FOUR DESIGN MOODS DEFINING LUXURY INTERIORS IN 2025
From coastal minimalism to Modern Gatsby glamour, these are the seasonal design moods shaping how we live.
2 min
A change of season brings more than a shift in weather. It transforms how we feel, live and move through our homes. And in 2025, that shift is showing up in our interiors.
According to Diana Altiparmakova, Head of Product and Marketing at Luxaflex Window Fashions, the emerging trend is intentional seasonality, which creates spaces that feel cosy and grounding in winter, then light, breezy, and open as the weather warms.
Research shows curtains remain the most popular window treatment, particularly in bedrooms and living areas, with nearly one-third of homeowners now opting for motorised or automated solutions. It’s a sign of design becoming more intelligent and atmospheric.
Here are four of the key design moods that are shaping the next chapter of Australian interiors.
1. Mocha Mousse
A rich, neutral tone inspired by Pantone’s 2025 Colour of the Year, Mocha Mousse is all about comfort and warmth. This palette pairs beautifully with antique whites, soft clays and arid desert tones, and invites layering — both in colour and texture.
“Rich, grounded tones bring warmth and nourishment for the mind, body and soul,” says Altiparmakova. Think soft throws, velvet headboards, natural fibres and curved furniture. Silhouette Shadings and sheer curtain layers are ideal companions, balancing visual weight with ethereal softness.
2. Luxe Farmhouse
Classic symmetry, layered neutrals, and a clean, considered palette, Luxe Farmhouse blends traditional charm with modern restraint. Think antique whites, muted greys and tonal linen, layered with deep tan or matte black accents.
“Sheer curtains work beautifully here,” says Altiparmakova. “They softly diffuse sunlight to brighten interiors while offering subtle privacy—perfect for both summer and winter living.” Pair soft fabrics with raw finishes for depth and dimension.
3. Modern Gatsby
Bold, elegant and full of texture, this look fuses vintage glamour with contemporary sharpness. Deep jewel tones, such as garnet red and mustard gold, play hero against rich fabrics and metallic touches.
“Modern Gatsby is about drama with discipline,” says Altiparmakova. The Vivid Curtain collection brings a textured, vintage elegance that works well in both classic and modern spaces.
4. Coastal Canvas
Forever timeless in Australian design, the coastal look is getting an upgrade. Think less beach shack, more curated calm. This theme centres around soft blues, muted greens and sandy neutrals, paired with natural materials and softly diffused light.
“Layering curtains and blinds is key,” says Altiparmakova. “Pairing sheer curtains with Duette Shades introduces softness, insulation and flexibility — essential for comfort across seasons.” Floor-to-ceiling treatments create height and elegance, while automation makes adjusting to light and temperature effortless.”
For Central Element, the start of work at Pearl represents another step in the company’s growing eastern suburbs pipeline.
All three vehicles will form part of a broader charitable initiative benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the American Red Cross and Starlight Children’s Foundation
Apple’s first foldable, the $1,999 iPhone Duo, combines an iPhone and iPad Mini experience—but its size, weight and price come with compromises.
4 min
As I watched a Netflix show on Apple’s first foldable, the iPhone Duo, I had two surprising thoughts.
The first: Maybe I don’t need my iPad Mini anymore.
The second: Uh oh, am I about to spend $1,999 on a phone?
I didn’t think folding phones were for me. I’ve been testing Android versions from Samsung and Google since 2019, and those early editions came with too much screen and too many compromises.
Fast forward seven years, and the technology has come a long way. Apple—in its very Apple way—has also come up with some hardware and software trickery to make up for some shortcomings of the basic design. My desire for a folding phone before today was zero. After today, it’s a lot more than zero.
I’m not ready to recommend the Duo, which ships on Oct. 23, just yet. Not until I am able to test it more fully, so be on the lookout for that review in a few weeks. But from what I experienced at Apple Park on Wednesday, I could actually picture myself using this new half-phone, half-tablet hybrid.
