You know the old saying about diamonds being a girl’s best friend? The same is true for decorators. From diamonds and parallelograms (which are basically diamonds stretched out at their tips) to circles, squares and triangles, few motifs are as punchy and versatile as geometrics.
Popular since, well, the Pyramids went up in Egypt, geometric shapes are the building blocks of design, offering stark elegance on their own and complexity in groupings. No contemporary design scheme should be without them.
“I found out just how striking geometrics can be when I incorporated them into my own decor”
In the past, I had tended to stick to simple geometry: a circular mirror here, boxy cube seating there. I love the graphic stylishness of a single shapely piece. What won me over to something a little more exuberant was the vast array of geometrics offered this season by retailers such as Mobilia. Both riotous and sedate, these patterns adorn a variety of soft furnishings, which instantly soften their sharp angles…
My favourite new element, which runs contrary to the maxim that floor coverings should be neutral: one of Mobilia’s Edge rugs – a kaleidoscopic explosion of colourful squares and triangles – underneath my coffee table. The table itself is neutral, so the pairing is quite lovely. Check out the Spontaan and Deco patterns for similar doses of drama. Any of them would be equally stunning in a front hall or living room.
Of course, geometrics can also be embraced in less eye-popping form. Consider, for a more subdued example, Mobilia’s Spoot line of throw cushions, featuring subtle tone-on-tone diamond patterns. The demureness of the design is offset by the vibrancy of the colours they come in: emerald green, mustard yellow and sky blue. Appropriately enough, they’re also available in two distinct shapes: square and rectangular.
This variety underlines the beauty of geometrics for the modern decorator. The shapes on which they’re based have an elemental allure, yet they also offer infinite flexibility, working in all manner of interiors. Judging from the options on offer right now, the design world is primed to exploit them.
Once again, it seems, it’s hip to be square, not to mention rectangular, triangular and, as true a friend as ever, diamond-shaped.
Janette Ewen, Interior stylist and The Style Blog collaborator (at Mobilia, we just LOVE everything she does!)
From her start as an MTV set stylist to her successful career as a designer, design editor, TV host and ambassador for brands such as Moet, Mobilia and PANDORA Jewelry, Janette has continually sought to entice audiences to design their own eclectic experiences and celebrate life to the fullest.
Janette’s personal mantra “stay interested, be interesting” guides her exciting life—full of design, travel and creation. Janette’s adventures and passion for style and good taste have been featured in the LA Times, Nylon Magazine, The Globe and Mail and House and Home magazine.
As a design partner at Parker Barrow Design studio, Janette is “over the moon” to be creating spaces that would find a happy home in her fast-paced, whimsical life.
Janette’s fans enjoy keeping up with her adventures through her popular social media pages including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Her blog “gojette” is a go-to for trends setters and tastemakers alike. In her spare time Janette loves traveling, rally car racing and hiking throughout North America.
