Goodbye Pale Wood, Hello Rich Timber Tones
Cosy up your home with the latest trend for walnut and other rich, dark timber tones in joinery and furniture.
READ ARTICLEMake a statement with our Urban Edge look, where dark tones and striking furniture shapes take centre stage against a soft, muted colour base. Bold, dramatic and packed with character, it’s a sure-fire way to create an unforgettable interior.
Creating some balance is key to preventing your scheme from appearing stark; pair clean-lined furniture in dark timber stains with tactile natural materials like linen, leather and woven fibre, accents of rich colour like burnt orange, olive and burgundy in soft furnishings and art, and lashings of natural light.
Our top tip? Ground your space and boost the visual impact by keeping most of the darker tones in the lower portion of the room, with lighter tones above.
INTERIOR DESIGN MANAGER, JESSICA HODGES
Clean lines, rich earthy tones and natural touches will give your home a dramatic, modern street presence. Keeping architectural detailing to a minimum, layer your façade with rich espresso-toned brickwork, sections of render in various shades of grey and warm, and timber-battened detailing for a touch of texture. For added drama, consider adding timber lining boards on your porch ceiling.
Keep the focus on your striking furniture forms with understated flooring. For busy, social spaces, consider polished or matt porcelain floor tiles in a solid, neutral tone such as taupe or beige, or timber floorboards with a minimal grain. Add subtle luxury to your formal living area, study and bedrooms with a cut pile twist carpet in soft grey or ecru.
Introduce bold, black lighting in a mix of different materials and forms – for example, a trio of curvy, woven basket pendants over the kitchen island to cast a cosy glow in your everyday living/cooking space, sleek black cylinder downlights overhead, dainty tubular pendants suspended over your bedside tables, and minimalist modern floor and table lamps.
Offset your dark furniture with a kitchen in fresh, light tones. Consider soft grey joinery and sleek stone benchtops, coupled with a splashback in white subway tiles or a glass splashback that blends in with your wall colour.
Or add a warm, natural feel by combining white lower cabinets with an island and overheads in a mid-tone timber. Including a few open shelf sections will give you a handy spot to store cookbooks or display artwork and ceramics. Minimalist stainless steel handles on your lower units and push-to-open mechanisms on overhead units will emphasise the seamless aesthetic.
Give your bathrooms a modern urban edge with sleek cabinetry in warm walnut or dark-stained oak, contrasted with charcoal or creamy white stone countertops. Accessorise with angular tapware in gunmetal or matt black, and simple stainless steel or black door hardware. Run large tiles in a crisp white in a solid neutral tone across floors and halfway up walls, with white paintwork on the walls above.
Aurora Estate, Wollert
Coridale Estate, Lara
Meridian Estate, Clyde North
Redstone Estate, Sunbury
Newhaven Estate, Tarneit
Eliston Estate, Clyde
Woodlea Estate, Aintree
Kaduna Park Estate, Officer South
Kaduna Park Estate, Officer South
Orana Estate, Clyde North
Berwick Waters Estate, Clyde North
Anchor your main living space with a simple, modular sofa in soft grey, styled with cushions in burnt orange, navy, olive and burgundy. Then look to introduce striking furniture pieces in the surrounding spacees, such as a dining table, coffee table, and entertainment unit in dark-stained timber. Pieces with an interesting silhouette or unexpected detailing, such as an angular base or a patterned finish, will add depth and drama.
Add softness to the space with pale grey linen sheers, richly textured rugs in light or dark tones underfoot, and comfortable, upholstered dining chairs and barstools. Maintain your home’s open and airy feel with swathes of white across walls and strategically placed mirrors that bounce the light around.
Here are the shopping destinations our interior designers recommend:
Cosy up your home with the latest trend for walnut and other rich, dark timber tones in joinery and furniture.
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