Wednesday, 9 March 2016

Post 6: Mad About Nancy

It wasn’t until I’d finished Nancy Meyers’ Something’s Gotta Give that I understood just why I had loved it so much… It was that god damn beautiful house! Set in the Hamptons, Meyers created a glorious ode to American beachside mansions, featuring a divine world class kitchen, vases brimming with hydrangea and crisp white slip covered sofas. It was an absolute dream, and a character in its own right. It was this house that created waves amongst the design-frenzied viewers around the world, cementing Meyers as the director cum set designer in Hollywood.
The nursery in Father of The Bride II
Jack Nicholson reclining on the lounge in the Something's Gotta Give set
Born in Pennsylvania and beginning her career as a production assistant on The Price Is Right, Meyers slowly but surely edged her way into the world of film. She jumped into script development, and from there landed her first producing, script writing and directorial roles (IMDb). It was really Meyers’ 6th film release in 1991, Father of the Bride (as well as its 1995 sequel) that provided her with a platform to dazzle audiences with her love of residential interior design for the first time. A classic Americana style, soft creamy hues and feminine detailing created a whimsical backdrop for these feel good titles.
Cameron Diaz's LA home in The Holiday
Fast forward to 1998 and Meyers brought the cult classic The Parent Trap to cinemas - a revelation for tweens everywhere and the kick off of Lindsay Lohan’s much documented rise to fame. Hallie and Annie’s two residences (one a rambling ranch in a Californian vineyard, the other a chic London townhouse) hypnotised young girls everywhere, transporting them to a dreamland of beautiful things and beautiful places. I can still remember the first time I watched this film as a young girl, starry-eyed and full of sighs. It’s influences like these that can potentially light a fire for interior design that will last a lifetime.
Another shot of the LA home in The Holiday
It’s 2003, and Meyers releases her most celebrated film to date featuring that stunning Hamptons home - Something’s Gotta Give. As Meyers acknowledges during a talk at the West Hollywood Pacific Design Centre, the creation of the home she dubs “every woman’s dream house” took plenty of research and persistence: “I saw 50 houses in the Hamptons. No one would rent to us. So I took photos of everything and took ideas from the best of what we saw.” (Abramovich, 2012)
Anne Hathaway's Brooklyn home in The Intern
Meyers latest film featuring Robert Deniro and Anne Hathway is The Intern, where Meyers injects her famous sense of style into a converted warehouse Brooklyn office. Glass, black iron, concrete floors and pops of exposed brick create a trendy, New York vibe which I’m sure plenty of viewers will now be lusting after in their own homes.
Anne Hathaway's bedroom from The Intern
So here’s a cheers to Nancy Meyers, and may she continue to shine a spotlight on beautiful interiors for years to come!
The Intern's Brooklyn office set


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Post 5: Anything But Neutral About Neutrals

When people diss neutrals in front of me, it’s safe to say I’ll get a little emotional.
“That room is crying out for some colour.”
“Beige is for beige people.”
“It’s so… boring.”

No, no, no, no, no! 
Neutrals are elegant and chic in this formal lounge
Come on, people! Have you never lounged on a French linen day bed whilst cotton sheers gently billowing in the wind framed the view beyond? Have you not holidayed on the cliff tops of Santorini, your luxuriously white-washed studio apartment gloriously stark against the vibrant azure of the oceans below? Have you never enjoyed the rustic simplicity of a beach cottage, coloured dove grey with timber bleached by the ocean spray? Alright, I understand I’m getting a tad melodramatic, but I truly am passionate about this topic…
Rustic timber warms this neutral scheme
To me, a neutral colour palette sets the ideal backdrop for living. It allows beautiful raw materials and luxurious ornaments alike to shine, it sits in unity with lush gardens and highlights architectural details without distracting from them. It is timeless, calming and elegant. 
Rustic brick shines with monochromatic tones 
Neutrals in a psychological sense are representative of nature, purity, elegance and harmony (Peterson, M. 2007). They are serene, yet can create incredible impact - think a striking black abstract against a white wall. 
A black and white exterior is timeless, yet modern
As many scientists agree, human beings are designed to live surrounded by nature. It’s been found that those working in clinical environments perform much better after taking a break surrounded by trees and grass, that people who garden are generally happier and less stressed, and that those who live in leafier locations have improved attitudes (Green, J. 2011). Looking to nature as the source of inspiration for our interiors is not only aesthetically beautiful, but good for the mind and soul too.
Serene grey tones characterise this beach home
So if you’re looking to re-decorate, or mix up your current look, why not turn your attention back to the dreamy neutrals that nature has provided us with. I can assure you, your sense of style (and mental state!) will thank you for it. 
The interior of a Santorini hotel
Brown-based neutrals are calming and versatile in this house

