Back in the 50’s and 60’s the household refuse bin was a simple affair - a galvanised steel ribbed bin with removable lid and about half the capacity of the modern wheelie bin.
]]>Introduced in the UK in 1968, the wheelie bin was a practical solution to the growing problem and increase of household waste and how to dispose of it efficiently.
Two years earlier in 1966, Barclays introduced the first credit card onto the UK market. Prior to this, short of a hire purchase agreement, people could only purchase consumer goods within their means. The introduction of the credit card saw a massive boom in consumer spending and with more spending came more goods and more waste.
To compound the problem further, supermarkets increased the amount of pre-packaged foods and take away food outlets expanded massively leading to yet more waste packaging.
Today we can no longer make do with a single waste bin: households are required to recycle and most councils in England now have a complex system of colour coded bins and collection dates. The necessity or virtue of recycling is beyond the scope of this article but the aesthetic effect on the urban landscape has been dreadful.
Houses in our part of England have to contend with up to six bins - general rubbish, garden waste (£55.00 per annum extra), paper and cardboard, glass, plastic and food waste. Management of this number of bins is not easy when you live in a small house or cottage without a great deal of spare space in which to house the bins.
In this respect I am fortunate. I am able to secrete our bins within a garage when not out for collection. Those who live in smaller cottages or modern terraces are not so fortunate and in many cases have little option but to leave them outside their front doors where they are an eyesore on the streetscape.
Walking down a road strewn with bins is a depressing and dispiriting sight. Older cottages built before the mania for recycling have little option, however there is no excuse for modern, recently built houses as illustrated in this article. This is a failure on the part of greedy developers and nitwit bureaucrats in planning departments not to recognise the need to manage the location and storage of bins such that it is convenient to both the householder and the waste collection operatives.
The result of this lack of planning and investment is to further blight the urban environment which inevitably leads to a further cycle of deterioration in the care and maintenance of our shared public spaces.
The images within this post are a short walk from where I live. I do not have to look at this daily except when walking the dog but even though it is not directly my problem it lowers my spirits due to the sheer ugliness of it and because it would be unnecessary if those responsible had taken a little more care in planning. A housing estate of fifty properties, each with six bins adds up to 300 bins that need storing and managing. To further add to the issue, bins are rarely cleaned and when left out continuously end up looking filthy and tatty.
So, perhaps we should talk rubbish a little more often…
]]>A week ago I visited the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford to view the exhibition Colour Revolution. The exhibition focusses on the 19th century with the aim of “dispelling our monochrome ideas of Victorian Britain”.
]]>A week ago I visited the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford to view the exhibition Colour Revolution. The exhibition focusses on the 19th century with the aim of “dispelling our monochrome ideas of Victorian Britain”.
Having long been fascinated with the Pre-Raphaelites and the use of colour in their paintings, it had never occurred to me that the Victorian era lacked colour. That the lives of the masses - particularly those crammed into city slums - was monochrome and filthy is hardly surprising, but the same would be true about the poor in any period of history.
Mariana by John Everett Millais (1851)
Nor could one assume that the Pre-Raphaelites were the first to use colour in their paintings. They did, however, use more intense colour and immense detail in their work to such striking effect that their art was a major shift from what had been produced in previous eras. The leading British artists of the 18th century - Gainsborough, Reynolds and Wright, to name but three - of course used colour extensively, albeit in more muted and subtle tones.
So where was the Colour Revolution?
A number of developments earlier in the 19th century changed the way in which colour was perceived and used.
In 1812 the Scottish painter Patrick Syme published a practical guide to the identification of colour shades based on the work of Prussian geologist Abraham Gottlob Werner. Werner’s work, in conjunction with the Scottish naturalist Robert Jameson, sought to introduce a standard description and reference for the various shades of colours found in the natural world. The names are in themselves poetic: Velvet Black, Wax Yellow, Flax Flower Blue, Berlin Blue to name a few. This development gave impetus to a greater understanding of the variety of colours found in the natural world and would act as a starting point for the development of commercially available paints and dyes.
Extract from Werner’s Nomenclature of Colour
In a similar manner, prior to the 19th century, artists would create their own pigments from natural materials which was a laborious process of trial and error. However, artists paints became commercially available from the late 18th century (George Rowney) and by Windsor and Newton established in 1832.
However, the real revolution was a scientific breakthrough in 1856 when William Henry Perkins developed the first aniline dye as a by product of coal tar. This colour became known as Mauveine or, more formally, as aniline purple. Prior to this breakthrough dyes had to be imported mainly from the Far East which made them expensive and therefore only affordable by the wealthiest in society.
After the development of Mauveine, other colours followed very quickly and with it a whole new dye industry which reduced the costs of producing exotic colours in the fashion industry, thereby making colourful clothes available to the many rather than the few.
It was this single development that caused colour to explode in the middle of the 19th century and this was illustrated in the exhibition with a number of costumes and shoes of the period.
Shoes-mid Victorian illustrating the use of aniline dyes
Whilst the exhibition referenced this development with books of dye samples, stockings and a few dresses, insufficient space was given to this part of the revolution in colour. I feel that the story of the development of synthetic dyes should have been the starting point for the exhibition before going on to explore how this discovery influenced artists and designers as well as every day life in the second half of the 19th century.
In the end the exhibition felt disappointing - not because the exhibits were not exquisite, but the story as to how and why colour exploded was not as central to the exhibition as I had perhaps expected. This was a pity as there must be so much more to say about colour and how it changed the lives of people.
Leaving the museum and walking back to the car, the streets of Oxford were busy and I was left with a feeling that we seem to have returned to a period before the Colour Revolution. Everyone was dressed in the drab, shapeless, unisex 21st century uniform of jeans, fleeces, hoodies and beanie hats. Dull, dreary and uninspiring, the street scene resembled something closer to a Lowry painting rather than a vibrant Hunt or Rossetti masterpiece. Perhaps the revolution is over.
Portrait of Owen Jones by Henry Wyndham Phillips (1856)
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I think I will leave the images to speak for themselves.
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Sadly, much of what we build today seems to lack any semblance of beauty. It is either unutterably bland or downright hideous. We seem to have lost both a sense of beauty and in many cases the ability to develop a new narrative. Much of the new suburban housing is bland pastiche whilst cities are adorned with a mixture of the good, the bad and the ugly.
There are some excellent examples of modern buildings that are appropriate to their space and surroundings and complement the older existing architecture but too often we are assaulted with that which is either brutal or does not fit with the human sense of order, proportion and innate beauty. This is a great pity as we have to endure our built environment daily and for many years into the future and when it fails in its aesthetic appeal it then may fail to attract people to live and work within it which can in turn lead to decay, dereliction and crime in such areas.
I am not sure that I have an answer that will solve the problem but might suggest the following for those wishing to pursue a career as an architect -
To be an architect - according to the RIBA the pathway requires 5 years of study plus two years of practical experience.
I would embellish this by suggesting that those who wish to study architecture learn a trade (particularly carpentry) and work on a building site for two years prior to studying architecture. The practical knowledge gained would give the student a deep understanding of how a building is constructed and what to avoid when later designing future buildings.
A further enhancement would be to spend a year or two in Rome or Florence to study the works of the master builders and architects of the classical and Renaissance periods.
Such a pathway could take 15 years which is indeed a considerable amount of time. However, it takes roughly 15 years to become a surgeon and I would suggest that the noble profession of architecture is every bit as important to the well being of society as that of medicine.
