Interior design trends have taken us on a global adventure in the past few months, with key styles reflective of nations and traditions from all over the world.
While the clean-lined beauty of Scandinavian minimalism has been a strong influence on Western design for years, it has been a fun style adventure to see the introduction of palettes, silhouettes and details from less recognized places come into play more recently.
Last year I had the incredible fortune to embark on a six-week solo trip exploring Morocco. As a designer, I was in full sensory overload. The vibrancy of the colours, textured details and layered aesthetics stole my heart and I returned home with a freshly inspired eye for both my own home as well as the clients I work with.
Local globetrotter Chessa Osburn is likewise inspired by her travels and founded her curated online marketplace Twenty One Tonnes by marrying her passion for beautiful designs with her advocacy for international development. It’s become the go-to destination for finding treasures from around the world and gaining insight into what other cultures are coveting and creating in terms of home decor and style.
Together with partner Mary Jane Bolton, Osborn strives to do business in a way that supports tradition, sustainability and local economies. Twenty One Tonnes works with small family businesses and indigenous artisans when importing pieces to the Vancouver market, sourcing authentic designs made with natural and recycled materials.
I love perusing the unique goods the design duo brings to our city. I am able to restock some of my favourite finds from my Morocco travels and explore new designs from emerging artists in other countries. Best of all, the collections are small and limited, so each piece is unique.
This weekend, Twenty One Tonnes will be hosting a pop-up shop at Little Mountain Shop on Main Street, giving Vancouverites another opportunity to have a hands-on experience with their treasures.
The pop-up will offer some of the global treasures that followers of the brand have come to love, such as babouche slippers, hand-woven baskets and rustic doum stools. But it will also feature fresh collections from around the world, including traditional Aleppo soap from France, woven hats from Ghana and cool pieces from the U.S. such as table linens by San Francisco artist Jen Garrido and an exclusive line of ceramic cups designed in collaboration with Notary Ceramics of Portland, Ore.
• Little Mountain Shop is located at 4386 Main St.; the Twenty One Tonnes pop up runs May 27-28, 10am-6pm. Twenty One Tonnes also has an online boutique at www.twentyonetonnes.com
