DESIGN TRENDS FOR 2015

A new year brings with it the opportunity to refresh the interiors of our homes. Looking to emerging design trends is a smart way to ensure your interior has longevity and makes the most of the products that are becoming available on the market.

But what are the fresh design trends for 2015? We’ve discovered three that are going to give your home a new lease on life this year.

Earthy Botanic

Both Dulux and Paint Place revealed deep greens as the major players in their colour trend forecasts for the coming year, with Dulux in particular giving a generous nod to the desire to have greenery in both our homes and workspaces.

While Paint Place’s Forge Ahead trend had a muddier and moodier colour palette at play, the general consensus in the marketplace is that a desire to get back to nature is a strong one for 2015.

Look for green feature walls and emerald homewares to become prominent, indoor plants (and pots) to grow in popularity and vertical gardens to dominate balconies and courtyards.

If you’re looking to channel this vibe in your own home, connect with nature by opting for

LUXAFLEX Pirouette® Shadings, which will allow you to see your garden from inside your home, let in light but still retain a sense of privacy.

Baroque Revival

Love Game of Thrones? You’re set to revel in the medieval interior revival that’s been inspired by this TV genre. Leading UK-based trend forecaster Victoria Renshaw who presented at Australia’s Décor + Design Show says that people are looking to history for inspiration, with sumptuous fabrics like velvet, damask patterns on walls and brass decor making a comeback. Expect to see vintage store finds with a baroque quality returning, too. A sense of opulence is strong in this trend.

Pantone’s colour of the year for 2015, Marsala, is a rich red that further proves the baroque interior aesthetic is set to return. Its deep, romantic qualities will give your home a soulful and seductive edge, so expect to see more of it pop up across homewares and fabrics.

If you want to play to this alluring interior aesthetic, look to the introduction of the latest Silhouette Shadings Designer Series fabrics. The colours French Linen, Myst, Brio, Mystere, Monaco, Chateau and Nouveau all evoke classical elegance in a contemporary and striking way.

Future Industrial

Industrial design is going to be pushed further in 2015, with darker and moodier colour stories at play. Expect to see charcoal grey, dirty blue and muddy purple paints making their presence known, while raw textures like weathered woods and beaten metals will be prominent.

Both Colourways (a leader in local trend forecasting) and Victoria Renshaw seem to agree on this, with Victoria pointing out that the metals we’ll see won’t resemble the shiny varieties that were big last year, but materials that are beaten, stamped and chiselled to look as though they’ve been through something.

A more masculine interior trend with a lot of hardness at play, you can elevate this look in your own home with a set of LUXAFLEX® Newstyle Polyresin Shutters, which will further enhance the rawness of the Future Industrial look

Timeless inspiration from Antonio Gaudí, Barcelona

Written by Lynn Malone, exclusively for Luxaflex

Next stop Barcelona

In the shop front window of my neighbourhood travel agency, a sign reads, “Travel is one thing that you buy, that makes you richer”. Reflecting upon my tour through European cities at their best, I agree.  Please join me: next stop, Barcelona.

Time does not stand still
Exploring the cobbled streets of Barcelona, it’s difficult not to be gobsmacked by turn-of-the-20th century Spanish architect Antonio Gaudí’s building masterpieces. Saying his buildings, renowned for undulating and vibrantly coloured facades; expansive stained glass and oddly shaped windows; and exotic materials and craftsmanship, are unique is an understatement. One of the most prominent inner-city buildings and examples of Gaudí‘s genius is Casa Batlló, a private residence constructed in the early-1900s and now a public museum. As a keen enthusiast of art and decoration, touring the Casa Batlló topped my Barcelona to-do list.

Early bird
Gaudí was a pioneer in many areas including environmental sustainability. An obvious example of this are the recycled broken tiles that clad the building facades. Casa Batlló windows are fitted with translucent glass purposed to control sunlight and in some instances, for privacy. Wooden framed windows were inventively opened and closed by the raising and lowering of counter weights. Using materials that were the newest and latest of the day - iron, concrete, glass and ceramic tiles, Gaudí was a design visionary and trailblazer. Coupled with the advent of electricity and indoor plumbing, his buildings were cutting edge. With electricity, motorised elevators were invented, and gave way to the concept of high-rise apartment living.

