Voltra Lighting is a partnership between lighting design and manufacturing experts. A dedicated design and engineering team developed a modular solution that incorporates a unique, removable, rechargeable engine that can quickly be switched between their lighting fixtures. The engine is the heart of all of the lights, as well as the power, it also controls light levels and modes. 

It’s easy to see why their slogan is “Designed for ambience, engineered for intelligence”.

They wanted to create the feeling of an intimate atmosphere partnered with a simple user experience – ensuring their lights are beautiful both in form and function.

Dedicated to quality, all of their lamps and charging solutions have been engineered and tested to the highest standards possible and are manufactured by experts in lighting.

I caught up with Kylie from Quattro Interiors to ask her why she loves Voltra Lighting products:

How did Quattro Interiors spot Voltra Lighting?

We first became aware of Voltra lighting back in 2019 through new product information that is always flooding into the office. As a lover of lighting and having spent so many years working in both residential and hospitality projects there has always been a need for this kind of product on the market.  A rechargeable and beautiful small table light was a game-changer.  It was so refreshing to see a product that was presented to us that was not just another tealight holder to hold a flashing LED tea light!

What drew you to their lights?

I think the main thing is it is such a practical, beautiful quality product.  This is something we really want to use on restaurant tables, at the cosy hotel lounge bar, or the outdoor dining area.  It makes a perfect replacement for tealights in luxury villas and chalets – and no fire danger! 

They are also perfect for the home, in those places you would like some ambient light, but have no power outlet. Or at the dining, inside or out for those special occasions.

My attention was recently recaptured by Voltra Lighting with the new range of Hemisphere lamps and lanterns – the porcelain shades by JL Coquet are stunning!

How does Voltra Lighting fit in with the Quattro Interiors aesthetic and ethos?

I think the three words I keep using above – beautiful, quality and practicality!  The things we look for in all of our partner brands and products.

I spoke with Voltra Lighting to find out a little more about the company:

Where did the inspiration come from to create Voltra Lighting?

Voltra’s products were meant to be affordable luxury, both for hospitality places and homes. To do so, Voltra brought together experts in design, engineering, production and hospitality to create technically advanced cordless lighting.

Where did the concept of recreating the intimacy of candlelight come from? 

The first TOTEM collection was designed by Arnold Chan, one of the UK’s most prominent lighting designers.  Arnold’s philosophy behind TOTEM is to create a lighting atmosphere, encapsulated in a beautifully designed fixture, providing the perfect balance between design and functionality – recreating the intimacy of candlelight. 

What is Voltra Lighting’s Vision?

Voltra’s vision is to create a sense of intimacy married with a seamless user experience. At the heart of each Voltra lamp is our unique cordless engine that offers different light modes and a candle-like flickering effect through a patented in-house technology. 

What makes Voltra Lighting different from anything else on the market?

All lamps are rated IP65, which make them suitable for outdoor use. 

At the heart of each Voltra lamp is an advanced cordless engine that provides power, three different dimming levels and a candle-like mode. 

Voltra products are elegant and intimate vessels of light – meant to be iconic yet unobtrusive, complementing spaces and never interrupting them. 

Your most recent collaboration is stunning pieces created with J.L Coquet, where did the idea for this union come from?

Hemisphere lights and lanterns are the results of perfect harmony between the craftsmanship of JL Coquet, Porcelain Manufacture in Limoges (France) since 1824, and the design-led engineering of Voltra Lighting, a company specializing in cordless ambient lighting. While Voltra’s metal base highlights a timeless design, the finesse and purity of the wonderful Limoges porcelain offer a unique and even diffusion of light, creating a warm and sophisticated ambience.

Do you plan on more collaborations in the future?

Yes, we are currently working on a new collaboration with a renowned, traditional UK brand which will most probably come to light in 2022. Next to that concrete project, Voltra keeps engaging discussions with inspiring, refined, and complementary brands to our Voltra’s own collections.

Why we love Voltra Lighting

When beautiful design is paired with innovative engineering in products that are both stunning and practical for a home or hospitality environment, they are hard to ignore. Voltra Lighting is leading the way in atmospheric and functional lighting and we are very excited to be working with them on our future projects.

Author – Teri-Anne of An Aimless Walk an outdoor adventure, travel and mountain sports site.

The post Why We Love Voltra Lighting Products appeared first on Quattro Interiors.

Bemboka produces quality and sophisticated knitted blankets and throws, designed to suit any home. Their collections include Italian cashmere throws, pure cotton blankets, pure cotton Turkish towels and luxury blends of angora and merino wool. 

Their popularity is growing rapidly worldwide. Known for their beautiful designs, exceptional quality and sustainably conscious approach. Their pieces can be seen in the homes of your neighbours or the most prestigious hotels and resorts globally. 

Where it began for Quattro Interiors

Quattro Interiors has been using Bemboka since 2006. The first purchase being throw rugs for a styling project, after which the director of Quattro Interiors then decided to keep the throws in her home. They have been used in multiple styling projects ever since. 

Bemboka produces long-lasting, great quality pieces. These are items that you buy once and may never have to replace. We believe it’s better to buy a quality product once than to have to continually replace them. This is also better for the environment.

Kylie of Quattro uses Bemboka products both personally as well as in business. They’re a part of her everyday life. We have many projects at Quattro Interiors with companies like Bramble Ski, a luxury chalet operator in the Swiss Alps. These clients need items that are both beautiful and practical.

