Durban - A new home decor concept store, Inspired Design, opened in uMhlanga recently.
The brainchild of Rupert Nevill of Amber Bay Investments, the store is set to become a haven for those seeking something distinctive for their homes.
According to Nevill, ‘there are very few holistic home stores which offer an expansive and inclusive range, as well as the services of an in-house interior design team to help ensure the items you’ve chosen from various suppliers work together and fit into the vision you have for your home’.
The Inspired Design concept has brought together a host of key home decor suppliers and designers, including Amber Bay, Rugs Original, House of Décor, Light Co, Italian Lifestyle, Home Fabric and Plascon’s Paint Expert.
An entire room can be created, from wall coverings, rugs, furniture, pictures, mirrors and bespoke artwork to bring your envisioned masterpiece to life.
The KwaZulu-Natal store is on uMhlanga Rocks Drive, in the Beacon Rock building, and another store is due to open in Hillcrest soon.
Omeshnie Naidoo asked the experts what they foresee for 2016:
* Scandinavian design remains a major inspiration in furniture design and home layout, according to Rupert Nevill of Amber Bay.
“The look is about moderation. Not too much or too little, just enough. There is no excess and less is more. Lines are simple and sleek.”
The look is light. The heavy gold and gilded, look is going out. Wood furniture is in light tones and crystals, candles, tea lights and side lights take precedence over overhead lighting.
* Travel, particularly the ease and accessibility of travel, is a key influence on personal taste and how individuals put together schemes, with many homes having “worldly” appeal and being less conventional.
* Similarly, internet access, available to a broad spectrum of people, also means people are logged into trends, says Nevill.
* “Art is not seen strictly as an investment only these days and can be decorative. What is available is more affordable and can be easily changed or updated. Wall art and mirrors, particularly laser cut mirrors, help create more spacious, lit interiors – which is also in line with the look for 2016,” said Nevill.
* Trevor Blumberg of Rugs Original says the indoor/outdoor trend is a South African way of life. Our climate and modern day floor plans ensure a flow between interiors and exteriors, and for this reason homeowners are decorating and investing in high-end goods for their patios. Remember that durable outdoor rugs are UV stable and mildew resistant.
These rugs are machine-made and flat-woven. Choose a size that all the furniture can be placed on.
* Blumberg says: “The trend in carpets is still towards neutral colours with a bit of duck egg blue and orange. Carpets are definitely not shaggy anymore; in 2016 opt for a cosy, low pile but dense rug. The washed out Persian, hand knotted or vintage patch looks are popular as they fit in with the modern, minimalist style.”
* Sheila Sanders, MD of House of Décor, says heirlooms gain meaning in the lives of people who are beginning to feel displaced by the disposable society we live in.
“People are holding on to sentimental pieces of furniture and incorporating old and new into their decor schemes.”
* No one wants things off the shelf and they certainly don’t want their home to look like it came straight out of a catalogue, so even when they do buy in stores, people are looking for bespoke/custom-made pieces that look like they were made to fit their space/ colour scheme etc.
* Don’t rush out to buy decorative accessories this season, say Shelley Scribante and Shelley Simpson, who are partner/owners of House of Décor. They believe even the most decorative items in your home should serve a function and be unique.
* “Consider up-cycling pieces. Many companies can change the shape of your old chairs and re-upholster them. Patchwork is also making a comeback and will make for an interesting pastime if you personalise your scatter cushions,” says Scribante.
* Simpson says: “Be sure to look for depth of colour when you’re putting together your colour schemes. Colours like charcoal and petrol blue anchor a room and fit in with a nostalgic turn in decor in 2016.
* “Patterns remain big and bold with muddy colours offset by crisp whites. Choose tie dye, abstract and arty-looking prints – the look overall is less contrived.”
Inspired Design is a wonderful tactile experience, but if you really have to shop online you will find a store within a store by going to www.zando.co.za and looking for Novel.
OMESHNIE NAIDOO, Independent Home