Attention to detail
Every detail was considered down to the minute. Gaudí designed a custom font for the entry doors; curved furniture that conformed to the contour of the interior walls.  The interior and exterior spaces were connected and equally considered with an adjoining courtyard adorned with sculptures and artwork incorporated into the design. Engineered to give consistent lighting to each level of the building, the windows of the centre light well were increasingly smaller from the ground level to the top level; and conversely the wall tiles were darker coloured at the top level rooms and decreasingly intense on the levels below.  How clever!

Lighting the way

The investment made in Gaudí’s leading edge design still delivers returns today with Casa Batlló interiors inspiring many home renovators and design enthusiasts around the world. 

When researching new products for your home – whether as a professional practitioner or if working on a do-it-yourself project, give consideration to innovative companies that invest in research and development bringing to market products that incorporate the newest and latest. Case in point:  Luxaflex Qmotion Roller Blinds, which are battery operated to raise and lower the blinds with programmable settings. Four years ago, this technology was unavailable for residential window roller blinds – the alternative was electrical wiring for motorisation, which often proves an expensive proposition; particularly when renovating.  

Taking new technology one step further, Luxaflex Qmotion Technology Roller Blinds with Q Sync has an app available that allows the roller blinds to be operated with a simple touch of a screen – on either IPad, iPhone or Android device.  From an aesthetic and safety perspective, this is a great alternative to a chain cord roller blind.

Think like Gaudí

When designing your home, borrow a page or two from the design philosophy of Antonio Gaudí

1. Be an innovator – search for products, materials and finishes that incorporate new technology

2. Consider light control and ventilation – both are conducive to healthy living 

3. Custom design furniture to suit the space – don’t use a piece of furniture just because you have it 

4. Don’t settle for status quo – be inventive and lead the pack

5. Don’t be afraid to use colour – it worked for Gaudí, in his timeless design

Introducing Atmosphere Translucent - The latest innovation in contemporary fabrics

This year the LUXAFLEX^® brand celebrates 6o years in Australia. Over the last 60 years, the LUXAFLEX fabric range offer has brought a number of iconic fabrics to the window furnishing market and continues to be a market leader in fabric innovation.

Atmosphere Blockout was one of the first soft and luxurious feeling foam back products that the market had seen which also offered an array of stylish and sophisticated colours. 60 years on and LUXAFLEX is still the market leader with a very enticing fabric range that continues to add that needed edge to the Window furnishing market.

To celebrate LUXAFLEX’s 60^th Birthday, we are excited to announce the launch of the highly anticipated Atmosphere Translucent fabric range.

Atmosphere Translucent is inspired by subtle mist of colours. A more subdued and neutral colour pallet injects calm to your surroundings. The range complements 8 of the most popular Atmosphere blockout fabrics, allowing a great dual ship solution for your window coverings. Developed locally and supporting local textiles, the introduction of Atmosphere Translucent is just another example of how the Luxaflex brand re-invents sophisticated quality finishes.

Atmosphere Translucent is available across Roller, Roman, Panel and Vertical applications.     

Interior Design Insights; Trend spotting for Luxaflex

Written by Lynn Malone, exclusively for Luxaflex

Each year in April, Salone del Mobile and Milan Design Week showcase the best in interior design fashion for the perusal and scrutiny of design trade professionals – many of who have travelled over more than one continent to attend.  Exhibits range from deep-pocketed international luxury brands with extravagantly dressed showrooms to emerging design talent operating on a shoestring camped out in a pop-up stand.  Despite the budget or showroom amenities, resoundingly there are concurrent threads that prevail.

For three glorious days, I traipsed through the football field-sized exhibition halls of Salone del Mobile and the back streets of Milan’s fashionable districts in search of embryotic trends.  I rediscovered trends that have stood the test of time, being simply reinvented.  As the saying goes, “what’s old is new again”.  Reporting exclusively for Luxaflex, here are my observations to share with you.

