In the 1930s the popularity of Parquet floors declined when carpet began to be manufactured but this flooring has recently become popular again. Today there are many styles of Parquet floors to choose from (herringbone is the most popular) and the good news is this type of flooring is now affordable. It’s also much more durable, easy to maintain and works incredibly well in both rustic homes and modern interiors.

Advantages of Parquet flooring

• Wonderful rich look and texture – Bernie loves it because as an interior designer she can choose from a wide range of textures, patterns and wood colours – dark, light, cherry, beech, oak etc.  Allowing her to create the perfect flooring for her client’s home.
• Today there are modern parquet options available too including bamboo and coloured parquet – you can really get creative!
• Parquet flooring is highly durable and easy to maintain. It usually comes in three finishes; waxed, plain and pre-oiled. Every several years it can be sanded and polished, and this will make it look as good as new.
• Parquet flooring is environmentally friendly.
• The best advantage is that today parquet flooring is affordable, you don’t have to be royalty to have it in your home.

If you’d like to learn more about Parquet flooring and find out how it would look in your home please call Bernadette on 0417 088 602 to book a consultation.

1. French Provincial Mirror – Burnt Oak
   You can imagine this delightful rustic mirror hanging in a French country home can’t you? It would look beautiful hanging over a single vanity in a bathroom or over a dressing table in your bedroom. Available in antique white or burnt oak.
2. Rustic Bedside Table
   Place a vase of fresh flowers on top of it and some embroidered handiwork and you’ll be on your way to having a lovely French provincial bedroom.
3. Louis Chaise
   For the ultimate in comfort and style you cannot go past this Louis Chaise in antique oak and white linen.
4. French Provincial Style Bed-Head (King Size) – Antique White & Taupe
   Romance comes to mind when we look at this stunning handcrafted bed-head with its linen-blend upholstery in soft tones of taupe.
5. French Country Louis XV Bodine Armchair – Weathered Oak & Taupe
   We love this elegant handcrafted French country chair. With its graceful curves it is reminiscent of the Louis XV period.
6. Driftwood French Provincial 6 Seat Dining Table – Reclaimed Elm & Antique White
   This dining setting exudes classic farmhouse appeal. It’s a beautiful piece with its reclaimed elm top and antique ‘Queen Anne’ style legs.
7. Rustic Vintage Rattan “Cobblers Wharf” Trunk/Console
   French provincial homes were filled with baskets and you can’t go past this gorgeous Cobblers Wharf Trunk. Bernie says it will look great at the end of the bed, in a hall or even on your verandah.
8. Chateau French Iron Table Lamp with Taupe Shade
   This romantic table lamp will help to create a warm ambience in any room. Featuring intricate scroll work and a taupe shade, it would look divine in a bedroom or lounge.
9. Custom Rustic Inlaid Top Dining Table
   This stunning dining table adds warmth and richness to a room. Gather good friends and family around it and enjoy a leisurely dinner.
10. Custom Made Red Commode
    This is a real statement piece and the bright red colour is just so cheery. Provides great storage too – we love it!
11. Rattan Wing Chair
    This chair is the epitome of country comfort and style. Place a decorative cushion on it or enjoy its beautiful simplicity.

For exclusive savings on French provincial furniture and accessories contact Bernadette on 0417 088 602.

Denis Quaid, French syle equestrian property

Despite being situated only a few minutes from Sunset Boulevard, when you arrive at Denis Quaid’s home you feel like you’re in the countryside. Bernie adores the rusted double gates at the property’s entrance and the exposed raw wooden beams in his living room. Denis also has some delightful antique French pieces dotted throughout his home and stunning parquet flooring.

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi

Ellen and Portia have added a touch of French provincial style to their magnificent Beverly Hills Estate and the result is a truly comfortable home you can unwind in. Bernie is particularly a big fan of the antique French cane chairs that surround the 17th century farm table in the dining room. In the kitchen you’ll also find exposed wooden beams and rustic furniture. The home is a wonderful example of how to mix antique French pieces with a modern colour palette and furniture.

