Rustic Interior design fashions an eclectic look that emphases nature; simple, shabby chic, handmade, distressed furniture, made from natural materials or finished in natural colours.

The Furniture

The furniture normally is made up of wood, reclaimed lumber, and stone. But bamboo, rattan, sisal, nubby cotton, wool, paper, glass, clay and numerous types of metal can also be combined to exaggerate the look. Heirlooms, flea market finds, DIY projects, folk art, collections, found items and vintage pieces live well in rustic decor, providing conflicting textures, patterns and colours. Metal-worked furniture is another great choice to use with this idea.

The Structure

The rustic look features wooden beams and columns as well as hardwood or stone flooring. If you don’t have these rudiments in your home, it is possible to put up faux beams or columns to achieve the look

Traditional interior design imitates classic European decor. Symbols of this style usually comprise deep wood tones, architectural details, and sophisticated furnishings. This style is quite versatile and can be combined with other interior fundamentals to create a exclusive look in a room.

Traditional Interior Design

One of the most important aspects of traditional interior design is the silhouettes, also called the lines, of the furnishings. Wing-backed chairs, claw footed tables, and curved furniture pieces that imitate the 18th and 19th centuries are examples of this. Antiques are also often combined into this design style, but many companies sell new pieces that mimic the lines of the old.

Though sophisticated, traditional interior design often also highlights simplicity and comfort in its layout. Combinations of furniture and accessories are common in this design scheme. This is often done to make a feel of symmetry around a central point, such as a favourite work of art, a fireplace, or a large piece of furniture.

1. The Colour: The walls are characteristically painted neutral to visually ground the intricate furnishings. While such colours may also be used for large furnished pieces, most furniture in this type of room joins rich shades of colours like red, blue, and brown. Artwork and accessories often include more vibrant colours in a traditionally designed room.

2. The Fabrics: Fabrics often come in block colours, but many also feature patterns such as florals, damasks, or paisleys. These textiles are often luxurious materials like silk, velvet, or cashmere. Many designers consider this style to be flexible enough to also integrate more affordable and easy to care for fabrics, such as cotton or linen. Accents, like throw pillows, may then be used to combine the costlier textiles.

3. Wood: Rich tones are another key component in traditional interior design. Dark woods like cherry, maple, and mahogany are characteristically used in furniture pieces of this style. These are often carved and lacquered to give them a deluxe, sophisticated feel. Wood floors are also considered a staple for this decor, although tile and carpet are often used as well.

4. The Accents: Architectural embellishments are extensively used in this type of interior design. These can comprise elaborate mouldings, bevelled wood panelling, and complex tile and wood floor patterns. Arches, columns, and built-in cabinetry are also common features of this type of design.

Victorian interior design stems from the Industrial Revolution era which has had a major effect on design during the era, improving the affluence of the middle class and allowing them to advance and elevate the decor of their homes.

A lot of people opt for architecture and furnishings that had previously only been available to the aristocracy and the upper class. In these homes, the owners crowded as many pieces of furniture, fabrics, and accessories as possible into a room, due to both an attempt to highlight new cultural interests, prosperity, and status, as well as the fashionable belief that bareness in a room was a sure sign of poor taste.

Colours

The colours largely used for this luxury interior design style are warm and understated with soft colours on grey or cream backgrounds, deep rich walnut, and mahogany browns, black and shades of teal, plum, aubergine, mustardy yellows and golds, burgundy, rust, blue, green, and dusty hues.

Fabrics

Choose from a vast array of period imitation and vintage fabrics and trims from printed floral chintzes and toiles to silk damasks and velvets.

Patterns

Intricate patterns usually cover every surface of a Victorian home. From several wallpapers to luxurious fabrics and oriental rugs, Victorian interior design uses patterns extravagantly through the home. Patterns range from flora and fauna to geometric patterns, stripes, damasks, and more.

Furniture

Furniture is typically lavish. Superfluous excess can often be considered equal with Victorian interior design. Furniture and accessories should be luxurious and range from subtle to huge. Lavishly ornate decorations, china, lace, stained glass, flowers, busts, souvenirs, framed paintings or prints, multi-layered window treatments, richly patterned fabrics, and accessories abundant should be used generously throughout the house. Limits are not part of Victorian interior design.

Interior designers are forever searching for inspiration to better our homes to create beautiful spaces allowing us to escape from everyday life.

Table lamp

Usually with trends we think what was in fashion years ago is now retro and bold.

Contemporary Vintage

The admiration of vintage styles remains apace and the 60s and 70s are back.  Nevertheless, there seems to be a fondness for soft and subdued colours that, whilst reflecting a retro style, add a touch of modernism.

A great example of this trend is our Acanthus Nickel Table Lamp by Heathfield that brings a sculptural, decorative design finished with a black base into every exquisite interior. It’s available in an elegant and luxurious Nickel finish, so you can use it to enlighten every exquisite event of your life. Acanthus makes the difference when it comes to modernity and good taste.

