Here is what Kelly has to say about hers designs-my chairs are individually sourced vintage pieces, each with its own unique charm. The personality of every piece is rediscovered by painstakingly and lovingly choosing an exciting collection of fabrics to create unique pieces with newfound splendour. The fabrics range from vintage to designer including  Kenzo, Zoffany, Liberty, Andrew Martin, Designers Guild, Osborne & Little, Lorca, Mulberry – an eclectic mix with exciting and surprising contrasts.

Kelly Swallows

Picture credits: Fashion pics, nymag.com; White curtain, woodnotes;.Stacked fabrics, Baileys Home;Wardrobe & vases, Raft; Door stop, Plumo; Cushions, Cushionlab & Modus Interiors

Credits: Fashion model, Mary Katrantzou for EnglishVogue; Face cushions, c/o If it’s Hip it’s Here; Chinaware, Habitat; Louis chairs, Teo Jasmin c/o Fresh Home; Lamps, Plumo; Digital wall print & chair illustration, Max55

Knowing what to buy can be a tricky task as there is so much to choose from.  You also have to try and work out the measurements.   Over the next few weeks we will be looking at various styles, offering you the chance to win your own set of curtains  as well as publishing a genius step by step video from The Natural Curtain Company showing you how to measure up for curtain tracks, curtain poles and roman blinds…we hope you enjoy the features.

The above images are from Luxaflex, they have a huge selection of Roman blinds which are suitable for any room in the home.  I particularly like the pleated blinds above as they maintain privacy while still allowing in some light.  If you’re looking for a blind with an elegant pattern then the design below may be a good option.  The blinds are from The Natural Curtain Company. The pattern itself is fairly traditional and yes it look beautiful as a back drop to this modern livingroom.

The image below is from a company called Hillary’s The owner has carefully picked out the colours from the blinds and carried them through to the accessories adding colour to an otherwise plain white room.  The advantage of  this is that it can be updated relatively easily and cheaply As I mentioned in a previous feature, the golden rule when decorating is to use a maximum of two colours otherwise it starts to look too busy.

The Natural Company sell blinds, curtains and ready mades and have a fantastic selection at reasonable price’s.

If you have a fairly neuatral colour scheme in your livingroom then the curtain style above would work really well.  The light cream fabric contrats well with the dark wooden floor and creates a soft frame for the large sash windows.

I really like the image above as they have used the roman blind as the main feature of the room and then integrated the design in to the room using a cushion in the same fabric.

The basic rule to apply when decorating is to stick to a maximum of two colours (you can use various shades of this colour within the scheme) and then introduce a third texture for the furniture.  In this image they have used glass but white high gloss or modern dark wood furniture would have worked equally as well.  You can buy all the items in store now.

Another example of brights with the Manderley collection from Romo.  Here the sofa has been used as the main statement in the room and everything else around it has been kept fairly plain.  Choosing a vibrant feature piece of furniture is always a good starting point when decorating a room as you can build the colour scheme around it.

The above scheme, Tiverton collection from Romo, is a little softer, opting for calm hues of blue, grey and cream combined with dark wooden furniture.

I love all the elements in this picture.  The chair and cushions are from House of Fraser, for a similar style chair click this link….it’s reduced from £1,000 to £699! I have to say I want one!  I have always longed for a distressed leather tub chair for my living room.  It makes you want to snuggle in with a good book and a glass of red wine; all that’s missing is the log fire!  Interestingly, I have seen the wallpaper a few times now and It’s great way to create interest in an otherwise dark corner of a room..  If you can’t afford to have a separate library then why not opt for the wallpaper instead!  You can purchase a similar style from Deborah Bowness, she has a whole host of designs, all of which are very individual.  The simple deep grey paint colour on the walls makes a perfect backdrop to the  textures of the leather chair and the busy pattern of the wallpaper.  Altogether a stylish and creative combination.