Hanging decorations:

Create a spectacular visual focal point in your hall or lounge room by making a bauble chandelier. For step-by-step instructions on how to create your own dazzling Christmas light display click here.

Cut out stars also look lovely hung from light fixtures so find some pretty silver or gold cardboard and get crafty. The trees in your garden are also the perfect place to string up assorted decorations such as dazzling crystals that reflect the sunlight.

Chrissy Lights:

Summer is the perfect time of year for outdoor entertaining – think BBQs and poolside parties with friends. Create a festive atmosphere by hanging fairy lights and lanterns in your trees. Bernie loves the idea of making your own lanterns by taking a glass jar, filling the bottom with sand and then sitting a candle in it. All you then need to do is wrap a piece of wire around the lip to make a handle and viola you have yourself a beautiful handmade lantern. Tiki torches are also a fantastic way to light up the garden, and you can inject colour by burning tea-light candles in colourful Moroccan glasses and setting them on your table. A great lighting solution for outdoor parties is electric candles which are operated by remote and don’t blowout no matter how windy it is.

Sweet treats:

The festive season is also the time of year when you can blissfully indulge in all your favourite treats. Here are a few ways you can incorporate yummy chocolates, lollies and cookies into your decorations.
A favour tree: Find three pretty bottles and place a branch in each, then wrap your favourite chocolates in muslin paper and tie them to the branches of the tree with pretty ribbon.

Yummy dinner plates:

Whip up cookies in the shape of Christmas trees, candy canes, bells, stars or snowflakes and place one on each guest’s dinner plate – this little gift is sure to make your friends feel special.

Choccie wreath:

You’ll have to use all your willpower not to devour this delicious wreath before Christmas. You can buy one or make your own with your favourite chocolates and lollies.

Festive colour schemes:

Your Christmas colour scheme doesn’t have to be traditional green and red. If you’ve got kids Bernie recommends incorporating lots of fun bright colours but if you want to achieve a more sophisticated look select two complementary colours such as silver and white, or red and gold.

Magical table settings:

To create a sense of occasion, bring out all your best china and glassware for your festive meal. Choose your colour scheme and have some fun with it. Bernie suggests placing baubles in wine glasses, a cone or cookie on each dinner plate, and tying a ribbon with a decoration on the back of each chair. Check-out these gorgeous festive table-setting images for more ideas.

Your Christmas tree:

If you’ve got kids then they’ll enjoy your Christmas tree being an explosion of colour.  But if you’re after a more stylish look Bernie suggests sticking to a couple of colours. Websites like Zazzle even allow you to customise your decorations!

How to get the French provincial look

1. Feature an elegantly carved armoire in your home (a tall cupboard with shelving). You’d always find an armoire in a French house during this period because they did not have closets. Why? Well closets were considered a room and people were taxed according to the number of rooms they had.
2. Mirrors are a wonderful French provincial accessory and a great way of reflecting light around the room. Bernie recommends choosing a carved wood mirror or something gold.
3. Shutters are a popular feature of French provincial homes and normally painted in cheery bright colours.
4. Opt for natural raw materials. Natural stone floors look stunning in a French provincial home, as do distressed ceiling beams, rough plastered walls and lots of wooden details.
5. The colour palette of a French provincial home is inspired by the landscape. Lean towards warm gold, earthly grass greens, brilliant cobalt blues, and russet reds.
6. Another common characteristic of a French rural home is a fireplace which the family can gather around during the chilly months.
7. Women in France in the 17th and 18th century spent much of their time embroidering so include some of this lovely needlework in your home, whether it be an embroidered pillow, drapery or bed linen.

8. When choosing textiles look out for traditional bold prints such as vines, sunflowers, olives and roosters arranged in geometric patterns. A particularly famed French fabric is Toile de Jouy, a cotton or linen material with a white and beige colour scheme.

9. A great deal of the charm of the French provincial style is how inviting and personal it looks.  Accessorise your home with rustic baskets, old copper pots, colourful ceramics, wrought iron and fresh flowers.

10. For a modern look Bernie recommends mixing French provincial pieces with modern furniture. You can always give antique furniture a contemporary twist by changing a knob or painting it a bold colour too.

