Trend: Brush Strokes

Brush Strokes are a contrasting effect for feature walls, ceramics and even designer foods. Here are my favourite brushed trends including smokey applications, watercolour washes, grainy strokes and an insight into cake boutique, Nectar & Stone.


Colour is dabbed and smudged with an almost chalky effect for a subtle approach to layering neutral shades. Seen on interior walls and even ceramics, this fluffy painting style adds a personalised aesthetic that wouldn’t be found with items on the high-street. Following the trend of having large scale blackboards as feature walls, the blackboard wallpaper by Rebel Walls is a graphic print that resembles wiped away chalk. Susan Dwyer on Etsy provides that sentimental element with the perfect amount of dusty pink blended into a white platter. Just like the clouds, this mystified application combines colour in a patchy but contemporary way. 

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Deep Indigo blues are a popular colour choice for diluted and ink wash surface patterns (see my past post on Indigo here). Producing lighter shades with a watercolour effect, the result is an abstract focal point for plain white walls and decorative accessories such as statement pillows. No need for a patterned bed spread, less is more with these handmade silk pillow cases (as part of the river collection) by Emma Hayes. And Amy Sia's cushions magnify watercolour blends for an alternative textile pattern. I recently visited the Broste Copenhagen stand at Home London and I love the styling effect of using artistic indigo wall colour. It transforms the whole wall into a life-size canvas and acts as a bold accompaniment to the Broste Copenhagen homewares range.

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Design is influenced by the simple sweep of a brush-stroke. Julia Kostreva creates an abstract look that is similar to an ‘exposed’ stroke, with exaggerated white lines on her new 2015 daily planners. The result is a unique pattern that is almost like marbling but with a more linear and structured style, I’m curious to know if she used lino printing to create this effect? Similarly her ring bowls are each individual with just a brush of black - a lovely grainy, textural finish. And Katakana create charming pots with flashes of paint, each unique in their own way as part of The Supper Club collection.

[All imagery sourced from Nectar & Stone Instagram account] 

'Creative meets cakery' with Melbourne based Nectar & Stone, an artisanal cake boutique ran by dessert designer Caroline Khoo. Her cake creations are more like pieces of art with distinctive painted on doodles and designs; cookies, chocolates and decadent cakes are awash with blended pastel shades, flashes of icing and swirled creations. Using the natural consistency of icing and chocolate, Caroline creates the ultimate feminine dessert and I'm hooked on her Instagram feed! The term - 'Looks good enough to eat' definitely springs to mind!