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interior design
TRENDS you need to know about in 2022
We’ll be seeing a lot of jewel colours, curves and tactile textures in the coming year, writes Leanne Moore
STYLE
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TACTILE TEXTURES
A holiday home is a place for relaxation and rejuvenation, a bolthole from the pressures of daily life. For those who put in the extra effort to create a space that’s unique and authentic, the time and effort will reap rewards. When it’s achieved, as in this Coromandel holiday home by Edwardswhite Architects, your spirits will lift and your blood pressure will drop the moment you step over the threshold. The key is creating a space that is a combination of all the things that make you. Build layers over time, adding comfy cushions and sofas that invite you to flop down for an afternoon nap. Create tension with contrasting tactile textures, mixing velvet and faux fur with timber and throws. When you get the balance right, you will never want to leave.
To get a snapshot of what’s happening in interior design right now, the Design Institute of New Zealand has done all the hard work for you. The best trends in design and decor are showcased among the work of designers and architects who are finalists in the spatial design category of the institute’s Best Awards. The award winners, including the best spatial designer in 2021, will be announced at a glam industry dinner in Auckland on February 18. Among the spatial design finalists are these wayfinders on the path to directional design.
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JEWEL COLOURS
After a sea of beige and an ocean of greys, a welcome new colour trend that’s emerging is warm jewel-tones, showcased in the living room décor of this recently renovated home in Remuera, Auckland. Adding a bit of bling to a neutral backdrop, as Space Studio has done, showcases the way confident colour combos can bring a room alive, and anchor the space at the same time. The bold contrast between the warm and cool tones, and pale highlights against the moody darkness, capture the personalities of the home owners, creating an interior that’s a selfreflection of their playful characters.
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SMALL SPACES
Embracing a “less is more” lifestyle is becoming increasingly popular among New Zealanders. As we begin to seriously question how big a home really needs to be, the tiny house movement is encouraging people to put space-efficient features at the top of their must-have list. The key to giving the interiors of small homes a harmonious feel is a restricted colour palette and limited materials. This holiday home in Wanaka has nailed it. Condon Scott Architects took their inspiration from Japanese architecture, reflecting the compact and considered design of homes in that part of the world. Cladding the walls and ceiling in plywood gives the upper level the illusion of space, with the landing doing double-duty as a children’s play area. It’s a petite home that’s plenty big enough for this family.
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CURVES
There’s no denying that 2022 is going to be the year of the curve. Smooth and swooping lines that echo the Art Deco movement are everywhere: in buildings, furniture, mirrors, vases, art and kitchen cabinetry (although this custom kitchen island owes more to the site’s volcanic rock formations than current trends). When it came to his own home, the founder of South by Southeast Architects, Ken Powrie, responded to the organic shape of the rocks unearthed during the building’s excavation. The curvaceous kitchen island found favour with his clients, wife Sarina and their two daughters, aged 4 and 6. The girls’ brief to their dad was clear: “Somewhere where we can run around the house, even if it’s raining, with the dog.” He delivered on that, too.
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DECORATIVE CEILINGS
So often, the ceiling is an afterthought when it comes to decor and design. The fallback position is almost always white, but a ceiling that is part of the overall design can be a wonderful thing. That’s what is so refreshing about the contemporary addition to this villa in Ponsonby, Auckland. The patterned ceiling draws the eye upward to the 3.5m high stud. It’s a lovely contrast to the TV room’s otherwise spartan decor. The sofa and rug are the only other decorative elements in the room, offering a pop of colour against the grey concrete walls and floor. Designed by Pacific Environments, the patterned ceiling is crafted from bespoke routered plywood panels. This striking feature also serves a practical purpose, helping to improve the acoustics of the room.
