Out of this World

It’s always fun to have a look outside of the interior style you usually go for, and sometimes the more extreme the better as you might discover something that you really love. Typically, I’m not a huge fan of the ultra-contemporary, futuristic style, but every now and then something catches my eye. Whether you’re already a futuristic style fan, or a total new-comer take a look at these chic and forward thinking interior products.

For a sleek and suave introduction to a contemporary, futuristic style, Tom Faulkner’s innovative designs are sure to get you into the swing of things. This shell-like chair design has a grown-up, masculine feel about it. It’s perfect for an office, or a formal dining room, and its clean lines give it a timeless, sophisticated vibe.

Dining

‘Echo Chair’ from Tom Faulkner

Gotham have also pretty much honed the masculine look in their pieces, and this coffee table is no different. Designed by Damien Langlois-Meurinne for Pouenat, the mirror polished steel table is a contemporary intrigue. It’s a futuristic piece that can be easily worked into a contemporary set up, and if you just want to play around with the style concept it’s a great starting point.

‘In the Lake’ from Gotham

Not all contemporary and futuristic styles need to be masculine to fit the bill. This feminine, curvy shaped mirror from Julian Chichester is an easy way to incorporate the futuristic style into a feminine setting. There’s a lovely individuality to the mirror, as the combination of steel studded frame and guitar-like shape is an unusual pairing, but it works perfectly.

‘Guitar Bubble Mirror’ from Julian Chichester

For a table lamp with a little sci-fi elegance, the Metis design from Heathfield comes in some wonderful colours that’ll be sure to make a pop in your interiors. The free blown organic form of the base is an elegant statement, while the textural aspects of the design transition the lamp into a futuristic playing field.

‘Metis Violet’ from Heathfield

There’s a beautiful, fantasy element to this wall light from Ochre, it looks like something you might find decorating a set of a fantasy, sci-fi film, and if you want to create a romantic, theatrical atmosphere to a futuristic setting then this light feature, as with all of Ochre’s designs, is rather enchanting.

‘Damselfy Wall Light’ from Ochre

Your sci-fi world can extend all over your house, even to your bathroom. Dress up your shower with this Rio Revive shower from Crosswater. The LED design creates a beautiful, colourful effect that’ll transform a plain old bathroom into an exciting, playful one.

‘Rio Revive Showerhead’ from Crosswater

If you’re really getting the feel for things now, take a look at the some of the more avant-garde style pieces available, which will be anyone who wants to make a statement’s dream. Artemide is always host to a whirlwind of intriguing and outside the box designs, and it’s no different with this Copernico 500 sospensione pendant light. If you have a large drop and want to create a true futuristic statement, this is a sure fire way to do it. The spherical design is made from one single piece of laser cut aluminium sheet, creating an intricate design from a simple format.

‘Copernico 500 sospensione’ from Artemide

Another fascinating design from Artemide is the Florensis floor lamp. Not only is the design aesthetically innovative, but it’s also rather tech savvy too! The floral shape works with the surrounding air to create heat dissipation, so if you’re looking for something that both looks the part and acts it too, then this will be right up your street!

‘Florensis’ from Artemide

From Unto This Last comes the fascinating, alien-like shape bench that is a gift for those wanting to create a perfect, futuristic statement in their home. The fine precision craftsmanship from the company makes a cool, sleek look, giving the bench an effortless elegance.

‘Nurbs Bench’ from Unto This Last

From things with an overwhelming sci-fi edge, to items with a little hint of a futuristic element to them, there are all kinds of ways to get creative with your home.

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Knock on Wood

Wood can be used in all sorts of unusual and exciting ways, from furniture, to art, to lighting there is all sorts of ways to play around with wood interiors. Wood has always been a homeowner’s best friend, and in the world of interior design, we are always finding new ways of using the material to create character and intrigue. I started to fall in love with wood interiors and discovered more and more how adaptable the material was, and how much fun you could have with it.

