What we want now: listening bars, hidden wet bars, Argentine grills, and spaces where every room pulls double duty for the party Every generation has its own way of gathering at home—the conversion pits and buffets of the ’70s, the formal dinner parties of the ’90s, the open-plan kitchens of the 2000s. So where are we now? Architectural Digest AD PRO surveyed top interior designers about their clients’ latest requests and consulted today’s most sought-after party planners and tastemakers. Today’s hosts want their guests to feel relaxed, whether that means serving dinner buffet-style, opening up unconventional rooms for gathering, or designing bars homeowners can tuck out of sight. Two clear trends emerged: First, entertaining spaces are becoming more experiential—think dedicated listening bars, sauna sessions with friends, and interactive outdoor grills. Second, formality remains off the guest list. Today’s hosts want their guests to feel relaxed and formality remains off the guest list. Listening bars, lounges, and speakeasies If you design the perfect bar at home, there’s no reason to go out. The demand for wine bars and cocktail lounges in private homes has continued to rise since the pandemic began. Rather than annexe off the living or dining spaces, these are dedicated rooms that recreate the enveloping feeling of a favourite neighborhood watering hole. The key to their success is highly personalized details, from custom cocktail menus to monogrammed napkins. A listening bar in a former sunroom or screened porch might become the hottest bar in town. You can have a hundred people over on a weekend. For an even more intimate vibe, some designers are creating at-home speakeasies, in the basement of their family homes. Wrapped in Schumacher grasscloth and emblazoned with a backlit sign reading “Le Bar,” the space functions as a “speakeasy-style guest suite where the homeowners ‘check in’ every Friday night to unwind. The cocktail buffet revival Dinner parties remain a staple of entertaining, but these days, homeowners are leaning into a more casual version than the seated multicourse dinner. Cocktail parties are on the rise with elaborate hors d’oeuvres or extravagant grazing buffet tables. Home bar requests are on the rise too, but many homeowners now want bars they don’t always have to see. One design element designers keep returning to is the hidden wet bar. Whether tucked off a living or dining room, it allows people to make drinks without needing to retreat to the kitchen. Concealed behind panelled doors or inside dedicated cabinetry, these bars can be integrated into the room’s larger material palette when closed. Open them up, and a statement colour or luxe material can offer a delightful jewel box moment. The cocktail buffet is another idea being embraced. It’s a great way to have a crowd for a delicious dinner without having to set up tables. The approach involves a mix of DIY and hired help: Set the dining table with elegant dishes of food, station servers nearby to help guests fill their plates, and let guests roam and find a place to perch around the house. The format allows people to mix and mingle and works especially well in smaller homes. People are asking for multipurpose living rooms with built-in open fire grills, integrated bars and adjacent outdoor areas, all designed to encourage conversation. A great example is the Palm Beach, Australian house featured in Melissa’s new book ‘Natural Living by Design’ (Vendome Press, $70). Photo: Simon Brown. Partially concealed kitchens While entertaining spaces are becoming more casual, kitchens are moving in the opposite direction—toward a bit more separation. Many people now prefer kitchens that are slightly removed from their entertaining spaces. It’s not about going back to the closed-off kitchens, but rather about creating a balance. They want spaces that allow for cooking and preparation without exposing guests to the inevitable mess or lingering smells. You can achieve this with framed glass pocket doors that create subtle partitions in room layouts that flow kitchen to dining room (or kitchen to patio) to help keep the focus on the social spaces while making it easy for a host or chef to work. For those who entertain frequently, up the ante with a full catering kitchen for out-of-the-way food preparation. Designs that encourage conversation Homeowners are embracing old-school room layouts with extra-long sofas and banquettes, multiple seating areas in a room, and conversation pits. It’s all about making spaces for conversation and mingling. People are also asking for multipurpose living rooms with built-in bars, custom banquettes, or adjacent outdoor areas, all designed to encourage conversation. Whether hosting two guests or 50, homes should feel welcoming, adaptable, and resilient, so that hosting feels effortless. Choosing beautiful materials that are durable enough to stand up to a lively evening—like leather or a performance velvet—helps the host relax and enjoy. During a more casual party, smaller tables can also be placed in different rooms throughout the house, something that keeps guests circulating and the party dynamic going.  Sauna socials As bathing culture has expanded from a solitary soak to full sauna- steam-cold plunge circuits with friends, the pursuit of wellness has become an opportunity for entertaining too. Home yoga studios and saunas have become party spaces. A midday session with friends might be followed by lunch or smoothies. There is definitely an emphasis on wellness-focused design: gyms, cold plunges, and full spa experiences that make entertaining at home feel less like a typical party than welcoming guests to a private retreat. People no longer separate wellness from hospitality. They want their guests to feel nourished as much as they feel impressed. During a more casual party, smaller tables can also be placed in different rooms throughout the house, something that keeps guests circulating and the party dynamic going. Photo of Lauren Santo Dominigo entertaining at home. Open-fire grills While outdoor kitchens remain popular, homeowners are clamoring for one appliance in particular: an Argentine-style open-fire grill known as a parilla. With its adjustable cooking surface, wood or charcoal firing capabilities, and integrated drip pan for basting, it invites guests to gather around the flames, providing a more interactive experience than a standard American barbeque. A grill is included in an outdoor kitchen and dining area (similar to what’s known in Argentina as a quincho, a covered, outdoor social space designed for cooking and dining). A series of sliding doors and overhangs allow for versatility. Open-fire cooking also offers guests more input over ingredients and preparation – welcome news for those with dietary restrictions who can now guide their meal from raw to plate. Cooking becomes a whole event with an Argentinian grill. Australians have been practising this custom for decades. Games tables Games tables are back in a major way. With Mahjong’s rise as the preeminent game du jour, a home would be remiss without one. But designers are also thinking strategically about how such tables—whether used for poker, bridge, or Settlers of Catan (no judgment)—can maximize a home’s square meterage and engage non-traditional rooms. It’s about how to create entertaining spaces outside of the dining room or formal living room. Add a games table to your family room, and you can serve appetizers to your guests here. Entertaining now means abandoning traditional ideas about what each room should do. Every room now has a double life: A library can be a cocktail lounge or dessert bar.  