June 02, 2021 / RJ Living

Room With a View - Chatting all things AW21 with the Città design team

For many years, New Zealand brand Città has produced stunning homeware and furniture pieces. Twice a year, their seasonal releases express a fresh perspective across their entire range, with their Auckland based design team drawing from fresh inspirations both local and international.

With 2020 bringing strict lockdowns, the Città AW21 Room With a View collection was a creative process unlike any other. We chatted to Imogen Tunnicliffe, Head of Textile & Product Design, and Sophie Clapson, Textile and Product Designer about their approach to creating this latest collection.

How did designing the collection during lockdown affect the end result?


Each collection begins with a seasonal colour palette. Room With A View draws inspiration from our surroundings, so naturally, this lent itself towards more earthy, muted colours. However, while in lockdown and with so much uncertainty surrounding us, we felt a shift towards more playful and bold colours. Colours that give us a sense of joy and optimism; such as Cobalt, Spirulina and Mandarin. It is interesting to view the collection as a whole, as you can really see where this shift happened during the design process.

David Moreland - Head of Furniture & Product Design (back left), Sophie Clapson - Textile & Product Designer (back right), Nikolai Sorensen - Furniture & Product Designer (front left), Imogen Tunnicliffe - Head of Textile & Product Design (front right)

What were the biggest influences/inspirations for this collection?


For this collection, we took inspiration from the New Zealand landscape but also abstract representations of the land by New Zealand artists. The land has always played a pivotal role in the arts in New Zealand, and we found a wealth of information and inspiration in this way.

From here we started thinking about our own experiences with the land, and a portion of the collection was inspired by memories of remote tramping experiences, long road trips, and family holidays.


What materials are you loving the most in this collection?


We used recycled silk for our Edmund and Mabel cushions, which was a first for us. These yarn off-cuts would have otherwise ended up as waste, so it was exciting to be able to breathe some new life into this material. We often put a lot of thought and energy into getting colours just right, however, with wastage yarn the colour has already been chosen for you. This resulted in unexpected yet fun and interesting colour combinations that we may not have otherwise thought of.

How do you ensure that the collection is fresh but also within the Città DNA?


We are constantly checking in with ourselves to ensure that what we are designing is on-brand. Sometimes we are faced with having to move away from a design, or colour combination that we love because we feel it really is outside of our brand aesthetic – which can be hard!

Colour can always add newness to a collection too, and we can be fairly adventurous here, as long as the patterns, textures and materials are true to our aesthetic.


What is the piece from the collection that you’re most proud of?


Sophie: "I am most proud of the Cabin cushion covers and (yet to be released) blankets. The Cabin design is a nod to the past, inspired by classic wool blankets found in quintessential New Zealand beaches and cabins. The bold and alluring colours offer a modern take on the old classic blankets many of us grew up within New Zealand."

Imogen: "I love the Shoal and Drift cushion covers. These designs are abstract representations of water patterns in rivers and streams and I love the fluid connection between the two designs. They are handwoven in India using jute and cotton, and the rawness of the materials really add another dimension to the designs."

Shop the Citta Range

Products mentioned
Vendor:
RJ Living

Ambience 6 Drawer Chest - Oak

Free Shipping Using Code FREESHIP500

Regular price $2,299
Regular price Sale price $2,299
Vendor:
RJ Living

Harmony Queen Bed II - Oak

Free Shipping Using Code FREESHIP500

Regular price $1,999
Regular price Sale price $1,999
Vendor:
Karpenter
Regular price $4,279.20
Regular price $5,349 Sale price $4,279.20

SALE 20% OFF

End Of Line

Vintage Chest 6 Drawers - Teak Vintage Chest 6 Drawers - Teak
Vendor:
Karpenter

Vintage Bedside Table Large - Oak

Free Shipping Using Code FREESHIP500

Regular price $815
Regular price Sale price $815
Vendor:
Karpenter

Vintage Bedside Table Large - Teak

Free Shipping Using Code FREESHIP500

Regular price $735
Regular price Sale price $735
Vendor:
Karpenter

Solid Queen Bed - Oak

Free Shipping Using Code FREESHIP500

Regular price $3,665
Regular price Sale price $3,665
Vendor:
Karpenter

Solid Queen Bed - Teak

Free Shipping Using Code FREESHIP500

Regular price $3,645
Regular price Sale price $3,645
Vendor:
Karpenter

Solid Bedside Table - Oak

Free Shipping Using Code FREESHIP500

Regular price $565
Regular price Sale price $565
Vendor:
Karpenter

Solid Chest 3 Drawers - Oak

Free Shipping Using Code FREESHIP500

Regular price $3,065
Regular price Sale price $3,065
Vendor:
Karpenter

Solid Chest 3 Drawers - Teak

Free Shipping Using Code FREESHIP500

Regular price $3,135
Regular price Sale price $3,135

Related articles

Essence of an Era - New Upholstery Collection
October 18, 2023
Essence of an Era - New Upholstery Collection
Elevated, luxurious living is at the core of three brand new upholstery designs we are proud to introduce. Read More
The Well-Accessorised Bedroom: Enhancing Your Space with Stylish Décor and Finishing Touches
August 17, 2022
The Well-Accessorised Bedroom: Enhancing Your Space with Stylish Décor and Finishing Touches
A well-accessorised bedroom not only adds a touch of elegance and style but also helps to create a relaxing and comfortable space where you can unwind after a long day.  Read More
January 03, 2022
Trade Event