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Interior design trends 2021 – the 25 top looks for the New Year and beyond

Tap into 2021's biggest interior trends to reinvent and refresh your home for the year ahead 

Interior design trends 2021
(Image credit: Future / Jake Curtis)

It's been a long year, so we have good reason to rejoice when thinking of the interior design trends we love most for 2021 and onwards. 

From the growing importance of sustainable materials to elegant elements and a celebration of individuality and uniqueness, our 2021 trend edit will provide you with a curated look that will bring your home into the New Year with sensational style.

With many people’s attitudes on life changing during 2020, and many wishing they could get away this year, we take a look ahead at the interior design trends for 2021.

1. TAKE A MAXIMALIST APPROACH TO DECORATING

Interior design trends 2021 maximalism

(Image credit: Future / Jon Day)

For those who love colorful decoration, this maximalist look channels the free-spirited essence of the celebrated Bloomsbury artists and their creative flair
. Bravely mix contrast patterns across a scheme, harmonising the eclectic mix with different scales of print, and one or two grounding common tones to pull all the patterns together. The Bloomsbury artists painted not only their 
walls but their furniture, too. Mix large-scale wall decor with small-scale decorative details to create playful layers. 

2. COMBINE CHECKS AND STRIPES

2021 Interior Trends

(Image credit: Future / Emma Lee)

Everyone's two favorite patterns combine for this fun new trend that mixes the classic check and stripe with new-season colors.

Mix and match patterns in different scales to create the right 
balance. In this bedroom the delicately patterned cushions and eiderdown soften the effect of the stripes and checks on the wall and bed.

3. SLIDE INTO SCULPTURAL FURNITURE

2021 Interior Trends

(Image credit: Future / Emma Lee)

Carefully curated displays of shapely figures and organic forms take centre stage creating quiet drama in neutral spaces. As the striking furnishings and lighting in this living room show, sculptural can be beautiful and useful. For those with a love of ceramics, group pieces together behind glass or on a humble window shelf. Curved and shapely furniture and vessels draw the eye, inviting your gaze to dance across the space. 

4. BE BOLD WITH A PRIMARY PALETTE

2021 Interior Trends

(Image credit: Future / Emma Lee)

We love this considered trend which gives interiors an artistic edge by using two primary colors against a muted palette. Here, a statement lamp with big personality is the perfect way to bring color into an existing neutral space. And such vibrant color helps a piece to stand out from the crowd.

In larger spaces wooden furniture and natural jute flooring is given a new lease of life with a sprinkling of bright primary colors.

5. TRANSPORT YOURSELF TO WARMER CLIMES WITH A WALL MURAL

2021 Trends

(Image credit: Future / Jon Day)

Adorning interiors with maximum escapism, tropical wall-coverings full of lively patterns and dreamy painterly scenes are just what interiors are craving this year. This 'La Passion De Diego' mural by Elitis featuring oversized Mexican plant-life and a silhouette of Frida Kahlo has a woven pattern incorporated into the design to add texture and depth to balance the bold color.

6. RUSTIC VOGUE – A SOPHISTICATED TAKE ON COTTAGECORE

Interior design trends 2021: orange dining room

Image credit: David Brittain

This look is a crowd pleaser, appealing to anyone who loves their modern home comforts but wants to inject some character details into their living spaces, too. It works ideally in homes that already have some interesting features, such as exposed beams, original floorboards or panelled walls, but can equally be re-created with a considered balance of old and new pieces that work together in harmony. 

Reclaimed wood is the core material that holds this look together – look for unique pieces that show plenty of grain and texture, rather than items that are perfectly finished.

7. COLOR IN WITH YELLOW AND GRAY

Interior design trends 2021

(Image credit: Pantone)

This year, Pantone took the unusual step of naming two colors as their shades of the year: Illuminating, a zingy yellow, and Ultimate Yellow, a pale gray. 

'The selection of two independent colors highlight how different elements come together to express a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting, conveying the idea that it’s not about one color or one person, it’s about more than one,' says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute.

 

8. CREATE A COUNTRY SCHEME WITH COTTAGECORE

Interior design trends

(Image credit: Future / David Brittain)

'Due to the events of 2020, I think that cottagecore, nostalgia and the need for comfort are all here to stay,' says Instagram influencer and blogger Paula Sutton of Hill House Vintage. 

'Cottagecore is something that started off as very simplistic but I think it can also be mixed with touches of glamour to create a luxe traditional style. Elegant vintage style barware, gilded cutlery and statement gold accessories are all ways to get the look whilst staying on budget and touches of British quirk will keep the look feeling grounded.'

Think: a cuter version of Rustic Vogue, with ginghams and checks vying for attention with vintage prints and motifs – all set within a muted, pastel palette.

9. OPT FOR A CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY LOOK

Interior design trends

A wander through warm amber tones, mellow meadow prints and beautiful embroidery. Mix and match natural textures for a cozy and inviting look that lift both home and spirit.

Mix muted colors with folksy and characterful prints for a more modern country kind-of-vibe.

10. EMBRACE DISTANT SHORES

Interior design trends

(Image credit: Barlow & Barlow)

We're all yearning for this, right? Well, the laid-back lifestyle of Hawaii has been reimagined in this next trend. As we long for tropical getaways, interiors inspired by distant shores offer a calm and relaxing living space to make a home a safe and inviting place to recharge. Adding a contemporary edge to a classic floral design, the Distant Shores trend features tropical brights, subtle monotones and soft lemons.

‘Tropical leaves and florals can be used to bring the outside indoors, with an introduction to greenery into homes. Easy-living digital prints are designed to work in any home with complementary color palettes to emulate the varied Hawaiian landscape,’ continues Parry.

'There are many people who have missed the freedom to go aboard in 2020,' says Paula Sutton of Hill House Vintage. 'So I predict a return to a global inspiration within interiors, where our spaces reflect our travels, the sea and distant shores.'  

11. HARK BACK TO YESTERYEAR WIT VINTAGE ELEMENTS

interior design trends

(Image credit: Jody Stewart)

Antique, repurposed, salvaged and retro pieces all have their place in a vintage scheme. The key is to reference the look rather than slavishly reproduce it, using strong colors, favorite pieces and a less-is-more approach for a vibrant, cohesive aesthetic. The key to this approach is to provide plenty of contrast. 

Build up a vintage-style scheme gradually. It’s the kind of look that needs layering so choose pieces over time that mean something to you. Add a few luxe elements such as rich fabrics and statement lighting to create a modern note.

12. REJOICE WITH EARTHY, GROUNDED SHADES

Interior design trends

(Image credit: Sherwin-Williams)

First Dulux announces its Color of the Year as Brave Ground, then Urbane Bronze is hailed as Sherwin Williams' Color of the Year (above). Now, Little Greene will release their latest paint range in January 2021... and, you guessed it, it's all built around a natural, earthy color palette (above). Packed with rusts, warm greens, deep reds and slubby browns, it's comforting, welcoming... and just what we need for 2021. And we love it.

13. WARM UP WITH COLOR

interior design trends

(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

This winter provides the perfect excuse to get cozy, and a great way of doing this is by incorporating warm colors to a space. However, warm colors can feel really welcoming in sunnier months too, and we will see a lot of burnt oranges and peacock blues incorporated into people’s décor going forwards. 

These are great colors that work well with darker colors like grey and navy, but also add depth to a space. These colors are also great for this time of year, and add a playful element of color that is very needed during the colder winter months.

14. NOD TO GLOBAL STYLE

interior design trends

(Image credit: The Private House Company/Andrew Martin Interior Designer Review Vol.24)

Inspired by earthy color palettes and warm, natural textures, the Global Influence trend pairs perfectly with wooden, woven and rattan home accessories. It’s bold safari feel is influenced by wildlife and African plains.

‘We’ve seen ‘Global Influence’ as a key trend for the season across both interiors and fashion. With warmer tones now often being favoured over cooler greys this is a key interior trend that can be easily translated into the home.’

 

‘The challenge and goal is to capture the aesthetic of global styles through unique and creative perspectives,' explains Maria Parry. 

'We usually travel around the world to gain insight into the must-have trends for the season ahead, but this year we have had to think outside the box and gain inspiration from elsewhere.

‘Taking influence from nature, nostalgia and the desire for a tropical getaway, living spaces will reflect the current situation we are faced with, embracing calming color palettes and familiar patterns that create a sanctuary in any home.’

15. CREATE CALM WITH OCEAN HUES 

Interior design trends 2021: blue dining room

(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)

Capturing relaxing poolsides and beach getaways, aqua and inky blues offer a calm, contemporary look. Benjamin Moore's Color of the Year 2021 reflects this shift towards tranquil, yet modern interiors with Aegean Teal (above), a color that is known for its association with peace, calm and comfort.

Ocean blues are a key color trend for the year. Varying from deep inky tones through to soft aquas, blue is the perfect color for creating a tranquil home.

16. CHOOSE THE CLASSIC TRADITIONALISM TREND

interior design trends

(Image credit: Kit Kemp/Andrew Martin Interior Designer Review Vol.24)

A timeless trend taking inspiration from the 18th and 19th centuries, incorporating classic art, antiques and pieces with history. Classic traditionalism brings a sense of harmony and order to any living space, with a décor scheme that works together perfectly.

‘It also favors symmetry, which can be seen in soft furnishings embracing ornate scrolls, courtly stripes and classic damasks. In a move on from bold, graphic geometrics, traditional and classic designs have developed into key trends for the season,’ continues Prestigious Textiles' Head of Design Marie Parry

Kit Kemp's living room above from Andrew Martin Interior Designer Review Vol.24. 

 

17. GO ROUGH AND RUSTIC WITH SHABBY CHIC

interior design trends

(Image credit: Mark Bolton)

This timeless trend epitomizes faded elegance and an unrefined sense of luxury. To create the feel of timeworn opulence from scratch try mixing new buys with vintage market finds. 

Look for decorative accessories such as chandeliers and mirrors that haven’t been perfectly restored, but have aged with character, and opt for furniture and textiles that feel lived-in. Chipped paintwork, faded fabrics and blemishes all add to the charm.

18. BE MINDFUL WITH ECO CHOICES

interior design trend predictions

(Image credit: Emme Lee)

Engage your senses with meaningful design and calming fabrics. This popular trend plays to our desire for spiritual connection and well-being balanced by a commitment to sustainability.

Colors and textures have a hint of craft with warm tones coming to the fore. The new colour palette includes golden beige, moss green, soft olive and earthy orange. Further, tactile fabrics serve to comfort and cocoon such as matt velvet, boucle and linen. In addition, these soft and resilient fabrics are suitable for intensive use seating.