More are merrier
Why use one upholstery or window treatment fabric when you can use two or three!  How many times when selecting fabrics or finishes you experience difficulty narrowing your choice to the final one? If Milan 2014 design trends hold true, those days are by gone. With Luxaflex Dual Roller Blinds and Linked Roller Blinds, adding different fabrics to either compliment or contrast the room in your home is easy. From upholstered furniture to kitchen joinery finishes, there are multiple finishes – often three or more to one furniture or joinery item.  Chairs upholstered in multiple fabrics – complimentary or contrasting patterns – there are no rules in this game, it’s in the dealer’s hands.

Nature calls
If you can bring the outdoors inside then, do it!  At Milan 2014, greenery is abounded – from bathrooms with planted green walls to mini-fridges purposed to grow herbs; particularly suited for inner-city apartment dwellers.  Green is in – and its inside.

Unrefined timbers, textural - both visually and to the touch, were a key player for kitchen and bathroom joinery finishes; often counterbalanced by a polyurethane finished surface with a metallic finish thrown in for good measure. Natural earthy tones are a must in this year’s Milan 2014 design trends, if you are looking to apply this trend to your blinds, Luxaflex Verve Fabric for the Duette Architella Shades range features an urban chic with an eco-friendly quality. Made from 25% recycled materials, the irregular texture is enhanced with a subtle reflectivity in natural hues that reveal iridescent shine in natural light, making it the perfect addition to any home wanting to subtly incorporate the natural design trend.

Black out
The prevailing colour palettes were muted yet vibrantly engaged the sense of new:  biting shades of green from olive that creep to evergreen; champagne and mushroom representing the brown family; and warm grey toning from high to low.  Complimenting these palettes were splashes to swells of colour:  cobalt to indigo blues was a stand out; orangey reds and lipstick pink; and a tasting plate of mustards.  Missing in action is black and white.  One finish is a trend in its own right with descriptive to follow.

Copper colours Milan 

The finish and the ‘go to’ colour of the season is bronzed patina.  Versatile in its application, bronzed copper was the toast of the town from tables, chairs, and fabrics; and used for interior finishes from top to toe.  Polished, honed or brushed, bronze is a brilliant companion; and now is its time to shine.

Selling Houses Australia – Country Pub

The LifeStyle Channel’s Selling Houses Australia season final episode 13 aired last night, and from what we saw, the team did an outstanding job renovating the run down pub in Alexandra.

The Story: Ever dreamed of owning a nice little pub in the country? Think again. Barney and Barb thought their country pub would give them an idyllic lifestyle where they could work and play together; the reality was a 24/7 commitment working 7 days a week, 14 hours a day.

The Problem: The couple purchased the leasehold on the run down pub in Alexandra, Victoria 3 years ago. They worked tirelessly to turn the place from bankrupt to the most popular pub in town. They’re pillars of the community raising thousands of dollars for charity, but their efforts have taken their toll, physically, emotionally and financially. Despite their hard work, the pub is struggling to make a profit and now they just want out.

Kids Play Area

The Solution: The Luxaflex Ventura Folding Arm Awning was installed as it offers the very best in the open style awning market. Available with a wide range of accessories, this model can be customised to suit almost any situation. The 6.5 metre motorised Ventura Awning featured Dickson fabric in colour silver pearl, and fit perfectly in the outside courtyard of the pub.

Luxaflex Dual Roller Blinds in Prague Sunscreen fabric in colour Sheer Crepe and Plaza Plus Blockout fabric in colour White, were installed in the small bedrooms as it kept the room looking very streamlined and stopped it from having a bulky feel. By teaming a sunscreen and blockout fabric, you have the ability to adjust both light levels and night time privacy in the one application.

All Luxaflex Window Coverings were supplied and installed by Luxaflex Window Fashions Gallery, Decorator Curtains and Blinds in Greensborough, New South Wales.

Interior Design Insights; Sleepless in Milan

In part one of Lynn Malone's insights into the world of interior design, she heads to Milan to get the exclusive first look at new trends and designs for Luxaflex.

