Light & Space Interior Design Blog

May 19, 2012 5 31 PM

Creating an outside room

Apologies for such a late post - I’ve been excessively busy and Friday just seemed to disappear . but better late than never I suppose .

Next week is Chelsea flower Show so all posts next week will be plant related !

To start it off I thought I’d focus on outdoor rooms. We haven’t had summer here yet which is frustrating and miserable but as soon as we do get decent weather we’ll all move into the garden ,balcony or patio.

There’s no reason not to consider outside as part of your environment and really you should treat it as such. Think about creating an outdoor living room just as you would indoors . Think comfort, practicality ,colour - layer textures just as you would indoors. keep yourselves warm with a fire.surround yourselves with objects and things you love. Below are a few examples of how this can be achieved easily and effortlessly - Why not extend your home , even if it is just for a few months of the year and make the most of the fresh air and( hopefully) sunshine !

balcony with furniture and ornaments

outside garden room

balcony garden room

May 16, 2012 3 13 PM

Interlocking wall tiles , planters and seating

Designed by Maruja Fuentes from Puerto Rico these clever wall tiles also incorporate little planters and seats - they’d look good equally in a public environment - think how they could transform grim grey urban walls , but equally they’d look as good in the home or garden.

Imagine using the planters as a vertical wall either inside or out . They’re quick and simple to apply . We thought that they were really special !

wall tiles incorporating planters

ceramic wall tiles and planters

3d wall tiles as seating

May 14, 2012 3 00 PM

How pitched roofs can add the wow factor to your home

height in a building is always uplifting.The more space you have above your head the better you feel and the taller you walk. In today’s cramped living conditions upwards space and volume is almost as luxurious as outwards space.

Whenever I design homes from scratch I always try to get in as much head height as possible and if at all possible add a double volume element for a real wow factor

If you’re converting a loft why not think about going back to the rafters instead of creating a false ceiling , by using the pitch of the roof the room will feel less as though you’re shoehorning in another room and more as though you’ve deliberately created a calm sanctuary at the top of the house.Same goes for extensions , why have a flat ceiling like the rest of the house- why not put a pitched roof in and use it to enhance the room and make your extension really special .

Below are examples of pitched roofs that show what I mean .

pitched roof and rafters in modern living room

rafters in modern kitchen

pitched roof in living dining room

May 11, 2012 12 46 PM

Tolix chair

They’re everywhere , we even have them in our office.All of a sudden the Tolix chair is THE on trend item . It’s cheap, sturdy,suitable for in door and outdoor use and comes in a huge variety of colours from galvanised metal to bright colours .It’s styling lends itself to every possible style of interior from classic country through to shabby chic to urban cool - no matter where you put it it fits right in .

A design classic that’s been around since 1934 when it was designed by Xavier Pauchard who pioneered the process of galvanisation in France where it was used in cafes and public parks (look at it’s shape it’s very Paris between the wars !)

So if you need new garden furniture or some indoor chairs take a look at the Tolix- inspiration images below .

tolix chair in conservatory

mix of tolix chairs in a cafe

tolix chairs in a country kitchen

bright pink tolix stools in a bar

tolix chairs in a classic dining room

tolix chairs in a restaurant

May 9, 2012 11 38 AM

Bright colours in the home

I know that lots of you are a little trepidatious when it comes to adding a pop of colour to your home . Some of you feel that you may be investing in something that may be a mistake, some of you claim not to like colour - although I must say that often once clients have tried a bit of colour they see how it positively enhances their design scheme .Some of you feel that you may tire of bright colours It’s all by degree you don’t need to live in a kaleidoscope to appreciate a touch of colour in your home .

It’s a fact that when the economy is gloomy fashion colours are bright- take a look at at what’s in the shops this spring, psychologically we need to inject some brightness in our lives so we do it through clothes .The same goes for homes -a little brightness goes a long long way.

Try it - it could be a lick of paint around an old mirror , a few brightly coloured vases picked up at a car boot or a bright rug . All of these items are instant uplifts for your home and need not be permanent if you don’t like them or you want a change .

So have a go - lift your spirits and add some energy to your home.

bright yellow furniture

bright orange chairs

turquoise mirror

bright pictures in a monotone room

bright colours in a white room

1 note May 4, 2012 10 51 AM

Rugs

No matter what your design style bringing a rug into your room can inject much needed texture pattern and/or colour.

Don’t think of rugs as just a solution to covering old carpet or softening wooden floors consider them as integral to your design.

If you’re unsure how this will work for you buy a cheap rug and notice the difference it makes or some companies such as The Rug Company will bring rugs out so you can see them in your home .

If at all possible I always recommend a rug for whatever room I’m designing.

have a look below at these rugs , all different styles , and try and imagine how the room would look without them.

This is such a great instant way to upgrade and refresh your room - why not make it your mission for the bank holiday !

Talking of bank holidays - no post from me on Monday but I’ll be back on Tuesday

stripe rug in living room

rug in living room

colourful rug in living room

blue patterned rug in living room

indian rug in dining room

shaggy rug in dining room

4 notes May 2, 2012 10 26 AM

Luxury in the home

How we decorate the interiors of our homes reflects how we see ourselves , and it’s an interesting phenomena that you can often see what someone’s house is like by looking at how they style and dress themselves.(obviously not true of everyone or of families ,) but it does work in general- trust me!

Have a look at how your friends dress and then think about their homes and how they style them.Neat and ordered ? Eclectic and colourful?- I think you can see what I mean .

We all like a little luxury and status in our lives , be it a lovely perfume or a designer handbag , it just makes us feel better and perks us up, even though the rest of our wardrobe may be more down to earth. The same can be said of our homes a little status can go a long long way.

Hermes THE luxury brand is a good example . Even one of their distinctive orange boxes, empty of course, can be used to make a design statement.Have a look below at these images . Admittedly some of these items may be fakes , but it’s interesting the statement that their making .

luxury bathroom

luxury hermes trays

luxury hermes tray on coffee table

luxury hermes tray with objects

girl laden with hermes boxes

2 notes April 30, 2012 10 01 AM

Wrapping paper as artwork

I recently went to the London Print Fair at the RA in search of suitable artwork for a client.

Many many lovely pieces and many large prices that will eat into my budget.

I’m always concerned when selecting art for a client as it’s a truly personal thing.Is the client going to love it enough to invest considerable amounts of money , and at the same time I need the freedom to select works of art that fit in with my overall scheme .

I really like the idea of taking great wrapping paper and framing it , with clever curating this is a relatively cheap and easy way to finish a room, maybe not for major spaces but great for hallways ,bedrooms and bathrooms where you may need a little colour and pattern and want something unique.

wrapping paper used as art

April 27, 2012 10 01 AM

fresh ways to arrange flowers

There’s nothing nicer and more uplifting than fresh flowers in your home.Is it the colour, the scent - whatever it is you immediately feel uplifted when you walk into a room with a vase of fresh flowers in it .

Flower arranging has been an art form for hundreds of years and with a little imagination you could easily transform a bunch of flowers into a still life composition.

Have a look at the images below from the wonderful Scarlet &Violet in London to give you some ideas as to how to create a masterpiece. Their designs are simple and easy , with the emphasis on the containers and surroundings as much as the flowers themselves .Their informal style is fresh, fun and a little tongue in cheek and just right for now.

fresh flowers in vintage containers