Design Tips:
| Old World News What's Hot (and not) in the United Kingdom and Beyond By Olga Adler I love to travel. To me, there are few things better in the world than being able to see other places, how other people live and how they decorate their homes. We all have that curiosity, even if we don’t want to admit it. House Tours, Kitchen Tours, Garden Tours – hello! That is why I go to Europe at least once a year and try to see what is in (and even more so: what’s out) in The Old World. When I travel I look for new sources for furniture and accessories, but also for new trends and ideas. Most of the trends from Europe eventually come to America, so if you want to be on top of things read on. In Sea grass, sisal, rattan (try rattan insets it in your kitchen cabinet doors), dark hardwood floors, leather in light colors, simple window treatments, bamboo shades, British colonial style reproductions, African and Asian influences mixed together. “Suede” or “Old Leather” faux finish on walls. Orange with Chocolate, Red with Chocolate, Purple with Green. White – by itself or mixed with black. Antiques from Eastern Europe. Candles in every room. Metal lamp shades. Obelisks. Zebra wood. Architectural prints. Out Heavy window treatments, polished brass, Hunter Green, stenciled walls, Disney- themed children’s rooms, Pink with Green. Think Global Generally speaking the GLOBAL style is in for both formal and informal settings. It is in now and it is here to stay for a long time. Think: Globetrotting. Think: an invigorating mix of contemporary chic and classic New England. Personally, my absolute favorite. Floors If you like that great natural look of sisal but are worried about keeping it dry and clean in high traffic areas I have found something you will like a lot: Unnatural Flooring – faux sisal that will give you the natural feel and texture of sisal but it is durable, fire proof, waterproof, easy to clean, soft, pleasant and warm underfoot. You can use it in kitchens, bathrooms, gyms, pool and spa areas, conservatories, playrooms, home offices, utility rooms, hallways and balconies. It can be easily vacuumed or washed with a mop and warm water. It comes in 9 colors, like: Savannah, Autumn Straw, Granite, Charcoal, Moss, Terracotta and Slate. Lighting Sconces, sconces everywhere! Not just any sconces, though. Hand made of the highest quality copper, steel, brass or iron and high quality plated to resemble the originals they were inspired by: romantic and exotic lights of Orient or Arabia. Color Rich and true - should always be determined by where you live. Try Paint and Paper Library, The Little Greene or Farrow&Ball for beautiful colors: soft or bold but always beautiful because they come from history (Colours of England series) and nature (environmentally friendly). Outdoors Coming In Plants are an in-house item. And with them are zinc planters, baskets, outdoor lanterns and wicker chairs. And if the idea of watering sounds scary to you, try realistically looking faux plants. Realistic is a key word here. Quality and Values One of the most wonderful discoveries of my trip was finding ArborVetum – a small company based in Moreton-In-Marsh in the Cotswolds that designs and makes beautiful indoor and outdoor furniture of antique teak imported from India. Believing in fair trade principals, owner Nick Powell reclaims antique teak wood from old buildings that are being demolished to give space for new construction. Not only is this an environmentally responsible operation that saves trees, but it also gives work and fair compensation to local workers changing theirs and their families’ lives. I often shop for my clients’ back yard furniture so I am aware of what’s on the market – ArborVetum pieces are of the best quality I have ever seen. So try to bring traditional and contemporary designs together to formulate exciting interiors for your home. Where To Shop My favorite place to look for inspiration while in London beside the famous Harbor Design Center (to the trade only) is Kings Road in Chelsea – a wonderful place filled with great little shops and galleries – some of them home to Britain’s best design names. English Country and French Provincial antique furniture - I&JL Brown at 632 Kings Road. Chairs, tables, sideboards, consoles, dressers, beds, bookcases – you name it – they have and in the best quality. www.brownantiques.com Handmade Lighting Jane Knapp, www.janeknapp.com Flooring – www.unnaturalflooring.com Garden, Conservatory, Sun Room – R.K. Alliston, www.rkalliston.com Teak Furniture – www.arborvetum.co.uk Olga Adler is an interior designer with a design studio in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Her company Olga Adler Interiors is dedicated to lifestyle driven design. You can email your questions or comments to: olga@olgaadlerinteriors.com |
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