Tag: metallics

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Kitchens RENO ADDICT

Laminex has biggest refresh in quarter of a century

Laminex has hit refresh on its colour collection with the most comprehensive update in more than 25 years. The new Laminex Colour Collection has been carefully curated for the Australian lifestyle with an expansive range of true-to-life woodgrains, minerals and metallics, as well as timeless whites and neutrals and the latest trends.

There are more greens than ever in the new Laminex collection

As an iconic Australian brand, Laminex has been a pioneer in decorative, surfaces for over 80 years, providing a product range for interior surfaces including benchtops, splashbacks, doors, walls and panels.

The new collection refines the range to 187 decors, including 41 new ones. The refinement and simplicity of the Laminex range now makes it even easier to navigate and select décors for residential and commercial projects.

The collection has been inspired by the natural landscape. From muted, organic greens to rich, earthy neutrals and sophisticated textural metallics and woodgrains that capture the colour, structure and feel of natural timbers. Inspiration has also been drawn from global forecasting and complementary industries, such as flooring, tapware, appliances and tiles. Each of the décors have been selected and crafted based on their relevance to the Australian way of life and interior design.

“Our commitment to design, innovation, quality and sustainability endures. That’s why we have produced a beautifully curated collection of decorative surfaces that can enhance any space. The new collection is perfect for a wide range of styles and applications and have been designed to stand up to the rigour of everyday life,” says Sacha Leagh-Murray, general manager marketing.

Not only does the collection provide a contemporary and diverse range of choice in surface design, laminate is a durable, hard-wearing material that is resistant to stains and scratches and easy to clean. The Woodgrain, Mineral and Metallic palettes offer the look of other desirable materials at an affordable price point.

Whites & Neutrals
While the ideal shade of white has the power to transform a space, finding the right white can prove challenging. The Laminex Whites palette has 12 tones ranging from cool shades, such as Polar White and Super White for a light, bright, contemporary look as well as creamy, vanilla tones, such as Parchment and tranquil Calm White that work beautifully in classic, traditional interiors.

The Neutrals palette reflects the direction of Australian design with 36 light and dark shades in warm and cool tones. The organic, mid tones can be used singularly as the hero (such as Seed, Possum and Spinifex) or layered with stronger colours and natural textures. There is an increase in green-based tones, appreciated for their calming quality trends. As well as an expansion of darker tones, with the introduction of Green Slate, Terril and French Navy.

The New French Navy

Woodgrains
The Laminex Woodgrains palette features 54 décors inspired by a range of natural timbers. The updated palette ranges in colour from pale ash to popular oaks and rich red-based timbers, offering more diversity with inspiration drawn from an array of sources, including salvaged planks, wooden beams and earthy walnuts. There is also more tactility with two textured finishes: Nuance is dual-gloss with a subtle linear and organic aesthetic, while Chalk is low-gloss with the look and feel of a natural veneer.

In addition to being cost-effective, woodgrain laminates offer greater durability than timber veneers, being more resistant to scratches and stains, providing three times more UV resistance.

Minerals
The Laminex Minerals collection features 36 décors that offer the timeless and coveted look of natural stone, marble and concrete. Designed for benchtop and splashbacks, the patterns vary from soft and delicate to heavy and intricate. Four of the décors can be matched with Essastone for seamless integration within a space.

Metallics
The new range of Metallics has 14 décors inspired by natural elements drawing influence from adjacent design industries, such as tapware and cabinetry handles enabling the surfaces to effortlessly integrate into a commercial or residential space. Bronze, copper, brass and platinum work beautifully in classic and urban spaces, while the softer tones of stainless steel, aluminum, and mirrored finishes are ideal for a modern environment.

Accents 
From soft pastels to bright and bold hues, the Accents palette has 35 décors designed to personalise a space. These bolder decors were the neutrals of the 1950s to 1970s, but today have new life, adding a pop of colour in predominantly commercial spaces. The revitalised palette features four new pastel décors – Aquamarine, Just Rose, Just Blue and Just Lilac – as well as Enamel, a bright, strong, mid-tone green with a warm undertone.

For more information

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Expert Tips

The top home trends to try in 2018, according to Pinterest

Credit: ru.pinterest.com via Pinterest

The results are in, and there’s a lot to look forward to in 2018! Wallpapered ceilings, giant knitting and finger tattoos are just a few of the emerging trends people on Pinterest are excited about. The Pinterest 100 has it all—100 trend predictions across Pinterest’s top categories backed by global data.

People use Pinterest to plan their lives, so rather than taking a look back at the year, Pinterest gives us a look forward, at what pinners are searching for and saving to do in the future. Every category in the fourth annual Pinterest 100 is full of surprises and must-tries, but of course there’s one category in particular we are interested in: the home!

Decorating a home is personal and evolves over time. The notion that design is never done couldn’t be more true; it’s what keeps pinners coming back. With over 14 billion ideas, home continues to grow with a 75% increase in pins year on year. From full renos to stylish accents, here’s what trends are set to be big in 2018.

