Indholdsfortegnelse for June 2022 i Living Etc

A wise colleague once told me that life was not about waiting for summer. This was in the middle of January, reminding me to bake cinnamon rolls, hunker down, make the most of now and not yearn for the future. And she was right. Yet this year I’ve been desperate for summer to arrive. That feeling of long lunches, longer days and even longer glasses of iced tea. Slubby linen, bowls of peaches, floors cool underfoot – all the ways design and decor can help you to relax. I don’t think I’m the only one. Just back from Paris Déco Off, where major international design houses were showing their latest collections, the biggest trend was for fun. Daring colours, exciting prints, a sense of why on earth not? From the…

These striking rugs have all been designed to own the floor. Not only do most have an eye-catching print, they’re also shaping a new outline in design, quite literally, as they all sport an unconventional silhouette. Whether you’re going curv y, geometric or angular, these designs offer some ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking – and we’re ready to embrace it. FLOOR ART Designer Denis Guidone took inspiration from the changing seasons for the organic shape of this beauty. So, if you were wondering how to make a room with a garden outlook a little more special, this, we suggest, is your solution. Natsu rug, £1,265, Denis Guidone for Ligne Roset DIAMOND CUT With its obtuse angles, this rug by Dainelli Studio for Gallotti&Radice is made of a single colour (either grey, white, or…

INTO THE BLUE Lalique is regarded as one of the biggest names in the world of artful, handcrafted crystal design. Now on our lust list is the Mossi vase (a flagship Lalique piece first designed by founder René Lalique himself in 1933) in the new Blue colour. Mossi vase, £2,250, Lalique AQUA FAN The depth of colour in the Lume tiles by ceramic and porcelain specialist Marazzi is something to behold. The tiles have subtle colour differences and a lovely patina, so they will most definitely bring rich tones to a splashback. There are several colourways, but we think this one is absolutely beautiful. Lume tiles, price on request, Marazzi SURFACE SHIMMER Named after the spiky plant, the Yucca wallpaper design from Sanderson offers a striking pattern for walls. Using…

Framing is one of those dark arts and the longer I am an art consultant the more I realise how little I know. With over 15 years in the business I have developed a deep respect for framers. I have gone from seeing them as a high-street service to understanding and appreciating them as artists and artisans in their own right. I select my frame for any particular project with as much care as I select the artist. Here are my tips to pick the perfect frame: Go to the best framer you can find and lean heavily on them. Tell them about your project – show them photos, take fabrics. A good framer will use any number of things as a jumping off point – get them to help…

‘I think an appreciation of art, colour and design is in my DNA, says John Ferguson, who grew up in Scotland ‘with a mum who made our house beautiful partly due to the influence of the Swedish artist Carl Larsson, who she loved. And my grandparents lived near Dundee and had many ties to the local artists.’ John has now put that appreciation to work in the beautiful home he shares with wife Anna and their three girls – Audrey May, seven, Margaux, five, and Dittany, four months. ‘It was always John’s dream to design a tailor-made family home for us,’ says Anna. ‘He’s been passionate about interiors all his life.’ Before moving here, John and Anna had lived in rented properties where they had to compromise on design. So…

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Out of all the cooler-toned colours, green is one of the easiest and most versatile to work with. But it’s what you pair it with that can make it truly come alive. Happily, green is at the centre of the colour wheel, meaning you can combine it with both warm and cool hues. Greens with a blue base are impactful, so introducing soft tones of clay white and chalky grey brings a calming feel. Greens with a yellow undertone, such as olive, pop alongside gold or bronze, enhancing their warmth. Essentially, almost anything looks good with green – but don’t let that overwhelm, as these perfect pairings will help you edit the choice right down. Green and yellow Adjacent to each other on the colour wheel, yellow and green are…

Hand cast in solid brass, this dropped handle style knocker is inspired by Regency style and is perfect for period homes. Melton door knocker in antiqued brass, £66 (jim-lawrence.co.uk) If you are looking for a door knocker with a more contemporary note, this one offers a fresh spin and comes in a variety of finishes. Door knocker in polished brass, £65 (beardmore.co.uk) With its clean lines and sharp edges, this will appeal to modernistas everywhere. A period front door will make an intriguing contrast. Campbell Hex door knocker, £59.95, (plankhardware.com)…