Visiting any of our great houses - never mind Blenheim Palace - one is struck by the enormity of the task of looking after such places and their occupants and the skills required to meet the high standards demanded of the those who lived in them.
Re-reading Below Stairs in the Great Country Houses by Adeline Hartcup (published in 1980) gives a fascinating glimpse of a world long gone but is nevertheless instructive in so many ways for today.
One is immediately struck by two things: the back breaking work of many of the tasks and the very high degree of organisation and separation of skills. Stratification of positions and status was as important below stairs as it was amongst those the servants waited upon above stairs.
Not only were men’s roles separated from women’s roles, the supervision and organisation of the male and female staff was also separated between the House Steward for the men and the Housekeeper for the women. The House Steward and Housekeeper were responsible for appointing the necessary servants for each of the roles under their supervision with the exception of the master’s valet and mistress’s lady’s maid which were appointed directly by the master and mistress.
The servants were then divided into the Upper Ten and Lower five which further denoted the status of the individual servant. Thus the House Steward, Housekeeper, Groom of the Chambers, Butler, Valet, Lady’s Maid and Cook were considered to be part of the Upper Ten, whilst the Footmen, Under-Butler, Young Ladies Maids, Housemaid, Scullery Maid, Kitchen Maid and Laundry Maid formed the Lower Five. (The numbers ten and five do not necessary signify an exact number in each category.) Some in the Lower Five would hope in time to advance to join the Upper Ten whilst many would remain forever a part of the lower ranks.
Each servant had distinct jobs allotted to them and was expected to work in a co-ordinated manner with the other servants. They were expected to be precise, punctual and exemplary in every aspect. Failure could cost them their position and, in the days before the welfare state, to lose one’s position without a reference could be disastrous.
Reading about this made me wonder if there were lessons we could draw from the past that might be useful in the efficient running of our homes today.
Fortunately we now have a great many appliances that have removed much of the back breaking work of the 18th and 19th century. We no longer need to carry buckets of water upstairs to fill hip baths nor clean and relight fires in a multitude of rooms. Appliances, smaller houses, central heating and hot and cold running water are now taken for granted.
Nevertheless, there is much that still needs to be done to run an efficient house. Laundry, cleaning, cooking, and maintenance of both the fabric of the house and its equipment dominate the tasks in today’s world. Add to that gardening and the workload is considerable. Those that do not have the time or inclination to carry out the work of running a house can contract it out and it is perfectly possible to enjoy an 19th century lifestyle of leisure without having to lift a finger. Gardening, washing and ironing, cooking, cleaning and handyman jobs can all be undertaken by others - at a cost. Exactly how many live in such style outside of the wealthiest of metropolitan areas I can not say, however, in the countryside help within a home is, for the most part, centred around cleaning and gardening.
If you do not wish to have more than occasional help in your home the secret of efficiency is organisation and routine. Planning of daily, weekly or seasonal tasks is essential in an orderly house and in maintaining the fabric of the building, furnishings and appliances. Whilst we may not have to light fires in every room every day the list of tasks beyond the ordinary day to day chores is considerable. Consider but a few - turning mattresses over for even wear, cleaning Venetian or roller blinds, dusting bookshelves, washing doors and skirting boards, sorting out the wardrobes and checking clothes for mending or discarding. The list is almost endless and for sure many do not bother much beyond a quick dust and vacuum of the rooms. To be fastidious is a matter of personal choice but I prefer to strive for a level beyond what many might put up with. (I fall far short of any kind of perfection but I get a satisfaction in the effort for orderliness and structure within the house.)
The two greatest impediments to a well run house in this day and age are lack of organisation and clutter. These are the enemy of efficiency but when combined are a formidable foe. So, here are my two recommendations -
1 - Start by planning what needs doing in outline - the detail will follow - and when and by who it should be done. Create a list of all your regular suppliers and their contact details and ensure that it is available when required. Bear in mind the importance of seasonal jobs such as clearing gutters and servicing boilers.
2 - Examine every room, every shelf, every cupboard and discard anything that you neither use or do not find beautiful. This is a hard task but freeing yourself of clutter frees the mind and organisation (and cleaning) becomes easier as a result.
In summary, we can no longer live like the aristocrats of the past. Not even the aristocrats of today can live like that any longer. For most we either have to contract out what we can or organise to do the work ourselves. But by thinking through the tasks and planning ahead we can attempt to live in an orderly house and maintain a semblance of work life balance.
]]>Bathroom lighting needs to be both sufficient and clear for tasks such as make up or shaving and gentle and unobtrusive for general bathing and relaxation.
Too much bright light in a bathroom will be far from relaxing whilst insufficient light by a mirror is not ideal for specific tasks.
]]>Bathroom lighting needs to be both sufficient and clear for tasks such as make up or shaving and gentle and unobtrusive for general bathing and relaxation.
Too much bright light in a bathroom will be far from relaxing whilst insufficient light by a mirror is not ideal for specific tasks.
As with most rooms, the light can be layered and it should be possible to make use of the ceiling, walls and floor as well as more discrete lighting within shelves or alcoves.
Before considering lighting in detail, the bathroom being a wet or damp space, there are regulations concerning electrical appliances within the bathroom and their proximity to water.
Bathrooms have four Zones and the placing of electrical equipment within these zones will depend upon the IP rating or protection rating of that piece of equipment from water ingress. (Details of zoning within the bathroom are included at the end of this article.)
Having understood the regulatory requirements we can turn to how best to light the bathroom.
As with any room, there are three areas into which lighting can be installed - ceiling, walls and floor. There are also discreet locations such as cabinet lighting and strip lighting within mirrors or edge lighting to shelves.
Outside the scope of this article is natural light, although this too is an important lighting element. However, the use of natural light may be dictated by the need for privacy and the use of curtains, screens or blinds that will affect the amount and quality of the light within the space.
For general lighting, ceiling downlights are the most effective solution but the glare must be controlled if they are to be comfortable for the user. Dimming also helps as it adds atmosphere especially when trying to relax in the bath. If height is sufficient, a dropped false ceiling with perimeter edge lighting will give soft non directional light and will be glare free. Dropped ceilings have other uses as they can be used for fan ducts over showers and baths to remove damp air.
Bathroom by Nicholas Sutherland Interiors
In bathrooms with hard floors the installation of floor lights is an interesting way to light the space. This can either be with linear strip lighting to graze walls with light or with in ground uplights. Uplights can provide substantial light or be markers - pin dots of light say around the bathtub.
As with downlights, glare should be mitigated wherever possible.
If it is not possible to fit uplights, rechargeable floor standing lanterns can be an excellent solution with the added benefit of being portable.
Whilst a bathroom can be lit entirely from the ceiling or the floor without the need for wall lights, there is however, a need for good, even light at a mirror over the wash basin. Ideally lighting should be on two sides of the mirror to avoid harsh shadows and this is particularly important for make up. Mirrors can now be fitted with strip lighting or the lights can be applied as external fittings to the mirror or the walls adjacent to the mirror.
A useful addition, although not to everyones taste, is the illuminated magnifying mirror which being adjustable, is a practical solution where the client requires excellent light at or near the wash basin.
In this article I have dealt with what is essentially a modern approach to the problem of lighting the bathroom.
