Martine Cooper Interior Design in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Interior design studio

Martine Cooper Interior Design

Locality: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 412 018 778

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25.01.2022 We're super excited to launch the new website tonight. It's been a while in the making however I hope you get sense of what it's like to work with Martine Cooper Interiors. While we are an interior design studio who offers the concept, design, build and decoration full service you will expect - our point of difference lies in the experience we want our clients to have. For us it's about stepping into our clients shoes, their stage of life, understanding how they live and de...signing a space that feels good, looks good and operates effortlessly. We are about creating real homes for real people. Our services apply to you whether you are updating your current home, renovating, building or looking to make your rental feel more like a permanent home. We work side by side with our clients throughout the whole project keeping them fully updated and in control. We are transparent in our communication, treat the clients budget like they are our own and strive to meet deadlines - understanding you just want to get on with enjoying your space. A huge thanks to Sommer_Studio, Kate Addamo andSister Scout Studio for getting us to the finish line. We would love you to jump onto our site http://www.martinecooper.com and let us know what you think! See more

25.01.2022 With Stage 4 restrictions kicking in from today for Metro Melbourne, we want to let our clients and followers know what’s happening here at MCID. The good news is we will be continuing to run our business and operations with heightened care and support whilst we navigate through the next 6 weeks. We will be open as usual and are on hand to answer any queries. The key changes will be that onsite visits will be put on hold over this period. All consultations, design meetings... and updates will be done via email, zoom, facetime and phone. We are also excited to announce that we are using this opportunity to launch some new online offers which allow you to start redesigning your space from the comfort of your own home or business. So, if you have been thinking about transforming a room, your whole home or work space, stay tuned for our online packages coming soon. Stay safe everyone, take care and look after yourselves and your loved ones. Together we can get through anything! Photography:Sister Scout Studio

24.01.2022 E N T R Y DECLUTTER 1. Starting outside the door, remove everything from the area. Wash down and include your doormat 2. Wipe down your door, making sure to consider the doors finish ... 3. Inside, remove all items from the area, clean floors, wipe down skirtings, walls and any surfaces. Steam clean any rugs or carpet runners 5. Sorting time, consider all items inside and out, Categorise, considering what you really need here. Some categories I use include keys, shoes, mail, receipts loose items, sporting equipment 6. Review storage items, do have the right items to get started? A storage unit, or console type table, baskets, pretty bowls or decorative boxes. DECORATE First impressions count, this area gives a sense of the households personality, style and how you want people to feel in your home 1. If you have people leave shoes outside, add an interesting basket or timber box. Check your doormat is in good condition 2. Create a focal point in your entrance area, a beautiful light fitting, an artwork, bold paint colour, wallpaper or a unique piece of functional furniture 3. If it is a darker area, use a mirror to bounce natural light, they are also great for last minute checks as you run out the door. Add a table lamp for night lighting 4. A rug helps zone the area. If square, opt for a round rug. If narrow, go for a rectangle or runner. 5. If you a have a storage closet, set it up properly with hooks, shelves and hanging space 6. With smaller spaces, use a floating shelf, some wall hooks, a coat rack, all of these make use of your vertical space and keep the area feeling open. 7. Strategically placed baskets provide a catch all. Keep a throw close by to cover up any clutter 8. In a larger space, use a console table or sideboard with storage, set up with containers inside to make putting things away easy 9. Adding items like a bowl for keys, a pretty box to capture things that dont have a home, a drawer for incoming mail, a shoe basket etc ensures everyone putting things away properly 10. With styling, keep it simple rotate through items like photos, sentimental items, decor, art, prints and greenery Image: @onekingslane

22.01.2022 The overwhelm is real when you are building a new home or renovating ....Reviewing plans, selecting colours and materials, deciding of fittings and fixtures like taps, light fittings, sinks and even grout colour Sometime it can feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. This is where working with an interior designer can really help. I can help you make decisions early on...educating you on the pros and cons of picking different items , working in with budgets and timelines and helping you find just the right product. In the end, my aim is to help you create a beautiful cohesive home, a home that tells your story and supports how you live.

22.01.2022 Welcome to Friday Faves! Time to share some of my favourite ever products with you and if you have been following us for a while, you'll know I am a big sucker for practical beauty! I like things that look good but I love it more when they are useful so today's fave is the String Pocket Shelf System, part of the the String Shelf family first designed in 1949 by Nisse Strinning in Sweden. Functional, timeless, affordable and super effective, I love that it will fit al...most anywhere and you can easily add modules to it. Available in many colours and combinations, you can use it just about anywhere in your home and its super sturdy too! Love this combo shown by @Greatdanefurniture Image: @greatdanefurniture See more

21.01.2022 Thanks so much @Australian Interiors for featuring MCID on your blog today. So great to be able to share my thoughts on how good interior design can transform the way you live. Make sure to give @australian.interiors a follow if you want more insight into working with a design professional https://australianinteriors.com.au/designer-qa-with-martin/... Brand Photography: https://www.sisterscout.studio/ Interior Photography: www.honeyatkinson.com.au

