Principles of Style

Sarah Andrews

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781761102721
• Topic: Design
• Subtopic: Design General

In Principles of Style, Sarah Andrews presents her unique take on teaching design, drawing on her experience of working in the industry and as a teacher in her school, which has reached cult status around the world. Importantly, Principles of Style aims to be a timeless learning tool for readers, no matter their own personal style, with Sarah revealing many of the ideas, tips and skills she has accumulated along the way. She does this by examining some of her key projects and favourite rooms, as well as by focusing on her ten rules of styling, formulated both through hands-on experience and studies in the science of design. Sarah believes that everyone has the ability to create interiors that are right for them; in this inspiring and eminently practical book, she aims to demonstrate just how to do so.

PART ONE 10 Rules of Styling

Anyone can create their own beautiful spaces – it’s a skill we can all learn. I now know this from teaching thousands of students the world over, some of whom started out terrified and paralysed with self doubt. I’m excited to be able to share a small part of my teachings with you – ten rules of styling that can help you build a more, sensitive world around you that suits the way you’d like to live. One that’s completely your own.

Rule One CURVES SPEAK OF LIFE

In the natural world around us, you’ll see lots of curves – the outer trunk of a tree, birds’ eggs and feathers, clouds and waves. There are straight lines, too, but they’re definitely outnumbered by curves.

If you look at the rule in terms of design on a more general level, someone who really understood the power of curves, and the way they can work with straight lines, was the industrial designer Raymond Loewy. He managed to make even the most mundane object beautiful, but he’s probably best known for his designs for cars, trains, planes and even spacecraft – all sleek and streamlined, but amazingly curvaceous as well.

Somewhere along the line, decoration, age, signs of wear and the curved form started to get downplayed in many modern houses, and lines and angles began to be the hero. I have a bit of a theory that lines and angles are cheaper to build, and hence they became the norm. I bought the house I live in now for three reasons. The first is that it sits on the edge of the sea – sheltered in a way that the calm water tends to bring me peace. The second is that there’s so much natural forest around it that I could always wonder at, with its changing forms and colours in different seasons and light. The third, because not a single wall here has a corner; all the bricks are laid so the rooms are rounded, and each doorway, big and small, is an arch.

Curves, in the natural world and in the spaces around us, make us feel human, comfortable, safe. They don’t need to be a part of your space to begin with to have this effect on you: you can introduce them, and you’ll be surprised how welcoming it will start to feel – circular rugs, round lights and coffee tables. Much more subtle curves help even more – the rounded arm of an old chair, the slightly curved spine of second-hand hardback books, a folded blanket. And of course, natural objects themselves, such as branches, dried grasses, pebbles and whatever else you can find. Proportion doesn’t come into it – just because you have an enormous rectangular window doesn’t mean you have to match that equally with curves. Try to balance the ratio of curves to straight in your home for a harmonious feeling.

EXPERIMENT 1:

An object, no matter how humble, takes on a level of grandeur when it’s standing on a column. Even a small pile of books starts to look special when it’s elevated and given a certain status on this square column.

EXPERIMENT 2:

Let’s see if we can improve things with a round column. I far prefer this look – for me, the curve brings a sense of grace, whereas there’s a rigidity to the square column. Both options are beautiful, and both have their place; it’s all a matter of taste.

LOCANDA DEL LOGGIATO, BAGNO VIGNONI, ITALY

Dating back to 1300, this locanda is so welcoming. It’s partly the curves in the furniture, but you can also see the hands over time in the plasterwork and hand-hewn timber.

In the kitchen, a simple arch and a round table brings a storybook elegance to the room. There’s nothing pretentious about anything here – it’s all so honest and authentic.

CHÂTEAU DE DIRAC, DIRAC, FRANCE

This space is not intimidating at all. Although it’s grand, it’s brought down to such a human and comfortable level through the addition of curves – in the plants, the inexpensive wicker baskets, straw brooms and the surprising mix of unmatched chairs. The owners have done such a beautiful fit-out with really simple, humble, natural mate...