Gothic Style
If minimalism was the defining trend of the noughties, then a new gothic revival has been a reaction. Whilst the style isn’t for everyone, for those who dare to be different bringing the gothic look into your home is an impressive fashion statement.
A common misconception about the style is that it relies on the totally and all consuming presence of black. Whilst this is an option, its far from the only one and we aim to show you a range of ways you can bring this style into your home.
WALLS: For the very adventurous we offer the Skulls Midnight Wallpaper by Barbara Hulanicki. It might be a bit much to cover an entire room with this paper, but for a few feature walls it suits perfectly and fits very well with dark grey and dark taupe shades of paint.
If skulls are a little more macabre than you can handle, then this Alphabet Peat wallpaper from Basso & Brooke, which features letters of the greek alphabet is perfect, bringing an atmosphere of playful intelligence to any room.
Moving away from grey and black, this vintage flock wallpaper from Kelly Hoppen in purple brings an air of intimacy, seduction and luxury to any room.
COLOUR PALLETTE: The gothic style isn’t just about being macabre and black, but about seduction, glamour and sexiness. Blood reds and crimson, deep, rich purples and, yes, grey and black are the appropriate colours when picking walls and carpets.
FABRIC: Leather. Luxorious black or darkly coloured leather is the ultimate new gothic fabric. When applying this rule to furniture remember too that leather will not be enough, furniture should have a seductive, aristocratic edge, with scrolling wood build etc. Velvet is also a good option, particularly with regard to drapes and curtains.
LIGHTING: Whilst we are not suggesting that you cast your rooms in red light a la True Blood, paying attention to the level of light and what casts it is extremely important. This Opal Lamp is a great example of a gothic light fixture, candelabra, mock chandeliers etc are also wonderful additions. Try not to flood your room with light, but don’t make it look too dank either, especially if you have covered the room heavily in darker shades.
A/W 11 Design: Hotel
This particular trend will delivers the wow factor through the reinvention of glamour. References to classic design are provided through smart and considered styling. The aim, of course, is not to make your room look like a hostel but to deliver a romantic old world feel, glamorous and sexy. From our range on www.furnishings-direct.co.uk , i have slected some key items which reflect this trend and can either help or inspire your design efforts today.
The Minogue Mendez Slate or Fortini Amethyst bed covers offer the rich style and comfort that are so integral to this trend. Don’t be put off by the celebrity design tag, these covers are deeply stylish, and affordable too. Most importantly, they would not look out of place in a luxury hotel in Paris or London. The darker colour scheme makes them ideal for a more wintery, cosy atmosphere.
Curtains from Stella Navy are also a good starting place. In Navy or plum particularly, they do add the old world design that we so desire for this trend. A rich, darker pallette is the way forward!
When it comes to decoration, Hulanicki canvasses are a great starting place, though be sure that they match with your colour scheme. Framed city prints, like this of Florence, add class and style without seeming pretentious, they add to the glitzy feel of the room and allow you to imagine you are there or in New York instead of England! How very, very trendy.
Minimalism: The Interior Design Trend Of The Moment.
Reflecting the age of austerity, the latest trend in interior design taps into the national zeitgeist. Fabulous, ostentaious glamour is out, and minimal, understated, clean elegance is in. At www.furnshings-direct.co.uk we are dedicated to helping you decorate your home to a great standard, and this includes helping you navigate our products in relation to trends. Thus: minimalism.
As a result of the financial crisis, it is only normal to question what we need in our lives. This expunging of the old and desire for something simple and new leads to several key looks:
Sleek, Straight Lines: When done wrong this look makes your house seem like a horrible clinic from the future, very cold and stark. However, when done right the room looks sleek, sharp and sexily modern. In a kitchen or bathroom this is easily achieved through very straight edged fittings. In a lounge or bedroom, which doesn’t necessarily have fittings, however, how can we bring this trend into our homes? The lounge is simply done through furniture like coffee tables and shelving. Sofas too can be considered in a minimal manner for this look. In the bedroom too, declutter fittings and replace with minimal, straight ones.
Natural Colour Scheme: This look is very easy to achieve in any room. A pallette of whites, beiges and tasteful browns can ensure your room looks modern and stylish and these colours all compliment one another very well. That is not to say that bolder colours like stark white, bold red, or deep black cannot be used, but these should be offset stylishly. The key here is not to avoid boldness, but to make bolder designs look quieter and more understated. Whatever your colour scheme, it should be adhered to when buying furniture, fittings and accessories too. These natural coloured bathroom towels, for example, fit in perfectly with the minimal aesthetic.
Storage and Clutter: Minimal does tend to mean tidy (and that doesn’t include organised mess!), so ample storage is needed in any room. The trick, however, is to make the storage not clutter the room itself. We have already discussed furniture above but with regards to beds and tables etc., the minimal way can tend to focus around modern looking designs, meaning storage is not always possible. Thus, clever boxes like these, that fold flat for easy storage, are perfect. The trick is innovative use of space, in our example the boxes fold away when not in use and so don’t uneccessarily clutter the room.
So thats 3 simple tips for bringing minimalism into your home. A simple maxim that helps is ‘less is more’!
Barbara Hulanicki
A Warsaw born fashion designer, Barbara Hulanicki opened her famed fashion store ‘Biba’ in 1964. Famously decadently decorated, Biba became a haunt and favoured shop for many rock stars and, before finally closing in 1974, gave Anna Wintour, now editor-in-chief of US Vogue her first fashion job.
Hulanicki has since opened her own interior design business and designed this range of wallpapers for Graham & Brown. Amongst her most impressive and eccentric designs available from the range are the ‘Diva Oyster’ and the ‘Midnight Skulls’. I have this wallpaper in my own home, and the cheeky flock skulls always surprise and astound visitors.
Finding Decorative Accessories For Your Kitchen
So you’ve got the basics of your kitchen décor in place – there’s flooring and the walls are done (maybe paint, wallpaper, paneling or a chair rail). The lighting is how you want it. You’ve got furniture that fits with the style of kitchen you want to have, and you’ve even got curtains that look great! The colors of everything are just right. Your kitchen décor theme and accessories are important!
The décor is finished – now, what about the decorative accessories and products for your kitchen, to help it all look complete? There are many products that can give your kitchen the finished look you desire.
What decorative accessories and products can your kitchen table use? First, how about a tablecloth? A tablecloth can be changed whenever you want to change the overall look of your room quickly and easily. They are usually not very expensive and wash well. Measure your table before you shop so you’ll know what size you need – they come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes!
On top of the table, maybe you’d like a flower arrangement. Fresh flowers are a terrific way to bring some of the outdoors inside – and many experts agree that helps elevate mood and increased our health overall.
Also good on the table are place mats. They make the table look ready for use at any time, and are great decorative accessories for your kitchen, a product that comes in as many styles as you can imagine. It should be easy to find place mats that look good with your décor.
On your counter, there’s room for your kitchen decorative accessories and products that enhance your room. It can be helpful to have some sort of holder for the long-handled and awkward utilities, like spatulas, tongs, whisk, and wooden spoons. These come in many designs.
Spice racks are also available for the kitchen counter. Though not in as many styles, it should be easy to find one that looks good in your kitchen and keeps your spices close at hand.
Don’t neglect your kitchen walls! Decorative accessories and products that some people like for their kitchen walls are special artwork that ties in with the theme of their kitchen (like Italian, wine, or fruit of some sort) or a display of their plate collection. Collector plates are a valuable addition to any kitchen, and displaying them can be much better than keeping them “safe” hidden away in a drawer
