Established in the lively vicinity of Vredehoek in Cape Town, Design Quarters is the brainchild of specialist interior designer and consultant Michelle Trimborn. Born in Durban, Michelle Trimborn landed her first job as a project manager for international trade companies, training locally and internationally in project and commercial management. Yet this did not satisfy her nagging creative side, which led her to further her previous studies in textile and design and launched the Design Quarters brand in 2007.

The company is small and is intensely focused on a client’s every whim. Design Quarters also focuses on cost effective execution, no matter the amount thrown at a project. Whether residential, retail or commercial, Trimborn and her team see to it that spaces are designed with personality and a scope of creativity that works exceptionally within the client’s parameters.

Trimborn speaks about her love and philosophy behind interior design: “Clients seek interior designers, because they don’t know how to make the space better. Often they suffer from Scatter-Cushionitis, thinking that plenty of scatter cushions and ornaments turning into clutter will turn a space into something more homely, but it doesn’t.” Trimborn strives to create spaces that do not look like showrooms but inherit the feel and personality of her clients.

As an expert on home and commercial interior design, Trimborn has cast a savvy eye over the current trends and compiled a 2012 Colour and Trend Report, highlighting what colour and fabric trends she predicts are going to be prevalent this year.

In her search for the latest local trends, Trimborn spoke to some of the leading local experts, including James Russell, whose agency represents eleven fabric houses; Jonathan Barbour of What Not Fabrics and Marguerite MacDonald from Mavromac, distributors of leading international brands.

Key themes for 2012:

Serenity, Mish Mash, Sobriety & Utility.
Serenity focuses on relaxation, romance, nostalgia and reassurance. “The world is in a debt-ridden mess and society has become weary of the stress of risk. To counterbalance this stress, people will increasingly cocoon themselves at home, where they feel safe, free to express their personality, and where they can create their own, less stressful realities,” says Trimborn.

Mish Mash, a collection of miscellaneous items that gives living spaces an energetic, almost frenetic feel. “Think of combinations of high-tech and handmade items with a retro, as opposed to nostalgic, feel. This theme is slightly more masculine than the first but not necessarily male-dominated. The choice you make between the two will depend entirely on your personality.”

The two other themes that follow on from these main themes are Sobriety, which refers to buying with a conscience and focuses on austerity, quality, longevity and sustainability, and Utility, which focuses on practicality, simplicity, versatility and accessibility.

Key Colours:

Neutrals, “greige” and terracotta browns, as well as neon.
Neutrals will dominate – think black, grey, and “greige” (grey and beige), with terracotta browns. These colours will be used to create startling contrasts with brighter colours, strongly filtered by grey. “Look out for fuschia pinks, lime and apple greens, honest yellows, deep, threatening blues and turquoise, which I don’t think has reached its full potential yet.” Trimborn explains that there may also be a new interpretation of neon colours, contrasted with black or white matt colours.

A Proliferation of Patterns:

Florals, geometrics, checks, colour blocking and Mondrian.
According to Trimborn’s report we can expect the current floral trend to continue and it is expected to be big, bright and colourful. “Look for natural, French-style watercolours on linen and cotton, with a hand-painted look that is not necessarily crafty but very artistic.” There will also be a revisiting of geometrics, but with a focus on softening the edges, and “Checks will be expressed through unusual colour blocking. Think Mondrian,” says Trimborn.

Other patterns to look out for include embroidery, crewel and appliqué, prints from the 30s and 40s, comic and hand-drawn or sketched patterns, and stripes, which are likely to grow in popularity even more over the coming months.

The Fantastic Fabrics of the near Future:

Linens, natural fabrics, canvas.
According to Trimborn and the experts, linens are here to stay. The naturally muted colours fit in with the larger colour trends and its soft, natural feel satisfies the eco-conscious. Natural fibre blends will grow in strength as a trend – wool, cotton, cotton linens, and silks, often combined with synthetic fibres to help bring the price down. Also look out for quality ‘plastics’ (vinyls, patent leathers); traditional silver and gold metallics and generally highly-polished finishes; and in contrast velvets will be matt.

The report also points out that small editions of completely handcrafted items will be a big trend. “Limited edition sofas, ingeniously crafted felt, hand-printed, signature-design lengths of cloth and custom designed wallpapers will become major talking points.

“Based on the retrospective insight and informed outlook of the global players, we support these trend commentaries as indicative of what to expect in 2012. It’s all about providing some personalised retail therapy for our old friend – our home,” Trimborn says.

