The Rug Company and Farrow & Ball Collaboration

The Rug Company has teamed up with Farrow & Ball to launch a collection of twelve fantastic rugs. If you know Farrow & Ball you’ll already be aware that they have grouped some their neutrals into six families, and so The Rug Company has designed two rugs to go with each family; a complementary neutral and an accent, with each colour available in three finishes, Plain Wool, Cut and Loop Stripe and Wool with a Silk Border. With two such wonderful companies, the collection is undoubtedly fabulous, so we had to share it with you.

The Lots Blue rug with Old White on the wall

The Traditional Neutrals family were some of the first colours created at Farrow & Ball, all with a gorgeous classic green-grey undertone; they’re timeless and effortless. The rug Lots Blue is the perfect accent piece to pair with the traditional family, with hints of sea greens and sky blues. Holland Stone was also made with the Traditional Neutrals in mind, but they’re not limited to just the families; here the warmth of the Holland Stone is contrasted with the deep classic look of Railings, making a sophisticated industrial style scheme.

The Holland rug with Railings on the wall

The Yellow-Based Neutrals are another set of traditional colours, perfect for a period property and pairing with antiques. There’s a relaxed regal nature to them, and the warm yellows are drawn out when paired with a red, like the Keepers Red rug from the collection. It’s a warm, welcoming deep crimson red, and has that classic cosy, sitting by the fire, countryside feel to it.

The Keeper’s Red rug with String on the wall

The neutral rug colour to pair with the yellow-based family is the Clarendon rug; a warm and relaxing tone that’ll comfort you in cold lights. The Clarendon and the yellow-based neutral make the ideal backdrop for some exciting pieces of furniture, particularly in darker woods.

The Clarendon rug with White Tie on the walls

The warm red undertones of Joa’s White, Dimity, Pointing and Oxford Stone are a match made in heaven for a traditional interior. The accent colour for the Red-Based Neutral family of course has to be a green, and Kent Green has a lovely dusty, sage tone to it.

The Kent Green rug with Dimity and Joa’s White oon the wall

Moving on to the more modern family colours, the neutral rug hues are lovely pinks and greys; on-trend and perfect for modern life and style. The Sam’s Stone rug is a contemporary tone with a natural and warm base; making it ideal if you want to keep a fresh interior feeling inviting as well. It’s created for the Contemporary Neutrals, keeping clean white spaces feeling livable like in the image below, or if you want a soft bedroom colour scheme, pair Elephant’s Breath and Sam’s Stone for a peaceful setting.

The Sam’s Stone rug with All White on the walls

The accent rug in this collection is the sweetest, blush Portland Pink. Blush pink and green is a personal favourite combination of mine, and here the Portland Pink rug is paired with Card Room Green, an absolutely divine smoky green from Farrow & Ball.

The Portland Pink rug with Card room Green on the wall

Punchy and vibrant yellows are having quite a moment currently, and this Melrose Yellow rug has just the right amount of acid and sunny tones. The Easy Neutrals family, Wevet, Ammonite, Cornforth White and Purbeck Stone, are so named the easy family because they can be paired with almost any colour; and they look fantastic with some bold yellows.

The Melrose Yellow rug with Wevet on the wall and Lamp Room Gray on the floor and skirting

The Order Grey rug is a cool, steel-like colour, a great foundation for a room if you want to get a little playful with the paintwork, like this image below where the lovely combination of Calamine and Black Blue has been used, with the Order Grey rug used to balance out the look.

The Order Grey Rug with Calamine on the walls and Black Blue on the door

The last family from Farrow & Ball is the Architectural Neutrals, made up of Blackened, Dimpse, Pavilion Gray and Manor House Gray; all greys with hints of blue undertones for that fresh, modern, and as the name suggests, architectural feeling. Both the rugs for this family follow the same blue-grey aesthetic, with Wizlet and Wooster being the ultimate pieces for a cool, contemporary, minimalist setting.

The Wooster rug with Pavilion Gray on the wall

The Wizlet rug with Pavilion Gray on the walls

 The Farrow & Ball collection at The Rug Company, is a thoughtful and well-crafted assembly of colours and finishes, and a lovely way to help with the design of your home. The range of colours for both traditional and modern interiors means that this is a timeless collection, that’s here to stay.

