As many of you know life threw me a curve ball this year when I dislocated and broke my wrist requiring surgery and six weeks in a cast. In a weird way the last two months have felt a lot like lockdown did, with an added side of pain and frustration. The time of year is the same, and I’ve had no choice but to slow down, to stop. I got to take time to spend with the kids, which with our youngest starting school next month felt pretty special. I got to fill my days op shopping and doing small manageable DIY projects like this vase (pictured) to keep me sane. But crucially it’s given me time to think, and to reflect on what I’ve been doing, and where I’m going with this small buiz. The furniture side of things, which was already slowly being phased out is off the cards for the foreseeable, and I’m going to focus soely on my passion, design.

Up until now I haven’t had the insporation, nor the ability to write a blog post - using a mouse left handed is hard enough, typing more than a few lines took an eternity! But last week I got to meet with clients, chat tiles and colours and am feeling so full of design inspiration I thought it was about time I dusted off the keyboard and started writing about some emergening trends I’ve been keeping an eye on…

‘Curve, the lovliest distance between two points.’ ~ Mae West

Curves, they’re everywhere, and they’re bolder than ever! We’re not talking your stock standard circle, we’re talking flowing organic shapes that carry a sense of movement with them. These fluid curves can help soften a space that is filled with hard edges and straight lines creating contrast and interest. They can also carry a sense of drama like this elegant light fixture. These curves definetly have a retro feel to them, invoking the 70s and 80s but pair well with a modern clean aesthetic.

Humans have long been bringing the outside in and natural materials have always had a place in our homes. Warm timber furnishings, marble tiles and stone benchtops, but usually in a very clean and polished form. Well move over glossy stone, raw and untreated materials are coming in. This fits with the vibe of the curved shapes we’re seeing, there is a move towards having more natural organic materials in our homes in their original state. To me this speaks to the current awareness of how our personal carbon footprint impacts the planet. Moving away from things that are highly processed, and therefore take a lot of energy to produce, shifting away from plastics and the petrochemical industry. This understanding is effecting what we choose to consume in many facest of our lives, including our homes. Take these petrified wood side tables below from Souk Collective (click the link to learn about the natural process that creates these rock hard formations) the earth has done the work to get them to this state rather than man made machinery. Or this beautiful coffee table from the simply beautiful home of Olivia Sullivan - can you believe it’s a TradeMe score?!

Colour is a power which directly influences the soul. ~ Wassily Kandinsky

If you could see me right now you’d see the happy dance I’m doing! Those who have been following along for a while, or know me personally, know I LOVE COLOUR. The shift has been slow, but I’ve definetly noticed a move away from the white on white on white interiors we’ve been inundated with for the past several years. While not everyone is bold enough to add bright pops of colour those that do are throwing it about with wild abandon and I can’t applaud them enough! Those that aren’t as bold I’ve noticed are even introducing small amounts of colour in subtle shades that must feel quite out there for them, warm taupes, dusky pinks, olive greens. Earthy tones that again tie into our two other organic trends. Whether you’re looking to intruduce a subtle, or looking for big impact, colour is a simple and affordable way to instantly change a space.

Colour and the materils we use in our homes have such a huge impact on our psyche. Just by decluttering and organizing my office space I was able to completly shift my mindset. If you’re unsure how to best use colour, or incorporate other design trends or styles, into your home get in touch. I’d love to help guide you along your design journey to a home that reflects you.

~ Candace

Ahead of the curve

‘Curve, the lovliest distance between two points.’ ~ Mae West

Colour is a power which directly influences the soul. ~ Wassily Kandinsky