Garden life

Cate Burren of Angel + Blume interior design considers the advantages of a well though through garden gazebo.

There seems to have been much talk during lockdown, and in fairness prior to it too, about carving out additional interior space in the garden – call it what you will, home office, garden studio, man-den, she-shed (there must be a better term) or summerhouse – but the outside space that I personally covet most is the open fronted gazebo. I am not referring to the highly useful plastic pop-up variety that has been seen outside many drinking venues as lockdown eased in the bitter winter weather of May, but to the enviable garden structure that is highly inviting, provides views, fresh air, shelter from all sorts of weathers and that, if done well very well, is a place to inspire conversation, contemplation and tranquillity away from everyday life.

In countries with sunnier and more consistent climates, this sort of open yet undercover space is much more common and may come in the form of a veranda, pergola or simply an awning over a seating area which is useable for much of the year. Our British weather used to mean that we considered a place in the garden as a fully enclosed affair but I think that the indoor smoking ban in bar and restaurants helped to develop our thinking on this. As a non-smoker, I felt very much the injured party when friends left the dinner table to go to the smoking hut where the party really seemed to be at. Indeed Hotel du Vin jumped stylishly on the band wagon with their cigar shacks that feature underfloor heating, comfortable seating, antique furniture and WiFi access – really it’s a wonder that anyone ever returned to the dinner table.

The delightful Monterey gazebo from Garden Affairs offers shelter and privacy
whilst allowing fresh air and a view as required

In order to get the design of your gazebo right, the first thoughts should be what you actually want to use it for. Is it for smoking, is it for eating outdoors or barbequing when the weather isn’t quite up to it, do you want to avoid the intense summer sun in favour of a quiet snooze or an hour with a book, or do you want to get some fresh air during the rest of the year without perishing in your own garden? Once you have an idea of the use, you will know better what the structure needs to achieve and whether you require something quite simple, or whether electricity, drainage, a water supply or a flue for a fireplace or barbeque are required.

Which way your structure faces is also important. The direction of the sun (are you capturing the sun or providing shelter?) and whether you face into the wind will make a difference. Also, do you have a view to incorporate, or do you want (or not want) to be seen from the main house. There are also some practical things to think about like how much storage do you want – what will you bring from the main house and what could be on hand – will you need lighting (surely some fairy lights at the very least) and will any or all furnishings in it stay there all year round?

Once you know what you are aiming to create, the joyous process of working out what it will look like both inside and out can begin. I don’t wish to be negative, but I would advocate that the word plastic should be outlawed from the start. Whatever your structure is going to do for you, the one thing it needs to do is embrace the exterior space that it is in – otherwise it might be best just to go inside again. Here, the elements are not to be braved but to be enjoyed, and indeed relished.

This fantastic hip hangout was created by Shackadelic for one of their clients. It incorporates a barbeque, a log burner and space for a tree to grow through the roof

If you are lucky enough to have something in your garden that could be turned into a gazebo, this is a perfect place to start. Do you have a wall, or indeed corner area that could be used to build the structure against? Do you have an outbuilding or garage that could be converted or opened up? If not, do you want to create something with reclaimed building materials that looks like it has been there for ages, or do you want something pristine and new? Neither are right or wrong, it is a question of what really appeals to you and the wonderful thing is unlike areas within your home, you are not restricted by what is already there – you can create something from scratch which means you can decide on the building materials, the roof you prefer, whether you want windows or not, or whether you want to avoid or work around plants or trees that are there already, or indeed incorporate new planting.

The trick with the interior is to get the balance of inside and outside right. Some feeling of an interior space will make it inviting and comfortable but you also want it to be robust enough to not feel you have to take off muddy shoes to enjoy the space. I would advocate that whatever interior style you go for, keep it relaxed, for yourself and everyone who uses your garden gazebo. It doesn’t have to be the same look as your home, but I would suggest that a completely different look will require work, whereas something that evolves in the style of your home, could absorb any additional furnishings or accessories that you have in your home.

