CREATIVE INSPIRATION

The designers who collaborate with Indigo Living on seasonal collections, reveal the stories behind their latest designs.

JEAN-PIERRE BROWN

Artist, designer and founder of Coup d’Esprit, an artist collective producing contemporary hand-made prints.

What is the inspiration behind your new prints? I love old photography and have been studying 19th-century printing methods.

How does this manifest itself in your work? I’ve restricted a lot of my work to simple colourways – black and white, or black and gold. I also create hand-painted touches over digital prints on canvas, blurring the line between painting and photography.

What are your top picks from this season’s collection?

Revisionist Still life: This is studio photography in a traditional still-life style but with a modern twist.

Laser-cut Paper: We have laser-cut lace-like patterns into our prints to add depth and dimension.

Silver Leaf Moon: We print high-contrast photos onto glass and back them with precious metal leafing. Glamorous and elegant.

KATE CROFTON-ATKINS

Co-founder and director of Cochine, Vietnam’s first luxury fragrance brand.

What are you inspired by? Moving from London to Ho Chi Minh City first inspired me to create Cochine. It combines the romance of life in the tropics with the elegance of its French heritage.

How does this manifest itself in a new fragrance? I love how fragrances encapsulate a mood, a moment in time or a memory. Each Cochine fragrance is inspired by a piece of life in Ho Chi Minh City.

What are your top picks from this season’s collection?

The Eau de Vie Fragrance Collection Sets: These can be used both as an eau de parfum and to subtly scent a room.

Vanille & Tabac Noir Four-wick Candle: This beautiful candle comes in our latest fragrance and makes an amazing centrepiece for any home.

Candle – Juniper & Ginger: This season’s limited-edition fragrance.

Bonnie Ashley And Neil Downie

Founders of Bonnie and Neil, an independent textile design studio.

What are you inspired by? Nature is one of our most recurring sources of inspiration in Australia, where we live. We have been inspired by all sorts of flora and fauna. Our new Winter Garden range was inspired by historical conservatory gardens with their mosaic floors, glass ceilings, tapestries and ornate framework.

How does this help you to design a collection?

Our design process often starts with images, plants and colour references. There is such wonderful light in Australia and the colours are so vibrant, so these are influential aspects.

What are your top picks from your latest collection?

Kookaburra Grey Cushion Cover: This cheeky Australian native bird is a regular feature in our collections.

Gypsy Floral Cushion Cover: A modern and bold statement piece.

Alison Gay

Owner and designer of Carezza, which creates hand-crafted sofas and chairs.

What are you inspired by? I travel a lot and am often inspired by the countries I’ve visited. I am also inspired by hotel design, which I think is quite forward thinking and usually brilliantly done.

How does this manifest itself in your collections? I love antique markets because the furniture you find at them tends to be very classic in shape, with perfect proportions, and I like to emulate this in my designs. Colours from a country or city I’ve visited also filter down to my collections.

What are your top picks from this season’s collection?

Draper 3-seat Sofa Green Velvet Fabric: This is a beautiful colour and an incredibly comfortable piece. We have used strong, rich colours to give our sofas and chairs a luxurious feel.

Brooklyn 3-seat Sofa – Brown Leather: This is a versatile piece and goes with so many different design styles. The leather we use is very warm and should feel well loved.

Time To Shine

Switch on the latest looks in lighting. Eye‑catching pendants and elegant table lamps are ideal for setting the perfect mood – and look fabulous even when not in use.