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Modern Heroes: SUGO Cork Rugs | Spencer Thorpe Bloghttps://spencerthorpe.tumblr.com/post/167297297744/modern-heroes-sugo-cork-rugs#_=_ Ethical design is so important in todays world. The cork tree for example is a perfect example of sustainability. Only the bark is removed for commercial use leaving the tree to continue to flourish and produce more cork. The use of cork has become increasingly popular again over the past years as more designers make use of the raw product in creatives and unusual ways. It is therefore comforting to find an emerging design brand with sustainability at its heart. SUGO Cork Rugs is a Portuguese brand who design and create beautiful floor coverings using cork. They are the only manufacturer in the world to produce this type of rug using the methods materials and techniques in a unique way. We try to stay committed to our cause by creating a product that respects the environment Susana Godinho Founder of SUGO We met with the founder of SUGO Susana Godinho to find out what sustainability means to her. IDEALIST: What does sustainable design mean to you? Sustainable design for me is based on attitudes and practices which intentionally engage social and environmental issues whilst recognizing the consequences of our decisions and actions. For me its to focus on a responsible design by using sustainable materials with the aim of reducing waste and inventing a pragmatic aesthetic that will meet tomorrows needs. Ethical Designs IDEALIST: How is SUGO CORK RUGS a radical step forward for ethical design? We try to stay committed to our cause by creating a product that respects the environment from several perspectives allied with good practices. We work closely with our local suppliers using recycled textiles or natural raw fibers such as pure wool or linen along with the cork to create a fully rounded ethical solution. Our design signature uses graphic details or color blocks in a classic type of weaving with the insertion of the cork on the rugs therefore creating a unique and innovative product. Gathering all this together we can offer the client not only a very special rug but also a versatile design piece which can either be a classic rug or a more cool and colorful one. Company Goals IDEALIST: What are SUGOs top 3 goals? The first of all is to become recognised internationally as a new brand of rugs. Next would be to work globally with the top international design offices and design stores. And the last to grow and become a worldwide rug company known not only for cork rugs but also for caring about sustainable issues. Design Inspirations IDEALIST: What are your biggest design inspirations? Well creativity comes naturally and you find it easier when you love what you create keeping in mind the performance and functionality of the product during the making of it. Most of our inspiration comes from travelling however further inspiration comes from observing objects such as tiles fabrics and focusing on the detail. People and different cultures are also always inspiring to observe and influence us in many ways. IDEALIST: Name your 3 favourite things about Portugal. I just love my little country. The more I travel the more I like Portugal. Naming just 3 favourite things about Portugal is very hard to answer. However my top three are the beauty and history found within the country the kindness of the Portuguese people and the simple fact that it is a small peaceful and quiet place on the Atlantic Ocean. Most of our inspiration comes from travelling however further inspiration comes from observing objects such as tiles fabrics and focusing on the detail. Whats On the Horizon IDEALIST: What new exciting projects do you have on the horizon? This year was very exciting with the launch of the brand. We already have many projects in hand with some of the top architects and designers in Portugal. We recently started our internationalisation process with punctual presences at international fairs such as London Design Fair. We hope that people will start to follow our progress as there are a lot of new and exciting things coming up next year. You May Also Like Get The Look: Your Complete Guide to Rugs Modern Heroes: One Nine Eight Five Modern Heroes Impression Originale All photos courtesy of SUGO Cork Rugs. The post Modern Heroes: SUGO Cork Rugs appeared first on The Idealist. from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/sugo-cork-rugs/ from The Idealist Magazine https://theidealistmagazine.tumblr.com/post/167297209898

How To Build The Ultimate Eco-Friendly House | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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Eco-friendly houses are no longer characteristic only of people with a bit extreme lifestyle who want to live in the most ecological way possible. They often choose to live in a forest or other secluded areas that provide them with everything they need, as long as their habitat and life habits are purely natural.