We will also see a renewed focus on craft and multifunctional furniture. In sync with the rise of the conscious consumerism comes the desire for furniture that offers longevity, quality and durability. Our need to feel grounded, calm and connected to nature is expressed through understated furniture, textile fabrics, sustainable materials and multifunctional, warm minimalism.

Interior design trends 2021

(Image credit: Alternative Flooring)

Carpet trends have really evolved alongside other interior design trends for 2021, with eco-focused materials featuring heavily. As such, natural fiber carpet will become more and more prevalent.

Lorna Haigh, from Alternative Flooring, says: 'Climate change is more than a trend. Our natural fibre flooring are all monsoon-grown grasses that are sustainably sourced – coir, seagrass, sisal and jute. For style and substance, our Sisal Herringbone makes a classic wall-to-wall carpet. Deep pile carpets in undyed Wool Barefoot, meanwhile, are popular in bedrooms as they’re super soft underfoot and satisfy the sustainable and wellness trend. '

19. MAKE THE HOME OFFICE A FOCAL POINT

Interior design trends

 

(Image credit: Natalia Miyar)

'A home office must be designed as a space to induce thought,' says Andrew Martin's Martin Waller. 'It wants to have crisp, clear lines, comfort and creative inspiration by way of artwork or patterned wallpaper. A desk light is a good way to add style and design-led angles to an office as well as being imperative for spot lighting.'

interior trend predictions

(Image credit: Brent Darby)

'A chair has to be comfortable, but it is important to get the level of comfort right. A leather armchair for example would fit in a library feel, acting as a sanctuary to read and reflect, where an upright swivel chair suits written desk work. And do not be condemned to a black foam seat, go for a chair in mid-century velvet upholstery or a cantilever with interesting lines.'

20. BED DOWN IN A SNUG SPACE

interior design trends

(Image credit: Mel Yates)

Adding soft and comfortable elements to your space, with a mixture of textures – linen and wool on sofas and armchairs and warm wood tables – combine to make a comfortable place to relax.

This adds texture and warmth, whilst also making the space feel lived in, a feeling that we crave in the colder months.

21. DRESS UP WITH STATEMENT HEADBOARDS AND CANOPIES

Interior design trends

(Image credit: Andrew Martin)

'With the rise of the boutique hotel and its trending look in residential design, the headboard has become a brilliant focal point in bedroom decor,' continues Martin Waller. 

'Look to the Firmdale Hotels for inspiration on using brave colour and pattern and have fun coordinating your headboard with a wallpaper or throw. Don’t be afraid to choose a more outlandish style as this only adds more character. See it as art above your bed.'

Interior design trends - bedroom

(Image credit: Jan Baldwin)

22. LEAN INTO LUXURIOUS INTERIORS 

interior trend predictions

(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

It stands to reason that in 2021, we want to elevate our homes with dramatic touches of luxury. The ultra-glamorous trend brings a luxurious jolt to the home. Consider how playful opulence and patterns lift an interior's mood and why this has become so important for this new decade. It's a feeling of sumptuous that redefines the home with all the comforts and refinements of boutique hotels.

A major trend in 2021, the glamorous revival was first signposted when Pantone declared its Color of The Year as Classic Blue in 2020. The trend depicts a return to premiumization with inspiration from hotel design, art deco style and Viennese Modernism. With the growing desire to host elegant gatherings comes a love for geometric shapes, luxury velvets, monochrome prints and cashmere throws.

23. GO BIG WITH THE MAXIMALISM TREND

interior trend predictions

(Image credit: James Merrell)

Curate your own interior identity by adding personal touches to your room. Maximalism is having a major moment as we seek to curate our homes.

After a decade of minimalism we love the inventive return of highly decorative and personal interiors. We are evolving our homes as spaces to be fulfilling, memorable and cabinets of curiosities. 

Homeowners are styling their interiors to tell a story, layering old with new to create exciting interior stories. Every piece in their home makes a statement either through the silhouette, fabric choice, color or unique backstory. It also reflects a growing interest in furniture and objects acting as souvenirs of our lives. People are regaining a sense of individualism by using historical references, dark floral patterns and stained woods in their homes.

24. PAY HOMEPAGE TO NATURE WITH HOUSEPLANTS

most popular interior design trend

(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

You only need to peep at Pinterest and Instagram to see that houseplants have never been more fashionable. From retro 1970s-style hanging creepers to blowsy, beautiful blooms there’s sure to be a plant to suit your style and space. 

Indoor plants fell out of fashion briefly in the 1990s, but we’re happy to report that they’re back – not only are they beautiful, bringing vibrancy and color to our homes, but they also freshen the air, filtering out pollutants and releasing oxygen.

25. STEP OUTSIDE – GO MULTI-FUNCTIONAL

Interior design trends 2021

This garden, designed by Stimson, has an elegant swimming pool complete with pavilion

(Image credit: Stimson)

This year's garden trends are reflecting interior design trends – and are impacted by the pandemic as you would expect. Just as today’s homes now have to have multi functions, so are our gardens are being similarly used.

‘With people relying on their homes as an office, then an outdoor space for connecting with nature and entertaining friends and family safely is essential,’ says Isabelle Palmer of The Balcony Gardener. 

Investing time and money into cultivating our outdoor spaces  – large or small – into functional and beautiful enhancements of our homes makes good sense. For those that have the space, swimming pools are high on the agenda for summer, as are fully equipped garden buildings. 

 

Read more

Interior design trends 2021 – the 25 top looks for the New Year and beyond

Tap into 2021's biggest interior trends to reinvent and refresh your home for the year ahead 

Interior design trends 2021
(Image credit: Future / Jake Curtis)

It's been a long year, so we have good reason to rejoice when thinking of the interior design trends we love most for 2021 and onwards. 

From the growing importance of sustainable materials to elegant elements and a celebration of individuality and uniqueness, our 2021 trend edit will provide you with a curated look that will bring your home into the New Year with sensational style.

With many people’s attitudes on life changing during 2020, and many wishing they could get away this year, we take a look ahead at the interior design trends for 2021.

1. TAKE A MAXIMALIST APPROACH TO DECORATING

Interior design trends 2021 maximalism

(Image credit: Future / Jon Day)

For those who love colorful decoration, this maximalist look channels the free-spirited essence of the celebrated Bloomsbury artists and their creative flair
. Bravely mix contrast patterns across a scheme, harmonising the eclectic mix with different scales of print, and one or two grounding common tones to pull all the patterns together. The Bloomsbury artists painted not only their 
walls but their furniture, too. Mix large-scale wall decor with small-scale decorative details to create playful layers. 

2. COMBINE CHECKS AND STRIPES

2021 Interior Trends

(Image credit: Future / Emma Lee)

Everyone's two favorite patterns combine for this fun new trend that mixes the classic check and stripe with new-season colors.

Mix and match patterns in different scales to create the right 
balance. In this bedroom the delicately patterned cushions and eiderdown soften the effect of the stripes and checks on the wall and bed.

3. SLIDE INTO SCULPTURAL FURNITURE

2021 Interior Trends

(Image credit: Future / Emma Lee)

Carefully curated displays of shapely figures and organic forms take centre stage creating quiet drama in neutral spaces. As the striking furnishings and lighting in this living room show, sculptural can be beautiful and useful. For those with a love of ceramics, group pieces together behind glass or on a humble window shelf. Curved and shapely furniture and vessels draw the eye, inviting your gaze to dance across the space. 

4. BE BOLD WITH A PRIMARY PALETTE

2021 Interior Trends

(Image credit: Future / Emma Lee)

We love this considered trend which gives interiors an artistic edge by using two primary colors against a muted palette. Here, a statement lamp with big personality is the perfect way to bring color into an existing neutral space. And such vibrant color helps a piece to stand out from the crowd.

In larger spaces wooden furniture and natural jute flooring is given a new lease of life with a sprinkling of bright primary colors.

5. TRANSPORT YOURSELF TO WARMER CLIMES WITH A WALL MURAL

2021 Trends

(Image credit: Future / Jon Day)

Adorning interiors with maximum escapism, tropical wall-coverings full of lively patterns and dreamy painterly scenes are just what interiors are craving this year. This 'La Passion De Diego' mural by Elitis featuring oversized Mexican plant-life and a silhouette of Frida Kahlo has a woven pattern incorporated into the design to add texture and depth to balance the bold color.

6. RUSTIC VOGUE – A SOPHISTICATED TAKE ON COTTAGECORE

Interior design trends 2021: orange dining room

Image credit: David Brittain

This look is a crowd pleaser, appealing to anyone who loves their modern home comforts but wants to inject some character details into their living spaces, too. It works ideally in homes that already have some interesting features, such as exposed beams, original floorboards or panelled walls, but can equally be re-created with a considered balance of old and new pieces that work together in harmony. 

Reclaimed wood is the core material that holds this look together – look for unique pieces that show plenty of grain and texture, rather than items that are perfectly finished.

7. COLOR IN WITH YELLOW AND GRAY

Interior design trends 2021

(Image credit: Pantone)

This year, Pantone took the unusual step of naming two colors as their shades of the year: Illuminating, a zingy yellow, and Ultimate Yellow, a pale gray. 

'The selection of two independent colors highlight how different elements come together to express a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting, conveying the idea that it’s not about one color or one person, it’s about more than one,' says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute.

 

8. CREATE A COUNTRY SCHEME WITH COTTAGECORE

Interior design trends

(Image credit: Future / David Brittain)

'Due to the events of 2020, I think that cottagecore, nostalgia and the need for comfort are all here to stay,' says Instagram influencer and blogger Paula Sutton of Hill House Vintage. 

'Cottagecore is something that started off as very simplistic but I think it can also be mixed with touches of glamour to create a luxe traditional style. Elegant vintage style barware, gilded cutlery and statement gold accessories are all ways to get the look whilst staying on budget and touches of British quirk will keep the look feeling grounded.'

Think: a cuter version of Rustic Vogue, with ginghams and checks vying for attention with vintage prints and motifs – all set within a muted, pastel palette.

9. OPT FOR A CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY LOOK

Interior design trends

A wander through warm amber tones, mellow meadow prints and beautiful embroidery. Mix and match natural textures for a cozy and inviting look that lift both home and spirit.

Mix muted colors with folksy and characterful prints for a more modern country kind-of-vibe.

10. EMBRACE DISTANT SHORES

Interior design trends

(Image credit: Barlow & Barlow)

We're all yearning for this, right? Well, the laid-back lifestyle of Hawaii has been reimagined in this next trend. As we long for tropical getaways, interiors inspired by distant shores offer a calm and relaxing living space to make a home a safe and inviting place to recharge. Adding a contemporary edge to a classic floral design, the Distant Shores trend features tropical brights, subtle monotones and soft lemons.

