Tag Archives: Furniture

Interior Design Trends for 2014

Bring the Outdoors Indoors
More and more designers and manufacturers are creating outdoor designs for indoor spaces, partly due to the recent trend in sustainable and eco design, and when done well really has that ‘wow’ factor.

Brass
The trend in brass has been growing over the last year and, when done properly can look elegant, timeless and very cool.

Brass

Corduroy
Especially when paired with the ‘Outside Inside’ look, this years trend for corduroy upholstery manages to feel casual and elegant at the same time.

Corduroy

Fiber-art & Macramé
A lot of designers at the moment are talking about fiber-art and macramé being a big trend this year. Relatively inexpensive it can be used instead of fine art, wall paper and expensive design pieces, and definitely add edge to a space.

Macrame

Glamour
Use soft colours, striking design pieces and metal accessories to update your glamour look.

Glamour

Accents of Colour
A big hit at Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan – monochrome or soft undertones with accents of vibrant colour.

Accents of Colour_fromdoc

The Blues
Blue is a massive trend this year, from the catwalks to design exhibitions. Don’t be afraid of mixing different shades either – it’ll add interest and depth.

Blue

Colour
Last but not least is a general movement towards using more colour in interiors. Definitely a theme at Maison et Objet in Paris in February, have a look a Missoni’s display there for some inspiration.

Colour - Missoni

Roundup: Salone Internazionale del Mobile Milan 2014

With another amazing showcase of what’s trending in the design world, it wasn’t easy to choose our favourites from last weeks Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan. We noticed a distinct trend and emphasis toward natural woods, marble and stainless-steel pieces with clean, modern lines and geometric forms. There was a touch of luxury to most of the displays and, as we saw at Maison et Object in Paris in February, lots of colour – specifically monochrome with pops of bright yellow. 

Here are our edited highlights;

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Kartell celebrates 10th Anniversary of Laviani’s Bourgie Lamp

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Ferruccio Laviani’s Bourgie table lamp, Kartell have handed it over for re-invention to a select group of renowned designers from around the world. Being re-imagined by designers ranging from Nendo to Patricia Urquiola, from Mario Bellini to Phillipe Starck, the 14 one-off designs are currently on display at Kartell’s Paris flagship on Boulevard Saint-Germain, after which they will turn into a travelling exhibition for the rest of the year before being auctioned online (with the proceeds going to charity).

Kartell Bourgie Exhibition Patricia Urquiola

Patricia Urquiola

Kartell Bourgie Exhibition Mario Bellini

Mario Bellini

Kartell Bourgie Exhibition Ludovica+Roberto Palomba

Ludovica+Roberto Palomba

Kartell Bourgie Exhibition Patrick Jouin

Patrick Jouin

Kartell Bourgie Exhibition Philippe Starck

Philippe Starck

Kartell Bourgie Exhibition Christophe Pillet

Christophe Pillet

Kartell Bourgie Exhibition Front

Front

 

 

Bring the Passion Back into your Ikea Bedroom

At the tender age of 21, I left my mother’s home and went off into the world, moving 250 miles away. As a graduate moving from temporary job to temporary job, the budget for kitting out my new pad was limited. I heard Ikea was affordable and stylish so off I went to have a look. I wasn’t planning on buying, but it’s simple, contemporary Swedish good looks and affordable price tag was too much for me to resist. I spent hours roaming around the showrooms. Knowing I could only look and not touch increased the excitement. I still remember the first time I worked up a sweat in the warehouse section, grunting and panting as I lifted the flat packs off the shelves, placing them gently on the trolley. I remember handing over my credit card without a care in the world. I remember the hours of assembling, and the proud feeling of knowing ‘I did that’. Me and Ikea, no one could touch us.

As the years went by my love for Ikea started to diminish. Walking around the showrooms became frustrating and dull, the furniture was boring and repetitive with no individuality and the price tags were cheap like the quality. I had a pair of bedside cabinets and chest of drawers that followed me around for years. They had stayed with me through my break up with my long term boyfriend and were the only pieces of furniture I left my first apartment with.  They stayed with my through the bad times so I couldn’t possibly part with them once I had found my own apartment two years later.

On moving day, I unpacked them from the back of a van and placed them in my new bedroom with my new white, fresh looking furniture. My apartment was clean and free from arguments about the dishes and whose turn it was to buy toilet rolls. They looked tired, worn out and had no passion or zest for life. I couldn’t bear to buy a new set (mostly because my bank balance wouldn’t allow me) so I decided to get the spark between us back.

I painted them white to give them a brighter, fresher look but they still looked like generic pieces of Ikea furniture. They sat there for months being used only as storage. I was fed up but couldn’t give up on them. Then, I had an idea. I could wallpaper them! Surely, this would make them fun again and bring some passion back into the bedroom.

Just follow these simple steps and you to can revamp your relationship with your old Ikea furniture without breaking the bank:

If you want to change the colour of your furniture you need to sand and sand and then sand again. Getting your hands on an electric sander really helps, but you can do it using regular sand paper too.

  • Prime the furniture using a spray primer. It’s much easier and quicker than painting. Let it dry for about 45 minutes before adding the paint.
  • Pick a good quality paint especially for furniture. I used Dulux satin finish brilliant white. With the primer, I only had to apply two coats of paint.
  • Let the paint dry over night before you wallpaper.
  • As you would with wallpapering a wall, you need to make sure the patterns match up so get out your tape measure and scissors. Cut out all your bits first and make sure they line up before you stick anything down.
  • Stick the wallpaper with a strong adhesive spray. You have a few seconds to move and line up the wallpaper before it dries so don’t panic.
  • Leave it to dry for as long as possible. I put the drawers back together after a few hours but it’s probably best to leave it overnight.
  • Buy handles or knobs to really add your own style. I bought a set of faux crystal and gold knobs from ebay at a really affordable price.
  • Enjoy your new and improved furniture.

 

The process wasn’t easy, and at times I felt like giving up, but now I am happier than ever.  I have been asked whether the paint chips or the wallpaper starts to come away at the sides. The answer is ‘I don’t know, but at the moment I am happy with them’. I am still in the honeymoon phase and love walking into my bedroom and seeing my beautiful, unique pieces of furniture. I hope they stand the test of time, I really do. One thing is for sure, I won’t give up on Ikea that easily.

Get some inspiration from these beautiful pieces by British artisan Bryonie Porter.

Byronie Porter