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MILAN REPORT - 2012/13 TREND FORECASTS

The Milan trip was a whirlwind, 8 days in all including travel time, 4 days spent at the fair and 2 days wandering some of the satellite exhibitions in Milan central, all in all a tiring, yet rewarding experience.  The Milan Furniture Fair sets the tone for global interior trends, the standout trends at this years fair will set the guidelines for interior trends for the next year.  This report outlines what we noted as the stand out trends, you can expect these looks to be hitting the shores shortly, we have also outlined how to get the look instantly to add some new season pizzazz to your interiors.

Overall, the tone was relaxed living, with lots of colour thrown in and comfortable, workable solutions for the home.  There was a definite 50′s vibe, reworked into the new modern style & the Danes certainly made their presence felt with plenty of Danish exhibitors; it would also seem that the Danes and the Italians have been cross breeding, the result – designs that feature the best of both influences.  The furniture was enticing, there was a focus on comfort with soft cushions, grand proportions and layers and layers of mixed textures, colours and materials, resulting in an overall look that translates well into the laid back Australian market & Australian homes.

What's Hot: Styling

- Wall Units: This year, everything was wall mounted, everywhere you turned was a different interpretation of the wall unit, we know one thing for sure, wall units are here to stay, and there is a wall unit solution for every need, including media needs in the living room as well as the study, the bedroom, the dining room, the kids room, and just about anywhere else you have a spare wall.  The modern interpretation is less structured, ‘stick them where you want them’ for this latest trend & mix colours and materials as you please.  The great thing about these units is that with just a few modular pieces you can create an endless variety of solutions that solve media, storage and display issues, perfect for the modern home as you can customise to suit – so clear your walls and get ready to get hanging.
- Modular Bookcases: When their wasn’t a wall unit there was a modular bookcase, full height, double height, running the length of a showroom & turning corners, choose your height, choose your width then fill as you wish.
- Coffee Tables: With the walls taken care of, what was happening in the middle of the room? Well, one of two things, either 4 large square tables were placed together to make one ‘mega’ coffee table, great for those with cavernous living rooms, or clusters of side tables and ottomans were used, mixing different colours, heights and materials together for volume and interest, this look is highly functional as well as the tables & ottomans can be moved around as needed & adapted to what you’re doing.

Get the Look:
> Bronte Bookcase
> Viano Wall Unit

 
What's Hot: Colour Ways

- Grey: all shades, mixed together, grey formed the base of the colour palette for most rooms with colours and textures layered on to it.  Look to go grey for investment pieces such as sofas, as well as being highly practical it is modern, easy to accessorise and will stick around for many more seasons.
- Grey + Mustard Yellow: A winning combination that we have already been seeing around for a little while, this colour combo was the most prominent, with good reason; yellow and grey is a great pair.  To get the look, either go bold with mustard yellow upholstery on a sofa or bed, or opt for bold yellow accessories such as prints and vases.
- Mustard Yellow + White: We’ve been seeing the mustard with grey for a little while, the mustard with white combo was bold and fresh, stick to just the two colours for a statement bookcase or sofa.
- Grey + White + Mustard Yellow + Timber + Metal + Brown: Yep, mix them all together in one setting, we saw this everywhere, and it worked amazingly well, choose the tones in various materials, such as timber, matt poly, gloss poly, glass, fabrics, leathers & paints, the overall tone is still muted and earthy so its surprisingly easy to work with, use a rug to tie the elements together.
- Burnt Orange: Coming in second to mustard yellow, burnt orange was prominent, teamed with grey for a contemporary spin, or with timbers & brown tones for a nostalgic take, we also saw it worked into living room spaces featuring the mustard yellow, expect to see a lot more orange soon.
- Teal Blue/Green: A close third in the colour pop stakes, the teal green was popular for rugs, prints, side tables & accessories, a lovely accent colour for warm interiors and it works well with the mustard yellow and burnt orange.

Get the Look:
> Coby TV Unit
> Sunburst Print Orange

What's Hot: The Danish Invasion

Just what is it about Danish design that makes it so distinctive? Well their number one philosophy of finding the perfect balance between beauty, functionality and comfort with pure lines and a handcrafted finish have lead to Danish designed furniture having a distinguishing look that sets it apart from the pack.  And what is so exciting about the Danish influence? Well we all love beautiful Italian furniture, but it is widely known that sometimes the Italians can neglect comfort for looks, the Danish influence has resulted in furniture that blends Italian styling and flair with the considered function and comfort of Danish design, so really a match made in heaven. Spot the Danish influence in new season arrivals by looking out for timber framework and a hand crafted aesthetic, fuller cushions upholstered in warm and practical textured fabrics & the distinctive rounded & angled timber legs. 