However, today it isn’t so uncommon to live in an eco-friendly house that doesn’t stand out from the others. In other words, it’s possible to live in a seemingly similar house as the ones in the neighborhood, which is at the same time different from them in many ways, being environmentally friendly.

So, how to build a house that is eco-friendly in any possible way? They may be looking like any other house, but there are features in it you will definitely have to plan carefully and significant changes you’ll have to bring.

Start from Scratch

Building an eco-friendly house means making a carefully thought plan, so you don’t have to do adjustments after most of the work has been done. You should opt for an airtight or “passive home“. This type of home is incredibly energy efficient, which is an aspect of an eco-friendly home. They are built in the way that they don’t leak any air or heat, which happens with regular houses that have gaps or poor insulation. Passive homes keep the heat inside, which allows you to save a lot of energy and money for keeping your home warm. There is no wasting of the slightest amount of heat. This type of home is 3-8% more expensive at the initial building but in the long run, they cost far less as they significantly reduce the amount of wasted heat. And let’s not forget the other important thing – they help in reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Acquire Alternative Building Materials

The first material that comes to mind is – wood. If you worry about deforestation and ethical issues, you shouldn’t – as long as you know the right way to source this material, you will still be taking care of the environment. And how’s that? Well, when it comes to retaining heat, wood is 40% better than regular materials such as bricks or building blocks. So, you’ll still be able to give your contribution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Another thing that’s simply fantastic is the growing popularity of wooden prefabricated buildings in South Africa – they can easily be erected and move to another place in just a couple of weeks.

If you’re looking for more alternative materials, try old newspapers, recycled denim, straw or wool – they can all be used for the insulation of your future home. Of course, testing for air tightness is still a must, as there could be some leaks.

Use Renewable Energy Sources

Our Earth’s supply of fossil fuels isn’t infinite. And the media are constantly warning us of that. It’s not just about the environment anymore – it has also become an economic issue. Energy prices are rising, so a lot of people are starting to use renewable energy sources and trying to be self-sufficient. Solar panels are an obvious choice here, as they can be used to power both the light and electrical appliances in your home. Another type of solar panels is the one that stores the heat and then provides it when needed.

Wind and hydropower depend on the area you’ve chosen to live in. If your home is going to be built on a higher windy ground, having a windmill is a perfect choice for you. The similar thing is with using hydropower – it’s best used if there’s a strong stream in the vicinity of your house or the climate brings frequent and heavy rains throughout the year.

Renovate your Home and Replace old Appliances

When you’re building an eco-friendly home, it’s important to have high-quality materials, as well as all the things in your home, including appliances. Make your environmentally friendly house also a comfortable place to live – open-space rooms, wide windows with plantation shutters to get as much light as you can and new electrical appliances. There’s no need to try to save some money on old stuff – it will cost more to replace them later. The thing with old electrical appliances is that they spend more electricity than you would pay for new ones.

Be Economical about your Water Usage

If you’re living in a rainy region, you could install a rainwater harvester and reduce the water consumption for your home and garden, and also by using premium hose reels in different lengths to minimize the water expenditure. If a composting toilet is too much of a trouble for you, then consider purchasing eco-friendly toilets that still help reduce the unnecessary water consumption, although not that much. Small tricks on saving water, such as taking a shower instead of a bath and closing the tap while brushing your teeth, are for you to study them once your home is built.

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Light and luxurious Belsize Park Gardens | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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Sunlight from the large windows streams into this three bedroom Victorian apartment in north London. Refiguring and refurbishing this space and integrating a study-come-bedroom and snug/family room was the challenge embraced by design studio Robinson van Noort, London based designers of buildings, interiors and furniture.

Let the Light In

The property’s greatest feature is the openness and light and this was the main area to work around whilst refiguring the space to fit in the extra room. By fitting a series of reclaimed 19th century partially glazed doors and screens the light flows effortlessly around the property. A clever internal window was added to the master bathroom with a roman blind for privacy above the headboard on the other side of the window.