]]> http://www.pippajamesoninteriors.co.uk/2009/interior-styling/style-ideas-for-living-rooms/feed/ 0 http://www.pippajamesoninteriors.co.uk/2009/design-post/rugs-to-suit-all-tastes/ http://www.pippajamesoninteriors.co.uk/2009/design-post/rugs-to-suit-all-tastes/#comments Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:00:24 +0000 pippa http://www.pippajamesoninteriors.co.uk/?p=1851 We have recently published a feature on carpets which we hope you found useful.  To continue with the flooring theme, we are going to look at rugs.  We have tried to cover all styles, shapes and budgets so we hope there will something that takes your fancy.  As always, if you are looking for something in particular then please just email us with your request (blog@pippajamesoninteriors.co.uk) and we will try to help.  Also, feel free to comment  at the bottom of the article to let us know which was your favourite style of rug…

Credits: Image 1, Lifestyle Bazaar: Image 2: Crucial Trading, image 3: Crucial Trading, image 4: Alternative Flooring Company, image 5:Rude Rugs, image 6: Fairwind, image 7: Fairwind, image 8 Rug Designer, image 9 Rug Designer, image 10 Rug Designer, image 11 Rug Designer.

Wall Murals

The image is by Rockettsgeorge

Bold wallpapers, mural stickers along with transfers; I began my search mainly because I love this idea to spruce up an existing room, and was astounded at the variety and amount of websites that sell them. It is evident that the diversity is due to taste in imagery and art, here are a few of my personal favourites:

Mural stickers give you the freedom of expression to decorate your home as if it were a blank canvas, choose your style and not be confined to the borders of a frame. Instead you frame your bed with a mural or you have cheeky, unexpected little ones hiding behind the coats. So if you’re not braving the paint brushes just yet, try a sticker instead.  Below are a list of my favourite sticker companies:

Wall Glamour
Rockett St George (image 2)
Super Nice (image 3)
StickyUps
Stickhet (image 4)

Wall Nutz
Deco Sticks
Please feel free to comment on your favourite ones!
Feature written by: Elizabeth Danon, Shopping Contributor for Pippa Jameson Interiors

The first is my all time favourite called Lassco (image above).  They sell everything from pictures, fireplaces, doors, baths and lots of retro curiosities.

If it’s radiators you are looking for then try The Cast Iron Reclamation Company-from early 19th Century to Fifties classics and the good news is they are all converted for modern central heating systems.

Probably one of the most well known companies is called Drummonds.  As well as reclaimed products they also sell fantastic repro items like this gorgeous roll top bath.  They will set you back a few pounds but that is because they are handcrafted.  Each bath takes several weeks to make by using a traditional process involving casting the raw metal, enameling and finishing by hand polish or painting. Some others to look up are Renaissance London Retrouvius Reclamation and Design.

If you are selling or renting your home then try and make sure it looks up to date with the latest decor.  You don’t have to go crazy and re-decorate your whole home as little touches here and there will do the trick.  I know you have heard it a million times but it is best to keep the look simple.  Stick to neutral colours for the walls and just add interest with your accessories.

The stylish paint colours and accessories above are from B&Q and are very affordable.

Accessories: You can update the look of your home with fairly inexpensive accessories.  Hide away all of the clutter and then add simple key touches.  A bookshelf or coffee table could be transformed with a simple table runner and a few ornaments.  The pretty accessories below are from Wilkinson and start from just £6. 

Try not to use more than a few co-ordinating colours and materials otherwise it will look too busy.  Once you’ve cleared away all the clutter invest in a few plants and flowers as they always brighten up a room.   I would suggest buying decent fake flowers so that they last the duration of the sale.  The plant below is £49 from Marks & Spencer.  It may be a little expensive but it is a great fake and remember it will last for years-this would look great in the middle of a coffee table.

Update a plain old sofa with a set of bold cushions from Graham & Green. At the top end of the budget Marks and Spencer’s sell some lovely embroidery designs for £35 or if you want to go super trendy then opt for their metalic sequined style for just £15…I love them! Remember, you can take all the items with you to the new home so see it as an investment. 

For value cushions  try BHS or B&Q.  If you have a very old fashioned sofa that makes the house feel dated then think about covering it with an extra large throw; this is a much cheaper option than buying a new sofa.   If you have a particularly dark house then invest in some up lights and make sure these are on when you conduct a viewing.