Step Inside: Mellow Yellow

In the last of our Spring/Summer Step Inside postings we’re taking a look at our most jubilant trend, Mellow Yellow.

This trend takes inspiration from South Africa; as the host country of the 2010 FIFA World Cup joyful celebrations abound and we see a dynamic clash of carnival colour and striking pattern, with a hidden sense of order creating an exciting balance and fusion.

This is an exciting and vibrant colour palette of sunny yellow, malachite green and acid lime, balanced with precious turquoise and deep indigo.  Using light and mid-tone concrete greys will reduce the sharpness of the bright colours whilst creating an urban twist.

Simple, yet eye-catching, dot formations, wavy dancing patterns, layered silhouettes with crisp edges and striking contrasts between the background and foreground motifs will add a fabulous carnival feel to wallpapers, rugs, cushions and bedding.  Habitat and Debenhams have a really great selection of cushions and bedding and I love this ‘Stella’ wallpaper design by Marcel Wanders for Graham & Brown.  Add tall pendant lighting in simple clean shapes like Rothschild & Bickers ’Lantern’ light, accessories with a malachite surface appearance, patchwork patterned ceramics, and individual pieces that interlock and connect to become one such as modular sofa designs.  Gorgeous African lilies in brightly coloured glass vases will complete the look perfectly.

To create a sense of order from the fusion of so many patterns, ensure smaller patterns are contained within larger geometric shapes on collections of cushions and ceramic accessories.  Balance with colour blocks in grey tones, statement bright white leather furniture and accents in summer yellows and sparkling turquoise.

This is a bold look but be brave with your design choices and the results will be fabulously fresh and super sophisticated.

Step Inside: Plain & Simple

This month we’ll be stepping inside the sanctuary that is Plain & Simple.  The quietest of our Spring/Summer trends, it is all about creating relaxed and soothing interiors – perfect for escaping the summer heat.

New levels of digital advertising and massive information overload mean we are craving a visual rest.  This colour palette of putty hues, clay, blue ash and gun metal is subtle and calming, answering our desire for complete simplicity and a quieter aesthetic in our home.  Wellness and well-being are also concerns as we seek products that encourage relaxation … look for smooth edges, matte finishes, simple repeating and mirroring geometrics, quiet pattern … rhythm and balance.

Curvaceous, overstuffed living room and bedroom furniture in plain, smooth fabrics is inviting, comfortable and calming.

Modular sofas allow flexibility; furniture can be personalised to the way you live.  Check out the celebrated Confluence Sofa from Ligne Roset.

Beds should be large with upholstered head and foot boards in plain pebble tones.  Add warm white bedding and touches of bluey-grey accessories with plain lampshades to complete; wonderful for lazy weekend lay-ins!  The Scoop from Saba Italia is a fabulous piece that opens up into two curved sofas.

A laser-cut patterned leather or fabric armchair in a living room or bedroom introduces subtle pattern and texture and creates a beautiful focal point.  We absolutely  L O V E  Helen Amy Murray‘s designs.

Helen Amy Murray's Tub chair

Art Deco furniture shapes can look stunning as part of this trend but select simple curved pieces rather than angular pieces.

Tarnished silver is the metal of choice.  I like Edward Van Vliet’s Kaipo lamp for Moooi (shown above).

Honeycomb structures are key to this trend and look particularly effective when used for lampshades, check out the Honeycomb lamp from Kouichi Okamoto. 

Honeycomb Lamp from Kouichi Okamoto

Carpeting and rugs continue this trend’s feeling of soft, simple comfort and complete the look.  Kyle Bunting has an absolutely gorgeous collection (see the montage above).

Step Inside … Mineral Rich

One of my favourite trends this season is our super sophisticated ’Mineral Rich’ trend (you can read last years trend preview here).  Luxurious, but not ostentatious, this is one for the grown-ups!

The colour palette of warm greys, beautifully combined with amethyst, copper shades and a dusting of gold, softens this trend which with its structured, linear aesthetic is one of the more masculine trends in a season dominated by curvaceous, feminine characteristics.

‘Mineral Rich’ has a strong architectural influence with origami elements and mineral structures seen in furniture shapes, wall coverings and fabrics.

Faceted products are everywhere, this trend sees product designs evolve into something more irregular and natural, look for mirrors, vases and lamps.

Fragmented light is also important in the way that it can reveal pattern and texture.