Glass has been used in other areas such as the Murano chandeliers in the main reception area and above the dining table drawing the eye to the property’s high ceilings. In the kitchen glass has been used in a more contemporary way with a blue glass splash back on one wall and a bespoke glass fronted display cabinet in polished black metal adding an industrial look.

Mirror, Mirror

Mirrors, like the antique pine and gesso mirror above the fireplace, have a strong presence in this property helping to reflect the light and adding style and practicality. There are a mix of styles with the master bedroom hosting a 1950’s decorative brass framed Italian mirror and a modern full length mirror in the dressing area, whilst the master bathroom has twin mirrors above corresponding sinks in a luxury hotel feel.

Design Solutions

There are clever uses of space within the apartment. Behind the front door there is another large mirror with a simple shelf underneath, an otherwise unused area, and in the snug a desk has been integrated in the large storage wall. Technology, such as TVs are often a challenge to work with but in the reception room it is stored in the sourced and adapted Scandinavian cupboard.

Smart Storage

The French chest of drawers in the master bedroom were also sourced by Robinson van Noort and the kitchen units were made by bespoke joiners, painted in Little Greene’s Basalt 221. Little Greene paints were used throughout the property: Frech Grey Dark 163 and French Grey Pale 161 in the hallway, kitchen, study and reception room, Rubine Ashes 234 in the master bedroom and Tusk 237 in the master bathroom. Blue Blood from Paint and Paper was used in the family bathroom.

A Hint of Mustard

Against the backdrop of blues and greys the occasional splash of yellow really stands out. The Smith of Derby wall clock in the kitchen and the yellow roll top bath add an element of playfulness to the rooms as does the yellow chair in the study.

A clever multi-functional home has been achieved in this property whilst keeping light flooding in, however now it’s mixed with sense of individuality, style and luxury.

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All Set for an Out of this World Dining Experience | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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With the growing trend of using dark colours and details to create drama and interest within our homes, a similar statement look can also be achieved at the dining table. We love all this interstellar at The Idealist, so when we saw this new range from Diesel, we had to have it!

Diesel Living with Italian brand Seletti, have joined supernatural forces to create a Cosmic Diner range available from We Interiors this Christmas. The collection reflects both classic and futuristic elements of life in space whilst exploring the art of the table and challenging the tradition of collectible items. From salt and pepper rocket grinders to meteorite glasses with additional pieces from Made and Habitat, we’ve complied our top ten items for an out of this world dining experience.

Front & Centre

Diesel Living with Seletti’s Starman vase takes centre stage on any table and is made from fine porcelain, £58.

The Edna shade is a smoked glass pendant light shade evocative of the classic space suit helmet in the Starman vase (above). It works within all room schemes thanks to it’s elegant globe silhouette. £35 from Made.com

Setting the Table

Bardo Black table runner. Regardless of the size or material of your dining table this woven runner brings texture and interest to the table and creates a dark backdrop. £15 from Habitat.

Dishing Out

Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Pluto and Callisto Dinner Plates replicating the planets and their respective colours and surfaces. These are bold and striking key pieces from Diesel Living at Seletti’s Cosmic Dining collection, from £42.

Bask Set of 4 Round Felt Placemats in Charcoal. Placemats are an easy and affordable dining table update and very practical too. They add a natural texture whilst in keeping with the circular and planetary inspired theme. £14 for a set of four from Made.

Newbury 16 piece cutlery set will catch your guests’ attention. It adds a playful element and ties together the different colours found in space with a distinctive metallic look. £160 from Made.

Drinking In

Meteorite glasses, made with textured glass inside and a smooth outside, have a warm amber colour adding interest and originality. Small £21, large £24.50 from Diesel living with Seletti.

Adding Salt to Cosmic Dinner

Rocket salt and pepper grinders made from solid wood add a fun touch to any meal. £73.50 each from Diesel Living with Seletti.

Finishing Up

This Greta Jug brings height and stripped back design to the table. Its clean lines in classic black stoneware means it is a very versatile piece at £25, Habitat.

