When the Australian decorator and curator Simone Haag opened Livingetc’s September issue with an essay on what the word "style" means today, she talked about approaching interiors in the same way you would an outfit.
She said that sometimes an unexpected twist, like the up-flick of a shirt collar, is all you need to look more sophisticated, and that the same attention to detail could elevate a space.
So what are the "collar-flick" moments of this three-bedroom modern home that she decorated in Adelaide?
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"The living room was an exercise in working with existing pieces and figuring out how to reroute," says Simone of the sofa and chairs that had already been bought by the architects. Subtle "lifting moments" came from the gold flecks in the rug she added in. AM.PM's Oreus Coffee Table would be a great choice to help recreate this look.
"Well, there is a lot of heavy timber — floorboards and ceilings — so the collar flicks came from softening them with the rugs, the curtains, and using a different fabric for every single chair," says Simone. "And, of course, the graphic carpet that we covered the staircase with."
"You immediately walk into this entry vestibule and get amazing sight lines into the dining room," says Simone.
This wasn’t your usual designer project, as, in fact, Simone was hired to turn up the metaphorical collar of a home that had already been architecturally and structurally designed by local studio Architects Ink, with many of the bigger pieces of furniture already bought.
"The super-high gloss table makes the centre of the dining space the focus, bringing people together around it, despite the very theatrical art," says Simone. Soho Home's Aria Dining Chairs would work beautifully to achieve this style.
"I approached it in the same way anyone might who was trying to update their home without totally overhauling it — looking for ways to add to the existing curations, to layer textures and patterns, not just to work with what I inherited with it, but to bring out a more artistic flavor," Simone says.
"The library is only big enough for one person to sit in, so we made it really sumptuous to allow the owners to have some quality time by themselves," says Simone.
Being a historic terraced house, this meant decorating with earth-tones, forging a chocolatey, mustardy palette that played into its coziness.
"These older houses are never light and bright, and while so many people paint them white to try to enhance what light they do get, I find that’s the wrong approach," says Simone.
"In fact, the quality of light that does filter in from the park nearby is really lovely, and while we didn’t want to go gothic, we also didn’t want to try to make it feel too light indoors, instead creating subtle moments that lift each room."
"The stair runner was a beautiful addition, like having art on the floor," Simone says. "It felt in keeping with the clients’ already-modern approach to art."
She says that the rug with gold flecks in it that she found for the living room felt like "a stroke of genius, the way those metallic threads catch the afternoon sun".
"It was all about getting the light right," says Simone of the main bedroom. "It had been lit by a trad crystal chandelier, but the wall light has the most incredible glow." Tom Raffield's Arame Pendant would give a similar vibe.
And, of course, there is the art, such as the Phantom mirror by Fiam at Fanuli above the fireplace in the living room and the graphic artwork by Caroline Walls in the dining room, both of which were already installed when Simone came on board.
In the dressing room, "We added layering with carpet and wallpaper — the texture of the walls and the soft color make it a flattering space to do make-up in," says Simone.
"I had to bond with them, to find ways to make them work," she says. "But now I see them as tone setters — you walk into those spaces, and instantly your shoulders go a little straighter, they make you sit up and pay attention.
Then you can relax into the earthy tones I’ve added in." It all adds up to the proverbial collar flick to a perfectly cut classic shirt.
Shop the Look
This Oreus Coffee Table by AM.PM will help you play with height and contrast for ultimate layering in a space.
A curved, smartly upholstered dining chair feels like tailoring in a room — we love this option from Soho Home.
A shapely chandelier adds sinuous energy to this bedroom — and this Tom Raffield design has similar vibes.