Home as sanctuary

In recent years, the disruption of the global pandemic has not only changed the way we live our lives socially, but also the way in which we express ourselves creatively and the importance we place on the new found emotional connections we have with our homes.

Join us as we explore this evolution of our four directions in interior styling which all still share a common heart. The home is our sanctuary.

During the pandemic, when the world stayed at home, it made us rethink our 'four walls'. 'Home' has always been our private retreat from the world, but now more than ever it has become our sanctuary - a place of personal comfort, nurturing and cocooning. Colour plays a key role in our style trends. While colour is always key to self-expression in our homes, as we emerge from a period of uncertainty, it takes on new significance and symbolism as we pursue optimism and hope along with stability and balance in our lives. While colour lifts interiors, it elevates our spirits too.

For many, home also became a place for working, for homeschooling and the place where we found our entertainment and explored new interests. This multi-purposing of our living spaces is another key driver of the emerging design trends that deliver practical and versatile functionality while never compromising on comfort or style. Work from home spaces and tiny libraries have been cleverly conjured in corners and nooks. Bathrooms are elevated to luxurious, self-pampering spas with a five-star hotel touch.

Like a collective sigh of relief, the first trend we’ve identified sets the scene for more optimistic, confident and joyful times ahead. Get set to ‘Lighten Up’. Grounded in a palette of buoyant brights, Lighten Up draws inspiration from divergent sources, cross-cultural references and timeless global stories, bringing them together in artful and harmonious ways. Contrasting textures, materials and surface finishes elevate the everyday with a touch of theatre and indulgence. With extravagance and unbridled joy, celebrate the good things in life: happiness, connections, creativity and comfort.

The next trend redefining the comforts of home is Timeworn Treasures. It's all about homes warmed by nostalgia and coloured by the reassuring patina and textures of natural materials and the artisan's touch. Like all our trends, the style of Timeworn Treasures is inviting, lived-in and characterful, built around an earthy and organic palette, it replaces the conventional cornerstones of luxury with a new rustic-luxe that's artisanal, 'slow' and understated. Furniture finds an artful balance between form and function. Mid-century design classics sit comfortably with the handcrafted charm of tribal statement pieces.

While also drawing heavily on a retro aesthetic, our next trend Smooth Operator balances the reassurance of the familiar with the current yearning for newness. Cool, calm and collected, this style layers mono-coloured and pared-back palettes over clean interior lines. Classical touches such as arches, and sinuous, sensual curves provide both visual and physical comfort. Monumental materials like stone, concrete and timber are made soft and fluid. The palette is inspired by nature – muted celery green, mellow faded parchment, dusty lotus and the luxurious blush of cashmere pinks with tonal layering creating an inviting, tactile and restorative space.

Our final trend confirms that the 'new normal' will be anything but normal. Firm Foundations sets a style that's all about dependable function and practicality, but is also uncompromised in its understated contemporary elegance and comfort. It’s a luxe take that updates the classic industrial aesthetic with a muted and futuristic pastel palette. It combines the strength and resilience of nature with a raw-edged and utilitarian industrial vibe. Moody colours, considered textures, and punctuations of colour set an optimistic and calming backdrop for luxurious living.

Feeling inspired? View our Timeworn Treasures, Smooth Operator, Lighten Up and Firm Foundations blogs where we delve deeper into these intriguing and energising interior directions.

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