Decorex 2022 - interiors inspiration, ideas and icons
9 min read
Published 28 Oct 2022
Decorex, the interior design trade fair, is back! It’s held every year at the beginning of October, but for obvious reasons the last two years it was held virtually, and this is the first year it’s been back in real life. And I have to say, it is joyous to attend in person. I ‘attended’ some of the online events over the last couple of years, and it wasn’t the same at all. For me, the point is to go and see, touch, and experience the products being shown, soak up the atmosphere, meet and connect with people, see the faces behind the brands and often meet the makers themselves. So, my assistant and I travelled to London to take it all in. It’s held in the historic Olympia Exhibition centre, a beautiful industrial Grade II listed building, which opened in 1886. It's lovely to just be in the building and to see the impressive structure, as it’s a pretty large feat of engineering. |
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The grand hall of the Olympia Exhibition Centre, London |
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Even the basement area (which is now the cloakroom) is beautiful - just look at those tiles! |
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The exhibitors spend weeks planning their stands, and there’s even a competition for the best presented one, with the result that many are worth looking at just for the decor of the stands alone. |
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The Beardmore hardware collection stand, who won the prize for best stand last year | ||||||||
There is also a programme of design talks every day, which cover topics such as what the upcoming trends are, how to use lighting in interiors and how we can make the industry more sustainable. One of my favourite talks this year was from fashion designer turned ceramicist Henry Holland, who was both funny and brutally honest about the experience of having his first business collapse, and then starting a new one during lockdown. |
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The design talks theatre was sponsored by wallpaper brand Cole and Son, as was the cafe, which was adorned with wallpaper and pattern from their collaboration with Stella McCartney. I loved how they divided the cafe into two halves and had each colourway of the same wallpaper on opposite sides. They even matched the carpet in too! |
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The Cole and Son x Stella McCartney decorated cafe |
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On to the stands themselves, showcasing the all important new products and ideas. There was a lot to see, and it gave me tons of inspiration. I loved the fringing and gathered skirts, and the generally frou frou feel on display. I’d call it ‘fresh Victoriana’ - a modern take on the heavy Victorian style of decorating, but with a much lighter and more playful touch. Skirted furniture is definitely a strong trend, and you can bet its on it’s way to a store near you soon. | ||||||||
Skirted chairs at the Love Your Home stand |
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I was surprised to see that the trend for ‘Millennial pink’ is still going strong. I designed my pink kitchen way back in 2013, when the blush pink colour was just starting to emerge as an alternative to the greys we had all been decorating with. It has now become an interiors staple, with some calling it the new neutral, and paint companies produce many different versions from ‘Setting Plaster’ to ‘Light Peachblossom’. There was lots of pale pink at Decorex, from the stands themselves to the fabrics and wallpapers, as there has been for the past few years, but what was new was the pairing of these delicate pinks with pale oranges. |
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Fresh pink stripes at the Ian Mankin stand | ||||||||
Some stands even used this pairing in a bolder way, and I loved the clash of the stronger orange tones with pinks from the Fuschia family. |
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The freshness of the pale pink and orange colour palette also translated into a general feeling of lightness, with pastel colours adorning more traditional patterns such as ticking and stripes. Stripes themselves have been given an update, with lots of wiggly lines and uneven applications. The squiggles even made it on to mirrors! |
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Curves are another trend which show no sign of going away. You might remember the last time I wrote about Decorex, I said that curved furniture was the new kid on the block. Well, now it’s grown up and is here to stay. Everywhere I looked curves had made their way on to the furniture, and even the stands themselves. |