21.01.2022 B A T H R O O M Starting with a room that you can see the quickest difference is often the most satisfying and they are definitely bathrooms. I know you have that secret collection of hotel minis thats been accumulating over the years and then there is the samples that you couldnt possibly part with. How about the rusty razor blades.I promise you if you take the time to do this properly, you will be able to keep things in check with a tidy up every few months. What you w...ill need to declutter and makeover your bathroom: Small clear containers reuseable or even the takeaway variety, garbage bags, a wet and dry cloth, 10 steps to Bathroom Love 1. Everything and I mean everything out of the bathroom onto a clear bench or floor space so you can group together like items 2. Check expiry dates and condition to see if they survive the throw out 3. Group together like items thinking about what you would use regularly versus things you would use rarely 4. Thinking about your daily routine, create containers which are kept at hands reach eg/ I have a skincare container, make up container and hair care container which are part my daily morning routine plus a toothbrush and toothpaste. 5. Rarer items may also be put into a container and if you havent used them by the next clean up, consider whether you throw them out. Use up your hotel minis - its the perfect time to spoil yourself with these little luxuries! 6. Now setting up your space, if you have drawers, use containers or dividers to keep the groups separate. If you have cupboards, use clear containers so you can see what is in them. 7. Shower Niches should be uncluttered and use aesthetically looking bottles if on display. If you do not have a niche, a shower caddy can be used which is relatively inexpensive. 8. Keep your counter clear except for handwash, soapdish and/or candle/ diffuser 9. Put out your nicest matching towels and handtowel out, after all you deserve it 10. Consider an indoor plant if you have the room as they always gives life to a bathroom You spend a large amount of time in your bathroom so if you arent feeling the love after doing all of this, it may be time to consider upgrading your space when time and money allows. Good luck everybody! Photography: Honey Atkinson

19.01.2022 K I D S R O O M DECLUTTER 1. Review bedding with your childs input, choose summer and winter sheets - one set in use and 1 clean set, 1 blanket, 1 doona and 1-2 covers per room. Store items in the bedroom for easy access. 2. Wipe down surfaces and vacuum mattress and upholstered items. ... 3. Pull everything out, toys, books, games and stuff. Review with your child, categorising as you go and encourage them to donate some things. Categories I use are hard toys, stuffed toys, blocks, games, art and craft, books they love and books to put away, art and decor 4. Clothes should be stored away in robes. For younger kids I use hooks for the set of clothes they will need next eg/ school uniform out before you go to bed 5. Use a combination of drawers, wardrobes, shelves and cabinets for large storage and for smaller sorting try Ikea dividers (Skubb and Stuk) which come in different colours and sizes. DECORATE 1. Start with a bed, bedside and night lamp. Ensure things are quiet in the sleep zone, no loud toys or art. A bed cover, a textured throw to cuddle with, 2-3 cushions and a soft toy. 2. Working with vertical space, think about what kids will see in different parts of the room Find the right position for art ensuring pieces are complimentary remember you can rotate through them. Wallpapers also add interest to the room. If you cant commit, check out removable wall stickers like https://www.thewallstickercompany.com.au/ .Hooks in fun shapes encourage kids to hang things up, I cant recommend these enough - check out these https://www.lillyandlolly.com.au/shop-c281.htm 3. Use decor items, toys and books picked out by the kids to decorate open storage and the book case. Its all about rotation here, you dont need it all out at once. Use hidden storage for items like Lego, plastic toys, and dolls making sure kids can access the boxes easily. Games, arts and craft items can be stored away and putting out a few at a time to keep kids interested. 4. Study areas should be for essentials. Add a pin board and a tray for the kids to decorate. 5. Rugs, Beanbags, Baskets and items like boxes, vases, fairy lights can help to finish the room off. Design: Martine Cooper Photography: Honey Atkinson

19.01.2022 Laundries, the unsung hero of our homes. Designed and organised well, they hum along in the background with no big accolades. The flip side however is you dont hear the end of it... Friends, family and clients often share their frustrations with how their laundry is set up and find its a constant source of disorganisation and clutter. Todays story is for those of you who are wanting to update or build a new laundry, I hope you consider these practical ideas to make the sp...ace an efficient and attractive hub in your home. Start with the size of your laundry space, you want is enough room for your washer, dryer, sink, about 1.5m of bench space, some storage and room to move around and do sorting and folding. Whether you are opting for a European style (contained within a cupboard) or standalone laundry, if you have these minimums, your laundry will be super functional. Some extras which I also include for those who have the space are 2 full length cupboards, one for linen and the other for broom, mop, vacuum, a storage spot for the ironing table and iron is also great however these days there are many options for ironing. In fact, my last home, we had a fold out ironing board which came out of a drawer so clever! The other thing about designing a laundry is to work on accessing as much natural light as possible and if you add a door to an outside area where there is good light and airflow, you are totally winning. The look of your laundry should be cohesive with the rest of your home but consider being a little adventurous with one component in the space. As its generally not a big area, you might splurge on a favourite tile, add a fun wallpaper or colour to the walls. You can go for a simple tap and sink, decide on a washer and dryer combo and whether they will be side by side or stacked. Finally, I am not usually a gadget girl however the laundry is one of those places where I defer to companys like @Hafelehome for their selection of smart inclusions, they improve efficiency and help with space limitations. My favourites are the ironing boards, clothes hamper and hanging racks. Images: 1. @Emilyhenderson 2. Etsy 3. @casahaus 4. Pinterest

19.01.2022 WHAT'S NEXT... I've had a little hiatus from socials while we got back to client meetings and site visits but we are back. Thanks to everyone who gave me feedback on Project Homelife, we have grouped it all together and come up with the 4 themes below: * you said you liked the tips and information and found them practical and easy to follow so we will be turning the tips into ebooks for you to easily download and keep handy... * you said you wanted some quicker tips in a short post format too - something you could implement with minimal effort so we will incorporate this into our normal posts and stories * our renters said they wanted more information on how to make home feel more permanent so we will be doing a weekly post just for them * you wanted more design stories where we talked through the considerations when designing a space, what happened during the process and the end result - this is something we will continue to share as we work through projects with our clients I just wanted to say that we really value your feedback and love to put out information and stories that are useful so please let me know if there is anything else you would like to see us share.

