Tuesday 14 September 2010
Wednesday 8 September 2010
Monday 17 May 2010
The Vintage Look
You only need to look through any design magazine to see that Interior design is as much about creating a lifestyle as co-ordinating objects and furniture that just match.
There is a huge trend towards nostalgia in design; a longing to return to the days when afternoon tea meant home baked scones with homemade strawberry jam enjoyed on pretty bone china, maybe even with a doiley or two!, rather than a cup of instant coffee and a kit-kat! A time of home-making rather than home-breaking, when family mattered, when the simple things in life were valued, instead of the latest computer game.
When i saw this new tile collection from Welbeck it made me positively well up with nostagia! I was back to making Laura Ashley patchwork quilts, sat in my old Aunt Nancy's scullery in Wales, who's bedroom wallpaper was big blown roses that, as a small child, i could see scary faces in! Memories of the smell of wood being stoked in the range and fresh baked Welsh cakes.
Now, of course, this won't be for everybody. The modernists amongst us who love clean sharp line and minimalism will not be jumping up and down with enthusiasm, but for those of us who LOVE Cath Kidston, Cabbages and Roses, Kate Forman and the like, this will get our kettle's whistling!!
These tiles would be just as at home used in traditonal cottage lavatories as a splash back, or in country kitchens behind the Aga mixed in with a dresser heaving with Emma Bridgewater china, wild flowers in a crackle glazed jug, ticking blinds and old mismatched chairs and a painted table.....creating a lifestyle? You bet!
For more information on this gorgeous new collection please email me on alison@alchemyofdesign.co.uk.
Tuesday 13 April 2010
Bath Life Magazine
Do you have a dark and dingy hallway and need advice on making it seem larger?
Have you seen a beautiful lamp in a hotel but don't know where to find one like it?
Does your room need updating but don't know where to start?
Are you trying to find the right rug to co-ordinate wth your curtains, but just can't match the shade?
Alchemy of Design has just been appointed the new "interiors agony aunt" for Bath Life Magazine so please write to us with all your interior dilemmas and problems.
We hope, over the months, to become a one stop resource for all your questions and queries and are very excited to be involved with Bath Life to offer this service. Our years of experience in the world of interiors, plus having our finger on the pulse of all that is new, gives us the ability to answer and help solve most of your home styling or refurbishment difficulties.
Please e-mail me if you have anything you think we can help you with, and even if it seems an impossible request and you think we can't, give us a go anyway!
alison@alchemyofdesign.co.uk
Have you seen a beautiful lamp in a hotel but don't know where to find one like it?
Does your room need updating but don't know where to start?
Are you trying to find the right rug to co-ordinate wth your curtains, but just can't match the shade?
Alchemy of Design has just been appointed the new "interiors agony aunt" for Bath Life Magazine so please write to us with all your interior dilemmas and problems.
We hope, over the months, to become a one stop resource for all your questions and queries and are very excited to be involved with Bath Life to offer this service. Our years of experience in the world of interiors, plus having our finger on the pulse of all that is new, gives us the ability to answer and help solve most of your home styling or refurbishment difficulties.
Please e-mail me if you have anything you think we can help you with, and even if it seems an impossible request and you think we can't, give us a go anyway!
alison@alchemyofdesign.co.uk
Tuesday 30 March 2010
Special Offer
We are currently working alongside some of the countries top Estate Agents in Somerset providing a free one hour interior design consultation to people just moving home.Finish unpacking your boxes, set up home, and then call us in!
Maybe this is a new style of property for you and you don't know how to make it work?
Maybe your previous efforts at decorating have not turned out as you had hoped?
Do you have a vision for your new home but don't know how to achieve it?
We will come along, and free of charge for one hour, will offer advice on paint colours, lighting, updating soft furnishings, ideas on window treatments and general tips on how to achieve a co-hesive look.
If you have just moved and didnt receive one of our promotional leaflets don't worry - please email Alison on alison@alchemyofdesign.co.uk and we can have a chat to see if we can be of assistance to you.
Maybe this is a new style of property for you and you don't know how to make it work?
Maybe your previous efforts at decorating have not turned out as you had hoped?
Do you have a vision for your new home but don't know how to achieve it?
We will come along, and free of charge for one hour, will offer advice on paint colours, lighting, updating soft furnishings, ideas on window treatments and general tips on how to achieve a co-hesive look.
If you have just moved and didnt receive one of our promotional leaflets don't worry - please email Alison on alison@alchemyofdesign.co.uk and we can have a chat to see if we can be of assistance to you.