TWO-TONE WONDER Looking for an unusual over-the-island light? The answer may lie with this pendant by David Hunt Lighting featuring a decorative design with an edge hand-painted to create a two-tone scallop. Fill your boots with designs in contrasting shades of blue and white, olive and pink, red and pink or blue and green. Or for something unique, you can go bespoke. Scallop pendant light, from £390, davidhuntlighting.co.uk ALL BRASS If you are feeling pleased with your bathroom’s brass finishes, why not complete the look with a brass bath? The busy bees at BC Designs have created one in a classic shape from brass sheets. But there’s an added twist: the exterior can be painted in a variety of colours. The bath is available in two sizes – 1500 and…

UP THE WALL To add charm and some character to the loft rooms, I’ll be panelling the walls and potentially ceilings, too. The English Panelling Company offer pre-made sheets of MDF panelling in various styles and designs. This wall, peg rail and unit are painted in Pleat, with the inner shelving in Heat, both Intelligent Satinwood by Little Greene. SLOPING OFF Lighting in attic rooms – a space with a compromised head height – is always tricky. I tend to veer towards a combination of 5amp sockets for lamps with flush-mount ceiling fittings that give off a decent amount of light while looking pretty. I particularly love the Littleton Diffuser from And Objects.…

Keep windows closed as purifiers work most efficiently in a sealed environment. Though indoor environments can readily trap outdoor pollution and viruses, opening a window to increase ventilation means poor air quality from outdoors can come inside, particularly if your home is in a city location with high traffic flow or at times of the year where there may be high pollen levels. This can also mean that your purifier will take longer to work. What’s more, opening windows can impact the temperature of a room, affecting the comfort levels. Purifiers only filter one room, so you should use it where you spend the majority of your time at home. When positioning the machine, make sure there is at least a few feet of clearance on all sides so that…

1 I always try to encourage clients to use water in their gardens even if it’s the simplest bowl. Aside from its beautiful reflective qualities, for me the real power lies in its sound. It’s transformative in any garden but especially in urban environments where we need to mask noise from neighbouring gardens and the hum of the city. The gentle trickling sound of water instantly pulls the focus away from distant sounds and centres you within your garden. A water feature needn’t be anything elaborate – it can be a small trough or container with a basic pump to circulate the water. The bubbling pool will resonate its soothing qualities drawing you in. 2 I love to nestle a water feature well within the planting, creating some mystery –…

El Palauet IN A SENTENCE Six luxurious apartments, each with two bedrooms, located along the tree-lined shopping hub of Passeig de Gràcia, with personal assistants on hand to ensure any and all of your needs are met. DESIGN HIGHLIGHT This Gothic-fronted property – built in 1906 – is bedecked with original features, from ornate ceilings to stained glass windows. These details form a backdrop for the uber chic interiors. Think steel chairs, modern tables and Arne Jacobsen egg armchairs. DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT The fam – despite their smart appearance, these suites are child friendly (they can accommodate up to three comfortably). Little people are welcomed with recommendations of popular family sites and a toy. IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD Gaudi’s treasures Casa Milà and Casa Batlló are on your doorstep. WHERE…

SUMMER GLOW No one wants the party to stop when the sun goes down and there’s a wealth of illuminati to keep the fun going, but we have our eye on the Lucerna lamp by design wiz Luca Nichetto. It takes its name from ancient Roman oil lamps, but uses the latest LED technology and incorporates a dual system of chargeable battery and pull-out cable in a protective casing. It’s a design classic in the making.…

Designers are demonstrating how a more relaxed style of seating can combine the comfort factor and everyday practicality with high-level refinement and ultimate style desirability. It’s the Italian designers, of course, who are leading the way with this look – and giving us reason to start shopping……

To say multidisciplinary designer Luke Edward Hall keeps busy is an understatement. As well as working on interior design projects, he also exhibits his artwork with an Athens-based gallery and regularly collaborates with ceramic, porcelain and fabrics companies. Now he has turned his distinct whimsical and colourful style to Chateau Orlando, his new clothing and lifestyle brand. We caught up with him to discover more… What was the inspiration behind your first clothing collection, Postcards from the Castle? I love knitwear and have a big collection of vintage pieces so we have kicked off with a knitwear collection for spring. My vintage pieces inspired our boxy shapes and oversized collars. The collection was inspired by an imaginary trip to a medieval castle and its garden, as well as my own…

