Decorating
Book Review: 'A Place Called Home' by Mr Jason Grant
We talk to Grant about his first interior design book and learn a few exclusive home decorating tricks while we're at it
When it comes to creating a truly liveable space, we’re often faced with the question: what is the difference between a house and a home? We called on acclaimed Sydney stylist and blogger Mr Jason Grant to answer this question for you. In his first book, A Place Called Home: Creating Beautiful Spaces to Call Your Own, Grant – who, ironically, is a chief campaigner against ‘over-styled’ spaces – shares his clever tricks and tips on how to decorate your home like a stylist, turning the place you simply lay your hat in to the place you call home, the place you call your own.
What we love most about this book is its uniquely Australian take on interior design – something very close to our hearts here at Houzz Australia HQ. It showcases the laid-back lifestyle and aesthetic we know and love on our shores – indeed the moment you step inside the beautiful photography by James Geer, you couldn’t be anywhere else in the world. Above all, it oozes with a relaxed vibe seconded only by the chair you choose to snuggle in reading it.
What we love most about this book is its uniquely Australian take on interior design – something very close to our hearts here at Houzz Australia HQ. It showcases the laid-back lifestyle and aesthetic we know and love on our shores – indeed the moment you step inside the beautiful photography by James Geer, you couldn’t be anywhere else in the world. Above all, it oozes with a relaxed vibe seconded only by the chair you choose to snuggle in reading it.
TRICK 1: Create a good first impression
When you flick through Grant’s sound decorating advice and inspiring, styled shots, a refreshing theme centres around using your own common sense when styling your home. Great style is human and accessible to everyone. You should apply the same rules to your personality as you do to your home in order to create … a home filled with personality. Makes sense, right? A great place to start is at the entrance to your home.
“Just like when you meet a new friend, first impressions count,” Grant tells Houzz, “think about your front door and perhaps have a fun front doormat to greet guests.”
When you flick through Grant’s sound decorating advice and inspiring, styled shots, a refreshing theme centres around using your own common sense when styling your home. Great style is human and accessible to everyone. You should apply the same rules to your personality as you do to your home in order to create … a home filled with personality. Makes sense, right? A great place to start is at the entrance to your home.
“Just like when you meet a new friend, first impressions count,” Grant tells Houzz, “think about your front door and perhaps have a fun front doormat to greet guests.”
TRICK 2: Take inspiration from your surrounds
Once you hear it from the experts, it seems so obvious. The best way to create a lived-in space is to take inspiration from the area you live in. Grant urges you to soak up the atmosphere at your local coffee shop, admire your community and open your eyes during walks around your neighbourhood – maybe through a local park or along the beach.
“Inspiration is everywhere and sometimes right in front of you – be open to all that you see,” he says. “Stop for a moment and take it all in. Look up, look down and perhaps slow down.”
Indeed, it’s clear that Grant’s own upbringing and lifestyle are such huge components in his design ethic. Known for his love of sun, sea and sand, Grant, who now resides in Sydney’s famous Bondi, often pulls this relaxed coastal vibe into his design schemes.
Once you hear it from the experts, it seems so obvious. The best way to create a lived-in space is to take inspiration from the area you live in. Grant urges you to soak up the atmosphere at your local coffee shop, admire your community and open your eyes during walks around your neighbourhood – maybe through a local park or along the beach.
“Inspiration is everywhere and sometimes right in front of you – be open to all that you see,” he says. “Stop for a moment and take it all in. Look up, look down and perhaps slow down.”
Indeed, it’s clear that Grant’s own upbringing and lifestyle are such huge components in his design ethic. Known for his love of sun, sea and sand, Grant, who now resides in Sydney’s famous Bondi, often pulls this relaxed coastal vibe into his design schemes.
TRICK 3: Add plants
As a prolific freelance interiors stylist, who’s worked on several key design titles both in Australia and the rest of the world, Grant knows a thing or two about adding the perfect finishing touch. Continuing his advice of taking notice of things around you, he urges Houzz AU readers to add plants to their rooms. Sounds so simple, doesn’t it?
