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Swansea Life - 'Deck the Halls' - Column by Lesley Taylor - Nov 2010
This season is all about natural beauty; not just on the fashion catwalk with nude shades gracing every designer boutique and high street store across the country but in the fabulous world of interiors too.
While fashion designers have embraced this trend by using pale tones including white, beige, soft pinks and oyster shades, Interior Designers have taken a slightly different approach.
The latest interior trends look to nature and all things 'au-natural' for inspiration but this doesn't necessarily mean you have to work towards achieving a neutral colour scheme. In fact, you only have to look around to notice that the most beautiful elements of this world fuse colour, shapes and texture to produce variation, vibrancy and above all, a sense of well-being.
The great thing about this particular movement is its universal appeal and longevity. Over the years, I've seen hundreds of trends come and go, some never to return again. While bright neon's or even monochrome designs may not appeal to the masses, almost everyone can relate to nature. And, while the wheel of interior design turns through the seasons, the very basis of this popular trend sits still, ensuring your environmentally inspired home never looks out of date.
If it's an organic, natural feel you want to create, there's an abundance of products just waiting to be snapped up. High Street chains, designer brands and leading department stores have all jumped upon the natural 'bandwagon' this season, in preparation for the spring.
Bringing the outside into the home, the resurgence of wood this year has been a major talking point amongst designers and now homeowners. In previous times, wood was used mainly as furniture in living, dining and sleeping areas to create a decadent feel throughout. Now its presence and worth is expanding to reach other areas of the home including the bathroom.
Despite what many may think, wood can make for strong, sturdy, durable baths and basins. As long as the highest quality woods are selected, you won't get rotting or warping, but instead a delightful product that stands the test of time will be there for you to enjoy. Wooden sanitaryware looks fantastic and grabs attention the very moment the bathroom door is opened. Sure enough, a wooden bathroom suite will create a unique aesthetic but its entirely natural origin ensures a warm, organic and very peaceful ambience as the result.
Teak is very popular at the moment, with bathroom manufacturers such as William Garvey and Boxart offering beautifully rich and opulent freestanding tubs - perfect for recreating the look and feel of a boutique hotel.
For anyone who likes the idea of having a wooden floor but is worried about the scuffs and scratches associated with this type of flooring, there are porcelain tiles available that boast the appearance of textured wood. These tiles will fool onlookers but at the same time, provide an ultra durable alternative that can be used in wet areas and even outside. I don't often encourage cheating but this is a great way to keep costs down and ensure piece of mind.
If you want to incorporate this fabulous trend into your kitchen, without changing your cabinetry, why not make a statement with some wooden bowls, plates and kitchen accessories. Debenhams has already shown support for this trend by introducing a line of Bamboo inspired tableware sets designed by John Rocha, perfect for creating a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere for dinner party guests. And with elements of wood in place, you can offset with zesty green shades for a look that is completely current.
Stone is also making its way into the home. Already thousands of years old, stone designs not only hold their visual appeal well, they are extremely durable and therefore very practical too. The market offers an exciting plethora of genuine stone basins, baths and tiles for you to choose from, all with varying textures and tones. It's comforting to know however, whatever stone you decide to roll with, you'll end up with a beautiful organic setting that soothes and calms.
Aside from the obvious natural materials, there are many ways in which interior design can take inspiration from this glorious, spring filled earth. Flower patterns have made a massive revival this year and will surely continue to be popular well into the summer. You don't have to travel far to find fabrics, wall-coverings and tiles embossed with bold floral designs and while this sets the tone for a fresh yet feminine vibe, a vase of real flowers will add the perfect finishing touch.
Birds and insect have also made their way into UK homes this year. Brian Yates for instance has recently launched a fine collection of wall coverings, inspired by birds and Cole-and-Sons, an equally enchanting wallpaper design house has recently launched a range of wall coverings with adorning an assortment of creepy-crawlies.
Such intriguing designs will not only help you to bring a sense of nature into your home, but can allow you to have fun experimenting with colour, texture and patterns; proving once again that au-natural doesn't have to be oh-so plain and boring.
By Lesley Taylor
