The India Design ID is one of the best places to get up to speed with the latest trends. This year, installation artists like Vibhor Sogani and rising star Advaeita Mathur of Studio Metallurgy hinted at mixing metal with wood, while mainstream brands and design studios focused on creating unique spaces that reflect the owner’s personality. From silk on the walls to Tarun Tahiliani’s designs under your feet, here’s what you shouldn’t miss out on.
Print perfect
The stalls at India Design were a lesson in pairing prints and patterns. From animal prints and botanical drawings to Persian art, the most unimaginable combinations were purposely mismatched. Interior designer Adil Ahmad’s overwhelming set-up blended chinoiserie, art deco motifs and Jazz Age influences seamlessly. Chairs in different floral prints and Peter D’Ascoli’s chintz silk wall panels featured in Apartment 9’s dinner room. Décor boutique, Intersekt, played with the same rules, but for a more muted effect with textured walls and printed wallpaper. However, rugs from OBEETEE and Tarun Tahiliani’s collaborative collection, Proud to be Indian, will be the most fail-safe way to introduce this trend to your home. Rugs from ₹5,00,000 onwards. Details: obeetee.com
Have you hygged yet?
Comfort is a big trend this year, especially since the Danish term ‘hygge’ took over our news feeds. Roughly translated, it means ‘a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality’ and, at ID, it was represented by soothing pastel shades, velvety soft surfaces, mood lighting and couches with cushions and throws. Contemporary decor brand, Iqrup + Ritz, showcased a stylised version with butter-yellow couches and chalky walls. For the bedroom, Swedish mattress brand, Hastens, and Baby Select set the right tone, with plush duvets and pastel hues. And Asian Paints announced Intense Ocean (a saturated blue-green) as their colour of the year, citing its ability to incite a calm, mindful state. Hastens mattresses from ₹9,70,000 onwards; Baby Select accessories from ₹18,000 onwards. Details: hastens.com, babyselect.in
Keep it simple
Even a minimalist craves luxury, and the geometric designs on show were basic but indulgent. Everything from furniture, flooring and light fixtures highlighted the beauty of clean lines and basic shapes. Bharat Floorings’ DashDashDot tile collection added visual interest without being over-the-top. And their concrete furniture collection — with South African textile retailer, FabricHaus — was a subtle take on the pattern trend. Ashiesh Shah also explored pyramid-like marble washbasins and patterned rugs. Among the smaller accessories, Scarlet Splendour presented Italian product designer, Matteo Cibic’s round tables, while interior design duo Sahil & Sarthak debuted their handcrafted Flair pendant lamps (₹6,900 onwards), and The Purple Turtles introduced their Wabi Sabi collection of decorative cement lamps. ₹1,850 to ₹20,000. Details: thepurpleturtles.com, sahilsarthak.com
Back to basics
Nylon, polyester and laminate were ditched in favour of woven fabrics, consciously-sourced wood and indigenous narratives. The ‘handmade’ tag now equals luxury, and this was quite evident in the ethical lines of many design houses. Home furnishing brand, Sarita Handa’s first collection of handloom linens (₹12,000 onwards) was the star in this category. Their cushions and quilts also featured appliqué work, embroidery, patchwork and zardozi. London-based lifestyle brand, Tiipoi, took the craft route with hand-woven pastel cushions (₹2,800 onwards). InLiving presented their extensive range of consciously-engineered wooden furniture (₹6,500 onwards), some accented with bright cotton cords. For more bespoke furniture, The Earth Home’s ‘Collector’s Edition’ ticked all the boxes with pieces created with hand-picked teak and white oak, each polished with natural oils and beeswax. Details: saritahanda.com, inliving.com, facebook.com/theearthhome