Photo: Lauren Santo Dominigo. Flexible tables Flexible space is particularly important for hosts who throw large holiday gatherings. Doubling up on dining room tables has become a go-to strategy. For those who don’t formally entertain it’s an ideal way to occasionally host large gatherings for the holidays. You can source a pair of identical square tables so dining spaces can easily expand or contract as group sizes dictate. During a more casual party, smaller tables can also be placed in different rooms throughout the house, something that keeps guests circulating and the party dynamic going. Hosting events across several connected rooms allows you to have a drum roll and open the door to the next stage of the party. Parties can last for hours, and no one wants to stay in one room all night. Throw out room rules In that spirit, entertaining today means abandoning traditional ideas about what each room should do. Every room now has a double life: A library can be a cocktail lounge, on a folding table covered in a custom tablecloth and pulled up to a sofa. If you’re going to go to the effort to create a beautiful environment in your personal spaces, it’s a shame not to share it with people. Regardless of which rooms you use, every successful party benefits from a dose of lagniappe, a Cajun word meaning an “an unexpected extra, given or obtained gratuitously.” Dress the table, step back, and add a little surprise. Your guests will thank you—and have a darn good time. It’s not how much money you spend for your tablesettings; it’s how much you don’t spend. The blood sport of competitive table setting Many people battle fiercely in the competitive art of table setting – and the best abide by certain rules. It’s not how much money you spend; it’s how much you don’t spend. Use unique plates, found objets and coloured glasses unearthed in back alleys and market fairs here and abroad. Whatever your income or background, you score on originality and style. Whether placing antique jars on vintage cloths in the countryside or violet Venetian glasses on an upmarket urban tablescape, the feeling you want to project is, I’m cooler than you. The goal of the finest tables: Mix and match a cohesive still life on your dining table that would stop Henri Matisse in his tracks. You can’t walk into a Hermes flagship, admire the napkins of a highly curated tablescape and say, “Just send me everything on that table. Sixteen of each.” That’s cheating. The stakes always rise around major holidays. Christmas is just around the corner. At Easter, it’s not about little colonies of Herend china bunnies and painted eggs from Hungary. Many influencers like to think they are Ph.D-level table setters. You want your people to ask, “Where did you find these?” Then you can answer, “Oh, some island off Croatia.” The more far-flung the location, the better. Even if all the plates have a pattern, the way we set the table has to have some sort of improvisation. Cut some branches and pile clementines in a dish if you haven’t got flowers. Imagine Renaissance paintings with garlands of figs. Candles are essential. A warm mood transpires in a table collected over the years. It’s the feeling of ‘Time is going to stand still”, and we are going to have this wonderful time and conversation. Put miniature apples in piles. Replant long vines temporarily in wine glasses, artichokes in shot glasses so they stay straight, Brussels sprouts laid out, but only if still on long stems. Our go-to is unusual fruit and vegetables, in groupings of three. Never the same flower arrangements, even if the same vases are on the table. For true table champions, it’s unappealing to try too-hard. You want your friends leaving your dinners smiling. You want to care, but not so much that it loses the fun. Don’t try too-hard. You want your friends leaving your dinners smiling. You want to care, but not so much that it loses the fun. Photo of Hudson Valley interior by Steven Gambrel. The post AT-HOME ENTERTAINING TRENDS FOR 2026, SERVED! first appeared on Melissa Penfold.

Not only do fresh flowers bring joy and delight into a home, they’re also a symbol of important moments in life: they are the decoration of choice at weddings and funerals, and also the ultimate gift of love on Valentine’s Day. Their delicate nature, however, can make it tricky to get them right; think extreme changes in temperature and variability in when and how buds will open, and cost is an important factor, too. So we’ve created a directory of the most imaginative, masterful Australian florists we know of. These designers often have wildly different styles, ranging from understated to experimental – we’ve tried to offer a range of ‘classic’, ‘earthy’ and ‘unusual’ offerings. But if these florists’ aesthetics are diverse – informed by everything from old master paintings to modern dance – they all bring a singular vision to the centuries-old art they practise. Many are united in rejecting the globalised flower trade, embracing sustainable techniques, championing local growers and avoiding harmful substances like floral foam. Here then are the go-to florists we can’t live without, and the best blooms used by leading designers, PRs and stylists. Among them are the names whose signature looks and influence have been monumental in our homes. In a land where unique species thrive, local florists are developing a gloriously twisted aesthetic all their own. Melissa’s apartment in Sydney’s east is filled with fresh globes of Queen Anne’s Lace from local Southern Highland grower, Oxley Hill Farm. Photo: Abbie Melle. SYDNEY BESS The flowers here are the closest we’ve found to those from a wild meadow. Florist Bess Scott grew up around flowers: both her father and grandfather are growers and her Paddington store is filled with native wildflowers straight from her NSW Central Coast family farm. In a world climate crisis, Bess responds to what’s in the field, with wild, wind-tossed flannel flowers, lichen, moss or yellow bells. That mixed-medium ethos gives Bess a signature, wild, unexpected style in an organic palette. besspaddington.com  The company’s lovely website has a helpful section on what’s in season each month. COLOURBLIND Benjamin Avery’s colour blindness is what, paradoxically, makes his work so vibrant and irreverent. His Sydney-based studio crafts gravity-defying arrangements, from hydrangea and phylica twisted into thick cords, meandering like alien coral, to volleyball-sized globes of alliums, ferns and grasses, which seem as though they might float away. colourblindflorist.com  DR COOPER STUDIO Dr Lisa Cooper holds a doctorate in philosophy and fine arts, often turning the very idea of a bouquet on its head with her otherworldly arrangements. Her work is where art, nature and culture fuse. She might group tomatoes with cumquats or craft white lilies into an abstract mountain. Lisa sources the most unusual specimens she can, often visiting local farms