Natalia Miyar explores design directions for 2018

Bold Colour Combinations

“An expressive attitude to colour will transfer to our homes as people become bolder in their choices”

Natalia champions the use of strong bold colours – specifically unexpected, contrasting colour combinations and calls for a confidence in unconventional colour pairing. We are already seeing this in fashion; fuchsia and scarlet, apple green and burgundy, sky blue and mustard.

A favourite colour combination is blue and green, despite the popular myth that the colours should not be seen together. Influenced by her natural surroundings, Natalia believes that combinations that exist in nature can translate seamlessly to interiors. She loves the colours of sea, sky and land, and is drawn to organic palettes that celebrate the electric shades of Miami’s blue skies and the sublime turquoise ocean alongside the verdant green hues of palms.

Natalia was inspired to create a Florida Room to celebrate these colour sequences paired with vintage pieces reminiscent of Miami’s laid back glamour. The result was a tropical family room full of sunny, vibrant blue and green.

Organic shapes in upholstery

“People are craving cocooning comfort and playfulness in design – voluptuous lines and retro feel of a curvy sofa fulfil both aspects”

Organic shapes in furniture, and in particular the curved sofa is a key design direction for the year ahead. Natalia recently created a new interpretation of a sofa she saw in a Hockney painting in the Tate Britain exhibition for a project in a London apartment. By updating the design to be more comfortable in its proportions and upholstering it in a smoky blue velvet which contrasts with the feminine lines of the sofa Natalia created a slick and contemporary take, giving it a modern feel for today’s interiors.

On a practical note, curvy sofas work well in a variety of rooms. They help to define an area and work well in open-plan spaces as the back of the sofa is a design feature in itself. In the image above, the sofa provides the anchor and focal point in the space, with the rest of the room designed around it.

Contemporary Craft

“Living alongside beautiful, handmade, tactile objects makes home a happier place”

Natalia is excited by the synthesis between contemporary design with traditional detailing and calls for a return to the expression of integrity of craftsmanship and specialist artisanal techniques. Natalia finds that craft allows for unparalleled flexibility in the use of colour and pattern to make one-of-a-kind creations that have character, warmth and depth to create a vibrant narrative in a her projects.

In the Textured apartment chose a combination of 19th- century accessories combined with contemporary craft by young British makers working in glass, ceramics, concrete, metal and wood. Using timbers, beautiful glass pieces, vintage craft items alongside new luxury pieces can add depth and interest to a room.

Brass and metallics

“Influenced by the 1960s and 1970s when metals, and brass in particular, were used frequently metals are now having a revival in all design disciplines”

Natalia sees that brass is having a moment, in architecture, interior decoration and fashion. Brass has a transitional yet timeless quality. Its softness requires being worked delicately by hand and it improves with age, developing a patina as you use it. Brass can really add an understated glamorous tone to any room, it emits a warm glow when used as a lamp base and within book shelves it has a contemporary feel.

To discover more about Natalia Miyar, this sought-after interior/architectural designer shared her sources for inspiration, from shops to fabrics.

For more design inspiration, click here.