There are many bathrooms in older houses where for one reason or another much of what is proposed here may be neither technically possible nor desirable as in the wonderful bathroom below by the late David Hicks in which the decoration takes centre stage and the lighting appears little more than incidental to the scheme.
Bathroom by David Hicks
As with all rooms, the architecture, layout and decoration should determine the correct approach to lighting. Lighting should not dominate but enhance the design and desired look of the room.
There is no right way to light the bathroom but then there may be a myriad of wrong ways to do it. By applying the regulatory rules and allowing the layout and decoration to control the decisions the right approach should emerge.
Links -
Betec Leuchten
Baulmann Leuchten
Zoning Requirements Within the Bathroom
Zone 0 Lighting in this zone must be rated at IP67 or IP68 which implies that the fitting can be submerged within the bath or shower in the same way under water lighting is installed within a swimming pool.
Zone 1 This is the area above the bath to a height of 2.25m from the floor or within the shower enclosure. If the fitting is 240V a 30ma residual current device (RCD) must also be used to protect the circuit in this zone and fittings with an IP65 rating should be used.
Zone 2 This is an area up to 600mm outside the perimeter of the bath or shower enclosure and to a height of 2.25m from the floor. In these bathroom zones any light fittings should be rated to IP44. In addition, it is good practice to consider the area around a wash basin, within a 60cm radius of any tap, to be considered as zone 2. The immediate area around a wash basin, within a radius of 600mm of the taps should also be considered as Zone 2.
Zone 3 This is anywhere outside Zones 0, 1, and 2 (subject to specific limits) and where no water jet is likely to be used. Whilst there is no requirement to use an IP rated fitting, good practice suggests that you might use the same standard as in Zone 2 ie IP44. However, if there is a likelihood of water jets being used for cleaning purposes in Zones 1, 2 and 3, a fitting rated a minimum IP65 must be used.
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The emerging growth of the hedgerows are so vibrant and fresh it lifts the spirits and we become more attuned to the wonders of nature and the growing season ahead.
Everyday Louis joins me on my country walks but it is exceptionally rare that he will sit still long enough to have his photo taken. He is restless - always on the go, investigating, sniffing, hunting and doing what spaniels do best of all: giving pleasure to those who care for them.
Salix, or better known as pussy willow alongside the canal.
This splendid magnolia always puts on a tremendous show in the spring. Sadly last year whilst in full bloom we had a cold snap that scorched all of the flowers leaving it looking very sorry for itself.
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Bathroom design has hardly changed in any dramatic way for nigh on 100 years. This is hardly surprising as all bathrooms revolve around three or four essential pieces of sanitary ware - wash hand basin, bath, shower and WC.
Whilst there have been some excellent design innovations such as walk in showers which do away with problematic shower trays, most items of sanitary ware have remained essentially the same, albeit with styling differences.
The bath is the one item that has seen numerous variations, including corner baths, round baths, double baths and even the hideous heart shaped bath. To my mind the simpler the better and the traditional rectangular bath is probably one of the most practical to this day.
The bathroom should, I believe, be as luxurious as any other room in the house. Growing up in the 1950s and 60s this was seldom the case. The bathroom would contain the essential sanitary ware but was cold and austere and was not a place to linger and relax in. Fortunately attitudes have changed and we can make our bathrooms as luxurious as we like.
However, we still have several design challenges to create a desirable bathroom -
The selection of sanitary ware available today is excellent and we have numerous styles to choose from. In terms of colour white must be the first choice as it is the most enduring and flexible. There are some metal baths on the market in nickel and copper and they can look handsome in the right setting as well as some modern interpretations of a traditional stone bathtub. For those with the budget, and indeed the space, it is still possible to obtain an antique stone bath but for this the setting has to be right to avoid it looking a little pretentious.
Whatever you choose try and go for the best you can afford and avoid anything gimmicky. Clean lines and handsome shapes are best. Unless you are choosing the most exotic stone or metal baths, cast iron is the best choice of material if possible.
The trickiest area when it comes to selecting equipment is the choice of taps and it is in the choice of brassware that you will mark the bathroom as either leaning towards the traditional or the modern. Personally I can be comfortable with either but as always the discerning eye is looking for shape, feel and practicality. For a traditional look companies such as Rutland London have an excellent selection of classically styled brassware whilst Vola and Hansgrohe have a clean modern look. Whichever style you choose be sure to see a sample - test it in the hand for comfort and practicality. In terms of finish I favour nickel or polished brass, but whichever you choose be mindful of how to maintain the finish and how to clean without damaging the surface.
How the bathroom is laid out can be a tougher decision than the selection of the equipment. This will be determined by size of the room, the position of doors and windows and not least by the position of drainage runs. Traditionally sanitary ware was placed along the perimeter walls of the room as close as possible to soil pipes. For obvious reasons waste water has to be able to drain and the necessary pipework for effective drainage was often close to exterior walls.
Re-routing drainage pipes will involve structural decisions as it is not possible to cut away underfloor joists at will nor is it necessarily always possible to dig up solid floors. On a new build project the bathrooms should be carefully planned at the design stage so that the waste water drainage is correctly positioned. Hot and cold water supplies are more flexible but the siting of the WC should be planned carefully. Refurbishment projects are more difficult and the siting of the sanitary ware may be settled by the existing drainage.
Assuming, however, there is flexibility to place the sanitary ware as we choose what is the best approach? The concept of symmetry, sight lines and privacy will play a part in the design. Where possible the WC should always be shielded from view when using the bath and a heated towel rail alongside the lavatory might be the perfect solution. The WC and wash hand basin should be in close proximity leaving the bath to be the predominant feature. Some like a bath in the centre of a room and this indeed can be very smart. Others prefer the bath enclosed within its own alcove thus affording a greater sense of privacy. These are personal preferences.
When it comes to wash hand basins I prefer the underslung round or oval type with a vanity top in wood or stone. There is never enough room around a freestanding basin for all of life’s necessities and the vanity can provide the space for soaps and toiletries that would otherwise not be available. Some people like twin basins side by side. I have never seen the value in this but again it is a personal preference.
Shower enclosures pose an interesting problem. Given that a bath is for leisurely bathing, the shower in contrast is for a quicker, more invigorating, experience. I think if space permitted I would have a separate shower room with hard floors so water spray would not matter. This would leave a more relaxed space for a bathroom where, if desired, one could use carpets and upholstered furniture.
The final part of the jigsaw is how we design and decorate around the sanitary ware and the technical issues posed by the space. The best bathrooms are those that appear to seamlessly integrate the elements together in a stylish, comfortable and yet practical manner. This can be the hard part.
The overall style of the area will be dictated by the colours, finishes and textures that are applied once the sanitary ware and layout has been planned. My personal preference is for a masculine bathroom where the finishes and the colours have a strength - wood, stone and earth colours. However, the style you adopt will depend upon who is using the bathroom. Some large houses are large enough to have multiple bathrooms which of course enables family members to choose their own style. In the vast majority of cases, however, bathrooms are shared and therefore must be pleasing to all those using it. Choose colours, patterns and materials that you are comfortable with but bear in mind that whilst you can make a bathroom a very luxurious place you are still dealing with water, moist air and therefore dampness. You also have surfaces that need cleaning and maintaining in a similar manner to a kitchen - hence my personal overall preference for a more masculine approach.
And finally - do not forget accessories. Towels, soap dishes, tissue holders even the colour of the flowers all play a part in raising the bathroom from austere and utilitarian to comfortable and luxurious.
