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A guide to the ultimate interior design trends to elevate your home. By Gillian Upton
THE LUXE LOOK
Italian company Extroverso has reinvented wall coverings using parchment-based panels made from goatskin which is smooth, waterproof and soft. Applied to a wooden structure, the luxe panels can be enriched with gold leaf, inlaid to create a mosaic effect or layered to create a pattern in relief. Cover an entire wall, a sideboard, door or headboard; the options are endless. Seen here: parchment-covered wall panels with gold leaf sanded finish.
Elevating the kitchen splashback
Copper with its patina and aged finish and brass adds a real pop of warmth and texture to a plain kitchen. Sheets can be cut to most sizes and although each piece is bespoke, colour-matching is possible. Kitchens by Holloways flags up that “one current kitchen trend is to use natural materials which are rich in texture; brass is also popular.” Seen here: copper splashback from Halman Thompson.
A TOUCH OF CLASS
If you’ve always fancied marble floors or walls, cheat with these porcelain stoneware tiles that look just like genuine honed and veined marble and with a natural variation from tile to tile. Called Cathedral, they are available in verde, emerald, blue and arabescato from Stone & Ceramic Warehouse.
Riot of colour
Who would put stripes and patterns together, or clashing colours? It’s Luke Edward Hall’s hallmark and it’s catching on. Says Bethell, “We think that the gorgeously colourful, bold, eclectic style epitomised by Luke Edward Hall is increasingly visible and we adore it!
UP THE WALL ART
The humble radiator today comes in all shapes and sizes and is a designer item rather than a prosaic necessity for the home interior. Hidden valves and ultra-thin steel have revolutionised the design of Sfere, available in 80 colours, (pictured), while the minimalist I-Ching parallel bars can be hung horizontally to hold towels or vertically for bath robes. Both designs from The Radiator Centre
KITCHEN DRAMA
Have you ever thought of having a kitchen made of charred wood? Kitchens by Holloways have. While the actual units are deep charcoal black, the drama comes from the brass that frames the boards. The method is called Shou Sugi Ban and has its origins in 18th century Japan. “It’s a way to treat cedar to make it weatherproof,” says the company. “We’ve developed a finish which is practical for use in kitchens. The charring process creates a beautiful tone and texture which looks great with brass.”
Picture perfect
Photos of your loved ones floating on tiles inside a picture frame is the ultimate 3D collage which can easily be replaced and changed over time as life evolves. Who said anything about divorce? The design comes with a choice of wood, metal, acrylic or stone frames to suit any interior design, creating a wall of memories. Seen here: MKW Design.
TALL ORDER
William Tozer Associates has taken the office at the end of the garden to new heights, quite literally. A double-height gym space was requested by a client in a new-build, timber-clad garden pavilion to fit an adjustable climbing wall. To make the climb worthwhile, the architect added extensive roof glazing to provide views of the sky reminiscent of the experience of climbing outdoors.
PAMPERED POOCHIES
The lengths we go to keeping our four-legged friends in comfort seemingly knows no bounds. Slumber Wolf are doing a roaring trade making bespoke crafted beds, promising no nails, screws or synthetic fabrics just traditional joinery, woven rope base, hardwood oak, walnut and maple frames and sheepskin toppers. Known as the Chippendale of canine furniture they start at £1,500 and take four-six weeks to make.
DESIGN TRENDS | LIGHTING
Better known as jewellery for the home, lighting is fundamental to any interior design, with new ranges becoming more sculptural and oversized ceiling lights and statement chandeliers still commanding centre stage
AT SIXES AND SEVENS
Six diagonal brass arms spider out to matte enamel lamp shades to form a striking Fifties-inspired chandelier called Dino from GONG. Available in black, white and grey.
HAPPY GLOW
Tubular glowing pendant lights encased in undulating free-blown glass vessels form part of the Wave collection from Curiousa. Seen here: Crest Cascade.
ANYTHING GOES
Lighting sculptures have been created from CTO Lighting’s modular form lights arranged in a linear configuration. Seen here: Modulo in satin brass.
CANADIAN BESPOKE
Handmade in Montreal is this contemporary glass chandelier from Gabriel Scott from his Welles Series that can be made to any size, in any colour and can be hung vertically or horizontally.
TOUCH OF DRAMA
Any double-height space needs a dramatic chandelier: the Melina is available in any number of opal matt or clear matt glass shades, all hung from bronze-coloured textile flex. Made by Hand & Eye Studio.
ROARING TWENTIES
Inspired by the bold geometric designs and repeated patterns of the Twenties is this chandelier as part of the Deco Collection from Marc Wood, available in clear or smoked glass and as a single pendant or stacked glass chandelier
UP AGAINST THE WALL
Wall lights can add an extra layer of interest to any room. Alabaster and brass wall light from Pooky.
DESIGN TRENDS | COLOUR
Paint, woodwork, wallpaper, furniture and even shutters are bathed in bright colours this year as the era of neutrals fades.
ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL
In the post-pandemic world, people are venturing out in more ways than one. “We are seeing clients getting more adventurous on front door colours, matching favourite Farrow & Ball and Little Green colours,” says Ayrton Bespoke. Spot F & Bs Charlotte’s Locks and Arsenic on front doors or Little Greene’s Mambo 2 and Trumpet. Chloe Cooke, interior designer with Fraser & Fraser also believes a ‘go for it’ attitude is emerging, adding: “I think one can often regret not being bolder with interiors – I don’t think we ever look back and wish we hadn’t been so brave!
Feel the warmth
Rosie Caley of OLBC advises that while super dark accent colours are definitely out, what’s in are, “warmer sludgy mid tones which can be used everywhere – even ceilings, for warmth of tone but more light too.”
PATTERN CUTTING
“Colour and pattern are livening up our homes again,” says Diego Venegas, Design Director of Loungin’. “A variety of colours and large patterned fabrics used together give a more boho feel perfectly suited to today’s Seventies influences.”
GOING POTTY
One of the easiest ways to add colour to any home is with planting, inside and out. In the garden, buy oversize terracotta pots and fill with flowering plants to add interest.
FLOORED
Who says carpets and floor coverings can’t be a bit wild too? Checks, chevrons, stripes and even animal prints are available from Floors for Thought. Says Chris Pierrot from the company: “Bridging together the colour palette and flooring choices, we will work all the way to accents and accessories, all in a harmonious flow.” Seen here: Ashen Antelope from the animal print collection.
POP OF COLOUR
Wooden shutters can be an integral part of any colour scheme rather than left neutral. The Traditional Shutter Company calls it ‘colour drenching’ and has delivered pink, cobalt blue and khaki green shutters to date. “Paint the custom-made shutters with the same colour as the woodwork, walls, radiators and doors to create a contemporary look.”
FLOWER POWER
The riot of colour covering our homes extends to wall coverings, a trend that hasn’t escaped Cole & Son with a range of colourful floral wallpapers. See here: Protea Garden from the Ardmore-Jabula Collection.
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY
Is our beloved Elephant’s Breath and Dove Grey disappearing forever from our homes? Not quite according to Clara Bee: “There’ll always be a place for grey as it’s a neutral reflected in nature, but we’re moving away from cool greys and blues to ones with warmer redder undertones like taupe, for a more cocooning comfy look.” Higham Furniture agrees: “Greens, blues and greys will always be popular, but pinks and yellows are bursting their way through.”
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