to select and cut them herself. doctorcooper.com.au  Fresh and pretty foraged flowers elevate a simple desk. Photo: Sean Anthony Pritchard GLASSHAUS  Paul Hyland opened the rainforest-like sustainable flower shop, Glasshaus, in Melbourne’s Richmond back in 2011, that has evolved to include an indoor-plant nursery and events space – in neighbouring locations. His arrangements have featured at some of the city’s best restaurants and cafes, but Glasshaus still has a great mix of special blooms made for gifting to loved ones. glasshausfloristonline.com  GRANDIFLORA The queen of blooms, Saskia Havekes, and her statement branches, succulents and fab flowers have inspired books, exhibitions and many a copycat stylist. And her illustrious client list reads like a who’s who of the fashion world. Think Cate Blanchett, Toni Colette, Hugh Jackman, Sarah Photograph of Bess, Paddington, by Alana Landsberry. Murdoch, Sass & Bide and Kylie Kwong. Ordering from Grandiflora is virtually frictionless: I (Isabella) love to send my mum (Melissa) three big bunches of tulips on her birthday. grandiflora.net The arrangements are in a different class altogether with modern, expertly composed blooms that easily transfer into vases. HATTIE  Clients include Aesop, Chanel, COS, Mecca, Louis Vuitton and Valentino. Hattie Molloy often makes impressionistic, sculptural arrangements that highlight local flora’s otherworldliness, including a cluster of scarlet umbels from the firewheel tree, which evoke spirographic renderings, and a spray of golden wattle cascading over tiny orange squashes like a bunch of grapes. “I very much want to transport people, to make it a bit surreal,” she says. “Like, is this even planet Earth?” hattiemolloy.com.au Colour is among the defining feature of flowers. Photo: Sean Anthony Pritchard HARRIS FARM MARKETS Good pricing for full, lush bunches, but there are trade-offs. Deliveries aren’t daily. The flowers aren’t as modern or stylish as those from top florists, but they’re fresh and pretty. We’re often amazed by the value and impressed by the freshness and choice, such as alstroemeria, lisianthus, daffodils and gum leaves. Also, affordable pots of mint, rosemary, lavender, hydrangea and cyclamen. harrisfarm.com.au HERMETICA Long revered by magazine stylists, this hotspot located in Darlinghurst is as modern as the name suggests. Inside the crisp layout and wall of hundreds of coloured roses is Jai Winnell’s signature informal style. Simplicity and freshness are key. hermeticaflowers.com.au IF THE FLORIST  Hot PR company, Whispr, is a fan of the Maroubra-based florist, for its fresh natural approach. They’re not necessarily trying to mimic how things look in nature, and yet the abundance of huge, towering arrangements highlights perhaps the most beautiful thing about flowers – their ephemerality. iftheflorist.com.au KIKO DESIGN  Armani, Bulgari, Chopard, Garnier, Guess, Miu Miu, Penfolds, Skoda, Ralph Lauren, Rolls Royce, Zimmermann and Snapchat have all collaborated with Kiko Design on a wide range of events. It was founded in 2017 by creative duo Kowsh and Josh Rawson, who create striking focal pieces – for every kind of occasion, activation or gift. kikodesign.com.au MANDALAY  The kind of flowers that look good anywhere. Fresh-cut, relaxed but dramatic enough. A fave with well-heeled Eastern Suburbs’ types. Unusual specimens, too, such as smoke bush that you can’t find anywhere else. Top designer Kate Nixon’s choice. mandalayflowers.com.au The bunches are generous, the flowers will last, and there’s always an abundance of fresh offerings.  MY FLOWER MAN  Kieran Birchall’s oversized, dramatic bunches often combine classic flowers with mod foliage and natives, so expect to see English roses mixed in with showier leaves and blooms. Instead of combining flowers evenly, he often keeps each type distinct in the bunch, so there are pockets of light and dark. Same-day delivery around inner Sydney. Online only. myflowerman.com.au A reminder that floristry at its most sublime and imaginative is ultimately the art of escape. Photo: Sean Anthony Pritchard MY VIOLET  One of Sydney’s go-to flower shops for homegrown flowers arranged in owner Myra Perez’s signature informal vintagemod style. A fave with the fashion crowd for weddings and events. Myra believes that Australia has until recently been hampered by local growers’ reluctance to bring less common offerings to market. Their reticence in turn created a generation of clients who were never exposed to avant-garde possibilities So Myra decided to explore the potential of the unexpected, using vegetables and fruit, and turning to foraging. Think lichen-covered branches, rosehips, wild cosmos and fragrant mock orange. She also got to know her growers, convincing them over time to reconsider what they’d dismissed – passionfruit vines, frilly gerberas and begonia leaves. myviolet.com.au SAMAMBAIA  Seasonality is key for this sustainable Bronte-based floral studio that has removed plastics from its wrapping and believes bouquets can be more than pretty – they can convey deep feeling. Any offcuts and greenery are composted; chicken wire, glass or ceramic containers are used instead of floral foam; and the shop reuses the rubber bands that flower bunches come bundled in, or donates them to neighbouring Iggy’s, which uses them to secure egg cartons. From 2022, the Samambaia team has moved from selling individual bunches to focusing on events, floral sculptures and large-scale installations. samambaiaflowers.com SEED FLORA This Glebe florist was responsible for many years for the annual epic David Jones Spring Flower Shows. Seed can make magic happen with just a few magnolia or cherry blossom branches and orchids. Its distinctive aesthetic is sculptural, playful and fiercely modern works that are also often defined by their height or their width. In their stretch, there is optimism. @seedflora Rigour and clarity are the focus with a mix of modern and more orderly classic blooms. Fresh cosmos at Melissa’s apartment in Sydney’s East, sourced from local grower, Oxley Hill Farm. Photo: Abbie Melle SEPTEMBER STUDIO  September Studio opened in a sunny corner spot in Rushcutters Bay in 2021, and its creative director, Bryce Heyworth, has quickly gained more than 1.5 million Instagram followers who can’t get enough of his entertaining, colourful arrangement dance videos. Bryce is one of the rising stars on the local floral scene, pushing the art of flower arrangement in exciting directions by experimenting with forgotten varieties and unconventional colour combinations, shapes and forms.  