Using The Natural Beauty Of Wood

Natural wood remains at the top of the interior design world list of 'must haves' in both traditional and modern homes.

As you know wood comes in many different colours and sources and it is these which make each piece of furniture or home uniquely different. Nature is of course a master at providing us with coordinating colour schemes! The use of a combination of light and dark wood within the same room offers an understated touch of refinement.

If you also coordinate your soft furnishings and window dressing with one of the wood colours you can automatically create a beautiful interiors which flows and has a sense of balance and cohesion.

Dark wooden curtain poles which compliment the window casing and flooring provides an elegant look, in contrast coordinate your curtains with the colour of a chest or perhaps a bed frame and you have once again achieved balance within the room.

The same principles apply in any style of home, even those with a contemporary style will look stunning when balance and fluidity is incorporated within the room.

Bombard your eyes with an unstructured and disorganisation jumble and you'll end up with a headache! This is not to say rooms have to be dull and boring – far from it! But they should have a sense of purpose and direction.

Image: AtticMag

Patchwork Beanbag Sofa

The new ‘going out’ is staying in-a bit of a contradiction of words I admit-but with the continuing downturn in the country’s economy experts are suggesting that more and more people will be making themselves comfy in their living rooms rather than spending money going out.

Snuggle up on this great Beanbag sofa designed by Bertjan Pot. It reminds me of knitted patchwork squares made by the WI and other institutions which are turned into blankets!

The great thing about patchwork-knitted or fabric-is that you can basically use any colour combinations and textures and still arrive at an unusual design. These types of random patchwork squares mean you don’t have to adept at coordinating colours or creating symmetrical patterns. You can simply make squares and join them together to make all manner of soft furnishings. Cushions and throws would be smaller and easier beginner projects and once you have mastered the art larger projects can be taken on.

Why not make patchwork curtains? There would be no need for complicated headings as that would spoil the ‘home-made’ effect. You could use a curtain pole to either make a simple overlapped topping and slide your new curtains onto the pole. Alternatively using wooden curtain rings would give a real in trend ‘shabby chic’ appearance very effectively.

The world is your oyster so to speak! Make use of your new at home time, be inspired with bright colours which remind you of nice comforting things. An excellent way to recycle old curtains, clothes-anything you can get your hands on really. Experiment, have fun and enjoy spending time at home.

For further information and image source visit: notempire

Monoknit Chair

Monoknit Chair has been created and designed by Florian Krautli. This wonderful chair is made from polypropylene cord supplied by Seilerei Sammt.

Heat is used to make the cord shrink and harden. Due to the knit the chair pulls itself together and stiffens. This process forms the construction aspect of the chair, however, the seating part stays untreated. ‘The chair is not only easy to produce, but also easy to recycle‘.

I love the shabby style appearance of this chair. It looks comfortable and the ideal place to sit and unwind (excuse the pun!) with a cup of coffee and a book. Great for the latest in-trend ‘shabby chic’ interior design styles, with their mix and match materials where virtually anything goes as long as it looks ‘used’ and coordinates in a hap-hazard sort of way.

There is something almost endearing about this chair. Monoknit chair would look great in bedrooms with a Victoria design style. I think there is a real ’motherly’ feel to its appearance, it would make an unusual yet practical chair for use in a baby’s nursery as it has an almost ’grandma made’ look. Maybe that’s why it looks so inviting? Curtains ‘knitted’ in the same white cord and hung from a wooden curtain pole would be ideal for keeping a room shaded and cool in the summer! A great use of materials which provide a beautiful chair with a built in appearance of a throw casually placed over it.

For more information visit www.kraeutli.com
Image source: farm4