Classy new collection from Hodsoll McKenzie

The new collection from Hodsoll McKenzie, entitled Evolution and launched this Autumn, is a wonderful study in elegance, luxury and restrained glamour. Subtle colours mix with delicious textures resulting in very grown up fabrics that work perfectly in both contemporary or traditional interiors. This collection is really worth a look.

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Home Improvements

This blog first appeared on the Cambridge Evening News website.

The August bank holiday is so often ear-marked as a time for home improvements and with this in mind, we have put together a collection of accessories from some of our favourite designers and shops that we hope will inspire you to make those small but effective changes to your home, so that if the big DIY project doesn’t materialise, at least you home will be looking new and improved!

Lighting

Changing your light fittings will make a huge difference to your home. Add lamps where you can and select pendant lights that are beautiful in a room as well as giving the right kind of light for the space.

 

Single glass shades with black fabric twisted flex and dark bronze ceiling rose in purple, smoked olive, sky blue and yellow ochre. £262 www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk

Rugs

A new rug will add colour, comfort and style to a room and is a great place to add colour or pattern or both. Keep the rug as large as possible and don’t be afraid to sit the sofas and chairs (or other furniture) on it.

Niki Jones Lattice Rug  Hand knotted in 100% New Zealand wool. Available in two colourways, shown here in Ash Grey and Chartreuse Green £1250 http://www.niki-jones.co.uk

Flowers

Fresh flowers are a lovely accessory in any room of the home and will bring a welcoming, well-loved feel to your home.. Try to pick flowers and vases that fit in with the style and colours of your home but most importantly, pick flowers you love!

WildGarden Bouquet in Jug. Forget Me Nots, Anemones and Rambling Clematis. £65 plus delivery www.wildatheart.com

Cushions

I am a very big fan of a cushion or two as I think they add luxurious finishing touch to a space, not to mention a splash of colour and pattern. Try to add a selection of different cushions and avoid over co-ordination of fabrics.

Vintage Daisies and Roses Cushion Cover Approximately 50cm x 50cm, envelope back fastening with chunky shell buttons. £57 www.paleandinteresting.com

Bed linen

A new set of bed linen will not only make your bedroom look ship shape but will also be a wonderful reason to get an early night when the bank holiday weekend is over. I think some colour or texture (or both) in your bedlinen ensures that the bed is the centrepiece of your room but if you prefer plain white, a bedthrow will do just as well.

Andrew Martin Arrowstripe Duvet Covers, Multi from John Lewis

£99 – £125 Duvet cover for the duvet cover www.johnlewis.com

Mirrors and pictures

I am always amazed at the difference that hanging pictures and mirrors make to a room – they not only personalise a space but they also draw the eye upwards from the furniture to make a room seem bigger. If you don’t have a great art collection (or even if you do), well framed family photos, mirrors, prints and wall hangings will dress your walls in style. Think carefully about where each should hanging considering the background (paint or wallpaper), the lighting and the height that each piece is hung.

Graham and Green Grand Daisy Mirror 97 diameter £395 www.grahamandgreen.co.uk

Bath towels

A great way to get a bit of colour and luxury into the smallest room in the house is to splash out on some coloured towels. Remember to get a selection of sizes from little hand towels to big bath sheets and check to see if you need additional hooks or towel rails to save them from all being piled onto the towel warmer or radiator.

Designers Guild Saraille Lime Towels £5-£45 www.designersguild.com

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Hodsoll McKenzie

We have always loved the fabrics from Zimmer and Rohde but we have been particularly impressed this week with the new collection that they have created under their Hodsoll McKenzie brand. The fabrics are elegant and luxurious with restrained use of colour and lots and lots of texture. We thought the images that they use to illustrate the collection were a triumph too and here are just a few of them.

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Stylish Lighting

This article first appeared on www.cambridge-news.co.uk

Really good lighting is crucial in all homes and once you’ve worked out what you need, there is still the tricky question of which fittings to buy. There is a bewildering range of light fittings on the market and unfortunately, an awful lot of them are, well, awful.

In order to avoid mistakes, I think it helps enormously to decide what style of fitting you prefer and then to find a small number of suppliers (two or three, but one is fine if they can provide for all your needs) and stick to them. We’ve put together a selection of different types of fittings from some of our favourite suppliers to show you what we mean.