This article only touches on some of the elements that create a successful bathroom. If I could end with one parting idea. Avoid obsessing about sanitary ware - keep it simple and classic. Instead give great attention to layout and style and how the combination of the elements will come together to create a pleasing whole.
Rutland London - www.rutlandlondon.co.uk
Vola - www.en.vola.com
Hansgrohe - www.hansgrohe.co.uk
One way you can make your home winter ready is by upping the cosiness inside your house. While you may enjoy all things bright and bold in the summer, toning it down for the winter months can help you feel more comfortable and content.
Deep, warm tones can help bring you into the festive season without abandoning the colourfulness of summertime. Browns, reds, deep blues and greens are all lovely hues that can brighten up the place without being too harsh and imposing.
Another way to up the comfort is to invest in some warm, low lighting. Having soft yellow tones can really make a difference and bring some warmth and cosiness to your home during the winter. It is a gentler way to light up the room when the nights are dark and bright white light seems too harsh.
If you have a fireplace, highlighting it as a key feature in your room can make it seem fashionable, as well as functional. Candles, decorative ornaments and even some more intense projects like retiling can give you a totally new fireplace that you can enjoy.
Speaking of candles, investing in some beautiful, decorative wicks in wintertime scents can have your home looking and smelling amazing. Candle shades are a beautiful way to cover your new purchases and provide a soft, diffused glow while also being decorative and luxurious.
Lastly, you'll want to fill your home with some cosy throws and beautiful cushions and blankets to ensure you are as comfortable as can be in the lead-up to winter.
]]>Some may find that theme right now in the events that occurred at Balmoral in recent days, as Queen Elizabeth II passed away. Her death at the age of 96 has been a tumultuous event for Britain, even as the handover to her son, the new King Charles, has happened speedily and without a hitch, an event that has been prepared for over many years.
The fact that Her Majesty should pass away at the Scottish retreat where she spent her summers may provide the answer: perhaps now a bit of tartan should be the order of the day.
Although there is a specific Balmoral Tartan, designed by Prince Albert and specifically reserved for the royal family to wear, there are of course many other tartans that have been worn by the royals and those around them in the area close to Balmoral, known as Royal Deeside.
It is not just that the royals should be patrons of the Highland games and fans of much of the area’s produce; they helped make Tartan not just acceptable, but popular again after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert purchased Balmoral in the 1850s by freely wearing its colours and patterns, including in kilts.
This reversed the previous official banning of ‘Highland dress’ after the Jacobite defeat in the Battle of Culloden in 1746, which was not quite an outright ban on tartan, but made unacceptable the kind of garb that the royals were to bring back a century later. Several royal tartans have subsequently been created down the years.
While the tartan patterns your new furnishings have may not be royal, the fact is that the monarchs and their families who resided at Balmoral helped revive a style that might otherwise have faded into history.
]]>“I declare before you all that my whole life, whether long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”
Queen Elizabeth II, 1947
The news of the death of our Queen is so very sad. At 96 it can not be said to be unexpected but nevertheless it feels very personal to so many people in Britain and across the World.
The Queen ascended to the throne at a time of great optimism. The war had ended some seven years previously and, whilst rationing would continue until 1954, the spirit of the time was positive and our young Queen embodied the hopes of the coming generation.
The philosopher Sir Roger Scruton wrote in England: An Elegy -
"The constitutional monarchy is the light above politics, which shines down on the human bustle from a calmer and more exalted sphere. Not being elected by popular vote, the monarch cannot be understood as representing the interests only of the present generation. He or she is born into the position, and also passes it on to a legally defined successor. The monarch is in a real sense the voice of history, and the very accidental way in which the office is acquired emphasises the grounds of the monarch's legitimacy, in the history of a place and a culture. This is not to say that kings and queens cannot be mad, irrational, self-interested or unwise. It is to say, rather, that they owe their authority and their influence precisely to the fact that they speak for something other than the present desires of present voters, something vital to the continuity and community which the act of voting assumes. Hence, if they are heard at all, they are heard as limiting the democratic process, in just the way that it must be limited if it is to issue in reasonable legislation. It was in such a way that the English conceived their Queen, in the sunset days of Queen Victoria. The sovereign was an ordinary person, transfigured by a peculiar enchantment which represented not political power but the mysterious authority of an ancient 'law of the land'. When the monarch betrays that law - as, in the opinion of many, the Stuarts betrayed it - a great social and spiritual unrest seizes the common conscience, unrest of a kind that could never attend the misdemeanours of an elected president, or even the betrayal of trust by a political party."
He further suggests that the monarch links the living, the dead and the unborn in a manner not possible by an elected head of state. Perhaps this is why, to me and others, her passing feels so very personal. Born after the Queen ascended to the throne I have known no other monarch. In my case the Queen reigned during the lifetime of my grandfather, my parents and my children and after 70 years of service she was undoubtedly the matriarch of our Nation and the Commonwealth.
With her departure there is a deep sense of foreboding across the country. Having commenced her reign at a time of great optimism she leaves the stage at a time of great pessimism. That rock which we imagined would last forever has gone and we feel bereft. That our new King can or will be that rock remains to be seen and I for one have my doubts. Our finest monarchs have all been women of amazing strength and character. Yet we must, for the sake of our nation, pray for our King during our troubled times ahead.
Summer is bright and bold and having a home that reflects the carefree feel of the holidays is in! Introducing pops of colour and rearranging your furniture to open up a space and make it welcoming is a fantastic way to prepare your home for guests.
There are a range of fantastic ways you can bring some summer joy into your home without making any permanent changes, while also staying on trend.
For example, having bright and bold patterned prints on display in your home is a fantastic way to have customisable decoration that can be changed with the seasons. Colourful floral patterns and abstract prints in a vibrant colour palette can instantly add a pop of happiness into any space, but can be easily changed to something calm and cosy for the colder months.
Changing out your fabric decorations is another way to temporarily switch to your home. Swapping your heavy blackout curtains for light and airy window coverings instantly brightens up a room and also helps to keep you cool by allowing more air flow. Swapping cushion covers over to more adventurous patterns and colours can add a touch of fun to your living area.
If you are feeling slightly more adventurous, you may even want to step outside the realm of temporary and add a splash of fun to your home by creating a statement wall. Bold paint or wallpaper to inspire a holiday feel is a great way to spice up your space, bright colours like yellow and orange add warmth and happiness to any room whilse still remaining stylish.
For a wide range of luxury decor, visit Nicholas Engert Interiors today.
]]>That said, they should not be considered as the only source of light except in areas such as hallways or corridors. In living areas, dining rooms and studios they need to be combined with other light points such as table lamps or directional downlights. By their nature wall lights provide peripheral lighting and are not ideal for task lighting.
There are a multitude of different types of wall lights but they fall broadly into three categories - Lanterns, Wall lights and what we could call Art Light.
Lanterns, whether in traditional or modern forms, are basically a box with glass sides and front the original purpose of which was to hold a candle shielded from draughts. The electric versions today follow the same format. Lanterns are available for both indoor and outdoor use but when selecting for exterior use they need to have the correct IP rating and more than that should be manufactured and sealed in such a way that the weather does not cause them to deteriorate too rapidly. The cheaper the fitting the shorter the life span.