‘Tropical leaves and florals can be used to bring the outside indoors, with an introduction to greenery into homes. Easy-living digital prints are designed to work in any home with complementary color palettes to emulate the varied Hawaiian landscape,’ continues Parry.

'There are many people who have missed the freedom to go aboard in 2020,' says Paula Sutton of Hill House Vintage. 'So I predict a return to a global inspiration within interiors, where our spaces reflect our travels, the sea and distant shores.'  

11. HARK BACK TO YESTERYEAR WIT VINTAGE ELEMENTS

interior design trends

(Image credit: Jody Stewart)

Antique, repurposed, salvaged and retro pieces all have their place in a vintage scheme. The key is to reference the look rather than slavishly reproduce it, using strong colors, favorite pieces and a less-is-more approach for a vibrant, cohesive aesthetic. The key to this approach is to provide plenty of contrast. 

Build up a vintage-style scheme gradually. It’s the kind of look that needs layering so choose pieces over time that mean something to you. Add a few luxe elements such as rich fabrics and statement lighting to create a modern note.

12. REJOICE WITH EARTHY, GROUNDED SHADES

Interior design trends

(Image credit: Sherwin-Williams)

First Dulux announces its Color of the Year as Brave Ground, then Urbane Bronze is hailed as Sherwin Williams' Color of the Year (above). Now, Little Greene will release their latest paint range in January 2021... and, you guessed it, it's all built around a natural, earthy color palette (above). Packed with rusts, warm greens, deep reds and slubby browns, it's comforting, welcoming... and just what we need for 2021. And we love it.

13. WARM UP WITH COLOR

interior design trends

(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

This winter provides the perfect excuse to get cozy, and a great way of doing this is by incorporating warm colors to a space. However, warm colors can feel really welcoming in sunnier months too, and we will see a lot of burnt oranges and peacock blues incorporated into people’s décor going forwards. 

These are great colors that work well with darker colors like grey and navy, but also add depth to a space. These colors are also great for this time of year, and add a playful element of color that is very needed during the colder winter months.

14. NOD TO GLOBAL STYLE

interior design trends

(Image credit: The Private House Company/Andrew Martin Interior Designer Review Vol.24)

Inspired by earthy color palettes and warm, natural textures, the Global Influence trend pairs perfectly with wooden, woven and rattan home accessories. It’s bold safari feel is influenced by wildlife and African plains.

‘We’ve seen ‘Global Influence’ as a key trend for the season across both interiors and fashion. With warmer tones now often being favoured over cooler greys this is a key interior trend that can be easily translated into the home.’

 

‘The challenge and goal is to capture the aesthetic of global styles through unique and creative perspectives,' explains Maria Parry. 

'We usually travel around the world to gain insight into the must-have trends for the season ahead, but this year we have had to think outside the box and gain inspiration from elsewhere.

‘Taking influence from nature, nostalgia and the desire for a tropical getaway, living spaces will reflect the current situation we are faced with, embracing calming color palettes and familiar patterns that create a sanctuary in any home.’

15. CREATE CALM WITH OCEAN HUES 

Interior design trends 2021: blue dining room

(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)

Capturing relaxing poolsides and beach getaways, aqua and inky blues offer a calm, contemporary look. Benjamin Moore's Color of the Year 2021 reflects this shift towards tranquil, yet modern interiors with Aegean Teal (above), a color that is known for its association with peace, calm and comfort.

Ocean blues are a key color trend for the year. Varying from deep inky tones through to soft aquas, blue is the perfect color for creating a tranquil home.

16. CHOOSE THE CLASSIC TRADITIONALISM TREND

interior design trends

(Image credit: Kit Kemp/Andrew Martin Interior Designer Review Vol.24)

A timeless trend taking inspiration from the 18th and 19th centuries, incorporating classic art, antiques and pieces with history. Classic traditionalism brings a sense of harmony and order to any living space, with a décor scheme that works together perfectly.

‘It also favors symmetry, which can be seen in soft furnishings embracing ornate scrolls, courtly stripes and classic damasks. In a move on from bold, graphic geometrics, traditional and classic designs have developed into key trends for the season,’ continues Prestigious Textiles' Head of Design Marie Parry

Kit Kemp's living room above from Andrew Martin Interior Designer Review Vol.24. 

 

17. GO ROUGH AND RUSTIC WITH SHABBY CHIC

interior design trends

(Image credit: Mark Bolton)

This timeless trend epitomizes faded elegance and an unrefined sense of luxury. To create the feel of timeworn opulence from scratch try mixing new buys with vintage market finds. 

Look for decorative accessories such as chandeliers and mirrors that haven’t been perfectly restored, but have aged with character, and opt for furniture and textiles that feel lived-in. Chipped paintwork, faded fabrics and blemishes all add to the charm.

18. BE MINDFUL WITH ECO CHOICES

interior design trend predictions

(Image credit: Emme Lee)

Engage your senses with meaningful design and calming fabrics. This popular trend plays to our desire for spiritual connection and well-being balanced by a commitment to sustainability.

Colors and textures have a hint of craft with warm tones coming to the fore. The new colour palette includes golden beige, moss green, soft olive and earthy orange. Further, tactile fabrics serve to comfort and cocoon such as matt velvet, boucle and linen. In addition, these soft and resilient fabrics are suitable for intensive use seating.

We will also see a renewed focus on craft and multifunctional furniture. In sync with the rise of the conscious consumerism comes the desire for furniture that offers longevity, quality and durability. Our need to feel grounded, calm and connected to nature is expressed through understated furniture, textile fabrics, sustainable materials and multifunctional, warm minimalism.

Interior design trends 2021

(Image credit: Alternative Flooring)

Carpet trends have really evolved alongside other interior design trends for 2021, with eco-focused materials featuring heavily. As such, natural fiber carpet will become more and more prevalent.

Lorna Haigh, from Alternative Flooring, says: 'Climate change is more than a trend. Our natural fibre flooring are all monsoon-grown grasses that are sustainably sourced – coir, seagrass, sisal and jute. For style and substance, our Sisal Herringbone makes a classic wall-to-wall carpet. Deep pile carpets in undyed Wool Barefoot, meanwhile, are popular in bedrooms as they’re super soft underfoot and satisfy the sustainable and wellness trend. '

19. MAKE THE HOME OFFICE A FOCAL POINT

Interior design trends

 

(Image credit: Natalia Miyar)

'A home office must be designed as a space to induce thought,' says Andrew Martin's Martin Waller. 'It wants to have crisp, clear lines, comfort and creative inspiration by way of artwork or patterned wallpaper. A desk light is a good way to add style and design-led angles to an office as well as being imperative for spot lighting.'

interior trend predictions

(Image credit: Brent Darby)

'A chair has to be comfortable, but it is important to get the level of comfort right. A leather armchair for example would fit in a library feel, acting as a sanctuary to read and reflect, where an upright swivel chair suits written desk work. And do not be condemned to a black foam seat, go for a chair in mid-century velvet upholstery or a cantilever with interesting lines.'

20. BED DOWN IN A SNUG SPACE

interior design trends

(Image credit: Mel Yates)

Adding soft and comfortable elements to your space, with a mixture of textures – linen and wool on sofas and armchairs and warm wood tables – combine to make a comfortable place to relax.

This adds texture and warmth, whilst also making the space feel lived in, a feeling that we crave in the colder months.

21. DRESS UP WITH STATEMENT HEADBOARDS AND CANOPIES

Interior design trends

(Image credit: Andrew Martin)

'With the rise of the boutique hotel and its trending look in residential design, the headboard has become a brilliant focal point in bedroom decor,' continues Martin Waller. 

'Look to the Firmdale Hotels for inspiration on using brave colour and pattern and have fun coordinating your headboard with a wallpaper or throw. Don’t be afraid to choose a more outlandish style as this only adds more character. See it as art above your bed.'

Interior design trends - bedroom

(Image credit: Jan Baldwin)

22. LEAN INTO LUXURIOUS INTERIORS 

interior trend predictions

(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

It stands to reason that in 2021, we want to elevate our homes with dramatic touches of luxury. The ultra-glamorous trend brings a luxurious jolt to the home. Consider how playful opulence and patterns lift an interior's mood and why this has become so important for this new decade. It's a feeling of sumptuous that redefines the home with all the comforts and refinements of boutique hotels.

A major trend in 2021, the glamorous revival was first signposted when Pantone declared its Color of The Year as Classic Blue in 2020. The trend depicts a return to premiumization with inspiration from hotel design, art deco style and Viennese Modernism. With the growing desire to host elegant gatherings comes a love for geometric shapes, luxury velvets, monochrome prints and cashmere throws.

23. GO BIG WITH THE MAXIMALISM TREND

interior trend predictions

(Image credit: James Merrell)

Curate your own interior identity by adding personal touches to your room. Maximalism is having a major moment as we seek to curate our homes.

After a decade of minimalism we love the inventive return of highly decorative and personal interiors. We are evolving our homes as spaces to be fulfilling, memorable and cabinets of curiosities. 

Homeowners are styling their interiors to tell a story, layering old with new to create exciting interior stories. Every piece in their home makes a statement either through the silhouette, fabric choice, color or unique backstory. It also reflects a growing interest in furniture and objects acting as souvenirs of our lives. People are regaining a sense of individualism by using historical references, dark floral patterns and stained woods in their homes.

24. PAY HOMEPAGE TO NATURE WITH HOUSEPLANTS

most popular interior design trend

(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

You only need to peep at Pinterest and Instagram to see that houseplants have never been more fashionable. From retro 1970s-style hanging creepers to blowsy, beautiful blooms there’s sure to be a plant to suit your style and space. 

Indoor plants fell out of fashion briefly in the 1990s, but we’re happy to report that they’re back – not only are they beautiful, bringing vibrancy and color to our homes, but they also freshen the air, filtering out pollutants and releasing oxygen.

25. STEP OUTSIDE – GO MULTI-FUNCTIONAL

Interior design trends 2021

This garden, designed by Stimson, has an elegant swimming pool complete with pavilion

(Image credit: Stimson)

This year's garden trends are reflecting interior design trends – and are impacted by the pandemic as you would expect. Just as today’s homes now have to have multi functions, so are our gardens are being similarly used.

‘With people relying on their homes as an office, then an outdoor space for connecting with nature and entertaining friends and family safely is essential,’ says Isabelle Palmer of The Balcony Gardener. 