18.01.2022 L I V I N G R O O M Living Rooms and family rooms are a central part of the home, a connector to the surrounding spaces and often multifunctional eg/ used for hanging out, netflixing, entertaining, relaxing. Think back to the words you used to describe how you wanted your home to feel and function - this is a key room so you want it to have the right feeling . My words were relaxed, fun, playful, feel like home, natural light and I wanted the space to be ready for visitors...Continue reading

17.01.2022 Have you ever worked with an Interior Designer? I promise we are not that scary and Its a well known fact that we tend to be people pleasers forever trying to get things just right to ensure our clients are happy with the end result. There is a also a perception that we are super expensive but the truth is hiring us at the onset of a project can save you lots of hard earned dollars because we have a huge library of knowledge and education which can prevent you from mak...ing costly mistakes. I know this because I have been called upon many times to rectify problems like getting a new bench top because of a miscalculation in how much stone was needed, painting a whole house in a taupe colour that ended up being salmon pink in the daylight or selecting finishes and furniture that make your new house feel like youve just visited 6 seperate homes. Having a interior designer on board from the start means these mistakes are avoided and so is the cost and time involved in fixing them. The other great thing about hiring an interior designer is the access to suppliers is so much wider. We have many wholesale relationships which often means better pricing than retail and we also work with local makers and artists to ensure you can create a home that is authentic to you So next time you are thinking about building, renovating or making updates to your home, give me a call early on in your project and let me help you get it right the first time. Image: Dining Room Mood Board Designer :Martine Cooper See more

16.01.2022 H O M E O F F I C E ( c o n t ) DECORATE The key to decorating your home office is to find the right balance between function and beauty though the beauty starts for me when there is order. You dont need to much in this space but I do recommend reviewing this regularly to keep things fresh and keep you focused and energised.... 1. Styling your desk should start with the essentials as mentioned in Step 3 of the declutter tips. You can play around with mousepads and pencil tins to add some personality. If you have the space, you could also add a small tray with a few little things a succulent, a scented candle and a cute little trinket dish for the collection of pins, hair elastics that accumulate over time. 2. Use open shelves and tops of cabinets or drawers for your decor items, favourite books, a diffuser for essential oils and speaker. Play around with creating stacks of books keeping like colours together 3. Natural lighting is always the best option for a home office so maximise wherever possible and supplement with downlights and a table or wall lamp in the desk area 4. Vertical spaces like your pinboard or picture ledges are a great place to pop up some images , quotes , photos that keep you motivated. If you do also hang up notices, set aside 10 minutes a week to review and keep it updated. Home offices are often a great place for a favourite art as you as you can sit and enjoy them. 5. Consider adding a little softness and texture to your space a rug underfoot in an office, an arm chair and cushion, a throw these offer some comfort in a room where many of the surfaces can be hard and cold 6. Bring life to space with plants and greenery, with so much electromagnetic radiation in the air, its the perfect place to add some hearty plants especially succulents.

16.01.2022 H O M E O F F I C E ( P A R T 1 ) More than ever I think the home office has become a multifunctional room so its important that the space is flexible. While I always start this process with how you want to feel in a space, Its hard to be definitive in a home office because the feeling may vary depending on task and user. What is a constant is the need for organisation, order and items that make you feel focused and energised. DECLUTTER ... (warning this room may take a few days) 1. Choose a section to tackle and give yourself the headspace to do it properly, the sections I work in are desk area, storage, technology and filing. 2. Remove all items from desk, wipe down with diluted eucalyptus oil mixture. If you have a pin board or shelving above your desk clear this area too. 3. Reset the desk using essential items you need to do your work eg/ Laptop, monitor, mouse, mousepad, pencil cup and notebook. Keep anything else that came from your desk aside. 4. Clear all storage units (except filing cabinets) wipe down and review contents, books, magazines, decor items, stationary, do you need it for work or life admin? Does it make you feel good or focused? Sort into 4 categories - keep, donate, recycle and bin. 5. Items in the keep section can then be further categorised a. what you need close by when working? b. what you need regularly but not everyday? c. spare and rare Items 6. Ensure you have the right amount of large storage. Drawers, some open shelving, a filing cabinet if you arent paperless, a pin board or picture ledge above the desk area 7. Use containers to keep everything sorted in bigger storage units. I source these items from Ikea but you can recycle boxes or use takeaway containers. 8. Put away all items in the not used regularly or spares category keeping out only things you would like close to you while working. 9. Review all cables, chargers, power boards etc, Make these accessible first and then make them discreet using a cable tidy tray or clips. 10. With Filing, I suggest committing to a mode of filing, digital or paper. Deal with one item at a time, action and file in or scan and shred. See more

15.01.2022 D I N I N G The great thing about your dining room/space is that it can be versatile and still be beautiful, calm, fun and all of those things you want it to be. DECLUTTER... 1. Give your table a spruce up Clean and polish your table but remember to get the right information from your manufacturer to ensure you keep it looking good. 2. Show your chairs some love Make sure chairs are sturdy and clean. Vacuum Upholstered chairs steam clean any stains. Leather and Timber chairs only need a wipe down with a warm wet cloth. 3. Review your storage it could be custom joinery , a sideboard or buffet, a console or shelves. Ideally you want a mixture of open and closed storage so you can display your favourite items and hide away anything bulky. The idea is to keep thinks neat and functional. 4. Take everything out of the storage areas and go Marie Kondo on it. You dont need 3 round tablecloths hogging space if you have a rectangular table. 5. In terms of what to keep in the dining area. I store serving platters, tablecloths, placemats and napkins in the hidden storage and then a few dcor items out in the open. DECORATE 1. Try a rug under your dining set helps zone the area and is a good way to protect floors 2. Create a small bar area which can be as simple as adding a tray to the top of your sideboard. 3. Keep decor items to a minimum as you are unlikely to use your table if it is cluttered foliage, vases, bowls, sculptures in interesting shapes, textures and colours are the way to go. 4. Lighting the space to reflect the mood you want to create is always a winner. Adding a pendant fitting can really define your dining space so if you have one, ensure you use it when eating for softer light. 5. I know its not really decorating but how long has it been since you turned off the TV and put on your favourite tunes. Playing music in the space will set the mood no matter what., Now more than ever its important to use our dining spaces as a place to unwind and enjoy the ritual of cooking, setting the table and sharing a meal together. Its a great way to create a clear delineation between your work and home time too so give it a go!