Tom Raffield is a fantastic company, located in Cornwall that specialises in creating finely crafted wooden delights. I particularly love some of their pendant designs, using nature as both a material and inspiration each design is crafted with care and thought to create contemporary wonders. The Scots Light by Tom Raffield takes its inspiration from the woodland surrounding their design studio, taking the form of a fallen pine cone and made from individual cuttings of wood. It’s a wonderful piece to help celebrate high ceilings and make a beautiful statement in the middle of a living room or hallway.

‘Scots Light’ from Tom Raffield

Another beautiful pendant from Tom Raffield’s collection is inspired this time from a butterfly in flight, its pendant uses its own shadow to enhance its design further, making it a delicate and elegant way to introduce wood into a contemporary interior.

‘Giant Butterfly Pendant’ from Tom Raffield

From the skies to the walls, decking out your walls in a wood motif is a great way to create some drama. Take this dark wood wallpaper for example, though it’s technically not real wood, it uses all the characteristics of wood, creating a dark and moody atmosphere. It’s a contemporary take on a traditional log cabin type style of interior and the burnt, black colour really gives it something extra.

‘Burnt Wood Wallpaper by Piet Hein Eek’ from Rockett St George

To incorporate wood onto your interior walls it needn’t be just by wood effect wallpaper, wall art such as this lovely piece from seller, ArtGlamourSligo from Etsy is an exciting and unique way to use wood in the home, and turning it into art is certainly a way to turn heads.

‘Fighting River’ from ArtGlamourSligo via Etsy

Unto This Last is beautiful London company that focuses their talents on creating wonderful, eclectic pieces of plywood furniture. They take an ultra-contemporary stance on design and create some spectacular pieces. This CD storage shelf is more of a work of art, creating a three dimensional, minimalist piece of furniture.

‘CD Round Shelving in White’ from Unto This Last

Another Avant Garde design from Unto This Last is the rather special skeletal-like chair with a fluid and wavy structure. This is the perfect chair if you’re looking to make a statement, use just as an occasional chair dotted in the corner of a room, or if you think your room (and you!) can handle it, go the full whack and get a set.

‘Spline Chair’ from Unto This Last

For a less dramatic, but equally beautiful wooden chair, this safari chair from Rockett St George is rather gorgeous. Great to pop around a dining room table or in a study, it’s an elegant piece with a hint of the exotic element.

‘Wood and Safari Chair’ from Rockett St George

If you want a lighter wooden touch in your interiors, perhaps something that isn’t permanent or as big of a statement, try going for a few lovely wooden accessories to kit out your home. These mango wooden plates from Holly’s House are rather adorable and an unusual form of tableware. They’re a great idea if you want to create a more natural vibe on your dining room table.

‘Mango Wood Plates’ from Holly’s House

Another interesting find from Etsy seller ArtGlamourSligo is this bespoke reclaimed wood headboards. If you enjoy the industrial look, or are in the mood for something with a robust, rustic edge, a piece like this headboard could be perfect.

‘Reclaimed Wood Headboard’ from ArtGlamourSligo via Etsy

If you love an item that has an interesting or exciting story or method of creation, take a look at these cardboard lanterns from Houselogy. Although there is a little debate on whether cardboard is technically wood, these lanterns are so lovely we had to step around the technicality! Their intricate design is created by combining layers of cardboard, the end results being a beautiful piece reminiscent of the moon. The individual layers and nature of cardboard material means that floods of light with come bursting out of each gap in the pendant, creating a gorgeous effect.

‘Graypants Moon Pendant’ from Houseology

There are hundreds of exciting and wonderful ways to get creative when incorporating wood into your home, and the possibilities can stretch for miles. Soon you’ll be turning your home into a beautiful woodland!

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Unto This Last

I recently visited the Battersea workshop (they have two, the other is in Brick Lane) of a great little company called Unto This Last  and I was incredibly impressed with their new products, designs and colour ranges. We have recommended them in the past for schemes that have a retro feel, for children’s rooms and for quirky pieces to inject into more traditional schemes but they have so many interesting pieces on offer now that I feel we could be in touch with them more often! All their pieces are made in birch plywood which give a lovely edge detail and are made to order but with very quick lead times. They have lots of their products on display in the showroom and I would highly recommend a look when you are next passing.

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