Investing time and money into cultivating our outdoor spaces  – large or small – into functional and beautiful enhancements of our homes makes good sense. For those that have the space, swimming pools are high on the agenda for summer, as are fully equipped garden buildings. 

 

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Image may contain Troye Sivan Living Room Room Indoors Human Person Furniture Couch Interior Design and Housing
In the main living area, a Maker&Son sofa is joined by a custom wood cocktail table and a Glas Italia side table on a vintage Moroccan Taznakht carpet. Artworks by Simon Degroot (left) and Karen Black (above). Sivan wears a vintage Junya Watanabe t-shirt, Vivienne Westwood pants, and Jil Sander sneakers.

When asked what someone unfamiliar with his biography might surmise simply by walking through his Melbourne home, Troye Sivan remains sanguine: “I’d hope they’d think that I’m an unpretentious guy, maybe a bit eccentric, someone who loves art and design, someone devoted to his family—and definitely the fact that I’m gay,” says the wildly popular 25-year-old Australian singer-songwriter and actor.

Indeed, if that hypothetical visitor happened to be a persnickety design snob, they’d surely not fail to register the array of treasures by the likes of Percival Lafer, Ettore Sottsass, Tobia Scarpa, and Marios Bellini and Botta; the cabinetry details inspired by Charlotte Perriand and Jean Prouvé; and the bespoke, Memphis-flavored appointments of the bath and powder rooms. On a deeper level, however, it would also be crystal clear that this is the home of someone with the cultivation and confidence to recognize that great design is as much about suitability and nuance as it is about important objects and artworks.

“Troye is an incredibly savvy collaborator. In our earliest conversations, he talked about materiality, how he wanted to feel in his house, about the scent and the sound and the light. It was so much more than just a few pretty things he found on Pinterest,” recalls designer David Flack of local firm Flack Studio, Sivan’s partner in the sensitive, sophisticated reimagining of the singer’s Victorian-era home.

Image may contain Indoors Room Bedroom Furniture Bed and Interior Design

Artwork by Charlie Ingemar Harding hangs in a bedroom(bought from www.himassa.com). 

The house in question is a genuine architectural gem. Erected in 1869 as a handball court, the building was converted into a brick factory in 1950 and then subsequently transformed into a residence in 1970 by renowned Australian architect John Mockridge, a fixture on the local art-and-design scene. The conversion is said to be the first adaptive reuse project of its kind in the city. “You can picture Mockridge and his friends sitting around drinking whiskey and talking about art. I wanted to preserve that bohemian spirit and honor the original architecture while creating something that feels like me,” Sivan says.

Although major structural interventions were kept to a minimum, Sivan and Flack made significant alterations throughout the property: The kitchen and baths were completely transformed; changes to the fenestration, along with the addition of large bifold doors off the dining area, now nurture a more intimate connection between the house and garden; new built-in cabinetry and perforated balustrade details nod to exemplars of 20th-century modernism; walls of Venetian plaster add a luminous element to a materials palette that swings from industrial to organic; and an outdoor wine cellar in the garden was converted into a fantasy powder room.

“It seems like we didn’t really do that much, when in fact there was a lot of heavy lifting. Simplicity is hard to achieve. It takes serious rigor and discipline,” Flack insists. “It was important to both of us that you can still feel the origins of the house despite the work we put in,” he adds.

Image may contain Human Person Shorts Clothing Apparel Sleeve Flagstone and Plant
Inside Australian Phenomenon Troye Sivans Soulful Melbourne Home

Sivan’s aesthetic predilections were honed during his travels across the globe, in particular his pre-pandemic years in Los Angeles, where he still maintains a home. “There’s a strong affinity between Melbourne and L.A. in terms of climate and architecture. That strain of classic California midcentury modernism has been a big influence,” he explains. “I also love the time I’ve spent in Japan. The idea of wabi-sabi, the perfectly imperfect, really resonates with me.”

Embracing imperfection as a means of safeguarding the soul of a home is a concept perhaps too abstruse for many homeowners and designers, but Sivan and Flack clearly get it. “We left the original cork ceilings as they were, stains and all. If we wanted to preserve the germ of what this house was originally, everything had to feel effortless and real,” Flack avers. “It’s like the yellowing Scarpa lamps over the dining table. They look like they were sitting in a house in Milan for 30 years with a bunch of Italians smoking under them,” he says, further touting the power of patina.

Despite the polyglot brio of the decor, Sivan ensured that the essence of the house remains, in his words, “unquestionably Australian, from the plantings in the garden to the art on the walls.” The singer’s collection of paintings and sculpture encompasses work by Australian masters such as the late Sydney Ball, influential talents on the order of Karen Black and Nell, and an intriguing array of young, contemporary artists including Gregory Hodge, Tom Polo, and Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran.

“I was living in the States for about five years, longing to be in Australia, before the pandemic brought me home. As much as I’ve missed touring and seeing people, it’s been cool to be forced to stay still for a second. I wake up every day excited to make something new, in a house that tells the story of my life and the places I’ve loved,” Sivan concludes. And for any old-guard aesthetes concerned about young celebrities becoming standard-bearers for good design and idiosyncratic taste, Sivan’s seductive Melbourne sanctuary should put their minds at ease—the kids are alright.

Read more
Image may contain Troye Sivan Living Room Room Indoors Human Person Furniture Couch Interior Design and Housing
In the main living area, a Maker&Son sofa is joined by a custom wood cocktail table and a Glas Italia side table on a vintage Moroccan Taznakht carpet. Artworks by Simon Degroot (left) and Karen Black (above). Sivan wears a vintage Junya Watanabe t-shirt, Vivienne Westwood pants, and Jil Sander sneakers.

When asked what someone unfamiliar with his biography might surmise simply by walking through his Melbourne home, Troye Sivan remains sanguine: “I’d hope they’d think that I’m an unpretentious guy, maybe a bit eccentric, someone who loves art and design, someone devoted to his family—and definitely the fact that I’m gay,” says the wildly popular 25-year-old Australian singer-songwriter and actor.

Indeed, if that hypothetical visitor happened to be a persnickety design snob, they’d surely not fail to register the array of treasures by the likes of Percival Lafer, Ettore Sottsass, Tobia Scarpa, and Marios Bellini and Botta; the cabinetry details inspired by Charlotte Perriand and Jean Prouvé; and the bespoke, Memphis-flavored appointments of the bath and powder rooms. On a deeper level, however, it would also be crystal clear that this is the home of someone with the cultivation and confidence to recognize that great design is as much about suitability and nuance as it is about important objects and artworks.

“Troye is an incredibly savvy collaborator. In our earliest conversations, he talked about materiality, how he wanted to feel in his house, about the scent and the sound and the light. It was so much more than just a few pretty things he found on Pinterest,” recalls designer David Flack of local firm Flack Studio, Sivan’s partner in the sensitive, sophisticated reimagining of the singer’s Victorian-era home.

Image may contain Indoors Room Bedroom Furniture Bed and Interior Design

Artwork by Charlie Ingemar Harding hangs in a bedroom(bought from www.himassa.com). 

The house in question is a genuine architectural gem. Erected in 1869 as a handball court, the building was converted into a brick factory in 1950 and then subsequently transformed into a residence in 1970 by renowned Australian architect John Mockridge, a fixture on the local art-and-design scene. The conversion is said to be the first adaptive reuse project of its kind in the city. “You can picture Mockridge and his friends sitting around drinking whiskey and talking about art. I wanted to preserve that bohemian spirit and honor the original architecture while creating something that feels like me,” Sivan says.

Although major structural interventions were kept to a minimum, Sivan and Flack made significant alterations throughout the property: The kitchen and baths were completely transformed; changes to the fenestration, along with the addition of large bifold doors off the dining area, now nurture a more intimate connection between the house and garden; new built-in cabinetry and perforated balustrade details nod to exemplars of 20th-century modernism; walls of Venetian plaster add a luminous element to a materials palette that swings from industrial to organic; and an outdoor wine cellar in the garden was converted into a fantasy powder room.

“It seems like we didn’t really do that much, when in fact there was a lot of heavy lifting. Simplicity is hard to achieve. It takes serious rigor and discipline,” Flack insists. “It was important to both of us that you can still feel the origins of the house despite the work we put in,” he adds.

Image may contain Human Person Shorts Clothing Apparel Sleeve Flagstone and Plant
Inside Australian Phenomenon Troye Sivans Soulful Melbourne Home

Sivan’s aesthetic predilections were honed during his travels across the globe, in particular his pre-pandemic years in Los Angeles, where he still maintains a home. “There’s a strong affinity between Melbourne and L.A. in terms of climate and architecture. That strain of classic California midcentury modernism has been a big influence,” he explains. “I also love the time I’ve spent in Japan. The idea of wabi-sabi, the perfectly imperfect, really resonates with me.”

Embracing imperfection as a means of safeguarding the soul of a home is a concept perhaps too abstruse for many homeowners and designers, but Sivan and Flack clearly get it. “We left the original cork ceilings as they were, stains and all. If we wanted to preserve the germ of what this house was originally, everything had to feel effortless and real,” Flack avers. “It’s like the yellowing Scarpa lamps over the dining table. They look like they were sitting in a house in Milan for 30 years with a bunch of Italians smoking under them,” he says, further touting the power of patina.

Despite the polyglot brio of the decor, Sivan ensured that the essence of the house remains, in his words, “unquestionably Australian, from the plantings in the garden to the art on the walls.” The singer’s collection of paintings and sculpture encompasses work by Australian masters such as the late Sydney Ball, influential talents on the order of Karen Black and Nell, and an intriguing array of young, contemporary artists including Gregory Hodge, Tom Polo, and Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran.

“I was living in the States for about five years, longing to be in Australia, before the pandemic brought me home. As much as I’ve missed touring and seeing people, it’s been cool to be forced to stay still for a second. I wake up every day excited to make something new, in a house that tells the story of my life and the places I’ve loved,” Sivan concludes. And for any old-guard aesthetes concerned about young celebrities becoming standard-bearers for good design and idiosyncratic taste, Sivan’s seductive Melbourne sanctuary should put their minds at ease—the kids are alright.

Read more

These 7 Interior Decorating Trends Will Be Everywhere In 2021

 

 

2020 brought us inside in an extreme way but ultimately made us realise that home is where heart is. The benefits of creating a sanctuary at home—a space to thrive, not just survive—have never been so apparent.

"One silver lining to this year's lockdowns is that home has been brought to the fore," explains Melbourne-based interior designer Simon Haag. "I have always encouraged people to buy the home that speaks to them over the suburb that speaks to them, often touting that you don't live in your local café."  