One of our favourite things about Bemboka is that they can create custom sizes and colours in reasonably small quantities. We’ve ordered throws in longer sizes as they need to be placed on a 1.8m wide bed.

Lots of hotels and restaurants in the Swiss Alps have outdoor terraces that provide blankets or throws for their guests. Having a quality product that is machine washable is ideal for these places. 

We caught up with Petr Houf, Director of Bemboka to ask him a few questions.

What is the ethos behind Bemboka?

We’ve built the Bemboka brand around three essentials: luxury, quality and durability. And this passion for on-trend bedroom and bathroom products has seen us travel the world to create statement pieces for those who enjoy a taste of the finer things. We want you to be certain that with Bemboka, you always know you are getting best-in-class. 

Where did the inspiration come from to create Bemboka?

Back in 1997, Bemboka creators saw a gap in the market for luxury bedding designs. Trends were short-lived and the quality of blankets and throws in the market were less than desirable. We wanted to create simple, yet modern designs which will look sophisticated for years to come. We only produce timeless Australian-designed pieces that are suitable for any home. 

I love looking back and seeing how the brand has grown and is now gaining international recognition. That is now the ultimate goal. We want the brand to be recognised as a luxury brand that sets standard for enduring quality. The most challenging is competing with other brands that pretend to be quality brands and use false advertising to present their products.

What is the secret to Bemboka’s success?

We believe here at Bemboka you cannot find a comparison in the market that shares the same premium quality. We have worked tirelessly over the years to ensure we source the best, most high-quality yarns.

Our designs are so unique, and our knitting process is so intricate that it can take anywhere between 2.5 – near 4 hours to knit any one of our beautiful throws or blankets. Bemboka is a worthy investment with our towels lasting 5+ years in pristine condition and our blankets 10+ years. Our loyal customers are a testament to this. 

Can you explain to me Bemboka’s Ethical and Sustainability practices?

One of Bemboka’s core values is to ensure we are doing our part for the environment by manufacturing and shipping our products in the most sustainable way we can. We are consistently working out ways to better ourselves with evolving times.

The team at Bemboka work closely with our suppliers to ensure all raw materials are sustainably sourced. Bemboka products are animal cruelty-free proudly manufactured in New Zealand, Portugal, Turkey and Italy.

We use premium quality yarns, eliminating all harsh chemicals, ensuring low energy use, high labour standards and a strategically implemented and effectively managed recycling process. Our packaging is also 100% recyclable containing an organic additive to assist with fast-tracking the biodegradable process in a landfill environment. 

Bemboka features in prestigious hotels across the globe, do you have any favourite projects?

Bemboka is privileged to work with many boutique hotels both domestically and internationally. Each hotel order is uniquely their own and it is truly exciting for the team here at Bemboka to be a part of creating luxurious designs to be seen by so many people around the world.

A top favourite project would have to be the very well-known Hotel Longitude 131 overlooking Uluru in Australia’s Northern Territory. We were able to construct a beautiful reversible rib design containing a lovely burnt orange to compliment the spectacular view.

Why we love Bemboka Products

As you can see from this article, there are many reason to love Bemboka products. From their desire to create quality, durable and luxurious pieces, to their admirable sustainability practices. We hope that their pieces bring you as much pleasure as they do us over here at the Quattro Interiors HQ.

Author – Teri-Anne of An Aimless Walk an outdoor adventure, travel and mountain sports site.

The post WHY WE LOVE BEMBOKA PRODUCTS appeared first on Quattro Interiors.

Using plants in interior design will never go out of style. As well as adding a pop of colour, plants offer luscious leaves, unique silhouettes, style, texture, irregular structural forms and not to mention health benefits. 

Plants improve the quality of the air by a natural air filtering process which helps us breathe easier. They also increase humidity and decrease dust in the environment helping to fight colds and allergies. Plants also offer us a sense of calm and reduce anxiety as well as a tonne of other physical and mental health benefits. 

With all of these things in mind, plants should be an essential part of your interior design process. Carefully selecting plants to compliment the decor of a room is one of the most essential finishing touches when planning your interior design. As far as we are concerned, the more plants the better. 

How to style your plants?

Fill empty spaces with plants

Use floor plants to fill a void, large or tall leafy plants give a bold structure, colour and unusual silhouettes to an otherwise dull space. Unless you’re going for a super minimalistic style ‘less is more’ does not apply here. 

Create a micro jungle

Use floor plants, boxes, stands, tables and hanging baskets to add levels and create a micro jungle in any room. 

Chose pots with style

As well as the visual benefits of plants to your home you also get to style them with plant pots. Match the plant pot to the furniture, or use it as a feature piece by adding a contrasting colour, like a bright colour to an otherwise neutral room. 

Go for something unusual 

A meyer lemon tree not only adds something different and cool to the design of your home but it also gives off a fresh scent. Style, scent and homegrown fruit, what’s not to love? 

Use any available space

Shelves, units, worktops and empty table space are all good locations to add fresh energy, colour and positive vibes to any room by adding a plant. 

Put ‘em high

If you don’t have much space to play with, hanging baskets are a great solution. They can be added to the corner of any room to create a dramatic drape while not encroaching on your much-needed living space. 

Where to put your plants?

The exact location for each plant will depend on both your personal style and the plant’s needs, some will require more sunlight than others. This could be something you have to play with as you get used to each plant’s requirements and how it thrives in each place. 

