The Interior Design Blog

Add some glamour to your bedroom

2010-06-17T10:53:00.004+01:00

We all like to feel glamorous every once in a while, whether its buying a new LBD or blagging your way into a celebs party, but why not recreate that feeling every morning when you get up?

Allure says it all with its name. Allure is a finely woven shaggy rug that just begs to be touched. Its metallic shiny shades add a touch of class to any floor they're laid on. Four colourways are available including Bronze/Black, Silver/Black, Orange Gold and White Gold, each more rich and sumptuous than the last.

Polyester rugs are a great alternative to wool sometimes, allowing more adventurous designs and textures. Allure is made from 100% polyester and is soft to the touch as well as being easy to maintain.

Add some glamour to your bedroom with an Allure rug. This rug would look great at the foot of your bed and would be a dream to walk on first thing in the morning. If you have a dark room then choose a lighter option such as white or orange gold rug, where as if your room is light in colour then bronze/black rug would make a powerful statement.

When nature calls

2010-06-10T09:06:00.004+01:00

With the abundance of decorative items created from man-made materials on the market its refreshing to consider opting for something natural when it comes to your floor coverings. Natural rugs is a broad term that encapsulates a collection of products ranging from Jute rugs and herringbone rugs to Sisal rugs. These materials are mainly harvested in India and Nepal where they are major crops, responsibly farmed, making them an environmental choice - but also one that comes with history and craftsmanship past down through generations. Natural rugs have graced homes for hundreds if not thousands of years.

So next time your in a store looking at rugs, or indeed anything where there is a choice between polyester and wool - make the right choice. You never know it may just make you feel better too.

Bruce Willis gets sued over a rug

2010-06-03T10:40:00.002+01:00

Its been reported that the Die Hard star is being sued by a shop which claims he ruined an £18,000 rug by trimming it and spilling wine on it. Natural rugs and red wine do not mix.

The interior design shop state that the 55-year-old actor brought the rug back six weeks after it had been delivered to his Los Angeles home, stained with red wine - and shortened by several inches.

Willis's lawyer Marty Singer said the legendary action hero did not buy the wool and silk rug and it was not damaged or dirty, but he had offered to clean it.

The shop says it is stuck with a damaged shaggy rugs.

Roadkill Rug is Surprisingly Appealing

2010-06-02T08:56:00.003+01:00

Dead fluffy animals don't spring to mind when i think of soft furnishings, but that's what Dutch product design studio Oooms thought of. The studio run by Guido Ooms and Karin van Lieshout create thought-provoking and original products - some are sold via their website, others like the rug are a one off.

This is their take on the what the rug's about:

Do you know the feeling that you do not want to take a look at something, but you still do? The Roadkill carpet is a continues struggle between attraction and repulsion. It’s a warm, soft, cuddly carpet that attracts you to take a nap on it. But at the same time its a repulsive image of a car-flattened, bloody fox.

Thought-provoking yes, but hardly a mere snip at 3,400 Euros.

Bringing Nature Indoors with Natural Rugs

2010-05-19T14:18:00.005+01:00

As we're coming ever closer to Summer its time to get ready for more outdoor living and having as many BBQs as possible, however, don't forget to spring clean inside - you can achieve a fresh new look with the addition of a just few new items. Rugs make a perfect (relatively low-cost) floor covering for conservatories, kitchens and open plan living rooms in the Summer.

The Rug Lounge is a small rug store we feature occasionally on this blog and i recently revisted their natural rugs section to see what i could find. Jute and Sisal have their own unique properties, but both are durable and appealing materials that make a room a pleasure to be in. Jute is usually the softer when used in a rug and can even therefore be used in a kids room to add comfort. Sisal tends to be more coarse making it perfect for areas that see a lot of feet.

Organic Knot is my favourite natural fibre rug from The Rug Lounge. Its rough and knotted look is extremely fashionable at the moment and create a great focal point for a large space with lots of light. At £48 with free delivery its also a real bargain. Natural Herringbone features the most traditional pattern alongside a sumptuous velor border. As in the image i think this rug would suit a real wood floor, or if your not so lucky any solid colour carpet or laminate would give it a could frame.