"This year, many of my clients have reallocated funds that they may have spent on travel to layer their homes," Simone adds. It's a relatable observation, whether you rent or own, especially for travel-obsessed Australians. Instead of a week in Bali or the epic Eurotrip you saved for, it's highly possible you've invested your travel funds back into your home. 

As for what we can look forward to in terms of home décor trends, the no-rules approach of bricolage will continue, as well as nostalagia and sustainability.

"2021 is going to see a continuation of organic forms in furniture design as it filters further into the mainstream," explains Sydney-based interior designer Claudia Stephenson. "More and more people are buying for life, or buying secondhand to live a more sustainable lifestyle, which sees a resurgence of real craftsmanship and brings us closer to the natural world."

So, keep reading to find out which seven interior decorating trends you'll be seeing next.

7 top interior decorating trends of 2021

1. Organic-Futuristic

What is it? It's a brave new world. From bushland to outer space. A bouquet of eucalyptus leaves inside a neon-coloured vase that's also a bluetooth speaker. Rustic meets high-shine.

When it comes to home décor trends in 2021, Claudia is looking forward to the blending of really old and really new. "For the more adventurous among us, we will see creative blend of the natural world mixed with the futuristic," she explains.

Rustic wood and polished chrome in perfect harmony, or a light sculpture atop a burl-wood coffee table, is what we're talking about. To do organic-futuristic at home, and do it well, it's important to be selective. Too much going on will dilute the impact of your hero pieces. Decide who the heroes are first, then build around them.

2. Grandmillennial Style

What is it? It's curated clutter. Dramatic patterns, ornate fabrics, clashing florals. It's grandma's house, but more luxe.

While it's unlikely that the white walls and clean lines prevalent in Scandi minimalism and French chic ever be "out", the more-is-more approach inspired by the Victorian era is pulling millennials and gen Zers into its elegantly cluttered orbit. Grandmillennial style was bound to dominate in a mid-pandemic world, where home is a priority and comfort even more so. The idea is to appropriate traditional design elements from centuries past into a contemporary setting, warming the void-like qualities of more minimalist spaces.

"Subdued palettes and vintage finds were huge for 2020," says artist and home renovation expert Prudence Oliveri (aka Prudence Caroline). "I'd love to see that evolve even further—think nanna's country pad mixed with Spanish revival."

3. The Ornate Art Wall

What is it? It's two things: volume and variety. Many frames of varied sizes and materials, filled with art that's just as diverse—paintings, prints, illustrations, photographs, whatever makes the mood. 

According to Simone, one aspect of home décor that will continue to grow in popularity is the art wall. Hanging one or two special pieces to punctuate your home's focal points is a great way to lift the mood and add personality, but go one step further by filling a wall with art and you'll be amazed at how cosy and comforting the space becomes.

In the living room, consider how you might incorporate your visual entertainment into a curated art wall—consider the highly coveted Samsung Frame TV, which acts as a virtual art gallery when not in use. Or, if watching TV is only a sometimes activity in your house, consider replacing the bulky flatscreen with a projector set-up.

4. Sculptural Furniture

What is it? Unexpected curves. Chubby chairs are here to stay. When making big investments, be bold as well as practical. 

A growing emphasis on home décor means more people are more likely to invest in bigger pieces in addition to smaller homewares and art objects. Every item of furniture, therefore, is multi-purpose: not only should a sofa be comfortable, but ideally it should make an impact to the aesthetic and sensory mood of the room. 

"Furnishings are becoming the new sculpture and art pieces people invest in," Claudia says. Thankfully the chubby furniture trend will continue, with curves dominating over angular lines in general—another indicator of our collective need for cosy comfort and inviting spaces.

5. Bricolage

What is it? DIY all day every day. The rules are, there are no rules. Resourceful, sustainable, creative.

The idea behind bricolage is that having to work with what you've got, rather than create the home of your dreams from scratch, can be a blessing in disguise. It's all about unconventional combinations, and mixing and matching, in every sense: shape, colour, texture, era.

Earlier this year we broke down the three elements that makes bricolage as an interiors trend so appealing: breaking the "rules" allows you to be creative and find out what you really want and need; using what you've got (or what's close by) means you're more likely to be environmentally sustainable; and you're more likely to achieve a more unique and personal outcome.

6. Navy Blue

What is it? Classic, grown-up, Scandi-noir. 

Blues have been trending for a while now, but 2021 is set to see deep navy blues dominating the landscape. Gentler than black but no less dramatic, navy is a sophisticated addition among neutrals and brights.

7. Blonde Wood

What is it? Warm neutrals en mass. Not just furniture, but floors, walls and ceilings, too. Layers of blonde wood create the kind of sunny, Scandi-inspired minimalism that uplifts, lightens and creates ambience.

Raw, untreated, light-coloured woods are an elegant way to connect your home's interior with nature without losing your minimalist through-line. If you're creating a zen den at home—a space to relax, meditate or reflect—opting for all blonde wood furnishings will help to facilitate tranquility and warmth.



Read more

These 7 Interior Decorating Trends Will Be Everywhere In 2021

 

 

2020 brought us inside in an extreme way but ultimately made us realise that home is where heart is. The benefits of creating a sanctuary at home—a space to thrive, not just survive—have never been so apparent.

"One silver lining to this year's lockdowns is that home has been brought to the fore," explains Melbourne-based interior designer Simon Haag. "I have always encouraged people to buy the home that speaks to them over the suburb that speaks to them, often touting that you don't live in your local café."  

"This year, many of my clients have reallocated funds that they may have spent on travel to layer their homes," Simone adds. It's a relatable observation, whether you rent or own, especially for travel-obsessed Australians. Instead of a week in Bali or the epic Eurotrip you saved for, it's highly possible you've invested your travel funds back into your home. 

As for what we can look forward to in terms of home décor trends, the no-rules approach of bricolage will continue, as well as nostalagia and sustainability.

"2021 is going to see a continuation of organic forms in furniture design as it filters further into the mainstream," explains Sydney-based interior designer Claudia Stephenson. "More and more people are buying for life, or buying secondhand to live a more sustainable lifestyle, which sees a resurgence of real craftsmanship and brings us closer to the natural world."

So, keep reading to find out which seven interior decorating trends you'll be seeing next.

7 top interior decorating trends of 2021

1. Organic-Futuristic

What is it? It's a brave new world. From bushland to outer space. A bouquet of eucalyptus leaves inside a neon-coloured vase that's also a bluetooth speaker. Rustic meets high-shine.

When it comes to home décor trends in 2021, Claudia is looking forward to the blending of really old and really new. "For the more adventurous among us, we will see creative blend of the natural world mixed with the futuristic," she explains.

Rustic wood and polished chrome in perfect harmony, or a light sculpture atop a burl-wood coffee table, is what we're talking about. To do organic-futuristic at home, and do it well, it's important to be selective. Too much going on will dilute the impact of your hero pieces. Decide who the heroes are first, then build around them.

2. Grandmillennial Style

What is it? It's curated clutter. Dramatic patterns, ornate fabrics, clashing florals. It's grandma's house, but more luxe.

While it's unlikely that the white walls and clean lines prevalent in Scandi minimalism and French chic ever be "out", the more-is-more approach inspired by the Victorian era is pulling millennials and gen Zers into its elegantly cluttered orbit. Grandmillennial style was bound to dominate in a mid-pandemic world, where home is a priority and comfort even more so. The idea is to appropriate traditional design elements from centuries past into a contemporary setting, warming the void-like qualities of more minimalist spaces.

"Subdued palettes and vintage finds were huge for 2020," says artist and home renovation expert Prudence Oliveri (aka Prudence Caroline). "I'd love to see that evolve even further—think nanna's country pad mixed with Spanish revival."

3. The Ornate Art Wall

What is it? It's two things: volume and variety. Many frames of varied sizes and materials, filled with art that's just as diverse—paintings, prints, illustrations, photographs, whatever makes the mood. 

According to Simone, one aspect of home décor that will continue to grow in popularity is the art wall. Hanging one or two special pieces to punctuate your home's focal points is a great way to lift the mood and add personality, but go one step further by filling a wall with art and you'll be amazed at how cosy and comforting the space becomes.

In the living room, consider how you might incorporate your visual entertainment into a curated art wall—consider the highly coveted Samsung Frame TV, which acts as a virtual art gallery when not in use. Or, if watching TV is only a sometimes activity in your house, consider replacing the bulky flatscreen with a projector set-up.

4. Sculptural Furniture

What is it? Unexpected curves. Chubby chairs are here to stay. When making big investments, be bold as well as practical. 

A growing emphasis on home décor means more people are more likely to invest in bigger pieces in addition to smaller homewares and art objects. Every item of furniture, therefore, is multi-purpose: not only should a sofa be comfortable, but ideally it should make an impact to the aesthetic and sensory mood of the room. 

"Furnishings are becoming the new sculpture and art pieces people invest in," Claudia says. Thankfully the chubby furniture trend will continue, with curves dominating over angular lines in general—another indicator of our collective need for cosy comfort and inviting spaces.

5. Bricolage

What is it? DIY all day every day. The rules are, there are no rules. Resourceful, sustainable, creative.

The idea behind bricolage is that having to work with what you've got, rather than create the home of your dreams from scratch, can be a blessing in disguise. It's all about unconventional combinations, and mixing and matching, in every sense: shape, colour, texture, era.

Earlier this year we broke down the three elements that makes bricolage as an interiors trend so appealing: breaking the "rules" allows you to be creative and find out what you really want and need; using what you've got (or what's close by) means you're more likely to be environmentally sustainable; and you're more likely to achieve a more unique and personal outcome.

6. Navy Blue

What is it? Classic, grown-up, Scandi-noir. 

Blues have been trending for a while now, but 2021 is set to see deep navy blues dominating the landscape. Gentler than black but no less dramatic, navy is a sophisticated addition among neutrals and brights.

7. Blonde Wood

What is it? Warm neutrals en mass. Not just furniture, but floors, walls and ceilings, too. Layers of blonde wood create the kind of sunny, Scandi-inspired minimalism that uplifts, lightens and creates ambience.

Raw, untreated, light-coloured woods are an elegant way to connect your home's interior with nature without losing your minimalist through-line. If you're creating a zen den at home—a space to relax, meditate or reflect—opting for all blonde wood furnishings will help to facilitate tranquility and warmth.



