FEELS GOOD

Shannon Vos on embracing winter indoors

As summer 2020/21 breathes her last, we start to think about the change in temperature and the inevitable metamorphosis of how our homes should look and feel. Game Of Thrones character Jon Snow said it best when he growled, “Winter is coming.” So how do we prep our homes for cooler times at the drop of a hat? Those who are seasonally prepared will break out the blankets and furs, the shag rug and maybe even mulled wine. But how can the rest of us reimagine our spaces without lifting a hammer or calling a tradie? Let’s look at some of the options...

PAINT

I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times – nothing can transform a room like a coat of paint. It has the power to refresh and alter the mood, as well as the ability to expand a space or bring things in a bit. Paint is the ultimate transformer and one of the easiest jobs to tackle at home. Colour psychology is an entire volume in itself, but there are a few basic principles that determine how a space feels and reacts to light.

Bright and/or dark colours painted on walls and ceilings tend to bring elements forward and draw attention to them. This can be great for use in a bedroom or a retreat, where you want to create a cocooning effect and make things feel cosy and warm, but bright or dark tones can also make a space seem smaller than it actually is, especially in an open-plan setting.

Lighter tones, and schemes with low levels of contrast, can really open up rooms, giving the illusion of more space. This can be great for a living area, where you want to create a lighter, breezier atmosphere, and for rooms on the smaller side when floor space is lacking. Colour schemes that follow the natural tonal order (darker tones down low and lighter tones above) tend to follow nature’s lead and bring a sense of relaxion and peace. That’s why our ceilings are generally painted white, our walls are a touch darker (an off-white maybe) and our floors (timber, carpet or tile) are even darker still.

Flip this tonal order on its head, however, and you create drama, character and intrigue. While that may not be suitable for living with, it could be just the thing for an interesting commercial space or a more daring temporary set-up.

“THE MOST COMMON PHRASE I HEAR FROM NEW CLIENTS IS, ‘I KNOW WHAT I LIKE — I JUST NEED HELP BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER’” SHANNON VOS, INTERIOR DESIGNER

DECOR

The easiest and most cost-effective way to change the look of a room, or your entire home, is with decor and soft furnishings. New rugs, cushions, throws, wall art, vases and other accessories will all work together to create warmth and character.

I bet your living space would love a new oversized artwork, a centrepiece for the dining table (think a collection of candles and vases at varying heights, and throw in a plant for good measure) and some cushions for the couch. The kitchen could do with more greenery, something to keep the paperwork tidy and an oversized bowl for all your lemons. Bathrooms and laundries can be a bit trickier to freshen up, but don’t underestimate the power of a fresh set of towels, a candle and some carefully draped devil’s ivy.

FURNITURE

Another substantial change you can make in a space is with furniture, and that’s most obvious with the big-ticket items. Your living room will thank you for getting rid of the 2020 vibes that are now embedded in your old couch. The endless days spent in lockdown watching re-runs of KUWTK need to be forgotten pronto, so a comfy new sofa is the best way to say goodbye to them 2020 feels.

Dining spaces tend to be smaller than living spaces, so having a suitably sized table that caters not only to the day-to-day but to the occasional dinner party will serve you well for years to come. When you’re choosing one, just remember that round tables may be more social, but rectangular designs can squeeze in more bums when guests come calling.

Important things happen in bedrooms, and having the right mattress and bed frame will set you up for better sleeps and thus better days. This could also go a long way to setting the scene when the kids go to sleep (who am I kidding). Storage is also king in bedrooms, so look for beds that have drawers or gas lifts, and even space under the bed for a box or two.

A bedhead can make a great design statement, and an oversized one that extends past the width of the bed will make your room look more spacious and grand. Team that with some carefully chosen wall lights (always with dimmers), a new linen bedspread and Barry White on repeat, and your boudoir will quickly become a very popular room.

TRENDS

The future of furniture and decor is a bright one, with palpable textures and grass-roots craftsmanship. The imperfect is being embraced via a wabi-sabi aesthetic and pieces in natural materials such as ceramic, glass and timber. They’re unrefined, organic and tangible, and what we want in our homes as we escape from the hustle and bustle of the world outside.

Further to this, Kate Hopwood, head of design at Freedom, sees a change in the market as the cooler weather draws near. Namely, an increase in heavier and warmer textures, and a focus

on dinnerware and napery (now that dinner-guest restrictions have eased – touch wood). That means thick knitted throws, plush pillows, shag rugs and tantalisingly tactile artworks. Even better if they’re handmade and have a sense of uniqueness that engenders warmth and inclusiveness.

BALANCE

Tying in everything you like and emerging with a balanced look is usually the biggest hurdle for home decorators. In fact, the most common phrase I hear from new clients is, “I know what I like – I just need help bringing it all together.”

Creating a resolved, coherent interior takes years of practice, but there are a few rules I generally stick to. The first one is to ensure your elements ‘speak’ to each other, which will help create a story that runs through all the rooms. A home with a story is a home of character and personality, and one that feels inviting and homely. If the various elements relate to each other, there’s a greater likelihood of cohesiveness.

Choose pieces that ‘speak’ to each other through texture, shape, colour, line and size, and your home will be magazineworthy in no time. Similar or complementary timbers, samefamily tones and repeated colours will all help a space to feel balanced. Then, adding a statement pendant light or an oversized artwork that can become the focus of the room will top things off nicely. And of course, either of these can be swiftly swapped out when the time comes for a new(er) look.

Shannon Vos, interior architect and The Block: Glasshouse co-winner, is at voscreative. com.au

Melbourne design firm One Girl Interiors added colour, texture and shape to this Edwardian home and its previously beige interiors. Now the sitting room is snug, warm and full of talking points.

Looking effortlessly chic in the Copenhagen home of Ferm Living founder Trine Andersen is this never-fail combination: black and white abstract art with neutral ceramics, natural timber and a little glass bling.

Slotting a velvet ottoman seat into this niche and accessorising simply was quicker and cheaper than a built-in option for Sydney interior designer Kristy McGregor.

Nothing says ‘we go together’ more than a tonally balanced vignette, easy to do yourself at home and beautifully illustrated by this capture at the Sydney home of Strutt Studios interior architect Sophie Bowers.

Perth’s Lahaus Studio took the Tuscan out of this suburban villa by lightening its heavily coloured interior. Introducing new shapes and a smaller palette has switched the focus to its key pieces.