Bedrooms

As well as an inviting visual feature, some plants release oxygen in the night which can help aid a better night’s sleep. 

Empty Corners

If you are struggling to fill those empty corners, use a large freestanding plant like a palm tree or a tall table with a tall plant to make great use of the space. You don’t have to do this in every corner but it can be a valuable feature in any room. 

Home Office

Plants improve your creativity, memory and mood, they can help you stay more focused and in turn increase your productivity. There are other ways to increase productivity in your home office, read about them here.

Don’t just restrict it to the home office – we have been using plants in commercial interiors for many years. Just one of our projects that incorporated plants into the workspace of a large commercial fitout is the Insurance Council of Australia.

Lounge

Having plants in your relaxing area can help reduce stress and anxiety. Plants can lower your blood pressure and make you feel calmer.

Dining Table

Flowers or a fruit bowl? Why not use a plant instead? Any type of plant to fit the size and shape of your dining table makes a great centrepiece.

Bookshelves

Your bookshelves don’t have to be filled with books. Mix up the texture of your bookshelf by adding a few plants and making the space more versatile.  

Window Ledge

Make use of your window ledges by adding a plant or two. This can be a great way to use the space while also adding shape, colour, and texture to any room.

Coffee Table

Add a pop of colour and texture to your coffee table and side tables using a plant or multiple plants to suit each room.

Kitchen

Add a herb garden to your kitchen. Aesthetics and function are 2 key elements when designing any interior space. As well as the usual health benefits of plants, why not add a herb garden to assist with your cooking too? There are some great options for small hydroponic systems if you are low on space or light. This is a favourite of ours.

Home Entry

Make your entryway more inviting with some greenery. Step inside from nature to a nature-inspired space, even if it is just a single plant. With the mood-boosting colour of green and the feeling that nature gives us, having a plant in the entry of your home creates a more welcoming space.  

Bathrooms

Give your bathroom life, oxygen and warmth with some bathroom loving plants. Opt for plants that love humidity and enjoy them thriving while you soak in the tub or splash in the shower.

Add a splash of colour

Remember that plants don’t only come in green. Plants that offer blooming flowers have all of the health benefits of green plants while also bringing colour to a room. But which blooming plants should you choose?

Orchids

Brighten any room with a beautiful orchid, they offer brightly coloured blooms and a unique structure. 

Succulents & Cacti

Most people think that succulents and cacti are either green or spiky, but in fact, a lot of them also have flowers. Some only bloom for a short amount of time but they come in all shapes and sizes and provide a unique feature to any space. 

Flowers

If you want a more short term, lower maintenance option then cut flowers are the way to go. You can change them regularly, move them around easily and choose colours based on your mood or the season.  

Wandering Dude

For a more subtle hint of colour try something like the Wandering Dude. They come in a variety of patterns and colours and can be placed in either a pot or a hanging basket. For more information about how to take care of Wandering Dude and other variations of Spiderwort check out Happy DIY Home.

Low maintenance plants for interior design

Cactus

My personal favourite is a cactus. There are over 2000 species of Cacti. If you’re the leave-it and forget-it type, a cactus will be the plant for you. Cacti can survive without water for long periods of time. But if you do learn to look after it carefully, blooming cacti will offer some stunning flowers. 

Air Plant

No soil = no mess. Air plants are a great option if you don’t want to muck around with dirt. They just need to be soaked in water for 2-3 hours every 9-11 days.

Chinese Evergreen

For the over-waterers in the crowd, this plant can totally handle excess amounts of water. It also comes in a variety of colours including pink and red. This is a great option if you are looking for low maintenance and a pop of colour.

Devil’s Ivy

I don’t know about you, but I’m sold on the name alone. This trailing plant is incredibly resilient, it can survive in little to no light and can bear an over or under waterer. I guess what it’s saying is “just go ahead and try to kill me” – challenge accepted. 

Succulent

Succulents and Cacti often get bundled together and while most cacti are succulents, not all succulents are cacti. A succulent might need a little more attention than a cactus but again most can be left for long periods of time without water. A great sturdy option is the Aloe plant, if you’re looking for something a little prettier, my personal favourite is the Echeveria Blue Bird. 

ZZ Plant

Known as “the king of the indestructible plants,” this plant can handle forgetful waterers, low light, and really low humidity.

Chinese Money Plant

As long as this plant gets weekly watering it can survive in low light places. It’s also an easy plant to clone. Small micro plants will grow from the base, these can be snipped off and propagated to grow your collection or to gift to loved ones. 

Fake it until you rake it 

Ok, so you won’t actually rake an indoor plant but I’m all for a cheesy pun. I’ll admit that keeping plants alive hasn’t always been my forte. It’s only something I’ve gotten a little better at recently and even now I’m still a little nervous when bringing a new plant into our home. I was always a chronic overwaterer and plants didn’t survive for very long in my care. If you’re not so green-fingered and are worried about killing plants, there are a few options for you. 

Faux plants over no plants

Really good imitation plants are better than no plants at all. They still look great, give you all of the design aspects of a living plant and have the same visual impact on your mental health. If you don’t want to buy plastic plants you can have a go at making your own paper plants by following these creative designs from The Apple of my DIY.

Green features

As we associate green with nature, adding green to a room is another way to trick the mind into enjoying the benefits that nature gives us. Paint a feature wall green, add green furniture, cushions or even a print.  

Start with a couple of low maintenance plants

Research the best low maintenance plants or pick a family of plants, to begin with. You can start small with something like succulents that generally only require attention from Spring to Autumn. Once you have successfully taken care of one family you can move on to the next.