We would choose lanterns for garden walls and terraces for the exterior and for halls, corridors and other circulation areas in a house. They should provide sufficient light in these areas although they might be supplemented by table lamps some downlighting for greater effect. Lanterns, due to their design will cast shadows and this can appear ugly. This is a matter of personal preference and it is for this reason we tend to use these sparingly.
Wall lights, in contrast to lanterns, are fittings that are not encased in glass. The more traditional type will consist of one more arms with a lamp which is shielded by a shade. There are many decorative versions available and an increasing number of modern interpretations on the classical theme. In most cases the simpler the form the better and the more elegant. That said there are some excellent examples of fittings replicated from original designs but these need to be chosen carefully and are best suited to interiors that need to retain the overall feel of the style intended.
As with lanterns they are only suitable for peripheral light in a room. Such fittings are always behind the occupants of the room and therefore you will be sitting in you own shadow unless the light is supplemented with directional downlights or table lamps.
One of the most irritating faults we come across on a project is the poor positioning of wall light points. A light fitting in the wrong place is worse than no light fitting at all. There are solution to inappropriate light points. The cable can be left in a box and capped with a blank plate which can be printed to match the walls. These can then be hidden by pictures. The power source can of course be used for picture lights but relatively few pictures lend themselves to being lit.
Beyond wall lights and lanterns there are a number of manufacturers creating wall lights that raise lighting to an art form. Companies such as Catellani & Smith use gold and silver leaf to create beautiful and unusual luminaires. These need to be positioned within a space for best advantage so that they can be seen at their best. The light emitted will be ambient and useful as background lighting which will need other lighting forms for task lighting. (Incidentally, gold is an amazing metal in that its ability to reflect light is unmatched by any other material. The effects can be seen in a striking manner in St Mark’s Cathedral in Venice.)
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This recipe for butterflied leg of lamb by Diana Henry is a unique twist on traditional roast lamb and will be a great alternative to a messy barbecue this summer. It takes just 20 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook, but looks like a lot more effort has gone into it.
This vegetable and pesto rose tart is a great alternative to a quiche, with its spelt flour giving it a nutty flavour, the pesto adding a garlicky richness and its beautiful display of mandolin-sliced vegetables taking guests’ breath away.
Why not carry on celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the rest of the royal family with Jamie Oliver’s strawberry dessert named after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son Archie?
This soft pudding is “bursting with fresh strawberries and cream and is an absolute joy to eat”.
To finish the evening, why not serve guests amaretto sours? This delicious cocktail is made by blending amaretto, lemon juice, egg white and cherry syrup together until it is volumizing and very pale. Garnish with cherries on top to complete the look.
Don’t forget to serve this luxurious menu in stylish tableware by online interior design UK experts.
]]>This will certainly be true for many people when it comes to luxury home décor. After all, the months ahead will feature much more time outdoors or even away from home on holidays and day trips anyway. Not everyone will want to think ahead to when the nights are drawing in.
However, those who do want to give their home a new look may actually benefit from thinking ahead. This provides extra time to think, plan and explore lots of possibilities.
Of course, the predictions made by experts before the start of the year about what would be fashionable in 2022 are still relevant as it is not as if every makeover would have been done in January or February.
However, if you are looking at the autumnal look, the statement by Vogue that brown is back in fashion may be particularly relevant.
This is because the publication is far from alone in predicting this. Country Living has too, saying that “earthy browns and terracottas will introduce a touch of warmth” this year. Architecture Lab also plugged browns along with whites as a means of enhancing a ‘minimalist’ style.
Other key elements to consider for an autumn look involve the tasteful use of brighter colours and the use of attractive lighting, the latter being just the sort of thing those only concerned with the ‘summer’ look of their home will be likely to neglect just now.
All three publications also noted the role retro and vintage will play in interiors, which means it is fine to go back to the future. A traditional or retro style of colour, lighting or furniture might just make a fantastic fit for this autumn.
As ever, all predictions will be open to scrutiny. Not all will be right. But by starting now, you will be able to look and think carefully at what is truly turning out to be at the vanguard of interiors in 2022 before you start your autumn makeover.
]]>Of course, when it comes to interior décor, design or fashion, there are always many different predictions out there, either about upcoming seasons or, every January, about the year as a whole. To read several is often to invite uncertainty and confusion.
However, for that very reason it can be very refreshing when a clear consensus emerges, suggesting there is a lot of agreement about what the emerging trends really are.
That could certainly be said about this summer. For example, both Foyr and Country Living have emphasised a look based on bringing the garden to the indoors, with plenty of plants and a natural, verdant look about the interior.
In the case of Foyr, it commented: “Nothing says summer like lush green trees and blooming flowers,” suggesting the installation of plants such as a monster, snake plant or other tall standing plants. Those who are not green-fingered should go for realistic-looking imitation plants.
For Country Living, the wonder of plants is emphasised very strongly. Speaking to the magazine, Camilla Clarke, Creative Director at interior design studio Albion Nord, said: “Now is the perfect time to lean on your old friends, the house plants.”
She added: “shake things up by re-locating them so rooms in your home gain a new lease of life,” noting that they not only increase oxygen levels, but also “boost your mood and productivity levels” through their pleasant smell.
All this is a clear endorsement of getting lots of plants into your interior this summer or, to give it the fancy term Country Living uses, biophilic design.
A good question that may be asked, however, is what sort of lighting will fit with all this foliage. A good answer may be a cordless desk lamp, so that if your workspace is surrounded by plants there won’t be a lead getting in the way and you don’t need to worry if the plant pot is obscuring the plug socket. After all, you wouldn’t want a tangled cord to pull a plant down or damage it.
A cordless lamp may also fit in with another theme suggested by Country Living, which is of decluttering. Of course, that can simply involve chucking out a lot of stuff you don’t need or want, but it can also highlight the value of items that don’t take up a lot of space, or multi-purpose items.
Of course, there were still some differences between the ideas suggested. When it comes to colour, Country Living said that green is the “standout colour trend” for spring and summer 2022. By contrast, Foyr reminded us that classic blue is the Pantone colour of the year for 2022.
Still, as everyone has their own favourite colours, this sort of thing should not matter too much. The key is that if you create lots of space and add some foliage to give it a natural look, it makes sense that your lights should not take up too much space or disturb the organic scene - whatever colour the lamps are.
]]>Here are our latest tips on what will be hot in interior design trends for spring 2022 that you won’t want to miss out on.
You can’t, of course, redecorate your house every time the seasons change, but there are simple alterations you can make to the décor to complement the weather outside.
For instance, now is the ideal time to swap heavy, dark curtains for lighter, brighter ones. Not only do you no longer require the warmth of thick drapes to keep your home cosy, but “brighter colours ‘sing’ in the clear daylight (shades that might lose their vibrancy in winter’s cooler light)”, according to Homes And Gardens.
As well as opting for less heavy curtains, why not fit ones that have more colourful, spring-related prints?
The publication added: “We can create a synergy between inside and out by introducing floral and botanical prints that connect our homes to the environment around us.”
Having a ‘spring clean’ has long been a popular thing to do at this time of the year, with homeowners keen to throw out lots of their junk and make way for new interior design items.
Spring cleaning will be even more popular this year, as the minimalist trend is still going strong, so decluttering your home could help create the illusion of more space and a cleaner look.
Minimalism heralded from Japanese culture and philosophy, creating a simplicity to a home and eventually, achieving inner peace.
