Edmund Bell: Tribal African
Following on from Edmund Bell’s Nordic Simplicity blog, the fifth trend they explore in their Global Traveller series is Tribal African.
Travelling and roving adventures are the influences behind the nomadic Tribal African trend. Clashing patterns with a global vibe, eclectic accessorizing, chunky textured fabrics and eclectic prints, mean that rich details of this trend can be captured in a dynamic fusion of inspiration.
Local handmade product is the perfect choice to make a decorative impact and the right mix of colour influences that will contrast to create a sultry African vibe.
Global themes of course can be taken literally or simply simulated by using simple black and chalk combinations; like the upholstery products above in BROMPTON, EUREKA, METRO and ELITE. African, in its literal terms, can be a little daunting, but colours and some feature accessories can capture the trend perfectly.
Wood is always a feature in African inspired interiors and usually on the darker side, certainly well used in “look” and often large primitive looking pieces that provide dramatic accenting for any room. African mahogany, cedar and ebony are the woods featured predominantly in African interiors.
Other materials that complement the look are straw, clay and leaves, as well as things like pottery, earthenware and animal skins. New upholstery products like ELITE, TRIBUTE and LUSTRE capture the textures necessary.
Be as bold as you dare with African inspired colours! Earthy yellows, reds, browns, oranges and strong ochres are all the “go to” colours in this case. Flat walls in a bold colour will really accent the look and put a different emphasis to the scheme. Fabrics like PULSE, EQUILIBRIUM and ECHO would really work well in this case.
Animal skins truly capture the African vibe and there’s nothing like cosying up to a fake fur throw or cushion to feel like living in the wild!
Carvings, masks, clay figures, plates and other table ware can all be placed on the wall or shelves to capture the authenticity of the African vibe.
Often the walls are a muted tone of neutral and earthy shades; sometimes mud colours and deep ochres can certainly capture a true authentic feeling. In traditional homes, walls of course would be made of clay; so texture is a consideration and walls can be embossed or painted with textured paint.
Contact Edmund Bell through their BCFA Product Finder Page