How to group plants

Group plants on the way they grow, like tall leafy plants together, succulents and cacti in the same space. Be aware of each type’s needs so tending to them in groups becomes easier. Know how to care for each family, for instance, it’s easy to kill a succulent or cactus by overwatering. They also need to be watered at differing amounts seasonally and often not all year round. Make sure you know the specific needs of each plant to get the most out of your indoor greenery.  

Tips for taking care of your plants

• Some plants are seasonal, make sure you know this to avoid disappointment when it doesn’t thrive all year round.
• Different families have different needs, learn the amounts of sunlight, humidity, water and soil composition that benefits each family the most. 
• Choose your plants carefully, like Beyonce said “pretty hurts” if you don’t want high maintenance plants, make sure you know which is which during the buying process. 
• If in doubt, ask questions at the nursery. If you’re looking for a specific plant or something for a specific location speak to the experts. Let them know the type of space you are planning to use and find out what plant would be suitable. 
• Use the right pots. Picking a plant pot based on appearance alone isn’t going to cut it with some plants. A pretty glass bowl may look good but some plants don’t like to soak in excess water. Also, some pots suck in moisture, knowing which plants prefer which type of pot can be the difference between drowning or dehydrating your plant. 

The wrap up on plants in interior design

Adding plants during the interior design process should be a fun way to bring nature into your home. Whether you opt for small and simple or complete jungle vibes, plants are an essential piece for a complete home. For more inspiration on plants in interior design check out Evergreen by Gestalten.

Author – Teri-Anne of An Aimless Walk an outdoor adventure, travel and snowsports site.

The post The ultimate guide to using plants in interior design appeared first on Quattro Interiors.

What is the best way to set up a home office?

The three main factors of your workspace will be:

• Worktop
• Screen
• Sitting or Standing?

Firstly you’ll need an area to work on, this doesn’t necessarily have to be a desk. I’ll explain more about that later. You’ll also need your computer, laptop, tablet or phone from which you plan to work from. To create a home office with the perfect ergonomic environment, use the ergotron workspace planner to set up your desk and screen height.

Lastly, you should decide if you want a standing or seated desk area, it’s also possible to create a home office that’s versatile enough for both. Studies have shown that sitting down for long periods of time is bad for our health.

On the flip side of that, so is being on your feet all day long. There are pros and cons to sitting or standing all day, so having a versatile workspace that allows either is the best choice. Height adjustable desks are a great option.

If you are looking for something more budget-friendly you could have a stool close by to change it up between standing and sitting. If you want to read more about this, check out this piece on Should You Buy A Standing Desk.

These are some great options for desks:

• SIXtematic BELLE – 2:1 make up stand  & writing desk – This is a beautiful dual purpose desk that won’t crowd your space and has compartments in all the right places.
• Ikea – Great affordable options for a manual sit stand desk.

• Standsome Desktop adaptor – a very small, versatile and mobile piece that you could easily place on your dining table.

How do I set up a home office without a desk?

If you just need somewhere to plonk your laptop there are plenty of options without having to invest in a desk. If you already have a side table that can be cleared for work use it. Maybe you have a kitchen table you could work at. 

If your TV is sitting on a unit or floating shelves, could you make some space for your laptop? Desktop adaptors come in affordable and versatile options, look at investing in one like this from Standsome. 

Create a home office with great lighting

One of the downsides of being sat down all day or working with a screen is that it can make you feel tired. One of the best ways to combat this is to have great lighting. If you have a space that gets plenty of natural light, this is where you should create a home office. 

But don’t forget about lamps. Even if you have a space with lots of natural light, there may be grey days and working hours past daylight, you’ll need a lamp or over head lighting to keep you focused. 

Place your screen away from direct sunlight, you’ll want the light to keep you motivated but glare can be too distracting. You can also put up blinds to control the amount of light that is allowed in.

Here are two of our favourite desk lamps:

• Muuto Leaf Table Lamp – This is a beautifully designed and functional desk lamp.
• Ikea Riggad– A sexy little lamp that also offers wireless charging.

Get creative with your storage space.

Using shelves, bookcases, bags and baskets that you already have can be a great way to assist your home office. Adding things like a desk tidy or a rolling cart can keep things neat and tidy. If you really want to keep your office space hidden you could transform a wardrobe or cupboard to store your office supplies. 

Create a home office with a touch of nature 

Being surrounded by nature has a tonne of health benefits. When you create a home office add a touch of nature too. This is a space you will spend a lot of time in, so you want it to invoke the right vibe. 

How many plants you add will depend on your personal style, one small plant on your desk or a room filled with plants, the more the merrier! If you aren’t green-fingered and are worried about the upkeep of a plant you can trick your brain slightly by just adding the colour green.

As we associate green with nature, using the colour green in your environment can be another way to create a home office with a touch of nature without the responsibility of keeping plants alive. 

Don’t forget a personal touch

This is your workspace and you’re likely to spend a lot of time here, make it personal. Fill it with pieces that bring you joy but that won’t distract you from your work. Rotate family photos, add some greenery, add a pop of colour or your favourite print. 

If you would like to find more inspiration on how to decorate your space, check out our favourite resources.

Create a home office with a comfy space 

There may be times when you aren’t sitting at your computer and may need to read or think for a moment. If you have the extra space and don’t always want to be at your desk you can create a comfy space.