Resort-inspired style: Spa-inspired bathrooms and rattan furniture bring the vacay vibes home.

Credit: decocrush via Pinterest

The magic of metallics: Metals mesh with any colour palette, but to really amp up a space, mix different finishes together.

Credit: ru.pinterest.com via Pinterest

Hello, terrazzo: The forgotten flooring of the ’70s is brightening up ceilings, entryways and everything in between.

Credit: Fall For DIY via Pinterest

The fifth wall: A statement ceiling can transform a room from the top down with bold paint, striking wallpaper or intricate texture.

Credit: vintageindustrialstyle.com via Pinterest

Beautiful to the bone: Bone inlaid tiles take an ordinary piece from meh to marvellous with maximalism drama and geometric designs.

Credit: Cityscape Bliss via Pinterest

Wood wins: Wall tiles and flooring in a herringbone pattern are versatile and add dimension to make any space more modern.

Credit: copperline.co via Pinterest

Statement doors: A colorful, painted front door or friendly message on a mat is the new way to welcome guests.

Credit: A Lady in London via Pinterest

Patterned plants: Houseplants, like the popular prayer plant, go beyond green, with vibrant, patterned foliage and flashes of colour.

Credit: minoo via Pinterest

Wall art is big: Bye bye blank space! Large posters, works of art and photography prints are blowing up.

Credit: Murals Wallpaper via Pinterest

Sage advice: Soften up a space with sage, the new neutral.

Credit: rooms-decoration.com via Pinterest

Start pinning now | 2018 trends

Categories
Styling

Haymes Paint’s new range of imperfect, textured finishes

Matt Polish

Launching today, the Artisan collection by Haymes Paint brings together a unique range of hand-crafted, imperfect, textured finishes; designed to transform a space, both inside and out. Divided into three core product ranges: Surface, Metallics and Textures, each has its own colour palette and application techniques. The extensive range of finishes, textures and colours ensures you won’t be short of options!

Surface – Gravity

The first range, Surface, offers an extremely versatile finish. With just one product, it can be applied in four ways: Bloom, Brushed, Gravity and Industrial, it also comes in 18 custom colours. Talk about versatility! The subtle qualities of the product bring out the beauty in the finish, giving your walls a contemporary yet timeless feel and adding a sense of movement and tactility.

Metallics – Matte Polish

The Metallics range was inspired by the Haymes team’s recent trip to Milan. A favourite of colour and concept manager Wendy Rennie, she says it stands out from its competition: “In the past, I have found the metallic finishes in paint to be too glossy and a bit tacky but this range provides a level of sophistication that takes metallics to a new level. My absolute favourite product is the Matte Polish, which we describe as understated silken metallic. It reminds me of the Venetian plaster look and in the Pink Drift colour it is exquisite.” Alongside Matte Polish, the collection encompasses Metal Trace, Real Iron, Real Copper and Patina, each offering gritty, high-end qualities and an ultra-premium finish.

Textures – Mortar
Textures – Sand

Last is the Textures range that pushes the boundaries in both residential and commercial settings. Each of the textured finishes: Rendercoat, Mortar, Soft Chalk and Sand, are available in their own colour ranges and have been carefully considered in the context of where they will achieve the best results, inside or out.

Metallics – Patina

While some of the finishes and techniques seem a bit daunting from the photos — I can’t be the only one who looked at the Surface range and thought ‘Agh!’ — Haymes promise it’s not that hard. “The finishes have been developed with the end consumer in mind, ensuring each effect is easily achieved,” says Wendy. “To support consumers we have uploaded instructional videos to our website. We also offer trained Haymes painters for those who prefer to remain hands off.”

For more information | Paint inspo

Categories
Furniture

The cheap & effective new product to hack your IKEA favourites

Listen up, Ikea lovers! There’s a new kid in town to easily make some of your most bargain furniture look expensive.

Stylkea offers fretwork overlay panels to make luxury-inspired furniture available to everyone. The panels are purposely designed to effortlessly customise classic Ikea pieces, including Malm, Kallax and Besta (coming soon). Similar products have been available in America for some time, but we now have our own version, right here in Australia!

The idea came to Kylie Hughes a couple of years ago while working on a home renovation with her husband. “I literally spent hours trawling through design sites and interiors magazines looking for stylish and affordable furniture,” says Kylie. “Ikea has such a great Scandi-inspired range, but I wanted to make their pieces more personalised – and they are the perfect blank canvas.”

A copywriter by trade, designing the panels while juggling her day job with being a mum hasn’t been without its challenges. “There have been a lot of late nights and weekends – and the self-doubt always manages to creep in. But I knew that I wanted: to build a product-based business doing something creative and artistic, so chipping away at Stylkea has been worth it.”

She looks to other designers for inspiration (with Jonathan Adler being at the top of the inspiration list) and utilises a range of materials built to withstand both trends and practical use. “I aim to create panels that capture very classic design styles – be they Moroccan, quatrefoil or Art Deco – that will look very sleek and sophisticated for ages to come.

