All in Colour
If you know me, you’ll know I have a penchant for gloss paint! I’ve wanted to create a red study/library/creative space/very bold room for some time, so having the opportunity to do that in my back bedroom has been a real trip! Although the box bedroom is exactly that (just over 2 meters squared pre- bookcases), I knew that designed well, the wall to wall glossy bookcases would really work in here, regardless of it’s size.
I think that’s the vibe Dulux were going for when they selected the colour of the year for 2022. This bright, fresh, subtle blue portrays optimism, joy, space and calm; all of the good things,
I’m a self confessed colour lover, and totally obsessed when it comes to discovering the right hue. But as much as I adore the process of selecting colours, choosing the exact paint can be a long, in-depth process, that I know a lot of us find quite overwhelming. But I can help you with that…
As individuals, we are intuitively drawn to certain colours, but where do we start when selecting ‘the right colours’ to decorate with, to reflect our true selves in our home? Choosing colours for the home is an overwhelming process for many of us, which could be easier if we just had a jumping off point?
The Standard, London is housed in the former Camden Town Hall Annex built in 1974 in true Brutalist style, and it’s been on my hotel wish list since it opened in 2019. With it’s jaw-droppingly cool interior, sympathetic to its 1970’s exterior, great restaurants and bars within its shell, and bedrooms with a view of my favourite building in London - I thought it was time to visit The Standard.
I came across Eleanor Bowmer’s work last year when researching independent, local businesses for my Indie Christmas Gift Guide. I quickly found myself in a rabbit hole of manic ordering when I discovered her retro inspired Christmas designs - Christmas stockings, Santa sacks, cards and wrap (and that was just for me) were fast being added to cart.
I have a thing for rugs, but I equate the researching and purchasing of rugs to the same stress involved in buying the ‘big coat’ for the winter season. Because it’s such an investment piece, it needs to be everything; durable, well-made, great value, transformative, statement, BEAUTIFUL and most importantly, work with everything you have.
Meet the brand new and fantastical LLG packaging, delivering interior samples to your door, in style. Ta-da!
It’s funny how inspiration really can come from anywhere. It’s not like I’ve been able to visit grand houses, museums or art galleries of late, like you, I’ve been making my own fun.
Wedgwood pottery is a personal favourite. Considering it’s legacy began over 260 years ago, this heritage brand is so in-line and in-tune with modern day luxury, not only with their product offering but also their branding and styling across their website and social channels. I think they’ll have the ‘New Heritage’ audience hooked.
As well as the usual ‘physical’ side of trends, in my opinion, 2020-2021, more than previous years have given rise to what I’m calling ‘emotional’ trends. These are what I believe to be the common sentiments and attitudes of the public, in terms of how we’re approaching general life, working life and home life as a result of Covid-19.
2020 just may have cancelled the ‘trend’ as we know it and for many months to come, but as the very meaning of the word trend is ‘a general direction in which something is developing or changing’, I think there’s a whole new way of looking at the direction of things, in general.
Deeper into lockdown we go, and my mid-January birthday is on the horizon. All I want to do is eat comfort food, but I’m trying to impose a health kick on myself to boost my system post festive season richness. The daily walk is helping my sanity and I’m appreciating the air in my face, even if today’s was fuzzy rain.
As 2020 gave the word ‘bubbles’ a whole new meaning, many businesses are finding themselves back within the tight reigns of Tier 3 after the second lockdown came to an end. I’ve been thinking about the businesses that I’m so used to visiting and supporting each day when working from the office, in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
This year has certainly been like no other, and a compromised Christmas is something we’ll all have to contend with when it comes to socialising and (the lack of) house hopping this year. But this same, minimal formula need not apply to your dining table, nor the joy in celebrating the festive season.
