Love Shack Magazine issue 02 | Page 19

Nothing compares to the appeal of using natural textures and colours when creating beautiful, relaxing interiors. Whether cheering up a room with a bunch of cut flowers, or creating a sense of comfort and warmth by using organic textiles, we love the idea of harnessing the beauty of nature to create calm, peaceful and welcoming spaces. Choosing the right materials to work with our client's personal sense of style is the first step we take in making sure they feel connected with their environment, while bringing a bit of that outdoors feeling inside. We consult with our client's from the outset to find out their ideal aesthetic – where one person might enjoy the rugged, untamed look of natural rock and recycled timber, another may prefer the more sophisticated, classic feel of mahogany flooring and marble surfaces. It's important that the aesthetic we choose really resonates with each individual client, that way we can deliver new spaces that are in harmony with their lifestyle and make them feel relaxed and at peace in their home. You might be thinking that the upkeep of tending to indoor plants (and keeping them alive) sounds like a real chore... but by opting for low maintenance plants, you can easily introduce some life and greenery into your home without any of the fuss. Succulent varieties are an easy-to-care-for way of bringing some natural appeal to your dining table or home office, and they won't need a lot of watering! Wood finishes are another way we help to introduce some organic feeling into a space. One of the warmest and most versatile natural materials, there are so many ways we use timber and it comes in a variety of species too. From furniture and flooring, to amazing structural features like ceiling beams, wood is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also environmentally sensible and surprisingly durable. Don't think you have to be a green thumb or get your hands dirty to make this work! Sometimes we get even more creative with our clients and use prints of wild landscapes or patterns to add that unique natural feeling to space. Whether we look to organic sheets and bedding in your bedroom adorned with birds or a leafy wall treatment, a bit of nature can comfortably find its way into any space of your life. Ultimately we design our spaces around what makes our clients feel emotionally charged and excited, so it's always refreshing for us to see their positive reaction to a bit of greenery and natural influence around the home. Bec Douros and Lauren Silvaria from Empire Of Style. Bec graduated from the International Institute of Home Staging and is the editor in chief of popular lifestyle blog Bec Marks The Spot. Lauren is a graduate of the Interior Design Institute and owner of the interior and lifestyle boutique My Little Empire. You can find out more about this team's natural flair for interior design on their website – www.empireofstyle.com.au