Vases for Springtime

It was always a popular opinion in my household that you could never have too many vases. Large ones, small ones, tall and stubby, wide and narrow, my mother’s collection of vases is rather impressive. Not only did this mean that my family home is constantly full of lovely flowers and plants, but it’s also full of beautiful vases to accompany them.

Now that the sun is shining away, and it’s finally starting to feel like spring, it’s time to give our homes that fresh spring makeover, and what better way to do so then by adding some amazingly designed vases and pots to your collection. Whether you have miles of space to play around with, or can just about squeeze a small pot in somewhere, walking into a room that has a beautiful plant or boutique and a decorative pot to match is always guaranteed to be a mood enhancer.

This Kali vase from Abigail Ahern really caught my eye, the aged dappled effect adds character. The pretty off-white ceramic colour will wonderfully complement some vivid green leaves overflowing from the top.

Kali Vase from Abigail Ahern

New from The White Company are these Mossed plant pots that come in a range of sizes. This look is created by coating the pots in yogurt and burying them in soil. The look has a rustic, urban feel about it and would look great with some tough, Mediterranean plants.

Mossed Plant Pot from The White Company

For more of a colourful touch, and something that would look fantastic even without flowers inside are these retro Mid-century Italian vases from Alfie’s Antique Market. They’re made to capture the attention of the room, and would make a superb statement grouped together on a side table or on top of a cabinet.

Carlo Moretti Vases from Alfie’s Antique Market

Interior Supply stock some super stylish contemporary pieces that never disappoint, including these intriguing deformed vases. It’s an interesting take on the classic glass vase that puts across a subtle yet distinctive look.

Glas Italia Transformer from Interior Supply

Not on the High Street have a wonderful collection of marbled cement pots that are a fantastic and inexpensive way to inject a dose of glamour into your interior. They’re the perfect solution if your porch, kitchen or conservatory is in need of a quick vamp, especially if you don’t want to break the bank!

Marbled Cement Mini Pots from Not on the High Street

Cactuses have been a hug trend over the past couple of years, filling up thousands of window sills and decorating an infinite amount of homes. From Abigail Ahern comes this interesting, cactus shaped vase that is perfect for all the cacti lovers out there! Pop a colourful flower or plant on top for a fun and modern feel.

Tall Cactus Vase from Abigail Ahern

Another mosey down the vintage lane to The Old Cinema, who always have a few hidden treasures within their midst, including this charming 1970s vase designed by potter Michael Cardew. I love the abstract striped effect and the almost diluting colours.

1972 Slipware Vase by Michael Cardew from The Old Cinema

If you’re into your sweet interiors, this adorable vase from Houseology is something to keep your eye on. The beautiful porcelain appears as if to be knitted, making a lovely effect.

Kinto Couture Knit Flower Vase from Houseology

For those who like to play around with historically classic decorative styles, this Chinoiserie-esque planter is something can be worked into dozens of different schemes, whether it’s to complement or to contrast, this piece could settle quite nicely into an interior or exterior of a home.

Chinoiserie Planter, Oka Direct

Fill your homes with bright and fun vases and wonderful florals and foliage to match!

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Chandelier Fairy Tales

Every time I go to the V&A Museum in London I always spend a little time gazing up at the extravagant chandelier in their grand entrance. The ‘Rotunda’ Chandelier made and designed by Dale Chihuly in 2001 is an exquisite piece of craftsmanship and artistry, you can observe it in a hundred different ways and still not see all the intricate detailing the piece has to offer.

‘Rotunda Chandelier’ at the V&A Museum

Though it’s probably a safe enough to bet that most of us couldn’t really accommodate such an elaborate and outlandish decorative piece in our own homes, there’s something to be said for investing in a showstopper of a light, and in particular a chandelier. Often, when the mind thinks of a chandelier we think of the beautiful, classic chandelier that grace to entrance halls of stately homes and mansions, but in today’s world of interior design there are so many contemporary and alternative versions of the classic design that it’ll make your mind race with possibilities. I’ve found a few of my favourite contemporary chandeliers that are truly irresistible.

‘Mud Beaded Chandelier’ from Abigail Ahern

These beaded chandeliers have kept the classic chandelier shape but swapped out crystals for beads, a real contemporary take on a classic. The draping and styling of the beads creates a beautiful, elegant design, combining extravagance and humility which is perfect for those who are big on style but want to refrain from being overzealous. Instead of the usual twinkling of crystal, the finish on this design is somewhat muted, giving the piece a day-to-day accessibility that more traditional designs lack. Its style makes it the ideal component if you want to add a little glamour to an understated interior scheme.

‘Silicate Chandelier’ from Baker

This stunning piece from Baker reminds me of a multitude of things, from a feathery waterfall to a vintage 1920s ballroom. The soft layering of the glazed pieces of glass mixed with the gold chains that they dangle from is a modern approach, creating beauty out of structural elements and producing a playful nature between hard and soft textures that gives the overall design a gorgeous flair.

‘Neo Baroque Chandelier’ from Abigail Ahern

This Neo Baroque chandelier packs quite a punch. Definitely not for the faint hearted, it’s fusion between the antique world and the futuristic makes for the ultimate statement piece. Its structure has a ghostly element to it, which works perfectly with the neo-gothic design. Despite the sense of grandeur that accompanies the design, the chandelier could be worked into smaller spaces. The translucency of the design means that your room won’t be bombarded by the piece, and will actually sit rather elegantly and subtly.

To take things down a notch or two, if big and bold isn’t your thing, there are plenty of understated, chandelier inspired designs out there that go easy on the drama but still maintain the overall sense of splendour and grace.

‘Aster Chandelier’ from Copper & Silk

This contemporary design gives a comparatively minimalist alternative to the other chandeliers. Its circular design has an assertiveness to it without being over dominant, enabling you to happily have a few situated in a room without it looking excessive. The curved glass and the whole look of the piece has a hint of a retro feel, but there is a contemporariness to the design that brings these vintage motifs into the 21^st Century.

‘Contardi Kubric Chandelier’ from Interior Supply

For a completely contemporary remake of the traditional chandelier, something like this piece from Interior Supply is a marvel. The reflectiveness of the spherical shades is a modern take on the flickering light the crystal from traditional designs would produce. The design is slick, contemporary and stylish, the perfect companion for an architecturally innovative home.

If all the talk of crystal chandeliers has made you nostalgic, a little tradition can always be thrown into the mix. This design, again from Interior Supply, mixes together the best of both worlds, the traditional with the modern. A fresh oval structure, made from satin nickel with the inclusion of crystal beading allows for all the traditional glamour without the domineering nature of a traditional design.

‘Cattelan Italia Cristal’ from Interior Supply

Finally, for the ultimate investment piece that follows the same breath-taking nature that the traditional grand chandeliers would have had, a head-to-toe chainmail covered piece that is full of style and grace. There’s a certain allure that comes with using a single material, here the chainmail replaces crystal but still remembers the same grandeur and elegance of its ancestors, only with a modern twist. The effect created by the texture of the chainmail is truly marvellous and completely conquers the purpose of a chandelier.

‘Chainmail Chandelier’ from Ochre

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