even more impressive floor to ceiling window which folds up and opens out to the garden.
3. The Manifesto House
This funky three shipping container house was a 90-day project by Chilean construction company Infiniski, which came in at a budget friendly $118,000.
The entire house is 85% made out of recycled, eco-friendly and reused materials, with wood-slatted exterior and solar covers on walls and roofs. The interior furnishings fits the cool designer bill too.
4. Container of Hope
Architect Benjamin Garcia Saxe turned two shipping containers into this bold, modern space by cutting out an entire side wall and setting them apart with a raised mid section.
The house was built for under $40,000 for a couple who dreamed of living a simpler life in rural Costa Rica.
5. Container Guest House
Last but not least, this cute as a button guest house designed by Award-winning US firm Poteet Architects in Texas complements its bright exterior with bamboo walls and floors and a planted roof top.
Text by Jessica Li. Images sourced from: realestate.com.au; One Kind Design; Eco Container Home; Gizmag; Home DSGN and Remodelista.