The level of protection from the elements that your gazebo offers will dictate to a certain extent what furnishing you opt for but I would try to avoid using only products designed for outside use. Cushions and comfy seating, artwork, accessories such as books, lamps and ornaments make an indoor space attractive and it is no different outside. You may want to bring some of these things inside (or cover them) during the winter but you are much more likely to use the space when there is some early spring or late autumn sunshine to be enjoyed if your outside space is ready and waiting for you.

Whatever it looks like, I think that the more love and attention you give your new indoor/outdoor space, the more you will use it and appreciate it.

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Monochromatic Matters

Colour is a great asset to use in any home, whether you’re pulling in bold accents into a room, pairing two colours to make an unusual combination, or even going for a daring monochromatic look. A monochromatic scheme can create a strong, bold look in a room, really giving it some presence. Here’s a few beautiful monochrome rooms to give you some inspiration.

Blue Monochromatic Room from Domino via Pinterest

This dark blue room is a feast for the eyes; everything is soft, deep and dramatic whilst the blue makes it feel sophisticated and contemporary. The key with monochromatic rooms is to make sure you have enough texture in the space to give it depth, like the velvet sofa and of hint of purple from the plant. For a beautiful navy paint colour, Fired Earth’s Carbon Blue is a lovely true blue and would have a dramatic impact on the walls. For a sumptuous navy velvet, take a peek at Osborne & Little’s Mikado Velvet collection, they have a whole range of shades but a perfect one for this look is number 6990-08.

Pink is a great colour to use in a monochromatic look and creating the perfect sophisticated setting is all about finding the right shades of pink. Heavily playing on light and dark tones will help add a contemporary element to the space, too much of one pink and it might become a little marshmallow-y. Below they’ve used a dusky pink for the wall and a maroon-pink for the ceiling and for the furniture which really holds the space together.

Pink Monochromatic Room from Domino via Pinterst

There is a huge range of pink or pink-toned paints around at the moment, just make sure you stick to the same type of pink, for example finding a dark and light blush pink. A beautiful pink is Tuscan Pink from Zoffany, with lovely earthy tones to it. To add a spark of interest to the pink scheme, this Atlas fabric from Zimmer + Rohde has beautiful pink tones as well as an abstract landscape-style pattern that would make a stunning pair of curtains in an all pink look.

Atlas Fabric from Zimmer + Rohde

This beautiful green room creates its depth with the use of white to add structure to the space; the sharp white picture frames pop against the green wall, and the off-white rug has different green embroidery to give floor a strong sense of personality. Green makes a great monochromatic room colour choice as it can be naturally given texture and depth with the use of plants, like below different cacti have been added for points of interest and richer impact.

Green Monochromatic Room from Domino via Pinterest

I love De le Cuona and all their pieces, but they have some beautiful fabrics that would really work with a mossy green monochromatic room, take a look at Mistral in Drizzle and Primitive Linen in Fennel. For a similar green grey paint colour, Farrow & Ball’s Blue Gray and Cromarty would complete the look.

Grey seems to be a never-ending popular colour, so if you love it take it one step further by using deep dark hues in a room, from the paint to the furniture and adding in interesting juxtapositions of light hues against the dark.

Dark Grey Monochromatic Room from Apartment Therapy via Pinterest

When using such a dark colour for a monochromatic space, make sure to select materials that’ll allow light to bounce of them, therefore avoiding a black hole effect. This Cascade wallpaper from Zoffany has an amazing ribbon effect, which will not only add a strong design element but pick up the light as well.

Cascade Wallpaper from Zoffany

For a really luxurious looking monochrome room, you can’t go wrong with an all Teal room. The peacock colour makes a strong statement, and if you love glamorous interiors, it’s perfect for you. Below they used gold accessories to draw out the richness of the teal; with such a strong colour like teal, just using at as feature wall in an attempt to ‘tone it down’ can sometimes have the reserve effect, and actually making the bold move and painting the entire space in the colour will create a simpler, sophisticated look. For a triumphant teal, Farrow & Ball’s Vardo has the impact you’re looking for, and for a beautiful fabric to go alongside, the teal version of Anthology’s Vivid fabric will make the perfect pair.