For a closer look at the collection, head to www.therugcompany.com

Read Full Post »

The Bed of your Dreams

Like any sane person, I love my bed, and if you don’t love your own bed, there’s a good chance it’s because you haven’t been treating it right. A good bed consists of more than just a nice frame and quality mattress, and though these are essential to getting a good night’s sleep, your bed and its surrounding area shouldn’t just be a matter of function. Kitting your bed area out in the perfect accessories that suit you down to a T will help to give you a warm, fuzzy feeling when you walk into your room and see your bed. From throws, cushions, headboards, linens and even the surrounding furniture, everything plays an integral part of making the space feel like your own and turning it into an area that you can’t wait to get into at night and leaves you feeling happy when you wake up in the morning. Making cosmetic improvements to your bed is a great way to give your room your stamp of personality, while also creating an inviting and relaxing space. Here are some ideas to get you thinking about what you could change and how you could change it, with both high and low budget pieces, so you can treat yourself without upsetting your wallet.

‘Crushed Linen Duvet Set’ from Volga Linen’

That feeling of getting into bed when you have fresh sheets on is lovely, but what’s even better is having a brand new set altogether. It’s a quick and easy way to give your bed a boost in comfort and style. As a personal preference, I like to keep my covers simple to make way for more decorative pieces later, a pastel or white can be the perfect way to lay some foundations when it comes to covering your bed. For high quality, Volga Linen has some wonderful sets in some amazing colours. For linens that still look beautiful, but are a fraction of the cost, H&M Home have some wonderful designs up their sleeve. For the same simple look, the washed linen set are a must-have, and are a good price so it means you can invest in a few sets, in different colours.

‘Washed Linen Duvet Cover Set’ from H&M Home

Adding a headboard to your bed is a great way to give your space a sense of glamour and elegance, turning your bed into to a distinctive feature in your bedroom. Last year we combined a headboard from The Dormy House and fabric from Pierre Frey to create a gorgeous headboard for the master bedroom for one of our clients; the outcome turned an average looking bed to one of my favourite features in the house.

‘Regal Shaped Headboard with Stud Piping’ from The Dormy House with ‘Watom Juane Fabric’ from Pierre Frey

For something that has the same effect as a headboard, but is a lot cheaper, there are some easy ways to create a dramatic look for your bed without the dramatic price tag. With a little DIY you can create a beautiful head for your bed with a pole and a pair of curtains. An example of this is taken from Pinterest, which shows how a simple piece of sheer cloth can add a huge amount of glamour and style to a bed.

Taken from ‘MyDesignerMom’ via Pinterest

Above the designer has used a plain white fabric, but if you want to add in a bit of colour or a pattern, making sure that the fabric is light will mean that the overall look doesn’t get too heavy. These curtain panels from Anthropologie could be a great design to use in this way.

‘Adalet Curtain’ from Anthropologie

Creating a collection of cushions and a throw is a great way to tailor your bed to your own taste; whether that is piles of colourful cushions, or just a few understated ones. If you don’t want to break the bank when you comes to filling out your bed with cushions, many high street home stores have a great range in some interesting designs. I like these pastel, kilim style cushions from Urban Outfitters, they have a contemporary bohemian feel about them and will keep your bedroom looking light and relaxed.

‘Andanda Kilim Cushion’ from Urban Outfitters

To go the full nine yards when it comes to cushions, getting some custom made from some designer fabric will give you bed a luxurious feeling and a personal touch. By choosing this option you can also make sure that you have the exact design you want. There are an abundance of designers out there to choose from, for fun and colourful designs head over to Osborne & Little, they’re fabric patterns are perfect for making a few elaborate and eye-catching cushions; I love these styles from their new Masque collection, the Pageant, Carnival and Jester patterns are great for adding some vibrancy to your bedspread.

From Left to Right: ‘Carnival, Pageant and Jester fabric cushions’ from Osborne & Little

For that extra warmth in the winter and that extra style all year round, the addition of a throw will make your bed look and feel complete. It’s worth investing in a throw that will actually keep you warm as well as looking good on your bed, which needn’t mean spending the earth. Wool, Mohair and Cashmere are the best materials to use, and you can find good quality versions of these for reasonable prices. These Mohair Wool throws from Trouva have wonderful oversized fringing and look super cosy.

