Whether it’s in our homes, wardrobes or the cars we drive, design trends move fast – particularly in these blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Tiktok days. Some, like luxury electric vehicles, are probably here to stay; others, like Barbiecore rollerblades, might be making a passing visit. Broadsheet home and lifestyle editor Jo Walker watches the push and pull as closely as anyone, and recommends slowing down and looking for something more personal when incorporating these trends into our lives.
“It’s interesting to pick up on what is happening in the zeitgeist – what colours, what textures, what themes, what shapes are happening in fashion,” Walker says. But ask yourself, “Is this something that speaks to me directly? Is this colour or this shape or this texture something that I personally like, or am I just doing it because Tiktok told me to?”
Walker has singled out four home and design trends that, with a personal touch, could make worthy additions to your home.
Blending old and new
Forget living in a time capsule – now it’s all about matching modern and vintage design in clever and functional ways. And you don’t need to get too hung up on fidelity to one era. “[It could be] Edwardian servingware at the same time as brutalist glass bricks, at the same time as Memphis school colours and shapes, at the same time as art deco lamps, at the same time as 1970s dark wood and velvet and shag pile,” says Walker.
Alongside vintage elements, this trend takes in contemporary art and cutting-edge tech. Luxury EVs like the new Cadillac LYRIQ, for instance, combine quintessentially modern materials and technology with classic mid-century design cues (including the brand’s own iconic 1950s tail fin, echoed in the new tail light design). Taking inspiration from industrial design greats like Alexander Girard and Charles and Ray Eames, the car features strong horizontal lines, rhythmic linear patterns and cantilevered interior components.
Elsewhere, Walker says, “There are some really beautiful designers in New Zealand and Australia making really clever homewares that are 3D-printed.” New Zealand’s Special Studios, which uses waste plastics, and Melbourne-based 3D artist Mikaela Stafford are some of her current favourites.
The return of handmade
At the same time, the value we place on handmade pieces means artisan crafts like ceramics, stonemasonry, mosaic and stained glass are coming back into our homes. “We like things that have the touch of the craftsman’s hands,” says Walker.
For stained glass and leadlight pieces, Walker recommends local artists like Duck Ragu and Fools Glass. Each one-off piece, she says, is “such a piece of skilled work … it has the touch of craftsmanship to it, and is something that can be really admired and loved for a long time to come.” And, if you’re interested in a bespoke mosaic piece, look for the work of Trad Tiles. “It’s somewhere between the kind of tiles you’d have outside an old pub and something you might find in ancient Rome.”
Investment pieces
In general, the rising cost of living and a growing backlash against fast fashion means more of us are thinking about design pieces that will last – ideally, for more than one lifetime. “If this is a larger investment piece, say it’s a table or a bed or a lounge suite, is this something that my children would want to inherit? Or is this something that can be fixed, modulated, upgraded over time so it continues being stylish and relevant and useful?”
If you’re looking for design that will last a generation or two, Walker recommends the simple recycled timber furniture of Baldwin Studios; the old-world, natural stone furniture of Just Adele; and the Beautifully Basic Shelf, an impossibly minimalist aluminium design by Thomas Guida.
Eco-friendly innovations
The interest in investment pieces reflects a growing desire for products that are both luxurious and sustainable. Look for innovative components like plant leathers and biodegradable textiles, and products made to last the journey – like Plantchester’s compostable hemp bedding or the sustainable furniture of Future Re Made.
“Maybe that’s part of a new definition of luxury,” says Walker. “If something is disposable and not thoughtfully made, and the materials are not very long lasting, durable or kind to the Earth, I think that’s not luxury – that’s something pretty made to throw away.”
This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Cadillac.
