In this series, we will be sharing moodboards our team has created so you can take a peek at what we are all working on and keep up with the latest trends.
This week’s moodboard was created by Nina Champion, Interior Design Consultant for McKenzie & Willis Queenstown. Inspired by one of their latest showroom schemes, it is eclectic in style, full of texture and daring with its colour choices.
Tell us a little about this moodboard?
As the seasons change, we regularly update our showroom schemes to reflect the latest looks in interior design as well as showcase all our beautiful new products. This moodboard is based on one of our most recent designs. The idea behind it was to use a mixture of bohemian, urban modern and eclectic styles to create an inviting, warm and cosy feel for winter. We played with a lot of texture, pattern and colour to achieve this. We hope it inspires our clients and helps them feel confident to go beyond their comfort zones in their own homes too.
What are the key elements or features you are using to achieve this style?
I really like the bohemian & eclectic styles, there are just so vibrant and inviting! I started the mood board with a bright green velvet sofa that ties in with these looks and sets the tone as the main feature.
As winter is fast approaching, I wanted to create a welcoming and intimate space so I really focused on this when exploring flooring options. The timber is perfect for this space as it incorporates warmth with the dark tones and complements the green velvet. The space is intended on being comfortable so I also selected a rug to soften the hard flooring. The cream rug with subtle pattern and shale colour continues the eclectic style and contrasts nicely with the dark timber.
I then wanted to add more colour to the space by incorporating it on to the walls. I found a navy blue called Aquarium from Resene and paired this with the warm neutral Double Merino. Blue is known as a calming colour and can look great in a space when used well. For this particular space I needed to choose a blue with a warm undertone and one that was subtle enough not to overwhelm the room.
The lighting was another key element in this space. I wanted to find a light that offered a moody, intimate setting yet didn’t get lost in the space amongst the dark colours and was a feature in its own right. The light colour of this pendant would lift the space in the day time, yet give a muted light in the evening, creating a beautiful shape reflected on the ceiling and walls.
Once I had these larger elements I looked for other items which would complement these and add to the style.
Where do you find inspiration for showroom schemes?
I often spend my down time scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest. I follow many interior design & architecture pages that show projects, beautiful homes and furniture pieces. Websites and apps such as these get my creativity flowing and if there’s a certain style I come across and love, I will try to incorporate it into a design.
In Queenstown we have a beautiful alpine landscape that we love to work with, and this is shown in our cushions, wallpapers, sofa fabrics, and so much more. The extremes of the Central Otago climate is also something our clients contend with so we are always mindful of this when putting together a look.
We love the use of colour in this mood board. What advice do you have for people wanting to incorporate more colour into their interiors?
It is important to add colour into our homes – especially going into the winter months. Colour can be a tricky element to work with, there’s no right or wrong answer but it’s good to do some research on which colours complement and work best together.
You don’t have to start with outgoing bold colours. Start by easing your way into it, find colours that you come across in your everyday life that you enjoy and want to use as inspiration. For example in my own personal space, dried flowers in my room were the starting point of my bedroom décor. My bed linen, wallpaper and art work all now incorporate similar colours to them.
Once you start experimenting with colour you will see what works well together and what doesn’t. Gathering fabrics and paint samples and playing around in the space with these are a great idea before you start making decisions – make sure they are all cohesive and talk to each other.
What item do you recommend starting with when designing an interior?
If it is a new build start with the flooring, wall colour and window furnishings. I would also recommend starting with an item you love and basing your scheme off that. Even if it is a small piece of art that has been passed down in your family, or the fabric on your favourite cushion that you found at a second hand store, think about how can you incorporate this item into the space. The beautiful silk on your cushion could be the inspiration for the curtain fabric, a colour in the piece of art can be incorporated in the rug you choose. If there isn’t an item you have in mind then start with a piece of furniture that is going to be used the most in that space. The sofa is often a good starting point in a living room as you will get a feel of the overall style you are going for when you look at the sofa of your choice. Once you begin with this key piece, smaller items such as the cushions and the ornaments on the coffee table can help bring the whole story together.
How important is a mood board?
Mood boards definitely help visualise ideas we have in mind for a design scheme. Sometimes there are so many different colours, textures and materials that we come across and want to incorporate into the space, but they don’t all work together to achieve the overall look we want. Having them set out in a mood board helps to make those connections with the different pieces and see what is missing, what is unnecessary, and what is throwing the balance off.
Along with a mood board I would also suggest having a bucket, tray, or box with all the materials you are using. It’s one thing seeing a mood board on a computer screen or on a piece of paper, but being able to touch and experience the colours and materials in real life brings a whole other understanding to the design process.