A comfy space could be a nice chair, a beanbag or a reading nook away from your desk for when you need that moment of peace and tranquillity, but also need to be focussed.

How do you create a home office in a small space?

When you don’t have a lot of space to work with it is still possible to create a home office. The trick is to work with what you have. 

• Make it efficient for work and life
• Decide on a sit or stand workspace (depending on space available)
• Alter room layouts to fit a small workspace
• Utilise floating shelves or TV units
• Make the office a feature of a bedroom
• Put a secret office in a cupboard or wardrobe
• Use the space underneath the staircase
• Make other spaces more versatile (kitchen, hallway)
• Use vertical storage solutions
• Use your outhouse if there’s no space in your house
• Alcoves or dividing walls can be transformed into small office spaces
• Convert your creepy attic into a fabulous office 

How much does it cost to set up a home office?

The cost of setting up a home office will differ greatly. If you don’t require much space and already have a laptop this could potentially be a free project. But if you’re planning to transform an entire room, then the sky’s the limit depending on your budget.

Setting up a home office on a budget

If you want to create a home office on a small budget, here are a few tips:

• Make the most of what you’ve got
• Upcycle items that could be useful
• If you don’t have an actual desk, make one, or makeshift one 
• Make good use of small shelves or tables
• Keep your office space small
• Mugs, cups, tin cans, bags and baskets can be used as desk storage

Work from home tips

Working from home can be a challenge, here are our tips to help with your productivity.

Start your day right

I know it’s totally cliche, but getting up early, doing a little exercise, stretching, meditating and showering before a healthy breakfast really sets me up for the day. I know these things aren’t for everyone but if you can create a good morning routine it helps creativity flow. 

Get dressed

This may seem silly but beleive me when you work from home it’s really easy to wake up one day and decide ‘nah, I can work in my pijamas today’. But this can become a bad habit and can also be bad for productivity. I find I’m far more productive when I’ve actually made the effort to get properly dressed, it just makes me feel better about myself and those positive vibes flow throughout the day. 

Separate your work life from home life

Just because you are working from home doesn’t mean there’s more time to do chores around the house. Schedule your day like a work day, if you want to do chores factor it into your day as a break from your desk. Make sure anyone else at home is aware of your working hours and that it’s not ok to disturb you (unless in the case of an emergency). 

Turn off distractions

Social media and emails can be really distracting when you need to focus. To get the most out of your working hours turn off notifications. You could even put your phone on silent or in airplane mode if this works for you. 

Take breaks

It can be really easy to spend hours upon hours in front of the screen. Even when you find you are in a flow, sometimes it’s best to take a break. Regular breaks taken the right way can help you be more productive.

The Wrap Up: How to Create a Home Office That Inspires Creativity

When you create a home office, just like any other area of your home, it’s going to be personal to you, your environment and your budget. We hope this has helped you get started with your new project.

Here’s a simple check list to keep you on track while planning out your perfect home office.

• Location
• Plug Sockets
• Adapters or extender chords (if needed)
• Worktop / Desk
• Office Equipment
• Seating
• Lighting
• Greenery
• A personal touch

Author – Teri-Anne of An Aimless Walk an outdoor adventure, travel and snowsports site.

The post How to Create a Home Office That Inspires Creativity appeared first on Quattro Interiors.

Do I need an interior designer?

Interesting question! I would like to think that what we do is to add value to a project. We all see many successful renovations or new home projects that don’t use an interior designer. But for reasonably sized new home builds or home renovations the process can be long and complex. So at least I hope we can simplify that for the client.

Should I wait until I have a property before I come and see you?

Not necessarily. In the past, we have assisted many clients to find the perfect property. In both residential and commercial situations.

Quite often a client is looking for something in particular. They would like to check plans and explore options to see if what they are wanting to do is possible. For example;

• If you are looking for new business premises, we can assist with space planning. This ensures you have the space for the staff and support you need to efficiently run the business; 

• For say restaurant premises. The owner may want to confirm the numbers of patrons they can fit in a certain space to make the business viable; 

• For a potential home or investment property to buy. The client may want to check what is possible within the space. Also to start thinking about the costs of renovations.

We can assist with all this, so I would say it is never too early to get in touch.

What if we are working with an architect, when should we start talking about interior design?

The earlier the better! 

When possible, it’s best to have your Interior Designer involved from the beginning. If we can work with your Architect to understand the way they are translating your brief that is perfect. We would always want to have a part in the space planning of a building. Checking that your use is possible from the very beginning. It is ideal to be able to check furniture layouts from day 1. This makes the whole interior design process much more streamlined.

In saying this, if you are partway through a design project and feel you may need some direction it’s never too late. Many clients have approached us when the construction is at the lockup stage. Thinking they could go it alone and do the interiors themselves. They have found it overwhelming and all-consuming (which it can be). In this situation, we work with what is there. We assist the client to the end of the build and then onto furnish the project.

What are the steps of the interior design process?

Generally, the stages can be defined as below. But, depending on the project size and scope, some of the stages of the design process can merge into one.

• Pre-design process

Meet with the client to discuss the project brief and scope of work.

Develop the fee proposal for approval.

Visit the project site if it is existing.

Basic site measure and/or review of existing floor plans.

• Concept Design

Develop the brief in conjunction with the client, project team and any stakeholders.

Development of visual concepts for communication of the design. Great tools to use here are things such as Pinterest, mood boards and concept sketches.

Development of space planning for the project.