Read more

INGREDIENTS LIST FOR THE LEMON GARLIC BUTTER SHRIMP WITH ZUCCHINI NOODLES

  • 1 pound (450g) raw medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 4 medium zucchini
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons softened butter, or ghee, divided
  • garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes
  • Juice of 1/2 fresh lemon
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) chicken or vegetable stock(or white wine)
  • Hot sauce of your choice, to taste (we used sriracha)
  • Salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Read more

INGREDIENTS LIST FOR THE LEMON GARLIC BUTTER SHRIMP WITH ZUCCHINI NOODLES

  • 1 pound (450g) raw medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 4 medium zucchini
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons softened butter, or ghee, divided
  • garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes
  • Juice of 1/2 fresh lemon
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) chicken or vegetable stock(or white wine)
  • Hot sauce of your choice, to taste (we used sriracha)
  • Salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Read more

"We banned renders" from the design process says Tatiana Bilbao

Mexican architect Tatiana Bilbao refuses to produce computer visualisations of designs still in progress. She says that making collages helps her to develop more exciting buildings.

Bilbao's work is currently on show at the Louisiana Museum in Denmark. The exhibition doesn't contain any computer renderings; instead designs for projects such as Casa Ajijic and Vivienda Popular are shown through models, sketches and collages.

The architect doesn't like finalised images as they can become obstacles in the creative process. She prefers collage as she believes it fosters a more collaborative approach to design.

Tatiana Bilbao. Photo is by Ana Hop
Tatiana Bilbao is an architect based in Mexico. Photo is by Ana Hop

"I want my architecture to be a platform for anyone to create their own way of living,"  "I think a collage accepts all of those personalities, diversities and complexities that are not only my ideas."

"A collage also accepts processes, it accepts mistakes," she continued. "I like to think that our buildings are the same."

Renders "dangerous and damaging"

Bilbao, 47, vowed to stop producing renderings for clients following her first residential project. Her client had been surprised by the result, because he had a fixed idea in his mind based on an early rendering.

"He stopped following the process because he fixed an image into his mind," she explained. "I thought, this could be very dangerous and damaging to the creative process."

Ways of Life house collage by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio
The architect uses collages, rather than renders, to present her designs

"I totally believe that the process is a dialogue," she continued, "and obviously in that case it became only a monologue, because my mind evolved and his mind stayed with that image."

"After that we banned renders from our process, until the very end," she said.

Collages were "a revelation"

Collages that feature in the Louisiana exhibition include a conceptual floor plan of the Mazatlán Aquarium, which is currently under construction, and a visual of the Culiacan Botanical Garden.

The idea to start using collage came to Bilbao by chance, while working on a proposal for one of her best-known projects, Casa Ventura.

Mazatlán Aquarium by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio
Bilbao has produced several collages for the soon-to-complete Mazatlán Aquarium

Ahead of a meeting with the client, there wasn't enough time to complete a proper model, so her team improvised. They created a quick foam model, cut it in half, then used Photoshop to turn it into a composite image.

"It was the first collage we made for a client and for me it was a revelation," she said. "Collage became an incredible tool for design with a lot of meanings for us."

Collaboration is key

This collaborative technique epitomises Bilbao's entire approach to architecture. She often likes to involve other creative minds, rather than taking on everything herself.

A key example of this is the Ruta del Peregrino, a project to create architectural interventions along a 72-mile pilgrimage route in Jalisco, on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Bilbao invited respected names, from artist Ai Weiwei to Chilean architecture practice Elemental, to design different sections.

Gratitude Open Chapel on Ruta del Peregrino by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio. Photo is by Iwan Baan
She invited nine creatives to collaborate on the Ruta del Peregrino. Photo is by Iwan Baan

Collaboration is "not just important to me, it's the only way I do architecture", she explained.

"I really can't believe anyone that says they can do useful architecture for a lot of people from one single mind."

Architecture has power to change lives

Bilbao has worked on a variety of different types of projects, but housing is her biggest passion. As well as building luxury homes for rich clients, she has also worked on several prototypes for affordable, mass housing.

The big-budget projects inspire her when she is working on a more restricted scale and budget, she explains.

"I always think that, when you start out thinking on the maximum, you can arrive at incredible places, but when you start with a restriction you arrive at a restricted space," she suggested.

Acuña Housing by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio
Bilbao looks to big-budget projects as inspiration for her affordable housing designs

It is Bilbao's firm belief that every citizen has the right to a "dignified and enjoyable house" and, if the government is unable to provide that, then it's down to her as an architect to make a difference.

"I think architecture has the power to impact the lives of others," she said. "I take that very seriously."

Read on for an edited transcript of the interview:


Amy Frearson: Congratulations on the exhibition. I understand you've been working on it for the past two years. What did you want it to say about you and your work?

Tatiana Bilbao: We wanted to create these three environments which are: the mind, the process and the experience of our architecture. That's how I see it.

I really wanted to transmit the message about how we think, how we operate, how we create projects, and our resources for doing them. I hope people get that the process is very complex and it's very different from project to project. We really focus on each project's challenges, context, situation and people. Every project has its own process, its own mind and its own experience. We worry about trying to understand a lot of things, but also about creating an experience that's unique.

Amy Frearson: Can you tell me a bit more about your process? Your residential projects vary between luxury villas and affordable housing. Are you consistent in the way you approach these types of projects?

Tatiana Bilbao: Every design we do is created specifically for the person, for them to develop their own possibilities. My hope is that our architecture brings a certain platform to people's lives, as a source of inspiration to enhance their lives in many ways, whether it's a living space, a public space, an educational space or whatever. It's to allow them to create their own way of living. That is what we're wishing for. That is why every project is completely different to the next, and every project has its own very strange and different process. And we try to to integrate those different ways into the results.

Casa Ventura by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio. Photo is by Iwan Baan
Casa Ventura is built on a forested hillside near Monterrey. Photo is by Iwan Baan

Amy Frearson: The exhibition features a lot of collages. Why do you make these images, rather than renders?

Tatiana Bilbao: It's been a long history in the office and it really is part of the process of our office.

One of the most important phrases I remember from when I was studying was something I read from Rafael Moneo about the understanding of what a piece of architecture does to a city. It stuck in my mind. Every piece of architecture comes into context as part of a collage. Sometimes it becomes the detonator of many things, sometimes it's just one addition, sometimes it gets lost in that complexity, and sometimes it becomes the icon, the new point of reference for that context. I have always thought that my architecture comes to any context, that it adds something to the collage. I have always thought of my work in that way.

Every piece of architecture comes into context as part of a collage

Then, in the beginning, we were having difficulty understanding why we didn't like renders and realistic images. One day, it became very clear. When we finished the first house we built – it was not completely finished but it was almost there – the client said to me, "Tatiana this is not what I thought it was going to be". I asked him why and he started describing the second render he saw of the house during the conceptual process. I realised that he stopped imagining how the house was going to be after that. He stopped following the process because he fixed an image into his mind, as if it was a finished product. And, for sure it had changed completely because that was just a concept.

I started realising why he had never questioned things, he never realised the whole process of the evolution of the design. I thought, this could be very dangerous and damaging to the creative process. I totally believe that the process is a dialogue and obviously in that case it became only a monologue, because my mind evolved and his mind stayed with that image. After that we banned renders from our process until the very end, even though clients would ask to see renders. I would say no, there's models, there's drawings and that's it.

Then we made a discovery, almost by chance. For Casa Ventura, we were in a hurry and we wanted to do a big model but we didn't have the time. So we did a quick foam model that we cut, and then we photoshopped the section model with a photograph. It was the first collage we made for a client and for me it was a revelation. I understood how good it was. So we started really getting into it.

Casa Ajijic by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio. Photo is by Iwan Baan
Casa Ajijic is a house with rammed earth walls. Photo is by Iwan Baan

Amy Frearson: So for you, these images really capture the spirit of your design process?

Tatiana Bilbao: As I said, I want my architecture to be a platform for anyone to create their own way of living. I think a collage accepts all of those personalities, diversities and complexities that are not only my ideas. A collage also accepts processes, it accepts mistakes. I like to think that our buildings are the same, so it became very clear that collages were a very good way of representing our buildings.

We presented our first collage for a competition around five years ago. They only asked for one image and it was supposed to be a render, but it was a conceptual idea that they wanted. So we did a beautiful collage. We didn't win the competition – maybe because they didn't like our collage, or maybe our idea was too radical – but what I was really sure was that it was an incredible technique for showing that conceptual idea, and that it proved to be very helpful.

A collage allows a lot of voices to be in one place

Then we were asked to do a house we called Ways of Life. The brief called for a house that would respond to new ways of living, which it described as working and living in the same space. That for me was very strange because we have been working and living in the same spaces for centuries. We only decided after the Industrial Revolution that it was a good idea to divide them. For me, it was more about how the house can allow different ways of life.

We didn't have a client, it was just a proposal. So we decided to think about how we could create this platform for many ways of life, not only our idea of living and not only the general described idea of living. We started creating a chart of emotions and activities that we wanted to do. We were thinking about how space can represent communion between the inhabitants of a house. We started pulling out images and, little by little, more naturally, it started to become this collage. Then we decided to deliberately collage six moments of the house, with images that we found everywhere. When we had the six collages, we collaged them all together, and we started sketching on top of them.

Collage became an incredible tool for design with a lot of meanings for us. A collage allows a lot of voices to be in one place. That has allowed us to develop theories around possibilities of a project but also ways of representing projects.

Culiacan Botanical Garden by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio. Photo is by Iwan Baan
Bilbao used concrete for the Culiacan Botanical Garden. Photo is by Iwan Baan

Amy Frearson: You've worked on several collaborative projects in the past, like the Ruta del Peregrino and the Jardín Botánico. Do you think it's important to be collaborative in architecture?

Tatiana Bilbao: I really can't believe anyone that says they can do useful architecture for a lot of people from one single mind. I can't believe someone could say they understand everything, that they have all the tools to design something for someone else. I believe it is really hard to do that translation and I don't believe that you can have all the inputs that you need.

I think that every mind sees things in different ways and that really helps to create incredible input to a project where you're responding to someone else's way of life. It's not just important to me, it's the only way I do architecture. The times when I don't have the chance to collaborate with someone else for any reason, at least it's always a collaboration here in this office, it's a very horizontal way of working.

Amy Frearson: Tell me about some of the affordable housing projects you've worked on. What led you to work in this area?

Tatiana Bilbao: I think architecture has the power to impact the lives of others. I take that very seriously. And if it has that power, why don't we use it? I'm always thinking about why architects are not relevant to society, at least in my society, architects are truly not relevant at all. If you ask someone in the street what an architect is for they might say to fix the plumbing problem in my bathroom or to choose colours in houses. I've heard that before.