For a simple yet stylish platter, the round Merak at £30 is perfect. Made from powder coated aluminium it is designed to compliment the Greta Jug as featured above also from Habitat.

The secret to building a bold yet cohesive look is to mix statement pieces alongside equally well-designed basics on a dark background. With a good foundation in place, the sky really is the limit of what you place with it resulting in a versatile look that is future proof.

Diesel Living with Seletti items are available at WE Iteriors and on 0207 738 2424. Other pieces from Made and habitat.

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Making an Entrance: How to Style Your Hall | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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Think about your hallway. How does it look? Although this segue to your home can make a strong first impression, many people don’t make much of an effort to style their entryway. Entryways are the small, hallway-like entrance rooms found in many homes—also sometimes called mudrooms if you’re lucky enough to have a country pile! They serve as the greeter for all your guests and a functional spot to store things like shoes, jackets and keys.

Hallways are small rooms, though, which can make them difficult to style. The goal is to find furniture and accessories that have the right shape and add function to the room. If you’re looking to give your entryway a makeover, try some of these tips.

Your Hallway Functionality

Since this is the last room you’ll see as you’re leaving and the first you’ll see when you get home, you should design it to serve your needs at those times. Hallways are a great place to add storage for things like jackets, keys, shoes, hats and more. To further enhance your hallway’s dressing room functionality, add a small bench or table where you can sit when you’re gearing up or winding down.

You can get a little bit of both with this Avoriaz 2-drawer entry cabinet from Maisons du Monde. Its slim profile and gorgeous natural look make it a perfect entryway piece.

If you need more seating, a storage bench like this one from Spice Counter is an elegant solution that provides added storage as well.

Making the most of your hallway space

Hallways are generally pretty small, so you have to be careful not to overcrowd them. Look for space-saving furniture that fits the orientation of the room and provides more than one function. For example, if you have a long, thin hallway, you should get long and thin furniture. Other solution is to get wall hanging furniture, which will allow you to save some extra space.

You can never have enough coat storage—especially when it’s mounted to the wall. These wall hooks from Habitat give you four more spots to hang your jackets or keys, plus a small shelf on top for smaller items.

As messy as they get, drawers are a useful catch-all, especially when you’ve just walked into your home. This Bella side table from Loaf saves space while giving you a drawer and a small table top to hold a decorative piece. We know it’s designed for the bedroom, but it would look great in the hall with an antique phone on, we think!

Not All Business

Although your hallway should be functional, you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics to achieve that functionality. Make sure you add a few warm touches, such as a nice mirror and elegant lighting. Items like these not only add function to your entryway, they also make it more of a warm, welcoming entrance for you and your guests.

Now that you’ve got some neutral colours filling your hallways, it’s the perfect time to pick a rug that pops to add some colour to the room. This blue and white runner from John Lewis is a good size for hallways and adds a splash of deep blue while complementing the other neutral colours in the room.

Lighting is an important part of creating a warm, welcoming hallway that makes a statement. Top your side table off with this small tripod table lamp from Habitat. The white lamp shade and neutral wood legs make the perfect complement to the other pieces in the room.

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5 Must-Try Home Cleaning Hacks | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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Everyone loves a fresh, clean home, but who has the time for all that scrubbing, scouring, and sweeping?

With these five must-try home cleaning hacks, you’ll enjoy a cleaner home without the need to hire a maid or spend your weekends toiling away. Better yet, these cleaning hacks all use simple ingredients you already have about the house, helping you create a spotless home without spending extra on high-end cleaning supplies.

Iron Carpet Stains Out

Rather than scrubbing stubborn carpet stains with harsh chemicals and cleaners, start by soaking a piece of flannel cloth in water, then completely covering the stain with it.

Using a household iron set to high, slowly iron the flannel until it is dry and no longer generating steam. This will help to break down the stain, making it much more manageable and easier to scrub off.

