Love Your Home Blog

I know it's early to start using the ‘C’ word, but Christmas is just around the corner. For those of you hosting Christmas this year – as I am sure you are aware, there is more to think about than just the presents.

This time of year in our house becomes a time for clearing and editing to make way for the celebrations. I prepare for the incoming toys and gadgets, by editing the dated, broken and out grown toys.  By organizing now I can just about create a clear head later.

 'You might think you only have room for a simple ottoman or storage box, but measure your floor space,

you might be surprised to discover a simple upholstered bench, takes up no more space, than a blanket box but adds much more. '

I would like to begin this blog with a little confession. I am a colour addict and spend most of my time either thinking, talking or writing a blog about colour, so I can’t promise this will be my last colour inspired blog.

When we launched our mohair range nearly two years ago, I was adamant that we would include a teal and the colour we eventually settled on (after many lab dips) was our Peacock Mohair Velvet.

As with our wardrobes, sometimes our homes struggle as the seasons change. Currently, the battle with whether the heating should be on or off is Real.

However, our furnishings should not be ignored as they can transform the feel of the room. A fur throw and a velvet cushion can make a room, that in the summer was cool and breezy, transformed into a space that is cosy, warm and an area that invites you to snuggle.

My blog this week is an introduction to our new collection. For this collection we have focused on the most popular designs within our core range. 

For those of you who don’t know, we offer a bespoke service that allows our customers to make our core range ‘ their own’ by adjusting dimensions such as arm height, comfort level, or simply a different leg option.

My last blog talked about how to go about starting to design a room and that inspiration can come from anything be it a picture, rug or plant.  This starting point forms the basis of your room design and sofas and beds are the easiest way to bring in both colour and texture.

Here you can see how the shades and tones of these elegant delicate roses could be the starting point for your colour scheme. The velvety and smooth texture of the petals can be reflected in the buttoning of the sofa. The bold use of this majestic colour and tonal cushions and footstool makes it ideal for a formal, elegant sitting room be it contemporary or traditional.

I spend a huge amount of time thinking about what our customers want and suddenly realised today in the car that I start at the inspiration phase because of my background in magazines. 

So this is great if you already know what you like and what you want, and also more importantly if your partner agrees with all your choices! But for those of you who are unsure, an understanding of where to begin is important because you want the final result to look good and last, especially with the amazing selection of fabric choices available today

So I have gone back to basics and laid out some steps for you to work through, and help you get to the inspiration starting point.

Linen is on trend right now but with its timeless elegance it will outlast the latest craze – it’s a look that will last forever.

This natural fabric is durable, versatile and looks beautiful for a long time as it hardly pills and is very hardwearing. Using linen on furniture makes it tactile, but also gives a visual texture. Linens vary dramatically based on the warp and weft and also in the way they are treated after weaving. So whether you like a clean crisp look or a slubby rustic feel, linen is perfect for either. 

Our customers are often nervous when it comes to linen, in particular, with light colours as they are concerned about the durability. But...as always we have thought of everything and have a beautiful family (and pet) friendly clever fabric that is stain resistant. So no excuse not to feel totally inspired by linen..... 

Create cool summer looks using natural tones of linen with white crisp bed linen or chalky palettes creating a soft relaxing atmosphere. Linen is the perfect choice for creating a calm and airy feeling room.