Textured tones
Margaret Gill from Guthrie Bowron Tauranga explains how the emerging trend of Quiet Collected Luxury is transforming wallpaper choices.
PHOTO Salina Galvan + supplied
The worlds of interior design and textile fashion are more intertwined
than ever. Weathered silks and linens, as well as shimmering nuances of silver, rock and gemstones all remain refined and understated.
These days, people are more confident in experimenting with varied textures throughout their home. For example, plaster walls mixed with wooden floors and feature murals with textured wallpapers.
The emerging trend of ‘Quiet Collected Luxury’ is being seen within highly textured, softer tone-on-tone coloured wallpapers.
Reflected in new collections we see crafted dark wood grains, curved arcs and geometrics, recycled materials, aged velvets and stone washes that emphasise texture and silhouettes.
When following these trends, it’s best to choose effortless tactile finishes that will age gracefully, rather than going with the slick and new. Think handwoven textiles, wool fabric, complex stones and expressive woods. The subtle sophistication of mixed materials in a room conveys an artisan, collected interior.
The mandate is to embrace the artisan movement, celebrating handmade and one-of-a-kind pieces. We see this in beautiful wallpaper collections such as Khroma Aquila Arc Desert or Aquila Gigi Copper (both pictured below).
Plain wallpapers are now in fact anything but plain. They are soft and luminous, and can encompass nuances of what we see in nature. For example, silk, linen, bark, leaves and shimmery night skies. This captivating layering of tonal understated beauty serves to cocoon a living space.
We are also seeing a resurgence of aged patina, muted colour palettes and more uneven or quirky patterns being introduced to wallpapers, whether this be across velvets, damask, arc shapes or animal prints, it adds an extra layer of faded luxury to the overall appearance.
Whatever you decide on, it’s best to consult an interiors or wallpaper specialist, who can offer advice on styling and what will suit best with your current aesthetic.