There’s no denying the enduring appeal of monochrome but it’s certainly had a massive resurgence of late with Pinterest saves for ‘monochrome’ ideas up 115 per cent globally since last year. From slick, ultra-modern interpretations to more traditional spaces, the kitchen and bathroom scene has never looked more black and white.
Kitchens Black joinery, black tapware and black light fittings are the current order of the day with saves for ‘monochromatic kitchen’ ideas up 230 per cent over the past six months in Australia. And with all that dark colour, it’s no surprise that white, and often milky marble finishes, are brought into the mix to provide contrast.
Bathrooms With saves for ‘monochromatic bathroom’ ideas up 30 percent in Australia since last year, it’s safe to say that black and white are most certainly back in the washroom too. While black tapware has been trending for a while, black shower frames are suddenly flooding our feeds also. In fact, from black exterior paint to black kitchen sinks, ebony Pinterest searches are up 252 per cent globally since 2017.
Patterned monochrome tiling (on the floor and wall) is a big look at the moment. I love monochromatic cement encaustic tiles (as in the image below). They’re a great way of incorporating pattern and texture in a way that is hard to tire of, given that they work like a neutral.
Relaxing in the bath has never been more enjoyable for a Victorian family who for $12,000, have completely transformed their beige bathroom into a bold, industrial masterpiece.
BeforeAfter
“The main black tiles for the floor and bath have a rustic charm about them which adds some texture to the room. The larger tiles are paired with bold black and white marble mosaics in a chevron pattern which frames the window and adds so much personality to the little space,” said designer Fiona Parry-Jones whose brief was to transform the small bathroom into an interesting and bold space for guests and family to use.
“I then added some simple subway tiles to lighten the walls and compliment the feature tiles. The vanity is a gorgeous walnut veneer that adds warmth to the monochromatic room.”
After
Homeowner Anna Smith is thrilled with the cosmetic makeover which took six weeks and also included a new mirror, bath and tapware. “The new tile colour is really modern and makes the house feel much fresher and newer when walking past the bathroom.”
The black and white tiles are now her favourite feature, although they did prove a little tricky to lay. “The biggest challenge for the tiler was mitering an edge for the window reveal in the chevron tile,” said Anna.
After
The subway tiles were the biggest bargain along with the custom timber veneer vanity which according to Anna “wasn’t too expensive and came up really well.”
As for advice for other would-be renovators considering a bathroom makeover, Anna says “when using small tiles as a feature wall, make sure it’s a wall that doesn’t have any external corners – keeps things simple!” Anna also recommends finding “trades that you feel comfortable with rather than picking the cheapest and listen to what advice they offer. Also seek recommendations and referrals off friends, family and workmates.”
This season, Sheridan collaborated with renowned Australian stylist, Steve Cordony, and asked him to show us how to transform your home with hotel inspired luxury.
“The hotel luxe look is about checking into a lovely hotel and having crisp sheets and warm towels – so why shouldn’t we apply this to our everyday lives? As with everything, it’s the small details that make your space beautiful and more importantly make you feel special,” Steve says.
Hotel Luxury: three different ways.
“Structure is important when creating a hotel luxe bedroom. Clean crisp lines, and tailored pillows create a sense of elegance and formality. I love layering with European pillows, with standard in front and a smaller breakfast accent cushion in front. I love having a throw at the base of the bed and using a bed topper and deluxe feather and down quilt all create a luxuriously indulgent looking bed. Each look is about creating a contemporary, luxurious space that feels indulgent and super chic while remaining warm and inviting.”
Contemporary chic. Everyone knows hotel luxury begins with layering of high quality 1200 thread count sheeting. With Palais Luxe in Dove, I wanted to make sure the environment was light, airy and more feminine. I love using shades of grey and this particular tone of grey is warm but still contemporary. I kept the accessories monochromatic and accented with a touch of gold to give a hint of the unexpected.
Palais Lux 1200TC Queen Quilt Cover $599.95, Tailored Pillowcase $99.95, Tailored European Pillowcase $99.95, Standard Pillowcase Pair $109.95, Queen Flat and Fitted Sheet $269.95 in Dove, Lanham Silk Pillowcase in Snow $99.95.
