A natural complement to the ochre, terracotta and rust shades currently trending, olive green certainly appears to be one of the key colours of the moment. I first noticed the emergence of the shade when it was embraced by leading Australian architects and interior designers in the form of paint – from staircases to bedroom and bathroom walls it suddenly feels like the murky, verdant hue is everywhere!
Beechwood by KWD. Photographer: Armelle Habib
But if you’re not feeling brave enough to embrace it in paint form, read on for our favourite olive green furniture, lighting and homewares buys.
I love this statement green staircase by Kennedy Nolan in its Caroline House project. Photographer: Derek Swalwell
Mustard ‘The Skinny’ locker in Olive: Perfect as extra storage and lightweight enough to move around the house when your needs change, there’s a reason why these lockers have reached cult status. $299
Globewest Bogart block three seat sofa: I love the masculine yet pillowy vibe of this gorgeous lounge and the deep green velvet only makes it more sumptuous. $4840.Capra Designs etch pot: Hand crafted in small batches, this vintage inspired pot even comes with a handy tray so your plant can adequately drain. $69.
Lovely Linen bed linen in Jeep Green: Made from 100 per cent European long flax, this range has that glorious relaxed rumpled texture that only linen can provide. As with most linen, this bedding will soften even more with use. From $108.
Bastille and Sons Riviera pendant and wall light: From French designer Maison Sarah Lavoine, the Riviera collection is smart, chic and timeless and combines rattan with lacquered green wood. I love the vertical lines and gorgeous green hue of both these pieces. $425 (pendant) and $695 (wall light).
The interior design scene is an ever evolving space (that’s what we love about it right? The thrill of the new!), and 2019 looks set to deliver plenty more fabulous inspiration. From sustainable design to matte black and the enduring appeal of green, the upcoming Reed Gift Fairs Sydney is the perfect place to discover the latest interior trends and products when it takes place in February 2019. But before the event takes place, we’ve compiled a list of interior design trend predictions for the year ahead.
Matte black 2018 was a big year for black in interiors and I don’t see this trend waning anytime soon. A strong look for kitchens, where matte black reigned supreme, the flow-on effect will see black remain relevant in 2019 where we will see it make a strong appearance on the homewares scene too. Lighting, furniture, and home accessories will all take a walk on the dark side.
Sustainable/ethical design With the environment a hot-button topic at the moment, I think we’ll see a shift towards more sustainable and ethical design. People will be more concerned with an item’s provenance than ever before and we’ll see lots of sustainable fabrics and natural fibres on throws, cushions and furniture – jute, rice paper and clay will be big. The beauty of this trend is its ability to cross genres – it works across French Provincial, boho, coastal and Scandinavian inspired interiors and more.
Love That Homewares, stand T72
Green It seems our collective love affair with green is going nowhere. From jungle-inspired prints to the indoor plant trend (a trend that looks set in) green will remain relevant for 2019 interiors. In keeping with this idea, Taubmans named its paint colour ‘Night Watch’ its 2019 Colour of the Year. A deep, luxe green it’s the perfect way to bring the outdoors in and it’s a moodier alternative to bottle green that looks fabulous with on-trend black.
Love That Homewares, stand T72
Dark kitchens Remember when kitchens were almost universally white? Well that’s certainly a thing of the past if this year’s penchant for dark (mostly black) kitchens is anything to go by. A consistent theme on this year’s Block, dark kitchens are certainly having a moment and I see that continuing in 2019. Ranging from graphite to navy blue and black, the look is almost always matte in finish and door profiles range from settler style to ultra-minimal iterations. It’s also a look that doesn’t end with joinery – dark splash backs (tiled or otherwise), dark flooring and dark paint will be the look du jour for 2019.
Caravel Gifts and Homewares, stand QQ52
Art deco Given our love affair with the mid-century modern period has saturated interior design for many years now, I’m predicting the rise of art deco inspired interior furniture and homewares. Possibly the most glamorous design period in history, it’s already celebrated in the Hollywood Regency aesthetic (think curves, velvet, mixed metals and mirror) but I predict it’s a look that will cross over to the mainstream.
