Living Etc February 2020

When we sat down at our team planning meeting to discuss what to do with this February issue, it was unanimously agreed that a spotlight on wellness and the happy home was needed. A challenging 2019 by all accounts, plus a wet autumn folding into a cold winter, made us feel we should kick off 2020 with inspiration for creating an indoor retreat to hunker down in. Then we read John Lewis & Partners’ annual Retail Report. Its headline finding? JOMO (joy of missing out), which has replaced FOMO (fear of missing out). I can’t deny that I am very much on board. John Lewis & Partners has seen this trend reflected in the sales of products, such as linen bedding (an increase of 187%), houseplants (up 43%) and home-cinema experiences,…

1 DO-GOOD DESIGN ‘Conscious consumption’ gets a literal twist with the launch of Grace Souky’s Nourish bowls; for every one sold, the designer’s chosen charity, LATAM Freedom & Development Foundation, provides two-weeks’ worth of meals for a Venezuelan child in need. Now that’s what we call food for thought. 2 PORTUGUESE WALLS ’Tis no longer enough to have merely city-breaked in Sintra, Lisbon or Porto; bring a taste of Portugal’s tin-glazed walls home via spectacular scenic wallpapers (see Pierre Frey, pictured) and Azulejo-feel tiles (try Claybrook’s Pombaline range and Douglas Watson Studio). 3 WELLNESS WORKS 2020’s answer to the Noughties ‘health farm’? Wellness members’ clubs. New York’s The Well (right) features 18,000 sq feet dedicated to mindful movement, Chinese medicine and health coaching, while Uncommon Liverpool Street’s co-working space has meditation pods and Peloton fitness. 4…

THE HIGH-STREET HERO in season Craving a New Year digital detox? Need to make a dent in that pile of hardbacks? Then park the Sling armchair from John Lewis & Partners in your cosiest corner. Its leather-slung back and pocket-spring seat promise comfy hibernation. £699. Anglepoise Original 1227 floor lamp in Linen, £255 (johnlewis.com) JUST LAUNCHED switched on Haute hardware is the latest design obsession and Corston Architectural Detail is here to fill a gap in the market for discreet fittings and fixtures. We’re into its transparent Perspexsockets and switches, while itssolid brass offerings are made 1.5mm thin to sit almost flat against the wall. Time to get the electrician round… Clear Bronze 3G dimmer switch, £85 (corston.com) THE CRAFTED PIECE light up Porta Romana is focusing on new design talent with pieces by ceramicist Dylan Bowen, studio…

Designer Ilse Crawford and Spanish brand Nanimarquina are launching a collection made from entirely natural, locally sourced fibres, including Afghan wool, hemp, seagrass and raw cotton, with each piece geared towards achieving a feel-good home full of warmth and tactility. Expect a wall hanging, throw, rugs, cushions and, yes, a hammock – because wellbeing should always encompass putting your feet up at the end of a long, hard day. Chubi hand-knotted rug, from £960; Tapestry wall hanging, £1,380 (woven.co.uk)…

THE PATTERN act discreet Fabric house Mark Alexander has become a byword for understated luxury, no better exemplified than on its Scribe fabric from the just-launched Rhythm collection, which takes its cue from African mud cloths. Look closely at the screen-printed pure linen and you’ll see part of the pattern has been embroidered by hand. Scribe in Vellum and Indigo, £167m (markalexander.com) THE INNOVATION go for the burn Love your log-burner but worry about the CO2 contribution? Patricia Urquiola’s Wall stove for MCZ is pellet-burning, ensuring low emissions for an equally clean eco-conscience. Proving ‘eco’ doesn’t mean ‘ugly’, its sleek shape cleverly hides unsightly grilles and handles. From £3,766 (mcz.it) THE QUICK CLICK hang fire If ‘carefully curated’ and ‘easy to browse’ are your online shopping stipulations, head to digital interiors emporium Latzio. Alongside more major players like…

1 go with the flow Water is known for its soothing properties – imagine your mood during a walk by the seaside – and it’s time to bring it closer to home. Houseplants are getting wetter and wilder with Pinterest searches for ‘indoor water gardens’ up 334%. ‘Plants literally breathe life into our homes and being around them can produce feel-good effects,’ says Nik Southern, founder of florist and indoor plant specialist, Grace & Thorn. Propagating home water gardens means that pothos plants, fiddle-leaf figs and succulents take less looking after than they normally would, while greenly purifying the air around them. Take a deep breath and enjoy. 2 lighten up The crisper the colour of the light around you, the more you are able to focus, and the clean, white light of…