Categories
Designers Expert Tips

The top 10 interior design trends for 2016/17

By Kerena Berry

When it comes to self-expression, interior design has become every bit as important as the outfit you’re wearing right now (hopefully you’re not reading this while wearing an ancient pair of trackie dacks). Like fashion, design trends change with the seasons, but here are 10 movements in interior design that will be making waves for the next 12 months.

1. Two-tone kitchens

Image source: Gisbert Poeppler
Image source: Gisbert Poeppler

Stark and bold, the two-tone kitchen purposely limits colour range to create diversity in other ways, most notably finishes. From afar, the simple palette is deceptive because on closer scrutiny, brave combinations of textures reveal the complexity of the design. Rustic finishes on cabinets may not marry well with marble benches in your imagination, but in reality can work beautifully, creating a dramatic textural statement brought to life by the two-tone approach.

2. Wall tiles outside the kitchen and bathroom

Image source: Bonnie and Neil
Image source: Bonnie and Neil

Wall tiles are on the move, no longer trapped in their traditional domains. They’re migrating from kitchens and bathrooms to become features in common areas, and the effect is stunning. Now that they’re making their mark as ornamental bling in living areas, the humble tile is now enjoying a rapid evolution as designers compete to think outside the box and produce work that is aesthetically and practically superior. Tile designers are pushing the boundaries of shape, colour and functionality.

3. Mirrors as decor

Image source: The Hoxton
Image source: The Hoxton

They’ve always been a handy way to trick the eye into believing a room has greater dimensions (or simply to make sure we’re gorgeous), but mirrors are now being used much more creatively. With an increasingly diverse range of shapes and colours, you can throw out your old notions of where a mirror belongs, and start considering them as a feature that will add vibrance to any room. As with the more unorthodox use of tiles, consider using mirrors as decorative elements rather than functional items.

4. Wallpaper becoming more a part of the room

Image source: Clarke & Clarke
Image source: Clarke & Clarke

Finally shedding the yolk of tradition, wallpaper is making a comeback by becoming a more active element in a room’s styling. Rather than a backdrop, it becomes a partner for furniture by matching wallpaper pattern with fabrics. This brave combination generates a striking effect on the eye that is currently inspiring a wallpaper renaissance.

5. High-gloss cabinetry

Image source: Kate Coughlin Interiors
Image source: Kate Coughlin Interiors

Always preferred for its durability, high-gloss is now producing startling results in modern designs. Rich and vibrant, high-gloss is a finish that continues to surprise, using its relationship with light and reflections to offer a range of bold and unpredictable effects.

6. Pendant lights

Image source: Edward Linacre
Image source: Edward Linacre

Initially used to produce clean lines and hidden sources of light, pendants have evolved and are refusing to be concealed. With rising popularity, they’re being used more creatively and can now be seen creeping into design plans as decorative elements. No longer limited to select spaces, we’re seeing pendant lights as a general preference, even in powder rooms. With the right planning, it’s easy to use these lights more artistically by creating interesting sequences and patterns.

7. Moody colours

Image source: Debi Treloar
Image source: Debi Treloar

Expect deep and moody colours contrasted with two-tone walls. This is the trend of the year and although it may seem brave, this stark juxtaposition seldom fails when designed well. The same combination can also create a lighter, upbeat atmosphere but there’s no doubt that the use of deeper colours creates a sense of comfort. For added impact within the darker tones, a feature mirror can add spark.

8. Sustainability

Image source: Elle Decoration UK
Image source: Elle Decoration UK

The customer is always right and more clients are insisting on materials that satisfy their ecological standards. Although designers don’t usually embrace limitations, we certainly welcome sustainability. The preference for organic, recyclable and upcycling materials is now a mainstream trend. Aesthetics and textures are no longer enough. Rather than a hurdle for designers, embracing this trend can lead to the use of materials with greater character.

-Kerena Berry is an interior designer and co-founder of Designbx, Australia’s online interior design solution.

Categories
Bathrooms Design DIY RENO ADDICT

5 design tips for your bathroom renovation

When it comes to renovating your bathroom there are many decisions to make. What is probably the biggest challenge is ensuring your design choices are both stylish and functional, and one of the best ways to guarantee you tick both these boxes is to get expert advice. Below I outline five design tips, with a particular focus on my expertise of tiling, to help make sure your bathroom makeover is a success!

1. Do it properly

Photo credit: Virtuel Reel
Photo credit: Virtuel Reel

My number one rule is if you’re going to renovate, do it properly. If you’re going to tile a bathroom, tile the whole room from floor to ceiling, to really give the space that wow factor.

2. Install a niche

Photo credit: DHD
Photo credit: DHD

Installing tiling features like niche shelving is a functional and aesthetic addition to your shower. A clever storage solution, a shower niche can eliminate the need to bend down to pick up your shampoo or have a grimy-looking shower tidy hanging by the shower head. Be sure to measure up your favourite bathroom products to be sure they’ll fit in any bespoke shelving. If you have a large space to work with in your bathroom, consider building a tiled niche wall to close off most of your shower. This will eliminate having any kind of shower screen.

3. Use feature tiling

Photo credit: Most Beautiful Things
Photo credit: Most Beautiful Things

Feature tiling in the bathroom is an absolute must and there are much more effective ways that just a little mosaic strip running up the wall. Consider these three options:

  • If you’re tiling around a bath area, have the floor tiling continue up the face of the bath to create a clean finish.
  • Tile the back wall (the first one you see as you walk into the room) with a different feature tile or continue the floor tile up the wall.
  • For a shower niche, tile the back with a feature mosaic, creating a distinct, stylish finish.

4. Install a stylish grate

Bounty Bermuda Smart Tile 1B
Photo credit: Sannine Bathrooms

Shower and floor drains are often overlooked. However, a modern grate is not only important for drainage but can add an architectural look to your bathroom. When selecting, be sure to look at your options and not just go with a standard square grate. Consider using ‘smart grates’, which are designed with a tile insert in the middle to blend into the flooring. These are designed to give the appearance of an invisible grate and are not only long-lasting and easy-to-clean, but can add a contemporary design element to your makeover.

5. Adopt creativity with your design

Photo credit: Homelife
Photo credit: Homelife

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box when it comes to the layout of your bathroom tiles. Consider using timber texture tiles and instead of laying them in a square bond, a herringbone pattern can add an extra creative edge.

— Daniel Picariello is one of Australia’s best young wall and floor tilers, who will be representing Australia in the ultimate trades and skills showdown, the 43rd WorldSkills Competition in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

Categories
Designers Homewares

Bonnie and Neil’s newest conservatory-inspired collection

One of Australia’s most popular independent textile brands, Bonnie and Neil, have released their latest collection of handmade homewares, Winter Garden.

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Featuring cushions, tableware, wall tiles and more, all products are hand screen printed on natural materials in their Melbourne studio. It’s this handcrafted, organic process that makes each piece unique.

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Inspired by historical conservatory gardens with their mosaic floors, glass ceilings, tapestries and ornate framework, the collection includes geometric designs, abstract florals and detailed tile patterns, as well as influences of lush plant life and birds.

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In keeping with Bonnie and Neil’s trademark vibrancy, the collection is full of deep jewel tones: emerald, indigo and blue, complemented with mustard and shades of pink.

Shop online.

Photography by Armelle Habib | Styling by Heather Nette King