by Rosie Schulz | Feb 11, 2019 | International VM, Shopping Centre, Trends, Visual Merchandising |
An Authentic Australian Autumn “I see the turning of a leaf dancing in an autumn sun, and brilliant shades of crimson glowing when the day is done”. As Autumn approaches in Australia, instead of visions of pumpkin lattes and maple leaves, we start getting excited about the prospect of pulling out a long sleeved shirt and start to panic slightly about the end of summer weather warnings. As summer swings into autumn, the tones of chocolate brown, mustard ochre and caramel latte tones get absorbed into our clothing and home wares. Bloom We’d like to introduce autumn to you this year with the soft feathery details of pampas grass, artisan rattan light shades and a delicate mix of textures. With an eye for composition and balance, mixing textures is the perfect way to subtly introduce the autumn season with harsh surfaces symbolizing winter and the delicate finishes representing summer. We have introduced the textures of mirrored disco balls to add contrast to the soft neutral foliage. Experimentation is key with this look and play is essential. The bloom trend embraces fallen foliage such as palms and fronds instead of the classic maple leaf. For the ultimate DIY – grab a can of spray paint and coat that frond in glossy gold. Farm House Getting into the more classical autumnal style, this look focuses on weekends spent in the country with cups of tea and homemade scones. Textures include jute rugs, leather ottomans and vintage suitcases. Like any country home, the farm house look is created through the art of layering (just as you would with your clothing during...
by Rosie Schulz | Dec 6, 2018 | Christmas, Custom Design, International VM, Visual Merchandising, Window dressing |
“Meanwhile… I’m putting up more twinkle lights.” – Kathleen, You’ve Got Mail Hands up. Be honest. Who’s favourite holiday has rolled around for another year? Two hands up over here – we love Christmas! We could start listing all the things we love about the silly season; decorating the tree, dinner parties with friends, but of course, one of our favourite things is the unveiling of department store windows. We’ve searched through the cities and have found our favourite selection of dreamy, vibrant and comical Christmas displays. From Paris to New York, get ready to travel through the best festive windows of 2018. LONDON: Harrods When it comes to Christmas windows, we can’t go past the legendary Harrods. This year, the series of Harrods windows draws inspiration from our own visions of a traditional festive season; a fridge bursting with seasonal treats and parties filled with gold glitz and glamour. Designed off the concept of sensory storytelling, Harrods maintains its focus on luxury while relating to the themes that everyone loves and can relate to around the merry season. Harrods has mastered their designs by utilizing scale, repetition and colour… and also our love for roast potatoes. PARIS: Galeries Lafayette Christmas dreams became a reality this year as Galeries Lafayette Haussmann let the Parisian children bring the window characters to life from their imaginations. Children between 5 and 11 years old entered to draw their Christmas character and the winning drawings were chosen to be transformed into soft toys and displayed in the vibrant window display. The imaginative friends can be seen enjoying a Christmas party in a candy...
by Rosie Schulz | Dec 3, 2018 | Custom Design, International VM, Visual Merchandising |
Taking on a vision and brief from a client, forming a design and making it a reality is one of our favourite things to do here at VM+. For a 1-day event at the Brisbane International Airport, VM+ transformed ‘the green’ into an indoor cricket pitch. Following on from the competitive Australia vs India cricket match held at The Gabba, the BAC (Brisbane Airport Corporation) hosted a friendly rivalry with the two teams made up of representatives of the travel industry and captained by international superstars Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz. VM+ took on the task to install a 20 meter long pitch with a truss structure thoroughly covered in cricket netting, complete with sponsor signage and floor decals. The activation involved passengers before they departed on their long haul flights allowing them to sit and spectate on a tiered seating grandstand. The activation focused on tourism, Brisbane becoming a destination city and the relationship between two cultures. “Gert-Jan de Graaff BAC Chief Executive Officer said it is an exciting world-first event that not only highlights the great mateship and friendly rivalry between Australia and India, it provides a unique opportunity to strengthen and celebrate tourism between the two nations.” (BAC) See more images of this activation in our Facebook Gallery. VM+ often extends itself into creating custom builds and designing activations. We aim to create atmosphere, an escape or a visually dynamic reality. Check out what else we do here! Don’t forget to stay up to date on our social media pages – Facebook – Instagram –...