‘Cozy Living Forest Green Melange Mohair Wool Throw’ from Trouva

For super high quality and luxuriously soft throws, Biggest Blanket have got a beautiful selection. This Stafford throw has some rich, romantic colours and is perfect for curling up in when winter rears its ugly head again.

‘Stafford Wool and Mohair Throw’ from Biggest Blanket

Placing a rug underneath your bed will help to create a defining area, it can give your bed more of an impact in a room, plus it’ll be a nice treat for your feet in the mornings. Size is key when it comes to rugs, it’s important to make sure that it isn’t too small or it won’t sit right within the room. For high quality and beautifully designed rugs, The Rug Company never fails to impress, I love this Spider design by Neisha Crosland; the pattern has a careful balance between simplicity in colour and intricacy in design so that it will remain a staple and stylish piece in your home.

‘Spider by Neisha Crosland’ from The Rug Company

Unfortunately the bigger the rug, the bigger the cost, and if you don’t want to spend a huge amount of money you’ll need to find a company that can offer you a good sized rug at a reasonable rate. Swoon Editions have some lovely rugs in their collection in decent sizes that can help make the perfect bed area. This Kankare rug has a small pattern in a faded denim colour that can work a few different schemes to create a foundation in the bed area.

‘Kankare Rug in Indigo’ from Swoon Editions

A pair of beautiful bedside tables can frame a bed, adding structure and style to your bedroom. For a mid-century treat, a new addition to Chelsea Textiles furniture collection is this gorgeous piece; it’s elegantly designed with a timeless style that’ll last you for years.

‘Bedside Table Two Drawer, Wicker Handle, Brass Trim & Legs’ from Chelsea Textiles

If you want to save a bit of money, but still maintain some style, there are loads of less expensive options to choose from; this Ikea piece in a bright yellow will make a sweet touch to a bedroom, adding a splash of fun colour.

‘Hemnes Bedside Table in Yellow’ from Ikea

Finally, the way to finishing off your dream bed area, is with some lighting. The bedside lighting needs to be suitably chosen, having to accommodate functional needs like reading, but also creating a relaxing atmosphere as you get ready for bed. Keep things simple with this modern looking lamp from Habitat.

‘Dylan Table Lamp in Natural’ from Habitat

If you like things a little more flamboyant, this playful lamp from Graham & Green could be just the thing needed to complete a fun and bohemian styled bedroom. The birds are a wacky edition that will proudly show off your style.

‘Volieres Bird Cage Lamp’ from Graham & Green

When it comes to decorating your bed and its neighbouring areas, you have the luxury of getting to be a little selfish. It’s a place that’s just for you, or you and your partner. Many other spaces in the room have to accommodate guests, other family members, or be styled in a way that suits everyday life, but as for your bed, you can turn this area into a space that’s your perfect hideaway, just the way you want it.

Read Full Post »

It Was All Yellow

As with all colours, there are hundreds of shades in the yellow family, and sometimes the thought of using the bolder, brighter shades can be intimidating due to their strong look. But if you’re looking for an alternative to the neutral, or darker palettes that are around these days, yellow may be the perfect colour for you, especially if you want to show off a strong, confident style in your interiors. Though the colour has always been popular in the design world, in recent years yellow interiors, furniture and accessories have been making quite an impact, especially in those brighter shades. There are lots of exciting ways to incorporate yellow into your home, that can really showcase a particular style; whether it’s contemporary, glamorous, bohemian, traditional, or a combination. Adding a dash of yellow could be the way to bring a refreshing, exciting look to your home.

Using a bright yellow on the walls of your home may be a touch overwhelming if you’re a yellow novice, but if you’re already a fan, it’s a fantastic way to create a statement. The trick is finding your perfect shade to suit your home, and choosing the right complementary accents to create a well-rounded, flawless look. To keep your wall looking fresh opt for a rich shade that won’t shy away into the background. For a contemporary look, I love the dramatic but playful nature of Farrow & Ball’s Babouche shade.

‘Babouche’ from Farrow & Ball

And if you’re in need of a more traditional shade, the Sudbury Yellow has an elegant and regal nature that will give a room a strong sense of character, without overshadowing any other wonderful features you may want to put in there.