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All these wavy forms have also influenced the design of our bedrooms. If you’ve looked at Instagram lately, you’ll have seen covered and wavy headboards everywhere. These are often oversized and exude luxury, as it seems we all want to create that safe, cosy haven in our homes. There were lots of covered headboards on the stands, with one which caught my eye particularly - an upholstered headboard on a cast iron bed frame - which offers the best of both worlds in my opinion. |
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This display of textures and organic forms we’re seeing reflects our need for that tactile experience along with comfort. It’s a direction that has been evolving in interior design since we had to enter a virtual world and couldn’t touch things or hug each other. We’ve realised how important the sense of touch is to our wellbeing, and are finding ways for our homes to support us in this way. At the show, the enthusiasm for textures didn’t stop at fabric and shapes, as I noticed a lot of textures applied in unusual ways to items like lighting and taps. I loved these, as they not only look great, but they feel even better. Items we touch every day like bathroom taps are so much nicer to use if they also feel luxurious too. Maybe the product designers were responding to that need for touch? |
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It was also excellent to see that the innovation at the show was firmly anchored in sustainability. There was the launch of an expanded range of rechargeable lighting from Pooky, which enables us to place lights where there are no plug sockets (such as in the garden). Whilst I appreciate that they still need electricity to be charged, it’s preferable to using battery powered lighiting and then having to dispose of the batteries, and the lights themselves are lovely. |
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The new rechargeable lighting range from Pooky | ||||||||
I loved seeing the textiles from Daughters of Gaea, a relative newcomer to the design world. They use low impact and environmentally friendly materials to make a range of homewares, giving well paid work to female led hand makers around the world. Their mission is to give, rather than take from the people and resources of our planet. |
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Another stand I wanted to see was the Haines Collection (see above). I’d been aware of their work for a while, but had yet to see any of it in person. They take leftovers from interior design projects, such as wallpaper and fabrics, and sell them on at a fraction of their original cost. These pieces can then be made into new and useful items. They also make lampshades and cushions from some of the fabrics, saving them from going to landfill. It’s such a great idea and also a way to find a great bargain if you want to save on that expensive fabric you’ve fallen in love with. I found a new supplier too - Naturalmat, who hand make their mattresses in their solar powered Devon workshop, using an organic and chemical free process. The really clever bit though, is that they will take your worn Naturalmat mattress back and refurbish it into a new one for you. Apparently, the springs in the middle of the mattress will wear out first, leaving the ones around the edges perfectly fine and reusable, so the worn parts can be replaced and the mattress can be recovered. If you would prefer not to refurbish your old mattress, they will take it apart and recycle the components, giving you credit towards a new one. They also have a donation scheme, where the mattresses are washed by a huge machine (named Matilda!) and then given to their charity partners to be distributed to those that need them. The idea is that they will ‘close the loop’ of mattress making, and avoid any waste at all. |
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the Naturalmat 'mattress for life' pledge | ||||||||
It was a fantastic show this year, and I was so glad to be there in person. It was truly lovely to meet all the hardworking business owners and see what they have to offer. I’m really pleased we made the trip, and so grateful that we could all be together again. I feel inspired and ready to tackle some more projects! |
Welcome to the design blog, where you'll see posts about anything from the projects we are working on, to the latest fabric and wallpaper collections, and all things interiors related. We love colour, pattern, architecture and old buildings, and we love to share our finds with you.
Happy reading!
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The Great Outdoors
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Beata Heuman's Direktors Lampa
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Little Greene x National Trust
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All that glistens - antique copper from Soho Lighting
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Paint made from olive stones?
