Bring Spring Inside With Our Best Floral-Inspired Interiors

Roundup

Florals for spring? We know. GROUNDBREAKING. But you’ve got to admit, the joy of seeing all the sprouting and blooming at the beginning of September encourages a certain skip in one’s step! And as cheesy as it is, flowers really seem to make everything feel better – even if they’re just on the wallpaper!

To celebrate the change in the season, we’ve gone back through the archives to dig up our very best floral-inspired interiors.

28th September, 2018

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The SoHo, New York apartment of Australian photographer Marty Thompson and his partner, artist Dove Drury Hornbuckle. Photo – Eve Wilson. Styling – Lucy Feagins.

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The SoHo, New York apartment of Australian photographer Marty Thompson and his partner, artist Dove Drury Hornbuckle. Living area detail, featuring Martin Thompson Studio bespoke hand-screened ‘Melting’ wallpaper. Photo – Eve Wilson. Styling – Lucy Feagins.

The eclectic home of Melbourne artist and designer Paula Mills and family. Photo – Eve Wilson. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

The colourful family home of Karen Julian, her husband Bruce their two grown-up daughters, Holly and Megan. Vintage wallpaper found on eBay! Photo – Eve Wilson. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Halcyon House, designed by Anna Spiro, brings together a varied range of floral wallpapers and textiles, in a classic yet contemporary setting. Photo Photo – Kara Rosenlund.

The fairytale bedroom of designer/maker Amanda Coutts, near Byron Bay. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

The bedroom of designer/maker Amanda Coutts, near Byron Bay. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Sally Tabart

Friday 28th September 2018

Wallpaper

Florals in the home needn’t be ultra-soft and feminine, nor reminiscent of the ‘good room’ at your grandparent’s house. The walls in the home of photographer Martyn Thompson and his partner, artist Dove Drury Hornbuckle prove that in abstract forms and rich jewel tones, florals can take a room to moody, dramatic heights.

For a more loose, crafty vibe, take a cue from the home of Melbourne-based creative Paula Mills and her family, where layers of vintage floral prints and wallpaper lend a brilliantly eclectic, textured look.

If you’re not afraid of making a statement, choose unapologetic bold floral wallpaper – we love the brilliant vintage wallpapers in the Sydney home of Karen Julian and her family. There’s also endless inspiration to be found at Halcyon House, designed by Brisbane interior designer Anna Spiro, which brings together a diverse yet complementary range of floral wallpapers and textiles, creating interiors which are at once classic and contemporary.

The living room of designer/maker Amanda Coutts, near Byron Bay. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

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The Bondi family home of Vanessa and Christian Holle. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Living area details of Tamsin Carven’s South Gippsland home. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

The Sandringham home of Jana Kachel and her family. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files.

The guest bedroom in artist Greg Irvine’s South Melbourne home. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Inside the sunshine home of Rachel Castle and family! Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli

Textiles

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. There’s no easier way to update a room than with soft furnishings. Whether it’s new scatter cushions in the living room, or new linen on the bed, a fresh new print is guaranteed to enliven any room.

Anndddd there’s no better place to start for a punchy, floral hit in the bedroom than with Rachel Castle! In Rachel’s own Sydney Home (Our most popular home so far this whole YEAR!), her vibrant ‘Sweet Pea‘ quilt cover adds a bright and slightly retro colour pop to her daughter’s otherwise modern room. Avoid ‘Austin Powers’ vibes by keeping the rest of room relatively crisp and contemporary, if choosing a major focal point, like bedding, to showcase your floral obsession!

On the flip side – if you find yourself inheriting a space with old-school floral features (carpet, couch or curtains), embrace it! Did you see our story about the ‘New French’ style yesterday? So many awesome examples of layering of new and old! We love the nostalgic charm that soft, classic florals can bring to a space, like in the Byron Bay home of designer and maker Amanda Coutts.

The shared home of Sydney artists Laura Jones, Alex Standen and Mirra Whale. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

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Artist Greg Irvine’s South Melbourne home. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Inside the sunshine home of Rachel Castle and family! Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli

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Living room details in Dominique Brammah and her partner Ashley Ryan’s Bondi home. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Loungeroom details in Dominique Brammah and her partner Ashley Ryan’s Bondi home. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

ARTWORK

We’ve seen a huge rise in the popularity of floral still life paintings over the past few years. There are so many Australian painters experimenting with floral subject matter, but in our opinion this wave of floral inspiration all started with Laura Jones, and her early show entitled ‘The Conductor’s Project‘ – way back in 2013!

Laura‘s own home (shared with fellow artists Alex Standen and Mirra Whale) is, unsurprisingly, full of floral accents, including many of Laura’s exquisite works.

Other local artists worth checking out for botanical-inspired artwork include Elizabeth Barnett, Rachel Castle, Jen Tyers, Helen McCullagh, Ali Wood and so, many, more!