septemberstudio.com Melissa’s choice for the dramatically simple flowers and foliage that feature in the Australian houses in her new book, Natural Living by Design (Vendome Press). SOPHIA KAPLAN If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, Sophia Kaplan could be your first port of call. She is an artist who likes her bouquets to look as natural as possible. Working from a shared studio space in Alexandria, she textures each arrangement with unexpectedly shaped foliage. Nothing too stylised. Minimal plumes, such as a few stems of celosia and allium or magical iris. Online only. sophia-kaplan.com Wild flannel flowers, ferns and grasses, which seem as though they might float away. Photo: September Studio. MELBOURNE ALCHEMY ORANGE Aboriginal-owned and operated botanical design studio run by proud Yorta Yorta woman Shahn Stewart, whose custom botanical sculptures, floral arrangements and activations feature extraordinary natives. You might recognise her past work from Strawberry Fields festivals, the Australian Open or events by Ralph Lauren and more. Custom designs that elevate events and spaces, including homes, galleries, performances, set design and more. alchemyorange.au AZALEA FLOWERS Founder Michael Pavlou wrote the book on using Australian bush flowers expressively, Bush Flowers, in 2023. Find him at the Coventry Street side of South Melbourne Market. He’s not trying to mimic how things look in nature – just putting an emphasis on his love of natives with a studied approach to botany, colour and scale. azaleaflowers.com.au BUSH This Carlton North-based florist is highlighting overlooked forms of natural species or revealing something ordinary in a new way. It also takes sustainability seriously, with a strict reuse and recycle policy and no floral foam in sight. Plus, the focus on Australian natives helps support biodiversity in farms around the country. bushflowers.com.au Bush works with independent growers to source small batches of rare and diverse flowers across Australia. FLOWERS VASETTE Since opening in 1989, Flowers Vasette has taught us that flowers don’t need to be grand to be striking. Whether it’s the scent of spring blooms or autumn’s vivid palette, there’s inspiration year-round. If you’re excited by nature, you will love the ever-changing jungle of house plants and fresh blooms on offer. Its elevated arrangements highlight natural presentation over unnecessary frills. flowersvasette.com.au Photo: Sean Anthony Pritchard GEORGIE BOY Georgie Boy’s Gina Lasker is part of the new wave of rebel florists finding a new language in flowers and fresh ways to engage with nature. A firm favourite in Melbourne’s creative floristry scene … a spray of golden wattle cascading over tiny orange squashes like a bunch of grapes. hattiemolloy.com.au “I very much want to transport people, to make it a bit surreal,” she says. “Like, is this even planet Earth?”  POLLON FLOWERS Renowned for its window installations, this colourful shop on Flinders Lane is hard to miss. Vibrant, tightly packed arrangements and densely grouped blooms spill out onto the laneway from the heritage-listed Chapter House building in the St Paul Cathedral precinct. Nicholas Minton-Connell first opened shop in the late 1990s, and has since gained a loyal following for his signature style of classic arrangements that blend old and new.  pollonflowers.melbourne THE BEAUTIFUL BUNCH The not-for-profit believes in the basic human need for natural beauty and in the importance of the emotional connection that a bunch of fresh flowers offers. Sourced daily from local growers, The Beautiful Bunch is a social enterprise that trains young women who are experiencing barriers to employment in the art of floristry. Go for elegant bouquets and all the classics, such as hydrangeas, peonies and lilies, all packaged in biodegradable paper. thebeautifulbunch.com Wild flowers are in demand. Even species that florists have traditionally overlooked or dismissed as too unremarkable are now trending. Photo: Sean Anthony Pritchard ADELAIDE ADELAIDE FARMERS’ MARKET Every Sunday, locals raid the showgrounds, according to our friend Tim Bowring, owner of Living By Design in Adelaide. They all come for the same thing: fresh, native flowers from Kidman Flower Co, direct from the Adelaide Hills. Peter Day and Alison Wallis run the 40-year-old company, which caters primarily to the trade. A great place to come to fill your vases with all kinds of scarlet umbels from the firewheel tree, which evoke spirographic renderings, and a spray of golden wattle cascading over tiny orange squashes like a bunch of grapes. “I very much want to transport people, to make it a bit surreal,” she says. “Like, is this even planet Earth?” adelaideflowerhouse.com.au FLOWER HOUSE Adelaide Flower House is the go-to place for those seeking beautiful bouquets and statement arrangements. It’s Living By Design’s longtime choice for events, photo shoots, specials occasions, birthdays and table settings. A quick visit to its lovely website will convince you. The owner has an impeccable eye. Check out the ‘Ladies Who Lunch’, ‘Classic New York’ and ‘Miss Connie’ posies. adelaideflowerhouse.com.au BRISBANE AVALON FLORALS Anna Spiro says this is one of the florists of the moment in Brisbane. The New Farm-based floral studio is known for its field-to-vase bouquets, event and wedding florals, set design and everything in between. Works with everything from classic roses, delphiniums and hollyhocks, to wild foliage and smoke bush for nature-lovers who want an elegantly undone style. avalonflorals.com The art of the silk flower via Apartment387.com HACIENDA FLOWERS Anna Spiro’s choice; top-drawer flowers for every occasion. Choose from a selection of seasonal bouquets that favour generous, soft-petalled blooms such as orchids, roses and tree peonies, mixed with textural flourishes such as puffs of Queen Anne lace, smoke bush or bottlebrush. haciendaflowers.com.au THE STONE WILLOW STUDIO After studying at The London Flower School in 2018, Ani Wilson moved to Brisbane and set up The Stone Willow Studio. With an emphasis on using Australian-grown flowers or materials that are foraged, everything is seasonal, unexpected and often unconventional. Ani draws inspiration from the natural world and ikebana’s core aims to express the impermanence of beauty and to showcase beauty that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. thestonewillow.com Something as simple as banksia and tree needles is regarded as great material by Ani. Magic happens with just a few branches, via Apartment387.com BYRON BAY BRAER One of our most forward-thinking florists, used by Aesop, Loewe, MCM House, Bassike, Raes on Wategoes, Tigmi, Tamsin Johnson and Whispr. ‘Braer’ loosely translates for a tangle of wild roses where stems and leaves are sometimes emphasised over leaves. Look at its arrangements and you can almost see the whole universe, contained within a single flower or plant. Precisely the point of ikebana (the Japanese art of floral arrangement), which is the guiding principle. “Flowers become human in ikebana,” according to Braer. Lovingly and brazenly revives everything from persimmon to palm fronds, flannel flowers to fennel and wild grasses. braerstudio.com STAIN Donna Stain likes to think of her flowers as performance events, paying the kind of attention to detail that evokes an emotional reaction. By featuring unusual varieties and unusual combinations, Donna is casting flowers in new ways with her striking ‘botanical art’ arrangements. You might find a bed of sprawling orange marigolds carpeting the ground. A stylised tree of mandarins espaliered against a wall. Or floral arrangements that reach new heights with drama in tall, statuesque obelisk compositions and columns of hanging Gloriosa lilies. Anna Spiro is a big fan.  stain.design  HOBART JARDINE BOTANIC If you like your flowers to look as natural as possible, not as if they’ve come out of a glasshouse, Jardine Hansen’s loose, freeform arrangements will