14.01.2022 So yesterday we talked about using the downtime we are experiencing due isolation, quarantine and social distancing to get our home life sorted. I challenged you to think about how you wanted to feel at home and how you wanted spaces to function but before we do that I think its a good idea to get clear on our goals. Today, I am asking you to start by thinking about your overall home. There are 5 questions to consider...Talk to whoever you share your home with - family, hous...emates, furry friends and get some clarity on these questions so you can make sure that any changes you make are the right ones! As for my home, We only recently moved in ( 4 weeks ago) so it was timely for me too. Ive included my answers on my story too so you can see what I want to achieve. I would love to see some of your answers, comments - if you are happy to share here or on facebook. Tomorrow well start to getting into a room by room list! Photography: Honey Atkinson

13.01.2022 Its been a pretty surreal 24 hours and it is really really time to bunker down. Im going to continue #projecthomelife this week and well be working through the dining room and living room. Please let me know if you have any burning questions about your homes to help you survive the next few months. Keeping it simple today with this quote Stay safe everybody xx

13.01.2022 Whos got your back? @Sommer_studio absolutely has your back. I have worked with the amazing Kate for over 3 years now and not only is she a great graphic designer, Kate has worked with me on developing my brand, creating my website and helped direct my enthusiasm for the next shiny object. She cant help but openly share her knowledge and I love that she comes on the journey allowing me to discover my voice along the way. So open, warm and responsive, I feel so lucky to h...ave her on my team! Photography: @sisterscoutstudio Image: @sommer_studio See more

11.01.2022 Check out the Manly project before the transformation... Working on this kitchen required us to think outside the box -we had space limitations, council restrictions and a very conservative body corporate. Working with a great trades team and coming up with a design that used every bit of the space was key. Early on in the project we also decided to keep the existing honed marble flooring - the decision was made because it was a beautiful feature of the existing building... but also because achieving level floors would be difficult. We had the marble polished and sealed and picked a slightly warmer stone bench top to tie it all in. Joinery: @sr_cabinetmaking Photography : @honeyatkinson See more

10.01.2022 Today we are taking a look at 2 projects that illustrate how you can make a good first impression even with the smallest of entry spaces. Project 1 was more of a hallway situation, a cute semi with with a long narrow hall just over a metre wide. The Victorian style semi had some beautiful architectural features but was just being used as a walkthrough area. Ideally, my client would have liked a small console table but I was hesitant to squash something in for the sake of ...it. Instead we honed in on the vertical space, her art collection and love of mid century - our aim was to create a gallery space. We managed to incorporate some storage with a midcentury sideboard at the end of the hall, a pretty ceramic bowl for keys and a brass coat rack near the front door for handbags and coats. We worked with an art hanging company grouping together art and choosing best heights so the art could be enjoyed and then my favourite and final addition was the George Nelson Apple pendant we added, a focal point and beautiful marriage between the architecture of the home and style my client loved! The second space was less than 1.5m deep and approximately 2m long. Dark and small (as seen in my before photo), this entry was definitely not a reflection of my clients or how they wanted their home to feel. We were doing a full house renovation for this client so we had the opportunity to add a larger window and timber flooring to the area. We added a tall vertical window with opaque glass louvres to improve light and airflow, this change alone bought the space to life. We added a new front door in a teal blue to suit the Hamptons style inside. Repainting the walls in @Dulux Haast with contrasting white trims made the space feel fresh. I knew my client wanted somewhere to kick off shoes and pop keys away while not taking up too much of the space. After evaluating many options, we decided on a floating drawer from Ikea. Adding some baskets for shoes below and a large round mirror above helped anchor the space and the mirror also bounced around the light. We finished off with fresh flowers, a scented candle and a couple of lanterns , such a transformation.

09.01.2022 What a ride Melbourne! I've been up, I've been down. I have questioned my purpose at least 50 times a day during lockdown wondering what my business would look like at the end of all of this.....but even at the lowest points , I have to say I could not imagine doing any other job. There is nothing more satisfying to me than understanding how people want to feel and live in a space and then I love the journey of discovering their story and translating that into a home that... is beautiful liveable and unique. Feeling so grateful today as I did get a mani and pedi on my first day of freedom but even more grateful that I was able to head home to work on creating some beautiful homes and spaces for our amazing clients.