Thursday 4 March 2010
Updating our living spaces.....written for Somerset Life
In this environmentally aware age when we are making more informed choices about how we spend our money we are less likely to chose to begin again from scratch with our interior decorating schemes and more inclined to revitalize our homes through the use of carefully chosen soft furnishings and accessories.
Through all the inspirational media that now surrounds us we are far more aware of how it is possible to inject our unique character and style into our living spaces through the use of carefully chosen soft furnishings and accessories, but sometimes, with all the choice available to us, it can be confusing to know where to start.
The first step in updating our homes must be to step back and look at what we already have. So, using the living room as an example ask yourself is the furniture working for us? Is it still in good condition? Is it comfortable and fits the space well? If the answer is yes to these questions but you still want to up-date the look of the room then re-upholstery or loose covers should be taken into consideration. It is often surprising to find that the cost of re-upholstering can be almost the same as investing in a new piece of furniture, but when we have already taken the time and effort to find the right pieces to fit the space, they are good quality and still comfy, then it makes far more sense to update them, and as conscious consumers, more sense to the environment as well. When you are selecting new fabrics try to pay attention to some of the amazing eco fabrics that are available now. Fabrics that have been produced in this country, produced with greener living in mind, or made from exciting new sustainable fibres, such as nettles, corn and bamboo. It is now possible to create balance by working in harmony with your beliefs and your lifestyle whilst still retaining a luxury feel.
If you have neutral basics then changing the colour of your interior accessories is often considered the best to way to revamp the look of a room; a good design tip is to limit yourself to no more than three colours, and to use fabrics of different scales and textures, mixing small and large checks, wools and linens for example. Cushions, ….loved by women and misunderstood by men, are a great way of doing this! They are part of the style makers - the crucial elements that finish off a room perfectly. Don’t limit yourself to what is available off the shelf…find a good local workroom and source your own fabrics, maybe mixing vintage textiles with crushed velvets in jewel colours, or dust off your sewing machine and get creative!
If you are tired of your curtains but fancy a new look then add some jewellery! Pick a colour from the fabric and trim the leading edges with funky bobbles or elegant beading, add a plain silk or linen blind behind them in a strong colour, invest in some of the new wonderful tie-backs made from beads or feathers that are now available and you have created a whole new look without spending a fortune.
There are fabulous new lamps and lampshades easily sourced now; another great way of updating and adding a new colour. Beautiful coloured glass bases, or gloss black with shades lined in contrast coloured silks, or silver and gold, can be real statement pieces, and if your base is looking a little tired, but you cant afford to change it, then get out your brushes and paint it.
Our bedrooms should be our personal haven and sanctuary from the outside world and the colours you pick here should really create this feeling. When you wish to change the look of your bedroom, consider adding a wall of wallpaper behind the bed, or paint the wall an atmospheric colour. Be inspired by boutique hotel styling and invest in a large scale headboard covered in a luxurious fabric such as suede, or one of the new metallic cloths that subtly catch the light. Add some glamorous beaded cushions and a silk and velvet throw over the end of the bed, and you will have created a sumptuous and inviting space to relax into at the end of the day.
Remember also to work with the seasons to inspire you in your creations. Swap rich paisley throws in the winter for loose linen covers in the summer; tartan fringed cushions for summer ticking.
Above all have fun and don’t take it too seriously. The best interior schemes look as if they have evolved from much cherished items collected over the years rather than put together all from one co-ordinated look book.
Through all the inspirational media that now surrounds us we are far more aware of how it is possible to inject our unique character and style into our living spaces through the use of carefully chosen soft furnishings and accessories, but sometimes, with all the choice available to us, it can be confusing to know where to start.
The first step in updating our homes must be to step back and look at what we already have. So, using the living room as an example ask yourself is the furniture working for us? Is it still in good condition? Is it comfortable and fits the space well? If the answer is yes to these questions but you still want to up-date the look of the room then re-upholstery or loose covers should be taken into consideration. It is often surprising to find that the cost of re-upholstering can be almost the same as investing in a new piece of furniture, but when we have already taken the time and effort to find the right pieces to fit the space, they are good quality and still comfy, then it makes far more sense to update them, and as conscious consumers, more sense to the environment as well. When you are selecting new fabrics try to pay attention to some of the amazing eco fabrics that are available now. Fabrics that have been produced in this country, produced with greener living in mind, or made from exciting new sustainable fibres, such as nettles, corn and bamboo. It is now possible to create balance by working in harmony with your beliefs and your lifestyle whilst still retaining a luxury feel.
