Living Etc June 2022

A wise colleague once told me that life was not about waiting for summer. This was in the middle of January, reminding me to bake cinnamon rolls, hunker down, make the most of now and not yearn for the future. And she was right. Yet this year I’ve been desperate for summer to arrive. That feeling of long lunches, longer days and even longer glasses of iced tea. Slubby linen, bowls of peaches, floors cool underfoot – all the ways design and decor can help you to relax. I don’t think I’m the only one. Just back from Paris Déco Off, where major international design houses were showing their latest collections, the biggest trend was for fun. Daring colours, exciting prints, a sense of why on earth not? From the animal-themed…

Wickerwork, the art of weaving with natural rattan, reeds and certain bark material, is quietly but firmly back on the design map. And not before time. As people seek out products which hold a story and that carve a sustainable stance in the interiors marketplace, wickerwork pieces offer both elements of chic status and eco-friendly ethos. From high end to high street, it’s making its mark. 70s VIBE Le freak, c’est chic! With a full-on retro 1970s look and great price tag, we think this gorgeous rattan chair offers up a real interiors steal. It’s the linear, angled backrest that really does it for us. It arrives flat-plack but is easy to put together and just think how cool you’ll look lounging in it. Rattan lounge chair, £149.99, H&M Home SWEET DREAMS Offering up…

These striking rugs have all been designed to own the floor. Not only do most have an eye-catching print, they’re also shaping a new outline in design, quite literally, as they all sport an unconventional silhouette. Whether you’re going curv y, geometric or angular, these designs offer some ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking – and we’re ready to embrace it. FLOOR ART Designer Denis Guidone took inspiration from the changing seasons for the organic shape of this beauty. So, if you were wondering how to make a room with a garden outlook a little more special, this, we suggest, is your solution. Natsu rug, £1,265, Denis Guidone for Ligne Roset DIAMOND CUT With its obtuse angles, this rug by Dainelli Studio for Gallotti&Radice is made of a single colour (either grey, white, or rose pink) – however,…

Designers are demonstrating how a more relaxed style of seating can combine the comfort factor and everyday practicality with high-level refinement and ultimate style desirability. It’s the Italian designers, of course, who are leading the way with this look – and giving us reason to start shopping……

INTO THE BLUE Lalique is regarded as one of the biggest names in the world of artful, handcrafted crystal design. Now on our lust list is the Mossi vase (a flagship Lalique piece first designed by founder René Lalique himself in 1933) in the new Blue colour. Mossi vase, £2,250, Lalique AQUA FAN The depth of colour in the Lume tiles by ceramic and porcelain specialist Marazzi is something to behold. The tiles have subtle colour differences and a lovely patina, so they will most definitely bring rich tones to a splashback. There are several colourways, but we think this one is absolutely beautiful. Lume tiles, price on request, Marazzi SURFACE SHIMMER Named after the spiky plant, the Yucca wallpaper design from Sanderson offers a striking pattern for walls. Using special surface inks, it shimmers…

To say multidisciplinary designer Luke Edward Hall keeps busy is an understatement. As well as working on interior design projects, he also exhibits his artwork with an Athens-based gallery and regularly collaborates with ceramic, porcelain and fabrics companies. Now he has turned his distinct whimsical and colourful style to Chateau Orlando, his new clothing and lifestyle brand. We caught up with him to discover more… What was the inspiration behind your first clothing collection, Postcards from the Castle? I love knitwear and have a big collection of vintage pieces so we have kicked off with a knitwear collection for spring. My vintage pieces inspired our boxy shapes and oversized collars. The collection was inspired by an imaginary trip to a medieval castle and its garden, as well as my own garden at…