• Design Development

This stage builds on the approved concept design. Here we develop the design and finalise space planning and finishes selections.

At the completion of this stage, the client will have finalised plans. These are developed in detail for complicated areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. Also for finishes and a project budget.

• Documentation

Once the design development is complete and approved. The documents from that stage can have the final layer of detail developed to allow for the construction of the project.

Depending on the scope of the project this will include drawings such as:

Floor plans

Ceiling plans

Electrical Layouts

Bathroom and kitchen plans and elevations 

Built-in cabinetry drawings

Finishes schedules

And possibly much, much more!

• Services during construction

Our role here depends a little bit on the project and the team. But we will be in regular contact with the tradesmen and will often visit the construction site. This ensures everything is on track and the work is being completed to a high standard.

• Project completion

Once the project is complete we stay in touch to ensure any issues can be seen to and corrected as soon as possible. 

Is the process different for residential or commercial properties?

The steps of the design process are the same. But each project or project type tends to have a different emphasis. So this will differ a little. On a commercial project, the procurement process can have quite an impact on the design process. 

I have some ideas about what I would like, is there anything else that will help you understand what I am looking for?

It is always great to meet a client that has a good idea of what result they want from the project. We need to remember that the space is not ours, but our client’s, so it must suit their style, wants and needs.

Interior Design is extremely visual. If you have an idea of what you are looking for, images are always a great way to communicate that to us. They are also really helpful to communicate the way a room can work.

We use Pinterest a lot as a design tool to keep in touch with our client. Shared boards can be a powerful tool for both sides to add ideas and images, and also comment on. Most times these are the first step to us creating our concept boards (or mood boards).

Houzz is also a good resource that is more focused on residential design. It won’t let you pin from it, but you can set up your own lookbook within it if you are registered with them.

If you have access to a site that has elements you like, visiting it together is also a great way to show us what you want. 

Basically the more information you can give us about what you like the better!

If you need some inspiration for your project take a look at our favourite resources. 

How long does the interior design process take?

How long is a piece of string…. This is affected by the type and size of the project and the client’s urgency for completion.

We have worked on residential projects that take years. And commercial projects that take a few months. For speedy projects the design process taking only a couple of weeks for approval to keep up with a crazy programme.

Once I build my home I would like to stay in it for many years. Times will change and I may even have a family. Does that influence your design?

I would like to think that this is the way all projects should be planned. We do our best to design spaces that are classic and comfortable to last the test of time. With home interiors, the design needs to have the ability to grow with the client over time. 

I’m not a huge fan of fast fashion, it is bad for many reasons – to me this applies to interior design also!

How involved would I be?

Particularly in a home design, the client should be as involved as possible. It adds to the success of a project.

I always make the client aware at the beginning of a project – they will get the results they are after if they are constantly involved. We need to ensure clear lines of communication are open during the project. 

Generally, this will involve regular meetings with your design team. Giving feedback, particularly in the early stages is important to ensure the design concept is very clear. On a reasonably sized residential project, you could expect design meetings weekly, to begin with, then fortnightly for the duration of the project. There will be additional lines of communication throughout the process such as emails and phone calls also.

Always ensure you ask for clarification if you don’t understand something.

On the flip side of this. We will always be doing our best to ensure our communication with you as the client is regular, clear and easy to understand.

Do you implement any sustainability practices during the process?

We are doing what we can every day to be more sustainable. In the office, on the project construction site and in our product selections. 

The obvious answer here is reusing and recycling in the office and on-site. 

We do what we can to take it further than that. For example, when we are designing a home for a client we encourage keeping and reusing old pieces. Or refinishing old pieces to reuse in the new spaces. I love it when a client has many pieces whether they be art or furniture that come with us on the journey to a new project. This is something that also makes a place feel like a home from day one. The perfect example of this is this private chalet project in Verbier. It feels like a home, not just a shiny new renovation. Because it has so many pieces included in it that were already there!

When we start speaking about new pieces for a project we go back to my previous comment about fast fashion. It is important to us to ensure we specify products that stand the test of time. This is always also guided by the client and their perception of value. 

To me, value represents being able to purchase a product that stands the test of time. The price will be long forgotten whilst you are still able to enjoy it! My favourite example of this is my ‘forever furniture’. I am still collecting some pieces, but most of what I live with every day will be with me forever. I think this is the best way to think about sustainability. 

How do you make sure the project sticks to my budget?

We develop a realistic budget in conjunction with you at the beginning of the project and do our best to stick to it. We will check the ideal budget figure you give us to see if it is realistic, and if it is not this needs to be discussed.

As part of the design process, we will develop and break down the budget per line items. If the budget is too high in the scenario of say a furniture package this can then act almost like a shopping list. In the case of built work, it can be a reality check to review what are the most important items to be included. And what level of finish is appropriate.

It can be said that many times a client’s budget and design expectations are at either end of the spectrum. We do what we can to bring them together and work well!

How do you feel at the end of a project?

Happy, excited, Relieved…. I am always nervous until the final day of a project. Even though I know in myself what it will look like and work like in real life – until it is all done it is nerve-racking. I think relieved is the best word here!

Author – Teri-Anne of An Aimless Walk

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As an experienced interior architect, what has changed over the years in the way you find inspiration & information?

Do you think the digital age and the creation of architecture blogs are beneficial for aspiring creatives?

What are your go-to inspiration resources or architecture blogs and why?

