Welcome to the Plush Design Interiors Blog
Your Gateway to Transformative Home Design!
Here at Plush Design Interiors, we don’t just share ideas; we turn visions into reality.
Innovate, Inspire, Impress Each post on our blog is crafted to inspire and empower. Discover the secrets to creating spaces that reflect your unique personality and style.
Expect more than just trends—we’re about making real, stunning transformations that make every corner of your home a personal statement. This page only shows the first 30 blog posts, so please Click on ‘categories’ (below) for specific topic sections.
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With love, Penelope xx
PS: all blog posts are illustrated with our own creative work unless otherwise credited. Yes, we use renders to illustrate design concepts which our clients appreciate. All work is our own.
A good design–build proposal isn’t just a pretty PDF; it’s a legally useful, line‑by‑line roadmap of what you’re getting, who’s doing it and what it costs. If you can’t tell what’s included, what’s excluded and how changes will be handled, you’re not holding a proposal – you’re holding a risk.
Vanilla is a fine flavour—classic, safe, sweet. But when it comes to design? Vanilla is the enemy of progress. Adelaide interior designer Penelope Herbert shows you how to ditch beige, break design rules and create a home with a pulse, not a cookie-cutter showroom! In a world where we’re craving authenticity, personal expression, and bold living, sticking to safe, forgettable design is not just boring, it’s creatively bankrupt. No-Vanilla Design is more than a preference; it's a movement. A rebellion against mediocrity. A rally cry for homes that feel like you, not like page 42 of a furniture catalogue.
After thorough pre-renovation planning, it's time to embark on the exciting journey of transforming your home. The renovation process is where your vision begins to take shape, but it requires careful management and attention to detail to ensure success.
This comprehensive guide will cover key aspects of the renovation process, including architectural elements, lifestyle considerations, lighting, landscaping, communication with contractors, and strategies for staying on track and within budget.
New Year, new home. Stop scrolling and start designing. Discover how to turn your New Year decor and renovation resolutions into a bold, intentional home with a No‑Vanilla designer. New year is the perfect design reset.
The New Year is when people swear they’ll drink more water, go to the gym and stop texting their ex; it’s also the ideal moment to stop tolerating a home that feels beige, tired or vaguely embarrassing.
The 2026 interior trend ‘Cloud Dancer White’ claims to be calm and timeless — but it’s really design-on-autopilot. Here’s why this overused neutral needs a rethink, and how to create richer, warmer spaces with real personality. White has quietly become the answer to everything: calm, resale, minimalism, safety.
But here’s the truth — at this point, white isn’t a design choice. It’s a design default.
Avoid getting ripped off in your renovation with insider tips on budgets, hiring and quotes – plus a step‑by‑step guide to protect every dollar. Learn how to avoid getting ripped off in a renovation in Australia, prevent budget blowouts and manage builders, designers and quotes like a pro.
2026 luxury interior design trends are finally misbehaving, and that’s excellent news for anyone bored to death by “timeless” white boxes. The new high-end home isn’t trying to look expensive; it’s busy making you feel something.
For years, “upmarket” meant white paint, pale oak, chrome tapware and a generic slab of engineered stone pretending it just flew in from Milan business class. Cute. Safe. Utterly unmemorable.
Now, 2026 luxury interior design has kicked off its heels, ordered a dirty martini and decided that personality, wellness and atmosphere matter more than showing off square metres.
The 2026 interior design forecast is full of noise, but three 2026 interior design trends have real staying power:
Neo Deco, Cool Blue and Opera Aesthetic interiors. Used well, they are bold, liveable and fiercely anti-beige—and they play beautifully in Australian homes, from city apartments to Adelaide Hills retreats.
2026 Interior Design Trends: Neo Deco, Cool Blue and Opera Aesthetic for No-Vanilla Homes
If 2025 was the year people finally admitted they were bored of beige, 2026 is the year they actually do something about it.
“Safe” interiors are quietly dying; homes with backbone, glamour and personality are stepping into the spotlight as the new standard, not the exception.
Somewhere along the way, “timeless” became code for “please don’t notice me”. People were sold the lie that a safe, all-neutral home is the only path to good taste and future resale. The result is a plague of white-on-white kitchens, oatmeal sofas, pale timber everything, and not a single shimmering risk in sight.
Your ‘aha’ moment: The exact second you realise your “resale-friendly” home doesn’t look expensive – it just looks like every other listing on realestate.com.au.