‘Sudbury Yellow’ from Farrow & Ball

Another way to add yellow into the core foundations of the home’s design scheme is with some creative tiling. Fired Earth always have a strong collection of interesting colours and patterns, and some of their yellow tiles are to die for. For a bold, exciting look, these vibrant mustard coloured tiles are the perfect background against a crisp, white bathroom set. There’s a combination of luxuriousness and quirkiness about the colour that creates an overall refreshing look.

‘Carnival Oro’ from Fired Earth

If a solid block colour is a little too much for your taste, or your home, going for something a little sweeter and more minimal might do the trick. This Atlas design by Neisha Crosland for Fired Earth has a rustic, farmhouse vibe, but with a little exotic twist to keep things interesting. It’s an ideal design if you want to have a traditional looking kitchen, but with a touch artistic individuality to it.

‘Atlas by Neisha Crosland’ from Fired Earth

To make an interesting statement in your home, you don’t just have to save yellow for the larger features, in fact adding small accents of the colour to a room can give it some vitality, or reinvent an interior without changing too much. Contemporary interiors are often neutral walls with the inclusion of furniture pieces in modern wood types, and adding a dash of yellow into the mix can create an up-to-date look without taking away the original essence of the room. Margaret Howell created some fantastic designs for Anglepoise, and though I’d happily have any of the three colours in my home, the Yellow Ochre edition is stunning.

‘Type 75 Desk Lamp by Margret Howell in Yellow Ochre’ from Anglepoise

This chair with a yellow seat from Gubi is rather special, it’s an ultra-contemporary design that’ll look gracious and cool in a modern home. The design also comes with a white seat, so you could mix-match the two colours around the dining table, or save the yellow for the head of the table to give the whole look a pop of colour.

‘Mategot Nagasaki Chair’ from Gubi

A striking yellow rug can really transform a room in one fell swoop, to keep things feeling light and not making the room look too dense, a patterned rug is a great way to add some yellow without swamping the room. The Sellarsbrook design created by Suzanna Sharp for The Rug Company, has a sophisticated geometric pattern that adds a timeless depth to the rug.

‘Sellarsbrook in Yellow by Suzanne Sharp’ from The Rug Company

This rich, crisp yellow velvet sofa really packs a punch, that’ll give your living room some vivacious character. The chesterfield design is given an alternative look, creating a piece that can be mixed into both contemporary and traditional interiors.

‘Balmoral 2 Seater Sofa in Varese Velvet Alchemilla fabric’ from Heal’s

For a sweet touch to a traditional bedroom, these rustic, French style bedside tables in a dusty yellow could be a great way to frame a bed in a similar style. The piece from Out There Interiors has some fetching ironwork detailing, which will give a room some extra style in a simple way.

‘Two Drawer Beside in Yellow’ from Out There Interiors

These lemony plates and dishes from Habitat are a refreshing way to give your dining table an updated look, the ombre effect means that they aren’t too outlandish, and will gently show off the zesty colour. Place them on a blue tablecloth or next to some coloured glassware for a really stylish look.

‘Atkinson 12 Piece Yellow Dinnerware Set’ from Habitat

Lastly, this gorgeous glass pendant from Rockett St George is an absolute beauty! The moody yellow shade combined with the irregular shape gives the whole look an understated, glamourous feel. This pendant would be the perfect addition to a dark, moody room, giving it that hint of colour it needs to keep it from looking drab and dingy.

‘Hand Blown Glass Pendant Lighting in Yellow Ochre by Curiousa & Curiousa’ from Rockett St George

Though it can be quite a daring and brave decision to add a bold shade of yellow into your interior (and may take a little more persuading for some), it’s a decision that will result in some fabulous and sophisticated homes! Whether you’re already in love with colour, or prefer your interiors more neutral, you’ll see how diverse a colour like yellow can be and how easily it will suit all kinds of styles.

Read Full Post »

Back to Black

When decorating, and filling our homes with wonderful things, it seems that we tend to lean towards using lighter colours, but I believe that there is an argument to be made from using darker shades, especially black. There’s something intriguingly stylish and timeless about the colour black, and using it within a room helps to frame and sharpen the overall look of a room. Whether you want to go hard and heavy or just have a little play around with the idea, here are some absolutely brilliant black accessories and furniture pieces to be thinking about.

‘Round Copper Art Deco Shelf’

The black metal frame that circulates this shelving unit creates a wonderful contemporary look, especially combined with the copper effect of the shelves. It’s a simple yet intriguing piece that would look stunning as a feature on any wall and is a lovely way to use a small amount of black within your home.