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Recycled yarn given a new life
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Shower curtains can be cool too
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Who says shower curtains have to be white (or greying with mould)? The fabulously patterned range from Divine Savages is a bold and easy way to add a wall of colour and pattern to your home with no commitment. Very easy to change, and very easy to fall in love with too! |
Beautiful outdoor lighting
28 Jul 2023
Outdoor lighting is not usually something to get excited about. But this new collection from Soho Lighting is beautiful, and in on trend but timeless brass. Inspired by the Chelsea Flower Show and designed to compliment any style of planting, there are three new lights in this collection. They are all made in Britain and you can take a closer look here. |
The perfect combo
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We often have lighting combinations in our rooms (such as kitchens) where some lights need to be dimmable, (say over the dining table) and others need to be a functional on or off switch. The clever people at Dowsing & Reynolds have combined these types of switches into one plate, which is not only practical but stylish too. You can see the range of switches and finishes available here. |
Rebel Walls x Jack Kinsey
28 May 2023
If you are a fan of the BBC's Interior Design Masters, you'll recognise Jack Kinsey, the runner up in the final of this year's show. He was our favourite to win, and is incredibly talented. It's lovely to see him team up with one of our wallpaper suppliers, Rebel Walls, to create a hand painted bespoke mural collection which brings the best of the past into the present. You can see the collab here. |
Heritage tiles from House of Hackney
28 Apr 2023
One of my favourite maximalist brands, House of Hackney, have released a stunning new collection of heritage tiles based on their most popular floral design, Artemis. They are hand made and traditionally glazed, and come in a rainbow of signature House of Hackney colours. You can buy the tiles here. |
Fired Earth x Nina Campbell
28 Mar 2023
One of the best known interior designers, Nina Campbell, has collaborated with one of my favourite tile suppliers, Fired Earth, to produce an elegant range of beautifully patterned tiles, and a complementary range of understated plains. They are designed in her signature style, and are very easy to mix and match to create a relaxed look in your home. You can see the collection here. |
New National Trust wallpapers
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A new collaboration from Little Greene and the National Trust, a collection of wallpapers spanning over 200 years of decoration. The designs have been created from original papers found at three of The National Trust's historic houses, and printed using traditional techniques. The collection includes hand painted birds and stylised florals, and comes in 45 colour ways. You can buy the collection here. |
More pattern joy!
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New colours from Fenwick & Tilbrook
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Out of this world lighting
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Introducing sustainable pendants from Mullan Lighting
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Whipping up a storm
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A responsibly made lamp
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Corduroy is cool again
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A new fabric from Kirkby Design called Sculpt includes these deep pile cotton velvets which look just like large versions of corduroy. The look takes me right back to my childhood, and is very comforting. You can see the collection here. |
Colourful, wonderful boucle fabric
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The trend for super soft Boucle fabric is still going strong, but up until now we've mostly seen it in creams and whites. One of my favourite fabric suppliers, Linwood, has produced a new colourful collection of 48 shades. It's a durable and soft fabric, and works particularly well on sofas and cushions. |
We won!
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This month, we were pleased as punch to receive the Best Homes & Interiors award from the prestigious Cardiff Life Awards. Cardiff Life Magazine are well-known champions of our city, and the annual awards celebrate the best of Cardiff talent, so we are over the moon to be named 2022 winners! |
Morris & Co. X Ben Pentreath
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The designs of William Morris have made a comeback over recent years, and now they have been given a striking makeover by interior designer Ben Pentreath. The Queen Square Collection has reimagined some of Morris's most famous fabrics and wallpapers in rich tones and vibrant colourways. You can see the collection here. |
Matchy Matchy