Spiffy Up The Microwave

The microwave can be a real magnet for splatters, grease and grime. To keep your micro looking and smelling fresh and new, simply slice up a few whole lemons and place in a medium microwave-safe bowl along with two cups of water and a splash of cider vinegar.

Place the lemon-water-cider vinegar mixture in the microwave and heat it on high for about 10 minutes to create a blanket of steam throughout the inside. All you’re left to do is simply wipe out the inside, and you’ll be left with a spotless, grease-free micro.

Sprinkle Baking Soda On Your Mattress

Baking soda is a low-cost, all-natural product that works wonders when it comes to absorbing stale odours.

Freshen up your mattress on laundry day by sprinkling it with baking soda. Simply remove your bedding, then use a generous amount of baking soda. The longer you leave it on, the more effective the soda will be – just be sure to vacuum off all the powder before re-making your bed.

Clean Pots With Cola

With pH levels hovering around 2.8 (similar to lemon juice, wine, and vinegar) cola is more than a sweet fuzzy drink – it’s a highly acidic liquid that can work wonders when it comes to cleaning.

Instead of spending hours scrubbing burnt food and build-up off pots and pans, simply cover the bottom with a generous layer of cola, set the pot to simmer over low flame, and heat gently for an hour or so, taking care not to boil the pot dry.

Afterwards, remove the pot from the flame, let it cool, and wash as usual. Now you have a deeply clean pot.

Deodorise With Vodka

Not only is vodka perfect for making your favourite adult beverage, but it works wonders as an odourless, colourless disinfectant on fabric surfaces like your sofa, draperies, and rugs.

Try placing some vodka in a simple spritzer bottle for use whenever you need to give your fabrics a quick freshen up – in a pinch it can even help to take odours out of dry-clean only jackets, slacks, and blouses.

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The latest styles in Kitchen Tiles | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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The kitchen is the social hub in most people homes. It’s where we cook at the end of the day with our family, or where we go to unwind at the weekends. So when you’re thinking about updating or redesigning your kitchen you might be wondering what the current trends are in the tiling world so to keep your kitchen looking and feeling fresh. With that in mind, lets take a look at homeowners top five go-to’s when it comes to kitchen tiles.

Textured

This year has seen the rise of rustic and vintage aesthetics including the idea of brining the outdoors, in. Because of this, designers are loving textured tiles that can help to build sophisticated looks within a room. Textured tiles can help to add dimension to a wall and when used as a splash back in your kitchen can act as a stunning feature piece. It’s probably a good idea to avoid using textured tiles with matt finishes however, as these will make food splashes harder to get off. Opt for a textured tile with a shinier gloss finish to make wiping down easier.

Brick and Metro

Probably one you’ve noticed, brick and metro tiles are the big winners of recent years. Their gorgeously vintage yet trendy look makes them a sure-fire win for most homeowners. There are two routes you could go down when it comes to this style. A brick effect tile gives you that slightly industrial chic look that focuses on a stripped back and minimalistic look. This is great for homes wanting to bring in a rougher edge to their designs. Comparatively, metro tiles have a timeless glamour about them that works in literally any kitchen beautifully. Metro tiles are available in a huge range of colours, but iconically focus on white with a contrasting black grout line.

Pattern

Wanting to brighten up your kitchen a bit? Pattern tiles are great for splashbacks as they seamlessly create a focal point in a room thanks to their standout look. Patterns are very accommodating in terms of style. You can opt for a more traditional pattern for those country, rustic kitchens or you can look for something slightly more geometric and modern in colour for contemporary kitchens. Either way, patterns are a stunning addition as a splashbacks and afford you the opportunity to work with accent colours on a more professional level.

Geometric Shapes

Where square or rectangular tile used to hold to top spot, it seems slightly more geometric shapes are making their way through the ranks. In particular the hexagon tile, which is experiencing a surge in popularity thanks to its unique and stunning shape. The hexagon tile would also make for a nice centre piece in a room, so if you’re looking to draw attention to a vintage sink for example a hexagon tile would help to draw the eye nicely. Hexagon tiles, like metro tiles, look best when matched with a contrasting grout colour to further make their shape pop.

