edition
notes from our melbourne interior design studio, exploring materials, furniture, colour and art. we look at the choices that shape a room, share practical ideas for your home and consider the work of designers and makers who inspire us.
these articles are part of our design archive. older colour forecasts, product selections and event references reflect the time they were published.
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lilac objects for the home
lilac is an easy colour to try in the smaller things you use every day. a glass jug catches the light on a table; a linen sheet gives the same colour a softer, less even appearance. these seven pieces show how differently it can behave.
trying very peri at home
pantone’s very peri , its colour of the year for 2022, sits between blue and violet. it is a colour you might enjoy in a fabric or a piece of glass even if painting a whole room feels a step too far.
working with one colour family
tone, texture and personal details bring depth to a monochromatic interior. a considered approach to colour and styling from our melbourne studio.
five australian artists with something different to see
art is often the part of a room that feels most personal. you may be drawn to a colour, a surface or something in the work that is difficult to explain straight away.
small changes that make a room more inviting
a room can feel more inviting without a new sofa or a complete change of colour. sometimes the useful difference is a lamp within reach, a softer fabric against your back or a clear space for a favourite vase.
making room for grey and yellow
pantone’s pairing of ultimate gray and illuminating for 2021 puts a quiet grey beside a much brighter yellow. they do not need equal space to work together.
gifts chosen for the person who will use them
the best gift for a home is not always another decorative object. it might be a glass someone enjoys drinking from, a plant for the window they tend every morning or a vase they would never have chosen for themselves.
choosing a scent for your home
scent is a very personal part of a room. something you enjoy may be too strong for someone else, so try it with the people who share the space before making it a regular feature.
seven ways to look at art and objects
a painting, photograph or small vessel can change what you notice in a room. sometimes it becomes the first thing you see; sometimes it rewards a closer look from a favourite chair.
choosing a gift that feels personal
a gift for the home is more enjoyable when it reflects the person receiving it. think about what they use, collect or linger over, rather than trying to find something that looks impressive in the box.
different ways to use blue at home
pantone’s classic blue offers a useful colour to look at in different amounts. a small glass vessel, a rug and a wall of cabinetry ask quite different things of the room.
seasonal details for the home
a few branches, a change of linen or a collection brought off the shelf can mark the festive season without taking over the room.
what pattern brings to a room
pattern can come from a print, a tile layout or the folds in a sofa. what matters is how much of it you see and what sits nearby.
following the lines through an interior
the edge of a cabinet, a row of wall panels or the curve of a stair can guide where you look in a room. often you notice the whole arrangement before any one line.
a neutral room with more to notice
when colours are quiet, the differences between leather, timber, glass and fabric become easier to see. a neutral room can have plenty of interest without a strong pattern on every surface.
trying a rounded shape in the room
one rounded piece can be enough beside the straight lines of walls and cabinetry. look for the place where a different outline would be useful, rather than adding curves to everything.
finding a place for coral
living coral sits between pink and orange, with enough warmth to make a small addition quite noticeable. pantone’s 2019 colour choice offers several ways to try that warmth at home.
a simpler festive setting
the festive things you enjoy most may already be in a cupboard: glassware used for gatherings, a favourite cloth or decorations with a story behind them.
a home for the ordinary parts of the day
useful storage, familiar objects and a personal palette bring ease to everyday life. a considered approach to interior decoration and styling.