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New fabric collection from Prestigious Textiles
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A new collection of sumptuous fabrics has just been released from Prestigious Textiles, called Monsoon. The collection includes tactile velvets, animal motifs, embroideries and beautiful sheers, so it's versatile enough to use anywhere in your home. If you'd like to know more about these fabrics, please get in touch. |
New reeded glass pendants from Mullan Lighitng
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Lighting designers and manufacturers Mullan Lighting have a new range of reeded glass pendant lights available. These Mid Century inspired lights come in three shapes and four finishes, but the Nahla (the one pictured above) is my favourite. You can see the range here. |
Little Greene and Bert & May join forces
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Little Greene has announced a collaboration with tile brand Bert & May. The collection sees eight gorgeous Little Greene shades translated onto tiles, giving you even more opportunity to add colour, texture, and a mix of materials to every area of your home. I love this bathroom combination above, with the perfectly matched tiles and paint offset with touches of terracotta, mustard and oak. You can see the full collection here. |
Dulux colour of the year - Bright Skies
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So, Dulux have announced their colour of the year for next year, and here it is! Bright Skies is described as the 'breath of fresh air' that we all need after being indoors for so long. What do you think? I'm reserving judgement at the moment. It looks a little cold in the picture, but I don't think the beige sofa and the styling are doing it any favours here. Maybe colour drenched (painted on walls, ceilings, trims and doors) and with some warmer burgundies and terracotta, it could be lovely. You can buy the colour here. |
A new home collection from Paloma Faith
28 Aug 2021
British singer songwriter Paloma Faith has recently launched her first collection for the home. It includes wallpapers, fabrics, cushions and bedding, and she describes the look as 'faded grandeur and retro maximalism'. The prints are everything I love - dramatic, colourful and fun, and you can see more of the collection here. |
It's all about soft yellows
28 Jul 2021
I was watching an Instagram live post from The Little Greene Paint Company last week, and they were discussing a comeback for yellow. Now, as you know, I don't think you have to follow the trends but yellow hasn't been fashionable for a long time, so this sunny, uplifting shade is often overlooked. A warm yellow like Little Green's Carys (above) is perfect for cheering us all up, and you can buy it here. |
The cushion that gives back
28 Jun 2021
Introducing the cushion that gives back, from homewares company Oka. They have produced this cushion in partnership with The Trussell Trust who support two thirds of the UK's food banks, and 100% of the proceeds from sales of this lovely green velvet cushion will be donated by Oka to The Trussell Trust. It comes in a range of other colours too, and you can buy the cushion here. |
A beautiful new tile collection inspired by the National Trust
28 May 2021
Just launched, Ca Pietra a new tile collection in collaboration with the National Trust. Every tile has been inspired by one of the historic properties, gardens or coastlines looked after by the Trust, and a minimum of £10,000 from sales of the tiles will be given to the National Trust to help them continue their important work. You can see the collection here. |
Yummy new switch & socket colours
28 Apr 2021
Did you ever think that your light switches were good enough to eat? I'm guessing the answer is no, until now. You can now buy switches and sockets in these gorgeous colours from the new Dowsing & Reynolds Cafe Culture collection. They come in luscious shades like Cinnamon, Caramel Latte and Whipped Cream, so you can tone, coordinate or contrast with your wall colours and make every part of your interior scheme look delicious. You can buy the gorgeousness from here. |
A sustainable fabric choice
29 Mar 2021
A beautiful new sustainable fabric range from Clarke and Clarke has just been launched. It's made entirely from recycled materials so you can refresh your home with a clear conscience. You can have a look at the fabric here. Get in touch with me if you'd like to buy any of this fabric. |
Sought & Styled - Preloved items given new life
28 Feb 2021
This month I want to highlight a business run by a very talented lady I met a few years ago (remember when we could meet people?) Not only is she a creative interior designer, she also runs an online shop where she reuses and repurposes anything from soft furnishings to larger furniture items. Everything sold is bespoke and unique, and is effortlessly waste conscious because it's being used again. You can visit her shop here. |
Do kitchen worktops bore you?
