Cool as boy's decor.

THERE has always been safety in numbers but when it comes to home design it is considerably more fun to inject personality into décor and planning. However, no matter how much homeowners strive to achieve “something different” they inadvertently slide into the latest trend and find their home has become a conservative safe haven – just like their neighbours’.

“Often you think you are being different and then you open a magazine and think, ‘that was my idea’,” says Inner Concepts’ designer Christine Bull. “People have the same idea, which is so frustrating sometimes.”

Dad's old boards.

To avoid becoming one more sheep in the flock, the Howick designer suggests people start with something they love and build on it. This could be one piece of furniture, artwork or a length of upholstery fabric.

Christine confesses she aspired to be a minimalist person but, as an avid collector, her treasured assortment wasn’t going to work in stark surroundings. Part of her pleasure time is looking for old things to revitalise them and this enthusiasm sets an original theme for her home.

“A white home can be personalised and given character. Sometimes you walk into a house that looks like it’s been done up by an interior designer who doesn’t live there. I like to walk into a house and think, ‘this is someone’s home and this is their personality’.”

When homes become too full of loved objets d’art, items can be stored and swapped to create a fresh look and to avoid overwhelming clutter.

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Placement makes the difference.

Retaining a design characteristic, such as a favourite feature wall when it is no longer fashionable, also adds individualism. If the dwellers love it, they should keep it until something better comes along.

Christine loves it when people tell her they don’t care if their favourite colour isn’t what’s hot and they are determined to have it in their home. Colours are dictated by the automotive industry, that is, orange cars mean orange sofas.

“I stopped going to colour forecasting seminars through choice because the colours have already been supplied. Someone has already decided what they are and then we as individuals decided whether we liked them.”

Often a dominant group member can sway all of the consultants and the attendees all commend the same colour.

Eyecatching fashion addition. Times photo Jason Dorday.

Using an item in an unconventional manner will inject individualism. Christine created a Jackie O coat with original fabric printed with black and white images of historic Howick. This could be tucked away in a closet and kept for special occasions but when displayed in a home it makes an eye-catching feature.

To create the original piece Christine collected images from Manukau library archives. She used an old pattern of her mother-in-law’s and the buttons belonged to Christine’s grandmother. Christine’s daughter wore the wonderful historic collection to the World of Wearable Art adding another chapter to the story.

Using anything meaningful in a creative fashion will give interiors an edge. Christine recently worked in a home where the dad’s old skateboards make a hit on his son’s bedroom wall. Colours and décor   accessories were used innovatively and the end result is “very cool”.

Having the conviction to run with original ideas rather than seeking reassurance from a multitude of family and friends will make a difference.

Playing it safe may keep everyone happy but living in surroundings that reflect character make an abode a unique retreat people love to come home to.