Teal Monochromatic Room from Apartment Therapy

A monochromatic room can be an amazing, stylish and unexpected way to decorate a room; so you want to create an impactful space, have a think about trying out a monochromatic room using your favourite shade.

 

 

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Dot-to-Dot

Creating a feeling of consistency throughout your home is a key part of designing any interior scheme. This can be done in all sorts of ways; through a particular style, a colour palette or even through a more focused feature such as the shape of your homeware and furniture. If you want to draw together rooms in your house, or even make one large space feel connected, take a look at how these circular pieces not only add style to your home but give it a subtle theme.

In a large seating area, create a connected look by using circular footstools. Whether it’s a large stool in the centre and a smaller ones flanking the sofa for a symmetrical look or, if you have the space, creating a beautiful feature in the centre of the area by placing the different sizes together, to create one multilevel piece. This big, round footstool from Swoon Editions in a glorious mustard velvet will add depth of colour and texture to a room, while being the perfect centre piece for a footstool feature. Next to it, a few of these little stools from Atkin & Thyme would look lovely.

Penfold Ottoman from Swoon Editions

Carnaby Footstool in Champagne Velvet from Atkin & Thyme

For a contrast in style, this legged stool from Graham & Green could add more diversity to the look, along with a Moroccan pattern.

Mina Printed Round Ottoman from Graham & Green

Getting the size of your rug right plays a huge hand in how a space or room feels, but if you have a large space to fill, finding a single rug to do the job can be an expensive and hard task. Alternatively opting to layer smaller rugs can be an interesting and resourceful way to work with your space. Layering and arranging round rugs can be a great way to gain a bigger rug and create a unique feature on your floor. These grey jute rugs from Bloomingville are a great foundation for a circular rug feature, a few of these with a central more flamboyant design, such as this botanical piece from Missoni Home would make a beautiful overall look.

Braided Jute Rug in Grey from Bloomingville via Amara

Botanica Round Rug from Missoni Home via Amara

For a smaller way to include a circular theme, using the shape in smaller details such as cabinet knobs throughout the house can create a simple, cohesive effect. Using knobs that are the same design, but with slightly different detailing keeps the look together but gives individuality to each space. For a modern look, these Enamel knobs from Bombay Duck are a fun way to add a spot of colour in your home as well.

Assorted Enamel Round Knobs from Bombay Duck

For a more traditional style, these knobs from Not on the High Street are created in the same vein but each have an individual look to them; they’d be great to use for different pieces in the same room, one style for the lower cabinets in a kitchen and one for the higher cabinets or on a dresser for example.

Aberca and Daroca Knobs from Not on the High Street

Finally, use circular mirrors to pull different room schemes together. If your rooms have different looks, link them by using the same or the same shape of mirror. Keeping some elements of each room the same means that there is still a connection between the spaces but each can have its own individual look. These round mirrors from Trouva are a perfect adaptable style.

Hare & Wilde Round Brass Mirrors from Trouva

Alternatively make a feature out of a long stretch of wall by combining different circular shaped mirrors. These tinted ones from Zara Home are a great modern style.

Toned Round Mirror from Zara Home

However you want to connect the rooms in your home, there are always endless ways to have a little fun with it and think up new ideas on how to make your home special to you.

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Sweet Tooth

A neutral or dark tone palette are a beautiful way to style your interiors, and there is nothing like a little pop of bright colour here and there to add some excitement and a refreshing touch to an otherwise colour free room. From oranges to yellows to pinks, a handful of candy colours can really add some flavour to your home.

‘Soufflé Sofa in Lava Plush Velvet’ from Loaf

The great thing about Loaf is that they not only do a great range of styles, but an amazing set of colourful fabrics as well. This fiery Lava velvet has the perfect dose spicy red mixed with a dusty romantic feel. It’s a bold choice, and it can really make a seating area come alive.