09.01.2022 Who's got your back? @Sommer_studio absolutely has your back. I have worked with the amazing Kate for over 3 years now and not only is she a great graphic designer, Kate has worked with me on developing my brand, creating my website and helped direct my enthusiasm for the next shiny object. She can’t help but openly share her knowledge and I love that she comes on the journey allowing me to discover my voice along the way. So open, warm and responsive, I feel so lucky to h...ave her on my team! Photography: @sisterscoutstudio Image: @sommer_studio See more

09.01.2022 I guess after almost 2 months away from social media, its time to start getting back into it again. We came back to work late January and have been concentrating on client work and getting the new website up for the business. We had 6 weeks in the states travelling from the west side to the east side and had an amazing time. While I was away I had intended to post some travel pics and share our adventures but watching the devastating fires back home made it feel a little w...rong. I kept thinking about all the people who had lost their homes, the animals who had been injured or died and the firefighters who risked their lives each day. I was also feeling quite helpless at the time being so far away. And then #designdonated came along - an initiative started by a fellow designer Nickolas Gurtler Interior Design which will allow us to donate our time and expertise to help people rebuild their homes when they are ready. Lets face it a build or a renovation is already overwhelming let alone doing it after surviving the bushfires....through this initiative we will be offering Initial advice on building homes, Floor plan analysis and development and are available to guide clients to select colours, materials and fixtures etc. So, If you or someone you know has been affected by the fires and needs help rebuilding their home, please register for help at the following link https://www.designdonated.com/

08.01.2022 Todays project is a throwback to a kitchen we designed in 2017 in an art deco apartment in Manly a project I like to call James Bond meets surfer dude. After decorating the living, dining, bedroom and outdoor space, it was time to design the kitchen. The brief was to create a sleek, sexy, contemporary, and inviting kitchen with updated appliances and clever wine storage. Working on this kitchen required us to think outside the box as space was limited, we had some herit...age parameters and needed to ensure minimal impact to the neighbouring apartments. What stayed was the glass brick window and the marble floors which we re- honed to bring them back to life. We also decided to keep the footprint of the existing kitchen to minimise plumbing and electrical disturbance and cost. We designed cabinetry to go floor to ceiling, added below bench drawers, a corner pantry and even added a dishwasher drawer to save on space. A beautiful deep palette of dark oak, warm stone, smoked mirror and stainless steel was how we delivered on the sexy and sleek and we added lighting to the splashback area, under the breakfast bar and wine cabinetry so that at night, this it could be used for ambient light in the open plan living and dining. The wine storage was added above the overhead cabinets including an open shelf for glassware and finally a couple of stools at the breakfast bar made the space feel very inviting. If you look at the before and the after for this kitchen you will see a big transformation in the way it looks but whats even more important is how it functions so if I can leave you with one piece of advice Do get a professional in when designing a kitchen, kitchens are a big investment and not easy to change so you want them to work for you and stand the test of time. Joinery: @sr_cabinetmaking Photography : @honeyatkinson

06.01.2022 Can you believe its been 4 weeks already? This week we are going to have a bit of a review week, time to consolidate the rooms we have covered - Bathroom, Dining, Living, Master Bedroom and Kitchen. Have you got all of them in check? Whats coming up from next week is the Home Office, Kids Bedrooms, Guest Bedroom, and Laundry. Project Homelife started for me because I wanted to help you create a home that supported you to live your best life. You may be thinking its just abou...t decluttering and tidying but I promise you if you are doing this properly, you will be feeling differently towards your home and maybe you are even kicking off some new habits. The other thing it should be doing is really opening your eyes to the space you live in and helping you to identify what works and what doesnt. This information is important too - this informs how you can improve your home, maybe you need cabinetry in the living area or maybe its time for a bathroom upgrade - whatever it is, at least you have been able to assess it properly so when the time comes - you are ready. My personal experience has seen me turn my rental which I had no attachment to into a home and it is slowly coming together. While I have mostly re-shopped my own homewares, furniture and storage items, I have become clear on what I need to add to achieve the feeling of home. Things like getting some sheer curtains to soften the space and investing in a beautiful sideboard to our dining space have been a priority. Next on my list is some art on the walls so instead of the usual mothers day spa voucher and pjs - I have asked my family to help me choose a piece of art which we can all enjoy. So if you havent gotten started yet - check out our highlight buttons on Insta or our Fb page to get all the info - its never too late to make your home work for you!

06.01.2022 The biggest, hardest but best design job I have ever worked on - motherhood...Cos theres no bigger love @ Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

05.01.2022 Functionally, most laundries wear a few hats. Providing storage for linen, cleaning products, spares (lightbulbs, paper towel etc). A place to sort, wash, soak, fold and iron if you have the space. In my home, it also about anything pet related. Now, thinking about how you want to feel in the space, its pretty simple here, Most people say they want to feel organised and good. DECLUTTER 1. Get it all out, Yep, everything onto a clear bench or floor space so you can group... together like items 2. Starting with cleaning and washing products, Check condition and age of products to see if they survive the throw out. Use containers to keep like items grouped 3. Give your broom, mop, dusters and cleaning cloths a wash in a diluted citrus or eucalyptus oil and dry well 4. Review baskets and storage, I use 4 flexible tubs for big sorting categorised for normal washing, delicate washing, hanging out and clean clothes. Once back in the laundry, I have a smaller basket for each person in the household for collecting clean clothes 5. Wipe down all surfaces and inside of cupboards and also give your washing machine and dryer filters a clean 6. Pull out the bathroom linen reviewing the condition of towels, you need about 2 sets of towels per person (bath towel, hand towel, face towel plus 2 beach towels per person), one in use and one clean set. If you have excess consider donating or recycling older towels. (Also use your nice towels rather than saving them) 7. Roll towels or fold in thirds and keep sets together in cupboard 8. Place all cleaning products, brooms, mop etc back into cupboards. Try to allow a little space between items so you can easily see and access items DECORATE 1. Start with your benchtop I like to keep my washing pods, powders in easy reach, so I use pretty clear jars to keep them on the benchtop 2. Add a small tray to a corner for a few decorative items, a candle, diffuser, small plant, 3. Put out a nice hand towel 4. Add some wall hooks and hang a pretty basket 5. If you have wall space, add some art, removable wallpaper, a print or photos - something to makes you feel good! Image: Pinterest See more