Mirrored Mosaics

What better way of catching the eye than with a stunning, shimmering light. Glass and mirrored mosaic tiles make excellent splashbacks thanks to their glossy finish as well as their light reflecting abilities. The finish its particularly important when looking for a kitchen splashbacks. Ideally you want a glossier finish to make cleaning easier, as previously mentioned. The mosaic is a bit more of a classic choice for a splashback, so if you’re wanting more of a traditional look and a practical function, than mirrored mosaics are your answer.

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The post The latest styles in Kitchen Tiles appeared first on The Idealist.

from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/kitchen-tiles/



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Working in Low Light: What to do Without Natural... | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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There’s really no comparison when it comes to natural light vs. artificial light. Natural light has a different look and feel to it—one that can really complement the furniture and accessories in your home. In addition to that, natural light is convenient; you don’t have to worry about flipping a light switch when you enter or exit a room.

Natural light isn’t always easy to come by, though. Depending on the orientation of your home, the trees and buildings surrounding it, and the placement of a given room, you may find it’s nearly impossible to let enough natural light into some rooms. Luckily, there are some style choices you can make to keep a low light room bright enough.

As you can see in this pic, white walls, white furniture, white doors and pops of colour all make what could be a dull corner into a modern style statement. But don’t feel limited by Eames chairs and painted floorboards. A careful choice of furniture and finish can work whatever your style direction.

Style a Room Without Natural Light

There are a multitude of techniques you can use to brighten a darker room, but most of them involve one simple concept: colour. For example, you can mix white with deep neutral colours to add some perspective and depth to the room. Combining light and dark finishes on furniture in a darker room also helps brighten things up, like with this Tatsuma desk from Habitat.

The other way to style a room with low light is to add lighting. This may seem obvious, but creating a good lighting ambience with artificial light is not that simple.

Naturally, darker rooms tend to feel a bit smaller, so add some recessed lighting into the ceiling to brighten the room up without taking up too much valuable space. This 3 arm LED light from John Lewis is nearly flush with the ceiling to keep your office feeling spacious. If you don’t want to go that far, we totally understand—John Lewis also carries a great slim shade floor lamp that will save space to make the room look more open while providing gentle, yet effective light.

To add to the mix of dark shades and light, natural wood colours, be sure to save a spot for this Long Island antique column shelf. It features black metal to help the framework stand out and a four light wood trays where you can put your books, knick knacks, or any other useful items.

You may not need a new office chair, but if you do this is a good opportunity to add some colour to your study. This orange office chair from Habitat is the perfect mix of comfortable and sleek, plus it makes a bold statement.

Finish your office off with a nice rug. If the carpet or hardwood floor in your office is dark, get something light for contrast. This cream rug from John Lewis is a good choice.

If the floor is light, pick up this steel rug to provide contrast that still looks professional and doesn’t clash with your chair.

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Get The Look: Your Complete Guide to Rugs | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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There are a lot of elements that combine to make a room whole. Your wall colour provides a basic colour scheme to work off of, and your furniture helps create a certain ambience. But probably, the best part of putting a room together is finishing it off with the perfect rug.

Choosing the right rug can be difficult, especially with the myriad choices available today. You first have to decide on size; this can be tough in larger rooms which could accommodate any rug size. You also need to choose a rug shape. There are round rugs, square rugs, rectangle rugs, and even octagon rugs. It may sound a bit confusing, but we’re here to help you master the art of rug shopping. See our favourites.

Choosing the Right Size Rug for Your Room

Finding the right rug size for your room is simply a matter of playing to the room’s strengths. Larger rooms should have larger rugs, but you should also let the shape of the room influence your decision. If your living room is long and thin, opt for a large rectangle rug that highlights the dimensions of the room. But don’t just use the room shape – use the position of the furniture to create a nice layout.

