Categories
Design

Pantone Colour of the Year 2020 ‘Classic Blue’

Pantone’s much-anticipated 2020 Colour of the Year was revealed a few days ago, and I’ll admit to finding it a bit underwhelming at first – it certainly pales next to last year’s vibrant and inspiring shade. But while the colour does have an almost corporate feel, there’s no denying the enduring appeal of blue – what better hue is there to provide comfort through uncertain times?

Pantone Classic Blue

“We are living in a time that requires trust and faith. It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed by Pantone Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on. A boundless blue evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky, Classic Blue encourages us to look beyond the obvious to expand our thinking,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of The Pantone Color Institute.

Annie Sloan ‘Napoleonic Blue’ paint: Taking inspiration from Pantone’s Classic Blue, Annie Sloan’s ‘Napoleonic Blue’ is reminiscent of the ultramarine and cobalt blue pigments used in neoclassical interiors.

Annie Sloan Napoleonic Blue

“Blue is one of my favourite colours, especially in interiors, because of its calming, recessive qualities. I’m so glad Pantone have chosen to highlight this blue for 2020, as I think we all need a little calm and tranquility for the coming year!” says Annie Sloan.

Annie Sloan Napoleonic Blue

Artistudio ‘Botanicals 1’ limited edition print: Artist Arti Shah combines her background in graphic design, painting and photography to create her unique works. I love this gorgeous, moody blue floral. From $395 (unframed)

Aritstudio print

Canning Vale Spendour bath towels in Mezzanotte Blue: A staple for over 30 years, this towel range is constantly updated to reflect the trends; Classic Blue is in the current mix. From $19.99 (face washer)

Canning Vale towels

Madoki Pantone 2020 Classic Blue and concrete clock: Incorporating the hue quite literally, this  minimal clock comes with a choice of frames including natural bamboo, black and white. $46.67.

Pantone clock

Highgrove Bathrooms Oliver wall hung vanity: A fresh alternative to the usual neutral suspects, this deep blue vanity is a fabulous hero piece for the bathroom. From $458.

Highgrove Bathrooms Oliver vanity

Highgrove Bathrooms Oliver Vanity

Adairs Home Republic Vespa denim blue pot: Useful as a place to store knick-knacks or your favourite plant, the textured finish is the best thing about this pot. $19.99.

Adairs denim pot

Fenton & Fenton Lapis Lazuli tray: Made from Lapis Lazuli (which usually exhibits a varied but deep, celestial blue), this is one statement making tray. $310.

Fenton & Fenton

Globewest Theodore Louis occasional chair: Merging classic French style with Art Deco details, this velvet chair has a tufted back and brass-tipped tapered legs. It’s the perfect blue accent piece. $1605.

Globewest chair

Check out Pantone’s 2016 colours of the year – Rose Quartz & Serenity

Categories
Art

Fenton & Fenton’s Autumn group art show is a stunner

The celebrated Melbourne interiors store Fenton & Fenton is back this Autumn with another fabulous group art show and the pieces are available to peruse and purchase in-store and online until May 17.

Artworks by Megan Grant and Kristen Daniels

The exhibition presents a chance to glean some styling inspo too – from art arrangement ideas to how to dress your walls, floors and little nooks, there’s plenty of creativity on display. The paint colours, by Haymes Paint, are also particularly inspiring. Who would have thought that such large swathes of intense colour could look so amazing?

Maryanne Moodie’s wall hangings feature on the left

A standout for me is the work of Carly Williams, an abstract artist living in Victoria’s Daylesford. I love her work’s bohemian feel, its use of moody colours and the subtle nod to indigenous art. A former film set painter, Carly is now a full-time artist who is inspired primarily by tribal motifs and mid-century art.

I love Carly Williams’ work, featured here on the top left and right

Noosa based self-taught artist Michael Bond also features in the exhibition – his bold, colourful abstracts are highly coveted. The work of Geelong abstract artist Kristen Daniels also features alongside the work of Megan Grant who takes her subject matter from suburban landscapes.

Artworks by Michael Bond (left) and Carly Williams (right)

New York-based weaver and art teacher Maryanne Moodie also features in the exhibition. We’ve cooed over her beautiful wall hangings before and her latest output doesn’t disappoint.