Boutique style. The classic Millennia receives a boutique-hotel makeover in a new midnight tone. Deep navy is one of my favourite colours as it has so much depth and the subtle stripe pattern of the bed linen adds that touch of sophistication. I accented with a tonal colour palette of natural rattan on the bedhead, which gives great texture, aged brass, gold, mirror and chrome.
Millennia 1200TC Queen Quilt Cover $599.95, Tailored Pillowcase $99.95, Tailored European Pillowcase $99.95, Standard Pillowcase Pair $109.95, Queen Flat and Fitted Sheet $269.95 in Midnight.
Graphic and masculine. Anyone who knows me, knows I love black and white – it’s a classic and luxurious palette. For styling 1200 thread count Palais in Silver I wanted to create a graphic, more masculine look. Keeping the shapes strict and formal with accessories and furniture work perfectly with the structure and subtle pattern of the linen. Think Tom Ford meets Palm Beach.
Palais 1200TC Queen Quilt Cover $599.95, Tailored Pillowcase $99.95, Tailored European Pillowcase $99.95, Standard Pillowcase Pair $109.95 and Queen Flat Sheet $269.95 in Silver. Vachon wool throw in Smoke $249.95.
Create a sanctuary. The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the home. It is a sanctuary that should feel personal and comfortable and styled like any other room in the home. Simple ideas such as rolling or folding hand towels on a side table beside the bath with some fresh flowers and a scented candle adds an elegant touch. There is nothing more indulgent than monogramming and having personalised initials on your towels – it’s all about the details!
Palais Hand Towel $32.95 and Bath Towel $54.95 in Silver and French Blue, Personalisation additional $15.00.
Taking the uncertainty out of sourcing a complete look for your home, brand new online store Nathan + Jac, offers limited edition packs to style an entire space. Some would call it cheating but when it looks this good and you don’t necessarily have the “eye”, why not?!
A set of 3 cushions from the Monochrome look is $345
Featuring coveted and on-trend interior accessories, the pieces have been hand picked by Melbourne stylists, mother/daughter duo Tammy Nathan and Jacqui Zarkovic from Styling Properties, with Bec Astrinakis from Rebecca Ellie Studio.
Envy accessory packs start at $150
With three collections: Monochrome, Envy and Wild Heart, each focuses on a mixed vignette of unique items that together form a cohesive and contemporary form. Sold as complete looks at an accessible price point, the full room or bedroom packs include a careful edit of homewares, accessories, artworks, soft furnishings, rugs and small furniture pieces. Smaller accessory packs, coffee table vignettes, gift packs and cushion packs are also available. Sounds right up our street!
The complete Wild Heart living room pack is $1,865 with accessories only from $85
The Nathan + Jac concept is an ideal way to invest in pieces for the home, providing a certainty in the way looks are pulled together that is sure to excite all avid interiors lovers.
In the world of interiors — as in fashion — trends come and go seasonally and sometimes with even more frequency. Unlike in the fashion industry though, there are often looks and colours that have longevity. These three trends are ones that I’ve seen around for a year or more and are continuing to evolve and gather momentum.
Photo: Angus & Celeste
1. INDOOR PLANTS
From succulents to fiddle leaf figs and ferns, this is a major trend that isn’t going away. Whether you opt for large or small plants, groupings or standalone pots, the addition of living greenery to your home will soften the edges and make your space seem calmer and more welcoming. A bonus of lush indoor greenery is the gorgeous array of pots, buckets and hanging planters that are now available.
Trends are all about contrast, and this one juxtaposes nicely with other current looks like the softness of pastels and the luxe of metallics. The contemporary simplicity of this monochromatic colour scheme has seen it grow in popularity over the past year or two. You can incorporate the black and white trend into your home in small ways, or be brave and go all out and remove all traces of colour!
This is one trend that’s been around for some time now, and it shows no sign of losing its edge — we are still crushing on triangular patterns, grids and geometrics. The versatility and adaptability of geometric shapes and patterns is ensuring longevity in homewares from rugs to ceramics, tea towels to bed linen. A new variation of the geo trend is the Memphis look which is enjoying a revival from the eighties.
Whether you embrace trends with open arms and transform your living spaces often, or you dabble and mix and match with your existing style, you can have fun with these looks. Even adding a few plants, some new homewares or a key piece of furniture can change up the look of a room and breathe new on-trend life into it.
