Things often happen by accident rather than by design. Having said that, often intended design does look like the casualty it was meant to avert!
Helping customers translate their fantasies into design reality is always a challenge and one that is most exciting to a designer. But as a designer, one unabashedly refrains from going the whole hog with the unusual requests, only after debunking some whims and homing in on universal truths. The perfect meld of fantasies with the natural order of life must be maintained at all times.
“I’m a designer, and I think if you work in fashion, you have to give people fantasy,” said the famed Christian Louboutin. Quirk is decidedly fun, if handled with elan. It needn’t have to conjure up images of over-the-top goth or an unsavoury visual from Fifty Shades of Grey! If that is your intent, then so be it. But, quirk managed well can be just as inviting and pleasing.
Throwback to the times when we grew up draping on sheets around the furniture and making ourselves a cozy, warm teepee while pretending to play mom and pop. There was something reassuring about the hurriedly assembled wigwam, that felt toasty and intriguing, even mysterious to welcome our puerile capers. While there may be rule books that iterate the importance of order in spaces, nowhere does it say that spaces can’t be snug and safe with layered floor rugs, throws and cushions and perhaps a gorgeous canopy around your favourite armchair in your bedchamber, to provide the cosiest of nooks.
As requests go, they do take on a life of their own with the extraordinary overtures. Delightfully, life in monochrome is an oft-requested theme. My personal take, monochrome never ceases to please. Scandi Chic in warm pines and monochromatic tones will stage the rage forever. The classic white and black combo is here to stay. Quirk it up with throws, pillows, rugs and the shimmer of brass or copper for the pop.
As with many things, turning things about does give one a new perspective. Most times in life and love! Flip it on its head when it comes to your private spaces too. Flowing fabric on the walls or ceiling and perhaps silk shades for custom-made lamps are great ways to quirk it up while keeping the place stylish. To add to that mystique, thread on silken linen strips in lieu of tacky bead curtains and boho the heck out of the place, albeit snazzily.
For more chic and cheeky, bring back the traditional Oonjal, with a twist. The indoor swing from yesteryear’s in rose and teak wood with brass chains, adds comfort and elegance to any space. Quirk it up with unique beaded links instead of the usual metal chain and soften edges with basic upholstery perhaps with a coat of paint to make it a cozy spot to curl up in.
Canoe on the ceiling with pendant lights suspended from it for extra oomph and swag. Cluster it up or align along the bow with trimmings along the edges with fairy lights to quirk up the room. Not many expect to see a boat on the roofing, so that stands to exact some oohs for certain.
Go Andy Warhol on tiles! Or substitute with handmade floral or a line-drawing collection of Athangudi tiles. Restored period furniture, with a coat of varnish or paint with Athangudi tiles nestled in the gaps; or place an old pillar wedged with colourful tiled sections, in an opened up doorway to create a partition with a quirky difference.
Walls lends themselves as canvases to etch along memories. Find fantasy in quirky themes for wall frames… if its geisha prints then go cherry blossoms and pencils sketches in funky backgrounds and frame them over the stretch.
Animal motifs are a horror. Personally, they ought to be restricted to clothing only, and with much discretion. But go primitive if you will, with caution, with perhaps quirky frames around motley feral prints. Or splash onto the headboard or the droplights to quirk up the space without it looking like you just returned with your kill from the savannah! Avoid making your home look like a souvenir store! Or a pet store for that matter!! So do it with finesse and don't hesitate to run it by someone that may give you an honest opinion.
My all-time favourite in wall finishes remains the quintessentially elegant, untreated, exposed brick and concrete walls. They are uber quirky. With oodles to play with viz., paints, texturing, highlights and lighting to give them pizzazz. Graduating finishes and colours and textures to keeps it basic and artistic.
Another successful breakaway is with the likes of a buttoned down French-style footstool and a chic brass and glass coffee table or a classic chesterfield with a stylish bookshelf. They lend a genteel touch to the surroundings. Never going out of style.
We have barely made a dent in the scope of quirk in design. Stay tuned for more as we roll out the design rug over many more brews… help is here before you commit headlong to misadventure with your space. Cheers!
The writer is an interior designer and director at Sugar My Space, Studio SMS.