Give your dining table an extra zing of colour with these coloured candles from Graham & Green. The fruity shades will look almost as delicious as the food; stick to one bright shade for a harmonious flow, or create a pick ’n’ mix style with the whole range.

‘Tall Coloured Dining Candles’ from Graham & Green

Add a bounce to your neutral sofa or armchair with a zesty coloured cushion like this one from Rockett St George; the acid yellow is soften by the linen texture, and will give your sofa a modern but cosy feel.

‘Lisbon Soft Cushion in Acid Yellow’ from Rockett St George

I can never seem to resist a fluffy accessory or piece of furniture, especially not one in an unusual colour; this furry footstool from Lime Lace is a fun way to add colour to a living room. A small piece of furniture can be a great way to introduce colour as it won’t overpower the room. This Lilac shade is my favourite, but there are a whole load of other colours available as well.

‘Ceri Baa Sheepskin Footstool in Lilac’ from Lime Lace

Curiousa & Curiousa are a fantastic company that have some intriguing designs, and what’s more they are definitely not afraid of colour. This Gobstopper pendant in a lively green will add style and character to a room; giving it a real statement.

‘Gobstopper’ from Curiousa & Curiousa

For a small touch of orange and indigo blue these animal head hooks from Habitat are light-hearted way to give a utility or hallway some colourful fun.

‘Blue Horse Head Hook and Orange Cow Head Hook’ from Habitat

Or go big and bold with this vibrant, shocking pink chest of drawers. It may seem an ambitious choice at first but with the right accessories, this piece will look beautiful in a bedroom.

‘French Louis Chest in Fuchsia’ from Out There Interiors

Sticking to the pink palette is this raspberry rug from Luke Irwin, the deep shades mixed with the softer, faded sections gives the rug a look that isn’t too bright or harsh, making it perfect for adding some colour without it overwhelming the room.

‘Cato Raspberry Rug’ from Luke Irwin

Lastly, a dose of orange gives the concept of a grandfather clock a modern twist. The sharp black and the lively orange together create a clean and crisp look.

‘Orange Wall Hanging Pendulum Clock’ from Lime Lace

 

Adding spots of colour to your interiors is the perfect way to add a little something extra to your clean white, or dark moody scheme, helping you add an element of surprise to your home.

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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.

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An Alternative Romance

Since today is Valentine’s Day, whether you’re celebrating or not, it always gets you just thinking about romance, and if you’re an interior designer, romantic interiors. I tend to have quite a soft spot for romantic interiors, there’s just something about them that is warm and welcoming, and since there are so many ways to incorporate the theme of romance into a room, it doesn’t just have to be your typical stuff. Alternative romantic interiors can offer you a liveable style, one with underlying tones of romance, one that serenades you in a softer tone, instead of outspoken and outlandish stylings. I’ve pulled together some ideas that will enable you to get the ball rolling if you want to turn your home into a laidback, romantic dreamland.

When it comes to decorating your walls in a romantic style, as with any style theme there are different directions you can choose to take. You may want to keep your walls neutral, to make way for other eye-catching pieces in the room, but if you’re feeling the more is more vibe for your romantic interior, a wallpaper with a pattern may be the way to go. A new collection from Harlequin, Standing Ovation, has some wonderful floral and nature designs that are perfect for creating your alternative romantic interior. The painterly style of the Floreale design and its overgrown and slightly wild floral pattern that gives it a little individuality against some other floral wallpapers out there. The bold colourways and the mixture of peonies foxgloves will give your walls a lease of life.

‘Floreale wallpaper’ from Harlequin

If your room can’t quite handle a print this big, or you’re drawn to a pattern that’s more subtle, the Persico design from the same collection is a rather sweet option. The sporadic arrangement of the British birds gives the design a distinctive character that avoids repetitive nature of patterned wallpaper. This is the perfect style to choose if you want something to transition comfortably between a neutral and a pattern, it’ll look graceful on your walls and allow for other big character items in the room.

