Ahead of the September edition of Autumn Fair, which is held bi-annual at the NEC in Birmingham, I managed to snag some exclusive content from Martin Holland - winner of BBC's The Great Interior Design Challenge series two.
Martin, pictured on the left with business partner Mark Walters, will be on hand at the fair to discuss how to achieve design success for your shop interior in ten easy steps, as well as a seminar on achieving the design you want for your store.
I super excited to be attending Autumn Fair on Monday 5th September (if you're around, give me a shout) and I'll be giving you the inside scoop on my favourite homeware highlights. Beforehand, however, Martin has been kind enough to put together his top ten tips on Autumn interior trends and how to incorporate them into your home so without further ado...
1.
Throw away culture is quickly disappearing as people
are craving quality items that stem from their own shores. Look out for an
abundance of handmade and crafted goods with provenance. This spans across
several key areas, but mainly textiles and printed fabrics, ceramics, glass and
mixed media. It’s all about those unique finds that add a special touch.
2.
The global fusion look is a hot style on the interiors
scene. A mixture of tribal prints and African inspired handmade goods that ooze
pattern, texture and bohemian rustic beauty. Perfect for Autumn. Encompassing
everything from rugs, cushions and blankets to wall hangings, lampshades and
ceramics, this look will add instant warmth, depth and interest to any scheme.
3.
The descent of Autumn
doesn't mean we have to do away with greenery and flowers. It’s all about how
you style it! This season sees dark and moody florals taking centre stage, not
just in prints and accessories but in displays too. Take inspiration from
classic old Dutch Masters paintings of tulips, peonies, hydrangeas and asters
set against inky backgrounds. Faux is definitely a good way to go, so they’re
guaranteed to last throughout the season.
4.
Dark saturated colours are bang on trend and there’s
no better time to embrace them than the winter months. They instantly create a cozy
and sophisticated look that envelopes you during the colder seasons. Think rich
earthy shades; deep olives with grey undertones, smooth chocolate browns, murky
blues and charcoal greys and blacks.
Accent with punchy hits of saffron yellow and spicy reds to make your
room pop.
5.
When it comes to wallpapers it’s all about imitation.
From organic forms inspired by the natural world to faux concrete, weathered
wood cladding and hammered tin tiles, they all make a bold design statement
without the hassle of installing the real thing and evoke a sense of character
to any space.
6.
With lighting, add a little shimmer to your scheme
with fittings in soft bushed golds and brass. Look out for those with a
tarnished antiquated finish or oxidized metals and pair with warmer toned down
touches of copper. The polished look is starting to wane. If sparkle is your thing,
then look for oversized chandeliers. Play around with scale for added drama.
7.
The use of mixed materials that clash and contrast is
increasingly popular in home accessories. Opposites attract, look out for raw
concrete against delicate brushed golds, aged woods against matte finish marble
and soft smooth leathers interwoven with rough hessian twine. Juxtaposition is
the new match.
8.
The humble mosaic is making a mighty return and isn’t
just confined to beautiful wall and floor tiles. Look out for artwork and
accessories across the home, for a contemporary take on this age old art form.
Add texture directly to walls with the latest trend
for macramé. Instead of the open lacy pattern approach, opt for a bold
statement with chunky jute crochet, lots of feathers, tassels, wooden beads and
even hints of gold, black and red to create a stand out piece for any wall.
10.
With a cool crispness in the air, Autumn is the
perfect time to start nesting the home. Look out for supersize blankets in
chunky knitted mohair, tufty long haired sheepskins with ramped up texture and
cushions using hefty woven patterns. This translates beautifully into the
increasing popularity for the Danish movement of Hygge. It’s all about calm,
contentment and creating a warm place to snuggle up in front of the fire.
Perfect.
So there you have it, the key themes and trends to consider for the new a/w 16 season. Personally, I love the idea of Hygge and I think I'll do a post on that later this month, looking at ways to create a calm and warm environment to snuggle down. I hope this feature has been useful and a big thanks to Martin for lending us his expertise.
For further information on Autumn Fair - which takes place from the 4-7 September - and to register for free entry visit the website by clicking here.
Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Lauren! xx
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