Jim Lawrence design and manufacture some of the best light fittings around. They are fairly traditional, although with careful selection, some of their fittings work well in more contemporary homes. Here are some of their products we’d use for classic or country projects.

  

  

By contrast, more contemporary interiors normally require much simpler light fittings and I particularly like the fittings from Astro Lighting. If your own style is more for clean lines and unfussy design, these types of fittings are likely to work in your home and fit with the rest of your furnishings.

      

  
For glamorous, statement light fittings, I love these from Ochre. Made from a range of materials including glass, metals, coconut, horn strips and horsehair, they are works of art in their own right and will add more than a touch of style to any interior.

      

  

For really elegant light fittings, my first port of call would be Heathfield and Co. Their fittings work with a range of interior styles because they are classic and well designed. They also make bespoke lampshades for their lights which means you can get just the colour and fabric to fit your scheme.

  

  

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Winter Calm

At this time of year it’s hard to see through the fog of tinsel, glitter and Christmas glitz. But it’s nice sometimes to take a moment out and regain a little bit of calm. Which is why i’ve posted these lovely images from the most recent Colefax and Fowler collection.

The soft winter whites, muted blues and heathery greys create a wonderful peaceful atmosphere with a light, airy Scandinavian feel.

Whilst the silky sheen of the floor length drapes and the soft glitter of the glass accessories add a shot of glamour, creating a quietly luxurious feel.

The perfect antidote to Christmas mayhem!

All images: Colefax and Fowler

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Wonderful in Wool

Melin Tregwynt has been a firm favourite of Angel and Blume for a long time and we love their blankets, throws and cushions, not just for the beautifully soft warm wool they are made in but also for their gorgeous colours and designs. If you love the images below, have a browse through their website www.melintregwynt.co.uk because you are bound to find more things to tempt you. Lampshades, scarf or shoes anyone?

    

    

      

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Bathroom feature in Period Living magazine

This month Cate was interviewed by Period Living magazine about how to get a glamorous and luxurious bathroom. What was her advice? It’s all about functionality and the little details. Read Cate’s quote below or see the full article here

 

Everyone needs a little extravagance in their life and where better to satisfy your taste for it than in your own private bathroom?

Luxury means different things to different people and one individual’s indulgence is another’s expected level of comfort so your first step to designing a dream bathroom is to define your terms.

For interior designer Cate Burren of Angel + Blume, look and function are inseparable when it comes to bathroom design – if the room works efficiently, it will probably feel luxurious. ‘Underfloor heating and a well designed layout are absolutely essential,’ she says. ‘Even apparently small elements, like putting the heated towel rail in the correct place, within easy reach of the bath or shower, are important to get right.’ She also believes that, provided a sense of balance is maintained, traditional and contemporary style can marry quite happily, and often selects modern lighting for a period bathroom.

Images: Mark Box

Read the full article here

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Lovin’ the Linen

The new Rapture and Wright catalogue has just dropped through the Angel and Blume letterbox and it really is worth a look. This lovely British company specialises in linen and linen union printed cloths that work beautifully for curtains and blinds but also (as you can see from their gorgeous web images) for upholstery, lampshades and bed headboards.  They have produced four of their fabric patterns as wallpaper which really shows off their beautifully drawn designs to their best advantage. Take a look, we don’t think you will be disappointed!

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If you love a bit of glamour…

..you are going to love Graham and Green’s new summer finds.  At Angel + Blume, we have long been fans of Graham and Green and we are were not disappointed when we caught sight of their new collection this week. Here are just a few little interior delights that caught our eye but there are more on their website www.grahamandgreen.co.uk along with lots of old favourites. Enjoy!

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Girls need cushions

We all know that girls (and the more highly developed boys amongst us!) love a cushion and there are so many brilliant options on the high street now that it almost seems silly to try and make your own. Not that I am dissuading any of you from making or commissioning your own creations but you may want to look at these little beauties first.

Graham and Green as normal, never disappoint and if you love a bit of fake fur……..

Try Niki Jones for great eye-catching designs and lovely attention to detail

Designers Guild for a burst of colour and they have some really fab new designs this season

Quirky and patriotic – lovely cushions from Jan Constantine

Go on, treat your self to a cushion – you are so worth it!

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