He tells us: “Green is good, I love adding plants and bringing the outdoors in.” We couldn’t agree more.
As a prolific freelance interiors stylist, who’s worked on several key design titles both in Australia and the rest of the world, Grant knows a thing or two about adding the perfect finishing touch. Continuing his advice of taking notice of things around you, he urges Houzz AU readers to add plants to their rooms. Sounds so simple, doesn’t it?
He tells us: “Green is good, I love adding plants and bringing the outdoors in.” We couldn’t agree more.
TRICK 4: Mix old and new
A fan of everything from brand new designer products and modern staples to recycled pieces and vintage finds, Grant urges us to mix and match for a space that bursts with your own passion and personality. Home is where the heart is, after all.
“A home should be layered and not a one-stop shop,” he advises. “Mix it up with old and new. Vintage pieces add warmth and character to your home.”
A fan of everything from brand new designer products and modern staples to recycled pieces and vintage finds, Grant urges us to mix and match for a space that bursts with your own passion and personality. Home is where the heart is, after all.
“A home should be layered and not a one-stop shop,” he advises. “Mix it up with old and new. Vintage pieces add warmth and character to your home.”
TRICK 5: Personalise your space
Remember, this is your space and you have to live in it and love it. If you like lazy days on the beach, fine dining, yoga or sunset walks in the great outdoors, that should be reflected in your home. Use your house to show off who you really are.
“Your home is your space and, just like your wardrobe, it should reflect your personality,” Grant says.
Remember, this is your space and you have to live in it and love it. If you like lazy days on the beach, fine dining, yoga or sunset walks in the great outdoors, that should be reflected in your home. Use your house to show off who you really are.
“Your home is your space and, just like your wardrobe, it should reflect your personality,” Grant says.
TRICK 6: Treasure mementos
Mementoes and memories can be incorporated into your design to add warmth and comfort.
There’s something very human about this approach to design. “Listen to your heart,” says Grant, “only buy what you love.” Your home doesn’t have to be any other home that it’s not, just like you don’t have to be anyone that you’re not. “Keep and treasure things that are special; decorate with items that have a special meaning to you,” he adds.
Mementoes and memories can be incorporated into your design to add warmth and comfort.
There’s something very human about this approach to design. “Listen to your heart,” says Grant, “only buy what you love.” Your home doesn’t have to be any other home that it’s not, just like you don’t have to be anyone that you’re not. “Keep and treasure things that are special; decorate with items that have a special meaning to you,” he adds.
TRICK 7: Use your imagination
Finally, and on a very comforting note, Grant reveals you don’t need the big bucks to create a home of your dreams.
“You are only limited by your own imagination – dream big and decorate with what you love” he tells Houzz. And his book follows suit, ending on this note that had us running for our front doorsteps…
“Live every day like you’re on holiday. Use a beach towel instead of a bath towel and drink from a fancy cup. Create your own resort even if it’s just in your mind. Shop smart, use what you’ve got, decorate with things you love to create a happy home – a place to call your own.”
A Place Called Home: Creating Beautiful Spaces to Call Your Own by Mr Jason Grant (published by Hardie Grant) is now available online and in book stores nationally.
Finally, and on a very comforting note, Grant reveals you don’t need the big bucks to create a home of your dreams.
“You are only limited by your own imagination – dream big and decorate with what you love” he tells Houzz. And his book follows suit, ending on this note that had us running for our front doorsteps…
“Live every day like you’re on holiday. Use a beach towel instead of a bath towel and drink from a fancy cup. Create your own resort even if it’s just in your mind. Shop smart, use what you’ve got, decorate with things you love to create a happy home – a place to call your own.”
A Place Called Home: Creating Beautiful Spaces to Call Your Own by Mr Jason Grant (published by Hardie Grant) is now available online and in book stores nationally.
The image-packed pages are full of everything from inspiring storage solutions to colourful decorating tricks, but at the end of the day, we just had to know: how do we create a place called ‘home’?
To fulfil this question, Grant believes you need to adopt his seven tricks of the trade, which he shares with us here…