Interior Design Insights; Fabrics, Colours and Textures - A Mixture for Success

Written by Lynn Malone, exclusively for Luxaflex

Hotels comes home

Fortune telling is not my forte but I predict lipstick-pinked red, opulent indigo blue and cranberry-infused purple winging toward Australian shores.  Evidence at Milan Design Week 2014 and resounded as I travelled five European cosmopolitan cities seeking interior design inspirations for Luxaflex and its valued customers, these were the prevailing colours.  Not only were the colours on parade, they were presented in an array of textures and patterns.  Is this the start of something new or is it history repeating itself?

Ham Yard Hotel, London; Firmdale Hotels

Ham Yard Hotel, London; Firmdale Hotels’

I believe design trends for the homes are often debuted in edgy hotel guest room interiors.  Cases in point are the boutique hotels created by the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, iconic German fashion designer; and prolific French designer Phillipe Starck whose name-dropping moniker adorns luxury products from furniture, vehicles, lighting to homeware.  Then there is newcomer and ‘it-girl’ in the interior fashion arena, Milan-based architect Patricia Urquiola, best known for her signature collection designed for B&B Italia, leading Italian modern furniture manufacturer.

Dressed for success

Fabrics and window treatments in particular; bring softness and a semblance of comfort to a home.  Keep an eye (or two) open to observe and consider the significance that window dressings play in a home’s schematic. One of my favourite ways to bring vibrancy and intimacy to your home is with window treatments:  soft drapery fabric panels that are complimented by the functionality of window coverings that filter UV light and provide privacy. Luxaflex Duette Architella Shades using a fabric from the Elan range is my choice.  The Elan fabrics have a refined shimmer-like effect contrasted by a textural linen.  The colour spectrum goes from vibrant and bold to warm and subtle - a favourite being Frosted Mulberry.  Duette Shades enhance the aesthetics of a home; and of equally importance, serve as an efficient insulator that reduces energy costs.  

Mixology at its best
In central London, a household name in the high street design circles is hotelier and designer, Kit Kemp who along with husband Tim owns Firmdale Hotels.  The Kemps are opening their eighth London property, Ham Yard Hotel in June 2014.  Kit beautifully designed the guest rooms and suites, each individually styled, in keeping with her award winning luxurious, modern British style renowned for its innovation; and daring mix of colour, pattern and texture.  As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words so let’s take a sneak preview of the colours, patterns and textures that bring Ham Yard to life.

Ham Yard Hotel, London; Firmdale Hotels

Ham Yard Hotel, London; Firmdale Hotels

Ham Yard Hotel, London; Firmdale Hotels

Mixing at home

Ham Yard Hotel interiors are inspirational and cleverly considered but how does one achieve simpatico when mixing colours, fabrics and textures at home?  Here are my tips for successful mixology:

1. Vary the scale of the patterns
2. Mix textures  – not only colours and patterns
3. Combine fabrics – as example a decorative pillow using one pattern on the pillow front, a second pattern on the pillow back and a third fabric as cording
4. Give consideration to the pattern scale and the item that it will be applied; as example, a small pattern fabric often works well on a small chair.  That said, the contrary works too – a bold stripe wallpaper for a small room can be a winner
5. Know when enough is enough and when to stop adding to the mix