Homes & Gardens

editor

I’ve just returned from Paris Déco Off, the annual fair where all the big fabric houses show their latest collections around the Left Bank, and I still have a spring in my step. Not just because the French capital always makes me feel alive with possibilities, but because of the vibrancy, colour and joy that unfurled across cloth, wallpaper, murals and rugs. Everyone seems to be going big – on colour, texture and scale – capturing a collective mood of jubilance. We’ve taken this gleeful approach to our whimsical weather-inspired decorating shoot on page 47, featuring a perfect storm of riotous pattern. Trust me when I say that the outlook is bright. This sensibility pops up throughout the issue, where a look at new-season products and ideas can’t help but raise…

news

SIGNATURE LOOK To celebrate its incredible archive, GP&J Baker has translated its most iconic designs into a magnificent collection of signature wallcoverings. All 10 wallpapers have been adapted to suit a modern interior, including this Ramayana, £125 for 10m, GP & J Baker. THROWING SHAPES Luxurious throws made from 100% merino wool are an integral part of Johnstons of Elgin’s interiors collection. Its latest offering features contemporary designs in a range of cheerful colours. Our top pick is the throws in ultramodern geometric styles. Geometric throws (above), L190xW150cm, £275 each, Johnstons of Elgin. ONE POT WONDER Tiipoi, the London-based design studio, has conceived a new cookware collection using traditional tools and methods from the remote village of Longpi, north-east India. The range, with prices starting at £19, comprises of Karipots, Karibowls and a Karipan, all…

one to watch

Q How did you begin your career in design? While studying illustration at Edinburgh College of Art, I started experimenting with clay at a ‘paint-your-own-pottery’ cafe. After graduating, I got a job as an Artist in Residence at a school where I was able to use the facilities and work with the technicians. This is where I properly explored my love for the medium and made my first collection. € Q Where do you find inspiration? I have a magpie-like approach to research and like to gather and collect imagery from a huge range of sources, as well as snapping photos of things I see out and about. The natural world is the main subject of my designs and I spend a lot of time drawing flowers and plants from life. Q What techniques…

aged to perfection

When one Australian family decided to tackle an extensive renovation of their Victorian homestead, in the Grampians region, western Victoria, they knew exactly which interior designer to call upon. Having spent her childhood on a similar working cattle station in New South Wales, Adelaide Bragg instinctively understood the need for an interior that would be both practical yet warm and welcoming. Her intuition for a fine balance between functionality and a natural, earthy elegance would ensure the redecorated interior struck the perfect chord. With children and grandchildren visiting regularly, newly reconfigured family spaces with an emphasis on functionality were key. An extension containing a large kitchen and sitting room was joined seamlessly to the house. ‘The old house had strong bones, but was tired and had been broken into many rooms…

design details

ANIMAL-PRINT SEATING If an older piece of much-loved furniture has seen better days, don’t consign it to the rubbish tip – it can easily be given a chic and modern update with animal-print upholstery. Want a special armchair? Turnbull & Thomas has a winged style, £578, or you could re-cover an old chair using Velours Leopard by Nobilis, £213m. WHERE TO SOURCE LEOPARD-PRINT CHAIRS Animal print in the home doesn’t have to be intimidating; bring the wild inside with these stylish statement chairs. CHUNKY WORKTOPS Adelaide’s client’s extra-thick Neolith worksurfaces make a bold design statement. An incredibly hardy material, Neolith is scratch-, heat- and stain-resistant. Thanks to mitred edges, a thick surface can be achieved without making the slabs too heavy for the units. Neolith has a showroom in Harlow, or try Marble &…

insider insight

MOST SUCCESSFUL PART OF THE PROJECT Adding the extension enabled a series of smaller contained rooms to be made into one large, open space. SECRET ADDRESS I love Soane Britain – every time you walk in the doors you meet with such quality and charm. It’s divine. GO-TO COLOUR Caramel – it’s so versatile, you can combine it with any hue. I use it as the warm base for my interiors. I also wear it a lot. SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT The Kravet fabric we used to reupholster the dining room chairs. It was the starting point for the whole scheme in those rooms. WORDS TO LIVE BY Stop and smell the roses. DESIGN HEROES Sibyl Colefax and John Fowler. I trained with Colefax and Fowler in my early years and believe that they are a perfect example of timeless interior…