Consider these cosy contemporary furnishings to switch up your style
When it comes to making your home cosy and contemporary this winter, it’s all about soft furnishings. They’re the key to making your home look cool while feeling snug. Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too?
“Not only do soft furnishings provide the practicalities of additional warmth and insulation that we need in winter, but they also play a large role in creating an inviting sanctuary to come home to after a hectic day,” says Pip Karl, director of McKenzie House Interiors. “Their tactile qualities can be used to add softness, colour, texture and interest into literally every room of a home.”
Consider cafe-style curtains for privacy and to hide unruly spaces
From left: Food Icon Café Curtain set, $77, at Urban Outfitters; Brampton House Sheer Rod Pocket Curtains, $47, at Spotlight.
If you’ve been craving a cafe au lait along a Parisian boulevard somewhere, join the club. Luckily you can emulate the style in the time it takes to bake a croissant, thanks to cafe curtains: half-height curtains for the lower part of the window – perfect for privacy while still adding flair to your kitchen or dining.
“Overseas curtains styles and trends are referencing the old world, with the reintroduction of cafe curtains and Austrian blinds,” says Abbey Lang, spatial and interior designer of Abbey Lang Home. “European and British sensibility seems to be a big movement, offering a home which feels layered and established.”
Opt for natural fabrics such as linens and cottons to offer a sophisticated, yet casual vibe. If your windows are ill-suited for cafe curtains, consider using the trend on a bottom cabinet or two. A swathe of fabric can soften even the harshest of kitchens, providing a spot of whimsy amongst the day-to-day clutter – and they’re great at hiding said clutter.
Floor-to-ceiling classic curtains
Heritage Curtain in colour Cardinal, at Russells Curtains.
If cafe curtains aren’t your style, go the whole hog with floor-length showstoppers. Abbey notes that curtain colour palettes are taking their cues from the tones of the wall colours.
“Twin pleats and steel rods are making a comeback as a nod to more traditional interiors,” she says, while the curtain length is generally just sweeping the floor. The key to contemporary curtains is to opt for materials such as linen, which looks lovely and summery, but pairs with a heavy back or black-out lining to keep the heat in for winter. Curtains are an all-year-round marvel.
Cushion the blow with colour and texture
From the top going down: Samy Cotton Velvet Olive Green Seat Cushion, $49, at Early Settler; Living & Co Faux Fur Cushion in Polar Grey, $25, at The Warehouse; Kas Muchacho Canvas Cushion, $22, at Briscoes; Velvet Cushion Red w/ Heart, $199, at WORLD; Oli Cushion, $149, at Country Road.
Just like eyebrows, cushions should be sisters, not twins. The days of matchy-matchy furnishings are long gone; here to reign are cool, chic colours and patterns that complement each other, often standing out against a natural backdrop. “Cushions are becoming more adorned with the use of piping, trims and frills,” says Abbey.
While shades of white are always classic, “neutral textures are being combined as well as blues with greens and hints of soft pinks and terracottas,” says Victoria Gaylard, an interior designer from Victoria Gaylard Design.
If you’re looking for patterns, Georgia Langridge, an interior designer from Modi Interior Design, advises that “Aztecs and ikats are becoming a trend or any pattern that blends multiple colours close together.” They’re a modern update on the much-loved kilim trend but without the hefty price tag.
Blinds to love
Roman blinds are a solid choice when it comes to window treatments, but if you’re looking to switch it up, the sky’s the limit.
“Timber blinds are making a comeback (as opposed to white blinds and shutters) in tones that perhaps match exterior cedar or interior timber kitchens to add warmth to the walls,” says Georgia Langridge, interior designer at Modi Interior Design.
Adding wood can lend an appearance of character, especially since mid-century modern is all the rage, with blinds an affordable way to achieve the look rather than exposed beams. If you really want to be a trendsetter, consider coloured blinds to jazz up a living room.
Throw it on
Clockwise from top left: Handblocked Pink Cotton Throw, $249, at Early Settler; Living & Co Woven Throw Check Black/White, $39, at The Warehouse; Cocoon Cashmere Blanket, $373.50, at Shop Your Home and Garden; Check Grey Woven Throw, $12, at Kmart; Snowy Throw, $159, at Freedom.
The quickest, easiest way to add comfort and warmth to your home? Throw blankets, of course.
Although it can be tempting to reach for the cheap super-soft polyester options, be warned these can shed easily and start to look a bit naff after a few usages, doomed to be relegated to the dog’s bed. “Choosing throws made from natural fibres such as wool or linen ensures they will look good and still be around for many years to come – not to mention being a healthier option for you and the environment,” says Pip.
The same goes for rugs, the more natural, the better. Browns and greens are much-loved colours this season, although “the British influence will start to come through with plaids, checks and beautiful old-world prints like Morris and Co,” says Abbey.
Don’t forget the little details
When it comes to adding cosy softness to your home, there’s a world of soft furnishings to consider. This includes the all-important bed valance or bedhead, which helps soften the harsh lines of the bedroom with texture. “Think of your valance as the foundation for dressing the rest of your bed – it needs to be well made, fit properly and suit the overall style of your room,” says Pip.
Maude Wilcox, principal of Jill Tuck Soft Furnishings, recommends spending money on a custom headboard, specifically “a textured fabric usually a linen or velvet with a high synthetic content for wearability. You can add details such as deep buttoned nails or a flange for interest if using a plain fabric.”
If you want to go down the reupholstery road, Maude says if the bones are good, then go for it. “Add more fill to the back and seat cushions, or new inners and a different fabric. It really transforms the piece to give it new life.”
That ’80s maximalism is back
Clockwise from top left: Byron Rug, $299.99, at Adairs; Piha Floor Rug, $1,079, at Freedom; Kenna Ivory Green Medallion Tufted Wool Rug, $549, at Miss Amara; Flinder Pouffe, $229, at Freedom; Urban Loft Greek Flokati Rug, $649.99, at Briscoes; Mae Pouffe, $349, at Freedom.
Move over smoky ’70s, there’s a new decade in town that we just can’t get enough of. “There’s a return to an ’80s maximalist vibe but with a contemporary interpretation of large, boldly coloured patterned rugs, a feature sofa in a bright hue and curved furniture,” says Victoria.
Georgia agrees. “There’s an ’80s feeling of white, chocolate and pink bordering on salmon tones coming through, as well as curved/fluted details and a moody Miami penthouse aesthetic.” It’s business playboy meets magazine editorial, with hints of sexiness through curved shapes and metallic moments.
Shop this look
Sandringham cameo rug, $2390, from Baya Living. On bar cart: Alice bar cart, $199.99, from Mocka. Ribbed champagne coupes, $92.98, from shop.yourhomeandgarden.co.nz. On sofa (left): Olive cushion cover, $65, from Bolt of Cloth. Multi-colour cushion, $79.99, from Farmers. Orla Kiely patterned cushion cover, $84.99, from Bolt of Cloth. M&Co Ojai throw, $99.99, from Farmers. On sofa (right): Blush velvet cushion cover, $55, from Bolt of Cloth. Round cushion (moss), $91.99, from shop.yourhomeandgarden.co.nz. Tibetan lambskin throw, $161.99, from shop.yourhomeandgarden.co.nz. Marble side table, $649, from Freedom.
Text Caroline Moratti and Catherine Steel
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