The Interior Scoop

Sam Nicholson is the owner of the boutique décor studio called Artonomi, based in Hilton. Offering everything from wallpaper design and installation, textiles, curtains, upholstery, and interior styling services. She has always been interested in beautiful spaces, and when she pivoted from a teaching career into interior decorating, she found where she needed to be.

“My biggest goal is to help my clients curate a space that is not just a Pinterest-worthy space but rather a space that reflects their personalities. A space that is practical, functional, inviting, warm and homely with pieces that have stories and meaning, a space that makes you excited to get home to and spend time in,” she shared. According to Sam, a few of the emerging trends right now include a move away from minimalism and monotone spaces to layered spaces with richer colours, darker woods, and classic prints and pieces. “The goal is a deeply personal, warm, inviting, and lived-in feel. Wallpaper is making a comeback in a layered approach, wrapping an entire room in place of a statement mural. Along with darker woods, furniture is more rounded with fewer sharp edges and a more tailored, organic feel. 2026 sees a softer, less clinical, intentionally layered maximalist approach to spaces.”

If you want to plan your space with intention, a few recommendations include reframing art pieces or reupholstering a couch to give it a new look, which can be done according to your own tastes and colour preferences, without sticking to generic colours. Some extra touches include feather inner scatter cushions, rugs that fit the room, and plants or flowers to finish off the space.

Sam’s Top Picks:
• The ladies from Barbet Interiors are suppliers of high- quality furniture and are not afraid of a custom piece. Friendly, well-priced, and amazing service.
• There is no hurdle too big or too small for Ranitha from Kitchen Flair when designing any built-in items. She is practical, budget-savvy, and again offers amazing personal service.
• I absolutely love an auction house and second-hand/antique shop; these places are treasure troves of quality items and make it possible to decorate a house on about any budget.

“It’s important to remember that ‘Rome was not built in a day’ and neither is a home. Most people do not have the budget to redo their house all at once. Making sure you have a plan in place for an overall feel will also minimise impulse buys and items you regret spending money on.”

www.artonomi.co.za