Material world Bring home the

W O R L D M A T E R I A L

H A C E B E H T N O K L W A A E K I L L E E F D N A K O L O E M O H R U Y O E K A M N A C S L A I R E A T M Y H T R A E F O X I M L U F L L I K S A

WHITE OAK Utilise wood beams in a light sandy colour and exposed grain to echo your flooring.

GRASSCLOTH WALLPAPER Give your pale e sophisticated depth with rich marine blue.

TWEEDY FABRIC Choose a light oatmeal shade for upholstery to add warmth to your neutral pale e.

SHIPLAP Use painted white planks to add visual interest. Home should foster a sense of relaxation. And for many of us, a beach getaway is where we’ ve been most relaxed and at our happiest. So it’s hardly surprising that we look at ways to bring the colours and textures of the sand and surf to our interiors – crisp whites, sun-bleached woods, moody blues plus plenty of touchable materials. Here’s how to do it.

1 INSPIRED SHAPES

You can never have too much texture! It stops spaces from looking flat while adding interest. So introduce woods, woven grasses and nubby fabrics such as tweed or boucle to give your pale e visual weight and contrast. Shape plays a part, too – note the cloud-like light.

STUCCO Anchor your scheme with a smooth stone finish for your fireplace surround. Try

Porter ’ s Paints Fresco in Shell Grey.

RATTAN Look for earthy texture details in furniture that you can repeat in accessories such as baskets.

DARK WOOD Cosy up your neutral scheme with rich chocolate wood hues.

Darker shades of coffee and deep-water blues balance lighter tones.

Natural fibres such as sisal and ra an bring in light to medium shades of brown.

2 THE BLISS FACTOR

The restful feel of a coastal pale e doesn ’t develop from the colours alone. Using a blend of textures in tactile materials to evoke the calming hues of the beach – tawny sands, gray-white clouds and Prussian blue waters –includes more of the senses. The result is tranquillity you can see, touch and sink into.

WALLPAPER

JUTE

WOOD

3 CALM & LIGHT

Oversize pendant lights and dining tables are a match made in heaven. Here, the light is the room ’ s undeniable focal point while its jute frame echoes the woven natural materials featured in other rooms for continuity. The grey table and graphic wallcovering create a calm canvas for wood elements in various shades – namely the seating, console, picture frame and dri wood. Mid-century expandable dining table in Pebble, $1399,

westelm.com.au.

4 STATE OF PLAY

If you have the luxury of space for a playroom, decorate it with kid-friendly materials. Here, the sofa is a blue-grey linen that hides spills. You might also consider washable slip covers. Piles of cushions can add hits of muted colour which you can change on a whim or if they need a turn in the washing machine. And how about including black and white art – it can be photos enlarged on canvas or a DIY creative interpretation of your child’ s name, spelt out.

4

PAPER IT Sepiessa Stone wallpaper, a Caroline Z Hurley design, carolinez hurley.com.

5

5 WORK BALANCE

If you happen to have a wider than usual upstairs landing, you might find it the ideal spot to tuck in a home office/study area for the family. Here, a ma black dining table has been coralled for use as a desk, the colour mimicking the living area ’ s slate-hued stucco fireplace.

Shiplap walls also repeat from the living area while the wall behind the desk is painted a blue-black similar to the ‘ snug 6 MIXED LOOKS

Look to woven ra an stools (of any style) for textural contrast to sleek walnut cabinetry and smart stone-look work materials. Quartz surfaces by Caesarstone or porcelain by Neolith for your benchtops and splashback are hygienic choices that echo the look of real Calaca a marble, without having to seal the surface – so much more practical for home cooking and family living.

LEATHER AGED BRASS CANING

7

7 COCOON EFFECT

Paint bookcases, cabinetry and/or walls in a so blue-black hue reminiscent of an inky night sky. It will feel warmer than a true black while adding drama and a sense of theatre to a separate, snug living room. It’ s also important to focus on comfort, ably carried out here with soothing textures – a hide rug and tu ed leather sofa, both in light, cool browns. An antique sawhorse/ coffee table lends a richer brown and a furnished-over-time look. To warm up dark walls, use yellow undertones – cane chairs and gold lights and frames.

BENJAMIN MOORE Chantilly Lace OC-65

DULUX Rimaldo

LINEN METAL WAX CLOTH

8 PALETTE PLAY

Even in your children ’ s rooms, it’ s a good idea to go with muted tones rather than primary colours, as they will stand the test of time. Here, bright yellow is overlooked for rich mustard cushions, and umber canvas slip covers that quickly and easily conceal the spindle beds while modernising the room in a flash. Dress the beds with lots of different layers so they feel more sophisticated. And how about a gallery wall of art prints featuring an array of transportation vehicles – cars, buses, trains, diggers and so on, etsy.com.au.