Do you fancy adding some glamour and
sophistication to your home?
Create a sense of space, light and depth by
fusing a mix of dusky greys with warm amber and cream tones to create a soft,
natural glow.
I’m keen to blend my love of France and
Africa to create something dramatic yet functional with my young family. A
traditional sofa or chaise in any shade of grey, upholstered in fine French
linen will set the tone for my room and will look great against an embossed vinyl
wallcovering of shimmering silver or bronze.
I intend to add some classic brass picture
frames mixed with some jet black high gloss items of furniture. I’ll weave in some
safari or exotic flower themed accessories and scatter cushions to reflect a
tropical mood. To add a touch of elegance, I plan to add some delicate lace and
embroidery.
I’ll finish off the look with a stunning
accent chair in vivid orange, mustard or emerald green alongside a lavish
ottoman in a contrasting shade of perhaps deep orchard plum or fushia pink to
add some real indulgence.
Top 10 Living Room Ideas for the Season:
1.
A classic plain sofa in any tone of grey, preferably upholstered in a quality linen, equisite cut velvet, woven fabrics or heavy weight cotton. I like
the contemporary twist to the classic chaise longue below which we created by
using military style buttons in pewter.
2.
The must-have accent chair to add the ultimate wow factor. Eager to
leave the Winter chill behind and migrate to Spring, I’ll use warm tones such
as zingy orange, fushia pink, classic cream or fresh
emerald green in either a lavish cut velvet, fine wool or heavy weight
cotton.
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3.
Add something patterned with a symmetrical or zig-zag design in either
the cushions, curtains or rugs. I’m keen to add a peppering of Aztec influence
somewhere in my room together with some tropical
birds or exotic flowers using some of my own photos. Computer-generated art
is very hot this season. I love these cushions from Zara:
4.
Use good quality paints in neutral shades mixed with elegant wallpapers. Check out the new collection by Mary McDonald
at Schumacher:
I also love the vintage collection of hand-printed wallpapers by Osborne &
Little. Eight of Osborne & Little's most sensational designs have been
re-introduced in new, contemporary colourings. See for yourself at:
http://designerwallpapers.co.uk/osborne-and-little/vintage
5.
Create simple touches to add
feminity to your room. Think
embellished and embroidered and how you may be able to throw some delicate lace into the mix. I adore lace
metal lanterns like these which we have in our showroom at The Packhouse in
Farnham.
Lighting can also add sheer elegance to a
room. To tie in the amber mood, why not try something timeless like this Evelyn
chandelier from John Lewis?
For
table lamps, take a look at some of the new floral lampshades available on the
High Street, many of which reflect the computer-generated art trend.
6.
Rummage
around your attic or visit car boot sales for a few brass accessories. Seriously, brass is back! I’ve dusted down a
beautiful pair of plain brass candle holders and a pre-loved clock which will
help to finish the look.
7.
If you’re looking to update your curtains, you’ll always have a richer choice
if you choose your own fabric and have
them made. However, if you’re looking to save money on your renovation room project,
there are some great ready-made options out there. Laura Ashley have a collection
of around 30 different prints available in three different sizes. I quite like Millwood
Eyelet Ready Made Curtains. It has a subtle leaf and flower print in camomile
pale shades that will tie in to the palette scheme for my room.
8.
Be functional. Storage is an issue in
my house so I’m going to look for a stylish ottoman in a rich texture that will enhance the overall look whilst
also provide the perfect storage solution for the kids’ toys... (here’s
hoping!)
9.
Always have fresh flowers. It’s one of my
personal vices, along with the odd glass of rioja glugged down with a slab of
chocolate! For special occasions or visits from my other designer friends I
usually treat myself to some tropical cut flowers such as Heliconia splash, but
for everyday you can’t beat a bouquet of white lilies or a simple orchid which
are always available in the supermarket and make the home feel fresh and
welcoming.
10. Remember, your home is a reflection of your
personality. I’ll definitely create a zone to
showcase some framed photos of friends and family using a mix of chunky and ornate white and lacquered black
frames. I also have a passion for reading so there will be an inevitable pile
of books on the coffee table. I might look to enhance the literary theme
further by adding a book related feature wall. Here are a couple of innovative wallpaper designs that
have caught my eye recently... I particularly like this simple wallpaper
in sepia by Mineheart: http://mydeco.com/p/bookshelf-wallpaper-sepia/GB000000E2E592BD8BC44F6F421976E3C5C4B2C5/
I also like Young & Battaglia’s
bookshelf wallpaper which is available from Rockett St George.http://www.mineheartstore.com/wallpaper/vintage-bookshelf-wallpaper.html
For more inspiration
on creating an on-trend look, please see the Liberty Rose Interiors boards on
Pinterest. Ideas for 2013 lounge looks are here:
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