Michelle Trimborn

Check Fabric

Floral

Floral

Natural fibre fabric

Canvas

Mavromacs couch

My Magazine Stool

Retro black print pillow

For further advice from Michelle and the Design Quarters team, visit www.designquarters.co.za

For architect Robin McIntosh, principal of Intersect Architects based in Magoebaskloof, the challenge posed by the design of a home is to find a creative solution to the practical problem of housing a family. This should be done in such a way that the architecture reflects the character and social patterns of the family rather than a relentless pursuit of the latest fashions and styles in the home magazines.

Robin was tasked with the job of designing a Tuscan home for couple David and Ilse Pieterse in Tzaneen. He says originally, the couple wanted a Tuscan design home but he persuaded them to consider a more contemporary approach to the design of their first home together.

Describe the design concept of this home?

It was to focus on the concept of family living with the creation of a strong central core. This comprised an expansive open plan kitchen, dining, family room, outside patio, pool deck and formal lounge area, with very strong visual connections between all these aspects of the house. The split level entrance, open double volume, sweeping spiral staircase and the floating bridge between the two wings of the house form a dynamic hub which connects all aspects of the home, both physically and visually. The home took the shape of a W with a strong central hub offering a kaleidoscope of views from all the rooms looking in all directions. The channelling of the prevailing winds and the creation of a cool courtyard to the rear of the house created a natural evaporative cooling effect to the entire house to cool the more exposed areas of the house.

Explain the architectural style?

It was not my overriding concept to design a modern or contemporary home. It was rather a more basic response to the challenges and opportunities posed by the site and the brief given by the client.  Tzaneen, being unusually hot and humid in a tropical climate, required special attention to be given to heat and sun penetration into the house. This had to be balanced with the client’s brief to have huge expansive views over the dam and mountains with large areas of glazing. Addressing this balance became the primary concept to the design of this home.

What were some of the aims and challenges of this design style?

The aim was to sensitively balance the need for large open spaces with uninterrupted views with the challenge of restricting and controlling heat that results from large glazed surfaces. I found my solution in the principles of passive design. This requires a holistic approach to the design when considering the orientation of the site, position of windows, sun screening of windows and exposed patio area. It was important to control light and shade, ventilation as well as insulation. It was these aspects rather than an overriding objective to design a modern or contemporary design that guided the final design of this home.

Tell us a bit about some design features of this home?

This house is orientated away from the west with smaller and well protected, carefully selected windows to the views offered to the west. It features large expansive overhangs and simple shutter shade structure over large areas of glazing and exposed patios aimed at  reducing the effects of direct heat onto these surfaces. The roof is a simple design which facilitates the harvesting of rain water and the shape of the house makes optimum use of natural ventilation offered by the prevailing breezes. At the back of the house, the pond/water feature was designed to passively cool the house by creating an evaporative cooling effect throughout the house. It also creates a visual and sound connection to the lush shaded garden and the sound of water that comes out.

When you approach a new project, what triggers your vision – your emotional heart or the technical challenge?

Architects unlike graphic and fine arts, do not have the luxury of responding to raw emotional creativity without acknowledging the impact this would have on the functionality of the building. It was a revelation to me that by solving the technical challenges in a design, a creative manner very often reveals itself naturally. Without delving too deep into the balance and harmony that exists in nature, it is remarkable that solutions to technical aspects of the design often result in the very same balance and proportion used as the guidelines for good design.

As an architect, how do you blend contemporary materials used in construction with the natural?

The blending of contemporary and natural materials has become the ultimate challenge for me because it offers endless modern contemporary design opportunities. The use of recycled timber and steel offers a further dimension to modern eco design principles, with the use of texture and life that only age can provide.

Intersect is a well established firm with projects across Africa and a portfolio that  includes work in residential estates, commercial buildings and luxury game lodges. For information about Intersect email robin@intersectarchitects.co.za or visit www.intersectarchitects.co.za

Trinity

Full Trintiy

When a client walks through John Jacob Interiors, what can they expect and how would you describe your work?

My design range is very broad – think super and modern classics. However, the common thread in my work is glamorous whatever concept is employed. Projects differ with specific aesthetic languages informed by the buildings and the client’s desires. What I aspire to as a designer is a design language that transcends fashion and even decoration. A design language rooted in ancient values to express existing environments.

What is the most sought after architectural design many clients choose for their homes and why?

As an example, many clients in Europe tend to like old buildings with modern interiors while South African clients choose classic buildings and matching interiors and country style is also becoming popular. People want to express a nasty cliché, in the case of country living with Provençal inspiration. I think design should always be eclectic.

When you approach a new project what triggers your vision – your emotional heart or technical challenge?

It is a combination of the client’s personality and architecture of the building. This then allows me to draw inspiration from this environment to design what works for the client and the architecture of the building. My primary focus is to create a beautiful architectural space with proportioned doors and windows creating focal points for furniture arrangements. Most importantly the space should be exciting and move you without a stitch of furniture or decoration.

