BRIGHT AT HOME
Interior inspiration blogger Simone Duckworth shows how a love of decorating, family and even household mishaps can create a home to adore.
Words: Beth Greshwalk / Photography: Nikki To / Styling: Alice Stephenson / Interior: Simone Duckworth
From her childhood days of rearranging furniture to her grownup gig at Freedom, interior design has always decorated Simone Duckworth’s life. Today, she is the author of the popular lifestyle and home inspiration blog, Honey and Fizz; owner of an Etsy shop selling wall décor; and designer of the home she shares with her husband and three young boys in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
And it doesn’t end there. “I’m in the process of setting up home consultations for styling, and online design boards,” the blogger says.
Being a jack-of-all-home-design – besides a mother and wife – it’s no surprise that the style of Simone’s 13-year-old, modern home encapsulates much-needed serenity: white and bright, with neutral backgrounds punctuated by the colours of books, fresh flowers, cushions and throws.
“Home is where we truly relax, and with life so busy, it’s nice to have a place that gives a calm feeling when you walk through the door,” Simone says. “I wanted lots of greenery, and to be surrounded by things that make me happy. I also wanted a home that reflects us and our tastes as a young family.”
The vibrant shades and holiday vibe of Slim Aarons photography, for example, glam the walls while echoing her family’s love for the beach.
Framed words and phrases throughout the home whimsically address Simone’s love for typography, and are also “an easy, fun way to show who you are and what you like,” she says. “They’re inexpensive and easily changeable, rather than investing in artwork you might tire of.”
The vibrant shades and holiday vibe of Slim Aarons photography, for example, glam the walls while echoing her family’s love for the beach.
Fun times – particularly when revamping the master bedroom, says Simone, who toned down the colour and added grey washed linens, for a cosy effect. Meanwhile, the beaded chandelier and typographic décor ensure the black-and-white theme is not without personality.
Simone credits online stores for much of her furnishings, including Down That Little Lane, My Messy Room and Rachel Castle. But big-box stores with ever-changing stock like IKEA are still great go-tos, she admits.
The shape of Simone’s contemporary abode hasn’t always been so harmonious, however: The stunning, white-polished concrete floors were actually the result of a major mishap.
“We had a problem with our dishwasher and the repairmen didn’t screw in the hose properly,” Simone explains. “So, we had a leak from the dishwasher for over a week that we didn’t know of, until we went into the kitchen one morning and water was squirting up from between the floorboard joins.”
This led to all of the home’s floorboards needing to be pulled up; joinery removed; skirting boards replaced; kitchen cupboards detached; furniture stored and walls repainted.
“It has really given the house a new lease of life. Everything feels new. The light is amazing. I love the feel of it underfoot, and it’s so easy to clean.”
“We were out of the house for about six weeks,” Simone says. “Luckily everything was covered by insurance… but the upheaval to our daily lives was a massive inconvenience.”
Now, the blogger admits the hassle was worth it: “It has really given the house a new lease of life. Everything feels new. The light is amazing. I love the feel of it underfoot, and it’s so easy to clean.”
But if you can avoid the disaster route to redecorating your home, Simone recommends having a vision of how you’d like your space to look and what you’ll need to achieve it – ahead of time: “Use Pinterest to curate your vision, and to see what look you keep coming back to.”