Crease camouflage
For months, I’ve been using Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, a similarly squat, passport-shaped foldable that opens up to a larger screen. It’s impressively thin and can easily fit into the infuriatingly tiny pockets in women’s pants and dresses. Samsung did a lot of work to minimize the crease—the dip between the two halves of the big interior display—but it’s still clearly there.
When I held the iPhone Duo open, the crease was barely visible. As I slid my finger across the display, I could feel it, but it’s more subtle than Samsung’s. Most of the time, the screen looked as flat and smooth as the one on an iPad.
Apple employed both software and hardware techniques to camouflage the crease. The matte surface of the interior 7.6-inch screen minimizes reflections to hide it. (Samsung’s Fold 8 screen is shiny.)
And as you begin to open or close the iPhone Duo, the interface shifts the controls and content away from the center crease. If, say, you’re watching a video on the outer screen, you can open the Duo to switch to the bigger display within. A black fade marks the transition. You don’t see the video full screen until the phone is completely flat.
Heavy handed
My second observation was that, when the Duo is closed, in phone mode, it was harder to use one-handed than I expected.
In the keynote trailer and press release, Apple touted how thin the Duo is. It’s marketed as the thinnest iPhone ever—when open.
But it’s actually thicker and heavier than most of its Android competitors. The Duo weighs 254 grams, and is 11.3 millimeters thick when closed. The Samsung Galaxy Fold 8 is just 201 grams, with a thickness of 9.7 millimeters. Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold is 239 grams and 10.1 millimeters.
Because the Duo is also wider than a standard iPhone, I found it quite a challenge to type.
I admit, I do have smaller-than-average hands. So I consulted my colleague Rolfe Winkler, who has a larger grip. He agreed the Duo feels big.
Apple rearranged the interface on the outer screen so it looks different than traditional iPhones. The dock and control center are off to the right to be more reachable. Committing to the Duo as your main device will require adjustments in your handling. You will have to learn a new way to use and type.
Work and play
My most surprising takeaway? I feel a pull toward this device.
I always thought that combining an iPhone and an iPad would mean bigger compromises. The battery life is about the same as the 18 Pro (up to 24 hours of “regular use” on a single charge), though I’ll need to verify that in my real-world testing. And it’s also as durable, with the same IP68 dust- and water-resistance rating as the rest of the iPhone lineup.
There are trade-offs, for sure. Trying out the camera, I immediately missed the 8X zoom in my Pro model. The Duo has just 2X zoom, which wouldn’t cut it for the dozens of pictures I take of my kid every day.
But the dual screens unlock new photo functionality. You can see what your shot looks like from the outside screen. As someone who has tried tirelessly to self-direct a family photo—or a spouse—I am very eager to try this out more.
Foldables, I initially thought, were for classic mobile-warrior jet-setter types, who never sit at a desk and are always on calls. For that crowd, the Duo can run two apps side-by-side.
Me, I’m more of a bed binge-watcher and ebook reader. That’s what my beloved iPad Mini is for.
Watching videos on the Duo is a nice experience—nice enough that you forget the screen is 0.7 inches smaller than the iPad Mini’s. The main screen is also a 4:3 aspect ratio. Very similar, by the way, to the IMAX edition of the Odyssey.
Because I wasn’t able to snag a ticket to one of the sold-out screenings, I will be watching Christopher Nolan’s version of Homer’s epic on the Duo, just as the director intended. (Just kidding! Sort of.)
The Duo costs $800 more than an iPhone 18 Pro, and I’m not sure I want to spend that premium on a first-generation Apple device. But I’m not ruling out the idea that a Duo might one day be in my future. Stay tuned for my full review.
Margot Robbie may have travelled from a Queensland farm to the highest reaches of Hollywood, but a reported $28 million property deal suggests the Gold Coast has never lost its hold on her. The Australian actor and producer is believed to be the mystery buyer of Redwood, a seven-acre Currumbin Valley estate transformed into the …
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Mirzaian is a senior director within CBRE’s Development NSW business, operating across the company’s Western Sydney and North Sydney offices