Though this concept might sound easy enough, it is actually pretty difficult to get it right. You need to be ruthless with what you get rid of. At this time of the year, it makes sense to do away with darker, heavier, more ‘wintry’ items that you won’t need in the warmer months, such as draught excluders, heavy throws, and thick rugs.
You could either replace these with simpler, more neutral items, or make the most of the opportunity to have a simpler, more minimalistic look to your home – at least for a few months of the year.
Speaking of Japanese influences, Japandi is still a trend that is going strong. This east-meets-west style combines the best of Japanese interiors and Scandinavian aesthetics to create a neutral vibe based on natural décor.
One of the best things about introducing Japandi design into your home is that it is known for creating a relaxing ambience, helping homeowners reconnect with nature thanks to its wooden furniture, earthen colours and additions of plant life.
While you may choose to swap furniture for wooden pieces or create a statement wall with jungle wallpaper, you can embrace nature in your home in a less permanent way – by simply filling it with flowers.
Consider putting ever-green trees in your bathrooms and living rooms, vases of freshly picked wildflowers on your tables, and a pretty reef of florals on your front door.
Don’t use all your interior design ideas up for Easter, and make your spring theme last for the whole season. For instance, you could keep your Easter tree up and add colourful ornaments to it that reflect spring or hang up brightly-coloured bunting in your hallway to create a celebratory feeling as you arrive home.
Make the most of your console table with a floral centrepiece, so visitors can both see and smell the beautiful flowers of the season as they step through your front door.
The world is still living in the shadow of the pandemic, which means more and more people want their home to be their safe space and their calm space, where they can escape the stress of the news and can unwind.
That is why you might want to choose peaceful tones for the walls – such as Sorrento pink, light blue and brushed grey – and focus on soothing lighting.
Opt for dimly-lit bedside lamps, chandeliers, table or floor lights, and wall lamps that can all be turned on or off to create as much light or darkness as you desire.
Take a look at our Bouillette lamp for a statement piece that can also set the tone for a relaxing night in.
]]>However, bright colours are sometimes quite a difficult option to add to a design, as unlike neutrals and softer tones they inherently capture the eye and inflame the senses.
Done effectively, bright colours can create an exceptionally striking, unique and beautiful look, but it is often an element of risk that is not as commonly seen with neutral shades and requires a larger commitment.
With that said, here are some top tips for incredibly effective use of bright primary colours in interior design.
When in doubt, the best way to build any design is based around a central statement piece that you love that frames the room, shapes its purpose and around which every other design decision is made.
For example, if you have a uniquely vibrant table, sofa or bed, this forms a centrepiece that can either be complimented or contrasted against.
If you want to or need to keep your neutral shades, an effective compromise is to use furnishings and accessories to inject drops of colour onto a more plain backdrop.
Not only can this inject personality into rooms that can sometimes feel muted, but also allows you to play with different colour schemes, find particular combinations you like and can be easily modified and switched up with little effort.
It is also an affordable starting point before you opt for a more dramatic statement piece.
One of the best ways to use bright colours in a design scheme is as a focal point in combination with more subdued shades.
There are generally two ways to take full advantage of this; one approach is to use whites and creams with standout colours to make a brighter room feel even brighter.
The other is to set a bright statement piece against a darker backdrop to make it stand out even further.
Many bright colours do not work especially well in a bedroom, as the intense colours can sometimes be too much in a room you expect to sleep in.
One of the exceptions to this rule is pink, which provides a bright and effective look, but without the distracting intensity of red.
Pair a vivid pink with either a soothing green or a pale blue, along with soft, natural textures that create a relaxing, contemporary, bold look.
Your living space reflects your personality, interests and overall lifestyle, and when using bold, unconventional styles, you can take inspiration from unique places.
An emerging trend in kitchen designs is to seek inspiration from sweet treats and cakes, using a range of different bright pastels that are mixed together to create an eclectic mix of colours and patterns.
Take inspiration from places you have been and sights that have had a particular impact on you when crafting your distinct, personal style.
]]>When it comes to interiors, there’s one aesthetic that will always be popular and that’s minimalism, characterised by reducing the amount of clutter within a space and using simple forms to create a sense of flow and harmony throughout.
The style itself takes huge amounts of influence from Japanese culture and philosophy. Although you might well think that it’s an easy aesthetic to achieve for yourself, it can actually be quite challenging to get right… and you run the risk of creating something quite bland if you’re not careful.
Reading up on the Zen philosophy could be a good move if you do want to achieve a more minimalist look at home. Herein, great value is placed on simplicity as a means to attaining inner peace.
From an interior design perspective, one of the main principles you should adhere to is the concept of wabi-sabi: finding the value in simple forms of nature. This developed from Zen Buddhist philosophy between the 13th and 15th centuries, based on three founding ideas - that nothing is ever permanent, perfect or complete.
To encapsulate this idea at home, consider using neutral colour palettes, natural materials and time-worn objects to create an atmosphere of elegance, yes, but one that is also sparse and imperfect, celebrating the colours and textures of nature itself.
Another principle to bear in mind when designing minimalist interiors is ma: finding the value in spatial emptiness. It’s all about celebrating the space between things, the voids, the negative space.
What’s interesting about this aspect of minimalist design is that, by celebrating the emptiness and space, you actually draw more attention to the beautiful pieces you’ve curated at home, really allowing them to shine by removing all that unnecessary clutter.
And finally, the concept of seijaku forms an essential part of minimalism, where meditative ideas are translated into beautiful contemporary design, with the end result being tranquil, harmonious and balanced interiors.
Creating more space at home can help you follow this particular principle, whether that’s by reducing clutter or by using smaller and more open pieces of furniture.
As a Western aesthetic in art, design and architecture, minimalism really came to the fore after World War II. It became especially popular in 1960s New York as an art movement that came about in response to abstract impressionism, with more focus placed on materials like concrete and steel, and sleek geometry, rather than ornate symbolism.
Minimalist architecture, meanwhile, can trace its roots back to Japanese culture but also the 1920s movements of De Stijl and Bauhaus, all of which came together to condense architectural design to its basest elements and focusing on materials, space, light and form.
Looking to invest in a contemporary lighting scheme? See what Nicholas Engert Interiors has in stock today.
]]>As William Morris once famously said, “have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful”... and there’s certainly no reason why these two ideas can’t be brought together throughout your entire home, ensuring that every nook and cranny is stylish, as well as functional.
Just take a look at your bookcase as a shining example of what can be achieved in this regard.
Of course, books themselves can be incredibly attractive, especially large hardback tomes that really stand out on the shelf, so your bookshelf or case no doubt already looks inviting - especially if you’re an avid bookworm and love nothing more than curling up at the end of a long day with your favourite read.
But that’s not to say that improvements cannot be made, so try to be critical when looking at your bookcase and see if there are any little stylish design touches you could make here and there that could make this part of the house even more welcoming than it already is.
Shelf styling is already a big trend online, so if you’re wondering where to begin, head to your social media channels and look out for hashtags like #shelfstyling, #shelfie, #shelfdecor and so on to get an idea of what other people are doing in this regard.
Depending on the size of the case you have to work with, you could easily incorporate pieces of art here and there so you can add little pockets of interest in between your precious books.
You could even find prints relating to your favourite books and hang these up or place them on shelves to really build up a picture of your literary interests, one that’s immediately identifiable. Placing your works of art towards the back of deep-set shelving means you can then position other items in the forefront, creating even more layers of design interest.