There are so many wonderful designs available from some of our favourite department stores as well as online, that will help you create this look … check out our ideas below:

• ‘Frame’ bedding by the Hotel Collection
• Rectangular Multi-Faceted Mirror from the Manhattan Mirrored Collection at Graham & Green 
• ‘Fiamma’ wallpaper from the ‘Elementi’ Collection at Zoffany
• Clear Lighthouse Shade from Heals
• Jake Phipps ’Isis’ folding chair (his fantastically faceted ‘Stellar’ mirror, shown below, also perfectly fits this trend) 
• LSA Odette Mocha Glass Vase from Heals
• Embroidered cushion and glass and chrome doorknobs from Graham & Green

Jake Phipps' 'Stellar' mirror

The Manhattan Collection from Graham & Green

'Carita Damson' bedlinen by Kylie Minogue

We’d love to see your ‘Mineral Rich’ interior schemes, send your photos to designteam@scarletopus.com

Step Inside … Grand Bazaar

Another great trend for the Spring/Summer season this year is Grand Bazaar …

Inspired by the cultural melting pot that is Istanbul - European capital of Culture for 2010 - this trend is all about an exotic, dark glamour, working on a colour palette of sandy terracotta shades and dark spices with Mediterranean blues and elements of bronze.

To create this bohemian look use low-level seating and long cushions, kilim rugs, patterned wallpaper and tiles, clusters of ornate Turkish lamps and candles with metallic detailing, small tables, glass tea-sets, and traditional blue and white ceramics which look fabulous displayed together with bronze accessories.  Important features are Ikats, inlaid mosaic work and fabric that has a twisted turban-styling … think harems and hookah lounges!

• Meditterranean tiles and metal-work lamp from Casablanca Market
• Ikat Slipper Chair by Urban Outfitters
• Turkish coffee set from Plumo
• Bronze vase by Debenhams
• Glass and bronze candle holders from Anthropologie
• ‘Adamas’ Basket by Crate and Barrel
• Chainmail cushion by Julien Macdonald for Debenhams
• ‘Opulent Optic’ glass lamps by Rothschild & Bickers
• Mosaic wall art from the Monsoon Collection at Graham & Brown    

And, with the new Sex and the City movie soon to be released what better time to embrace this trend!!  (If you haven’t already seen it – ?????!!!!! – watch the trailer here.) 

Step Inside … Magic Garden

Last weekend I went to see Tim Burton’s long awaited adaptation of Alice In Wonderland and was not disappointed … what a visual feast!  Burton’s gothic “underland” is a heady trip down the surreal path to weird and wonderful, taking you through stunning enchanted forests, and the fabulously gothic castle of the Red Queen (who is played superbly by Helena Bonham-Carter).

One of the key trends of the season is ‘Magic Garden’, which is strongly influenced by Alice with elements of surprise and the surreal, exaggerations of scale, secret patterns, oversized flowers and foliage, and pieces with human characteristics and personality!

• Vincent Thomas Leman’s Dust Furniture and Mantel Clock
• ‘One Lump or Two’ Lamp from Anthropologie
• Petite Rose Footstool and ‘Cumberband’ Setting Stool by MacKenzie Childs
• Christopher Guys ‘Camilla’ Mirror

You can work this trend in two ways, the Disney way or the Burton way!  Burton’s wonderland is an intense, monochromatic style with “a splash of painting the roses red” as Victoria likes to say!  See this earlier posting for some fabulous ideas on how to rock this look.

For a more whimsical, pretty look take your inspiration from Disney and work with a colour palette of charming English Country Garden shades of green and Alice blue, accented with sweetpea tones of yellow and pink. 

Overall don’t be afraid to really play with scale in your interior design; oversized pieces in spaces they are clearly too big for is key for perfecting this look.  Go ahead and have some fun creating your very own fantasy wonderland!

• 3D and Optical Illusion wallpaper designs by Hanna Nyman
• ‘Le Telefon’ available online from Sundayland
• Pink ‘Diva’ Ottoman and small ‘Perch’ stool by MacKenzie Childs
• Red ‘La Boheme Fat Stool’ by Philippe Starck for Kartell available from John Lewis 
• ‘Courtly Check’ ceramics by MacKenzie Childs
• Set of 4 ‘Alice’ glasses available online from Fishs Eddy
• Lewis Carroll inspired Dining Room by Anne Pyne for McMillen