Alright. It’s 2022, and I’m dubbing it the Year of Colour. We’ve experienced far too much unrest, sadness, and all ‘round merde (it’s more appropriate to say in French) over the last couple of years, and it’s time to brighten our spirits through colour and self-expression.

While I implore you to take this colourful mantra and apply it to anything you deem important this year, I’m mostly here to encourage you to inject colour into your interiors. After all, I’m sure I can speak for most of you when I say we’ve spent enough time inside our homes to know the importance of creating a tranquil haven for our wellbeing (and sanity).

Those who know me will agree that I’m a colour-fiend, and always find ways to infuse every part of my life with vibrancy and excitement. So, when Pantone announced its 2022 colour of the year, I squealed and immediately started thinking about how I could incorporate it into my own interiors.

Flatlay featuring Very Peri tones and complementary colours **Image:** GT&B

This year’s colour is Very Peri. Just like its name suggests, it’s the most gloriously rich shade of periwinkle. Part of the blue family, Very Peri features a red-violet undertone and brings with it a dynamic presence.

Although purple tones can be quite polarising, you’ll be pleased to know this colour is compatible with many palettes. For this reason, I think incorporating Very Peri in your home is easy.

pantone-colour-of-the-year-2022-very-peri — Pantone’s 2022 Colour of the Year is Very Peri

Experiment with Very Peri through these four colour palettes

I’m not suggesting you should adorn your entire bathroom in purple tiles (but if you do, please send me photos!). Rather, start small. Think soft furnishings, pillows, vases, or candles. These items are quickly interchangeable and will serve as an accent colour source for as long as you wish.

Larger pieces like your joinery or furniture can remain in complementary colours such as Dried Moss and Granite Green (as seen in the ‘Balancing Act’ palette), or even Anthracite and Volcanic Glass (‘The Star of the Show’) if you’re unsure about committing to a full colour-explosion.

More than anything, Very Peri’s inherent playfulness emboldens uninhibited expression and experimentation. In other words, have fun with it! Paint the walls purple, create a statement with a green vanity, and tile your floors in terracotta. Heck, if you want a Very Peri coloured bath, we can make it happen!

If Very Peri has taught me anything already, it’s that we should lean into and embrace a life full of colour at every opportunity. Dream, experiment, and commit to it, because you might just love the outcome more than you first thought.

Words: Alana Perin
Published: GT Magazine 15 January 2022

I’ve spent a lot of time this week dreaming about the first place I’d like to visit post-pandemic. Through all my musings and mindless #wanderlust TikTok scrolling, I settled on Europe.

Right now, I’d be happy to start and finish the day with a cone of gelato, devouring bowls of cacio e pepe at every opportunity, and aimlessly roaming cobblestoned streets. Okay, so I’m obviously talking about Italy. Lockdown has clearly gnawed at my brain for some time, but I promise there is a point to this imaginary anecdote.

Rome Streetscape Image: Fineas Anton — Rome Streetscape **Image:** Fineas Anton

The one thing that truly stopped me in my tracks as I was thinking about my dreamy Italian getaway was the cobblestones. “What I would give to roll my ankle on the cobbled streets of Rome right now,” I pondered (note: laughed).

This thought then led me through an extensive exploration of the abundance of natural stone in European streetscapes and architecture. But more than anything, it left me thinking, “why are we so scared to use natural stone in our homes here in Australia?”

Now, I’m not saying this statement speaks for everyone. But from my own experiences speaking with hundreds of you in our showroom over the years, I often found resistance whenever I presented natural stone as an option.

Cobblestone pavement in Riom-ès-Montagnes, France Image: Unsplash — Cobblestone pavement in Riom-ès-Montagnes, France **Image:** Unsplash

For the most part, the instant reaction related to maintenance; and I totally understand why. Some people want to lead a maintenance-free life wherever possible. But the reality is, natural stone needs no more upkeep than a regular porcelain tile. Maybe just a little extra TLC here and there. You’ve just got to clean spills instantly to prevent staining, seal them every few years, and make sure everyone in your household follows suit. Simple!

I’ve always found this sentiment interesting. Because, when it comes to exterior applications, bluestone, travertine, and limestone are always front runners. You could argue these stones are exposed to much more than sticky toothpaste and pasta sauce sitting outside in the elements; but they are always selected for their durability. And there it is – the key word. Durability. Cobblestones were installed to withstand heavy traffic year-round and Melbourne CBD is covered in bluestone pavers for this same reason.

These stones are nature’s gift, and I’d love to see the conversations around natural stone shift from boring maintenance concerns to a deeper focus on its durability and inherent sustainability. We’ve just got to think like the Europeans and bring a little more romance around the notion of natural stone. Who’s with me?

Words: Alana Perin
Published: GT Magazine 18 September 2021