This month, Verve sits down with some leading local designers to discover what inspires them and their philosophies, and to learn some tips and potential trends.
Monica Tischler
Ligne Roset
When dressing a room, what is the most important factor for you?
That your individual personality is reflected in the space and that style doesn’t compromise quality, practicality and comfort. A room must align with your personal taste and be a safe, beautiful space to retreat to. If it’s not practical and comfortable, then it doesn’t truly work and won’t stand the test of time. Achieving that balance is important.
Is it difficult keeping up with trends like wallpaper, fabric, and furniture design?
What is so special about Ligne Roset, is that a significant part of our collection comprises longstanding designs made to outlast fashion. For instance, Togo by Michel Ducaroy celebrates its 50th anniversary next year. We count ourselves very grateful that Ligne Roset stands the test of time and holds steadfast amid the ever-changing seasons of design.
How would you define your personal design philosophy?
We love exploring the juxtaposition of modern and classic pieces and find they can really complement each other. Everything has to have special meaning and connection to us. We use my partner Matt’s grandmother’s singer sewing machine as a display cabinet in our living room. It sits alongside the Ligne Roset Andy sofa by Pierre Paulin.
How do you identify new trends?
We get a sneak preview of the most popular pieces and fabrics ordered worldwide which offers great insight into global trends. There are so many beautiful fabrics available in the Ligne Roset collection, including buttery leathers, textured patterns, and soft, neutral tones. But we find our signature pieces, in particular the Ploum settee by R&E Bouroullec and the Togo fireside chair, lend themselves well to rich, velvety jewel tones. An Alcantara fabric in the striking colour ‘Curry’ is the most popular colour of Togo worldwide.
With border restrictions opening and travel set to become a reality once more, what country excites you most from a design point of view?
France of course! Not only is it the home of Ligne Roset but there is some spectacular design and architecture holding such rich history and stories within its walls. We are eager to explore this intriguing country and its famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, Louvre and Palace of Versailles, as well as its lesser known villages lined with historic cottages reminiscent of a fairytale.
Ben Lewis
Trenzseater
What led you into the field of interior design?
I was bought up in the industry. From a very early age I developed a passion and interest in interior design which just grew over time and led to a career in the industry. I live and breathe interior design everyday which is why it’s an integral part of TRENZSEATER.
When designing a room what is the most important factor for you?
The most important part when designing for clients is to work with them, listen to what they say and ensure that you put the very best in front of them so the result is absolutely stunning!
What is a good way of using lights in your room?
I love lighting as it can create ambiance, it can create a mood which amplifies a particular style. The design of the lights also plays a huge part in which direction you are leading with a particular design.
Matching the scale of the furniture to the scale of the room?
Scale is super important, there’s nothing worse than having something in situ which is out of place because of scale. Scale the furniture to the room and don’t be afraid of size. Having a grand sense of scale brings everything into proportion.
How has social media changed the design landscape for you?
Social media is a great source of inspiration for clients. It showcases the best of design on the planet and also, from a designer’s perspective, it puts everything available at your fingertips. We place daily posts on our social media accounts of our own projects, products and new releases.
Advice for aspiring interior designers?
My advice for anyone aspiring to be an interior designer is to engage, research, and follow anything interior design. If you have a passion for interior design then what does and doesn’t feel right will come naturally.
Paula Wallace
Wallace Cotton
What led you into the field of textile design?
I’ve always had a passion for beautiful bed linen. Having been a textile designer since a teenager, bed linen was the perfect large canvas for some of my early artwork.
How would you define your creative philosophy?
Our mantra is simple, it just has to be beautiful, whether a painterly floral of some favourite blooms, or the perfect stripe sequence and colour. We also understand how our light in NZ affects how we dress our homes, so colour and textures are really important when designing a range.
Where do you look for inspiration?
Considering we haven’t been able to travel over the last two years, our team has been more creative than ever, tuning into our local environment for design themes that will resonate with our audience.