Natural Weave is a Jute rug with a brown cotton border, here seen on a wooden floor paired an old English arm chair in red leather. At the time of writing this rug is on offer - at a very reasonable £74.00. I think combining what are essentially natural materials with traditional approaches to pattern and form can be a real winner when styling a room.

Flooring to modernise your home

2010-03-24T14:44:00.002+00:00

If you are looking to modernise your home this summer or change the décor you need to think about all the different flooring options that are now available to you.

Carpet seems to have been thrown onto the waste pile in recent years as people have opted for hardwood, laminate or tiled flooring.

The consumer has moved away from carpet as it is less hygienic and it can be ruined if something is spilt, especially if it is light in colour.

These days it is very rare to find carpet down as flooring for a bathroom or kitchen however, where hardwood or rubber flooring has been used people often like to add a rug as a feature.

Depending on the style of your kitchen there are many options available for both the colours and materials.

Sisal and Jute fibres are often a good choice on hard flooring surfaces because they are less likely to slip. These fibres are also best for use within a kitchen as they do not hold dirt. Another good tip would be to use an anti-slip underlay to stop your mat from slipping.

Interior design of a kitchen

2010-03-22T14:54:00.002+00:00

Quite a few changes have taken place in the world of kitchen design over the last couple of years.

No longer do we have the old farm kitchen doors made from wood, with the latest modern look kitchens are now also using modern materials such as high gloss plastics and glass work tops.

Colour is being introduced into kitchens but the use of high gloss black or white kitchens are also on the rise.

Kitchens are being made with better storage solutions, hidden features and soft close cupboard doors. Integrated appliances are still on the top of many people's ideal kitchen list and that now includes double ovens at just below eye level.

We haven't lost the past completely though, it has just taken a slightly different approach. Belfast style sinks have become very popular in our kitchens again but with a modern twist. The deep pot sinks are back in fashion but now they have the added pot draining board area attached.

Rather than having wooden doors the wood now appears on the work surface in a butcher's block style worktop.

Granite is still a popular choice for those who can afford it but the wooden worktops are becoming increasingly popular especially in larger kitchens.

Carpets in a kitchen are a thing of the past and many people opt for either a tiled or rubber flooring. Rugs are also often used just in certain areas of the kitchen to add a bit of colour and warmth.

Put Your Feet Up in The Rug Lounge

2010-03-22T14:49:00.004+00:00

A brand NEW retailer specialising in natural and shaggy rugs has just launched in the UK. The Rug Lounge differentiates itself from the competition by offering free delivery on everything (within mainland UK that at least).

What's different about The Rug Lounge?

From the looks of it The Rug Lounge is trying to provide people with affordable rugs that also say quality and reflect both current and classic rug designs and materials. Entropy is a shaggy rug like any other but at this price makes adding much-needed style to a room easy. The other shaggy rug line is the wonderfully named Allure rug, also made from Polyester making it affordable, but also easy to maintain and bright.

The Rug Lounge's range of natural rugs is also worth a look. Bringing together a mixture of modern and traditional looks in both Jute and Sisal the natural rugs have something to offer everyone.

Flooring Sale to Celebrate St Patricks Day

2010-03-16T11:31:00.002+00:00

UK Flooring Online are celebrating St Patricks Day this year by offering a massive 17% discount on any green version of any flooring products they have on their website.

St Patricks Day marks the start of the sale, which runs until Sunday (March 21st).

UK Flooring Online sell a variety of flooring options for your home or business, from studded rubber floor tiles through to vinyl flooring.

You could save yourself the equivalent price of VAT (17%) if you buy your flooring between March 17th and 21st, 2010.

For more information and to grab yourself a top bargain visit www.ukflooringonline.com

BA Flying The Flag For Interior Design

2010-03-01T11:24:00.006+00:00

It may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you mention the words interior design but a lot of thought and effort goes into the design of the interior of aircraft flying around the world.

If you have ever been lucky enough to travel first class then you will know that the interior of the first class cabins can be a lot different to the standard class option.

The 100 million-pound revamp to the British Airways flights has closed the gap on standards set by the luxury cabins provided by rival airlines in the Middle East and Asia.

The first class cabins now come with wider bed seats, leather desks and linen made from Egyptian cotton. Passengers will also be treated to an Anya Hindmarch washbag containing toiletries from the 200-year-old London pharmacist D.R. Harris & Co.

