Interior Trends 2011 - Re-balancing

The third aspect of interior design which will be seen this year is re-balancing – the experts believe that we, the consumers, have become tired of being constantly bombarded by marketing and are looking for products which are personal and enable us to turn our houses into homes. Within this 're-balancing' trend the emphasis is on simple structures and soft natural materials such as wool.

The keywords for spring and summer are Soften, Energize and Excite. As we saw in my last post colours are predominantly ash grey or black with vibrant injections of bright colour. These colours are being described by words such as airy, waxy and silky. The materials and fabric you choose for your soft furnishings will embrace these keywords so look for curtain materials online such as voile, silk, wool and organza. The natural materials such as wool can be used with beautifully designed floor rugs which will also help to ground your chosen colours.

When trying to re-balance the environmental issues regarding new products we'll need to consider energy consumption, disposal, waste materials and renewable fibres. Interior design is not purely about aesthetics but is about embracing the content and thinking about the style of your interior, questioning where and how products are manufactured, how you'll dispose of them and whether they'll help to lower your carbon footprint.

There's a lot to think about this year and as always interior designers are at the forefront of what's available on the market and how products and materials can be translated into our lives effectively.

Image:belle maison

Roller Blinds Remain Popular Window Dressings

The humble roller blind has seen some dramatic changes in recent years. The main focus of interior design trends is to use blinds which are made from wonderful fabrics which coordinate beautifully with the colour scheme and design style of your rooms.

The kitchen has always been a popular room to fit roller blinds due to their versatility and ease of use. To ensure you have the right colour and pattern it is even possible to make your roller blinds from kit form. The suppliers provide all of the necessary equipment such as control mechanisms and pulleys all you have to do is select the fabric!

However, with the wide range of ready made roller blinds currently available there is little need to spend time making your own! Opt for colours which create the desired effect, such as light natural colours and gingham patterns for a country cottage kitchen or a bright bold colour to team with work tops and cupboards in modern and contemporary kitchens.

The humble roller blind is not only ideal for use in kitchens, they are ideal to team with swag and tails window treatments to create a stunning and professional look to a lounge or dining area. In the bedroom opt for roller blinds which also have black out properties, particularly if you live in large towns where light pollution is a problem!

As roller blinds are available in a vast number of different widths and lengths even the smallest windows can benefit from having a blind fitted. For those who want to achieve the latest looks roller blinds which have an complete image on them such as forests, flowers or under water scenes create wonderful window treatments which transform into wall style art when pulled down.

Image: Habitually Chic

beautiful Bathroom

This beautiful bathroom has been designed by Stefano Chiocchinni in partnership with stone designers and manufactures Cappellini. Cappellini have been designing and manufacturing in stone, marble and granite for over thirty years. The visual effects of the natural stone is simply stunning.





















I adore the large circular bath made in natural Piasentina stone. The circular stone theme is continued with the matching basin and the circular structure of the shower wall and base.

The natural colours of the stone blend superbly with the white walls and light wooden floor boards. The floaty sheer curtain material adds a slightly feminine touch which compliments the hard surfaces of the stones wonderfully. Being able to catch glimpses of the outside garden makes the bathroom a unique space to relax in. giving the appearance that you are sitting in a private garden!

The different textures provide both a great visual stimulus and very tactile bathroom space. The stone work in the shower in contrast to the curtains has a more masculine look to it.

The kidney shaped stone bench fit’s the contours of the bath to continue and blend with the circular theme, while providing some very practical seating, complimenting the patterned marble basin back splash perfectly.

I also love the lighting! The beautiful glass like, droplets provides a sense of tickling water cascading down the room, while the more traditional style chandelier adds a touch of real glamour.

I am totally bowled over with this design! A practical and very useable bathroom space designed for modern living.

Image source and more information visit: Home Design Find