What is your favourite part of the design process?
I love it when the range comes together like a beautifully coordinated jigsaw puzzle.
Where do you start when styling a bedroom?
I start by looking at the fixed colours in the room, floors, walls, curtains, then ask how the client likes to live and sleep, so the finished room will meet their needs. We love adding layers of comfort to the bed plus any chairs in the room, so there is always the option to get warmer or cooler during the night. If the room has patterned walls or headboard, go for simple washed linen or crisp white textures on the bed. If there are no features in the room, let loose with a beautiful passionate printed duvet and some coordinated velvet or linen colours.
Ron Redel
Bob & Friends
What led you into the field of interior design?
I studied textiles many years ago and have always been mad about interiors and design in general. So, it became an obvious choice for me to finally return to what I started out loving. After 35 years in film, I opened Bob and Friends.
Is it difficult keeping up with trends?
Not really, trends tend to be for followers not for leaders.
I like to think that good classical ideas translate to trends.
I’m aware of what’s happening and we adapt what we do if the trend is relevant. It’s important to follow your own style. I’ve been promoting colour ever since I opened even though everyone was obsessed with muted tones.
Advice when marrying high-end with budget?
When you’re working at the high end, budget isn’t quite as big a problem. There is always a budget and we are always conscious of spending a client’s money. You have to be even more aware of selecting your key pieces and making sure you don’t let price cloud your judgement.
How has social media changed the design landscape for you?
The amazing thing about social media is one’s ability to research. The world is truly at your fingertip but it’s also at your clients’. I spend hours searching for new products, new looks, great images and so on. It’s remarkable how easy it is to discover makers and designers around the world.
Advice for aspiring interior designers?
Try and stay true to your own look. Don’t be a follower, be original and be prepared to fight for what you believe. All creative processes are a battle to stay true to an idea.
Erin O’Malley
Madder & Rouge
When designing a room, what is the most important factor for you?
Firstly, the feel of the home as a whole. Each space, while its own entity with its specific purpose, is still read as part of a whole. I like to make sure it fits with its owners’ general aesthetic, that the room has threads which encompass the whole home.
What is a good way of using lights?
I love lighting. It’s such a great way of dividing up our open plan living areas. Low hanging lights in moody corners, or a beautiful sculptural piece inviting you into the heart of a space. Overhead recessed lighting, while practical, adds very little ambience to a space, which can better be achieved with table lamps, candlelight, and feature lights.
Matching the scale of the furniture to the scale of the room?
Mess with scale – this adds a wonderful energy to your room. Though, you still need balance. A beautiful, oversized coffee table in front of your sofa may need a similarly sized piece on a wall – a mirror or painting – or a tall, wide indoor plant beside the sofa. Sometimes it is not the size of the piece, it is the perceived weight. A visual weight, like a heavy dark sofa, may need to be offset with a large light pendant in the centre of the room in glass, voile, or paper. There are no set rules here. It is very much a feel-your-way.
Is it difficult keeping up with trends such as wallpaper, fabric, or furniture design?
Don’t try and keep up with the trends. Look at them, assess them and ask yourself what fits with your aesthetic. What do you find interesting when you put it beside what you already love? Does it challenge your interior point of view, and as such, is exciting and has energy? Keep these things, ignore the rest.
How would you define your design philosophy?
Layers. By layers I do not mean more is more is more. I am simply referring to an awareness of the materiality of your surfaces. The relationship between the textures, shapes, and colours. Weave a story with them – they should talk to each other. The conversation could be melodic, discordant, upbeat, operatic. For me there must be a conversation going on. A song being sung.
Lyzadie Renault
Lyzadie
What led you into the field of architecture, and furniture and product design?