If you have neutral basics then changing the colour of your interior accessories is often considered the best to way to revamp the look of a room; a good design tip is to limit yourself to no more than three colours, and to use fabrics of different scales and textures, mixing small and large checks, wools and linens for example. Cushions, ….loved by women and misunderstood by men, are a great way of doing this! They are part of the style makers - the crucial elements that finish off a room perfectly. Don’t limit yourself to what is available off the shelf…find a good local workroom and source your own fabrics, maybe mixing vintage textiles with crushed velvets in jewel colours, or dust off your sewing machine and get creative!
If you are tired of your curtains but fancy a new look then add some jewellery! Pick a colour from the fabric and trim the leading edges with funky bobbles or elegant beading, add a plain silk or linen blind behind them in a strong colour, invest in some of the new wonderful tie-backs made from beads or feathers that are now available and you have created a whole new look without spending a fortune.
There are fabulous new lamps and lampshades easily sourced now; another great way of updating and adding a new colour. Beautiful coloured glass bases, or gloss black with shades lined in contrast coloured silks, or silver and gold, can be real statement pieces, and if your base is looking a little tired, but you cant afford to change it, then get out your brushes and paint it.
Our bedrooms should be our personal haven and sanctuary from the outside world and the colours you pick here should really create this feeling. When you wish to change the look of your bedroom, consider adding a wall of wallpaper behind the bed, or paint the wall an atmospheric colour. Be inspired by boutique hotel styling and invest in a large scale headboard covered in a luxurious fabric such as suede, or one of the new metallic cloths that subtly catch the light. Add some glamorous beaded cushions and a silk and velvet throw over the end of the bed, and you will have created a sumptuous and inviting space to relax into at the end of the day.
Remember also to work with the seasons to inspire you in your creations. Swap rich paisley throws in the winter for loose linen covers in the summer; tartan fringed cushions for summer ticking.
Above all have fun and don’t take it too seriously. The best interior schemes look as if they have evolved from much cherished items collected over the years rather than put together all from one co-ordinated look book.
Wednesday 10 February 2010
Interior design, Feng Shui and the environment
We no longer live in a society where we feel comfortable with throwing out the old to make way for the new. We are interested in minimizing our environmental impact and we all want to save money. The throw away society has moved over and in come the conscious consumers who are interested in ethically sourced goods made from sustainable materials with eco-credentials in mind.
We are all aware of recycling and re-using and making more informed choices about how we spend our money but we still want to surround ourselves with beautiful things and update our homes whilst supporting the well being of the planet.
As we enter the new decade many household names in interior design have invested money in coming up with solutions that support our new world view and can now offer real alternatives that use approved non metallic dyes, natural water supplies and green electricity, but they can be hard to find.
Our homes also now have many purposes. We all entertain more, we spend time relaxing with the family, many of us work from home and we all need a good nights sleep! How can we achieve all of the above and at the same time revitalize our rooms so they are doing the variety of things we need them to do, without spending a fortune.
There are many ways of up-dating the look of a room but take that one step further and consider if through making a few simple changes you can alter how you and others feel and act when you are in that room; comfort depends on far more than just squashy cushions and good lighting.
Through using the ancient principles of Feng Shui translated to suit the 21 century, and indulgent yet responsible interior design, it is possible to create an environmentally aware home that energizes us, that may increase our prosperity, that will offer us a calm and peaceful nights sleep and inspire us to live at our best potential.
Feng Shui in the past has been associated with making changes to our homes that we are not all comfortable with and don’t fit with our sense of style; wind chimes in the hallway, or money frogs by the front door are just not everyone’s cup of tea! However, it is possible to create the changes you want using colour, texture, shape and placement and this is where interior design plays an equally important part.
By working with what you have, changing its colour through decoration or re-upholstery, using one of the many new fabrics that have been produced in this country so do not come with air-miles attached, or made from exciting new sustainable fibres, such as nettles, corn and bamboo, it is possible to create balance by working in harmony with your beliefs and your lifestyle.
We are all aware of recycling and re-using and making more informed choices about how we spend our money but we still want to surround ourselves with beautiful things and update our homes whilst supporting the well being of the planet.
As we enter the new decade many household names in interior design have invested money in coming up with solutions that support our new world view and can now offer real alternatives that use approved non metallic dyes, natural water supplies and green electricity, but they can be hard to find.
Our homes also now have many purposes. We all entertain more, we spend time relaxing with the family, many of us work from home and we all need a good nights sleep! How can we achieve all of the above and at the same time revitalize our rooms so they are doing the variety of things we need them to do, without spending a fortune.
There are many ways of up-dating the look of a room but take that one step further and consider if through making a few simple changes you can alter how you and others feel and act when you are in that room; comfort depends on far more than just squashy cushions and good lighting.
