Nature

a continuing source of inspiration

If you think about it, nature is one of the first things we are asked to really look at. But how and why does it inspire interior decoration?
Before nature became a source of inspiration for interior designers, it inspired great art: painting, drawing and later photography. It was first reproduced on canvas and then on our walls in the form of panoramic murals and 3D prints. Classical artists never tired of nature's ever-changing beauty and were drawn to paint it over and again. Think about artists like Turner who constantly experimented with variations of light to create dramatic backdrops to nature. And even when artists have experimented e.g. by combining nature and fantasy or nature and abstraction, this pictorial heritage continues to enchant us.

Nature in design

If we look at the history of design from the 1930s and until it reached its peak in modern times, the relationship between man and nature has always been a guiding light in terms of design. Scandinavian design is good example of this, taking its inspiration from simple beautiful organic shapes. Take the famous Savoy Vase designed by Alvar Aalto whose incredible scrolled forms were inspired by the shape of a lake. Today, interior designer and architect Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance draws on nature's organic forms to create fluid yet structured furniture.

Aalto vase, 120mm, stormy grey.

Perfect harmony

Nature touches us, nourishes us and grounds us. We are inspired by its endless variations of colour and natural harmonies. Either subtly or totally as evidenced in the paintings of American artist Edward Hopper. Small hints and punctuations of colour that we easily associate with nature's palette. And colours are often named after natural materials: slate grey, burnt earth, steel black... And then we have beige linen, rapeseed yellow and earthy ochres... And nature's variations of blues and greens are endless. Once again, the Habitat Design Studio is on trend with its Panorama sofa. Its intense dark green perfectly complements the stormy colour palette while the panoramic mural creates a feeling of peace and profound relaxation.

A vital balance

The theme of landscape and nature is recurrent. It has been incorporated into countless designs. Last January, Elisabeth Leriche, "style guru" for Maison&Objet, took the theme of nature for her exhibition entitled "Landscape". Linking art and nature, she demonstrated how nature feeds our imagination and nourishes and shifts our creative approach. The exhibition takes us on a journey to marble quarries where she showcases "Miracle Chips " by designer Michael Anastassiades, and immerses us in the colours of Venice's lagoon with the Flow suspended light designed by Nao Tamura for Wonderglass. The sheer beauty of the designs left us breathless! One thing is sure, the more the world is in chaos, the more nature calms us. Last September, she led us into her "Jardins Secrets" for the Ateliers d’Art de France. An exhibition where she revisits the theme of the cabin or refuge "I think there is a growing interest in the idea of a refuge as somewhere to step back from the world, empty our minds and to escape." Nature expresses core values, simplicity and freedom It gives us energy and creativity. Contemplating nature is soothing and creates feelings of well-being and pleasure.

Natural materials, colour palettes, all types of impressions...all inspire us. Nature certainly has everything we need to add a little poetry to our daily existence!

A natural stormy palette. Panorama, a sectional sofa in intense green.

Nature expresses core values, simplicity and freedom. It gives us energy and creativity. Contemplating nature is soothing and creates feelings of well-being and pleasure.