by Rosie Schulz | Oct 19, 2018 | Christmas, Corporate Christmas, Custom Design, International VM, Trends, Visual Merchandising |
“December… Saving the best till last.” One of our favourite parts of the festive season is getting to decorate our trees, adorn our homes and set the table in a different style every year. We’ve been busy venturing across the seas and travelling interstate this past year to collect ideas and bring you our favourite trends this coming Christmas. Let the magic of Christmas 2018 begin! Wabi Sabi Originating from the Japanese language, Wabi-Sabi means to accept imperfection. It is a belief and aesthetic based on recognizing that something incomplete can become beautiful. A design example we love is expanding on our connection to the earth through natural materials. This trend is taking over from the Hygge trend (the cosy contentment of simple living) and leads into a Scandinavian tone but with a focus on abandoning perfection. Focus on textures such as metal and driftwood to incorporate this beautifully flawed trend into your home this Christmas. Our go to colours: Gun-metal grey, silver, olive green and natural hues Traditional Green, red and gold. The combination of these colours has screamed Christmas for centuries. Add a few little berries to your wreath to enhance the festive ambience and decorate the tree in glitter, matte and reflective finishes for a contemporary twist. Make a statement with vibrant red velvet poinsettias or keep it familiar by dressing the house in colours reminiscent of a childhood spent waiting for Santa. From nutcracker soliders to reindeers, this iconic Christmas trend isn’t going anywhere anytime soon and we can’t wait to see how it continues to change and adapt year after year. Our go to...
by Rosie Schulz | Apr 18, 2018 | International VM, Shopping Centre, Visual Merchandising, Window dressing |
“I got it from my mama”- will.i.am Mother’s Day is a wonderful excuse for us to celebrate the incredible women in our lives. In the world of visual merchandising, May is the perfect month to jazz up your shop front, window and shopping centre with themes hinting to these special people. We’re loving sweet picnic scenes, feminine florals, bright pom pom mania and delicate neutrals inspired by the ocean. Hampton Hideaway This style ranges from coastal Hampton vibes, to Byron Bay interiors and everything deluxe and neutral. Create a display with shades of coconut creams and Aegean blues. Focus on texture and height through hanging lanterns and layering linen throws and cushions. Head out to your local river park to pick up drift wood pieces or pop into our showroom to pick up some vine twirls; perfect for a coastal inspired arrangement. Art Mania Is your mum a lawyer, fitness coach, stay-at-home mum or nurse? It doesn’t matter, because there is no denying that almost all women have a creative side (or can at least appreciate it). Tap into that energy through striking window displays featuring copious amounts of colour. Candy red, teal and violet will capture the attention of all and celebrate our art and craft mums who love to get their hands dirty. Using bright colour is a clever way to draw out a shade found in a single item being featured in a window, or just a way of capturing the attention of passers-by. Used in repetition, paper pom poms demand to be noticed, as does our delicious lollipop prop. Picnic Play Who...
by Rosie Schulz | Apr 9, 2018 | Custom Design, International VM, Visual Merchandising |
The Prop House Goes for Gold, Styling the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Athletes’ Village. “The Commonwealth Games athletes’ village looks more like a luxury resort holiday rather than one of the most competitive sporting events in the world.” says The Courier Mail. The team at The Prop House has been busy over the last few months, creating elaborate and beautiful installations for spectators and athletes to enjoy during their stay on the Gold Coast in the Athletes’ Village. With so much colour and excitement surrounding the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, The Prop House has been busy designing unique ways to celebrate the memorable event. Hosting over 6,600 athletes and officials during the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the Athletes’ Village on the Gold Coast will welcome international visitors to the Games through an extraordinary compilation of Australian themed spaces, designed by The Prop House. The talented Brisbane based design team have drawn inspiration from our country’s iconic landscape to inspire and dazzle guests at the Athletes’ Village. Specialising in custom props and creative event styling, The Prop House aims to reignite imaginations through unique, Australian themed designs. From the reef to the rainforest, installations will reflect Australia’s recognizable scenery and aims to encourage travel towards various corners of the country. Some of the themed hubs include Rainforest, Reef, Sunset, Outback, Surf and Beach. The exterior of the buildings was not forgotten, as The Prop House styled colour onto every surface possible, hanging bright lanterns and festoon lighting throughout the Village. The poolside transformed into a retreat with beanbags, hammocks and cushions galore, while the green grass invites guests to...
