Treading carefully

I recently came across Made a Mano, a unique company who produce a fantastic range of domestic ceramics using unusual materials such as lava stone that makes for a resilient and refined finish.

What I love most about their work are their ceramic tiles, which in many of their projects are used for amazing floor designs. Their projects are an inspiration – but also a reminder that the floor is not a part of the room to be forgotten in the course of design, even if it is hidden beneath our feet! Here are some examples of some inspiring floor treatments.

Cristilli tiles by Made a Mano, made from smooth lava stone and terracotta. I love the Herringbone layout that Made a Mano have chosen to do on this project.

Made a Mano have used some of their more traditional tiles to decorate this gorgeous household step.

Here, Made a Mano have used their extremely resilient tiles to decorate both the floor and the walls with the same tile design.

I have seen some fantastic rugs recently, especially from The Rug Company. This example is called ‘spectrum’.

Climbing leopard by Diane von Furstenberg, from The Rug Company

Cowhide flower rug by The Rug Company

Farrow and Ball have recently showcased some of their floor paints with some innovative faux stair runner and rug designs.

Alternative flooring has some great stair runner designs, especially their ‘inspiration’ range where they let you design your own. Here are a few examples.

So tread carefully and keep a look out for what you are stepping on.

 This blog first appeared on the Cambridge Evening News website 

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On reflection

The thing that I appreciate most about summer is the beautiful light. I have been making the most of the last few weeks enjoying the fabulous scenery that is scattered with enchanting summer rays. It has got me thinking about different materials that play with light in a space, and I have gathered together some of my favourite examples of furnishings that have attractive reflective surfaces.

 

I could never grow bored looking at the enchanting glass pear drops that hang from this table light.

 Arctic Pear Table Lamp by Ochre

 

 The ‘seeds’ that fall from this gorgeous chandelier almost look like raindrops, each one acting as a magnifying lens.

 Seed Cloud, round 112 buds, by Ochre

 

These lovely large glass orbs reflect the light around them, and draw your attention in.

Bubbles Glass Orb Pendant from Anthropologie

 

Glass vessels that hold water are a beautiful table piece, and offer a playful refracted image of whatever they behold.

LSA Umberto Vase from John Lewis

 

Glass perfume bottles can be a charming ornament in the bedroom that twinkle in the last of the evening light.

Early 20th Century Perfume Bottle from Alfies Antique Market

 

This brilliant wallpaper is a 3D foil that can be used to create great effects with some clever lighting.

Beware The Moon – Quantum Foam Wallpaper from Rockett St George

These contemporary arched mirrors create the illusion of an entrance, and will really open up a space.

Panorami Mirrors for Secondome, designed by Zaven

 

John Soane is famous for having used convex circular mirrors in his London town house to create a tour de l’oeil, magnifying viewpoints and making spaces look larger.

Little Black Framed Convex Mirror from Rockett St George

 

I love the glamorous ambiance created by using this antique mirror as a headboard. You can find some fantastic antique mirrors at Lassco. 

 

These garden tea light holders are lovely. The glass vessels emit a pretty flicker of candle light.

Hanging Teardrop Votive by Garden Trading from Not on the high street. 

 

This gorgeous lantern creates a warm glow, perfect for a garden dinner party.

Antique Style French Lantern by The Flower Studio from Not on the High Street

Reflective materials and multi faceted surfaces can be a great way to play with light in a space; to create illusions of scale and splendour, or simply to make a room feel more dynamic.

This blog first appeared on the Cambridge Evening News website.

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