Colour Trends1 March 2010
Colour Trends by Samantha Maskrey, marketing director of cutting-edge designer furniture store Maskreys
Furnishing colours and styles change slowly and subtly just like fashion and although we may admire the cat walks outrageous creations we know we could never wear them in our day to day lives.
It is exactly the same in our interiors, those wild schemes we see in some of the design magazines or on television, we couldn’t actually live with them but they do influence us and our choices.
Here are some of the trends that I foresee for Spring 2010.
The monochrome pallet of grey, black and white will still be strong, but colour will be added from bright red lacquer reds to aubergine, plus lime greens to willow and olive.
Then a return to the blues from the aqua shades through to ultramarine. These colour trends can be spotted running through all areas of interiors, paints, wallpapers, fabrics, furniture, even down to kitchens and bathrooms.
Sofas and chairs will feature more exciting fabrics, fabrics that are touchy feely in bold herringbone and strong patterns. Shapes remain simple and elegant with an emphasis on true comfort and the occasional chair that you can curl up in is becoming a Spring essential.
Bedrooms are luxurious and glossy, be prepared for white or cream lacquer with emphasis on built in headboards, side tables and well appointed sliding or folding door wardrobes. Everything sleek with a place for everything.
Although curtains and curtain fabrics are becoming more exciting with large patterns and textured or metallic threads in fabric, it is blinds that have become the innovative window treatment. Blinds are now the most effective way to harness and control natural light. The different styles and designs of blinds are constantly growing and evolving; roller, Venetian, plisse or roman are innovators including the facets collection which adjusts to the light.
Wallpaper is now a fashion statement with huge stunning designs or even giant photographic images on accent walls.
There is a definite return to carpet after all those wooden floors (maybe it was the noise!) and carpets will of course echo the new seasons colours with co-ordinated stripes favoured on stairs and you will find small geometric designs appearing in living rooms.
Whatever style you favour my advice is don’t be over influenced by someone else’s ideas, it is your home, it must be comfortable and reflect you.
Detox Your Home >6 February 2010
Home is where the heart is, or is it where the clutter begins? Someone once said “if it isn’t useful or beautiful throw it out!” That is a terrific maxim and as you look around your home it is worth remembering those words. Of course it doesn’t take into account the many objects that are there for sentimental reasons or represent a friend, a lover, a parent or a child. But even with these odd mementos it is possible to group them or display them, so they become more of a collection rather than items that are waiting to be collected by the bin men. Make a home de-tox part of your New Years resolution.
“Left unchecked, clutter invades your space and takes over your life. It makes you disorganised, stressed and out of control. By de cluttering your home on a regular basis, you will feel better psychologically and physically because it gives you a sense of being back in control.
“But don’t worry de-toxing your home does not have to be wildly expensive or require as much long-term effort as sticking to a carb free diet.
“Here are some hints and tips to clearing out the clutter and refreshing your home to start 2009 as you mean to go on.
· If you only have time to deal with one room, work on the room you spend the most time in. As a nation of hoarders, we are all guilty of accumulating junk at every stage of our lives yet rarely get rid of anything. Start detoxing with the small items: old magazines, cut out recipes, unwanted gifts, empty boxes, chipped china, anything that is gathering dust in the corner of the room. Donating old clothes to charity shops, emptying the attic for a boot sale, or selling unwanted furniture via ebay will free up valuable space and earn useful extra cash.
- So often, the room which gets the most use gets the least attention. Liven up tired sitting room sofas with new bright scatter cushions or adorn your tired looking flooring with a sumptuous new rug. If the room is small, accentuate space by using mirrors to capture and reflect light.
- It’s also a good time to hang any artwork that has been lying around. Don’t allow your old photos to gather dust in boxes. Get creative with your best ones and show off your special memories in box frames or collages.
- Wires hanging out the ceiling where a light fitting should be, a broken appliance, that missing tile which you always meant to fix are the hallmarks of an untidy home. If you let odd DIY jobs build up, they can soon get on top of you. Resolve to fix your DIY dilemmas by buying the necessary tools and setting aside a date when you will get all those annoying half finished jobs done.
- From clothing tossed in cupboards to tools left strewn in the garage, it is easy for a home to get messy very quickly. Take advantage of the January sales to invest in storage solutions such as underbed drawers, jars, folding boxes, trolleys, CD towers, baskets, magazine racks, shelving or filing systems.
· Give your home some pampering by coating walls with a fresh coat of paint. An instant face-lift for your living space, a new colour will brighten your home and brighten your mood. If you’re thinking about going for another colour, paint them neutral first and then live in it for a while. This will provide you with a blank canvas and will help you envisage exactly the colour scheme you want to fully refresh your home and leave you feeling positive.
· If physically possible re-arrange your furniture, it is amazing what a boost that can give a room. Look at the natural light and see if you are taking the most advantage of it or perhaps you have a wonderful view that you can’t actually see from the sofa or the bed so make the most of it. It is all too easy to just live with a room that isn’t quite right, speak to a good friend get an honest opinion and then be bold and sought it out.
Once you’ve started reorganising your living space, sit back and enjoy it. You’ll find you’ll have a clearer head and will be well and truly ready to face the New Year. Don’t forget to reward yourself for all your hard work – this will give you the motivation to maintain a clutter-free life.
Maskreys Make-Over Relative Room >28 January 2010
The Critical Care relatives’ waiting room at the University Hospital of Wales has had a much needed makeover, courtesy of Maskreys.
The waiting room, on the third floor of the hospital, has been generously fitted out with sofa seating around a new coffee table, as well as a table with chairs where relatives can sit together.
Relatives can often spend long hours at the hospital while their loved ones receive vital treatment and it can be especially difficult if they’re from wider-Wales – the waiting room is a haven to sit quietly, distract yourself or speak with other relatives for support and advice.
The refurnishing now makes for a much more comfortable room, with thanks also to Marks and Spencer who donated a voucher which was used for plants and pictures to brighten the surroundings.
Jo Soldan, Consultant Clinical Psychologist in Critical Care said: “Although it did the job, the waiting area needed to be livened up and updated for the relatives using the room.
“Relatives and staff are over the moon with the more homely feel of the room -we’ve had many compliments as it’s brighter and seems friendlier now, thanks to Maskreys!”
Kathryn Hughes Maskreys Interior Designer comments, “It was of course a challenge to spruce up a tired area on a limited budget but we are delighted to be involved and we hope that patients and relatives receive long term benefits from our work.”