The Avid Demand for LED lamps Remain

The development in LED light bulbs is such that they are now becoming almost indistinguishable from their old-fashioned tungsten equivalent.  The developments we are likely to see this year include the better ability to dim this type of bulb as well as “warm-to-dim” technology.  This means that when you dim an LED bulb, the colour of the light becomes warmer as the light grows less bright.  Factually, LED bulbs did not warm as they became less bright.

Ornamental Lighting with ‘Texture’

Improvement in technology and materials have left us to some exciting looking decorative lights. We are seeing more laser printed organic looking fixtures and shades with texture – fabric and even feathers! Lighting interior design has seen a lot earthy tones like greens and browns, reinforcing that cosy feel.

A great example of this interior design trend is this table lamp by Heathfield pictured on the right. Ariadne is inspired by old centuries’ elegance. It has a vintage design, but redefines modernism by the use of modern materials. This glass piece is mouth blown into a wooden mould and finished with a delicate Smoke lustre. You can place it in contemporary interiors; you’ll be surprised of the refined and classy note it gives to your interiors!

Trying to decorate your home by yourself can sometimes be tricky. You may find yourself often asking ‘am I doing this right? ‘when it comes to every decision. Someone with a trained eye and years of experience can easily call out some of the possible pitfalls.

Colour Choices

Colour and light and the connection between the two is a sensitive thing and they need to be sensibly well-thought-out. You must not pick the first one you like and begin. Doing this can cause major problems as the fluorescent lighting in the paint store can even alter the colour. We recommend:

• Choose three shades of the colour you like—one you believe is going to be right, one you think is a bit too light and one you think is a bit too dark.
• Put all three swatches up on your wall
• Go away
• Come back and take in the three shades
• Go away
• Come back again and repeat
• The lighting by now will have changed throughout the day. Do you still like this shade the best?
• After a day or two of this technique you will know which shade is right, and it might not be the shade you thought was going to be perfect. Even we, as experienced professionals, insist on following these steps because colour and light, and how they interrelate, are a funny thing.

Uneven Art

I’m sure you have been into a home before and noticed the present artwork is always hung too high or too low. Art is best viewed at eye level. If there are many pieces of art in one room, hang them all at the same level if you can, unless a piece of furniture is in the way. We suggest hanging art at the average women’s eye level which is said to be around 5’4.

Boring Interior Design

One of the biggest mistakes is choosing things because you believe they will go with everything or making decisions based on individual pieces rather than the overall design plan. We recommend:

• Step back and re assert the goal of the room
• How should It look?
• What is its function?
• How should it feel?
• Collect inspiration pictures and make a mood board
• Mark everything against this rather than choosing one piece at a time

This will create a unified, focussed space.

Here are some of the top trends by interior designers in 2017 for a luxurious home this summer

• Tropical Trend

Sun is a rarity in the UK, but that doesn’t stop us staying sunny indoors. Exotic designs patterned with large-fronded ferns, and quirky wallpapers full of big cats, crocodiles and mischievous monkeys, this time of year it’s all about the tropics – perfect for those looking for some exotic escapism.

We stock a tropical-meets-Africana theme wallpaper Fleurique 24 Wallpaper by Eijffinger, which features pink flowers and fabulous green stems which fits amazingly in to this theme

• Beautiful Blues

The bright cobalt blue is vibrant and almost luminous and worked so well as an accent colour last season that its stuck in to this season. Like denim, Cobalt is an easy colour to combine with so many other shades and materials, from whites and pinks to terracotta, rattan and cork – materials that are also making a comeback.

This Camo Rug by Vondom fits perfectly into this trend. Camo is short for camouflage, which is why the rug was initially designed to make it blend in wherever it is placed. But the new liquid pattern now creates the conflicting effect, standing out starkly against its surroundings. It adds an element of contradiction where it is needed. It is made of soft and UV-resistant polyethylene fibres and available in different colours.

We have enjoyed watching this shade climb to a top trend. The trend has been around for darker dramatic shades, such as Ink and Prussian Blue, for a while now, and this move towards brighter jewel-like colours such as cobalt is really exciting, as it shows a real sense of confidence and bravery. These intense rich blues are a fabulous way to create impact

• Unity: Unity is the interior designer’s idea and the honesty and thoughtfulness that is used to achieve the idea. When designing a home, it’s important to ensure the furniture and colours relate to each other. Use similar colours, patterns, lines, and shames to create unity. But do this creatively to steer away from dullness. Too much unity becomes repetitious.

• Variety: Change up your colours, shapes, patterns, and themes from toom to room, but don’t forget unity and coherence whilst doing this. The correct combination of variety and unity will create peacefulness to each space and eventually to the home.

• Emphasis: Allow each section of the room a suitable amount of emphasis. Focus attention to the most important parts and less to the others. Create focal points or hearts of interest, set against less important backgrounds.