If somebody asked you today what you were, an artist or designer, what would you say?

I would say artist because I have to visualise the concept and idea, designer as I then translate that concept into reality, implementing that idea so it makes sense.

How should one go about a complete redecoration?

It is important to let the building speak otherwise you end up with something half-baked. People think they can call in a decorator tomask and upgrade the old without dealing with the fundamental essence of the building. This does not work. You have all been to show houses and seen how some old buildings have been modernised. Instinctively you can feel that something is not right because what has been done is going against the grain of the building and imposing a conflicting idea on it. Oscar Wilde once said that fashion is a form of ugliness so dreadful that we have to change it every six months. In design I am opposed to the concept of applying décor trends to the environment without addressing the underlying interior architectural form of the space, its integrity of the furniture arrangement, curtain treatment and how these are balanced in a room and the house.

Your interiors are described as having integrity and layers of meaning. Tell us what this means?

They are sympathetic to the architect of the building, subtly with reference to different time periods and worlds. I use furniture pieces from all over the world that create beautiful interiors. My interiors speak of style that transcends fashion and even interior decoration. It is about reinterpreting the old to make something new. The concept of everything and anything goes is filtered down to a kind of mass retail level of ordinariness – it is tiring and uninspiring. As a designer, it is essential that I have a clear and in-depth understanding of chosen style. My work results from a search for simplicity, restraint in what I do and a return to traditional values.

Which one of your works elevated you to another level?

It is not any one particular job but a combination of various projects. Each different in its architectural structure and so is the client. My work is the result of researched perspectives into the methodology of incredible designers working around the world. A designer needs to be open to learn it is the only way to grow.

You are famous for your attention to detail. How do you keep control over the minutia when you are involved in so much?

I work with a team of dedicated people and together we ensure work is carried out as it should.

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John Jacob Interiors is located on 233 Bree Street in Cape Town.

Visit www.johnjacobinteriors.com or call (021) 422 0105.

All design and manufacturing is done by Modellers of Antique Furniture, who have an interesting history of people and places headed by the Rech family, firmly embedded in the foothills of the Dolomite Mountains of Italy. South African born brothers Fino and Franco Rech chat to Denise Mhlanga about their love for beautiful, classical and timeless furniture and interior designs

Classic Revivals, how did the name come about and how does it relate to your designs?

Our factory, Modellers of Antique Furniture has been manufacturing classical furniture for over five decades so it was important for the name of our retail outlet to reflect a new light onto our product. To give it new life, take it out of its dust covered image associated with antiques and place it in a new context worthy of any setting be it a humble home or an über trendy contemporary house. We therefore feel that the name Classic Revivals speaks for itself.

What are the basic elements you use in your designs?

We feel the most important element in design is proportion, balance and function and we strive to keep our designs as authentic and true to the style in which they are conceived.

You have both inherited your family’s basic love of beautiful furniture and classic timeless interiors. Tell us how you work this love into your designs and how would you describe beautiful furniture?

From childhood we have been exposed to various styles of furniture with these various styles comes a myriad of details and finishes indicative to that period. It is with this knowledge and understanding of our product that we approach each challenge. The love and passion that has been imbedded into us from childhood becomes apparent in our attention to detail in design and execution and the finesse with which our pieces are painstakingly and authentically finished. A beautiful piece of furniture is one which is not only pleasing to the eye but fulfills its purpose.

How do you determine where furniture and décor will be purchased from?

Do you ever use antique stores/flea markets along with retail shops? It is of course important for a home to boast one or two real antique pieces and/or objects and art to give it that real lived-in atmosphere.

The environment and the home, how important an issue has this become in the interior design industry?

Is this a good thing and why? The environment is becoming increasingly important and so it should. In our industry we take great care to use solid woods wisely – in order not to waste the smallest off-cuts we ensure that our waste such as sawdust are used for compost, horse bedding and such. All the paper we use in the office gets recycled. All wood used in our factory is from sustainable resources.

To what extent does your European culture influence your designs to create a perfect balance of beauty and proudly South African?

Naturally we all have our roots in Europe and are constantly following European trends, but being South African we have our own unique identity.

What can we expect to see coming out of the interior design space this year?

Eclecticism is huge. Interiors are evolving – even the decorated space has a collected feel, people are being drawn to the mix of old and new. The revival of the classics with the increasing pace of life, today people are becoming aware of the loss of true craftsmen and craftsmanship and are beginning to appreciate this art more and more as it becomes more and more rare.

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For more information, visit Classic Revivals on 24 First Avenue West corner Seventh Avenue Parktown North or call (011) 327 1099 or check out www.classicrevivals.co.za