SIMPLE STYLE As a big fan of its pared-back style, Louisa highly recommends bespoke framers Cooke’s Framing, based in southeast London. The owner Ash explains that ‘the fundamental purpose of a frame is to protect and conserve the artwork. And in my opinion a good frame does so while enhancing the aesthetic value of the artwork rather than distracting from it.’ From £150 +VAT. PAINTED WOOD If you lack the time or funds for a professional framer, then eFrame makes it easy to custom frame just about anything online – whether a photo, a piece of art, a map or a poster. ‘Enter the size of your picture, choose a design, customise it and eFrame will deliver,’ says Paul Lowther, director of growth. From £15.74 for a 15mm-wide wood made-to-measure…

As the director of Sinclair Studios, a RIBA chartered architectural practice based in London and Bristol, I specialise in residential projects. For the John and Anna’s house refurbishment, we created an interior sympathetic to its Victorian heritage, while introducing reclaimed and handmade finishes and bold colour. The result is a unique, character-filled home. Depending on whether you live in a 19th-century townhouse or a 1970s semi, paint colour is the perfect tool to emphasise age or contemporise your home. These tips will give you the knowledge and confidence to make your house stand out with pride on your street. BACK TO BASICS When renovating windows and doors, the only way to achieve a good finish is to first strip off the existing paint or varnish, and get back to the…

colourful tumblers From jewelled tones to bold stripes, this season’s drinkware is as bright as it is beautiful stylish carafes Bottles begone! There is only one vessel to use for your summer drinks and it’s awash with elegance pretty plates Floral or just fanciful, this enticing selection will ensure the dinnerware is just as appealing as the food patterned tablecloths Lift the mood with a beautiful covering, be it a delicate print or an eye-catching gingham…

For such a simple, decorative piece, there is a lot resting on a rug. And no, I don’t just mean the furniture you’re putting on it. I always think the rug you choose is a careful balancing act. It should be a statement piece, breathing extra colour and life into the space, but it also has to be pared back and not fight with the myriad textures under which it sits. Within my design process, the rug tends to be one of the last things I think about. Once I have the scheme and a strong idea of its tones and its story, then the rug can come to life as the through-line of the decor reveals itself to me. One of my favourite tricks is to base my rug…

Extraction is vital if you plan to cook. A properly specified cooker hood based on your individual circumstances and cooking preferences should get rid of smoke, fumes and moisture and, just as importantly, ensure that the whole home is free from odours. Firstly, look at where you would like the hood to be situated in the kitchen. For best results and ease of extraction, a hood against an external wall with the shortest duct route is best. Island extraction remains a firm favourite, but knowing which hood will work best for you can be tricky. If you regularly cook intensively, a conventional downdraft – which is usually built into a unit behind the hob and rises when switched on – may not be right for you, as it is a…

Designing a staircase might seem like a mountain of a job but the upheaval can be worth it. Don’t get us wrong, it’s definitely not a simple endeavour: you’ll almost certainly need professional help and it will be an investment. But what it does do is offer the opportunity to completely alter your home’s entrance, potentially turning it into an enviably striking one. Changing the staircase can improve a bad layout and turn a standard interior into something stunning. To begin, think about whether a new staircase will actually change your space for the better – will it improve the layout, could it add value and is it doable? Amrit Marway, associate director at Architecture for London, shares her tips for embarking on a new staircase adventure. 1 Look closely…

1 up and over With just three metres of garden width to play with, landscape designer Margie Grace of Grace Design Associates managed to construct a two-person-wide walkway by creating a covered canopy of figs trained on a series of metal arches. It also cleverly provides privacy from the neighbouring house. 2 high and mighty In a slim space, going tall with planting is a sure way of making it still feel lush. ‘Columnar arborvitae have an upright, narrow habit that does not impede on the roof deck space or make it feel overly crowded,’ says the landscape designer Amber Freda. These taller evergreens also offer privacy from an adjacent roof, she explains. In front of the arborvitae, Amber added creeping Jenny, purple petunias and Mexican feather grasses in order…

Listen, do you hear that? If you’re taking a quiet moment out to sit down to read a magazine, then hopefully not. Realistically, a completely silent home is somewhat of a rarity, and one of those things that you never have exactly when you need it. Depending on where you live, how much building work your neighbours are currently undertaking and whether it’s lawnmowing season, there’s a barrage of sound beyond your four walls – and beyond your control – determined to distract you from the task at hand. Sound is the poor relation in the conversation we’ve started about wellness in our homes – falling by the wayside for the more Instagrammable plant rooms and garden yoga studios. But can you say you’ve never been negatively impacted by noise…