Artworks by Michael Bond and Carly Williams

Photography: Armelle Habib | Styling: Heather Nette King | Paint: Haymes Paint

Shop online

Categories
Art Furniture Homewares

Fenton & Fenton’s new spring collection is a riot of colour

Further cementing its position as a one-stop-shop for highly covetable furniture, lighting, soft furnishings, rugs and art, Fenton & Fenton return this spring with a gorgeous new range that features a vibrant palette to reflect the changing of the seasons. You’ll also find plenty of the signature eclecticism the brand is famous for.

Fenton August 2016_05 copyThe store’s art offering is always brilliant and the new works are no exception – there are new pieces from Megan Grant, Kristen Daniels, Carly Williams and Helen McCullagh for spring. The store’s unique patterned rugs are back in new colour ways and you can also find fabulous new silk carpets and towels created by Mr Fenton too. As per usual, the rugs don’t disappoint – they’re some of the best we’ve seen and will instantly transform any space.

Fenton August 2016_16 copy
That rug! Swoon!

Exclusive to Fenton & Fenton, the new spring range also boasts a pretty gorgeous collection of furniture and lighting, designed for both indoor and outdoor living. “The furniture is both elegant and playful and designed to help us enjoy a colourful, expressive life and remind us of the joy that spring brings”, says the company founder Lucy Fenton.

Fenton August 2016_08 copy

The Fenton & Fenton range is developed and inspired by Lucy’s globe-trotting adventures. “The curated collection of art, furniture and homewares are sourced and inspired by our travels around the globe. It’s then skillfully crafted using a mix of materials like marble, timber, silk and leather to create visual harmony,” says Lucy.

Fenton August 2016_10 copy

Signature pieces include the new Woodrow collection (that was designed in-house) and the chic leather range – Fenton & Fenton fans will be pleased to hear that the brand’s popular and versatile folding chairs are back for spring alongside more bench options, dining and occasional chairs too.

Fenton August 2016_22 copy

Shop online or in the brand’s Prahran showroom.

Photography: Armelle Habib | Styling: Heather Nette King

Categories
Designers Homewares

The year that was for Design Twins & their concrete homewares

We love supporting small businesses in the interiors and homewares industry and last year, one couple (in love and business) stood out. They were Crystal Bailey and Mitchel Lindsay from Design Twins and we are a bit smug with ourselves for having been the first blog to feature their gorgeous concrete wares!

Crystal and Mitch of Design Twins
Crystal and Mitch of Design Twins

The business was in fact, only launched six months ago in June. “The adventure has become a dream come true,” Crystal says. “We spent the start of the year working on original designs that no one had ever seen before and decided to make them all out of an industrial obsession with concrete! It turned out to be so much fun that we would start selling them at the markets. We started to gain a fair amount of interest on social media when we started participating in Interiors Addict’s 7 Vignettes challenge (thank you for being the reason I woke up so early, half asleep in my PJs to take a styled shot!), so setting up a website seemed like a natural thing to do. Once our website was live, our orders were so huge, that we had to move out of our tiny little apartment and into a home with a workshop. It was bittersweet, because we still miss that cute little place on the beach!”

design twins 3 interiors addict

design twins 2 interiors addict

A few weeks later, the couple started receiving a large amount of interest from stockists around the country and decided to move Design Twins into a warehouse, where they juggled business with other jobs and family and then Crystal found out she was six weeks pregnant on her 30th birthday!

(I told you they had a big year!)

“The following month, we moved home and our warehouse again, but it all finally works perfectly and we are working on a brand new collection,” says Crystal. “It’s definitely the hardest we have ever worked, but everything has been so worth it. We have had our products featured in our favourite magazines such as Real Living, Marie Claire and Inside Out and currently have our products stocked in the most beautiful homewares stores such as Fenton & Fenton, Ahoy Trader and The Minimalist. We were also invited to teach sold out concrete classes at The School by Megan Morton.”

design twins concrete cups interiors addict

design twins 4 interiors addict

In October, Design Twins exhibited at Grand Designs Live and they had a sale event on Temple & Webster.

“All of this, with huge amounts of online orders, and it’s been one crazy, fun, exhausting but rewarding year for us! Everything happened so naturally that we actually can’t explain how it all happened, but we have always remained inspired by others, constantly designing and true to ourselves.”

Crystal credits stylist Megan Morton for the initial inspiration to launch the business, after attending one of her workshops, which she described as life-changing.

Shop online at Design Twins.

The duo have just announced they are taking on new stockists. Contact them via their website if you’re interested.

If you’re a homewares startup, get in touch and share your products with us!