We all love the idea of restrictions being lifted without the worry of what others think of our creations, fortunately a great new trend is appearing in 2016 which is “mixed materials”. Quite simply it is creativity unleashed! It really is true in this case that opposites attract so don’t be afraid to mix it up.
Mixing your materials is all about adding contrast to your interior. These creative designs add something unusual to capture the imagination. Think, take the rough with the smooth. Mixing rough textures such as wood (especially unfinished wood), shaggy rugs and throws, concrete and exposed brickwork with the smooth, glass, ceramic tiles, metals and leather can make a real impact.
The Kiss by Gustav Klimt
This season it’s all about breaking those long held interior design “rules”. Yes, rip up that rule book! Don’t be worried by this, both art and nature are no strangers to this concept. If it works in nature and is used by the great artists it will certainly work for you too!
Think of the contrast in a beach scene with its clear blue sky, sandy beach, gnarled driftwood, pebbles smoothed by years of rolling tides and dark seaweed strewn across the scene. Individually they’re far apart in appearance but they come together perfectly. In art, mixing collages with paints, shapes and textures is the norm. A wonderful example of this is the masterpiece “The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt (pictured right), Klimt uses an eclectic mix of styles from Art Nouveaux to Arts and Crafts. The metallic background using gold leaf and the oil painted flowers, geometric shapes and human forms form a lovely contrast.
So be brave and mix it up in your home, you might be pleasantly surprised at some of the results. Our range of featured lighting shows mixed materials being used to their greatest effect. Smoked Glass with copper, rustic wood with wrought iron, leather mixed with metal and silk, modern wood with metallic finishes. A wonderful example of using this style is the Copenhagen range (Lute pendants pictured below). Using artisan glass manufacturing techniques in shades from topaz blue, bright coral through to forest green mixed with warm colours of gold, copper and platinum creates an amazing look. There’s so much to choose from and more subtle than you first thought!
Lute Pendants
Suspending these Lute pendants over a lovely wooden dining room table laid out with slate place mats and metal cutlery would be a great example of mixing materials in the home that is sure to create an appealing and fresh effect. It’s a trend that everyone can get on board with, you’d be surprised by the amount of household items that are already on trend and with a bit of tweaking and pairing you can have a setting that’s shaping up to 2016! If you want to keep the modern look but also mix materials, you can.
There are many contemporary style pendants which use this style, for example the Float range. A smart and modern alternative which uses a mix of metal and wood. These come in a range of fitting types including pendants, wall lights, floor lamps and table lamps. Any room in the home can be included with options available for kitchens and bathrooms too, smooth worktops are common so adding a rough contrast in accessories or wallpaper for a kitchen would be suitable. Spotlights using different materials can be used to complete the effect, for example the Lord range or Maratea. For a bathroom mixing metals and glass is simple, adding a few decorations – a mat or cabinet ornaments can enhance the contrast.
This trend is suitable for any setting so whether you have an old cottage property or a modernized new build you can characterize it with this style. After all the mix of materials is also in a sense a blend of eras, for example traditional woods with modern metals. When you head out to implement this trend keep the word “contrast” in mind, if it’s all looking too similar you may be straying from the design. Pair unexpected elements to create a real and unique connection, the varying textures of different materials will also provide a good depth to the surrounding. There are many ways you can mix materials by pairing different accessories, furniture and furnishings. Perhaps you have a marble topped table which has a wooden structure, this is a great example of mixing materials. A metal bowl or ornament to sit atop wouldn’t go amiss! Don’t feel limited to mixing only two materials to keep a “look”, this is all about putting many different things into the mix. Try to go at it with the freedom and expression of an artist, make it abstract.
So get your creative cap on and make a mix! Feel free to contact us with your pleased results, we’d love to see how it’s implemented in your setting. Have you spotted an emerging trend of your own? Let us know and we may be able to feature it!
See our Mixed Materials video below:
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