I'm always thinking about why architects are not relevant to society

We are very relevant for society in general, because that's how society is able to represent itself in a more general way, in terms of representing a time's history through architecture. But if you speak to an individual, they don't get why it is relevant directly for them. I think it's because we architects have failed to understand that we are able to provide that second most important necessity for a human being, which is living space.

The first most important necessity we have is our health. But the second is to have a refuge. We are not animals that can be living in the wilderness, we wouldn't survive. We have proven, as humanity, that caves are not enough for us. We need a space that is not only a refuge but that is able to allow for and inspire our lives. This is what architecture should be but I think we have forgotten that.

I wanted to be thinking about that all the time, so I decided to work very much in domesticity. And obviously a huge thing in my country is that not everyone has housing. And in my country, housing is one of the constitutional rights, every citizen has the right to a dignified and enjoyable house. Therefore the government has a mandate to provide housing for the people and it's not happening. At least not with the those words, dignified and enjoyable.

I decided to really tackle those issues and started doing research and then a kind of a political activism to change that. It was through by work but also through doing.

Bilbao created this collage for upcoming hotel project Staterra

Amy Frearson: The exhibition curator, Kjeld Kjeldsen, describes you as a Robin Hood character, in the way that you use the profits from designing luxury, one-off houses to fund socially driven projects. What you do think about that?

Tatiana Bilbao: It's not my intention to be a Robin Hood. What I can say is that I have had the opportunity of exploring many possibilities when I have had a lot of budget, which has allowed me to understand where the basic ideas are when I don't have budget.

I always think that, when you start out thinking on the maximum, you can arrive at incredible places, but when you start with a restriction you arrive at a restricted space. That's my way of thinking. For me, being able to not just do projects where I need to meet a budget in 43 square-metres of space has allowed me to understand what the most important necessities are in a domestic space. I understand what the most basic things are needed for an inspired way of life, by doing them in places where I don't have a restriction.

I see it as opening possibilities in my mind and for others that maybe they don't have that opportunity of seeing them.

Amy Frearson: So in a way, you take the ideas you develop in high-end commissions and rework them for the masses?

Tatiana Bilbao: I've been trying to do that, as I said, for many years, all my life I think. You would probably call someone an innocent or naive person for thinking that architecture has power, but I do, I do truly believe in it. I do believe that architecture can be a platform for many, many things. And I will not give up.

Amy Frearson: Do you find other architects are receptive to your ideas about collaboration and activism?

Tatiana Bilbao: Well, no. Collaboration is not something that everybody would do. I think there's been so much history of competition. I really find that in the US, where competition is a basic survival tool. Because in the US, not being a welfare state, everything needs to be done by you. So in the end, you really have to compete with everyone to be able to protect your life. Even for your health services, you have to fight. That has been also the basis of capitalism and this is how society shapes us nowadays.

For me, architecture is a way of communicating with others

So I think that when it comes to collaboration, I have found that for some people it's very difficult. They don't understand the basic understanding of collaboration, which is respect and openness to the other one. That is probably the most interesting challenge that I've had in the way I've worked with some people. And with some others it's been very successful.

Amy Frearson: You often use materials in unusual ways. Can you tell me how you choose the materials for your designs?

Tatiana Bilbao: For me, architecture is a way of communicating with others. It's me who starts the first sentence or the first paragraph in the conversation, but then it needs to become a dialogue. I believe the only way that can happen successfully is if that conversation is very honest. So I think that the material needs to also be honest.

We have a very intense process of researching possibilities for each project, of understanding what material is going to allow us to do a building and what it is going to say about it. How does it really communicate our idea? How is it lived and seen?

It is also very important for us to think about where we are and where the material comes from, how can we get it and how we can build with it. That is a very big part of the process as well.

Hunter's Point masterplan by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio
She has also used collage to show her masterplan for Hunter's Point in San Francisco

Amy Frearson: Can you give me some examples of how you've chosen materials for some projects?

Tatiana Bilbao: In the botanical garden, for example, it was very clear to us that we needed to use a material that would reflect the spaces, becoming this architecture that is imposed on this very beautiful nature that is in the garden. Through this imposition is the possibility for people to do activities that they cannot do in the exterior. We as human beings need diversity, but also to some point become part of this by dialogue with nature. So we decided to use concrete, as a material that could be everything, the structure, the aesthetic definition, the installation, the acoustic protection, etc. And that would allow us to create these beautiful spaces in one gesture.

We were then asked to create another set of buildings that would not use concrete because it became very expensive to build with. So we decided to use concrete blocks. We used concrete blocks in the same way, to do everything. And we challenged the material to do that.

We as human beings need diversity

In the Ajijic house, we needed to find a material that would allow us to build a very big house, or very big for the budget.

We had to find a material that would allow us to do that. After discarding a lot of them, we looked at what was there in the place. The answer was earth. I had seen another project done with rammed earth so I started researching it and we found a really good way of using this material, when you understand the possibilities of the material. That material allowed us to build this house in the way we wanted.

Amy Frearson: Can you tell me about some of the new projects you have coming up?

Tatiana Bilbao: The aquarium is being built and that's very exciting. Foundations take a long time, but now we are out of the ground rising up, which is a very beautiful moment in construction.

We are working on a church in Monterrey, which is also an incredible project, and we are working on a monastery in in Germany for Cistercian monks, which is a beautiful project. The museum project in Spain is evolving, which is not a museum but more a new model of what a museum could be in the future. We're doing a big residential project in Monterrey which is starting construction really soon, and we're doing a project in St Louis, Missouri, of individual houses.

We are also doing a lot of proposals for a new law that the government wants to pass on creating these quotas for social housing, in the middle of the city. So we're working with them and those proposals. We recently won three competitions and that's very exciting. I'm happy that they haven't started because we have so much work!

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"We banned renders" from the design process says Tatiana Bilbao

Mexican architect Tatiana Bilbao refuses to produce computer visualisations of designs still in progress. She says that making collages helps her to develop more exciting buildings.

Bilbao's work is currently on show at the Louisiana Museum in Denmark. The exhibition doesn't contain any computer renderings; instead designs for projects such as Casa Ajijic and Vivienda Popular are shown through models, sketches and collages.

The architect doesn't like finalised images as they can become obstacles in the creative process. She prefers collage as she believes it fosters a more collaborative approach to design.

Tatiana Bilbao. Photo is by Ana Hop
Tatiana Bilbao is an architect based in Mexico. Photo is by Ana Hop

"I want my architecture to be a platform for anyone to create their own way of living,"  "I think a collage accepts all of those personalities, diversities and complexities that are not only my ideas."

"A collage also accepts processes, it accepts mistakes," she continued. "I like to think that our buildings are the same."

Renders "dangerous and damaging"

Bilbao, 47, vowed to stop producing renderings for clients following her first residential project. Her client had been surprised by the result, because he had a fixed idea in his mind based on an early rendering.

"He stopped following the process because he fixed an image into his mind," she explained. "I thought, this could be very dangerous and damaging to the creative process."

Ways of Life house collage by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio
The architect uses collages, rather than renders, to present her designs

"I totally believe that the process is a dialogue," she continued, "and obviously in that case it became only a monologue, because my mind evolved and his mind stayed with that image."

"After that we banned renders from our process, until the very end," she said.

Collages were "a revelation"

Collages that feature in the Louisiana exhibition include a conceptual floor plan of the Mazatlán Aquarium, which is currently under construction, and a visual of the Culiacan Botanical Garden.

The idea to start using collage came to Bilbao by chance, while working on a proposal for one of her best-known projects, Casa Ventura.

Mazatlán Aquarium by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio
Bilbao has produced several collages for the soon-to-complete Mazatlán Aquarium

Ahead of a meeting with the client, there wasn't enough time to complete a proper model, so her team improvised. They created a quick foam model, cut it in half, then used Photoshop to turn it into a composite image.

"It was the first collage we made for a client and for me it was a revelation," she said. "Collage became an incredible tool for design with a lot of meanings for us."

Collaboration is key

This collaborative technique epitomises Bilbao's entire approach to architecture. She often likes to involve other creative minds, rather than taking on everything herself.

A key example of this is the Ruta del Peregrino, a project to create architectural interventions along a 72-mile pilgrimage route in Jalisco, on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Bilbao invited respected names, from artist Ai Weiwei to Chilean architecture practice Elemental, to design different sections.

Gratitude Open Chapel on Ruta del Peregrino by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio. Photo is by Iwan Baan
She invited nine creatives to collaborate on the Ruta del Peregrino. Photo is by Iwan Baan

Collaboration is "not just important to me, it's the only way I do architecture", she explained.

"I really can't believe anyone that says they can do useful architecture for a lot of people from one single mind."

Architecture has power to change lives

Bilbao has worked on a variety of different types of projects, but housing is her biggest passion. As well as building luxury homes for rich clients, she has also worked on several prototypes for affordable, mass housing.

The big-budget projects inspire her when she is working on a more restricted scale and budget, she explains.

"I always think that, when you start out thinking on the maximum, you can arrive at incredible places, but when you start with a restriction you arrive at a restricted space," she suggested.

Acuña Housing by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio
Bilbao looks to big-budget projects as inspiration for her affordable housing designs

It is Bilbao's firm belief that every citizen has the right to a "dignified and enjoyable house" and, if the government is unable to provide that, then it's down to her as an architect to make a difference.

"I think architecture has the power to impact the lives of others," she said. "I take that very seriously."

Read on for an edited transcript of the interview:


Amy Frearson: Congratulations on the exhibition. I understand you've been working on it for the past two years. What did you want it to say about you and your work?

Tatiana Bilbao: We wanted to create these three environments which are: the mind, the process and the experience of our architecture. That's how I see it.

I really wanted to transmit the message about how we think, how we operate, how we create projects, and our resources for doing them. I hope people get that the process is very complex and it's very different from project to project. We really focus on each project's challenges, context, situation and people. Every project has its own process, its own mind and its own experience. We worry about trying to understand a lot of things, but also about creating an experience that's unique.

Amy Frearson: Can you tell me a bit more about your process? Your residential projects vary between luxury villas and affordable housing. Are you consistent in the way you approach these types of projects?

Tatiana Bilbao: Every design we do is created specifically for the person, for them to develop their own possibilities. My hope is that our architecture brings a certain platform to people's lives, as a source of inspiration to enhance their lives in many ways, whether it's a living space, a public space, an educational space or whatever. It's to allow them to create their own way of living. That is what we're wishing for. That is why every project is completely different to the next, and every project has its own very strange and different process. And we try to to integrate those different ways into the results.

Casa Ventura by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio. Photo is by Iwan Baan
Casa Ventura is built on a forested hillside near Monterrey. Photo is by Iwan Baan

Amy Frearson: The exhibition features a lot of collages. Why do you make these images, rather than renders?