05.01.2022 This weeks design story is about Australian Brand Lilly and Lolly. I did some work with Megan Butler, Creative Director and Owner just over a year ago and was super impressed with their ethos around kids interiors. I should say upfront that I am not sponsored or compensated to promote this brand, instead I want to use them as an example of how to put together a great kids room. Designing kids rooms is about finding balance between what mum and dad want and what the kids ...want so the goal is to find a happy medium. A good starting point is to get the kids involved, get them to select a few of their favourite items/ colours and then use this as the inspiration for the room trying not to be too literal. When they say they love unicorns, honour it with an artwork, bedding, accessories but dont do it all. Colour wise, have some fun but try and stick to 2 or 3 main colours. Megan suggests taking inspiration from your artwork. When its time for the big pieces, try and select versatile timeless pieces for the bed and storage. Lilly and Lolly have a great selection in American and Tassie oak and If you are going for an upholstered bed, pick a hearty fabric. A mixture of open and closed storage is a must so kids can see their favourite things but you can hide away messier bits. Once you have these pieces, think zoning. The sleeping zone is about bedding, cushions, a night lamp and something quiet to look at. I use different textures in this area as kids love to snuggle in with furry, soft blankets, throws and cushions. A rug next to the toy storage can help to create a play zone and a beanbag is a good addition for a reading zone. For older kids, you may also like to create a study zone, I recommend a desk, comfy chair and pin board. Working with vertical space in the room also gives you many options. Wallpaper adds something special but there are also many removable options if you are renting. Fun hooks encourage clothes being hung up, inspiring art, book racks and even a gallery wall for your childs art all add interest without cluttering floorspace. Kids Rooms can be beautiful and fun just like these by Lilly & Lolly See more

05.01.2022 H O M E L I F E If there is anything I have learnt since being in this industry is that having a good home life is the one thing everyone is striving for. I myself have been in a home office for 6 years so home has been the centre of my universe. Whether it be work, relaxation, family time or entertaining- it all happens here. We are a family of 4 Me, my husband and two teen girls plus Ms Lola the english staffy. Home has to be lots of things for us but I like to sum i...t up as being the place that supports us to live our best lives, its our place of calm, comfort and rejuvenation and the place where we share time with loved ones It always surprises me when clients and friends say that they actually dont like being at home , they feel like their home is in a state of overwhelm and instead of looking forward to spending time there , they tell me its another place that demands things of them and a reminder of the shit they didnt get done. Its inevitable that with the current with the CoVID19 pandemic, many of us will end up being homebound for days, weeks or who knowsI know I am going to make the best of this time. Ive seen the posts about cooking , gardening and watching movies but its also the perfect time to put on your favourite playlist and go through the piles of paper, that collection of things that have accumulated on a shelf or in a drawer its time to take stock and make your home a place that supports you too. Im challenging you to think about your homelife and make some changes Ask yourself these 3 questions. How do you want to feel in the space/room? How do you want the space/room to function? What changes can you make to achieve that feeling? Now let me be clear, this challenge isnt about spending loads of money, in fact its more satisfying when you dont. Sometimes it can be as simple as moving a few things around, a little decluttering or adding a couple of dcor items which may have been in the junk cupboard under the stairs. And as much as I hate being in front of a camera ,As of tomorrow , I am committing to share a daily update with you so keep an eye out for our stories and lets do this!

05.01.2022 This weeks design story goes back to my Sydney home office. After a large renovation we waited a year to fit out the office/studio. I knew where it would be in the home but wasnt locked into how I should set it up. Rather than jump into custom joinery, I decided to buy a few key pieces of furniture and play around with layouts . I used a french farmhouse table as my desk, an office chair and Ikea Billy cabinets for a mix of open and closed storage. I also had an arm chair w...hich was quickly claimed by my the puppy. The room had great natural light with a large window and French doors leading onto a porch, an additional space for working. I played in the space rearranging things regularly moving the orientation of the desk, under the window, to the centre of the room, then to the opposite wall so I could add a pinboard. The Billy cabinets proved to be too be too narrow as my sample collection grew and I was missing drawers too. The desk looked great but was not really ergonomic or practical in terms of hiding any clutter. I was learning as I went, making that wish list of things I would need. When the time came to design the space, the priorities were a mixture of storage, drawers cupboards and open shelving. I decided on an L shaped bench desk area anchored on both sides of the L with drawers. This allowed enough space for 2-3 people to work as well as a printing station on one end. I was the client in this case but also considered that there may be other users of the space, the kids would do homework in the studio in the evenings and whenever my husband worked from home, he would bunker down in the office too. Once the cabinetry and layout was decided, I added a pinboard in a grey felt. I wanted personality and warmth so used old and new pieces, a vintage marble meeting table, a rug with a pop of yellow ( the colour of energy and optimism) and my favourite decor pieces and books in view. A wall hanging and a large plant finished off the space. This space worked really well and I put it down to this - it was flexible , had good light and just the right amount of organisation while still having some room for personality! Photography: Honey Atkinson Cabinetry: SR Cabinet Making