Yellow Trace

The Cool Hunter

Architonic

Belle Magazine Australia

Wallpaper

Off-Piste by Ski Boutique

GFDA

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Gestalten began with a focus on the aesthetic, particularly within graphic design. Since their beginning over 25 years ago, the breadth of their content and expertise has widened. Today, they draw their inspiration from the world around us. While surveilling art, culture, people, small details and big events, they anticipate change. Changes within architecture, design, fashion, travel, escapism, visual culture, food & beverages and modern art.

Gestalten hopes to inspire people regardless of the medium. With the focus on creative culture and the main aim being mutual inspiration.

Why are Gestalten’s inspirational books Quattro’s favourite to cozy up with?

We are always looking to books for inspiration, this is probably a hangover from back in the day before the www…. So over the years, we have collected many! Over the last 6 or 7 years, in particular, Gestalten have stood out to us with titles that are very strong in Architectural and Interior Design content. This has tended to lead us in their direction.

From the point of view of using the books for design or styling projects, they are perfect! Beautifully printed, great size and good content for our current location of the Swiss Alps. And, from a pure design point of view – the books are beautiful! Stunning visuals and nice thick matt paper make the books a pleasure to read cuddled up on your sofa at night with a nice glass of red.

Does Quattro have any favourite books?

Our current favourites are ‘The Chamber of Curiosity’. I have had this book in my personal collection since it was first released in 2014 and it has provided me with many hours of enjoyment since. It is an eclectic collection of some of the best and quirkiest apartment interiors around the world. This book shows that a home should be a showcase of someone’s life and experiences rather than how expensive your furniture is. Each one of the spaces in the book is a pure reflection of the personality of the owner.

The other would have to be ‘Hide & Seek’. This is a book that lets you escape from what is sometimes a complicated and cluttered lifestyle, to the pure simplicity of escaping the urban environment. Always a dream to have a small plot of land somewhere hidden away in the forest, this allows us to maintain the inspiration for that.

What are Gestalten’s Sustainability practices?

Gestalten is committed to high-value, low-impact products. From the materials they choose to use to their prefered methods of transportation. These steps have always been taken to reduce their ecological footprint:

• Carefully selected suppliers. Production is solely in Europe to limit transport emissions and ensure fair working conditions.
• FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper. Which is the only wood certification scheme endorsed by WWF, Greenpeace, and the Woodland Trust. This also safeguards forest biodiversity and local communities.
• They comply with California Proposition 65.
• Part of LKG’s initiative to support ‘Plant-for-the-Planet’ to compensate for packaging and produce small print runs to reduce the risk of destroying unsold books.
• Formats maximize the efficient use of paper and reduce consumption.

Gestalten plant one tree for each book sold in collaboration with Tree Nation. These are the reason’s that we choose Gestalten as our favourite inspirational books to cozy up with. We hope to pass on their ethos of mutual inspiration.

Author – Teri-Anne of An Aimless Walk

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What drew you into the world of Interior Design?

This was very much by chance, after returning from a year exchange in Sweden in 1990.  Enrolled in a Mathematics & Computing Degree at Curtin University, something after a year away I could not imagine doing.  I got out the student handbook and had a look for something that interested me more.

The Interior Design degree seemed to jump out at me.

I called the university to see if I could change courses. The answer was a definite no, second round offers had already gone out. It was such a popular degree that the administrators were sure that all places would be snapped up! I received a phone call the same day. Someone had declined, could I come in for an interview with my folio the following Monday?

I had never done, or been interested in art. I pulled something together over the weekend with the assistance of my arty brother and set off for the interview. As it turns out the head of the department at that time had spent many years in Sweden. We spoke Swedish for a bit and he handed me the forms to enrol in the degree.

It seemed to stick, many years later and I’m still in the industry!

What do you think is the most important quality of an interior designer?

Having a good ear to listen and understand what your client wants is the key I believe. A project, particularly if we are talking about someone’s home or personal business should be about the client, not the designer. So, listening, understanding and translating the client’s vision is what I see as the most important quality of a Designer.

Sometimes it is also about educating and the art of suggestion. If there is something a client wants that clearly will not work or is a bad choice.

“I think also being thick-skinned is a very good attribute to have. There is an element of the work that is being constantly questioned and criticised.”

Hopefully more constructive criticism than anything: Learning how to respond to this, keep your cool and keep going is a big part of the job.

Do you have a particular personal style?

I would say my style at home is eclectic. I have walls full of art and objects that I have collected both from galleries and my travels. When I go home after work or a day on the mountains I want to be enveloped in comfort. Which for me equates to pieces that have been with me for years. Books, art and beautiful, comfortable, quality furniture that I have collected over the years as I could afford it.

During a project is your role purely design-based or do you also project manage?

Our role varies between projects and how much the client needs our assistance. We have done some successful projects for example where the client is the project manager. Then on larger projects, we tend to be working with an Architect. Who in Switzerland especially, will have an overall all project management role. In this situation, we tend to slot in as part of the design team and assist with the project management.

Many of our projects over the last couple of years have focused on furniture and lighting packages, so in this scenario, we manage everything including the administration, logistics installation and defects.

What type of projects does Quattro Interiors undertake?

Generally, our focus is residential design for both homes and luxury holiday rentals. I also have a very strong background in hospitality design. So there always seems to be hospitality projects happening as well.

I enjoy both design areas as they tend to be more personal and involved, which for me feels more rewarding.

Our projects can be broken down into Interior Architecture, Interior Design, Styling and Homeware packages.