‘Persico wallpaper’ from Harlequin

There’s no piece of furniture that fits better for a romantic interior than a big, comfy loveseat, I mean it’s even in the name! Loaf have some amazing loveseats in their collection at the moment, all in different styles to suit your taste, a particular favourite of mine is the Butterbump design. Its structure is fairly traditional, with its deep buttoned back and overall style, but you can still confidently put it into a contemporary setting by choosing a modern colour to upholster it in, like this Winter Sky in a soft velvet. It’ll keep the loveseat looking fresh and allow it to complement a magnitude of accent colours.

‘Butterbump Loveseat in Winter Sky clever velvet’ from Loaf

While some people might dream of a big diamond ring on Valentine’s Day, I’d be rather satisfied with a few of these cushions from Lime Lace. The diamond print is an alternative way to add some glamour to an interior and can also be used to toughen up a feminine sofa, or bring a sense of modernity to a more traditional piece. They are also a prime example of how a romantic interior needn’t follow the bohemian or traditional guidelines and if you love a modern, contemporary interior there are all sorts of way to add a little romantic and fun to the scheme.

‘Manhattan Chase Cushions by Camine Lake’ from Lime Lace

Another charming find from Lime Lace is this rather innovative pendant light. A chandelier instinctively feels romantic, but whether you don’t have the space (or the budget) to accommodate one, or it’s not really your style there’s always an alternative option, like this fab pendant, which features a little chandelier on the inside. They will make a great addition to an interior if you’re looking for that individual boost, or fun talking point, and perfectly incorporate the old with the new. A group arranged at slightly varying heights to create a central lighting piece will look fantastic, possibly better than having an actual chandelier!

‘King Edison Chandelier Pendant by Young and Battagalia’ from Lime Lace

Hanging things from your ceiling, not only frees up some floor space, but also gives the illusion of a lofty, dreamy area with floating accessories that draw your eye to different levels in the room, creating a fuller, more bountiful interior. These birdcage plant holders from Angel & Boho are wonderful. Make it the home for a viney, flowing plant and you’ll create your own little tropical rainforest in the corner of your room as your plants become romantically overgrown and intertwined with the bars of the cage.

‘Hanging Birdcage Plant Holders’ from Angel & Boho

For some lighter, smaller touches to your room to give it a romantic atmosphere, adding some trusted home accessories will always do the trick. A romantic interior will only ever be enhanced by the addition of candles and candleholders. These ombre candle from Lime Lace in an assortment of colours will stand out against the typical white candles, they add a sense of modernity to the traditional romantic interior and can either be used to tone down or up their holders. Below they are paired with some antiqued holders, and the contrasting blend creates an interesting effect.

‘Set of 4 Dip Dyed Candles’ from Lime Lace

Using metallic materials in your interior can help to make a romantic atmosphere, light will bounce off the surfaces giving a room a warm and inviting feeling. Having an arrangement of vases and pots for flowers, real or faux, will also make for a romantic setup in your home. I really like the combination of these gold and copper vases from The Estate Yard, their coarse geometric patterns give them a modern edge, while their metallic colours lets them settle into the romantic scheme.

‘Mixture of Copper and Gold Vases’ from The Estate Yard

If you’re keen for something a little darker and moodier, these black forest vases from Abigail Ahern will bring all the romantic drama you need. Pair them with rich golds and bronzes for a glamourous, romantic effect and with a pop of green from a few plants to really finish off the look.

‘Black Forest Vases’ from Abigail Ahern

There’s something about romantic interiors, be it traditional, feminine, contemporary, bohemian or a beautiful combination, which always seems to grab my attention. A romantic interior allows you to create your very own dreamland, a place to escape the ordinary and the mundane, making it your perfect Valentine’s Day location.