If you’re feeling inspired and would like to learn more about the French provincial design style and how it would work in your home please call Bernadette on 0417 088 602 to book a consultation.

Dixie Chicks singer Emily Robison incorporates a large, colourful Middle Eastern rug into the lounge area of her contemporary San Antonio loft style apartment. The rug really spices up the room and gives it warmth says Bernie.

Grey’s Anatomy actress, Ellen Pompeo

Ellen’s home in the Hollywood Hills reflects her affection for Morocco, Spain, Tuscany, and the South of France. The actress loves the design traditions of these cultures as well as the lifestyle the people embrace – casual entertaining with good friends and simple hearty food.  Bernie particularly likes the Moroccan-style arches that frame Ellen’s staircase and the terracotta floor tiles in the kitchen that have been imported from France.

Artist, Liza Bruce

Okay, we know we said to steer away from bright jewel colours, but we had to show you artist Liza Bruce’s three-story house in Morocco. A celebration of colour and global treasures!

In Liza’s bathroom, the tub and fittings are in the shape of an eight-pointed star, and the mirrored wall treatment is based on a traditional Islamic design.

While in the lounge room an Afghan warlord’s bed serves as a sofa, pillows are covered in Kuba cloth from the Congo and a wool Berber cape hangs on the wall.

What a view! What a space! Liza’s rooftop terrace is the perfect place to enjoy a sunset cocktail. Bernie adores the floor cushions upholstered in Kuba cloth and antique silk saris. The leather nomad rug is from Mauritania, and the bench is made of wood salvaged from a riverbed.

Balenki Mask from Africa

Mount this incredible mask on your wall to create high drama.

Copper bowl and colourful Ikat cushions

We adore these bright Ikat cushions! The word “ikat” means “to bind.” It’s a very ancient way of creating designs in fabric by resist-dyeing the threads before the fabric is woven.

Brass fertility dolls from Africa

A wonderful piece to showcase on a sideboard or shelf.

Cambodian silk bedspread and cushions

Inject colour into your home with this stunning Cambodian silk bedspread and cushions.

Glass beads from Ghana

Exotic foreign jewellery is a wonderful accessory. Hang it on a stand, or frame it and mount it on a wall.

Bone inlaid wooden box

Dimensions: 420W x 270D x 300H

Made from mango wood and bone this box is ethnic chic.

Decorative wire pendant

Dimensions: 480dia x 760H

Made with black iron wire this pendant fits perfectly with the sophisticated global chic look.

Copper side table

Dimensions: 560 dia x 610H

Beaten copper over timber – a side table that will spice up any home.

Oriental-style urns and ornaments

Group together oriental-style urns to create an impressive display.

Framed shells and carved wooden figurine

These framed shells create an interesting feature wall, while the carved figurine is a striking visual focal point.

African beaded figurines

We also think these African beaded figurines are pretty special.

Oriental-style cabinet

Mix contemporary furniture with an oriental-style cabinet to create a cool global chic look.

Polished Kudu Inner Horns from Africa

A striking statement piece on a coffee table.

Collectable Japanese wooden dolls

How adorable are these collectable Japanese wooden dolls?

If you would like help sourcing worldly goods for your home or office, contact Bernadette Ferrari on 0417 088 602.

To get this style right the key is not to swamp your home with too many accessories. The global fusion trend is more restrained than the eclectic bohemian look. There is an art to mixing Moroccan lanterns with African bowls and pieces of traditional Asian-inspired furniture, and when it’s done correctly the results are spectacular.