Biophilic design is an evolutionary design ethos which suggests that for hundreds of thousands of years humans have existed in very close connection to nature as a means to survive, thrive and flourish. Even now, our reactions to spaces are based on this evolutionary backdrop – a sort of genetic inheritance. Prospect refuge theory is based on the idea that humans sought out spaces that enabled us to look out over landscapes with a point of prospect, allowing us to see potential threats such as predators, but also to spot opportunities, while having the refuge to feel safe, protected and therefore relaxed. If you imagine humans would have sat in a cave overlooking a landscape, surrounded on three sides with a single point of focus, we would have felt safe…

serves 4 Olive oil1 small onion, cut into thin slices2 garlic cloves, mincedSalt and freshly groundblack pepper60ml white wine180g wild rice, soaked overnightin 1ltr waterA 230g bunch kale, mid ribsstripped, dried well and cut into6mm ribbonsA 230g ball fresh mozzarella60g soured cream1 lemon, zest and juice455g cherry tomatoes, halved Soaked rice will cook much more quickly and will ‘pop’ when cooked, improving the texture 1 Heat a glug of olive oil in a pan. Sweat the onion and garlic with a pinch of salt until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the white wine and cook until reduced by half. Add the wild rice and the soaking liquid and cook until tender, about 45 minutes. 2 In a mixing bowl, sprinkle the kale with a pinch of salt. Massage the kale…

Wickerwork, the art of weaving with natural rattan, reeds and certain bark material, is quietly but firmly back on the design map. And not before time. As people seek out products which hold a story and that carve a sustainable stance in the interiors marketplace, wickerwork pieces offer both elements of chic status and eco-friendly ethos. From high end to high street, it’s making its mark. 70s VIBE Le freak, c’est chic! With a full-on retro 1970s look and great price tag, we think this gorgeous rattan chair offers up a real interiors steal. It’s the linear, angled backrest that really does it for us. It arrives flat-plack but is easy to put together and just think how cool you’ll look lounging in it. Rattan lounge chair, £149.99, H&M Home…

ITALIAN STYLE With its crisp yet classic colour combination, Dolce & Gabbana’s Blu Mediterraneo collection evokes the feeling of lazy summer holidays. You can enjoy that vibe all year round thanks to pieces that make a statement but remain effortlessly chic. Take your pick from the Giacinto armchair, the stylish Atena coffee tables and the metal structured Era lamps.…

1 TREASURE BOX With striking intaglio wood carvings and a lift-off lid at the top, this beauty is designed with the same sculptural spirit as a classic Sardinian chest. Ancas sideboard by Chiara Andreatti and Pierpaolo Mandis, €12,700, Pretziada 2 GET YOUR COAT A playful brushed-metal crown coat rack hand-forged by an artist from Nijmegen in the Netherlands in the early 2000s. Crown coat rack, £120, A Life Less Ordinary 3 IN THE RING Designed to bring character to a plate setting, these wrap around a napkin and reveal a long and elegant torso. Body napkin rings trio, £85, Anissa Kermiche 4 LIGHT THE WAY Not only does each lampshade have its own quirks, each utilises roughly 1.8kg of orange peels and sequesters 0.9kg of carbon – incredible! Obscure lampshade…

All the trimmings Sometimes, a small element of a design can set the tone for redecorating an entire space, and it’s this trimmed voile that shoulders a lively reimagining of this garden room by design studio Arent&Pyke. ‘Pattern and repetition are balanced by block colour in a feast of materiality,’ say designers Juliette Arent and Sarah-Jane Pyke. ‘The window treatment features a bespoke leading edge trim, giving weight and whimsy to the curtain.’ GET THE LOOK Bishop stool in Red by India Mahdavi Top to toe There’s a buzz around the idea of ‘colour drenching’ at the moment – that is, painting everything in a room the same, from ceiling to woodwork and walls. Whether you do this in a simple neutral or a bold hue, the effect is the…

SIMPLY THE BEST One of the big trends in kitchen design is, ironically, the anti-kitchen look. The first rule? Look for cabinetry that works just as well in any other part of the home. Enter Italian brand Cesar and its clever modular wall system Dressup, designed by Garcia Cumini, which can be configured in any combination for any room. Its versatility makes it ideal for open-plan living. Cesar Dressup, price on request (cesar.it) Upper hand A rain showerhead is all well and good but it needs a hard-working handheld sidekick to make a shower truly complete. The new Bournbrook is good looking enough to take centre stage – the minimal design adds a modern edge while the slider rail turns into a focal point. It’s available in three finishes: chrome,…

