Living Etc August 2020

This chapter in history could be called the chapter of home. One of the things I have loved about lockdown has been the renewed focus on how and where we live. Stopping chasing meetings, writing lists and catching planes has given many of us the time/bandwidth to appreciate our spaces. (Of course, I appreciate how lucky I am to have been unaffected in any major way.) For me, home has been a true source of brightness in the bleakness (along with stylist Alex Eagle’s so-named Spotify playlists that I’ve been listening to on repeat). I hope you love the vibrant design ideas in this issue, from the standout bedroom schemes to our round-up of colourful accessories for a simpler refresh. And just as the spotlight has shifted onto our homes, it’s…

1 BREAKFAST Now back as the most important meal of the day, purely for the indulgence. Order a Breakfast Box from 26 Grains; try The Good Egg’s Chocolate Tahini Babka kit; or buy Matilda Goad x Matches Fashion tableware (pictured). 2 GREEN MARBLE Making a name for itself in bathrooms, where you’ll need little more to achieve spa-like serenity. The best applications we’ve seen include a powder room by Flack Studio and Alternative Bathroom’s so-convincing-you-might-think-it’s-real Aqualunae wallcovering (pictured). 3 CHINTZ 2.0 If nostalgia best sums up the current interiors mood, then chintz is the print of the moment. And while you can’t beat Colefax and Fowler (check out its Jardine line, pictured), try both Ottoline and Cole & Son for more graphic iterations. 4 WAYNE PATE The DJ/graphic designer turned art sensation yielding admiration by way of…

THE SEASONAL BUY the heat is on Keeping it simple when it comes to garden furniture is no bad thing, and with Emu you can expect classic styles that will stand the test of time. Try its Maple Red colourway to bring a little terracotta-feel baked warmth to English gardens that might otherwise be lacking in heat. Star Relax sofa, £430; Star Relax lounge chairs, £254 each; coffee table, £192 (nunido.co.uk) THE IN BRAND astro lighting Illumination with a slightly left-field appeal is the draw at Astro Lighting. And on its Halftone wall light the fun lies in its translucent acrylic discs – each with an etched pattern - that allow the wall behind to remain visible when the light is on or off. It’s a fine example of designer Riley Sanders’ pursuit of ’purity…

decorative vases Sculptural forms that will score serious style points, with or without flowers…

Beeswax candles in Pistachio and Dusty Blue, £42 for six, Matilda Goad pleats please Channel the SS20 catwalks via delicate folds and fluting for a look that’s both playful and powerful…

hot seats Smart chairs for work and for play CRUSHING ON seasonal serveware Ceramics are, quite literally, blooming to life this season with floral pieces from artisan makers all celebrating nature’s finest creations. Rachael Cocker’s bold, gestural style has been translated to plates and platters via freehand slip decorating – the process also favoured by Katrin Moye, whose wheel-thrown ceramics are an ode to English delftware and the Bloomsbury aesthetic. For a more modern feel, look to JJ Martin, whose Milanese brand La DoubleJ offers porcelain plates stamped with gloriously colourful prints and 18K gold trims. Ceramics, from top, left to right: White Flower and Grey Flower plates, £75 each, Rachael Cocker at The New Craftsmen. Wildbird plates, £220 for six assorted, La DoubleJ. Siirtolapuutarha plate (underneath), £26, Marimekko at Heal’s. Berry Wreath platter, £250,…