It’s that time of year again… spring has sprung upon us once more and the time for clearing out the old and putting away the woollies has come.
The time to get out that sun dress and pair of shorts dawns… and to bring in a few new splashes of colour to brighten your home for summer entertaining.
“As season approaches we look to the catwalks of New York and London for inspiration. Lifestyle trends almost always have their origins in fashion and they permeate the world of design throughout the year. So, let’s have a look at what’s ‘in-store’ for summer 2018–2019”, says Elize van der Berg, CEO of Beetroot Inc.
On Colour
There are two ways to go: strong, vibrant and bright or sweeter, lighter ice-cream pastels.
“The neutral classics remain grey, sand and off-white, and how you choose to embellish those is up to you”, continues van der Berg.
Pop your neutrals with splashes of bold red, mellow yellow, indigo blue or ultra violet. Alternatively, you could choose to tone it down and create a softer space with the likes of milky mint, rose, pink or lilac.
“We’re also still seeing the growing trend of ombre neutrals with metallic accents”, adds van den Berg.
On Fabrics
It’s all about texture this season – thick cottons, macrame and fringes. Van der Berg remarks, “At Beetroot Inc we’ve gone for something a bit different – wax print… a tactile no mess, no fuss fabric.”
On Furnishings
“We aren’t all fixated on trends. Some of us have our favourites while others stick to the classics, but if you are going trendy, you don’t have to go to massive expense to change it up a little this summer” says Beetroot Inc.’s Creative Director, Jeanne Badenhorst.
“Most of us lean toward the classic neutrals, in which case you can accessorise with brights or pastels by way of a few new wall frames, scatter cushions or a table cloth.”
“If you have decided to go bigger for summer entertaining, it’s a good idea to invest in a multi-purpose piece of furniture in a neutral colour that matches your home. For example, one of our utility trolleys that can be used in any room of the house for a number of different functions can be accentuated by your chosen colour pallete”, Badenhorst continues, “Going even larger – like a couch, tub chair or wingback – we can custom make a patchwork fabric using different shades of the same colour and different textures. More affordably, we can take a beloved piece of your furniture and customise it to match your new summer palette.”
On Local
International trend predictor WGSN Insights reports seeing “a growing consensus throughout society that is no longer sustainable, replacing it instead with the term responsibility, which accounts for the personal involvement needed to improve the world we live in.” They say that brands are looking to gain and retain great staff that fit their cultural values by creating an eco-system that fosters employee experience.
Van der Berg concludes, “We are a company that is heavily focussed on people– the individuality and dreams of our customers, as well as the well-being and experience of our employees. Our range of furniture and furnishings are inspired by South Africa, made by South Africans for South Africans, using locally-sourced reclaimed wood and eco-friendly materials as far as possible.”
Their ethos of sustainability and responsibility extends into the community as they employ and upskill locals, as well as supporting a variety of entrepreneurs from artists to housewives, small manufacturers and other job creation projects.
Visit your closest Beetroot Inc. store in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape to see what’s on offer or visit www.beetrootinc.co.za. You can also take a virtual tour of a Beetroot Inc. store!
