LET’S GET TROPICAL!

Rachael Buxton

Much has changed since the pandemic began and we are all have increasing demands on our time. Homes provide respite and a chance to recover and reconnect, so we need easy care and optimal functionality with appliances and workspaces.

Organic elements have become preferred finishes, with curves and honed granite o ering warmth. A seamless flow of benchtop materials is favoured, continuing up walls and replacing glass and tile splashbacks.

Timber is used on walls and ceilings, not just on floors. Another flooring option, coloured cork, is made of a natural material, so it’s inherently warm with cushioning properties.

People crave calm, keeping chaos behind closed doors –sculleries are larger and kitchens have fewer appliances on display. Kitchen islands have become more colourful and sculptural, increasingly considered to be uniquely designed pieces of functional furniture rather than just serving as a benchtop with cupboards. The use of severely contrasting colours, such as black and white, has given way to warm greys, blues and greens.

Selecting theme-appropriate lighting is critical within a kitchen. Pendants, spotlights and strip lighting are all popular – multi-layered lighting provide varying ambient, task and mood lighting solutions all in the one space.

Advances in technology enable us to ‘talk’ to appliances and operate them remotely. Some ovens are even fitted with internal cameras. Blast chillers, popup power points, extractors and charging stations are also popular.

According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association, people spend 5-15 per cent of the value of their home on kitchens, so it pays to consult an expert. As an interior designer, I specialise in soft furnishings (curtains and blinds) and furniture selection. However, I’m also adept with colour, finishes and material selections for kitchens, working with reputable designers and manufacturers.

True tropicals like warmer climates, but we can create a tropical look with densely packed, bold, bright plants. What’s more, there are hardier varieties (see below) that, once established, will cope with a light frost.

To begin, choose an area away from strong wind and dips where cold air will settle.

Mountain pawpaws are fast-growing with exotic leaves and sweet yellow fruit. At least two plants are needed for pollination but, as they have a narrow profile, they don’t take up too much space. Preferring shade, these relatively hardy pawpaws produce fruit from their second year.

Inga (or ice cream beans) are a great subtropical choice for those with more space available. These sun lovers produce large pods filled with ice cream-flavoured pulp.

As colour is essential in creating a tropical feel, day lilies are ideal, attracting plenty of interest while being easy to grow. They come in many colours, although yellow, peach and pink varieties are the best for eating. For eye-popping impact mass plant or repeat plant throughout the garden.

Mid-height Okinawa spinach features splashes of violet under its leaves. Best planted in partial shade, it’s a decorative and tasty option. As – Golden Marjoram provides a pop of colour, contrasting beautifully with green from surrounding plants. Add sweet violets nearby to provide depth and fragrant, edible flowers.

Finally, you can’t get more tropical than passionfruit! Black passionfruit copes with light frosts, while vanilla passionfruit needs a frost-free location – it has stunning magenta flowers and delicious yellow fruit.