05.01.2022 K I T C H E N ( c o n t ) Decorating or Styling your kitchen has to be one of the easiest rooms to do as long as you apply these two golden rules. The first is that less is more and as tempting as it may be to have all your favourite chopping boards, bowls and cookbooks on display, remember that kitchen is about function first so you want enough room for food prep and you dont want to have move dcor items back and forth. The second rule is to select dcor items that are... useful in the kitchen, a beautiful wooden board or decorative bottle for oil and vinegar give your kitchen a nice feel but these items will still serve a purpose in the kitchen. Now you have these rules, check out our tips below on how you can make your kitchen an inviting and stylish 1. Review the essential appliances and items you need on your benchtop this will vary depending on whether you have an appliance cupboard or butlers pantry. If you do have to have some appliances on display, its always nice to keep things consistent with colour and pattern. 2. Pull together a collection of dcor items for your kitchen they may include chopping and cheese boards, fruit bowls, oil and vinegar bottle, vases decorative bowls, containers and cookbooks. Try and stay with the same colour tones and keep tea towels coordinated by having 2 or 3 sets of two which you can rotate through. 3. Start with the vertical space near the stove or in the corners of your kitchen. Play around with layering boards against the splashback or use a combination of a board, a cookbook, a candle or small plant. 4. Add a tray beside the sink or stove top and choose decorative oil bottles, soap dispensers and grinders. 5. If you have open shelves in your kitchen, use them to display some of your favourite items but they are also a great way to store items like glasses and crockery, just make sure to group together like items to keep them looking good. 6. Nature is the best way to bring your kitchen to life. Foliage, flowers and Fruit in a bowl or vase on the island bench are always really effective. Eucalyptus and Olive branches are great and last for weeks at a time. Image: Studio McGee See more

05.01.2022 K I T C H E N Kitchens are not always the easiest space to declutter and decorate but they are pretty satisfying when you get to the end. DECLUTTER... 1. Start with cupboards and drawers leaving the pantry aside and group items together - I like to work with categories like pots and pans, crockery, cutlery, utensils, serving dishes and platters, plastics and microwave, tea towels, placemats, serviettes, food wrap and packaging 2. Donate excess items and throw away any mismatched or damaged items 3. Wipe all surfaces inside and outside with diluted essential oil in water try a citrus based one for a fresh scent 4. When placing items back, think about what you do most often and have that most easily accessible, items you use rarely can be put up high or at the back of a cupboard 5. Keep heavier items like chopping boards at mid to low height so you are not straining to access them. 6. Ensure your storage is working for you and store things as you would use them not worrying too much about the aesthetic 7. Clean and wipe down toaster, coffee machine, microwave and fridge. 8. Keep things neat by putting your toaster, kettle and larger appliance in an appliance cupboard. If you dont have an appliance cupboard, decide on the essential appliances you will need on the bench top. PANTRY 1. Remove everything from the pantry and group like items together bin any expired goods 2. Wipe down all surfaces and containers 3. Pull together your containers, a tiered shelf which works well for canned foods and labelled glass or plastic jars so you can easily see and access all items 4. If you are tight on space in your pantry, consider door hung spice and jar holders 5. Set up your pantry using a category system that is aligned to how you eat - it ensures things find their way home more frequently. My shelves are set up as follows + Top shelf is for medicine + 2nd Shelf is for canned goods and naughty foods + 3rd shelf is the one most accessed, it includes coffee, teas, cereal, bread and healthy snacks + 4th shelf includes oils, sauces, pasta, rice and grains + 5th shelf includes sugar, flour and baking ingredients + The bottom shelf is for potatoes and onions and any excess items Watch out for our next post on decorating tips

04.01.2022 Art brings life to a room, makes it feel more personal, more human. It can be an anchor for a space or the piece that brings it all together. It can make a statement, evoke feelings and even provide a sense of movement. Often people get cold feet when committing to art because they are not sure how to select the right piece. My 5 tips for selecting art for your home... 1. Use your intuition when selecting art, there is usually a subconscious reason you are drawn to a pi...ece 2. Research your artist, often there is a backstory you will connect with 3. Pick the right spot for the piece considering size and scale, you dont want a teeny weeny painting on a huge wall. What you can do is group some art pieces together to fill the space 4. Go original and local whenever you can 5. Dont go matchy matchy - an eclectic selection of art is usually more impactful Design: Martine Cooper Interior Design Artwork from: Brenda Colohan Fineart Photography: Honey Atkinson See more

04.01.2022 Today we are thankful! My family and I are well and safe. We have food and drink. We have a nice place to hangout. ... We have the unconditional love of our puppy. We have games and drawing. We have soft beds. We have toilet paper. We have enough money. We are safe. Lets protect the vulnerable, the homeless, the sick, the elderly. Lets stay home. See more

04.01.2022 I think this room illustrates whats important to make your master bedroom work for you. Its one of my favourite transformations, a space I designed in 2019 for a super hardworking couple who I worked with over a couple of years. We had transformed their home room by room until finally it was time to reclaim their master bedroom. As you can imagine a household with 4 school age kids can get busy so creating a sanctuary and special place for them to retreat to was the goal. ... In terms of function, the room was large but over time they had a small robe which had overflowed into open hanging racks opposite the bed and the room no longer felt relaxing, calm or retreat like. What stayed was the existing bed, bedhead and a beautiful feathered headrest -everything else I added along the way. A deeper colour palette of warm greys, moody blues, forest greens and metallics set the feeling for the space. A custom built in robe created ample storage for their clothing and included some hidden charging spots for phones and laptops. We added an upholstered chair and coffee table provided a place to read or have a cup of tea and a bone inlay dresser gave them a place to hold jewellery and smaller accessories. Adding these bits of furniture helped to make the space feel cosier and more retreat like. We added bedsides with only one drawer to ensure minimal clutter and a beautiful bedside lamp for reading and ambience. As the bedroom is last place you see when you close your eyes at night and the first place you see when you wake up in the morning, you have to like what you see otherwise it can be really agitating. In this case it was the beautiful original artwork beside the bed, the filtered light through sheer curtains, the soft bedding, the absence of clutter and the different textures throughout the room all coming together - a space my client says they feel lucky to have while in isolation.