Described as a city where design never sleeps, Milan is host to the Salone del Mobile, the largest global design exhibition held annually each April.  In 1961, Salone del Mobile was founded by a handful of Italian furniture manufacturers to promote exports and to recognise Italy for its design finesse and manufacturing prowess.  Today over 160 countries are represented exhibiting furniture, fabrics, finishes, flooring, window coverings, lighting, kitchens and bathrooms; everything imaginable for home interiors.  Further boosting the regional economy during the six-day official event term, Milan inner city hotels are sold out 12 months prior; restaurants and nightlife hot spots are a buzz; and airline tickets are at a premium.

Situated in the outskirts of Milan, the Salone del Mobile 200,000 square metre fair grounds are a 40-minute train commute from the CBD.  There are 20 pavilions housing thousands upon thousands of temporary showrooms complimented by countless pop-restaurants, cafes and gelato stands.

Setting an all-time attendance record, this year over 350,000 paid visitors graced the fairgrounds.  Predominately a trade-only event, Salone del Mobile is attended by Italian and international architects; product and interior designers; manufacturers and suppliers; students and the media – all questing for a greater knowledge of the trends in design.

Biennially there are satellite specialty exhibitions – even-numbered years it is EuroCucina, kitchen and bathrooms; and odd-numbered years it is Euroluce focused on light technology.  This year was EuroCucina with six of the 20 pavilions devoted to kitchen and bathroom exhibitors and one pavilion solely focused on new technologies; and kitchen-related appliances and fixtures.  Viewing EuroCucina in its entirety takes two to three days circumnavigating the pavilions – arriving daily as the gates open at 9:30am and leaving at 6:00pm; not accounting for missed turns and retraced steps despite the explicitly informative guide books provided.

Salone del Mobile purposely showcases innovative and cutting-edge design.  That said, not all products exhibited come to fruition as manufacturers use the exhibition as a test market:  the more popular a product, the more likely it is realised.

As humongous as Salone del Mobile is in its geographical footprint and its number of exhibitors, it is the tip of the proverbial design iceberg. For every Salone del Mobile showroom there are two showrooms located in the city that participate under the umbrella of Milan Design Week.  As if 20 pavilions were not enough – top-tier brands fit out palatial inner-city villas to showcase their products in a compelling residential setting to host gala-events, cocktail parties and product launches.  For many a novice visitor to Salon del Mobile and Milan Design Week, the private showrooms are serendipitously discovered to the delight and dismay of the visitor toward the week’s end.

If trending designs tickles your interest, please tune into our next story covering emerging trends gleaned from Salone del Mobile and its world-class brands, manufacturers and top-notch designers.

Selling Houses Australia – 180 degree views

The LifeStyle Channel’s Selling Houses Australia Episode 12 aired last night!

The Story: Saying goodbye to your home of 50 years is always going to be tough. But when it has 180 degree views of Sydney harbour and the water is at the bottom of the garden, its downright gut wrenching. But Sally Cahill-McQuinn has little choice; she can’t afford the upkeep on the old weatherboard and needs the cash to fund her retirement.

The Problem: Sally is hoping to sell the home for 4.5 million, but views or no views this house is run down and needs a more high end feel if it’s going to meet Sally’s price expectations.

The Solution: Luxaflex Pirouette Shadings in Satin fabric in colour Magnolia gave the home the high end feeling it needed. Pirouette Shadings have soft horizontal veins that give a contemporary and sophisticated look that allows you to enjoy the view, whilst not compromising on privacy. The team decided to use the Ultraglide operation system as it provides effortless operation with a retractable cord for enhanced child safety.

Luxaflex Roller Blinds in Sunseeker translucent fabric in colour Ice were installed in the living room, dining room and kitchen area to reduce the glare but not block out the magnificent water views.

Living Room, Dining Room & Kitchen - After

All Luxaflex Window Coverings were supplied and installed by Luxaflex Window Fashions Gallery, Master Quality Shades in Mosman, New South Wales.


Selling Houses Australia airs every Wednesday, 8:30pm on The LifeStyle Channel, only on Foxtel.