Get the Look:
> Verona Sofa
> Hagen Armchair * Coming Soon

GET THE MILAN LOOK NOW

Yellow & Orange

The two new season colours were seen everywhere, yellow and orange, either one used as a feature colour teamed with neutrals, or both used together with a mix of colours and textures.  The best thing is these feature colours are easy to work with, and the perfect way to update your look instantly and inexpensively.  Look for bright accessories in the sunny tones, a bold print such as the sunshine print will add drama and bring a focal point to the room, without all the commitment of a coloured sofa, bring the look together with some matching cushions, candles or fresh flowers.

 
Get the Look:

- Sunburst Print Yellow: $995 a bold focal point

- Sunburst Print Orange:$995 a bold focal point

- Bamboo Vase Yellow Large: $150 a subtle yellow to compliment a print

- Preci Leather Recliner:$2640 a feature armchair in a hot hue

Upholstered Beds

There were plenty of beds on show in Milan, and the majority were fabric, in all shapes and sizes.  Predominately we saw the upholstery in shades of grey accessorised with a laid back throw and colourful cushions; occasionally we saw this reversed the bold yellow or orange upholstery with grey linen.  What we loved was the laid back and comfy feeling evoked in the bedrooms, the beds were tousled, the blankets were thrown on and they looked comfy & inviting and perfect for snuggling in on cool winter weekends.

Get the Look:

- Antonio Bed: a modern take on the upholstered bed trend

-Romolo Bed: Loose cushions for a comfy, relaxed look

- Linea Bed: a classic modern upholstered choice

- Vinci Bed: Thicker proportions and detailed panelling for a luxe feel

(All beds available in a choice of upholstery)

Twice as Nice

Why have just one tallboy when you could have two? Whilst this trend did not jump out as much as others, once we noticed, we were seeing double every which way we turned.  Placing buffets back to back created bench space, storage and a room divider in one, perfect for open plan or warehouse spaces that to divide the space up or even to add to a galley style kitchen without needing more kitchen; chests of drawers back to back were the thing to do in the centre of walk in robes, providing a handy surface for jewellery & perfumes and double the drawer storage.  The double ups that we think will translate more into Australian homes however were the tallboys and the bedsides, the tallboys - as having two, rather then just one chest of drawers makes better use of vertical wall space, and also introduces a taller element into the bedroom to break-up the sameness of bedroom furniture that generally sits at similar heights.  We’re predicting a his’n’hers tallboy trend this year.  The other one was bedsides, commonly, two small bedsides with drawers on one side, and a compact side table on the other, we see this working well in Australian bedrooms as often to make the most of bedroom space you would like the bed pushed a little closer to one wall, this trend accommodates this perfectly.  On the side where the bed sits close to the wall, use a high side table for essentials, or just a floor lamp, and on the other side double up two small bedside tables, this provides the storage, and balances the off centred look.

Get the Look:

-Ventura Tallboy:$1995ea. Glass tallboys with a clear display section

- Cassetti Tallboy:$1695ea. Sleek and practical with plenty of storage

- Ventura Bedsides: $650ea.  Contemporary and elegant, finished in glass

- Small Blocco Bedsides: $395ea. Compact and practical storage

-Pelle Leather Stools:$895ea. A funky & versatile alternative to drawers

AUTUMN / WINTER 2012

This season, create warmth and atmosphere through subtle, understated details and loads of texture.  We’re moving away from glitzy glam and back towards natural materials and expressed craftsmanship.  Get the look by selecting pieces in timber & leather and layering them with unusual details like buckles or exposed stitching, introduce rich jewel colours to complement the palette, cushions or accent pieces in jade green, mustard yellow and ruby red will brighten and add a richness and warmth.

Textured Textures

Look for the extra details for feature items that set it apart, whilst still being understated, an armchair in a metallic bronze leather, a little bit special but subtle, woven leather or revealed stitching will create character and depth in a room without the need for bold statement.  These items can all be layered together creating a lovely richness in the small details, that feeling of wanting to take a look closer to allow each piece to express its unique personality.

