New window displays - winter blues

The winter windows in the Sydney and Melbourne showrooms feature dramatic hues of indigo and deep blue.

Inspired by the age old art of Japanese indigo dyeing, the winter windows in Sydney and Melbourne reflect the relationship between the natural world which is in a constant state of flux and the permanence and strength of the colour and made product, in one case fabric and in the other brassware. The English Tapware Company sells beautiful tapware which is hand crafted and built to be strong and durable but which controls one of nature’s most abundant yet changeable compounds – water.

As a colour, indigo amazes us, instilling a sense of wonder at the depth and richness of this hue which is rarely seen in the natural world. ''Indigo is alive, like human beings. A new born baby is full of energy while an old person has less energy but is full of depth and experience. Indigo is exactly the same – a newly fermented indigo solution has strong energy but it can only be used for about two weeks and then it is finished. Natural dyed indigo fabric has a certain depth of colour and reflects light in a way that is very different from textiles made with chemical indigo dyes'' says Toru Shimomura, indigo dyeing craftsman.

Bathrooms and kitchens, showers and taps are inextricably linked to water. Deep water runs blue, the colour psychologists believe convey values of trust and honesty, logic and reason. Indigo in particular, represents inner contemplation. These qualities are integral to Perrin & Rowe, who employ original thought and outstanding engineering to create artisanal, trustworthy products.

In the Melbourne window, luxurious indigo velvet flows in and out of the bath, as fluid as water, and pools on the tiles. Shades of blue in the bathroom and kitchen scene reflect the current trend in interiors and highlights the range of gorgeous blues available to us.

In Sydney, swathes of opulent velvet frame the window and puddle on the floor. The bath floats on a blue sea, emphasising the bathing ritual as a separation or sanctuary from our ‘outside’ lives.