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Velvet Treasures

Over the past few years velvet has featured heavily in the interior design world, and we love it! A great way to give a house, room, sofa, bed or anything a new spring of life is with the addition of something velvety. What’s more there are some great ways to get creative with the material, so if you think you might have a little soft spot for velvet here are some great ways to dress up your house in the stuff!

For some, velvet can be initially a little overwhelming, by its very nature it’s quite a dramatic fabric, especially compared to a linen or cotton. But this drama can either be played up or down depending on your preference, and mixing the fabric with a variety of designs or colours means you can integrate the texture with other factors in a room scheme easily and smoothly. If you want to start off slowly, you can never go wrong with a few velvet cushions to brighten up a sofa, armchair or bed. For a little bit of subtly, opt for a neutral colour, like these mink coloured cushions from Cox & Cox, play around with the different sizes and eventually add in some more complementary colours to go with them.

‘Velvet and Linen Cushions in Mink’ from Cox & Cox

Next add in this delicious creation from Timorous Beasties via Houseology, the bee motif is an iconic Timorous Beasties design and gold contrasted against its dark velvet background offers a dramatic spin on a comfy cushion. It’ll look wonderful popping out against a crisp white sofa, or enhance a romantic atmosphere mixed in with some dark and moody colours.

‘Napoleon Bee Cushion by Timorous Beasties’ from Houseology

If you’re looking for the perfect snuggly material for the remaining winter months, and probably the-not-so-warm spring ones, a velvet throw will turn an average bed into one fit for royalty. This pin-tucked throw from Cox & Cox is gorgeous and comes in this dreamy, timeless sage colour.

‘Velvet and Linen Pin-Tucked Quilt in Sage’ from Cox & Cox

Velvet is a great fabric to add to a traditional style interior, and the glamour can help a room look a hundred times more sophisticated. This button quilted Enya chair from Graham & Green is all about old school Hollywood style, and can transform a room, giving it that lift it’s been in need of, the velvet will catch the light in a wonderful way, giving it extra vibrancy, especially against more muted tones and fabrics.

‘Enya Relaxing Chair’ from Graham & Green

Velvet doesn’t just go with traditional style rooms and furniture, in fact incorporating a modern design with velvet is a great way to balance out the fabric’s dramatic nature. This velvet dining chair has a distinct Nordic style it and the combination of the plush velvet with the modern legs gives an interesting vibe that would give your dining room an individual look.

‘Velvet Button Dining Chair in Blue’ from Out There Interiors

The same goes for these fantastic revived Mid-Century designs distributed by Rose & Grey, and made by 366 Concepts. This rocking chair design takes its inspiration from Jozef Chierowski’s original Easy Chair, with the modern edition of the rocking feature. The Mid-Century wooden frame mixed together with the velvet upholstery creates an exciting, dynamic look.

‘Jozef Chierowski 366 Rocking Chair Velvet’ from Rose & Grey

Another wonderful design from the Rose & Grey and 366 Concept is this occasional chair originally designed by Teofil Halas in 1963. The smoky grey colour gleams in the sunlight and pairs perfectly with the tones of the wood frame. It brings about a balance between low-key elegance and distinctive design can will really set your interiors apart from the rest.

‘Velvet Halas Dining Chair’ from Rose & Grey

Heals have a wonderful sofa bed in stock at the moment, which reinvents the concept of a Chesterfield sofa. The Chesterfield is a classic design that can be worked into all sorts of interior schemes, the gorgeous sofa bed offers the same style in a contemporary way, it’s available in leather but I think the velvet version is the way to go. Shown below, its styled perfectly with some vibrant yellows and some extra velvet cushions if you just can’t get enough.

’40 Winks Sofa Bed’ from Heal’s

Speaking of yellow, I think I may have fallen in love with the colour of this super footstool from Swoon Editions. The velvet looks divine in its honey mustard colour, and would make a bold statement against some more neutral, contemporary surroundings, or even add a little spice mixed into a traditional setting. If you like the idea of velvet furnishing, but aren’t ready to invest in one of the larger pieces just yet, getting something smaller like a footstool is a great way to test the velvet waters.