“The PVC panels are UV stabilised, meaning they won’t fade in the sun, and are also completely paintable. Or you can leave them naked, because they will match your white IKEA furniture perfectly. And if you want to add glamour, we have a range of metallics in our aluminium composite panels.”

The best part about the panels is that you can be completely DIY inept and still pull off the luxurious look perfectly. The measurements and guesswork have been taken care of – it is literally as easy as wiping the furniture surface clean, peeling the sticky backing off the panel, and sticking it on to produce your own luxurious statement piece.

The panels are designed in-house on the Gold Coast, and Kylie hopes to extend that to the manufacturing process in the future.

“In the long run, I would invest in my own machinery and control the whole process from start to finish. I would also love to extend the range to include more designs as well as knobs and handles that pair perfectly with the panels.

“Ultimately, I want Stylkea to be a one-stop-shop for achieving the designer look on a budget. People deserve to live in beautiful, personalised spaces, whatever their budget.”

Shop online with prices from just $9.95.

Categories
Designers Kitchens

Hot trend: Darren Palmer talks metallic kitchens

One of the year’s hottest trends, metallics are big news across everything from fashion to homewares and now kitchens are having their turn too. “Metallics are one of the biggest trends of 2016 and kitchens are the perfect place to introduce a little bit of bling in almost any colour scheme,” says interior designer and The Block judge Darren Palmer.

And while door fronts, bench tops, kickboards and appliances are a kitchen’s staple items, it’s the inserts, insets, handles and tapware that can really make the space sing. “Any experienced designer will tell you the difference between a basic kitchen and a designer one is all in the details,” adds Darren.

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The white kitchen

If, like most people, your kitchen is white, you’ve got the perfect canvas on which to project your metallic desires. “A simple white kitchen will allow you to add drama in really any metallic you desire, whether it be gold, brass, copper, aged brass, chrome, stainless steel or bronze. The simplicity of the palette leaves you with myriad options to dress it up,” says Darren.

MA002

The metal trend

While copper and gold have both been trending like mad for the last year, this year’s EuroCucina fair in Milan saw the return of metal as a key kitchen feature. “From shelving units to cupboard and drawer fronts to sheet metal forming the benchtop and sides of whole island benches, metals are at the forefront of modern kitchen design,” says Darren.

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Metallic accents

But for those of you that simply want dip your toes into the trend, small metallic accents may be just the ticket. “If the idea of a full metal kitchen is too much for you, handles in brass, chrome, gold or silver tones are an excellent way of introducing colour and personality into your kitchen space. Adding metallic pendant lights, accessories and serving ware is another brilliant way to add in that little something extra in the metallic department,” says Darren.

See more kitchen inspiration here.

Categories
Expert Tips Furniture Homewares Styling

8 homewares trends for autumn/winter 2016

By Chris Tourgelis

As we move away from summer, it’s not just the weather that changes but our interiors too. Gone are the bright and warm homewares and in their place are bold metallics, dark shades and rich textures. Below OPUS’s Chris Tourgelis shares his eight top trends for the impending seasons.

1. MetallicsmetallicsStill very strong and now getting a little darker in tone (moving away from bright copper). Dark gunmetal metallics and black metallic seem to be happening right now and copper is getting dirtier and darker in tone.

2. Rich organics

The whole marble aesthetic is not going away for now. Customers love raw marble mixed with very raw and rough timber homeware accessories. Some of our best-selling new items combine these two elements perfectly (like paddle cutting boards made of marble and timber).

3. Glass is not just glass

glass

When you’re talking about homewares you simply can’t ignore glassware and vases. This season the look is more organic and less polished, almost a little industrial. This goes back in with the rich organics trend mentioned above. In some cases glassware is also being combined with those dirty metallics in applications like ornate jars.

4. Colours

colours

Dusty pink, navy, emerald green and metallics are very strong right now. These tones are evident right across the homewares industry, from accent pieces to furniture and right throughout soft furnishings.

5. Rich textiles

Lots of velvet, organic looking (imperfect) rich woollen rugs and cushions and lots of Moroccan-inspired pieces dominated this year’s trade shows.

6. Natural furniture

natural

Marble tables combined with rough timber is a very popular look. Rattan furniture is still very ‘in’ and the trend here is thick cut bamboo (lightly stained) with lots of lovely geometric forms.

7. Kids stuff

Educational toys that are also environmentally friendly steal the show. Parents are now looking for durable and less disposable toys that are also ‘green’ and are a bit more upmarket.

8. Green kitchen

Gadgets are still big but there is a big shift towards healthy eating and more natural ways of living. One of the big hits of last year was the vegetable ‘spiraliser’ which makes vegetable pasta. Customers are also really into healthy ways to store food and beautiful ways to hold household waste (Joseph and Joseph are leading the way in this category). We now sell waste bins that are just under $500. There was simply no call for this sort of thing three or five years ago!

All the products pictured are available at OPUS. 

— Chris Tourgelis is the managing director and gift guru at OPUS, Australia’s longest running gift and homeware store in Sydney’s Paddington.