DIY Design & Decoration – Tips, Musts & Choices, Make a Plan
Making a plan and choosing a a room layout offering space and flexibility are imperative for successful DIY design and decoration renovations – here’s our tips
Restoration
Luca and Andrea Della Robbia – Fashioning the Family Fortune
Andrea della Robbia came from an influential Florentine family studio whose works were fashioned in enamelled terracotta invented by his Uncle Luca della Robbia
Labassa – Melbourne Gold Boom Mansion, Rescue & Restoration
The National Trust of Victoria is painstakingly restoring Labassa at Caulfield to the format established when it became one of Melbourne’s most stylish houses
The Prodigal Son – A Parable about Love that Packs a Punch
The parable of the ‘waiting father’ or ‘prodigal son’ is a metaphor about what love is, meant to remind us when love is freely given it should be unconditional
Creating Love Jewellery – Cupid to Cartier
From Cupid to Cartier; Rome to Renaissance, Restoration to Revolution, Regency to Revival, or the Romantics to Retro, for centuries we have created love jewelry
Love Jewellery – Restoration to Revolution Pt 2
Charles II on his Restoration to the English throne gave himself up completely to luxury adorning himself with sumptuous textiles and jewels
Glass a Magic Material – Pt 3 Restoration & Ravenscroft
George Ravenscroft made the first English ‘glass of lead’ now known as crystal and from then on it would never lose its appeal especially as a chandelier.
Art of Portraiture – Restoration to Revolution and Romance
Portraiture, established as a genre in England during the sixteenth century, became part of a national ‘persona’ style during the eighteenth century
Henry Purcell, Chaconne: Dance for the Chinese Man and Woman
Composed just three years before his death aged 35 the delicate dance of the Chinese Man and Chinese Woman reveals the lilting grace of Henry Purcell’s music
King Charles II – Restored to Rule Britannia Gloriously
King Charles II (1630 – 1685) successfully revived local tradesmen’s skills and together he and his noble peers became arbiters and rulers of taste and style
Recycling Grandly – Pre-Loved, Vintage and Antique Pieces
Holiday periods and long weekends give everyone opportunities to catch up on jobs left undone, or pleasures denied. A favourite pastime in our family is hunting for that special piece of furniture waiting to be recycled grandly
What is an Antique – Watch our FREE Video
Collecting antiques is a social phenomenon, often misrepresented as being the hobby of only a select few. From my experience working in the trade, perusing galleries, working at and attending fairs and auctions over a long period of time (some 30 years) collecting antiques is a pleasure indulged in by a vast number of people from very different backgrounds and all walks of life.
Architectural Heritage – Integral to Cultural Development
The intellectual ideas of every period in world history have always been reflected in its architecture. It is important we consider well the consequences of the decisions we make in tearing down our living heritage, even in regard to modern buildings of great merit.
The Block, a Renovating Nightmare or, a Restoration Delight
Do the protagonists on television’s real estate renovating reality show, The Block at Melbourne in 2011 face a renovating nightmare, or a restoration delight?