27 Jan 2021
Thanks to a genius idea from kings of pattern Blackpop, you can now have one of their colourful designs on your kitchen worktop. They will put any of their funky fabric or wallpaper designs onto waterproof MDF to make you a unique worktop, or they can even make a design just for you. Chopping will never look the same again! You can buy the worktops from their website here. |
A Fresh Take - Cardiff Life feature
18 Dec 2020
This month's issue of Cardiff Life Magazine is out today, and features an interiors special, because one thing this past year has made us do is take a new look at our homes and how we'd like to live in them. To see what I and other local interiors experts have to say on the subject, including a round up of the trends for 2021, have a flick through the digital mag here. |
An enchanting inaugural wallpaper collection from Tom Baker
26 Nov 2020
This opulent and atmospheric wallpaper from Tom Baker immerses you in a world of tropical flora, fauna and exotic animals. With soft cool tones and hints of pink floral detailing, this is the perfect wallpaper to add a relaxing and exciting edge to your home. Find this enchanting collection here. |
A new shady collaboration between Matthew Williamson and Pooky
20 Oct 2020
The humble lampshade is often overlooked, but with the new collaboration between Pooky and Matthew Williamson they won't be for much longer! Matthew Williamson has applied his talent to design a new range of Pooky lampshades. Whatever your taste, colour scheme or budget you will find the perfect lampshade for your home in this new collection which is now available. This spectacular new collection can be found here. |
Felt covered curtain poles
17 Sep 2020
Now you can add some texture to your window dressing with these Walcot House felt covered poles. The pure wool coverings come with a option for bronze or steel fittings and wide spans up to six metres. The curtain track is cleverly hidden within the wooden curtain pole and there's a choice of nearly 50 colours and textures. You can find out more here. |
Please vote for my blog
11 Aug 2020
I'm really thrilled to have been nominated for an Amara Interiors Blog Award this year! If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to vote for me, I'm nominated in the Best Interior Designer Blog category, and you can vote for me here. |
Upcoming interiors trends from Love Rugs
10 Jul 2020
Love Rugs, the people who know about all things rugs have just published a feature on the upcoming interiors trends for 2020. They asked six of the UK's top interior designers (including me!) to tell them what the upcoming trends are, and in particular the changes we will be making to their homes. The article can be read here, and if you'd like to have a look at the huge range of rugs they offer, click here. |
A new fabric collection from Linwood Fabrics
15 Jun 2020
I love Linwood fabrics - they have a fab way of mixing colour and pattern into something really special, producing fabrics and wallpapers that make me want to coo. This new collection, available at the end of June, is just as gorgeous. It's called Kami, with the pattern inspired by a 19th Century document. The collection is a range of printed velvets, so perfect for upholstery and accessories like cushions. |
An easy way to update your kitchen
16 Apr 2020
If you are looking to update your existing Ikea kitchen rather than replace it, Stockholm based company Superfront are here to help. They sell a range of fronts, handles, legs and tops to fit not just the Faktum kitchen range but also the Besta, Metod and Pax ranges - so you can customise anything from your sideboard to your wardrobe. These super cute round handles are part of their new birch collection, and the whole range can be found here |
Move over boring taps - colour is the new black
13 Mar 2020
Colour has been taking over our kitchens and bathrooms for a while now (yay!), and has slowly been creeping into sanitaryware and fittings. These perfectly coloured mint green and pastel pink taps from the new Miami Colour Pop Collection from amazing homeware brand Dowsing & Reynolds are spot on and would look gorgeous in any kitchen or bathroom to add a shot of colour without overwhelming with sugary sweetness. You can learn more about this new collection here. |
Who knew a door stop could look this good?
19 Feb 2020
Door stops are one of those little annoying things that we all need, but are not the prettiest to look at. Now London based Buster & Punch have turned their attention to the problem and transformed the humble door stop into something cool and covetable. They might cost more than your average one from a DIY store, but as you're going to see it every day, why not look at something beautiful? here. |
Wallpaper made of cork?
29 Oct 2019
Sustainability and concern for our environment are key in the interiors world right now (as they should be). So when I saw that Monkey Puzzle Tree (a brand I admire for their sense of style and creativity) had produced this wallpaper made of cork, I was blown away. Cork is great for so many reasons - it can be harvested every nine years without harming the tree, is grown without the need for pesticides or fertilisers, has excellent sound and heat insulation properties, and is naturally antimicrobial and antifungal. This wallpaper has an A+ rating for emissions so it creates a healthy environment wherever it is hung. Add to this that the design was produced in collaboration with the talented Drew Millward who lives in my home county of West Yorkshire, and that it's called 'Hit The North', I was bound to fall in love with it. You can buy the wallpaper here. |
I'm in Cardiff Life magazine - again!