strike a chord. The emphasis is on botanical varieties and the look of haphazard, wildly spontaneous arrangements. Jardine offers floral stylings for weddings, events, corporate spaces and private homes acrossTasmania, Sydney and the NSW Blue Mountains. jardinebotanic.com.au Think like an artist – look for the beauty and possibilities at hand. Photo: Sean Anthony Pritchard STYLING TIPS & TRICKS The vase is vital. The best have a belly and a neck, but build up your own collection of shapes: jars, jugs, low bowls, sugar basins, shells, tureens, glass goblets, high urns and old teapots. Match flowers to the receptacle Flowers don’t stand straight in nature, so they need a vessel that allows them to tilt and cross over. You want your flowers to look as natural as possible, not as if they have come from a glasshouse. Pick what’s in season Be confident and imaginative with what’s available locally. Choose seasonal blooms with a scent to add sensory delight to a room. Use low, pretty milk jugs and place the blooms on a desk or a side table where they can fill the whole room with their scent. Play with colours and textures. Think like an artist – look for the beauty and possibilities at hand. You can stick to one or two hues for maximum impact. (The more elaborate the arrangement, the less you look at the individual flowers.) Allow space for each bloom If flowers are too bunched up, their form is lost. Use a variety of flower shapes to prevent heads from banging against each other. Extend flower life Keep vase water clean, change at least every two days and keep foliage out of it. You don’t have to fill a vase to the brim. It often looks more elegant half or a quarter full. Magic happens with just a few magnolia or cherry blossom branches and orchids. Its distinctive aesthetic is sculptural, playful and fiercely modern works that are also often defined by their height or their width. In their stretch there is optimism.  TIPS How to arrange flowers & get proportions right • Unbalanced arrangements can distract from the overall beauty. Place larger flowerheads low and in the centre of an arrangement. • Flowers should be roughly one-and-a-half times the height of their vase if the arrangement is tall, and one-and-a-half times the width, if it’s low. • Always arrange your flowers in the room they will be placed to see the exact size and shape of the space you have to fill. • Don’t put large flowers one above the other, nor side-by-side. Allow some air through your arrangements – tight little topiaries are a no-no! • Uneven numbers of flowers make the best arrangements. Even numbers look too geometric.  Our favourite flowers – We love anything fresh and in season. Favourites include roses, tulips, hydrangeas, anemones, ranunculus, hellebores, daffodils, freesias, cosmos, chamomile, violets, hyacinths, lily of the valley, daphne, viburnum, magnolia and blossoms (preferably white). Smoke bush and copper beech are our current go-to choices to fill big spaces. Pinning down these choices to one season is tricky as availability fluctuates due to weather, climate and other factors.  Choose seasonal blooms with a scent to add sensory delight to a room such as the Boscobel roses via Sean Anthony Pritchard. The post WHERE TO FIND EXCEPTIONAL FLOWERS IN FIVE DIFFERENT CITIES first appeared on Melissa Penfold.

Flashy indicators of affluence are easy to spot. But these often-less-expensive decor items signal true wealth in more subtle ways. The quietly ultra–rich live with subtle indicators of affluence—and most aren’t actually that expensive.  Wealthy people don’t have “stuff” The more money people have, the less cluttered their life is. Their homes are not filled with useless knickknacks. They can actually park their cars in the garage. Their homes are often downright minimalist. Look for unique and original pieces of art (not necessarily something well known or something very expensive). They opt for unassuming pieces and seemingly inconspicuous objects. These things are favoured not by the rich, but by the genuinely, generationally wealthy—forget trust funds, think family foundations. The textiles and designs are impeccable, the colours are neutral, and the finishes are subtle and logo-free. The biggest shift is toward what was once dubbed stealth wealth. Or “the classics.”  Its definition: the kind of interiors that don’t advertise their value in obvious ways (overdone decoration, logos, bright colours) but instead rely on plushness of fabric and rigor of line — on insider information rather than influencer information — to suggest value. That don’t shout, but whisper. The superrich signal domestic chic with decorative details like a $220 light switch manufactured by the English company Forbes & Lomax.  Nothing should be noticed. Discretion is a key value. Wealth is noticeable, but only to those who know what they’re looking for.  Greenwich Village house in New York by Steven Gambrel. For the average home renovator, of course, a $22 Leviton light switch from Home Depot or Bunnings does the job just fine. The elegant 1930s-style switches made of nickel, bronze and brass are house jewellery. So subtle you only notice them if you already know how expensive they are.   Nothing should be noticed. Discretion is a key value. Wealth is noticeable, but only to those who know what they’re looking for. You telegraph status without seeming to do it. Light is always honeyed. Interiors are played down, low-key.  Antiques date to 18th Dynasty Egypt. There are objects like a Gustav Klimt sketch study of a Gorgon. Chic but anonymous designs. The really wealthy want something that other people haven’t got. Something only one person on earth will have—something they can talk about at the Polo Lounge. It’s an immediate conversation starter for them.  A few witty touches? A work by Damien Hirst in the entry hall. The status symbol has swung on homes. Flaunting wealth at the highest levels is frowned upon.The homes are extensions of the owners’ presence and persona. It’s on a much different level from posting your bling on Instagram. That’s not status. That’s showing off glitz. For the ultra-wealthy, discretion is the ultimate flex. The power move is knowing where to go first, what to buy first, pivoting away from the crowd, not in any way following it and not showing off.  It’s quieter. Because money is valued. Things are quality but not usually popular designer brands. The quality of things is recognised.  Real money talks in terms of quality and privacy rather than prestige. It’s not flashy. It’s the opposite. Greenwich Village house by designer Steven Gambrel, pictured. Portraying how the ultrawealthy really live — with all their subtle signals and status cues —is not just about sprawling homes. Real money talks in terms of quality and fake money talks in terms of cost.  Their houses are not significant because they are so large and impressive, though they might certainly both, but because their extravagance has a subtlety that makes it almost understated. There’s usually a kind of quiet wealth embedded in the location that doesn’t necessarily scream at you. It’s not flashy, but it’s deeply exclusive — the kind of feature that signals a level of access and control money affords without ever needing to show off. It’s not flashy. It is the opposite. It is more about quality and privacy than prestige. The houses are often imposing, yes, but also strangely intimate — a place that could hold both grandeur and silence. They feel like they have a history, even if they are newbuilds.  