Our Guide to Rug Shapes

When it comes to finding the perfect rug for a room, shape is just as important as size. Each rug shape brings a distinct feeling to the room which you should take note of when choosing a room:

Dulux Colour of the Year 2018: How to Bring Heart... | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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The interiors world was on tenterhooks awaiting the decision from the 15th year of Colour Futures, Dulux’s internal trend research that identifies the one hero paint colour to rule them all (for the next year at least!). It took 18 months of discussion by a panel of design industry aficionados that considered current affairs, global trends and insights in order to capture the mood and tone of a nation. It was no easy feat, but Heart Wood emerged as the clear winner – a mix of smoky taupe and dusky mauve to create a muted grey heather to embody a much needed calm, warmth and sanctuary in uncertain times. In the wake of 2017’s denim drift, Heart Wood flows naturally to continue the theme of tranquility, contemplation and comfort.

Now as the dust has settled, we can begin with excitement to think about how we can actually incorporate this beautiful colour into our own homes in preparation for the year ahead. With so many looks to choose from and materials to play with here’s a rundown of our top tips on how to bring Heart Wood into your home.

Material, Textures and Objects

For an instant update, try painting your front door in the shade. A subtle nod to the neighbours that your house is the most stylish on the street, the hue is welcoming and homely before you’ve even stepped through the door.

Heart Wood was chosen with comfort in mind so it seems natural to pair with luxurious velvet and leather finishes for a look that’s both pulled together as well as snug. The pallette works well with browns, so you could opt for a traditional tan leather sofa, or alternatively as the base is a warm grey try something a little different like a velvet sofa in a midnight blue. The Nottingham from Maisons du Monde is a great value option and provides the perfect colour pairing. £629.00

Heart Wood complements all sorts of materials, textures and objects due to it’s neutral undertones. It was specifically chosen to work with warm-toned timbers as well as cherry and walnut finishes over blonde woods that are favoured at the moment. This comes together to create a cosy atmosphere that’s perfect for winter months.

Accessories

As ever, I find the easiest way to bring a new trend into your home is with accessories. Opt for cushions and throws as a simple trick to bring texture and colour to your space, ultimately creating an incredibly inviting environment. £60.00

If you’ve chosen to jump in and paint the walls then there are so many beautiful pieces that you can choose to accessorise from. Again because of the warm tones that run throughout Heart Wood, it’s the perfect complement to golds and coppers. The grey foundation also means it works with silver too – the colour really is a versatile treat!

Colour Palette

Dulux created a whole colour palette range that blends seamlessly to create a calming atmosphere. Colour combinations bring vitality to an interior that a monochromatic scheme often lacks. The warm pink in harmony with the other tones in this palette were devised to create three main themes: inviting, comforting and playful.

Inviting

This sees us using graphic borders of dark colours to frame lighter pastels in the palette. An example is using a dark mauve on architectural features like skirting boards, in combination with Heart Wood on your walls to draw the viewer in, simultaneously looking bold yet inviting at the same time. Another great way of experimenting with colour like this is to paint the inside of an alcove in different tones of the shade to create warmth and depth.

Comforting

As the winter months go on, we spend far more time at home and deserve some comfort. The best way to create this within the Heart Wood palette is to stick to the earthy tones and mochas, pairing this with natural materials and a heritage look for grown-up luxury.

Playful

The playful scheme is where you can let loose – You can even experiment with bold shapes in varying colours on your walls to add a exuberant splash and visual intrigue to your room. Definitely a more modern look that will see you well into next year.

It’s also a great idea to add pops of bright colour to counterbalance the cool calm neutral shade. This could be yellows or even reds that bring life and and energy into your space.

It’s the perfect time for Heart Wood to enter into the interior landscape – finally a warming neutral that works on so many levels with ease. Hopefully you’ve got some tips on how to bring this lasting trend into your home, but if you do take one piece of advice on board, it’s to remember this is about bringing tranquil relaxation to your home for a restful retreat from the world. Always style with this in mind and you won’t fail!

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