Global Fusion Tips

1. For a fresh, contemporary twist, keep the colour palette quite neutral especially if your worldly goods are bright and colourful. Steer away from the jewel tones you find in bohemian rooms. After all you want your furnishings to take centre stage.
2. Ideally some of the pieces you incorporate should tell a story about your life, so keep an eye out for special artefacts on your travels and the work of local artisans. Don’t worry you can always fake this look too!
3. When it comes to flooring Bernie recommends using natural materials such as wood, brick, tile or even renewable bamboo. If you happen to have carpet, throw down a hand woven rug. There are many striking Middle Eastern and Afghani designs to choose from, as well as plush Chinese, Indian and Pakistani rugs. To keep the look contemporary opt for a rug made from natural materials like sea grass or bamboo.
4. Have some fun with your textiles – you’ve got a vast array to choose from, such as Geometric African mud cloth to divine Chinese silks in a rainbow of colours. You can incorporate a variety of textiles in every room of your house. For instance in a dining room place a table-runner made from bright Japanese kimono fabric.
5. The global fusion look also gives you the freedom to get creative with your accessories. Japanese fans look wonderful on walls, as do Tibetan tapestries and framed ethnic jewellery. When placing your ornaments on sideboards or coffee tables group them together by colour, shape or material for high drama.
6. Also add pizzazz to your next dinner party by serving your dishes on a mix of exotic ethnic crockery. Woven African baskets also make great storage units – throw in the kids’ toys or a stack of magazines to keep your lounge room clutter-free.
7. Finally when you’re selecting furniture Bernie recommends mixing contemporary furniture that has clean lines with a few special accent pieces such as a traditional ornate Chinese cabinet.

Bernie believes that her clients’ homes should express their soul. The space should be infused with tales of their travels and reflect a life well-lived. The key is to make a home truly biographical by pulling from the homeowner’s rich life experience.

Ferrari Interiors are experts at designing spaces that incorporate their clients’ prize possessions regardless of stylistic considerations. It is the love for a favourite piece that lends a touch of personality. Taking existing possessions collected on travels and using them in exciting ways gives them a new lease on life.

For advice on how to create a contemporary global chic look in your home, contact Bernadette Ferrari on 0417 088 602 to arrange a consultation.

Chinese Colour Palettes

In Chinese culture red is thought to ward off evil, so you will find red throughout most homes in China including the exterior. Apply red to create a striking feature wall or hunt down a traditional Chinese cabinet painted in this bold hue. You’ll also find that Chinese include soft greens and deep shades of blue in their homes to calm the palette down.

Japanese Colour Palettes

Japanese style embraces minimalism and naturalism so incorporate neutral earthy tones. Add dramatic splashes of glossy black that emulate Japan’s rich black lacquered furnishings – it’s also a great way to help ground the décor. Red is also common in Japanese colour palettes and it works very well with the calming neutral colours.

Moroccan Colour Palettes

Moroccan décor is hugely popular at the moment and has had a significant influence on global interior design. The colour palette is bright and exuberant. It helps to create an inviting living space that makes you feel happy. Think hot fuchsia pinks, vivid blues, rustic oranges and tropical greens as well as metallic finishes.

Spanish Colour Palettes

Warm golds, deep blues and hot spicy reds can be found in a typical Spanish colour palette. This cultural style remains extremely popular and to complete the look Bernie recommends adding a touch of wrought-iron, whether it is a dramatic candelabra in the dining room or a magnificent bed frame.

To book a colour consultation with Ferrari Interiors ring Bernadette Ferrari on 0417 088 602.

A number of financial experts say it’s a good time to invest in rental properties. This is because the demand for rental properties has grown due to the increase in interest rates coupled with the current market’s volatility.

Now let’s take a specific look at Melbourne’s property market. Strong population growth and increased demand for apartment living has resulted in low vacancy rates and higher gross rental yields which is great news for investors.

It is projected Melbourne’s population will grow to 5 million with over 284,000 new dwellings to be built by 2030 to accommodate the demand.

Here are the important factors to consider when buying a new apartment for investment purposes.

Location – is your property close to Melbourne’s CBD, schools, public transport etc?

Average rent – what is the average rent and yield of similar apartments in the area?

Capital growth – what is the capital growth of the region you want to buy your apartment in?

Infrastructure – are there any changes to infrastructure or new developments that may affect the apartment you wish to purchase?

Population – check out the estimated population growth and demographics of the area.

Well furnished rental properties also generally attract higher rents which is why Ferrari Interiors’ customised apartment packages are in strong demand. Designed, delivered and installed down to the last cushion. Bernie and her team can come onboard to assist with a single room or provide a complete turn-key fit out.

For assistance with revamping your investment property please contact Bernadette Ferrari on 0417 088 602.