Hello!
My name is Matt Allison.
I go by many titles with over a decade of experience in the design industry. My work has been featured in various lifestyle publications including Home, House & Leisure, Elle Decoration, VISI, Real Estate, Good Taste & The Sunday Times.
Based in Sydney, Australia my approach to interior styling and design is clean and timeless. I believe in creating spaces that are simple and functional, yet practical enough to deal with the ever-growing demands of daily life.
Thank you for visiting.
Author Archives: Matt
Make your own dipped utensils
I certainly can’t lay claim to this marvelous idea, paint dipping is showing up everywhere on everything from tin cans to entire furniture pieces.
What I can do is localise it and with trusted help of Plascon let’s launch into this weeks simple ‘How-To’.
Supplies needed: Wooden utensils, several tins of paint, masking tape, newsprint and a drying rack.
I chose to use Plascon’s Velvaglo, a unique polyurethane enamel that cross-links to form a resilient protective barrier that is Heat, Steam, Chip and Stain resistant. It is an extremely tough premium quality paint that offers a protective and decorative finish for walls and trim work.
While incredibly durable I’d like to interject and share that you should always handwash these utensils to prolong their life and make sure not to cover the surface that will be in contact with boiling water and/or food.
Pastels have made waves this year and will continue to do so in 2013 with Plascon’s PAUSE palette. I chose to use the following Plascon colours: Light Blue Green G6-A2-2, Endless Possibilities R6-B1-4 and Diamond White B1-A2-3.
Step 1. Start by taping up the non dipped end of your utensils with masking tape, this will prevent any dripping paint from adhering to the exposed surface.
Step 2. Carefully dip the dipping end into the paint, allowing several minutes for the excess to drip off.
Step 3. Place them in a utensil rack and allow to dry. Since the paint it fairly thick allow 24 hours to fully cure. I used a roll of mirror tape to prop up my smallest spoon to avoid paint dripping onto rack.
The great thing is that you can continue to add to your collection, varying the colours till your heart is content and it’s dead easy to accomplish!
I hope you enjoy your weekend and that it’s filled with crafty goodness!
Freeworld Design Center
I attended Decorex and Plascon’s Design Dialogue early this week.
The event was held at the fabulous Freeworld Design Center which is located at the Cape Waters Building, 71 Waterkant St (on the Fan Walk) in Cape Town.
I’ve been to several events there before, but like many others I wasn’t familiar with what they actually do, or rather the services they offer.
As you may know over the next month I’ll be doing a few ‘How-To’ projects on the blog and Plascon have generously donated the paint I’ll be using for the tutorials.
Last week I booked a meeting with Kim Bougaardt to work through the colour selection for the various projects. I had some ideas and storyboards and after a brief chat we knocked out the various palettes.
Their services are offered to the trade, contractors, developers, interior designers etc. Prospective clients book an appointment (much like I did) and a décor consultant is assigned to your project and meets with you at the Design Centre or at your site.
After a discussion around your needs and an inspection of the site and its context, your consultant will then ask you for architectural plans or photographs.
They then presented you with both “draw-downs” (A4 colour cards) and a décor scheme in 3D that will show you how the project will look on completion. This décor scheme will involve the use of coatings from the Freeworld stable, eg: Plascon and Midas Earthcote products.
Amazingly this service is provided FREE, yip, GRATIS! Well of course the caveat is that you need to USE the Freeworld stable offerings and upon arrival you’ll need to sign off the selected scheme with your client representative.
In addition they offer a kick ass library with drool worthy decor books. Sadly you can’t check them out, but you are welcome to pop in and peruse them using the free Wi-Fi to keep in touch with your clients as you piece your storyboards together.
Want to keep up to date with the latest trade publications? They also have a well stocked newsstand where you can buy the latest issues of international magazines like Monocle, Icon and World of Interiors.
If that wasn’t enough the Freeworld building also plays host to Jacques Erasmus’s Hemelhuijs. Jacques food is out of this world, both in taste and presentation. If he wasn’t insanely talented enough as a restauranteur he also has an amazing eye for detail and offers several carefully curated homeware pieces.
In addition the Freeworld Design Center regularly plays host to various exhibitions offering the country’s only gallery-style exhibition platform for South Africa’s finest interior design. The Design Centre features ongoing display sets where leading architects, interior designers and decorators showcase their work. These inspirational exhibitions are open to the public.
The best way to keep up to date with their movements is via their blog which you can find at http://www.freeworlddesigncentre.co.za
Thanks again to Kim and the team for making me feel welcome and for assisting me in pairing up these palettes.