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Post 4: Blast From The Past

70s is back, baby. A prominent interior design trend of the year to come, the 70s look is luxe, it’s textural, it’s glamorous and it thrives off metallic detailing; what’s not to love?!
A modern interpretation of 70s pastels
As design icon Jonathan Adler notes, people should “capture the decade’s excess with over-the-top accessories,” (Adler, J. 2016). Muted metallics like brass are huge, appearing on everything from mirrors and tap ware to table legs and objet d’art. Geometric patterns appear boldly on textiles, whilst feminine curves and streamlined designs characterise many of the vases, sculptures and canisters adorning consoles and buffets. 
Jonathan Adler Jacques Bench
As Pantone’s Colours of the Year for 2016 suggest, milky saturated 70s pastels will be a hit throughout 2016. The creamy fairy floss ‘Rose Quartz’ would look right at home on a fabulously 70s velvet-cushioned perspex ottoman, as would the divinely mauve ‘Serenity’, which reminds us of dreamily-hued hydrangea.
A 70s dining setting
As the resurgence of 70s style picks up the pace, it is obvious that furniture silhouettes are following suit, too. Legs are becoming finer and tapered, wire bases are popping up on tables and plinths, and sharp angular designs are being replaced by sexy, smooth curves. The current 70s reinterpretation is unabashedly feminine, utterly luxurious and dramatically artistic. 
Pantone's Colours of the Year
But how do we interpret this look for a modern, Australian abode? 


One of the easiest ways is by playing with colour. As Dulux’s Andrea Lucena-Orr explains, “Colour combinations can be used in unexpected ways to help create a more youthful and playful space” (2015, domain.com.au). So embrace the unique and opt for an element of surprise - take a leaf out of Pantone’s book and pair pastel pink and mauve in the lounge room, team brass accessories with classic dove grey in the bathroom, or opt for caramel furs cascading down burnt orange dining chairs in your entertaining space. I know I’ll be!

70s-inspired geometric pattern
A modern dining room featuring 70s vibes
A 70s-inspired lounge room
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Post 3: The Art of Adding Art

Art is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or that expresses important ideas or feelings”. Art is so much more than the commonly perceived canvas; is encompasses statement crystal formations, displayed collections and gallery walls to murals, textiles and everything in between.

Create scenery in a windowless room
Introducing art into your own home does not need to be an exercise in exorbitant expense, or traditional ideals. The classic wall-mounted canvas is a classic for a reason, however there are myriad other ways to inject some artistic flair into your surroundings.
Explore unique framing options
As designer Lauren Liess noted in Country Living magazine, a collection of vintage oil paintings creates “makeshift scenery” in a windowless kitchen, unexpected objects with texture add “organic style to a space”, whilst unmounted canvasses or posters tacked to the wall create a “casual, come-as-you-are vibe” (Liess, 2015, Country Living). The presentation of the artwork is as important as the artwork itself.
Consider sculpture
Use art to inject colour and drama
When looking to introduce artwork, look for bare walls or gaps in your room that require adornment. Does the space need a large scale piece for maximum impact? Is there room for a detailed gallery wall? Or are you only requiring a small addition for a hit of texture?
Be creative - art doesn't need to be a painting
Or, alternatively, approach the introduction of art in reverse. Do you have a stunning collection of antique Mexican tin crosses that deserve to be a showpiece? A prized woven tapestry from Zimbabwe you can’t bear to keep hidden in a cupboard? Select their position in the home and re-work the room around them, creating a powerful focal point. 