Stone walls and cedar paneling to cover up some of the house’s bare walls, and he was responsible for details like art and furniture and a $300 toaster.  Most have no need to impress anyone. You’d be surprised how the very wealthy, live on a day-to-day basis. They have money and power and status, but their lives are more mundane and normal than you’d think. They’re eating from Ikea plates.  People who have a lot of money often have certain habits. They also tend to buy multiples of everything. They just want to be sure that no matter what they need, it’ll be ready for them. Lots of plates. Lots of glasses.  They might have the same plate in white and blue and striped — probably 40 or 50 of them.  On TikTok, moguls flaunt wealth conspicuously—the crystal is Austrian, the marble gleams so brightly you can see it from space. But the quietly ultra-rich live with subtler indicators of affluence—and most aren’t actually that expensive. Here, some comparisons. You telegraph status without seeming to do it. Light is always honeyed. Interiors are classic. Greenwich Village house by Steven Gambrel. Showy: Sferra Giza 45 Egyptian Cotton Sheets, which range from $788-$2,713 for a single flat sheet, have garnered over 35.6 million TikTok mentions—more for their extraordinary price point than their softness.  Discreet: For British royal residences,  London & Avalon’s Heritage Egyptian Cotton Sheets ($204-$277 per flat sheet), and has them embroidered with a stripe across the bottom corner: red for king-size, blue for queen. “True luxury is time,” said Charles, “so why not save it?” Showy: For $399, Venus et Fleur yokes 42-49 identical preserved roses into a branded satin box. Noted in a description of Paris Hilton’s home in Tatler magazine. Discreet: Buy any local flowers two days before visitors arrives so they have time to open and wilt a little. In her New York apartment, Fendi heiress and fine art adviser Paola Saracino Fendi apparently  sets her humble bouquet in a vintage Roseville pottery vase ($200-$500).  Showy: All-white Diptyque Gardenia candles ($76 for 6.5 ounces) boast the heady scent of the flower, as seen in Architectural Digest tours of Kim Kardashian’s home. Discreet: Soul Cycle founder Elizabeth P. Cutler tells us she stocks up on Flamingo Estate’s Roma Heirloom Tomato Room Spray ($58 for 4 ounces), a lighter version of Loewe’s cultish tomato-scent line, with notes of tarragon and citrus as well as the uncanny after-aroma of a tomato vine in summer. The houses are often imposing, yes, but also strangely intimate — a place that could hold both grandeur and silence. They feel like they have a history, even if they are newbuilds.  Greenwich Village house by Steven Gambrel. Showy: Hollywood types take to social media to tout the “electrolyte-balancing” benefit of cooking with Pink Himalayan Sea Salt.   Discreet: “You know someone has a trained personal chef when there’s a giant box of kosher salt in the kitchen,” said Licia Householder, a trusted cook for Morgan Stanley VPs and their families during summer in the Hamptons. When working, Householder loads her car with boxes of stuff. Kosher salt which is less salty than other types, so there’s more control over the taste. Showy: Staged for real estate ads, the skyscraper penthouses on New York’s Billionaires’ Row sport vaguely art deco crystal chandeliers (those from Lalique run about $114,000). Discreet: Modernist metal lamps like those from Oluce (about $1,975) light the Miami Beach and Hamptons homes of Melissa Barrett MacLean, a partner at AOI Capital and former design director at Harper’s Bazaar and Elle Decor.  The post 5 DISCREET SIGNS YOU’RE IN A WEALTHY PERSON’S HOME first appeared on Melissa Penfold.

If you want to understand what’s going to be big in design this year, peer into the world’s psyche. When the world was scared and isolated during the Covid shutdown, we decorated for comfort. This year, weary and worried after a stretch of inflation and political uncertainty, people are craving growth, playfulness and optimism at home. The places we live must be humble, while paradoxically offering indulgence, with interiors that are honest and down to earth but also manage to put on a show, and keep us entertained.  Among the predictions in VML Intelligence’s “The Future 100: 2025” annual decor trend report….sprawling sectional sofas will yield to tidier seating, classic light switches are being favoured over complex smart home technology.  People want things that are easy to manage. We want fun and are embracing dupe culture phenomenon and design imitations along the way. Luxury garages are taking centre stage as proud car owners elevate them to bespoke showroom standard with luxury parking solutions.  Apparently they are called “gallery spaces rather than garages” and there’s a noted  shift in material choices. 2025 will be a year of paradoxes, where advanced technology meets digital disconnection, where the prolonged challenges of the “cost-of-living” collide with political turbulence and climate breakdown, and we seek to find that delicate balance between resonance with restraint in the places we live. In addition, it’s time to prepare for new realities—by our own imaginations and by technology that conjures next-level imagined worlds for us to live in. As people are faced with unsettling issues, they are proactively creating a reality that makes sense to them—one that is imaginative and optimistic. This is a time when anything we imagine can be realized. 2025 is the year of possibilities. In financially challenging times, the places we live must be humble, while paradoxically offering indulgence. Photo: Armadillo-Co. Last year, seeking respite from a fast-paced world, people strived to find space to think more purposefully about their lives. That desire has evolved into a yearning for tactile activities and for finding connection through peaceful solitude. There is a renewed focus on the intuitive self. Get ready for affordable affluence. With increasing workloads and rising costs, homes are an opportunity to integrate self-care. We desire spaces that aim to engage all of the senses.  Photo: Eyeswoon. Against a backdrop of chaos and change, people are keen to connect to their intuitive selves. Most of us are less present these days because of increased technology. We are actively looking to buy or own less stuff as a lifestyle choice. We are prioritising sleep, wanting to spend more time in nature and make time for mindfulness. The very boundaries of what it means to be human are shifting. We like the idea of a really long and healthy life. That means more than 100 years. Experts believe we have a shot at experiencing better things. Homes that can offer simplicity and much-needed respite will resonate with people who wish life could be simpler. Photo: Jeremiah Brent. Join us for a look at 2025’s game-changing trends across the home to keep you future-ready.  