‘Ronde Pendant’ from Gubi

This matte black pendant from Gubi has a certain sleekness that is hard to replicate in another colour. It breathes cool, and is the perfect piece to use in a modern designed kitchen, perhaps using a few in a row for a truly sophisticated look.

‘Black Oak Parquet’ from Kardean

If using black interiors has really taken you fancy, go all out with a bold statement under your feet. A black flooring system really creates a modern, urban feel and will serve as a brilliant blank canvas if you want to add some depth to your scheme with a few colourful or contrasting rugs.

For example, a beautiful black patterned rug, this Paul Smith designed stunner is just the right amount of contrast to make the black on black work together making a powerful yet understated visual look.

‘Arrows’ by Paul Smith from The Rug Company

If you’re not quite ready to take the big plunge into the world of black interiors, a few simple accessories that follow the black motif are a great way to test the waters. This marble clock from Houseology is a worthy investment. Its timeless style means it’ll be well suited to many styles and will be adaptable as you move homes or change your interiors.

‘Marble Wall Clock’ from Houseology

This lamp base from Pooky combines black with pinch of cuteness, especially when you can mix and match with their wonderful patterned lampshades, which will add a bit of fun and playfulness into an interior.

‘Verona Table Lamp’ from Pooky

Another charming home accessory that will appeal to your softer side is this lovely black heart light. It’ll be super effective if you want to warm up a look of a room or space in your home.

‘Small Black Heart Light’ from Graham and Green

The award winning Philippe Starck has designed this stunning dining room chair, available via Houseology. Its sleek design is every contemporary lover’s dream, and would look amazing paired with a glass or white table. If you’re not sure about getting a whole set, then just purchasing two for the heads of the table will also make a wonderful feature piece.

‘Kartell Masters Dining Chair’ from Houseology

The canton collection from Lombok has a particularly elegant look, I especially love this four poster bed from the collection. It’s a simple and classic design, and accompanied by some beautiful bedding will really be the icing on the cake.

‘Canton Four Poster Bed’ from Lombok

Lastly, I had to squeeze in this little marvel from the ever brilliant Julian Chichester. For show stopping pieces Julian Chichester is a must, and this piece is no different. The gilded metal legs give the piece a lighter feel as though it is floating meaning that despite its black lacquer finish, it doesn’t appear heavy or bulky.

‘Twister Cabinet’ from Julian Chichester

If you’re brave enough to go in full throttle, or just want to have a little dabble, there is so much fun to be had and you may find your perfect little black piece of furniture.

Read Full Post »

The Rug Life

Rugs are a significant, but often overlooked part of any room or home. More than just an accessory, if used correctly, they can change a room’s style, atmosphere and overall vision. When buying a rug, people are often quick to jump to a safe option or to a style that they have used in the past, but being brave and taking a chance on a new style or size of rug can be just what a room needs for a little revamp and revitalisation.

Finding the perfect rug for your space and taste can be a little tricky as they come in all shapes and sizes, and like a pair of ill-fitting jeans the wrong match for you could be disastrous and could turn your beautiful home into a big old mess. But fear not, we’ve been doing a little research and we’re here to show you the best and brightest in all price ranges to help you to find you rug soul-mate.

‘Ivy Trellis’ by Rodarte from The Rug Company

If you’re out on the prowl for your dream rug it may be a good idea to take a look at some designer and high-end rugs to find out what styles, colours, patterns you are most drawn to (that is of course if you can manage not to shed a tear at some of the prices!) The best place to head to for some inspiration is The Rug Company, they are host to masses of beautiful rugs including collections from some of the best designers. A few of our dream rugs at Angel + Blume are designed by the house of Alexander McQueen, and though we might yelp at the price it’s good to have aspirations…

‘Military Brocade’ by Alexander McQueen from The Rug Company

‘Monarch Fire’ by Alexander McQueen from The Rug Company

Once you’ve established your likes and dislikes when it comes to rugs, you can start shopping around. Companies like Graham & Green are a great place to start as their selection is well stocked and their prices reasonable. This is a charming take on a Moroccan style rug, and could be easily worked into an already decorated room.

‘Atlas Berber’ from Graham and Green

If you’re looking for a small rug to allocate a space in a room for a few chairs and a table, or a comfy seating area, Graham and Green have some lovely circular rugs in a few styles, which are ideal for creating an individual space inside of a larger room.