There are no rules! Be bold, be brave!
Create an interchangeable art wall

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Post 2: Paper Packing A Punch

Dating back to 16th Century England (Apartment Therapy, apartmenttherapy.com), there’s no denying wallpaper has had a long and significant impact on interiors through the ages. From luxurious damasks and whimsical chinoiserie scenes to vast panoramas and modern angular patterns, wallpaper has evolved over the centuries, recently reviving as a bold and versatile design statement. 
A 16th Century English wallpaper design
As leading wallpaper manufacturers predict, 2016 wallpaper trends are following the same train of thought as interiors in general - a focus on natural materials, ‘aged’ prints and artisan-inspired hand painted effects is in full swing (Walls Republic 2015, FlavorPaper 2015).

A modern mural wallpaper design
Chinoiserie wallpaper scene
But it’s not only wallpaper’s appearance and manufacturing process that has evolved, its use throughout the home has also changed. Over the last few design cycles, wallpaper was often utilised as a feature wall. Whether it be adorning a wall in a bedroom or in a living space, wallpaper was applied as a single, vibrant artwork-like pop of pattern and colour. However, today’s use is far more saturated. Often complete rooms are covered in wallpaper, with designers currently focussing their attention on previously overlooked spaces such as kitchens and powder rooms. Size is no longer an issue, with compact rooms packing a punch when layered with wallpaper.
Watercolour-inspired wallpaper
I particularly love the use of wallpaper in formal dining rooms, which injects a new age vibrancy to this traditional room in the home. Teamed with carefully planned lighting and a generous dining setting, wallpaper creates a cocoon effect, the ideal setting for an intimate evening with loved ones.  
A modern take on patterned wallpaper

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Post 1: Design Gone Democratic

Trend alert - statement mirrors in a bathroom
Eclecticism, neutral palettes, exoticism… I’m falling for current interior trends - hard. As home interiors move further and further away from the carefully constructed, matchy-matchy approaches of bygone eras and more towards a nonchalant ‘thrown together’ look, I can’t help but feel empowered. Gone are the days where style meant money - never before have we seen such ingenious, inspiring interiors designed on such modest budgets.
The copper movement
The DIY designer is now a ‘thing’ - just like the citizen journalist arose with the popularity of platforms like Twitter, so too has the home-bound suburban designer thanks to stores like Kmart, which are changing the landscape of interior decorating faster than we can say ‘geometric copper hurricane shade’. Apps like Instagram and Pinterest have created a global sharing of ideas - we can keep up with how Ilva from Sweden has updated her lounge room, whilst simultaneously spying on Kate from New York’s kitchen feature lighting. We are bombarded with a tidal wave of design ideas every day, opening our eyes and minds to the endless possibilities interiors present us with. 
Aussie blogger Elle Ferguson
I see current design trends much how I see the style of prominent Australia blogger, Elle Ferguson of They All Hate Us. Teaming a pair of frayed denim shorts with a mane of unkempt, tousled waves and a structured blazer, this girl’s style screams ‘cool without trying to be’. As she says of Australian style, “We are a little more relaxed, but we definitely still bring it” (Ferguson, 2012, thisiscollective.com) aptly describing what’s happening on the interior design scene, too. Australian homes are embracing international trends and advances, but then twisting them to create a more informal, fresh style. But this casual approach doesn’t lack in impact, which is usually brought to the party through statement lighting or a vibrant custom artwork.
A perfectly imperfect bedroom corner
As global design authority Houzz states, trends that are going to be huge this year include a more relaxed looking ‘two-tone kitchen cabinetry’, ‘statement mirrors in bathrooms’ and ‘raw materials’ (Parker, 2015, houzz.com). At the core of these trends, though, is the overarching movement within interior design - mix it up, embrace the unique and simply have a go!
Trend alert - rustic touches
I’ve found my own personal style has evolved as I tapped in to more and more global resources and progressed throughout my course. I have a new appreciation for exotic travel finds, a sharper eye for layering pattern and texture, not to mention a new found obsession with brass. Rather than the squeaky clean, symmetrical Mary McDonald-esque classicism I once lusted for, I now prefer a more imperfect approach to design - give me antiqued mirrors and crushed linen slip covers! Just like the rest of the world, I’m getting a little braver (not to mention a little more unkempt) with my personal style. 


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