News — antipodream

If you have an email address, television or phone then you can't have missed the craziness that is Black Friday. In previous years I have offered a small site-wide discount - it has been great to give my customers a chance to shop on sale, and also admittedly fun for me to hear my phone ping away all day!

This year I have been thinking a little differently about this approach - for a few reasons. I thought it might be worth sharing in case anyone was interested.

1. Real prices: my margins have always been tight. I work super hard to keep prices as close as possible to the Australian retail prices, absorbing as much of the freight, customs duty and import VAT as I possibly can. Now that Antipodream is also VAT registered, there simply isn't the margin left for sales. The good news is that customers can be sure that through buying from Antipodream they are getting the best deal possible every day of the year - and much cheaper than buying direct from Australia or New Zealand after shipping and taxes.

2. Sustainability: conscious consumerism is something most of us have reflected on this year. 'Buy once, buy well' has always been a personal mantra, so it is natural that this has flown through to my approach to Antipodream. I don't want the business to succeed if it means flogging stuff to people that they don't need or won't truly love. So sales for the sake of sales doesn't feel right. I take a slow approach to curating each collection - and I'll be taking a slow approach to selling them too. 

3. Supporting small business: Black Friday tends to work for big businesses, helping retailers that sell lots of the same stuff move product quicker than their competitors. For small indie businesses and creatives, who work hard all year to bring their customers unique, interesting pieces, a huge sale in their peak period doesn't really make any sense. So by choosing not to feed it this year, hopefully I am doing my little bit to help it become all a bit passe. There has been so much love for #shopsmall in 2019, maybe in 2020 this will totally surpass the Black Friday craze and become something we can get excited about.

For those who were hoping for a sale, I will continue to have an annual sale in the new year of odds and ends and discontinued pieces, to help clear out the warehouse and make sure I don't carry stock forever and a day.

Thanks again for all of your support, and don't be afraid to add your thoughts, comments or questions below.

Big love, Kate x

The new Kip & Co collection has been released, and they've nailed it. You will remember how excited we were to introduce this brand last year? This time, double it. The latest range is seriously OTT - with colour, kapow, and some of the coolest prints we have seen.  The collection includes luxury linen, velvet and denim, and this season their famous prints feature bananas, watermelons and neons, plus plenty of tassels and pom poms.

Image credit: Fourcheekymonkeys.com

So, how exactly do you create a room as vibrant and action-packed as this, without ending up with a look that feels disjointed or overwhelming?  Here are our top five tips for bringing this distinctive Aussie aesthetic to life.

Tip 1. Think colour

When it comes to colour, take it one step at a time and create a palette to help guide your choices and provide a consistent theme.  Choose a primary, secondary and accent colours it will help guide your purchase choices.  Consider basing the colour scheme around a particular item that you love - such as a favourite chair or piece of art. 

 Love print, £65

Tip 2. Bed styling

Bed styling is always about texture - using lots of luxurious layers creates a cosy bed your little one's will be excited to jump into.  Add variety to the bed by combining different fabrics and fibres - think wool blankets, quilted duvet covers and velvet cushions. 

Shop this look

Embrace the art of print mashing.  Start with one print, and build out from there - using your chosen colours to create a link that connects the prints.  Lots of bright, mismatched pillow cases adds an element of fun to the room.

 Shop this look

Tip 3. Storage

Kids have lots of stuff, so it follows that their rooms are going to get messy. Add storage options so that clutter can be cleared away, and you can display the pieces that you (and they!) love.  

Tip 4. Add a fun feature.  We love these neon lights by Electric Confetti.  Need more inspiration? Check out one of our favourite interiors blogs http://fourcheekymonkeys.com/  Ness has feature elements totally nailed :)

5. Finally, time for all the fun details

Complete the look with colourful details, such as favourite toys, books, floor cushions, or beanbags. Be prepared to break the rules - kids love colour, so don't feel like it needs to be perfect.  

Shop cushions 

Enjoy!