I was always reinventing or inventing spaces around me as a child. I loved it. My family background had a big impact on my design journey. My French father was an accountant, a builder, and an artist; the people in my mother’s village from New Caledonia used materials found in nature for huts, tools, medicine, and so on. My paternal grandfather was an engineer and a furnituremaker. So, from an early age I was surrounded by creativity and nature. I’ve always been fascinated by how things work and are made – it’s probably why I was drawn to helping my father on building sites as a child or spending a whole year when I was 17 learning to fix old motorbikes. I’ve travelled a lot across the world and have always been interested in how cultures would be created by shaping their surroundings with buildings, art, music, and food, leading to a unique design language. All this guided me to architecture and, later in life, furniture and product design.
When designing a building what is the most important factor for you?
There are a few factors that are important, especially the inside-outside connection between nature and the building. I love nature and I love the feeling of being part of it, so landscaping and architecture are a big factor for me. Things like how you position your building to face the sun or openings are positioned for that intimate connection with nature. I also love using raw and honest materials as it emphasises that connection with nature. I love bringing nature inside with interior courtyards. Simple spaces with beautiful details also give a perfect backdrop for the openings to the outside, so we can dive into the outward views.
Where do you look for inspiration for the furniture and homeware design?
Around New Zealand, in nature, fashion, jewellery, music, art, literature, movies, design, architecture, sport, cars, natural and raw materials, technology, and more! Inspiration is unexpected. It usually takes me by surprise with its beauty and must touch my soul to fire up my creative juices.
How has social media changed the design landscape for you?
We have instant design inspiration at our doorstep, whether it’s architecture or design. I feel, with social media, designers are doing the same thing across the world. A global design language is being created and it’s becoming difficult to find designs that speak to the soul on a deeper level. I prefer the uniqueness and richness of local designers who are inspired by their own context and culture, local materials, and craftsmanship.
With border restrictions opening and travel set to become reality once more, what city excites you most from a design point of view?
Copenhagen. I love travelling and so it is something I have missed a lot. Denmark is somewhere I really want to explore as soon as the border restrictions open. Then, of course, I want to explore the rest of the world.
Wendy Francis-Ching
Consignment
Who have been your favourite designers to date?
I have two gold-star designers when it comes to reselling: Antonio Citterio and Philippe Starck. Their designs reflect their understanding of furniture and the way it is used, meaning as well as having a piece that looks beautiful, it will be functional and so well made that it will last for generations. At Consignment, we look at quality as well as aesthetics when we decide what to consign, which led us to focus on showcasing contemporary European furniture over other genres.
Where do you look for your pieces?
We have been blessed so far as we have a wonderful community of friends and businesses that support what we do. They either consign their own pieces, share our platform with their contacts, or refer clients, many of whom have beautiful designs but are downsizing or refreshing their homes with a different design approach. There are currently no other showrooms that offer the service we do with modern brands, and only a few that offer mid-century or quality antiques.
Advice when marrying high-end with budget?
Just as with clothing, not every piece needs to be from a designer’s collection. Your room could be mostly arranged with purely functional furniture, but by placing three or four outstanding pieces in there, the whole space is uplifted. This approach also means that you can keep older pieces and those with an emotional attachment, while adding quality designs that complement these and create an exciting and classy space.
Any design trends you wish would disappear?
I don’t think any design trends ever disappear. Antique furniture has probably been the least popular style in the past few years, but it’s being dusted off in the UK and Europe and finding its place again. I like the look of a few pieces scattered around the house, especially if it has a history. Personally, I think that the mid-century trend has been flavour du jour in NZ for a bit too long and would love to see something more modern and inspiring dominate for a while.
With border restrictions opening and travel set to become a reality once more, what city excites you most from a design point of view?
I’m booking a trip this week to visit the UK and Europe in the coming months. Although no-one can beat French designers like Liaigre and Starck, for me the Italians rule when it comes to design and creativity. I would rate Driade, Minotti, B&B Italia, Poliform, Flexform, and Armani as among the best, although there are quality design houses like Promemoria Italy that are largely unknown here. Their attention to detail results in little strokes of genius in the finished product.
consignmentfurniture.co.nz