A wave of new neutrals makes headlines as colour specialists rally understated hues that evoke comfort, harmony, and nature. Photo: Armadillo-Co. Elemental Elegance  A warm, rich, and grounding sentiment drives the year ahead. We’re returning to the natural dyes found in old tapestries, the hues born from gemstones,” said Robin Standefer, of New York’s Roman and Williams in WSJ’s 2025 trend report. Think terracotta, oxidized reds, warm ochres, velvety browns.  Particularly popular among the cognoscenti: aubergine, plum and merlot, that evoke comfort, harmony, and nature. There will be a big shift of warm, homely palettes onto walls. Mocha Mousse, a rich, chocolatey brown, is the Pantone colour of 2025. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Colour Institute, says the colour is “underpinned by our desire for everyday pleasures.” Make way for murals as there is a greater sense of playfulness and a push towards individualism in interiors. Photo: Jeremiah Brent and Nate Berkus Fifth Avenue apartment for Architectural Digest. Paint company, Benjamin Moore chose Cinnamon Slate, a slick and modern plum-brown, to represent 2025. Why it’s interesting? The mood for 2025 is set around enriching comforts, as well as sophistication and confidence, (that’s the understated luxury speaking up). Be prepared for a grounding experience that shifts away from maximalist glitz and bright, brash bolds to homey and humbling elegance. The Analog Movement In a backlash to the ever-more frantic pace of the digital world, analog pursuits are booming. Many of us are reaching burnout with our constant exposure to screens. We’re fed up of Zoom meetings, emails, and WhatsApp messages, and are craving in-person connection and nature. These are good for our brain and nervous system, as they engage a more mindful flow state where the focus is simply on ‘being,’ rather than a constant state of sympathetic arousal and ‘doing’. Analog activities create a primal sense of comfort and nostalgia. This is influencing the way people design their dwellings with more areas that invite you to digitally unplug, promote relaxation and meaningful connection with others. To swap screen time for real time, with beautifully curated rooms, ambient music, for enriched self fulfilment, that encourage being drawn to physical formats and pursuits. The overload of digital information and technology, means we are seeking surroundings that are about stripping back, simplifying, and allowing much-needed serenity. Photo via Armadillo-Co. Digital Simplicity People are overwhelmed by information. Our homes and lives are responding with simplicity. Information overload isn’t new. Shortly after the printing press was invented in 1440, scholars complained about the sudden deluge of material. So it is with digital. People are still feeling the strain of taking too much (but never enough) in. As an antidote, we seek surroundings that are about stripping back, simplifying, and allowing us some much-needed serenity in our living spaces. Otherwise, it’s too easy for every moment of every day to turn into the same kind of semi-distracted time. At its best, however, a home that offers simplicity promises vital forms of agency and freedom with inviting spaces, and autonomy for people to have ownership of their lives. Homes that can offer simplicity and much-needed respite will resonate with people who wish life could be simpler. Get ready for affordable affluence. Photo: Eye Swoon Robot Redux Make room for humanoid robots—they could soon be a staple in all homes. With a focus on safety, 1X, a robotics company backed by OpenAI, released a video teasing its new humanoid, Neo. Safety is the cornerstone that allows us to confidently introduce Neo Beta into homes, where it will gather essential feedback and demonstrate its capabilities in real-world settings.  Humanoid helpers were en masse at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025, showing off their advanced capabilities. In the future, every house will have a robot. The Connected Hearth  The home is becoming ever more intuitive, connected, and helpful to people of all ages. A household that could organise itself is a dream that might be nearing reality. Panasonic Well announced Umi at the Consumer Electronics Show 2025—a digital assistant that the company calls a “family wellness platform and coach.” Umi aims to build stronger families by creating healthy habits, bettering communication, simplifying organization, and alleviating the mental load of Chief Household Officers. It will give people greater independence and free time. We are prioritising sleep, wanting to spend more time in nature, make time for mindfulness, as well as friends while reducing our screen time. The very boundaries of what it means to be human are shifting. Photo: Cultiver.com Dumb tech Designers report people are increasingly rejecting smart home technology. Even things like classic light switches are being favoured over complex systems — people want knobs, not panels. One major reason for this shift is the fear of systems failing or becoming too complex to manage with doors and windows suddenly opening and staying ajar for hours until an engineer could fix the issue.  Reframing Dupes  People are embracing dupe culture phenomenon —and having some fun along the way, giving it a modern, positive, and fun twist. Those willing to embrace the idea of design imitations are also finding opportunities to democratize offerings, giving them positive status among younger generations. Proud Gen Zers seeking a bargain are celebrating brand imitations and fakes, with many saying they often seek out cheaper dupes of designs or products they like. For years, counterfeits have been a thorn in the side of brands, but now some are embracing dupe culture and fueling a new wave of comedic campaigns. Interior spaces are captivating inhabitants by reducing the noise around them and allowing simplicity to shine. Photo: Jerimah Brent Homes Showmanship  Homes can’t afford the cost of dull—it’s time to put on a show. Perhaps it’s a rebellion against the infinite reach of algorithmic marketing, or a certain righteous fed-up-ness,  but uniqueness itself appears to be having a moment as one of the interior design trends for 2025. Expect more rooms with personality, that tell stories about the people who live in the spaces. Sensory Storytelling Our homes must increasingly engage with all the senses offering immersive, memorable experiences to deepend the emotional connection and engagement to each area. Expect more rooms with personality, that tell stories about the people who live in the spaces.  