Mediterranean styling has long been a pillar of Australian interiors, but change is in the air. “This is a fresh new take on classic Mediterranean style – it’s also the new coastal look,” says interiors stylist Fiona Gould. Combining European influences seen throughout France, Spain, Italy and Greece, The New Med represents the evolution of a design mainstay. And it continues to be one of the biggest interior trends taking over our homes.
Flowing out from the living room via woven rattan dining chairs are white-washed floorboards. A yellow-and-white awning creates the ultimate in Mediterranean vibes. (Photographer: Brigid Arnott / Stylist: Lisa Hilton)
“The Mediterranean look is moving away from the modern white-on-white bohemian look to a much more eclectic, playful-meets-elegant and sophisticated style,” says Fiona. Hallmarks include mismatched vintage furniture, stripes, Murano glass, tumbled tiles and brass and wrought iron – yet still with a nod to that beloved blue-and-white colour palette. “We’re bringing a slice of Europe to our homes in a new, very creative and quirky way,” she adds. Read on to see how you can welcome the new Mediterranean style into your space, your way.
1. Make a statement
The old-meets-new direction makes a reappearance in this trend, as we’re led to invest in statement pieces that have wow factor against a minimalist colour palette. Place a one-of-a-kind, wrought-iron antique chair in front of a stark white wall, hang a mirror with an ornate brass frame in a simply styled, neutral living area, or lay an extravagant candelabra atop a table dressed in fuss-free stripes.
“Unique pieces take the lead against a neutral colour palette in The New Med. Lend a stately touch to your bed with a canopy and valance, while classic stripes nod to the laidback luxury of a European summer idyll.”
Elle Lovelock, Home Beautiful editor-in-chief
2. Draw the line
Stripes spell summer, especially a European summer, so channel a little New-Med glamour and inject stylish stripes into your scheme. Soft furnishings, bedlinen and napery are tried-and-true teammates for stripes, but don’t be afraid to embrace them on a larger scale. Striped wallpaper will turn heads in a bathroom, or add an old-world artwork and an elaborate, antique stool to upscale your utilitarian space with a lovely interpretation of the trend.
“Don’t be afraid to go for bold contrast in colours and textures. Mix crisp white with aged character pieces and add pops of vibrant colour in yellow, red or blue.”
Fiona Gould, Interiors stylist
Sophisticated stripes and a burst of sunny yellow tell a story of a stroll along the French Riviera
3. Delight in the details
The New Med incorporates an air of formality, too, in its penchant for more structured decorating features such as cornice boards, pleats and ruffles. Channel the opulence of a Venetian villa with a canopied bed and jewel-toned Murano glass on your bedside table. Hang or lean an opulent antique mirror as a unique work of art, while check-pattern tiles and aged rattan and wicker accents lend a stately sense of times gone by to your contemporary spaces.
(Photography: Sue Stubbs | Styling: Samantha Torrisi)
4. Celebrate contrast
Here’s your free pass to unleash your inner rebel on your interiors, with mismatched vintage furniture and sparks of colour and contrast. In the living area, “vintage rattan armchairs offer a sculptural pop against a new, crisp white linen sofa”, says Fiona. “Or try a vintage Murano glass vase on a modern, curved side table – both are striking statement pieces but when combining old and new, it feels balanced.” Glam up your office by displaying minimalist artworks and vases atop pieces with antique soul, such as a Spanish monastery table. “It’s all about a bold contrast,” sums up Fiona.
