I love unique homewares.
You know, pieces that are a little out of the ordinary in the best way possible. The most successful decor gems are the ones that, at first glance, you’re hard pressed to categorise. Some homewares you look at at know right away that they’re Scandi or coastal or industrial. Then there are pieces you have to think about. The cushions in today’s post are mind-benders in the most amazing way. They’re new designs from popular Melbourne brand Shakiraaz and you’re going to fall in love with them for a few reasons.
The first, as I’ve alluded to, is that these designs mix a few different aesthetics. Creator of the brand, Shakira Lima, tells me that this approach was a well considered one.
“This new range is based on ‘Rangoli’ designs that one sees in Indian villages,” she explains. “Created by women on the mud floors by hand, as well as a mix of Aztec motifs (that I simple love)”.
Keeping abreast of current and upcoming trends is also an important element in the research and design process, Shakira tells me. It’s that knowledge, combined with inspiration she’s encountered during overseas travels (to the likes of India and Mauritius) that birth the creations you see in this post, which are so wonderfully vibrant and have a unique, handmade feel to them (the handmade aspect is the second reason to love this brand).
“My designs are handblock and handscreen printed by me right here in Melbourne,” Shakira explains. “And some designs are handblock printed by Indian artisans. But everything is handmade and handcrafted. Each design is created with much love here in Australia”.
The frayed edging and pom pom piping are a true revelation if you ask me – and tie back into the trend research mentioned earlier. I watched designer Genevieve Gorder do a talk on design trends late last year, in which she forecasted that fray and tassels were going to be big in 2015. So it’s truly divine to see those trends making their way through in cushion designs like these.
Of her most-recent designs, Shakira tells me, “I had a lot of fun sketching them; inspired from my photographs and coming up with motifs and patterns that sit well together. In fact, I am planning on developing a range of throws with these designs a little later in the year”. Good Lord, Shakira – I cannot wait to see them!
If you’re going as batty over these designs as I am, you can hit the Shakiraaz website and grab some. Or, if you’re a fiend for a competition (who isn’t?), you can hit the comp below and go in the draw to win two cushions from Skakiraaz in your choice of design! 🙂
WIN 2 New Cushions from Shakiraaz!
To go in the draw to win 2 cushions in your choice of design:
– Click here to hit the Shakiraaz online store
– Drop a comment below naming your fave designs and why
Comp open to Aus residents only. Comp closes 11.59pm Sunday April 12
Last image in this post (or Shakira) courtesy of Stories by Salona.
I’ve been admiring (coveting!) these linens cushions on Insta for some time now. You could throw just about any of Shakira’s beautiful range at me and I would build a gorgeous room around them! BUT…my favourites are 1. Black Oatmeal Medallion Cushion and 2. the Aqua Aztec Tribal Block Print Cushion
BECAUSE…
+ Shakira has done a fantastic job of refreshing the Indian block print look
+ Linen has such a fresh, homely, dignified look and feel to it
+ I live in a coastal region, so I love having plenty of bright, sunny colours
+ I love to create fun spaces in our home to create a happy atmosphere for my small children
+ Fringe, frays and tassels?! What’s not to love?! They really help add texture.
+ This colour combination looks so coastal!
xoxo
I love them all but the two on the bottom row I absolutely adore
The Jaipuri geometric cushion in green as we have a pistachio coloured sofa on its way!
Oh my cush! Screen printing! I just love it! I work with a Art student doing a major in screen printing and so enjoy hearing about her work.
My favourite of the SHAKIRAAZ cushions is the AQUA AZTEC with trim. Yellow is my favourite colour, but my daughter loves aqua. She lives away from home so I buy her little things in aqua and have now filled my home with pieces in her favourite colour (and mine ). It just makes me happy to look around my home and know that she would see the balance of her and I.
Aztec printing and design is very much in line with the eclectic feel of my home and I just don’t think I could go past the Aqua Aztec given the chance.
Thanks so much for another opportunity to win a few pieces. You’re amaze…
Cushions are my favourite home wares. Not only are they practical, providing comfort and support on a sofa but they really do give a room a lift. The designs I love the most from Shakiraaz are the ‘Black Oatmeal Tribal Block’ and ‘Black Tribal Trellis’. They are so eye-catching with their monochrome prints and bright yellow trims. It’s that pop of colour that gets me, just enough to steal your attention without taking anything away from print itself.
I love the two in the main pic. The black and pink with the frayed fringe. Would be perfect on my black leather couch.
The cushions that yelled out – “pick me!” were the Duck Egg Blue scroll Pom Pom cushion – the colour is divine and who doesn’t love a pom pom – so much fun!!!!! And the other one’s that screamed for my attention as well – Jaipuri Geometric Cushion in Powder blue and the Duck Egg Blue Scroll cushion. And yes I LOVE blue. I find it restful and calming – which I need in my house! Too many kids and not enough cushions!
ORANGE TRIANGULAR BLOCK PRINT CUSHION and the BLACK OATMEAL TRIBAL BLOCK PRINT CUSHION are the ones i love (though i seriously love all of them) – but with these ones i love those colours together and the cushions really stand out 🙂
I love the Aztec Tribal in both the hot pink and the aqua because the colors are vibrant and they’re on trend………and well just because they’re gorgeous!
I’m obsessed with the two cushions you put at the top of your post (pink and blue). Think they’d be the perfective base for a new tribal look in my lounge 🙂