Three design fundis share their tips for breathing new life into your interiors, with minimum effort. Jason Sandows, finalist in SABC 3’s Win A Home and Steyn City’s Four D Interior Design Challenge is next.

How would you describe your design style?

I design with people in mind, so my approach is personal. A space should be an extension of the client’s personality and complement their lifestyle.

Your tips on refreshing a room for maximum impact with minimal effort?

Creating a new look for a room in your home doesn’t have to be expensive or labour-intensive. An easy way is to create a feature wall, which adds dimension and character to a room, and creates a focal point. Use interesting, patterned wallpaper, a photo-frame collage or a bold paint colour. Also, as cliché as it sounds, less is more. When conceptualising a room, don’t let every item of furniture be a statement piece. Choose one or two strong pieces and allow the rest of the room to complement them.

Tell us about this space.

I designed this room to be a meditative space in which to relax after a long day. The colour palette is neutral, and the daybed and swinging chair emphasise the laid-back atmosphere. I also designed a wooden art piece; this was intended to create a bit of drama but not detract from the relaxed atmosphere.

This article was originally featured in Pam Golding’s IMAGINE publication.

Click here if you missed tips from La Grange Interiors’ Sumari Krige and interior designer Kate Moffatt’s handy advice.

The post Top Tips #3: Give Your Home a New Look appeared first on Visi.

Three design fundis share their tips for breathing new life into your interiors, with minimum effort. Here are interior designer Kate Moffatt’s top tips.

How would you describe your design style?

My style is clean and simple, leaning towards the contemporary, but each project varies. I aim for clients to feel comfortable and relaxed in their spaces, so that it feels trends: Interiors like an authentic extension of their own personal style.

Your tips on refreshing a room for maximum impact with minimal effort?

I like to use a neutral palette so the space ages well, with pops of colour to create interest. I’m loving geometrics at the moment: they’re fun and bold, and bang on trend. Don’t be nervous to mix up geometric patterns; using a few colours can make a statement. Adding a rug is an easy way to change the look of a space to something more current without having to break the bank. My advice is to take out decor items on appro – most decor stores will let you do this. Try out different combinations at home to see how they work before you commit.

Tell us about this space.

This is a Higgovale home, built for the owners six years ago. They wanted a new take on the interiors – there was a lot of dark wood panelling, it had an almost log-cabin feel. It’s now fresh and contemporary. Part of the renovation included a new office over the garage. And who says offices have to be boring? I love the yellow of this rug and how the pattern adds another layer of interest to the light-filled, airy space.

This article was originally featured in Pam Golding’s IMAGINE publication.

Missed tips from La Grange Interiors’ Sumari Krige last week? Take a look. Next week, we’ve got advice from Jason Sandows, finalist in SABC 3’s Win A Home and Steyn City’s Four D Interior Design Challenge. Don’t miss it!

The post Top Tips #2: Give Your Home a New Look appeared first on Visi.

Three design fundis share their tips for breathing new life into your interiors, with minimum effort. Sumari Krige, owner of La Grange Interiors, is first up.

How would you describe your design style?

It straddles classic and contemporary, and promotes easy, elegant living.

Your tips on refreshing a room for maximum impact with minimal effort?

Before you do anything, declutter. This is very important – it must be the starting place. A fresh, new colour scheme and the layering of hard and soft materials can speak volumes when it comes to revitalising a space. Incorporate some new textiles in bold patterns, layered with heavy, woven textures in the form of rugs, throws and scatter cushions. Then restyle and accessorise using books and objets, art or plants. If you don’t have the budget to buy new decor pieces, I suggest swapping things around from other rooms in your house.

Tell us about this space.

In November 2012, a fire destroyed 76 homes in St Francis Bay, Eastern Cape. Our clients, the owners of one of these beautiful thatched homes, wasted no time in rebuilding. The brief called for crisp, fresh and contemporary interiors, with a ‘barefoot luxury’ feel, yet staying true to the traditional style of architecture and design that St Francis Bay is renowned for. In the living area, you can see the striking result of layering textiles and accessories of contrasting materials. It is now a home where three generations of family come together to create new memories.

Your advice on choosing new colour palettes?

Colour invokes different feelings and a harmonious colour palette is crucial. When a palette lacks harmony, it’s either really boring or hectically chaotic. Here, I used cool hues of grey, petrol bues and hints of warm wheat tones – the combination is uplifting, comforting and inviting all at the same time.

This article was originally featured in Pam Golding’s IMAGINE.

Next week, we will feature interior designer Kate Moffatt’s top tips on giving your home a new look. Don’t miss it!

The post Top Tips #1: Give Your Home a New Look appeared first on Visi.