03.01.2022 WHATS NEXT... Ive had a little hiatus from socials while we got back to client meetings and site visits but we are back. Thanks to everyone who gave me feedback on Project Homelife, we have grouped it all together and come up with the 4 themes below: * you said you liked the tips and information and found them practical and easy to follow so we will be turning the tips into ebooks for you to easily download and keep handy... * you said you wanted some quicker tips in a short post format too - something you could implement with minimal effort so we will incorporate this into our normal posts and stories * our renters said they wanted more information on how to make home feel more permanent so we will be doing a weekly post just for them * you wanted more design stories where we talked through the considerations when designing a space, what happened during the process and the end result - this is something we will continue to share as we work through projects with our clients I just wanted to say that we really value your feedback and love to put out information and stories that are useful so please let me know if there is anything else you would like to see us share.

03.01.2022 Were super excited to launch the new website tonight. Its been a while in the making however I hope you get sense of what its like to work with Martine Cooper Interiors. While we are an interior design studio who offers the concept, design, build and decoration full service you will expect - our point of difference lies in the experience we want our clients to have. For us its about stepping into our clients shoes, their stage of life, understanding how they live and de...signing a space that feels good, looks good and operates effortlessly. We are about creating real homes for real people. Our services apply to you whether you are updating your current home, renovating, building or looking to make your rental feel more like a permanent home. We work side by side with our clients throughout the whole project keeping them fully updated and in control. We are transparent in our communication, treat the clients budget like they are our own and strive to meet deadlines - understanding you just want to get on with enjoying your space. A huge thanks to Sommer_Studio, Kate Addamo andSister Scout Studio for getting us to the finish line. We would love you to jump onto our site http://www.martinecooper.com and let us know what you think! See more

02.01.2022 Our Sandringham clients wanted to open up their kitchen, redo their outdated bathrooms and laundry, update floors, repaint, update electrical and add in some new windows - to quote Chris, Designer at TLC Interiors It takes a village and I couldnt agree more. What a great collaboration it was to work with TLC Interiors and the building team at Planned Homes- I worked on the concept and design for the wet areas and joinery throughout the home and while there are still a few... finishing touches to come - the experience in working with this team couldnt have been better. Below are some of our current progress shots with styled shots to come later on. Images c/- Planned Homes

02.01.2022 Yes I can organise and decorate but I have become a little lazy with my cleaning over the years mainly because as soon as I could afford it, I decided to outsource my cleaning to a professional. Dont get me wrong, I have done plenty of spring cleans in my time and keep a tidy house but I am talking about keeping on top of bathroom and kitchen surfaces, flooring and dust. Now more than ever though being home with the whole family, I am really having to up my cleaning game - ...no more cleaners while during quarantine so what do we do.I love this little article on @domino.com taking advise from a professional housekeeper and focusing on using natural, homemade cleaning products. I am taking the opportunity to teach my girls some life skills following this advice and get myself into a good routine https://www.domino.com/content/best-cleaning-hacks-reddit/

02.01.2022 "This is a day not of celebration but of national memory. Its a day when we learn, and learn again, of the horror of purposeless war. It is a day for looking after your mates, cherishing your home, your neighbourhood and family...Its a day for realising how rare this wonderful country of ours is and how precious it is" - Bob Carr

01.01.2022 M A S T E R B E D R O O M Usually when I am taking a brief on a master bedroom and how the client would like to feel in the space, they often say I want it to be our sanctuary - a calm, uncluttered and inviting space.But I dont want to put words in your mouth so once again go back to your list. How would you like your master bedroom to feel? DECLUTTER ... 1. Start with a review of all bedding that works in your room, If you havent used them in the last 2 years, donate them. Keep 2 sets of summer and 2 sets of winter sheets so you have one set in use and 1 clean set. Keep 1 blanket, 1 doona and 1-2 covers per room. Store these items in the master bedroom for easy access. 2. Vacuum your mattress and upholstered items to get rid of the dust - it will absolutely freshen things up. Wipe down robe doors, dusty corners and bedsides. 3. Pull all dcor items, art, photos, lamps, cushions and throws out and review, only keeping things you love around you 4. Like it or not, some of us have tech and TVs in our master bedrooms ensure it can all be hidden when its time to relax and use 3Ms or a cable tidy basket to keep it neat. 5. Ensure loose items, clothes and shoes are put away in robes, remember outer order helps with inner calm. DECORATE 1. Make up your bed starting with a mattress protector, sheets, add a blanket for winter, bedcover or doona cover. Make friends with the iron for this part, a nicely made bed with folding creases is wasted. Work with the colours in your doona or bed cover and add complimentary cushions and throws. 2. Bedsides with drawers are the perfect place to hide away items like tissues, books and bulky items. Keep the surfaces for a bedside light, a small tray or bowl and a couple of dcor items. You can play around with side tables as an alternative, they can easily help give a space new look or feel. Bedside lamps are a great way to add some personality, play around with different shaped bases, update your shade and use a warm globe in the space. 3. Art and Prints in the bedroom allow you to add colour and personality to your room. You can also use mirrors to help bounce light around the room. 4. Add a reading chair, bed bench and /or dresser if you have the room, while you dont want your master to be cluttered, adding some of these items helps to make the room feel inviting and cosy. 5. The bedroom is one of those places you want to feed all your senses, scented candles or a diffuser, different textures like crisp linens in summer and soft velvet or wool in winter. Keep it simple and easy on the eye.And dont forget the music for a beautiful way to drift off to sleep