‘Round Pink Rug’ from Graham and Green

‘Circular Goat Skin Rug’ from Graham and Green

There is always a pattern vs plain debate when it comes to picking out rugs, and ultimately it boils down to your taste and the room itself. If you want a plain rug it would be best to make sure you add colour or a pattern in another component of the room for example the walls or curtains so that the room doesn’t become too washed out. This elegant rug from Scottish designer Anta is the perfect plain rug to complement other styles and colours you may want to include.

‘Large Owl Rug’ from Anta

When a room is in need of a contemporary and quirky patterned rug, either to set the pace or follow suit, there are a few designers you can try. Jonathan Adler always brings a sense of fun and originality to his designs and has a wide range to complement your style.

‘Red Arthur Kilim Flat Weave Rug’ from Jonathan Alder

This enjoyable design from Adler is the perfect companion to a modern home, and can be the only splash of colour needed if you’re into more of a muted, minimalistic look elsewhere.

‘Zebra Peruvian Llama Flat Weave Rug’ from Jonathan Adler

If you like your interiors to have a playful edge, and you’re a sucker for a faux animal print, this zebra rug is simply to die for, especially since no animals did!

Stair runners are an amazing way of decorating a home, and one of the best place to go in search of runners is Alternative Flooring. They have a wonderful range of styles and colours, and can tailor their designs to your specific needs.

‘Wool Blocstripe Sable Bone Bloc’ from Alternative Flooring

This beautiful monochrome design will add a bit of pizazz to a neutral hallway and help create a welcoming atmosphere as well as a style statement upon entering your home. Another contemporary style from Alternative Flooring is the Rock ‘n’ Roll Roxanne design which would be perfect for updating a home’s interior into a modern look.

‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Roxanne’ from Alternative Flooring

When it comes to choosing a rug’s size, it’s generally best to follow the ‘bigger the better’ rule. If you buy a pre-made rug the standard size is usually around 300x200cm, although it will always vary depending on which store or website you visit. If you have a large space to play with, you’ll want to make sure that you don’t end up with a rug that’s too small and therefore disturbing the room’s ambience and flow. One way to get around this is to order a section of carpet and have the edges bound. This gives you flexibility on the size and can be quite cost effective. We did exactly that with a client with the brilliant Crucial Trader.

‘Audrey Sunrise’ from Crucial Trader

‘Krakow Rug’ from Niki Jones

Niki Jones creates some wonderful classic contemporary rugs, as well as cushions and linens, which can be custom made into any size you like.

‘Optical Rug’ from Niki Jones

‘Polygon Rug’ from Niki Jones

The possibilities are fairly endless when it comes to rugs, big or small, plain or patterned, classic or contemporary, expensive or cheap. Start thinking about what you would really love on your floor and then track down the right supplier, this will save you from being overwhelmed by choice!

Read Full Post »

Autumn Treats to Keep You Warm

The changing weather at the moment has me reaching for the duvet as I begin to wishfully dream of hibernation during these upcoming months. Alas hibernation is not on the cards, but some beautiful throws, cushions, rugs and lamps are everything you’ll need to make it through autumn and into winter whilst keeping warm and toasty as the cold weather sets in.

Ligne Roset has some beautiful wintery rugs in their collection at the moment, and my personal favourite is this Allusions design.

It’s the perfect component to your home as the eye-catching design allows the rug to make a statement as a stand alone piece, but is subtle enough to complement other accessories and furnishings, whatever your style.

The rug would look great with a cosy throw like this one from Soak & Sleep, or if you want to go a little more glam and like me you can’t resist a faux fur throw, try this one from Feather & Black.

Whilst you’re snuggling up in your throw you’ll want to create a warm atmosphere in your home, some beautiful floor and table lamps will do the trick. Ochre has some amazing and innovative designs; this beautiful cast bronze floor lamp is an elegant piece with a modern twist and will be your perfect companion as you relax in front of a film or with a book.

If you’re looking for something a little more striking as well as atmospheric take a look at this stunning Wall Mounted Kasba Tea Light Holder from Rockett St George.

The intricate design makes this a rather special piece and both a functional light feature as well as a fantastic work of art. The piece looks great on its own, but if you’re feeling adventurous and have the wall space why not put two or three of them together for a real feast for the eyes.