The designers of the new BA first class cabins have previously worked in the motor trade creating leather-rich interiors for Jaguar and Aston Martin cars and they will be available to passengers travelling to 40 different locations.

This is BA's first makeover for the premium class seats in just under 10 years and has been created to provide an “intimate private jet experience”. The new design also features the first electronic blinds on a commercial airliner.

It will be interesting to see if any other airline companies follow suit and update their first class cabins in the coming months or provide other extras to get people to use their flights.

Yoville takes interior design into the digital age

2010-03-01T09:35:00.002+00:00

A lot of people are interested in the world of interior design and it seems that Yoville has taken this one step further.

Not only are people interested in designing their dwellings in the “real world” it seems that following the fashion and design trends is also becoming of interest in virtual worlds too.

Yoville is an online virtual community, which has been heavily boosted by the Facebook Application, is all about designing and decoration your “virtual” home.
There are many different designs and features that you can take advantage of to build your ideal home.

A lot of the furniture designs you can buy in Yoville with your virtual cash have been based on real designs that you can buy in the shops.

Recent additions to the furniture styles include digital versions of the Arne Jacobsen Egg and Swan Chairs.

What makes Yoville even better is the fact that you do not have to part with your hard earned cash and that you can style your house just the way you want it without having to worry about how much it costs. You can also change the colour of the walls and your carpet as often as you want. If you don't like the colour you just pick another and it will change instantly – no waiting for the paint to dry.

Italian Interior Designers Showcase in Abu Dhabi

2010-02-19T15:40:00.000+00:00

More than 35 of Italy's finest interior designers and manufacturers are set to showcase their work in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi.

The event has already attracted interest from the region’s trade buyers, as well as design consultants and architects.

Italy is well known for producing superior quality goods and craftsmanship using the finest materials.

An interactive living zone has been created by Italian architects Mr Attilio Lapietra and Mrs Tiziana Burrini from ARTEX, the Centre for Artistic and Traditional Handicrafts of Tuscany.

Looking back on a decade of interior design

2010-01-21T16:28:00.001+00:00

The Interior Design blog takes a look back across the past decade of style and trends.

The 90's featured a lot of beige, white, and well lets face it a lot more beige.

This became the palette of choice for the many buy-to-letters who were making the most of the rising house prices.

As we entered the noughties the trend continued but as the prices slowly began to fall the market saw a slump in house sales.

Towards the end of the decade the prices began to fall and lending became a lot more difficult people started to invest in their current home instead of moving house.

As the prices changed so did the interior design styles because people were starting to make homes their own and not just decorated for sale.

Here saw the return of colour with feature walls and large designer prints and florals.

With the recession towards the end of the decade a feature wall provided a cheap way to spruce up your home and allowed stronger colours to return because of a feature wall not overpowering a room.

The end of the noughties following the start of the recession led to people reusing and revamping old furniture and materials.

Interior design offers currently on the web

2010-01-12T09:53:00.005+00:00

Interior Design Sales currently available on the web. We have been searching all across the internet to bring to you some of the best offers currently available on the web. They have been sectioned into different areas of interior design.

If you find any offers you think are worth a mention please add them in the comment box below.

Paint

Homebase

Homebase are offering Dulux 2.5L standard coloured Emulsion at half price and buy one get one half price on Crown Emulsions.

To see the offer click here

Flooring

Doormats Delivered

Currently have up to 30% off in their January Sale across a number of their products.

The Rainbow Blue Coir Mat is a real bargain!

UK Flooring

UK Flooring have taken off the cost of VAT across the whole of their website.

Check out the Slate Rubber Floor Tiles.

B&Q

15% off ALL flooring!

Click here to see the sale prices.

Bedroom

Debenhams

The Debenhams sale has some great bargains on good quality bed linen bed linen

Betty Jackson Black Yellow geo bed linen King Size Duvet £15 @ Debenhams was £40

Kitchen

Focus

Up to 70% off all kitchen units

Save 50% on the Vermont range plus an extra 10% off currently. A standard 7 Unit kitchen is priced at £288.90!

Bathroom

Sainsburys

Bristan 3 Piece Bathroom S uite White only £179.31 and you get Nectar points!

