Cabin Fervour

Tiffaney's style secrets

 

Who is Tiffaney Bishop ?
I am a mother of two young boys and a photographer.  I began studying photography part time 20 years ago whilst working in my former PR and Marketing career.  I have exhibited work over the years, the highlights being:

    A 3 month show at The Shrine of Remembrance Melbourne

    Inclusion in the 2010 Toyota Emerging Art Award

    Added to American Artist William Kelly's International Humanist art Collection

Art & the community Four years ago I established an art collective that engages with the local community in and around the Dandenong Ranges, in particular young artists and activists.  Together we have developed a formal collaborative art practice that is attracting national and even international interest.  We have recently opened a studio/gallery in Belgrave which is proving to be a very interesting enterprise with many more young people engaging with us because of our increased public presence. We have several local art projects on the go and one in development that will see us working with a New York based artist/group similar to our own and building a body of work that will be exhibited at the National Gallery in Canberra next year.

What's your decorating style at home?

Our home is quite humble on the exterior, but has quite a 'handsome' interior, which has a very rustic appearance with exposed rafters, rough hewn oregon lined walls and stained original hardwood floors. The small areas of plaster are painted in antique white throughout which creates a wonderful balance and foil for some of the rustic features. Large red persian-style rugs inject a warmth and boldness without competing with the striking interior. We have resisted painting much of the wooden features in the house as we feel that its character and integrity is wrapped up in its original envelope. Whilst our soft furnishings are fairly neutral, I have developed an interest in texture and begun to understand the wonderful effects you can achieve by blending different versions of neutral fabrics, textures and self patterning.

Styling tips or tricks for when you have guests?

We have an open plan kitchen/dining/lounge area (very American Cabin-like). We restored the original Rayburn oven in the kitchen and it makes great roasts and cakes! Although we often have formal sit-down dinners we also often prepare big casual but sumptuous spreads on the coffee table in front of the massive stone fireplace and sit back in the leather chesterfields and graze for hours.  I usually rely on the garden for flowers and foliage for floral arrangements.  My favourite arrangements are large displays of 'about to burst' magnolia branches which the hydronic heating in the house encourages a painterly show from within a few hours of arranging.  I also love to arrange large fern fronds with wild strawberry vines and although the fern fronds don't last very long once cut, they look amazing for a day or two.  Equally, I love just dotting little vases of jonquils or daphne around the place.  

Cushion fiend or phobic?

I love cushions, but don't have enough good ones at the moment.  As I mentioned before I am discovering the charm of textured fabrics and self-embellishments and am focusing more on this important room detail.

Where do you source/buy your furnishings ?

I tend to use the internet- recently I bought some Florence Broadhurst cushions online.

For more cabin decor ideas have a peek at Country Kitchens and stay posted for living areas and childrens rooms