Annabel Trends, stand E47
Resort inspired style Perhaps it’s because we’d all rather be on holiday but resort-inspired style will be big a big interior trend in 2019. Think expansive bathrooms with decadent spa baths and rain shower heads, tropical scented candles and smatterings of rattan furniture paired with large tropical indoor plants. Aloha!
Kelly Lane Homewares, stand Q11KAS Australia, stand L29Mr Poppins+Co, stand DD18
Mixed metals From brass to gold, nickel, silver, bronze, pewter and copper, metallic finishes remain a strong trend that will continue in 2019. I wouldn’t mix more than two or three in a single space but there’s nothing like a touch of metal to inject a high-end, luxe feel.
Love That Homewares, stand T72
Reed Gift Fairs Sydney February 23-27 February 2019 ICC Sydney Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour
We caught up with stylist, interior designer and television presenter Juliet Love recently for a chat about summer interior trends and how to tackle a mood board before embarking on a new styling project. Not only does a mood board help to define and refine ideas but it’s a great source for you to refer back to as the room comes together.
Juliet Love
“Always start with a plan and work out what it is you want to achieve. Ask yourself how the room is going to be used and then start collecting anything that inspires you. It might be tear sheets from magazines, images from Pinterest, tile and fabric samples, paint swatches – anything that you love and that tells your story,” says Juliet
“You can then play around with your pieces on a corkboard or piece of cardboard. Edit as you go so you omit anything that isn’t working. You should start to see a theme emerging that will guide you,” says Juliet who shared her thoughts on summer 2019 styling trends too.
Sunset colors “The colors to watch out for in 2019 will be yellows and oranges reminiscent of pretty sunrises and sunsets. According to Pantone, shades such as Living Coral(just announced as colour of the year last week) and Turmeric will be in. Living Coral is a new take on the 1980’s classic peachy coral but the new hue has a gold and orange undertone making it more modern,” says Juliet.
“Positive, uplifting, and a nod to nature, these colours have come to the fore as a result of us focusing our attention on the environment and world around us. Incorporating these colours into your home can be as simple as a couple of new cushions, or as elaborate as splashing your walls with one of the intense hues for more impact.”
Natural stone “Natural stone is timeless and will cool a room down in the heat of summer. Amber Tiles has a great selection of natural stone choices – I particularly love travertine and limestone. You can also introduce some gorgeous patterned feature tiles for a summer vibe all year round. Encaustic tiles, or mosaics in blue shades reminiscent of the sea, are perfect for this. The right tiles are a vital element in any chic interior and can make or break a room,” says Juliet.
Rattan “Rattan is really popular again, so a couple of feature pieces in a light, bright space will work well for a summery feel. An oversized woven armchair in a natural fibre or an indoor hammock in a light fabric with fringing will also give that modern bohemian feel.”
Accessorise with art “Artworks of exotic destinations always work well – either paintings, prints or photographs of recent travels, blown up and framed. Printing photos in black and white often lends a more upmarket vibe if you’re using personal photos and will work with most colour schemes.”
Go troppo with leaves, flowers and coral “Elements of nature are a great touch for a summer vibe. Tropical leaves and fresh flowers in exotic shapes are an affordable update that will give your home instant pizzazz. I also love large pieces of coral and ginger jars as a summer statement. Just make sure the coral you choose is grown sustainably or is a quality artificial piece to protect our beautiful environment. Large pieces of ornamental coral and driftwood will also give your home a coastal feel, even if you’re miles from the water!”
Trailing plants “I love houseplants, and I’ve become quite good at keeping them alive after years of killing them off! It’s all about choosing the right species and placing them in appropriate spots in your house where they’ll thrive. My favourites at the moment are Zanzibar Gem, Lady Palms, succulents such as Hen and Chicks, and in particular, ivy trailing from shiny metallic pots from elevated positions such as bookshelves or floating shelving,” says Juliet.
Light it up “Anything light and bright featuring glass and woven natural fibres will help create an airy, light summery vibe. I love pendant lights as they create a dramatic focal point and become a design statement in the room so look out for these on your mood board too,” says Juliet.
Capra Designs etch pot: Hand crafted in small batches, this vintage inspired pot even comes with a handy tray so your plant can adequately drain. $69.
