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Memphis

 

This month, our stylists are inspired by the comeback of an old trend in a new form, the Memphis trend. This trend celebrates whimsical patterns and thick, black lined geometrics in bold colours with contrasting softer pastels. The trend which was prevalent in the 80’s has made a mainstream comeback and was highlighted also during the Milan Design week 2018. This modern look has a fresh and graphical approach with crisp and symmetrical lines.

What is the Memphis style?

The Memphis style takes its name from the Memphis Group, a Milan-based Italian design group, led by architect Ettore Sottsass. They started this design movement as a reaction to the sleek, smooth and black designs from the 70’s. Their designs were inspired by Art-Deco, Bauhaus, Pop Art and electronic imageries, resulting in colourful and characteristic designs. The name Memphis was coined as an ode to the song “Stuck Inside of the Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again).

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Colour palette

The colour palette brings bright bold colours with a mixture of softer pastels. The main colours used are vibrant and fresh tones of pink, blue and yellow. The graphical details and the balancing neutrals are black and grey.

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Styling Tips:

  • Beautiful renditions of this style can be seen in a range of interior accessories, including small furniture, lighting and lamps and tableware. Adding a playful touch with Memphis inspired accessories will create an immediate colour and style boost in your interiors.
  • This style can look quite over the top, and if you would like to keep your living room more subtle, go for the wash-room or a part of the hall way or kitchen to create an eclectic vibe to your interior.
  • Memphis styled patterns also emphasize depths in geometry, making them also usable for walls to add an optical depth.
  • You can liven up your living room by adding Memphis styled colours on your fauteuil or with cushions in contrasting patterns and colours.
  • Use colour palettes that bring dynamism and whimsical feel; mix bold primary colours with soft pastels and patterns that contrast in their symmetry with geometrical mixed with abstract forms. Black remains an important part of this palette to add to the boldness.
  • Other primary colours like red and green and bright tones of orange are also popular ‘Memphis’ tones. The new versions of this trend include more pastels in the palette.

Kobe’s plains like Cotton, Chacar, Scala, Volterra and Ravenna offer a wide range of primary and pastel colours. Patterns like Capto, Gabra, Beja, Helene, Oster and Balsamo are easy to combine with these plains to create a Memphis inspired theme. For upholstery with geometrical patterns, use Florian or Jules from Boutique Upholstery collections.