17 Sep 2019
Now that the summer is officially over and our thoughts turn to cosying up our homes for winter, I'm here to help. If you're in need of some inspiration, you can read all about the interiors trends for Autumn and how to work them into your home in this month's Cardiff Life magazine. Hear what I and other interiors experts have to say on pages 18-22. You can read the digital version of the magazine here. |
I've been nominated for an Amara Interiors blog award!
6 Sep 2019
Exciting news! My little blog (Design Insider) has been nominated for an Amara Interiors Blog award! I'm so chuffed to be included at all, and not expecting to win, but if you enjoy reading my blog posts then please vote for me. I'm nominated for the Best Interior Designer blog category. Voting is open until the 11th of September and you can vote for me here. |
My kitchen project featured on the Artifact Lighting blog!
1 Aug 2019
When I designed the contemporary copper kitchen, I wanted to use some copper elements to add warmth and also to tone in with the pink walls and pale grey units. I found these pendant lights from a company called Artifact Lighting, and they are perfect because they add to the 'warm glow' I wanted to acheive. They also have a vintage look which contrasts nicely with the sleek look of the kitchen units. When the kitchen was finished I sent some pictures to Artifact Lighting, and they liked the kitchen so much they featured it on the blog page of their website. You can read the blog page here |
House of Hackney's first outdoor fabric
26 Jun 2019
One of my favourite interiors brands, House of Hackney, who are known for their daring and quirky prints, have just released a new fabric which is suitable for our door use. They took one of their designs, Palmeral, and reimagined it in a fresh colour palette of off white and green. This colour fast and water resistant fabric can be used for anything from outdoor cushions to furnishing yachts (if you are lucky enough to have one!) |
My thoughts on the colour Living Coral in Cardiff Life Magazine
31 May 2019
Hear what I and my fellow designers have got to say about Pantone's colour of the year, Living Coral, and how to use it, in this month's Cardiff Life magazine. The article is on pages 84-86, and you can read it here. Do you think you could use it in your home? |
Sustainability in furniture design
7 May 2019
Sustainability is something that is becoming more and more important in interior design - not just where we buy items from and how far they've travelled to get to us, but also the materials that they are made from. Kartell, one of Italy's best known design brands, have just released the world's first piece of furniture made from a bioplastic called Bio-On. It's a fully sustainable version of one of their best selling items - the Componibili modular unit, and it comes in four delicious pastel shades. They may be 100% sustainable, but they are also super cute and bang on trend with this seasons colours. You can buy them here |
The latest trend in shutters
24 Feb 2019
Forget painted shutters - the new style direction for window shutters is bare wood. These full height shutters made from sustainably sourced ash are the newest product from California Shutters, and are set to be big this year. |
My new favourite tile!
7 Feb 2019
I was searching for some tiles for a client's splashback recently and came across these beauties from Topps Tiles. There's long been a trend for patterned tiles, with lots of geometric shapes and bold colours going on, but I've begun to see more and more tiles with a pattern in the surface of the tile itself. These ones are a lovely example, and the deep blue colour is just stunning. To get a closer look at them, follow the link below.
Pantone announce their colour of the year 2019
11 Dec 2018
Leading colour experts Pantone have annouced the shade which they think will be the colour of the year for next year - Coral pink. It might look very bright and scary, but it's actually quite easy to use. I wouldn't suggest painting a whole room in it, as that might be a bit overwhelming, but I would use it in small doses, such as on cushions or in artwork, to liven up a shceme. Pantone say that the colour is meant to 'embrace us with warmth and nourishment and provide comfort and bouyancy in our continually shifting envirnoment', which basically means it's a happy, uplifting colour, and might just cheer us all up!
My work featured on Homify
8 Oct 2018
My work has been featured in an article on Homify - one of the leading online ideas platforms for all things interiors. My project is in an article on how to avoid common mistakes when designing a bedroom. The article mentions how important it is to block out light for a good nights sleep - something I addressed by adding blackout lining to the curtains and adding an extra layer of window dressing with the wooden Venetian blinds. To see the article, please use the link below.
Homfy article - Are you guilty of these 8 bedroom design mistakes?