Selling Houses Australia – Half built home

The LifeStyle Channel’s Selling Houses Australia Episode 10 aired last night, see how the team transformed the half built home in Grays Point!

The Story: Building your own home is quite a challenge… and finishing it is another! Gerry and Ruth built their home on the river at Grays Point in Sydney. It was a labor of love, and after spending 12 months living in a caravan, they moved in when the project was incomplete. That was 27 years ago and the house still isn’t finished! There’s no proper bathroom, no stairs to the front door, no balustrade on the balcony and the list goes on. Gerry has a passion for flying and it’s his dream to sell the house, move to the country and have his own airstrip.

The Problem: No one wants to pay 1.4 million for their waterfront wreck, which to top it all off, they’ve been trying to sell themselves without an agent!

The Solution: Luxaflex Silhouette Shadings were used as they worked well with the modern styling of the home. Daylight efficiency is maximised by Silhouette Shadings by diffusing and dispersing sunlight throughout the dark bedrooms in the home. Luxaflex Roller Blinds with EDGE technology were installed in the bathrooms as Luxaflex fabrics are treated with DURAGUARD® Fabric Protector, which effectively resists water stains from moisture and condensation on windows.

All Luxaflex Window Coverings were supplied and installed by Luxaflex Window Fashions Gallery, A’besco in Caringbah, New South Wales.

Selling Houses Australia airs every Wednesday, 8:30pm on The LifeStyle Channel, only on Foxtel.

Luxaflex chats with Lynn Malone

Luxaflex is proud to work with Australia’s top trend setters in the interior design world. Recently we sat down with renowned stylist Lynn Malone, who was happy to share with us her story and inspirations.

How did your career start?
After university, I worked as a junior interior designer for a one-year apprenticeship then founded a US-based interior design firm: Coordinated Interiors.  Other than the one-year experience as an employee, over my career I have the good fortune of being self-employed and hiring talented design practitioners to work with me.

What are your career highlights?
Over the last 30 years, I have practiced interior design taking an eight-year hiatus to work with the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and 2000 Sydney Olympics in a sports marketing and corporate hospitality role which was the impetus for my relocation from the US to Australia.  Residential design has always captivated me; I am continually on the lookout for products that enrich everyday home life.  I look to best-practice companies such as Luxaflex that invest in product research and strive toward creating products that bring value home.

What do you consider as key elements in the home? 
A key design element often overlooked or under considered is lighting – either ambient, task lighting or natural lighting.  Light sources within an interior space are optimal when regulated and glare-free.  Window treatments play a significant role in lighting regulation solutions and contribute an aesthetical value as a bonus. 

What are you working on now?
Projects underway are several Sydney high-rise apartment-remodelling projects for respective private clients.  Coincidently each apartment was last remodelled over 15-years ago and due for a complete makeover; and all have key features such as high ceilings; an abundance of natural lighting; and visionary clients seeking quality, innovation and incorporating modern conveniences through technology.

This is the first of a three-part interview series with Lynn Malone. Check out this blog again next month for the second installation which will feature Lynn’s to tips for re-decorating.

New Roller Blind Design Gives Luxaflex the EDGE

Ergonomically Designed with Greater Efficiency is the secret to the new range of LUXAFLEX^® Roller Blinds with patented EDGE technology – offering unrivalled strength combined with a sleek design.

Designed in Europe, the roller blinds effectively cover large expanses of windows, without compromising on modern aesthetics. Their new hardware system is suitable for small, large, corner or bay windows, with a range of operating systems including chain, crank or motorised solutions.

Choose from over 200 fabrics to suit all your home interiors.

Luxaflex Window Fashions Galleries

LUXAFLEX® Window Fashions Galleries are designed to make you feel at home, with specialist consultants trained in all aspects of design and energy efficiency, ensuring all your questions can be answered by window fashions experts.

The state of the art galleries offer full size product displays and motorised window coverings to showcase the extensive range of products, making it easier for homeowners to visualise how the product will look in their home.

To find your local LUXAFLEX® Window Fashions Gallery, visit www.luxaflex.com.au