B&Q

Half Price on Cooke and Lewis bathroom collections and many good deals on other bathroom suites too!

The Seattle Bath Suite is a web exclusive offer and the whole suite is available for £249!!

Living Room

Elsa Large Sofa in Chocolate

The Elsa offers superb value for money with its combination of clean modern lines and great comfort levels. Supportive foam-filled seat cushions combine with the soft fibre-filled armpads and back cushions and Upholstered in leather/PVC combination.

See more information on the sofa here

Layers are the way forward for interior design

2010-01-05T12:36:00.008+00:00

Wallpapered ceilings and layered rugs are set to make an appearance this season.

If you have high vaulted ceilings, beams or ceiling roses in your house original or mock, the wallpaper can bring emphasis to these features.

Make sure that if you wallpaper the walls as well as the ceiling you use a different paper for the ceiling otherwise it will make your room feel boxed in and claustrophobic.

Remember to use a plain paper on the ceiling if the walls have a pattern or vice versa.

If you are going to go for the layering look then you need to make sure that the colours and patterns on the rug are similar in style. This way the rugs will then work as a theme together rather than looking odd and out of place.

In the cold winter a room will be made to feel snug and a lot warmer with the introduction of layered rugs.

These trends can work in both modern and more traditional dwellings provided that you use patterns and colours to suit the style of the house. Use persian rugs for a traditional look and bright bold colours for a modern take on the trend.

For a nice range of rugs visit www.nicerug.co.uk

New Year New Trends

2010-01-04T16:58:00.007+00:00

A New Year means out with the old and in with the new. That also includes the interior design trends that we are set to see this year.


With the world becoming more environmentally friendly, the colours looking to make an appearance this year are of earthy tones. Expect to see a lot of natural dyes being favoured over chemicals, such as the use of berries.

Along with the more natural earthy tones the interior design world will also see the introduction of more vibrant global tones especially in the way of sofa's and soft furnishings.

Green and yellow will play a huge art in the colour schemes of any modern dwelling and expect there to be a hint of purple and orange to add to the rich vibrant colours of the season.

Environmentally friendly textiles will play an important role in the design of any interior and concrete greys will become the new black in the neutral colour chart.

White is a bright design choice

2009-12-21T09:16:00.010+00:00

With the amount of heavy snow the country has witnessed over the past week what better time to talk about the white design trend currently in fashion.

All white furniture has been one of the hottest trends this year and it doesn't look set to take a decline just yet. The trend is still very much a highly favoured choice in the interior design industry.

If you are looking to adopt the clinical approach on your furniture then we suggest that you add a few colours and textures to the rest of the interior design to give it a bit of warmth.

The trend seems to be very popular in kitchens and living rooms more than any other room in the house.

In 2001 the white trend began to rise as Apple launched it's first white mp3 player, now they even make a white iphone and it has sold millions.

White cars are also coming back in fashion with a lot of the top sports ranges now appearing in white, especially Audi's, VWs and Fiesta's.

The Bacon Grove residence

2009-12-02T13:25:00.003+00:00

Having a compact apartment doesn't mean your interior has to struggle to have impact or feel spacious. The Bacon Grove location is a new addition to the Shoot Factory website. It combines bohemian chic with funky modernism to create a vibrant pad that would definately make an interesting place to shoot.

Elemental vintage retro and antique furniture

2009-11-16T15:14:00.006+00:00

Finding that unique piece of furniture to give a room impact is getting more difficult. With the increasing popularity of a certain Scandinavean retailer flooding homes with low cost flat-pack items, you're less likely to procure quality inidividual furniture.

Elemental are a UK-based furniture seller with a simple website. Their 'New Arrivals' area is where you'll find all their latest pieces - check back reguarly though because this is always updated. Because of the nature of the products it's hit and miss whether you see what you're searching for first time, but the standard is high and there's always a gem waiting to be found.

These photos give a general idea of the range of items Elemental have to offer.

Modus makes heating cool

2009-11-12T11:03:00.006+00:00

Fireplaces can be an overlooked aspect to interior design, even though they're usually at the heart of any living space. Creating a bold statement with your fireplace can give a room individuality and character.

