Locally inspired home trends for the changing season

Small tiles, big personality

Square tiles are having a moment – and not the glossy white kind. We’re talking food-inspired shades: mustard, burgundy, olive, deep green. Colours that feel warm, dramatic, but not overpowering.

They work beautifully in kitchens and bathrooms, but you don’t need to re-tile an entire room to lean in. A tiled coffee table, plinth or side table can feel just as impactful – and far more achievable for renters or commitment-phobes.

Grout matters more than you think. Soft white or ecru keeps things fresh, while a pastel version of your tile colour feels playful. A subdued contrast – say, mustard grout with a wine-red tile – makes everything pop. For local inspiration, step inside Bar Monte and take notes.

Walnut is the new neutral

For the past few years, our timber palette has been light and coastal – blackbutt, pale pine, cool ash. This autumn, things are deepening. Enter walnut.

It’s darker without feeling heavy, rich without skewing red. The beauty of walnut is that it acts as a grounding neutral. It makes creamy whites look softer, tiled colours feel richer and metallic finishes – like brushed brass or chrome – stand out in the best way.

If you want to see it done well, book a table at Cadillac Supper Club. The mood is intimate but not gloomy – proof that darker timbers can still feel very Gold Coast.

Marble, done differently

Love marble but bored of the classic black-and-white combo? We all are. The new wave of stone is expressive – cherry reds, deep greens, cool browns and creamy bases with dramatic veining.

If bold colour feels like too much, ease in with beige or ecru marble threaded with brown or charcoal veins. It’s softer than stark white Carrara but still timeless. Used on a vanity, island bench or even a tray or lamp base, it adds instant polish.