You know that moment when you walk into your living room, scan the scene, and think, “Yeah… it’s nice,” but your shoulders don’t drop, your heart doesn’t lift, and nothing inside you says, “This is so unapologetically me”?
That, darling, is your home quietly filing for emotional divorce.
It’s not the wrong white, the slightly-too-large sofa, or the throw cushions that look like they lost a fight with the dog. Those are amateur-hour issues. The real, gut-level interior design mistake most people make is far sneakier – and it’s choking the life out of your home.
Your Home is Crying Out for Help! (And No, More Beige Isn't the Answer). Alright, rebels, rule-breakers, and lovers of homes with actual SOUL. Let's have a brutally honest chat. Your house? It’s talking. And if it’s whispering "safe," "inoffensive," or (God forbid) "greige," then it’s basically screaming for an intervention.
These are the Top 5 Design Demons we're slaying.
You may be making the #1 Design Mistake That’s Keeping Your Home ‘Boring’ … however, the solution is here!
Let’s get straight to the point: the biggest reason your home feels boring isn’t because of your furniture or paint colour—it’s because you’re playing it too safe. Too many homes are stuck in a rut of beige-on-beige, predictable layouts, and generic décor that’s about as exciting as watching paint dry (especially if it’s beige). The culprit? Fear of making a mistake.
You’ve pinned the inspo. You’ve saved the reels. But when it comes to actually designing your space… are you confidently bold or still clinging to beige?
This quick quiz will reveal your Fearless Home Style—where you land on the boldness scale, what’s holding you back (if anything), and how to create a home that’s 100% you. Whether you’re a soft minimalist with a rebellious streak or a maximalist-in-the-making, this is where your real style starts to shine.
Forget “safe” grey. Here’s how to choose a sofa colour with personality that actually works in your real-life living room.
It’s the colour of safety, of “good taste,” of not offending anyone. And yet, have you ever sat in a beige room and felt your brain quietly fall asleep? Here’s the uncomfortable truth: your beige sofa might be gently murdering your creativity.
Whether it's brunch with friends, a lazy Sunday lunch, or a Friday night feast just for you, a casual and classy table setting transforms the everyday into something extraordinary. In this video, you’ll find a collection of casual and classy table settings, each one thoughtfully styled. Think layers of linen, glimmers of glassware, earthy ceramics, and flickers of candlelight – all effortlessly arranged to elevate your home and reflect your personal style. This isn’t about being perfect – it’s about creating a moment.
Ever walked into a room and felt instantly at ease—like it just got you? And then walked into another that looked perfect on paper but felt... sterile? That’s the difference between a home that has soul and one that’s just been styled. The easy secret ingredient isn’t expensive furniture, a high-end paint colour, or getting the cushion arrangement just right. It’s emotional design—spaces layered with memory, mood, and meaning.
You’ll love creating a luxurious home with dark colours! Dark colours have long been misunderstood in the realm of home design.
Too often, they’re seen as sombre, drab, or even oppressive. However, when used correctly, dark hues will infuse a home with elegance, luxury, and a sense of dramatic sophistication. Let's explore how you can transform your living spaces with rich, dark colours, creating a stunningly chic and inviting atmosphere.
If your living room looks like Toys ‘R’ Us exploded, this is your sign: the toys can stay, the ugly can’t. For parents juggling the demands of family life and a love for stylish interiors, finding that balance can seem impossible. But what if we told you it doesn’t have to be? In this guide, we’ll show you how to create a beautiful, functional living room that works for the whole family. From clever storage solutions to furniture that can handle sticky fingers, you’ll discover easy design tips that make your space feel chic, even with little ones around.
Creating a family haven isn’t about perfection; it’s about crafting spaces that balance comfort, functionality, and style, all while embracing the chaos and joy of family life. Your home should be a sanctuary where every member—from toddlers to teens (and even furry friends!) — feels welcomed and inspired. Here’s how to design a family-friendly home that radiates warmth and happiness while keeping life’s practicalities in mind.
Understanding and identifying your authentic style can feel like navigating a maze, but it’s a journey worth taking.
Your home should be a reflection of you—a space where your personality, preferences, and lifestyle shine through. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you uncover your authentic style and transform your home into a true sanctuary.