Through using the ancient principles of Feng Shui translated to suit the 21 century, and indulgent yet responsible interior design, it is possible to create an environmentally aware home that energizes us, that may increase our prosperity, that will offer us a calm and peaceful nights sleep and inspire us to live at our best potential.
Feng Shui in the past has been associated with making changes to our homes that we are not all comfortable with and don’t fit with our sense of style; wind chimes in the hallway, or money frogs by the front door are just not everyone’s cup of tea! However, it is possible to create the changes you want using colour, texture, shape and placement and this is where interior design plays an equally important part.
By working with what you have, changing its colour through decoration or re-upholstery, using one of the many new fabrics that have been produced in this country so do not come with air-miles attached, or made from exciting new sustainable fibres, such as nettles, corn and bamboo, it is possible to create balance by working in harmony with your beliefs and your lifestyle.
Wednesday 20 January 2010
Colour and Feng Shui
Welcome to Alchemy of Design’s monthly blog. I shall be writing each month to keep you in touch with current design and colour trends and tell you about new products out on the market that we are working with.
Our Christmas break was somewhat extended due to the snow, but we are now looking forward to an exciting year ahead, and for many it is the time when our thoughts turn to re-decorating and revamping our homes. In this cold grey January light we want to surround ourselves with colours that are uplifting and cosy as this really is the time of year when our homes are our refuge from the outside world.
So, the decorator is booked and you have made various trips to the diy shops buying sample pots, have numerous colour samples on the walls but just can’t imagine what the colour will look like or if it will work in the space?
There are many rules about colour – throw them all out! Dark colours can be used in small spaces and don’t always make them look smaller, contrast painted woodwork really can work well if the correct tone is selected and ceilings do not always have to be white!
When we are called into a home to help with the selection the first thing we consider is what else we are working with; are we co-ordinating with existing furnishings or are new ones being sourced. If the whole room is being re-done our advice will always be to choose the fabrics first. It is far easier to choose paint colour to work with fabric than the other way round, even if the scheme is going to be neutral. There are so many shades of white these days, some yellow based, some pink based etc that it really can be an expensive mistake to ask your decorator to paint in a neutral tone before you have made decisions on everything else in the room.
Another great misconception is that neutral colours will always make the space seem calmer, or larger. Based on the principles of Feng Shui that we incorporate into our design process it is proven that it is not the pale shade of the colour that gives the effect but the base colour that is chosen. Through using these principles you can still create a calming scheme but with colours that will feed and nurture you rather than drain the room or its inhabitants!
Wallpaper has massively increased in popularity over the past couple of years. We started seeing the return of big bold patterns used for one feature wall. Now we are all getting brave again and, with the right choice, wallpapers can offer a fantastic backdrop to really pull together a whole room scheme, whilst at the same time not overpowering the room. There are some really exciting new designs coming out; just call us and tell us the kind of thing you are looking for and we will happily send you samples.
Our Christmas break was somewhat extended due to the snow, but we are now looking forward to an exciting year ahead, and for many it is the time when our thoughts turn to re-decorating and revamping our homes. In this cold grey January light we want to surround ourselves with colours that are uplifting and cosy as this really is the time of year when our homes are our refuge from the outside world.
So, the decorator is booked and you have made various trips to the diy shops buying sample pots, have numerous colour samples on the walls but just can’t imagine what the colour will look like or if it will work in the space?
There are many rules about colour – throw them all out! Dark colours can be used in small spaces and don’t always make them look smaller, contrast painted woodwork really can work well if the correct tone is selected and ceilings do not always have to be white!
When we are called into a home to help with the selection the first thing we consider is what else we are working with; are we co-ordinating with existing furnishings or are new ones being sourced. If the whole room is being re-done our advice will always be to choose the fabrics first. It is far easier to choose paint colour to work with fabric than the other way round, even if the scheme is going to be neutral. There are so many shades of white these days, some yellow based, some pink based etc that it really can be an expensive mistake to ask your decorator to paint in a neutral tone before you have made decisions on everything else in the room.
Another great misconception is that neutral colours will always make the space seem calmer, or larger. Based on the principles of Feng Shui that we incorporate into our design process it is proven that it is not the pale shade of the colour that gives the effect but the base colour that is chosen. Through using these principles you can still create a calming scheme but with colours that will feed and nurture you rather than drain the room or its inhabitants!
Wallpaper has massively increased in popularity over the past couple of years. We started seeing the return of big bold patterns used for one feature wall. Now we are all getting brave again and, with the right choice, wallpapers can offer a fantastic backdrop to really pull together a whole room scheme, whilst at the same time not overpowering the room. There are some really exciting new designs coming out; just call us and tell us the kind of thing you are looking for and we will happily send you samples.
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