Tatiana Bilbao: It's been a long history in the office and it really is part of the process of our office.

One of the most important phrases I remember from when I was studying was something I read from Rafael Moneo about the understanding of what a piece of architecture does to a city. It stuck in my mind. Every piece of architecture comes into context as part of a collage. Sometimes it becomes the detonator of many things, sometimes it's just one addition, sometimes it gets lost in that complexity, and sometimes it becomes the icon, the new point of reference for that context. I have always thought that my architecture comes to any context, that it adds something to the collage. I have always thought of my work in that way.

Every piece of architecture comes into context as part of a collage

Then, in the beginning, we were having difficulty understanding why we didn't like renders and realistic images. One day, it became very clear. When we finished the first house we built – it was not completely finished but it was almost there – the client said to me, "Tatiana this is not what I thought it was going to be". I asked him why and he started describing the second render he saw of the house during the conceptual process. I realised that he stopped imagining how the house was going to be after that. He stopped following the process because he fixed an image into his mind, as if it was a finished product. And, for sure it had changed completely because that was just a concept.

I started realising why he had never questioned things, he never realised the whole process of the evolution of the design. I thought, this could be very dangerous and damaging to the creative process. I totally believe that the process is a dialogue and obviously in that case it became only a monologue, because my mind evolved and his mind stayed with that image. After that we banned renders from our process until the very end, even though clients would ask to see renders. I would say no, there's models, there's drawings and that's it.

Then we made a discovery, almost by chance. For Casa Ventura, we were in a hurry and we wanted to do a big model but we didn't have the time. So we did a quick foam model that we cut, and then we photoshopped the section model with a photograph. It was the first collage we made for a client and for me it was a revelation. I understood how good it was. So we started really getting into it.

Casa Ajijic by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio. Photo is by Iwan Baan
Casa Ajijic is a house with rammed earth walls. Photo is by Iwan Baan

Amy Frearson: So for you, these images really capture the spirit of your design process?

Tatiana Bilbao: As I said, I want my architecture to be a platform for anyone to create their own way of living. I think a collage accepts all of those personalities, diversities and complexities that are not only my ideas. A collage also accepts processes, it accepts mistakes. I like to think that our buildings are the same, so it became very clear that collages were a very good way of representing our buildings.

We presented our first collage for a competition around five years ago. They only asked for one image and it was supposed to be a render, but it was a conceptual idea that they wanted. So we did a beautiful collage. We didn't win the competition – maybe because they didn't like our collage, or maybe our idea was too radical – but what I was really sure was that it was an incredible technique for showing that conceptual idea, and that it proved to be very helpful.

A collage allows a lot of voices to be in one place

Then we were asked to do a house we called Ways of Life. The brief called for a house that would respond to new ways of living, which it described as working and living in the same space. That for me was very strange because we have been working and living in the same spaces for centuries. We only decided after the Industrial Revolution that it was a good idea to divide them. For me, it was more about how the house can allow different ways of life.

We didn't have a client, it was just a proposal. So we decided to think about how we could create this platform for many ways of life, not only our idea of living and not only the general described idea of living. We started creating a chart of emotions and activities that we wanted to do. We were thinking about how space can represent communion between the inhabitants of a house. We started pulling out images and, little by little, more naturally, it started to become this collage. Then we decided to deliberately collage six moments of the house, with images that we found everywhere. When we had the six collages, we collaged them all together, and we started sketching on top of them.

Collage became an incredible tool for design with a lot of meanings for us. A collage allows a lot of voices to be in one place. That has allowed us to develop theories around possibilities of a project but also ways of representing projects.

Culiacan Botanical Garden by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio. Photo is by Iwan Baan
Bilbao used concrete for the Culiacan Botanical Garden. Photo is by Iwan Baan

Amy Frearson: You've worked on several collaborative projects in the past, like the Ruta del Peregrino and the Jardín Botánico. Do you think it's important to be collaborative in architecture?

Tatiana Bilbao: I really can't believe anyone that says they can do useful architecture for a lot of people from one single mind. I can't believe someone could say they understand everything, that they have all the tools to design something for someone else. I believe it is really hard to do that translation and I don't believe that you can have all the inputs that you need.

I think that every mind sees things in different ways and that really helps to create incredible input to a project where you're responding to someone else's way of life. It's not just important to me, it's the only way I do architecture. The times when I don't have the chance to collaborate with someone else for any reason, at least it's always a collaboration here in this office, it's a very horizontal way of working.

Amy Frearson: Tell me about some of the affordable housing projects you've worked on. What led you to work in this area?

Tatiana Bilbao: I think architecture has the power to impact the lives of others. I take that very seriously. And if it has that power, why don't we use it? I'm always thinking about why architects are not relevant to society, at least in my society, architects are truly not relevant at all. If you ask someone in the street what an architect is for they might say to fix the plumbing problem in my bathroom or to choose colours in houses. I've heard that before.

I'm always thinking about why architects are not relevant to society

We are very relevant for society in general, because that's how society is able to represent itself in a more general way, in terms of representing a time's history through architecture. But if you speak to an individual, they don't get why it is relevant directly for them. I think it's because we architects have failed to understand that we are able to provide that second most important necessity for a human being, which is living space.

The first most important necessity we have is our health. But the second is to have a refuge. We are not animals that can be living in the wilderness, we wouldn't survive. We have proven, as humanity, that caves are not enough for us. We need a space that is not only a refuge but that is able to allow for and inspire our lives. This is what architecture should be but I think we have forgotten that.

I wanted to be thinking about that all the time, so I decided to work very much in domesticity. And obviously a huge thing in my country is that not everyone has housing. And in my country, housing is one of the constitutional rights, every citizen has the right to a dignified and enjoyable house. Therefore the government has a mandate to provide housing for the people and it's not happening. At least not with the those words, dignified and enjoyable.

I decided to really tackle those issues and started doing research and then a kind of a political activism to change that. It was through by work but also through doing.

Bilbao created this collage for upcoming hotel project Staterra

Amy Frearson: The exhibition curator, Kjeld Kjeldsen, describes you as a Robin Hood character, in the way that you use the profits from designing luxury, one-off houses to fund socially driven projects. What you do think about that?

Tatiana Bilbao: It's not my intention to be a Robin Hood. What I can say is that I have had the opportunity of exploring many possibilities when I have had a lot of budget, which has allowed me to understand where the basic ideas are when I don't have budget.

I always think that, when you start out thinking on the maximum, you can arrive at incredible places, but when you start with a restriction you arrive at a restricted space. That's my way of thinking. For me, being able to not just do projects where I need to meet a budget in 43 square-metres of space has allowed me to understand what the most important necessities are in a domestic space. I understand what the most basic things are needed for an inspired way of life, by doing them in places where I don't have a restriction.

I see it as opening possibilities in my mind and for others that maybe they don't have that opportunity of seeing them.

Amy Frearson: So in a way, you take the ideas you develop in high-end commissions and rework them for the masses?

Tatiana Bilbao: I've been trying to do that, as I said, for many years, all my life I think. You would probably call someone an innocent or naive person for thinking that architecture has power, but I do, I do truly believe in it. I do believe that architecture can be a platform for many, many things. And I will not give up.

Amy Frearson: Do you find other architects are receptive to your ideas about collaboration and activism?

Tatiana Bilbao: Well, no. Collaboration is not something that everybody would do. I think there's been so much history of competition. I really find that in the US, where competition is a basic survival tool. Because in the US, not being a welfare state, everything needs to be done by you. So in the end, you really have to compete with everyone to be able to protect your life. Even for your health services, you have to fight. That has been also the basis of capitalism and this is how society shapes us nowadays.

For me, architecture is a way of communicating with others

So I think that when it comes to collaboration, I have found that for some people it's very difficult. They don't understand the basic understanding of collaboration, which is respect and openness to the other one. That is probably the most interesting challenge that I've had in the way I've worked with some people. And with some others it's been very successful.

Amy Frearson: You often use materials in unusual ways. Can you tell me how you choose the materials for your designs?

Tatiana Bilbao: For me, architecture is a way of communicating with others. It's me who starts the first sentence or the first paragraph in the conversation, but then it needs to become a dialogue. I believe the only way that can happen successfully is if that conversation is very honest. So I think that the material needs to also be honest.

We have a very intense process of researching possibilities for each project, of understanding what material is going to allow us to do a building and what it is going to say about it. How does it really communicate our idea? How is it lived and seen?

It is also very important for us to think about where we are and where the material comes from, how can we get it and how we can build with it. That is a very big part of the process as well.

Hunter's Point masterplan by Tatiana Bilbao Estudio
She has also used collage to show her masterplan for Hunter's Point in San Francisco

Amy Frearson: Can you give me some examples of how you've chosen materials for some projects?

Tatiana Bilbao: In the botanical garden, for example, it was very clear to us that we needed to use a material that would reflect the spaces, becoming this architecture that is imposed on this very beautiful nature that is in the garden. Through this imposition is the possibility for people to do activities that they cannot do in the exterior. We as human beings need diversity, but also to some point become part of this by dialogue with nature. So we decided to use concrete, as a material that could be everything, the structure, the aesthetic definition, the installation, the acoustic protection, etc. And that would allow us to create these beautiful spaces in one gesture.

We were then asked to create another set of buildings that would not use concrete because it became very expensive to build with. So we decided to use concrete blocks. We used concrete blocks in the same way, to do everything. And we challenged the material to do that.

We as human beings need diversity

In the Ajijic house, we needed to find a material that would allow us to build a very big house, or very big for the budget.

We had to find a material that would allow us to do that. After discarding a lot of them, we looked at what was there in the place. The answer was earth. I had seen another project done with rammed earth so I started researching it and we found a really good way of using this material, when you understand the possibilities of the material. That material allowed us to build this house in the way we wanted.

Amy Frearson: Can you tell me about some of the new projects you have coming up?

Tatiana Bilbao: The aquarium is being built and that's very exciting. Foundations take a long time, but now we are out of the ground rising up, which is a very beautiful moment in construction.

We are working on a church in Monterrey, which is also an incredible project, and we are working on a monastery in in Germany for Cistercian monks, which is a beautiful project. The museum project in Spain is evolving, which is not a museum but more a new model of what a museum could be in the future. We're doing a big residential project in Monterrey which is starting construction really soon, and we're doing a project in St Louis, Missouri, of individual houses.

We are also doing a lot of proposals for a new law that the government wants to pass on creating these quotas for social housing, in the middle of the city. So we're working with them and those proposals. We recently won three competitions and that's very exciting. I'm happy that they haven't started because we have so much work!

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