Special Feature: Discover the latest looks for your windows and walls.
Handcrafted fabrics, whimsical wallpapers and natural colours are this year’s interior touchstones
Window dressing lowdown
It’s softly softly style for dressing our windows this season, with a swing away from minimalist looks to using curtains with a handcrafted feel. Even in situations where curtains aren’t needed for privacy or thermal properties, homeowners are seeking out tactile fabrics, says interior designer Anna Cuthbert. “Homeowners are looking for something soft to give a feeling of warmth – people want something to touch and feel. Big drops of sheer curtains that have interest, like embroidery for example, are popular rather than heavy drapery. And there is certainly more use being made of patterns, for example florals and mid-century style large geometrics,” says Anna.
Stephen Vetten of James Dunlop Textiles say its Fusion range is a good example of this where delicate textiles and natural linens have semi-sheer qualities with soft, dream-like qualities and are embellished with frayed edges, fringing and needlework, evoking a feeling of handmade craftsmanship (see overleaf).
Jacqui McKenzie of Harvey Furnishings is seeing a move towards
simple and bold designs, inspired by Scandinavian design. She says sustainability is top-of-mind for customers too: “Sustainable fabric is a trend itself, with an increased desire for conscious and ethical standards.” Harvey’s Imprint collection, for example, is printed onto a Half Panama BCI (Better Cotton Initiative) cotton. The Better Cotton Initiative is a global not-for-profit organisation.
Alice Murphy of Warwick Textiles also notes a shift to choosing more sustainable products: “We are seeing more natural fibres inside the home, embracing natural textures and a relaxed organic feel. The use of layered natural fibres such as wool, cotton and linen creates an environment that is calm and inviting.”
Colour palettes also reflect this with earthy tones being popular – think terracotta, burnt orange and mustards with muted blues and greens as well as various complex neutrals like soft pinks, clay, mushroom and sand.
Anna Cuthbert’s go-to style for curtain construction is to use inverted pleats at the top which lie flat so are visually tidy and also stack back beautifully when the curtains are open. Roman blinds are still very popular, she says, for their simple lines and versatility when made from a range of fabric designs. Automation makes life easier for homeowners with drapes and blinds able to be opened and closed at the touch of a switch or even remotely.
Ways with wallpaper
Terry Isaako of wallpaper company Aspiring Walls says that with art deco styles seeing a revival and abstract geometrics emerging in the past couple of years, 2021 will bring a longing for older heritage designs to establish a sense of familiarity and stability.
“There’ll also be more destination designs with a longing for exotic places. Both heritage and destination designs are most likely a direct result of uncertainty, confinement and travel restriction this year.”
Terry points to mural collections such as Komar’s aptly titled Heritage (above), with its nod to art nouveau conventions taking the form of flower stalks and buds, vine tendrils and sinuous organic forms.
The Riviera Maison 2 collection also examines the themes of destination and heritage, with vintage blooms and world map murals mixed with a rustic aesthetic.
Designers Guild’s wallpapers epitomise the trend for 2021 for bold pattern and vivid colour, with a touch of quirkiness.
The floral trend continues, but with a contemporary take that’s far from traditional, says David Marks of Icon Textiles, which supplies Designers Guild products in New Zealand.
Richie Dawson of Guthrie Bowron notes three key trends in interiors and wallpaper. “Authentic” is about slowing down, and reconnecting with family and nature. With a vintage edge, the trend is 1970s-inspired with rich and comforting earth tones.
“Impulse” is driven by our urge for experience and centres around intricate designs with rich colours. “Shapeshifter” is about adapting to our surroundings and includes geometric designs combined with the wild and bold features of nature, moody charcoals and pops of colour.
Colour and texture
As with drapery fabrics, the colours this year for paint have become earthy and nature-inspired but not in a heavy-handed way.
Says Karen Warman of Resene: “Weathered blues, weathered and organic greens, earthy neutrals, soft and dusky corals and peach are all popular – almost the colours you could pluck out of a garden on an overcast day.
“We’re seeing more homeowners use light dusty hues in place of neutrals – so colours like Resene Half Duck Egg Blue where they might have used off-white before. These new hues have a touch of colour to them but easily work in place of a more neutral colour. All white walls can be a little glary. A slightly darker hue with
more depth is easy on the eye and feels more restful.”
And it’s not just about colour – texture is also coming to the fore with walls in a look that Karen calls “flawsome” characterised by artisan elements like over-brushing, wood stains and whitewashing rather than aiming for perfection.
That look is also being created by plastered and textured wall finishes such as those by Auckland-based Artemani Studio.
The move towards a more imperfect and artisan style is influenced by the events of 2020. Says Davina Harper of Dulux: “The global crisis has changed our relationship with our homes – not just on a practical level, the lines between our work and home have blurred beyond recognition. This also affects us on an emotional level too. We need flexible spaces that can multi-task as spaces to conduct our professional lives and perform household tasks, however, at the same time we need our homes to provide balance, calm and a sense of comfort and security.
“In response, design trends for 2021 will reflect our desire for reassurance and strength, with nurturing palettes drawn from nature and furniture and decor that speaks of familiarity and comfort. At the same time, expect to see unpredictable material and colour combinations creeping in that encourage us to adapt our homes to new ways of living and working.”