Modus are a UK based designer and manufacturer of fireplaces for the most exclusive private and commercial properties. I came across their site while looking for original or innovative fireplaces as inspiration. Their designs are split into five categories: Against the wall, Two sided, Suspended, Internal and External Corner, and Unique Applications.

These images are a snapshot of the huge range of projects Modus have worked on. Check the site out its worth a look.

Dreary days at the office are no more with this furniture

2009-11-01T07:58:00.000+00:00

It can be difficult to become impassioned with your desk job when the office environment resembles that of every other office you've ever walked into.

Knowingly, the Austrian manufacturer Bene has collaborated with designer Pearson Lloyd to produce the kind of stimulating furniture you'd happily have at home.

The Parcs collection is bright, ergonomic, comfortable and playful yet functional - ticking all the prerequisites for furniture you'd love in the office but would never be able to convince your boss to buy.

Refreshingly simple modular benches, fences and walls provide a semi private meeting or working spaces that could occupy common areas in the workplace.

Pearson Lloyd's hope is that through his furniture, people will be able to achieve the creative and productive levels they previously found away from their desk in a newly designed office environment.

We think he may have just hit upon something...

Source

Stick and stones may break my bones, but bricks are surpisingly comfy

2009-10-27T07:44:00.006+00:00

The concept of outside architecture influencing the interior design form is one that's become rather en vogue recently.

Looking at the highly artistic concrete structures of recent installations around the globe, influences can be found that are evocative of the East German modular home constructions of the 80s.

"Ostalgia" as epitomised by 2003's cinematic hit Goodbye Lenin can certainly claim responsibility for making a once isolated endearment held by few into an accessible artform appreciated by the masses for its contextual integrity.

An incredibly insightful and thought-provoking installation is distilled somewhat into this realistic and surprisingly comfortable sofa, despite its rather non-conforming appearance from designers Sebastian Wrong and Richard Woods at Established & Sons.

By utilising the angular structure of the sofa to add dimension to the piece, it is complemented by the carefully scaled design which provides a geometrical layout to the brick printed fabric.

Very clever.

Source

Just hanging out at home (in a suspension bed)

2009-10-25T07:40:00.001+00:00

You didn't mishear us, Bernstein Architecture produces an array of hanging pieces of furniture for the home that perfectly fit with the concept of minimalist living.

With beds, tables, chairs and bookcases, they've created an interior design dream collection that saves space and looks great.

The pieces are all tension based; and while we'd advise sticking to the instructions for the most part, Bernstein actually encourage having a play to find your optimimum tension on their beds. Ordinarily motionless, once the stablising wires are loosened, it's an adults' playground!

The one piece of advice we would advise you follow to the letter is that you're careful not to trip over the wire ropes as you could do yourself a serious mishap.

With a combination of solid steel support entwined with crossed suspension wires, weight bearing surfaces are supported and structurally held in place from every required angle.

Source

Graffiti for tea? It's on the table...

2009-10-21T07:35:00.001+01:00

Having been a controversial symbol of expression for centuries, street graffiti's form has finally been coverted to art form and accepted into the homes of the fashionable.

Renowned for plauguing the walls of property in run-down estates, the aesthetic potential of graffiti has been recognised as a design discipline in its own right; combining form, symbols and style to produce innovatively expressive pieces that are both striking and functional - in essence, mimicking the very essence of graffiti in producing both a statement and contribution to the home.

This is truly experimental contemporary furniture that undoubtably provokes strong reactions from its audience, whilst it's also possible to recognise almost baroque style decor notes in the curved scroll form.

Venezualan UK-based designer Luis Alicandu has created some absolute talking points with his graffiti inspired furniture set, as they are as equally eyecatching as complementary to other interior design influences.

Visit his website for further inspiration.

Source

There's an app for everything - even designers!

2009-10-19T13:46:00.005+01:00

Ever been caught out without your trutsy Pantone book or in need of some inspiration for a new interior design project? Well there's a new iPhone application that you may just find useful. Color Expert from developers code-line is an intuitive, interactive colour wheel that has all the Pantone colours.

Color Expert can be used to select and experiment with different colour schemes or just as a reference tool. Just the thing if you are out of the office sourcing ornaments or styling rooms and need a colour chart. Or even in a meeting with clients deciding on colours for a shoot… every interior designer should have it.