Another way to bring your bookcase to life is to stack your books both vertically and horizontally, as well as aligning some to the left, right and centre of the shelves. Play around with this idea until you think your different alignments complement each other. Standing well back from the bookcase will help you see the overall effect more easily.
Bookshelves offer the perfect opportunity to introduce a further layer of lighting into your room. Tiny LED strips can be incorporated into the joinery or in some cases retrofitted to existing shelves. Using warm LEDs will enhance the books and any objects within the shelves.
Do you need any inspiration for luxury home decoration at the moment? Have a browse of our site to see if there are any design ideas you might find of interest.
]]>Bright and light
The Edwardian era began with the rule of King Edward VII at the turn of the 20th Century, marking the end of the dark and harsh Victorian period. As a result, the small rooms, cluttered interiors, heavily draped windows and formal style made way for brighter, more spacious homes.
As Real Homes recognises: “This would be emphasised through the choice of paler colour schemes and a better appreciation of light. The Edwardians wanted to bring sunshine into the house.”
Hallways were larger, and darker colours were saved for the living room, while kitchens, bedrooms, halls and dining rooms were much brighter.
According to Rooms Solutions: “Keep the colour palette soft with a lot of olive greens, sage greens, mustard, pale blues, pale deep pinks, lilac and violet.”
Persian rugs
Most Edwardian houses boast dark, polished wooden floors, so if you have a carpet, this should be the first thing to go.
Instead, replace the flooring with a wooden floor and cover with large statement Persian rugs. The publication stated these quality rugs and cushions were intended to “soften the look” of the dark floor, while they also keep the house warmer.
Floral wallpapers
The Edwardian era was when wallpaper was introduced. So, if you want to replicate period interiors in your property, it is a good idea to have a few statement walls in floral designs and motifs.
Choose wallpapers with roses, lilac, wisteria or sweet peas on, while stripes were also indicative of the era.
“Go for something simple but rich for dining rooms, such as a gold damask and white, and candy stripes for bedrooms,” it suggests.
Natural pieces
The Edwardian era saw the introduction of natural pieces of furniture, such as wicker and bamboo. These grew very popular during this period, with homeowners moving away from more expensive woods.
Old wicker furniture can be revived by spray-painting them in an appropriate colour - a better alternative to using a paintbrush.
Wing chairs
One piece of furniture that was very common at the turn of the 20th Century was the wing chair. So, if there’s one item you purchase to really give your home that Edwardian feel, let this be it.
Get one in mahogany for an authentic piece and re-upholster it in chintz or damasks in pale shades.
Textiles
It is also worth thinking carefully about your textiles, as these particularly set Edwardian houses apart from those built in other eras. For instance, cushions became very popular during the early 1900s and were often embroidered with floral motifs.
If you’re creative, you could take up needlepoint or embroidery yourself, or look for cushions in an art nouveau style.
Wall mouldings
If your property was built during the Edwardian period, it will probably still have its original wall mouldings. However, if these have been removed, it could be a good idea to reinstall them and recreate the home’s original features.
Dado rails, ceiling roses, picture rails, and friezes became huge, and were considered status symbols.
HJ Jennings wrote in Our Homes and How To Beautify Them: “No middle class house was considered perfect without it... The lady whose rooms had dadoes looked down on the lady who had none.”
Lampshades
To add a touch of Edwardian glamour to your home, pay particular attention to your choice of lampshade. This was the time when soft fabric shades with tassels or frills became popular, as well as large ceiling lights and the world-renowned Tiffany lamps.
Real Homes stated: “With greater technological advances in lighting, came fashionable accessories – the most famous being the Tiffany lamps from America with their coloured stained glass, inspired by the likes of the Art Nouveau movement.”
]]>This really is a magical time of year and the decorating has a huge part to play in bringing the joy of Christmas really to life. Red and green are, of course, the top choices where colour is concerned - red to symbolise the blood shed by Jesus at his crucifixion and green ro symbolise the continuance of life and the Christian belief in eternal life through Jesus.
As for the beloved Christmas tree, this first became a firm fixture in homes at this time of year in Germany in the 16th century, when Christians would bring decorated trees inside. It’s widely believed that Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, first began adding lit candles to trees, inspired by a winter walk home one evening and the twinkling stars above the evergreens.
Of course, festive decorating has become a hugely popular pastime since then and people the world over love going all out with their ideas at this time of year. In fact, NASA satellites have been tracking the spread of Christmas lights over the last few years and, in the world’s biggest cities, the planet is 50 per cent brighter between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day!
But it’s not just the lights and the Christmas tree that help to bring festive cheer into your home and there are lots of other ways in which you can achieve this. We’ve had a think and have come up with some wonderful hints and tips to help you decorate with aplomb this year. Which of these ideas will you try first?
Well decorated interiors are cohesive and work well together so coming up with a theme for your Christmas decor will help you create a pleasing aesthetic.
This doesn’t have to be complicated - it could be something as simple as choosing one or two colours (silver and gold work particularly well, because it leaves you with a lot of options for other touches), or perhaps going completely natural with your decorating and only bringing in pinecones, holly, ivy, poinsettias and so on.
It can be very easy to get somewhat carried away when it comes to Christmas decorations and, before you know it, your home can start to look a little less elegant and a little more like Santa’s workshop, completely overwhelmed from head to toe with tinsel and baubles - which can make it quite hard to actually live in.
Avoid this by choosing one part of each room to serve as a focal point for your decorations. The end result with be tasteful, refined and stylish, while allowing you to carry on operating family life as normal.
Lighting is absolutely key at this time of year and you want to create a beautifully warm and cosy glow at home, which will instantly make your living spaces feel more Christmassy. Warm fairy lights around the tree and candles strategically placed around the room will really make you feel festive, helping you to get into the spirit of things immediately.
Where your Christmas dinner table is concerned, lighting can also make or break your festive feast. There’s nothing quite so beautiful as seeing the table properly laid out, with your best crockery brought out, just waiting for all that delicious food to be cooked… and decorative candle shades can work wonders, really giving your table that designer interior lighting feel.
Even if you’re not a big fan of Christmas decorating and don’t want your home to be cluttered with more ‘stuff’ at this time of year, you can still make it feel festive with a few little clever touches here and there.
Adding sprigs of holly to the tops of picture frames and mirrors, and hanging up your Christmas cards will make it feel Christmassy. And you could even make your own pomanders, studding oranges with cloves and keeping them in a fruit bowl… the smell will make you feel incredibly festive, of that we assure you!
What are you doing to make your home ready for Christmas? Get in touch to let us know.
]]>There are three primary lighting types you might want to familiarise yourself with before you start writing your lighting plan: ambient, task and accent/mood lighting.
Ambient lighting
You may also hear this referred to as background or general lighting and it is this that gives a room its overall illumination, through the use of the likes of wall lights, sconces, downlighters, larger pendants and so on.
Passive light sources should be your initial go-to for rooms that are mainly used during the day, so exploit that beautiful natural light as much as you can. Maximise the amount you have through the use of mirrors, which will reflect and amplify the light coming in.
Your choice of paint colour can also help reflect light around the room, so if your living spaces are on the smaller side, it might be wise to go for a lighter palette, as well as increasing the sheen level of your paint.