In a nutshell:

• Interior Architecture involves anything with built work. For us, these tend to be larger residential projects where an architect is also involved, and we are part of the project team.
• Interior design I would describe as the loose furniture, window coverings, lighting, artwork, and soft furnishing. The part of the project that starts to make a space feel like a home. Or, in the case of a hospitality project to give it a personality.
• Styling for photography is something relatively new to our folio since we have been in Switzerland. Working with the client we can produce a brief for the photographer to create photographs to suit their needs. This may be for real estate sales or luxury holiday rentals.
• Homeware Packages were developed to cover a gap in the market. From where a project is completed, but there is nothing in the cupboards and drawers. Essentially these are to allow people to move into a home that is ready to live in. Or for chalet / holiday rental operators to enable them to efficiently run their business from day one.

There is a full breakdown of these services on our website, complete with downloadable .pdf documents:  https://quattrois.ch/services/

What are your favourite projects to date?

This is a hard question! I would say any of the projects on the website are favourites, but if I was to choose three:

Bedfordale House

This home designed by Suzanne Hunt Architect (SHA) is in Bedfordale in the foothills of Perth. ‘The overall design brief was to design a tranquil sanctuary, reflecting the owner’s love of Japanese aesthetics, accommodate their ageing, provide state of the art technologies and connect with their landscaping vision.’

Quattro Interiors was commissioned as part of the SHA team to assist with the interiors of the project. Including design development, documentation of finishes and detailed joinery units throughout the house, and directly by the client for the furnishing of the project.

Verbier Private Chalet

This is a very special project for me because it was my first large project in Switzerland. I was a bit nervous to start with as the client’s father is an extremely successful Interior Designer in New York. No pressure!

It turned out I had nothing to worry about. The clients were lovely and having had the background of working in her father’s firm Tim Mac Inc. So had a perfect understanding of the design process.

The project brief started with a furniture package. It soon grew into Quattro being very involved in the Interior Architecture of the home. We worked hand in hand with a local Verbier architect Christophe Corthay and the trades on site.

This project is a prime example of a synergy between the client and designer. Which is always important in translating the client’s vision for their home.

Zermatt Ski Chalets Office

A very small project that is very different from any of our others. This is a small office space on a prominent corner in Zermatt for Zermatt Ski Chalets. A luxury chalet operator here in Zermatt. A pure interior design project including paint colours, lighting, furniture, and a feature gallery wall. Containing vintage and antique collectables from the area.

How has Quattro Interiors evolved over the years?

I feel that Quattro has grown and changed as I have over the years. As I have wanted something different the business has adapted around me.

In Sydney, I spent a lot of time working with Interior Design & Architecture students. Seeing them through the start in their career as both mentor and employer.

After deciding to leave our initial incarnation of Quattro Design, which was an Architecture practice back in 2011. We have tried to cultivate and attract the kind of projects we enjoy. Quattro Interiors was born from this. I had wonderful staff that supported this and worked with me to make these changes possible.

Six years later the business is still going strong. We can maintain a small number of Interior Architecture projects. Which in turn allows us to have an alternate focus on furniture packages and homewares.

Where is Quattro Interiors going from here?

Let’s face it 2020 was a tough year! We were all set to get bigger and better after a successful 2019 and then covid hit the world. Something we are all still dealing with.

We took some time to reflect and slow down. The result was a decision that we needed to add an income stream that is a little more passive and less reliant on face-to-face communication. So we have been busily in the process of setting up an e-commerce site.

This was inspired by the homeware packages we had set up and also the relationships we have developed over the years with suppliers and products.

With the launch of the site, we are focussing on one of my all-time favourite brands, Bemboka. I first discovered Bemboka in Sydney many years ago and have been working with them ever since. Their timeless throws and blankets now sit in many chalets and apartments here in Switzerland. Including the ones I have had on my sofa since 2008!

Author – Teri-Anne of An Aimless Walk  

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Zahli has just opened its doors in Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills, raising the bar for modern Middle Eastern cuisine in Sydney with its distinctive take on traditional Lebanese dining. With interior design expertise provided by Kylie Grimwood of Quattro Interiors, owner Mohammad Issmail has created an environment, atmosphere and menu designed to transport diners to the banks of the Sannine on a warm night – with a fresh, contemporary twist.

Zahli
Quattro Interiors
Photography by Jennifer Soo

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Based on the rich tradition of Lebanon’s famous mezza from the Zahli region along the beautiful banks of the Bardouni River near Mount Sannine, owner Mohammad Issmail wanted to take that unique environment and transport it to Sydney’s Inner East with a fresh, contemporary twist. This restaurant certainly looks great!

With a long history of restaurant partnerships in Lebanon and Dubai, Zahli, in Elizabeth Street, is Mohammad’s first Sydney restaurant. Passionate about creating an extraordinary experience for diners, the restaurant offers amazing food, service and ambience. With interior expertise provided by Kylie Grimwood of Quattro Design, the environment, atmosphere and menu are designed to transport diners to the banks of the Sannine on a warm night.

Obsessed with delivering excellence – in taste, service, experience and memories – head chef Abdul Shams takes the traditional as a starting point and confounds the clichés to create unique dishes packed with flavour. Start with a selection of freshly made dips and salads or share a hot mezzo and follow up with a main such as mansaf lamb, mixed grill, shawarma lamb or lemon garlic chicken.

Pretty sure one of us will be checking this place out soon! For more information.

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