Have you heard? If you haven’t, you’ll soon be hearing about a new room replacing the kitchen. Say what? It’s the new hub of the home, and it’s been playing second fiddle in Australian homes for far too long. That ends now!
One of the most critical steps in any interior design or renovation project is finalising material specifications. That is, are your selections the best they can be?
The materials specifications process requires a delicate balance of quality, aesthetics, and budget to ensure the end result is beautiful, durable and cost-effective. Here at Plush Design Interiors, we understand the nuances of this balance and offer you our expert advice on how to achieve it.
At Plush Design Interiors, we believe that diversity in design is the cornerstone of creativity and innovation. Our inclusive and personalised interior design studio is committed to embracing diversity in all its forms, celebrating the uniqueness of every individual and their lifestyle.
Transforming Australian homes since 1954. Now that’s something to celebrate! Window treatments finish off a home and beautifully frame windows in a variety of ways.
Window treatments as fashion! That’s what Hunter Douglas may have been thinking when Luxaflex Aluminium Venetian Blinds were introduced to Australia in 1954. Luxaflex Window Fashions aimed to transform homes with products that delivered revolutionary style and functionality for every Australian home.
When you travel, you are often inspired by the places you visit. Bring some of those ideas home with globetrotting renovations that have been inspired by where you have been OR your dream travel destinations. Why not bring travel destinations to your doorstep through an exciting home renovation. This is a beautiful way to spice up your space and create your own escape. However, the best things is you won’t even have to get your passport out!
A modern terrace renovation in Sydney’s inner west suburb of Leichhardt has created a three level light-filled home for a young family. Fusing heritage charm with modern sophistication, this luminous sanctuary is now awash with natural light.
A functional kitchen is much better than a stylish one, BELIEVE ME! However, that doesn't mean you can't have both. Meld style AND function for your best kitchen yet. Kitchens are the one area in a home that must be incredibly functional. So exceptional kitchen design is not a luxury, it’s an imperative! If you can't work easily in a space, find everything you need and be cool under cooking pressure then you may not have a functional kitchen.
Every home renovator looks for the best tips and tricks to create bigger bathrooms for less. So we’ve compiled three great bathroom ideas that will add value, and create the illusion of spaciousness, in your home. Creating an airy and fresh bathroom can come from updating select features and laying tiles in particular patterns, all of which will have guests swooning, according to Beaumont Tiles Product Specialist, Michelle Kearney.
Australians love their stylish coastal interiors even when they don’t live near the beach. Curves and unique features abound in this stunning duplex design by ‘The Block’ stars, Kyal and Kara Demmrich. Side-by-side and sharing the same floor plan, this duplex is different. Expert renovators Kyla and Kara have created their own brand of stylish coastal interiors resulting in two homes with unique features. Learn how they did and bring their ideas to your own home renovation.
Your Inbox Deserves Better Than Beige!
Your Inbox Deserves Better Than Beige!
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The Plush Design Interiors blog is a treasure trove of knowledge, filled with valuable insights, expert tips, and insider secrets.
We delve into a wide range of topics that cater to home lovers of all levels, from the novice DIYer to the sophisticated homeowner looking to transform their space.
Whether you're in the early planning stages or about to embark on interior design or a renovation, the Plush Design Interiors blog covers it all.
Additionally, we keep you updated on the latest interior design and renovation ideas, as well as innovative products that can elevate your space to new heights.
We believe that informed clients make the best decisions, which is why we take pride in sharing our knowledge and expertise with you.
Our blog is designed to demystify the interior design and renovation process, making it accessible and understandable for everyone.
So whether you're seeking inspiration, practical advice, or a deeper understanding of the art of interior design and renovation, you've come to the right place.
Join us on this exciting journey as we empower you to transform your home into a space that reflects your unique style and personality.
Love, Penelope xx

If couture defines the garment, design defines the home. It’s time to stop treating interior design as decoration and start seeing it as the blueprint for how you’ll live and feel every day. Let’s start with a truth bomb: interior design is not a soft‑furnishings sideshow. It’s the beating heart of every successful build — the couture of construction. Yet time and again, I meet clients who call a designer only after their walls are up, plans stamped, and budgets blown. At that point, I’m the paramedic, not the partner.
This misunderstanding isn’t just unfortunate; it’s expensive, stressful, and limits the potential of what a home could be. Interior design should lead the conversation, because design doesn’t simply make rooms look good — it makes them work beautifully.