Task lighting
You need this kind of lighting to provide you with the targeted illumination you need to carry out certain practical jobs in the rooms you’re in. As such, what you plan to use the room for will dictate what kind of task lighting would be most appropriate.
Task lighting comes in different forms - downlighters in the ceiling, desk, table and floor lamps, cooker hood lights and so on… although it’s important to remember that just because they’re there to be functional and serve a purpose, it doesn’t mean that it has to be unattractive.
Accent or mood lighting
This kind of lighting is used to highlight certain aspects or objects around the house, whether that’s an original architectural feature you want people to notice, or your latest art investment.
It’s important, however, that you ensure the lights you choose are positioned far enough above your focal point that the light hits it at the right angle, showing it off properly rather than overpowering it.
Once you’ve carried out a full assessment of the size of your rooms, as well as the amount of natural light and how you intend to use each space, you’re ready to devise your lighting plan.
Start by walking methodically through your house, asking yourself how you’ll use the space, if there are any furnishings you want to show off, who will use the space, what time of day the room will be used and from which direction the natural light enters the room. From there, you can draw up an actual plan of the room and see where best to position your lights.
Looking for contemporary interior lighting at the moment? Explore our Lighting Collections today.
]]>Whichever category you ‘fall’ into, there is no better way to brighten up your home in autumn than by adding a bit of style, especially if it’s in the form of some warm extras. After all, what can be better as the nights draw in than illuminating them in a way that adds a sense of cosiness and comfort?
Luxury throw blankets certainly fit the bill, providing style and extra warmth on chilly days. Moreover, the right design will fit well with the latest interior trends.
The adoption of natural colours has been one of the big themes of 2021 and this has often had a seasonal element, with some suggesting that earthy shades and greens were increasingly in vogue as spring transitioned into summer.
Of course, sometimes it is no bad thing to remind ourselves of the evergreen nature of much of the foliage we see around us. Indeed, that choice can be ideal for those who will lament the passing of the verdant seasons that run from March and August.
However, those who love to embrace the tones of autumn can still stay very natural in keeping with the golds and browns that will soon decorate the foliage before cascading to earth.
Moreover, warm colours are always a welcome element of any home, especially in the chillier times of year. Of course, none of that means you can turn off the heating, but it adds to the sense of comfort if you can spend this period in such surroundings.
We should never forget that these colours absolutely dominate autumn, not just because of nature. Orange is a prominent colour because of Halloween pumpkins (this being a seasonal veg anyway) and bonfire flames, although a more understated, burnt orange may look better than a more garish shade to maintain a natural look.
]]>Cosy fabrics, warm, earthy tones, vintage decor, and private spaces are what the interior design experts are predicting will be huge this autumn.
As we still adjust to making our homes multi-functional spaces following the pandemic, many are reassessing their decor and homeware for autumn to reflect the changes of the past year.
The central theme is comfort, convenience, and colour. We have a look at three expected trends that will surely dominate interiors this autumn.
Almost anything with a more earthy and neutral tone is set to take centre stage in the cooler months. The terracotta theme from earlier in the year has transformed into an entire autumn colour scheme, made up of warm, earthy tones that feel like sitting next to an open fire.
Sandstone is ideal for adding a more warm glow to the home, and autumn orange can create warmth and blends very well with neutral tones such as grey and sand tones.
With cottagecore and eclectic modern design trends being increasingly popular, it will be no surprise that vintage, bespoke, and personalised homewares are going to be huge this autumn.
It has been suggested that the pandemic has led to people wanting their homes to reflect more personality and has seen people dusting off old photo frames, candlesticks, vases, and other assorted vintage styled pieces.
People are being drawn more to a relaxed feel in their homes, and ultra-soft fabrics and natural textiles and predicted to be massive this autumn, with a focus on texture and boucle. Consider adding accent pieces like Suzani cushions, or wool throws to your sofa or bed to cosy up with on those cooler days.
It would be no surprise if you were feeling a little overwhelmed with everything that’s happened since March last year, but have you ever thought about using your interior design choices to help give your mood a bit of a boost?
There are no end of ways in which you can transform your interiors to help support your mental health and wellbeing, so it’s simply a matter of sitting down to do some research and see which ideas spark some creative thinking within you.
One of the top interior trends to have emerged in recent months is biophilia, bringing the outside in and really connecting with nature in a very meaningful way.
Choose materials, fabrics and textures that reflect the natural environment and you can’t go wrong - and make sure that you make heavy investments in lots of beautiful house plants… a really quick win where decorating is concerned.
A minimalist approach to interiors can also help boost your mood, as it can help declutter your home (tidy house, tidy mind!) and create a sense of calm and peace at home, with everything in your house having its own specific purpose.
And your colour scheme is also very important when it comes to improving your mental health at home. Colour psychology is certainly interesting to learn about and you’ll discover that colour choice can make you feel angrier, sadder, happier, calmer… it all comes down to the shades you go for.
Greens and blues, for example, can be very calming and serene, while red has a lot more energy to it - so think about how you want to use colour in the various parts of your home.
Looking for contemporary lighting to help improve the look and feel of your home? See what we have in stock now.
]]>To assist in selecting the correct fabric the Martindale rub test provides data as to the suitability of fabrics for upholstery use. The higher the rub test value the more durable the fabric. The following is therefore a useful guide in selecting fabrics -
Use | Example | Rubs |
Decorative Use | Curtains, Cushions | Less than 10 000 |
Light Domestic Use | Occasional Chairs | 10 000 - 15 000 |
General Domestic Use | Sofas, Dining Chairs | 15 000 - 25 000 |
Heavy Domestic Duty | Heavy Daily Use, Light Contract | 25 000 - 35 000 |
Commercial Use | Office Chairs, Office Sofas | 30 000 plus |
It is important to note that a fabric with a high Martindale rating may still be suitable for curtains, cushions or other soft furnishings, however, a fabric with a low Martindale rating should not be considered for anything but very light upholstery, curtains and general soft furnishings.
We also have fabrics that have not been tested. These are mainly embroideries, silks and voiles and these should only be used for soft furnishings which will not be subject to abrasion eg curtains, cushions, bedspreads etc
In the UK the Martindale Rub Test is the most common test referred to, however, you may see references to the Wyzenbeek Test which is used primarily in North America.
The Martindale Rub Test measures the durability of the fabric based on friction but does not provide information about soil retention, damage from UV light or chemicals or indeed cat claws.
]]>Cushions inject colour and when the patterns are distinctive that adds style. We have just added a number of suzani cushions to our store which do just that.
Suzani is from the Persian word for needle and is a craft practiced for centuries in Central Asia. Originally, suzani needlework was made by a bride as part of her dowry and presented to the groom on their wedding day.
Today the craft continues and the ancient and colourful patterns of centuries are still produced by hand. The colours are fresh and clean, the patterns distinctive and they could therefore work in both a traditional or modern setting.
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Many of our beautiful products will be available to club members including fabrics, rugs, cushions, lighting and our exclusive Mily à Paris china.
We are trialing the software at the moment and it will be available - all things being equal - in early September.
To apply to join the Decorators' Club go to the contact page and send us your details.
Watch this space...
]]>Each piece of Limoges china is hand painted and therefore every piece is unique and individual. The ability to mix and match colours and patterns is endless and we can also offer a bespoke service where you can choose the colours that you would like.
The French are probably the best at understanding and using colour and so it is with the Mily à Paris collection.
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