Designing with Tone and Texture: Creating Cohesive, Material-Led Interiors with Bone Made
Bone Made is an interior design studio recognised for spaces that balance earthy warmth with a refined, sophisticated feel, guided by a focus on considered, long-lasting design. As part of our recent collaboration on the Coastal Layers Residence, we had the opportunity to see this approach translated into a finished space. In this conversation, we explore Bone Made’s perspective on designing with tone and texture, and share practical insights for creating homes that feel cohesive, personal and thoughtfully resolved.
For homeowners starting a renovation or new build, what is the best place to begin when thinking about materials and overall interior direction?
The process we strongly follow is establishing a strong concept for the project from the very beginning. How do you want the home to feel? Are there original Architectural elements or details to pay homage to? What season of your life are you in with your family? A strong concept sets you up for success, allowing you to refer back to it throughout the design process. Following on from establishing a concept, a beautiful finishes and fixtures palette can be layered up.
How can people create a home that feels cohesive without everything feeling too matched or overly styled?
It's vital to have balance amongst your palette, as well as within the selection of furniture and artwork. If the concept direction of the project is to showcase an overly warm, earthy and rich finishes palette; having some lightness or elements of cooler tones assists in creating some contrast and balance.
When working with neutral or tonal palettes, what are some ways to still create interest and depth within a space?
Texture is a great way to inject additional layers, depth and interest to a neutral space. For example a simply styled living room with very neutral furniture would really benefit from venetian plaster applied to the walls. Another way of bringing in contrast and depth to a tonal and neutral palette is colour and texture through furniture, rugs, artwork and objects.
"Decorative lighting can be viewed as a beautiful piece of art"
The Coastal Layers Residence bathroom by Bone Made, featuring the Dusked Eos Wall Light
How does lighting shape the way materials and finishes are experienced within a space?
Lighting is an incredible way to highlight finishes and materials and can really create a different lens. For example, a wall light can wash light down a tiled wall and really highlight intricate details of the tile whilst creating moodiness and ambience within a space.
What should homeowners consider when choosing decorative lighting so it feels connected to the overall interior, not like an afterthought?
Decorative lighting can be an overlooked element and it is important to implement it into the design from the early stages of your project. Decorative lighting can be viewed as a beautiful piece of art, or assist in highlighting beautiful textures and finishes within a finished space. It also assists in creating mood and ambience within a space.
Within the Coastal Layers Residence, how did you think about lighting in relation to the material palette and overall mood of the home?
Our aim for the project was to feel warm, light and airy yet refined. The home looks over one of Sydney's beautiful Northern Beaches so we did want to bring some subtle coastal and organic elements into the design. In every space, we considered lighting to assist in enhancing the selected finishes palette, adding additional warmth to the space but also unique form to the areas too.
The Coastal Layers Residence kitchen by Bone Made, featuring the Coral Wall Light and Lumina Ceiling Lights
On the Coastal Layers Residence, how did you ensure a sense of continuity between spaces while still allowing each area to feel distinct?
Overall, each space showcased the same finishes palette, however there were some unique finishes brought into each space. For example the soft opal toned kit kat tile applied to the rangehood, the timber veneer brought into the living room fireplace joinery and the crazy pave brought into the entry / foyer.
When designing the Coastal Layers Residence, how did you approach selecting materials that would retain their appeal over time?
We selected high quality, timeless finishes for this project. A mid-toned timber engineered flooring from Tongue and Groove, venetian plaster which sweeps through the hallway down through to the living adding texture and depth to the space, and an overall subdued and neutral palette ensuring it wasn't overly bold and that it would enable longevity for the palette.
The Coastal Layers Residence dining area by Bone Made, featuring three Orb Ceramic Pendant Lights
Are there any shifts you’re seeing in how clients are approaching interiors, materials or lighting right now?
We've seen a positive shift with ambient and mood lighting rather than overhead / task lighting. For example, downlights used to be all the rage and typically installed over every kitchen, living and dining space. We are finding more wall lighting, pending / zone lighting and ambient lighting for spaces are being utilised more which is so nice to see.
Photography: Nat Spada Photography
