Travels inspire Wanderlust Collection
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Launching a furniture collection is no small feat. It takes a lot of planning to ensure that the pieces all work together cohesively.
I was thrilled when I was asked by the team at Urban Barn to work with them on designing a collection. This was a dream project and Urban Barn is a great Canadian company. I thought we could create a collection together that was not only beautiful but approachable.
It started almost two years ago when we first sat down to see how this would work. From the moment we started our talks, I had a clear vision of what the collection would look like and so Wanderlust was born.
I named the collection Wanderlust because I am always inspired by my travels and find that pieces from different parts of the world really help to add character and personality to spaces.
"I know I wanted a mix of styles in the collection but also wood tones. The mango wood in a light finish helps to modernize the traditional qualities of the console table and I also feel because of its length, makes it feel less heavy in a space," says Alykhan Velji. Courtesy, Joel KlassenPhoto by Joel Klassen /jpg
"The curved form of the chairs provides a modern edge and softness to the collection, which is repeated in many pieces in the collection," says Alykhan Velji. Courtesy, Joel KlassenPhoto by Joel Klassen /jpg
"We wanted to infuse a nod to the traditional, and this rug does just that. The warm colour also works with the whole collection," says Alykhan Velji. Courtesy, Joel KlassenPhoto by Joel Klassen /jpg
"The coffee table and side table definitely have a tribal quality to them, taking inspiration from my time growing up in Africa. I love how sculptural they are," says Alykhan Velji. Courtesy, Joel KlassenPhoto by Joel Klassen /jpg
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For me, designing is all about making spaces look like they have been curated over time, having a mix of pattern and texture, and ensuring each space is timeless. This comes with a careful edit of furnishings, fabrics and accessories. Each piece in the collection has been carefully selected and edited to ensure that they can all work together but also stand alone. From the dark wood tones that provide richness, the soft curves that are repeated in the collection to add softness, and hammered metal finishes that add a handmade quality to the collection, Wanderlust has been a labour of love.
Approachability when it comes to a design was top of mind when designing this collection. Each piece is versatile and works with so many different design styles. There is a mix of modern, traditional and a hint of midcentury in the collection, and I love that mix. It’s that mix that has become my signature and I wanted to make sure that it showed through in the collection.
The Wanderlust Collection was launched online in January and in stores in February. See the collection at www.UrbanBarn.com.
Alykhan Velji is the founder and principal of Alykhan Velji Designs, a residential and commercial design studio in Calgary.
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