Top Picks:
> Marco Leather Armchair – quilted leather, subtle metallic finish, timber accents on the arm rest
> Leather Rug – layered leather in a patchwork effect, exposed stitching for a handcrafted aesthetic, a great base to build a room around
> Romolo Bed – with timber and bronze metal plus a comfy quilted fabric cushion headboard the Romolo ticks all the boxes, especially when you lift the cushions to reveal the leather strap supports, unique detailing at its best

Think Chocolate

Chocolate is always a winner for winter, its rich warm tone perfect for cool winters, its also practical and easy to work with in family homes.  This season complement it with bronze metals and neutral beiges to mix it up and prevent the ever feared ‘boring brown’ look.  Champagne and bronze toned metals are the perfect solution for blending modern furniture into brown palettes, and beige complements brown wonderfully and ensures the room doesn’t become too dark, think beige for your TV unit and tables, and chocolate tones in leather and fabrics.

Top Picks:
> Aster Slide Dining Table – its sleek, modern design warmed up for winter, with frosted glass and champagne metal frame it works well with brown tones and leather dining chairs
> Vedi Beige – beige is the perfect antidote to dark chocolate, it complements and helps break up the richer tones for a balanced look
> Verona Sofa – the textured brown upholstery is perfect, it has a metallic thread through it, which not only gives it pizzazz, its practical – helps disguise the dirt! 

It's in the details

Create atmosphere in your rooms with the details, softly lit lamps or candles casting dancing shadows on the wall, the hint of colour that catches your eye from a crystal vase, or a burst of floral freshness on a rug on the floor, the elements that make you smile as you walk into a room.  

Top Picks:
> Teal Green Vase – the subtleness of the jade green base, that becomes so vibrant when the light hits it, leave it empty or select sculptural greenery to display for a modern look
> Autumn Rug- Neutral tones with the pattern giving a burst of freshness and vibrancy to a room
> Sunflower Print- the textured artwork makes you want to step closer and see and touch the 3D artwork

STYLING THE BEYOND FURNITURE SPRING LOOK

Our Stylist Ali shares some tips:

The concept was to create a casual yet contemporary living room to introduce Mustard as the hot colour for spring. Using the Bronte bookcase as the focus for the room, we drew a colour palate from the piece to create an entire look.

Using a great modular sofa with loose back cushions, upholstered in a light coloured cotton/linen blend fabric, teamed with casual cushions and a stylish throw rug created a relaxed feel. Using leather in unexpected places like the side table and armchairs adds a layer of texture and shows that leather can be stylish all year round.

We unified the textures of the lounge, leather and coloured glass by using a large woollen rug that picks up all the neutral and brown tones in the room, drawing your eye back up to the show stopper – the Bookcase. Adding a splash of colour by filling the fabulous Cartoccio moulded glass vase with green apples, gives an element of freshness while tying back to the greenery in the bookcase.

Tips to styling a bookcase

> Say Goodbye to Clutter

When styling your bookcase, start by removing everything and paring down to what you need or don’t want to give away. It’s a great idea to have a place to hide the ‘not-so-pretty’ items like behind the sliding glass doors of the Bronte. Another option is to introduce stylish felt baskets or leather boxes to hide junk while maintaining a stylish aesthetic. Place baskets or boxes at the bottom of the bookcase for easy access and to anchor the look (great for packing up the kids’ toys so they can reach it).

> Visual Interest & Balance

Arrange your books by size, subject and colour and group them together. Stack the books both vertically and horizontally throughout the bookcase and balance out with some personal display objects. You don’t need to fill the whole space; blank areas bring focus to the objects on display. Don’t worry about being symmetrical; a balanced ‘random’ layout will look fuss-free and relaxed.

> Make it personal

Just because it’s a ‘bookcase’, doesn’t mean it is just for books. Balance the look by incorporating treasured items like vases, sculptures, photo frames and trinkets with your books. This will create a stylish look that is uniquely yours.

> Add a pop of colour

Introduce pops of colour through sliding glass panels and quirky objects to add a fun look to represent your personality. It’s also a great idea to add some life by introducing a plant or fresh flowers that you can change weekly depending on your mood. By introducing a range of different materials from the same colour palette like ceramic, glass, leather, fabric etc. a textural harmony is created.