Wall&decò's textured wallpapers are designed "to be explored with the hands"

September 19, 20201 min read

Dezeen promotion: Design-led wallpaper company Wall&decò has created the Essential Wallpaper Collection, which has a range of textures, inlays, engravings and relief patterns.

Each design in the Essential Wallpaper Collection, which have been created by architect André Fu, Milan design agency Studiopepe and Wall&Deco founder and art director Christian Benini, are united by the fact that they all share a focus on texture.

Milan-based Studiopepe designed the chevron-style Yumi wallpaper for Wall&decò

“Material research is the key to interpreting the Essential Wallpaper Collection,” said the brand.

“Since its first edition, it has been based on full collaboration with designers such as Studiopepe and Christian Benini: surfaces to be explored with the hands as well as seen, a universe of micro signs, 3D textures, inlays, engravings and light details in metal that create real bas-reliefs.”

Studiopepe also designed the brand’s Haru wallpaper, which features fan-like markings

Each of the … Read more

Architecture Bedroom Etsy item of the day Exterior Home Contractor Property Real Estate Room

Property Investment: A risky business or safe as houses?

September 19, 2020September 19, 20201 min read

We’ve all heard the phrase “safe as houses”, and indeed, investing in real estate has long been considered a safe and secure long-term investment strategy, particularly for those who do their due diligence and locate good-quality properties in areas that are likely to grow in appeal and value.

That said, as with almost all areas of our lives, the coronavirus pandemic has entered the equation and turned everything we once knew to be true on its head.

With so much economic upheaval, together with hasty changes to legislation, which has tipped the balance of power in favour of tenants (at least during the pandemic), is real estate still a worthwhile investment?

According to property expert Michael Yardney, director of Metropole Property Strategists, the answer is a resounding yes.

Since the pandemic first began impacting our economy and way of life around six months ago, real estate values have “remained … Read more

Architecture Etsy item of the day Property Real Estate

Announcing The Finalists For The Record-Breaking 2020 Archibald Prize

September 19, 20201 min read

Announcing The Finalists For The Record-Breaking 2020 Archibald Prize

Art

by Sally Tabart

‘Behrouz Boochani’ by Angus McDonald.

Left: ‘Soils for life’, Lucy Culliton. Photo – AGNSW, Jenni Carter.

Right: ‘Lucy’, Monica Rohan. Photo – AGNSW, Mim Stirling.

‘Ernest brothers’, Neil Tomkins and Digby Webster. Photo – AGNSW, Felicity Jenkins.

Left to right: ‘Jacinda’, John Ward Knox. Photo – AGNSW, Jenni Carter.

‘Carnation, lily, Yuri, rose’, Yuri Shimmyo. Photo – AGNSW, Mim Stirling.

Left: ‘Dolly visits Indulkana’, Kaylene Whiskey. Photo – AGNSW, Mim Stirling.

Right: ‘My dad, Churchill Cann’, Charlene Carrington. Photo – AGNSW, Mim Stirling.

‘Portrait of Adam Spencer’, Samuel Rush Condon. Photo – AGNSW, Jenni Carter.

Left to right: ‘JB reading’, Guy Maestri. Photo – AGNSW, Jenni Carter.

‘Disquietude’, Melanie Gray. Photo – AGNSW, Mim Stirling.

‘Poppy Chicka’, Thea Anamara Perkins. Photo – AGNSW, Felicity Jenkins.

Left: ‘Stand strong for who you are’, Vincent Namatjira. Photo –

Violet Zhou translates mental states into ethereal fashion collection

September 18, 20201 min read

Rosy-hued shells of organza encase the wearer of these garments by Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) graduate Violet Zhou, which explore different states of mind experienced during personal struggles.

Inspired by her own personal experiences and “emotional turbulences”, Zhou sought to translate certain feelings into tangible products.

Her fashion collection, titled Within, comprises six looks, each representing a different stage in the process of going through and overcoming various emotional and mental challenges.

These include angry, weighed-down, wounded, sinking, numb and emerging.

Designed to create a sense of “confinement”, many of the pieces literally seal their wearer inside the garment with an outer layer of fabric.

Each look progresses onto the next, until finally “emerging” from the turmoil into a lighter state of mind, where the wearer physically breaks free from the material casing.

“I wanted it to look like the model is vacuum-sealed in between two plastic sheets, … Read more

Architecture Bedroom Etsy item of the day Exterior Home Contractor Property Real Estate Room

How to avoid the common mistakes investors make – Trying to time the market [VIDEO]

September 18, 20201 min read

The more you know about the most common mistakes that other property investors make, the better your likelihood of building lasting wealth.

In this series of short videos, Brett Warren and I discuss the common mistakes we’ve seen investors make.

Today we discuss every investor’s dream of “buying low and selling high” to maximise gain.

But the reality is that you really can’t “pick the market”.

Watch as we discuss:

Why many investors try and time the market, wanting to buy at the bottom and sell up or refinance near the top of the property cycle
The concept of buying countercyclically – be greedy when others are fearful and be fearful when others are greedy
How some beginning investors did well over the last few years – but it was more due to luck and can’t easily be replicated
Rather than trying to time the market – look for good