Bringing the outside in…my paintings currently are reflecting the landscapes around me, pulling the feeling of being outdoors inside…

and I am tickled that current decor trends embrace this greenery theme…Strelitzias being very prominent!

We have seen water water everywhere here in Zimbabwe this last rainy season….and I have been sketching glorious waterlilies in my world, such as these in a small pan in Gonarezhou National Park on my recent camping trip…

and these, on the dams at Borrowdale Brooke Estate in Harare, where I have my art studio:

Water lilies , Acrylic on stretched canvas, 130 x 100 cm, by Lin Barrie

A rainy season above and beyond all expectations in Zimbabwe has brought moody skies and brilliant green landscapes to my canvases this year…and so I think I will focus on all this green for The Industry Girls Network Design Indaba soon to be held in Zimbabwe!

Such as “Acacia”, acrylic on canvas, 3 x 4 feet, ….

Having just been to Decorex in Cape Town, and looking forward to showing my work at The Industry Girls Network Design Indaba , I am doubly inspired by the wonderful use of green, green, green!

Living up to the Decorex 2017 theme, ‘Make your space your living dream’, visitors to South Africa’s premier décor, design and lifestyle exhibition were immersed in natural fabrics, revitalising tones and quality products all centred around a vision of reclaiming a space of sanctuary, disconnected from the relentless noise and distraction of the modern world.

Bloom, curator of Decorex, said she and her creative team are taking on the ‘unplugged’ movement which seeks to create a nurturing space that encourages self-reflection, away from the digitised world that demands constant attention, draining energy and overwhelming the senses.

“There is a big move towards nature, drawing inspiration from it in the various textures and colours, as well as incorporating natural elements such as wood and plants into the home,” explained Bloom.

Real delicious monsters and strelitzias adorned the stands at Decorex, as table settings and as overhead arrangements…and gorgeous garden stands abounded…

Leather and plastic recycled lookalikes became awesome lamp fittings…

Geometric cutouts…

Organic cutouts….

These leather leaves were stunning in their simple impact, seen here behind the Painted Wolf Wine tasting Station at Decorex…

Something interesting…The Rose Gold and metallics Trend – used in home and décor accessories, as well as cutlery –  adds such a touch of understated glamour to any space…..

metallics are big this year…

The Decorex Designer Spotlight showcased the work of iconic Cape Town designer Dylan Thomaz

Dylan on the Expresso Show…

one of his gorgeous “outdoor rooms” from his Facebook page…

Some lovely exhibits of art were on display at Decorex, and I know the Zimbabwean Design Indaba version will compare very favorably!!!!

A trend that I saw at Decorex, and love- the use of small spaces with plants. As we tend to focus on large pieces of furniture like sofas & tables, corners of our homes are often left a little neglected. Even in the hustle bustle of a kitchen, adding an array of fresh & different textured plants makes for impact.

This is something that The Safari Collection by Jane Taylor embraces so cleverly, using wonderful locally basketry:

gorgeous baskets by The Safari Collection….

Literally go wild – the splash of green, whether actual plants or a fun cushion,  looks amazing in any room.

So fresh, you could eat these cushions…

All the senses were indulged at Decorex….Jeremy Borg of Painted Wolf Wines featured ….

Chef and Wine Maker extraordinaire,  here is Jeremy creating his mini Bunny Chows, featured at a food and wine pairing at Decorex…a visionary, with a burning passion to develop Painted Wolf Wines into an exceptional organisation, true to his mantra ‘Persistently remarkable, remarkably persistent’.

the message from Decorex…

Go Greenery….

Bring the outdoors in…..

Don’t be afraid to play with whimsy and colour!…..