Photo: House & Garden UK. Humble Interiors Some of the most successful homes are embracing the everyday while still packing an emotional—and humorous—punch. The trend of elevating life’s more humble daily moments continues to play out, offering a movement toward emotionally relatable, humorous, and humble moments at home that engages with our senses. Made by Humans The competition between AI and humans heats up in the battle for creative output. Innovations rarely change the world in the way that we imagine. So it is for AI. Designers should remember that an AI tool is a way to improve and augment creative design work, rather than carry it out for us. Undercomsumption Amid the endless social media hype cycle, the #underconsumptioncore trend is flourishing. This movement espouses—and seeks to normalize— owning less, and using what you have, instead of investing in a continual array of new things. A growing movement is promoting the virtues of consuming less. In a September 2024 post that achieved over 521,000 likes as of January 2025, Danish sustainability influencer Gittemarie Johansen discussed how “overconsumption, and influencer culture has helped normalize some pretty messed-up behavior.” She ends by stating “buy less  and stop following the influencers [who] romanticize overconsumption.” Whether motivated by finances, sustainability, or sheer overwhelm at consumer culture, a powerful voice on social media is emerging to push back against overconsumption while consumers of all ages are trying to make do with less. Millennials are all grown up and expect their homes to reflect their new life stages and spending habits, with design that is equal parts functional, convenient, empowering, and fun. Photo: Jerimiah Brent Imagined Worlds Abstract, fantastical ideas are reinvigorating design with a sense of transportive wonder. Playful, humorous, and mood-enhancing fantasy for interiors are a form of accessible escapism, and talking points that can be shared with family and friends. Wellness Should be About Curation and Personalisation Stepping into otherworldliness (and shifting between space and time) is what people desire. Homeowners are emphasizing “awesperiences”—immersive experiences that inspire a sense of wonder. Textured layering and handcrafted, warm, emotional touches are appearing more. There is more beauty in interiors that are authentic, and in a world of AI, it is nice for homes to feel warm and personal. We hope to see more of that authenticity in 2025—real photos of real people, authentic styling, and a unique, personal perspective. People are craving sensory and tactile stimulation. Bedrooms are making dreams worth remembering with next-level sleep experiences. Photo: Armadillo Prudent Pricing As purse strings tighten, home owners are diversifying how and where they shop, and designers are responding with creative offers. Shoppers are trading down and opting for cheaper product lines. Ethereal Interiors Designers are transporting interiors with mesmerizing minimalist offerings that transcend the ordinary. Interior spaces are captivating inhabitants by reducing the noise around them and allowing simplicity to shine. It’s about stripping away the extraneous and focusing on the silhouette. “Lean luxury,” or smart luxury that chops out all the frills, is impacting the global luxury industry, as economic challenges compress even affluent budgets.  Photo: House & Garden UK. Dream Bedrooms    Bedrooms are making dreams worth remembering with next-level sleep experiences. Recent research underscores the link between ample sleep quality and longevity, with bedroom design rightfully taking on a wellness bent. Crafting a room that encourages sleep goes beyond the bed, veering toward minimalism, soothing tones that naturally invite relaxation and a more anti-tech or analog approach to the space to encourage better sleep. No televisions and furniture with built-in outlets to streamline cord clutter and integrate technology are on the rise, to help avoid scrolling our screens before bedtime, a sure path to poor sleep. Adding smart lighting is another popular request, that supports circadian rhythms with warmer tones for waking up and winding down. Adding smart lighting is another popular request, that supports circadian rhythms with warmer tones for waking up and winding down. Photo: Banda Property Automatic blackout curtains are increasingly popular as well as multi-tiered, multi-layered window treatments such as blinds and Roman shades, that allow people to control the amount of daylight unlike using one layer of blackout curtains. A good night’s sleep goes beyond the bed. Photo: Vogue Living Tamsin Johnson new renovation of Rae’s Wategos Mid-life Consumerism  Maturing millennials have more spending power than ever before and their exacting tastes are impacting their dwellings. Millennials are all grown up and expect their homes to reflect their new life stages and spending habits, with design that is equal parts functional, convenient, empowering, and fun. Lean Luxury  “Lean luxury,” or smart luxury that chops out all the frills, is impacting the global luxury industry, as economic challenges compress even affluent budgets. More than a third of consumers are cutting back on spending on themselves, even among those on higher incomes. Gen Z Consumers are increasingly embracing a more relaxed, practical style, moving away from the opulence preferred by previous generations. This generation are focused on self-expression and personal satisfaction. Their purchasing decisions are more thoughtful and centred around cost-effectiveness, emphasizing everyday usability, the experience behind consumption, and the community aspects of their choices—eschewing the display of social status through prominent luxury brand symbols, a hallmark of their parents’. High-end purchases for our abodes signal a thoughtful, understated, and relaxed approach to luxury. eyeswoon.com.au Elevated Parking Luxury garages take centre stage as proud car owners elevate them to bespoke showroom standard with luxury parking solutions. Today’s garages are evolving to accommodate not only expanding car collections but also additional spaces, that can be viewed through a large window. Apparently they are called “gallery spaces rather than garages” and there’s a noted  shift in material choices for garages. Resin floors, central turntables, and high-gloss black ceilings designed to reflect the cars below are new features.  Today, it’s all about creating dramatic backdrops. Traditional concrete floors have also been replaced by hand-poured resin, available in any colour. This material protects car tires and resists dirt and oil. Recessed lighting integrated into the floors makes the cars look as though they are floating. For high-net-worth individuals, the pursuit is not just high-end luxury, but also personalization and privacy.” These trends in garage design reflect the growing desire for unique, private, and personalized living spaces. A movement toward truly idiosyncratic, human-centred architecture with a personality of its own aims to elicit a positive and uplifting response.  House & Garden UK Joyful Architecture The idea of architecture that uplifts is taking hold. Ditching “boring” buildings for emotionally engaging and meaningful ones is a new idea being championed by architectural practices. The chief proponent of this concept is Thomas Heatherwick, creator of the Humanise campaign, which the architect says is about making cities “more joyful and engaging through the design of buildings.” The campaign is about sensitizing people to the negative impacts of boring buildings on our health and wellbeing, as a lack of visual complexity increases cortisol levels, causing higher levels of stress. A movement toward truly idiosyncratic, human-centred architecture with a personality of its own aims to elicit a positive and uplifting response. People are on a mission to engage their senses and want buildings they visit that spark positive emotions and get their neurotransmitters pumping. The post NON-OBVIOUS MEGA DESIGN TRENDS: HOW TO SEE WHAT OTHERS MISS first appeared on Melissa Penfold.