• Rhythm: Rhythm is purely continuity. Movement and the course of rhythm will make your home come alive. This can be achieved using repetition and development. This can be done with the reputation, or lack of, in shapes, colours, and textures. Try not to repeat usual and everyday items. Steer clear from monotony by using contrasting colours, sizes, and shapes.

All homes need furniture. Yet most people find it hard to source the correct furniture for their needs. Where do you begin?

Begin with the basics. This applies to all homes, every room, and every situation. Everyone requires specific furniture items, regardless of the property you live in. For example, you will need a bed for your bedroom, a sofa for the living room and chairs.

Once you have these fundamentals in mind for each room, you can start to slim down the possibilities.

Choosing the Furniture

When you’re searching for new furniture, start by concentrating on the room it will go in and why you are purchasing it in the first place. For instance, do you want a new dining room table to replace the one you already have? Maybe a new bed is needed because you’ve never enjoyed the one you had before. Regardless of what the case is, it’s vital to learn lessons from the item you’re replacing. Possibly you’re looking for something of sophisticated quality. Possibly something bigger (or even smaller) is desirable.

It’s important that you measure the space you have before you decide to purchase anything. Do not buy if you’re not 100% sure and do not trust your instincts when it comes to size. If you see a sofa in a showroom that is large, it will appear smaller before it is squeezed into your home. Always keep your measurements close to you always.

Fashion is another significant factor to think about. While you may fall in love with an item that is presently in vogue, will it look old-fashioned in a few months from now? If so it may not be a smart decision. Ageless pieces will always look good; as such they’re a safer choice.

Is it worth spending more on your furniture?

Cost will undeniably be an important factor to think about whenever you need to purchase a new piece for your home. For instance, should you opt for a cheap oak veneer bookcase or invest in a solid oak one instead? There will be a noteworthy cost difference here but you need to bear in mind the advantages of the more expensive item when you’re confronted with many materials and choices.

Solid wood has more than a few advantages that veneers cannot provide. For instance, it appears more solid and is often heavier, providing greater stability. The shelves of a cheaper veneered unit may bow if you overload them. Equally a solid oak bookcase could take far more weight.

Avoid Impulse Buys

What we have discussed above explains how vital it is to avoid making impulse buys. Your furniture must fit your home, your sense of style and your needs in multiple ways. Impuse buys may ruin all of this.

Zehnder is a Swiss based company and has been established for over 100 years. At fci we have the pleasure of stocking their amazing interior design innovative radiators as well as sourcing others. All their pieces are designed by famous international designers and stand for a contemporary and self-conscious savoir-vivre. They merge perfectly into present lifestyles offering a variety of designs including country house, minimalistic purism, classic or colourful & modern.

Pictured here we have the gorgeous Zehnder Janda towel radiator which is both attractive to the eye and highly practical. A choice of size and colour means that this radiator will suit any application. Ease is achieved through design towels or bath robes can be easily placed on the horizontal tubes. Perfect for hanging towel as tubes are slightly curved. Made with good-looking modern design.

The Zehnder group has representatives internationally and is the European market front-runner in the creation of distinct design.

As a provider of indoor climate solutions that are comfortable and healthy and syndicate both economic practicality and energy efficiency, Zehnder works in a sector that is vital for sustainable development

Weather you feel a confident gardener or not at all, we all agree we like the garden to look good.

 Something as simple as taking a few steps to make the outside space look inviting, even for a few days of sun to appear, can lift a mood and add value to a house tremendously. Our 4 interior design tips can help you create that space easily,

1. Create an Outdoor Area

By spacing your garden furniture in a sunny corner. It depends on your space whether you have room for outside seating or larger sofas, but aim to make it as comfy as you can with cushions and fabrics. An outdoor rug will allow the space to look more inviting to remove shoes, and adding some small tables will make it accessible for drinks and snacks. Organising this area will mean you can enjoy outside even if it is only for brief moments in the sun.

2. Improve Height and Attention to Your Planting

Adding some plants will cheer the garden up instantly. If strategically placed around the seating area, guest won’t notice in the rest of the garden needs care. Add hanging plants to enhance height will create a country rustic look to match the outdoor setting.

3. Stick to a Colour Scheme

Limiting the amount of colours, you use will allow your outside space to look’ interior designed’ as opposed to ‘cluttered’. In a similar fashion as you would decorate the inside space of your home, keep two or three shades for pots, pillows and other small furnishings. In a similar way refrain from adding too many different materials. A few bright colours will perk up sun-faded wood, whilst zinc and metal objects look amazing against red brick.

4. Design Your Dining Table Set

It is always a great idea to stock up on paper napkins and romantic night lights now. I prefer to keep a box in the garage of all the summer dining essentials. This is for those unplanned, spur of the moment barbecues exclusive to summer afternoons.