Love the sleek and sophisticated look of a classic New York interior? You’re not alone. But if you’re stuck on how to bring that look into a modern setting, today’s post is going to give you both tips and inspiration.
Let’s discover how you can create your own modern, high street look at home.
Colour is monochromatic and subdued
A sophisticated interior can be created with loads of colour, but to keep it simple and easily achievable, a black and white palette is highly recommended and won’t date quickly.
Using this palette will make the space feel quite classic. To ensure you keep the look warm and inviting, it’s nice to introduce grey and brown tones into the mix. If you start by exploring those four colours as your base (black, white, brown and grey) you really can’t go wrong. Just ensure there’s a good mix of all four colours at play and that one is not dominating the others.
Colour lovers can still get their slice of bold hue in very small doses. Try a pop of yellow to elevate and warm up the space.
Choosing the right textures is key
Texturally, it’s wise to ensure you don’t go too over the top in terms of the number of textures you bring into a room. Too many and it can start to look quite muddled. High Street style is quite restrained and minimalistic.
Look to textures on your floor, walls and larger furniture items like sofas and tables to set the scene. A dark woodgrain table, a herringbone floor, marble wall tiles or a quality rug in a geometric pattern are a good start. These materials are all rather timeless, and when used as a foundation they really establish that sense of understated sophistication.
When it comes to accessories, think of fabrics like leather and suede for cushions. An upholstered wall above a bed is another great idea, as are tall sheer curtains. There are layers to this look, but they’re not embellished. No tassels, no frills, no bells and whistles. This is all about simplicity.
Scale is important for a High Street Look
You’ll notice in the imagery here – as well as the video below – that the accessories are all rather grand in scale. Large lamps, large pendants, large vases and large ornaments. If there are smaller pieces, they’re clustered together on a tray in a similar colourway so as to not draw too much attention to themselves individually.
This is the key to making the space feel sophisticated and refined. There are no trinkets lying around, no clutter, and no jarring colours popped into vignettes. Every piece serves a purpose and tells a story. The interest for the look comes through the texture and pattern inherent in the larger pieces.
You can still have the high street look in a small space, you just have to choose each piece wisely and ensure it makes sense.
Jump to the video below for more ideas
The look you see in today’s post is one of Metricon’s LookBook Themes. It’s called High Street and it’s inspired by the period charm of a Fifth Avenue New York apartment. You can find out more about it here.
How are you feeling about High Street style? Would you love to rock this look at home? Drop a comment below and share your thoughts.
This post includes images and/or videos of Metricon display homes and events, reproduced with permission. © Metricon Homes Pty Ltd 2016.
2 Responses
hello! My kitchen is really dark and shiny (black benchtops & smokey grey mirror splash back – including on the breakfast bar part facing out), and I have a marble dining table, grey couch, and shiny white floor tiles. I am looking for what kind of art pieces would work in this space as it is a new home and I want to make it my own. struggling with accent colours and what goes with the marble & monochromatic look.
thanks!
Hi Jessica, you’re working with a nearly blank canvas in terms of colour, so you can go in any direction you like. Just look for consistency. My best tip would be to find one piece of art you really love and then use the main colours in that to inform your other choices. If you’re really, really stuck look for art that comes in a series, they’re designed to look good with each other. Then use those colours, along with some smokey grey and black and white, in your other styling pieces.