When it comes to past decor choices, arguably none has been the subject of more derision than the 70s avocado suite, largely seen as the trend taste forgot. But fast-forward to 2022 and it’s having the last laugh. It seems that at the time when the design-savvy are becoming more experimental, white bathroom fixtures are just a bit, well, dull. Whether its powder blue, flamingo pink or a sorbet lemon, the colour revival in bathrooms has been gradual but determined and every leading brand I have spoken to has seen an increase in sales. Of course, there have been designers on board this train for a while. India Mahdavi’s collection for Bisazza back in 2018 was full of playful exuberance, with fixtures in striking strawberry, pistachio and blueberry. More recently,…

1 AVOID THE SLIP Marazzi Cementum stoneware is a great option if you’re considering installing an outside bar. The concrete-effect flooring replicates the inspiration material’s sensation and aesthetic, but with anti-reflective glazes to make it ideal underfoot where there might be spillages due its anti-slip, soft-touch matt surface. Plus, because it can be used both indoors and out, it’s the perfect choice if you want to continue your kitchen flooring into the garden, creating a smooth indoor/outdoor flow. Space for a pool to accompany your bar? Even better. GET THE LOOK Cementum concrete-look flooring, Marazzi 2 BESPOKE BAR If budget isn’t an issue, then it’s worth considering a custom-made bar. ‘A bar could be used as a breakaway space in a separate area of the garden where you can relax…

With two small children who constantly appear to be physically attached to my extremities, it seems unimaginable that one day they will want to be as far away from me as humanly possible. Sob! But there we have it, I’m a realist. The top floor extension I plan to create is therefore going to serve as their space to grow into, with two bedrooms and a shared bathroom. However, it’s never quite as simple as that. Because of the layout and the planning restrictions on windows, we had toyed with a Jack and Jill style bathroom with doors from both bedrooms, but I just couldn’t commit. As I recall from my own childhood, there’s enough to argue with your sibling about, without adding the opportunity to walk in on them…

While hay fever sufferers might always have one eye trained on the pollen count, for the rest of us, air quality has often been a case of what we can’t see can’t hurt us. And then the pandemic happened. With it came a new hypersensitivity to the content of the air we’re breathing in, something that can only be a good thing when looking at our holistic health. ‘Clean air helps to promote deep sleep, and people who live in areas with higher levels of air pollution are 60% more likely to sleep poorly than those living in areas with cleaner air,’ says Daniel Johansson, chief technology officer at Blueair. Studies also show that better air quality can also improve productivity and general wellbeing. Air purifiers are a practical solution…

MIELE WER 865 WPS PWASH & TDOS, £1,999, MIELE.COM A-rated for acoustic airborne emissions, this Miele washing machine is one of the quietest on the market, with a maximum volume of 68 dB during its spin cycle. LG TURBOWASH360™ F6V1009BTSE, £1,049.98, LG.COM Quiet Mark approved, this sleek, internet-enabled washing machine has a maximum volume of 42 dB when washing, and up to 73 dB during a spin cycle. SAMSUNG WW90T684DLH, £579, SAMSUNG.COM Choosing an internet-enabled washing machine with a quiet wash and spin cycle also means you can set it to wash during the day when you’re out of the house.…

1 CLASH COLOURS FOR A STRIKING PALETTE The outdoor yellow benches were made bespoke for the project to our design. We chose yellow as a complementary contrast to the pink of the building and greens in the awning and planting. Inside, the yellow palette continues. We used Farrow & Ball’s Babouche after taking inspiration from grand Sicilian houses and native fruits of the island. Yellow and pink would work well in a kitchen or bathroom. Both are fresh, clean hues but don’t look too stark. 2 CREATE CONTRAST WITH STRIPES Stripes are quite a typical Italian characteristic you see in awnings. In Isola’s case, it provides a visual contrast against the strong colours we chose for the walls and floors. We used stripes again on the banquettes, complemented with the…

My biggest home comfort is my sofa. It’s big – an off-white eight-seater from Andrew Martin. Why is it so big? Well, I have a large family so it brings everyone together. And it’s incredibly comfortable, too. There’s nothing better than coming back from a long day at work and jumping on it to relax and watch TV. My colour palette at home is surprisingly minimal. My studio is colourful so that separation between studio and home is quite important for me. I want a place of calm, solace, reflection and relaxation. My walls are white, but I have colourful artwork and rugs. I basically bring in the colour through my objects. One of my favourite pieces is a pair of vintage lamps which I bought from The Old Cinema in…