‘Tivoli Footstool in Honey’ from Swoon Editions

A velvet effect rug will not only look luxurious but feel it too, a real treat for your eyes and your feet! This rug from Designers Guild is utterly beautiful. The interlocking patterns create an amazing textural effect giving depth and tone to the look of the rug. It’s the ideal solution when you want a simple rug that isn’t flat in appearance.

‘Roxburgh Rug in Moleskin’ from Designers Guild

For a little Art Nouveau touch to your velvet and your interiors, this golden flamingo lamp with a royal blue velvet shade will add a pinch of over the top frippery that all rooms need a little sprinkling of from time to time.

‘Metal Flamingo Table Lamp’ from Rockett St George

From beds to sofas to floors, adding a touch of velvet to an interior will give a scheme some wholehearted dramatic flair, which will not only make your home look fabulous but feel soft, plush and beautiful!

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de Le Cuona – Savage Beauty

A few weeks ago we had our lovely rep Onur from De Le Cuona come in to show us the fantastic collection Savage Beauty. It’s a wonderful combination of linens and rich fabrics, that is perfectly described as a collection where “intrepid travel and haute couture meet”. The fabrics are simply stunning, and so I had to dedicate a blog to the collection.

You can tell that careful consideration has been taken over each and every fabric in the collection, the quality of work and style is top notch, with each fabric both visually and texturally wowing you; if you’re looking for a luxurious collection to deck your interiors in, this is it.

There’s a real sense of a naturalistic element to the fabrics, Flint has a stone-flecked finish to it, much akin to its namesake, and Treasure despite its metallic sheen manages to maintain a rustic element.

The haute couture component of the collection comes out the play in fabrics such as Persia, where “a tween crosses a tapestry and Chanel jacket woven in ribbons and tapes”. It’s a playful, elegant fabric that on closer inspection reveals layers in colours and textures.

Another beautiful piece from the couture side is the delicious Cleopatra, which flows effortlessly like air, as well as the Liquid velvet, which is by far the softest velvet we ever felt in the office!

Another of my favourites is the Mistral fabric. Made to resemble the rippling effect created by the wind in sand dunes and the sea, the fabric is light in weight but heavy in texture and spirit and reflects its brief perfectly.

Vintage is a reversible linen, a creamy off-white colour on top and on the bottom a light beige. Both sides can be used, and De Le Cuona shows this off perfectly with this marvellous chair combining the two sides.

Savage Beauty is a dreamy, romantic collection. It ties together nature and luxury and creates an “adventurous glamour” as they so aptly describe it. However, unlike a lot of collections where the beauty is so present it’s hard to see how the fabrics can function in the real world, Savage Beauty manages to maintain both its practicality and its romance all in one quick, awe-inspiring swoop.

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Bohemian Romance from Mulberry

The newly launched Bohemian Romance collection from Mulberry is absolutely gorgeous. It is all that you expect from Mulberry who have always been brilliant at plaids, velvets and prints in the elegant country style but they have added additional colour and some fantastic new designs that bring their range right up to date. I am really excited about this collection and can’t wait to get my hands on the samples.

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Zoffany’s Town and Country Collection

Last week,  we were visited by the lovely Emma from Zoffany.  From the depths of her capacious Zoffany carpet bag she pulled the most wonderful selection of silky velvets, wools, weaves, beautifully printed linens and the most subtley patterned wallpapers  – Zoffany’s recently launched Town and Country Collection. 

 As the name suggests, this collection has been designed to suit both chic town houses and relaxed country residences alike.  So all bases are covered and, not surprisingly, each of us immediately fell in love with a different design.

Cate with the pale blue Aquarelle wallpaper, Kate with the Lotus Flower Linen, Jenny with the wonderfully tactile Curzon velvet and I particularly love the Chilli Peppers Indigo Linen which as you can see in the accompanying images, looks fantastic made up as a kitchen blind.

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