Whether they’re a signage, retro, travel, transport or typography fan, these hand painted train station sign artworks would make a great, personalised Christmas gift for someone and there’s still just time to get your order in.
Artist Johnny Spiller’s idea stemmed from a drawing he did looking across the platforms of Sydney’s Central Station and passing the signs there every day for five years.
Johnny’s drawing
“I really wanted to make a replica CENTRAL sign for my wall at home. Once I did, I knew how striking and unique it looked, and how cool it would be to let people customise them with a destination close to their heart – station or no station! I showed a few people and they loved the idea. The bold monochrome look also fits well with the black and white theme of my drawings and works with any decor.”
Johnny knew he wanted his signs to be high quality and command attention. Each one is handmade in his Sydney studio with the signs and letters individually painted so they look just like the originals that inspired him. “It’s time consuming as each laser cut letter needs to be primed and carefully finished,” he says. “There is also a great deal of care in selecting the letter height for optimum spacing on the sign, and the hardest part – making sure the letters are fixed straight on the final sign!”
Each sign comes packed into a sturdy, hand-branded box for safe delivery. They can be hung on the wall or displayed free-standing on furniture or a shelf.
If you’re looking for a special Christmas, wedding, birthday or housewarming gift, look no further. You saw them first on Interiors Addict!
Large signs are 210mm high x 980mm long ($349) and the small signs ($159) are 140mm high x 640mm long.
Into the Fold is a new brand of outdoor cushions designed and made on the NSW North Coast.
Although it’s often tempting to go crazy with bright colours for your outdoor area, I really like the idea of keeping things monochrome and letting nature do the talking. And these designs are pretty cool, huh? Penelope Hill took matters into her own hands when she couldn’t find any outdoor cushions she loved. Hers are made from waterproof canvas but there’s no reason you couldn’t use them inside too if you wanted to. Because they’re all in the same palette, you could have some fun mixing and matching.
AND they come in floor cushion size too!
One lucky reader will win a pair of 50x50cm cushions of their choice. To be in with a chance, simply comment below why your outdoor area needs a spruce up by midnight next Friday 14 November 2014. For everyone else, there’s 20% off any order until the end of Tuesday. Use discount code interiorsaddict at checkout.
This competition is now closed. The discount offer applies until midnight Tuesday 11 November 2014.
One of the many benefits of working from home, is having your pick of pretty desk accessories rather than the standard corporate and practical choices. There’s definitely nothing dull about Country Road’s gorgeous new homewares in this department.
When I previewed them some months back, your reaction on Instagram suggested you loved them as much as I did, especially the gold items (if you’re taking any of these babies into a shared office, you may want to make sure you write your name on them somewhere). The good news is, it’s all now available to buy in store and online.
My favourites are the gold Dakota scissors ($14.99), Kala pen holder ($39.95) Kala letter stand ($49.95) and Mio brass paperweight ($24.95). The perspex choices are also great, practical, and will go with anything.
It’s no surprise that Belle’s interior design editor, the hugely talented Sydney stylist and friend of Interiors Addict Steve Cordony, has great taste. Here’s what he’s hoping for from Santa this year, and it’s all a bit monochrome…
Kelly Wearstler marble trapezoid: “It doesn’t do much but it’s beautiful. And sometimes we need useless ornaments, just because!”
I love discovering new, independent, local brands, and Billy Heckenberg is certainly one of those! How great are these zippered cushions? They’re designed to look like they’re drawn with texta that’s not quite filled in between the lines!
Maddy Duggan is the woman behind them, and she told me how the brand is in fact named after her great grandfather, William Heckenberg. Family’s important to her and she grew up on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, surrounded by creativity and encouragement. “An obsession with art, design and photography throughout my life led me to complete a degree in Fine Arts at UNSW College of Fine Arts. From this point on, you could be sure to find me sitting at a sewing machine or with a paintbrush in hand, in a constant quest for creative fulfilment.”
Just when you think Dinosaur Designs have done everything gorgeous there is to do with colour, they go and wow me with black and white. Not only is the monochrome palette timeless and easy to incorporate in most homes, I absolutely LOVE what’s going on here with the splattered effect. Divine.
As with everything they do, no two pieces are exactly the same, and I love that.