Another accessory to truly spoil yourself with is this exquisite Alexander McQueen cushion available from The Rug Company. The butterfly design is sophisticated, dramatic and timeless and would look amazing mixed among some plainer cushions, or on a simple sofa making it a real statement piece. It’s a bit of a splurge but the design is so beautiful it’s definitely worth it!

Veering away from accessories and dipping into some lovely furnishings, there are some wonderful pieces that are in-keeping with the autumn vibes.

This velvet chair from Oka Direct looks amazingly comfy and is the perfect place to sit back and admire your pretty throws and lamps. Plus the warm truffle colour makes for a perfect canvas to add other accessories in any style.

If you’re in need of a place to store your summer accessories or are just simply looking for an excellent addition to a room, take a look at this elegant storage box from Sofa.com, it’s both practical and pretty.

And finally, this new fabric collection from Zoffany has got me all excited. The Tespi velvet collection is beautiful and rich and is absolutely perfect for the colder months. It comes in various patterns and colours to suit your style: if you want a more traditional design there’s the Tespi pattern, or for a more retro or contemporary feel try the Tespi spots and squares. These fabrics are great for revamping some cushions or going all out and covering an entire sofa or chair!

So while the cold weather isn’t cause for celebration, the excuse to treat yourself with all these new home addition certainly is, and with these accessories, staying in has never felt so glamorous!

Read Full Post »

Interiors from Diane von Fürstenberg

As you may know, I am a bit of a DVF groupie (see blog on 31 May 2014) so I am rather thrilled to see her two new collections for the interiors market. The first is a new venture into interiors fabrics and trimmings for Kravet which is, as you would expect, full of vibrant pattern and delicious colour and which has a really joyful feel about it.

The second is a new collection of rugs for the The Rug Company which have a certain animal skin feel to them and can’t help but add glamour and fun. I saw them in The Rug Company’s Kings Road store last week and they are absolutely beautiful. 

Python Rug

Lilac Leopard and Leopard Bark from the new collection.

And I couldn’t resist including Climbing Leopard which is not new but which I love!

Read Full Post »

Get Cosy

I love the autumn and it only takes a whiff of a bonfire or a slightly chilly breeze in the air to get me thinking about cozying up my home for the cold weather. Whilst we are generally enjoying a gorgeous autumn, I am not to be deflected and am taking the opportunity to add a few seasonal accessories, so where better to start than with a bit of natural sheepskin.

I think you can’t go wrong with simply owning a sheepskin, they are nature’s perfect invention. They are great on a chair, or on the floor for your feet to sink into. Don’t even think of leaving it anywhere that your pet goes or you will have to fight for your spot. Cox and Cox curly sheepskin £165

And if you are won over by a picture of a chair with a sheepskin on it, why not go the whole hog (sheep) with a sheepskin beanbag. Fall into it, and emerge in the spring.

Cox and Cox sheepskin beanbag £750

If you have a bigger floor space to be filled with under foot joy, look no further than The Rug Company. Their Alpaca rug not only looks wonderful but is as tactile as you could possibly desire.

www.therugcompany.com Alpaca £550 per m2

On a slightly more frivolous note, I love this sheepskin sheep footstool by The Wool Room at Not on the High Street. I almost feel like naming it, but I will control myself.

Sheepskin sheep stool, the Wool Room £99

We have featured it before and I still love it – why not have a sheepskin magazine rack?

A + B Furniture (sadly not related to us)  £225

And finally, whilst not given to exaggerated sentimentalism myself (she says), I couldn’t resist this sweet heart shaped sheepskin cushion – well why not?

The White Company Sheepskin Heart Cushion £35.00

 

Read Full Post »

Alexander McQueen’s Rug Company Collection

I think it is fair to say that The Rug Company’s collections take craftsmanship to a couture level. This is no exception when it comes to their stunning collection designed by Alexander McQueen. Drawing heavily from patterns found in nature, McQueen’s rugs are both clever and gorgeous.

Feathers, hand-knotted silk

Monarch Smoke, hand-knotted silk

Monarch Fire, Hand-knotted silk

 Skull, hand-knotted Tibetan wool and silk

Military Brocade, hand-knotted Tibetan wool and silk        

Read Full Post »

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 

Read Full Post »