A Life in Pattern by Anna Spiro
Brisbane-based designer Anna Spiro has a talent for effortlessly combining bold pattern and colour in interiors. Her book, A Life in Pattern, takes us through her magical design process.
Words: Anna Spiro I Photography: Tim Salisbury
A carefully curated collection of art and objects. Photo: Tim Salisbury
‘I adore collecting and incorporating interesting objects, art and furniture into my projects – especially items that have meaning to my clients,’ says Anna Spiro. Photo: Tim Salisbury
A Considered Approach
Unfortunately, there is no hard and fast rule as to what makes a ‘balanced’ yet intriguing look. Self-editing is your best friend, but that skill doesn’t come at the drop of a hat. Since the early years of my career, I have become better at editing and realising what works together in an interesting yet harmonious way – and what doesn’t. While one must have some sort of natural flair to be a designer, of course, years of practice and real-life projects are what have really taught me to edit and refine my schemes, and ultimately to design spaces that are interesting but not overdone.
It’s important to note here the difference between clutter and collection. The look I love and celebrate can sometimes be mistaken for a messy, cluttered look. I have had a few new clients tell me that they don’t like clutter. Honestly, I dislike it too. But I adore collecting and incorporating interesting objects, art and furniture into my projects – especially items that have meaning to my clients.
Quite simply, clutter and curated collections are two completely different entities. Clutter is that meaningless stuff piled up in a disorderly way, the sort of thing that makes one feel untidy, anxious and disorganised. Of course, chaos and mess do not create a harmonious home!
Anna Spiro’s look can sometimes be seen as ‘cluttered’ yet it’s the perfect balance of colour and pattern. Photo: Tim Salisbury
Swatches of patterned fabric hang on a wall for inspiration. Photo: Tim Salisbury
“Although experience is the greatest guide, originality and unity are the two key concepts I keep in mind as I consider a design.”
A carefully curated collection of art and objects. Photo: Tim Salisbury
Anna Spiro always looks to bring something new and different to a space. Photo: Tim Salisbury
On the other hand, a carefully curated collection – consisting of objets d’art and rare pieces you have collected on your travels, arranged in an orderly, artful way throughout your home, mixed with other items of interest such as antique and modern art – can create a distinctive and very personal style.
It comes back to adding a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and a sprinkle of something else, to achieve a perfectly balanced result. That’s the secret to creating a wonderful, genuine look in a home: never too much of one thing, with every element curated and arranged with thought and consideration.
Although experience is the greatest guide, originality and unity are the two key concepts I keep in mind as I consider a design. That is, I always look to bring something new and different, something unexpected and wholly me, but I also consider ways to unify that wild side.
I’m always looking for that thing that will pull the disparate elements together and create an aesthetic whole – whether it’s a pattern that connects the room by incorporating all the different colours used, a single colour that complements the whole palette, or a plain fabric that calms a space.
