To boldly Glow
Feather pendants? Concrete floor lamps? Experiment with quirky materials and see your home in a new light
WHO would have thought that concrete, feathers or cork might become prominent features in our homes?
Yet these are just some of the weird and wonderful materials that can enliven a space.
‘Let’s be bold with home decor and move away from subtle styles,’ says Sam Hood, founder of interiors company Amara. ‘Create a unique space through the use of quirky materials, such as concrete.’
Really? Hood points to Lyon Beton’s Concrete Hauteville range which includes chairs, stools and lamps.
‘You may worry that concrete is too industrial or too cold for your home, but it’s all about moderation. Soft touches in the form of statement cushions and faux fur rugs help soften the potential harshness of the material and will make a cosy and inviting seating area.’
If you only want to dip a toe into the style, then try accessories such as lamps, magazine racks and clocks. The Hauteville low armchair costs £649 or the floor lamp is £195, amara.com.
And what better texture to offset cool, hard concrete than feathers? Lighting specialist Vita Copenhagen has developed a range of shades made up of anything between 900 and 6,000 goose feathers, depending on the size of the shade. They come in white, grey or brown.
Soren Ravn Christensen, chief creative developer at Vita, says: ‘ Feathers provide a flattering and dimmed light that is good for getting in the right
hygge mood.’
NOT only do they provide a talking point, feathers naturally repel dust and dirt.
To get rid of any dust that does settle, you can simply blast the shade with a hairdryer. Animal lovers concerned about the source of the feathers will be glad to know that they are a by-product from the food production industry.
Prices range from £53 for the Eos Micro to £896 for the Eos XXL at vitacopenhagen.
Meanwhile, it might not be surprising to see leather in a living room on an armchair or sofa. But what about on the floor? Laying a leather floor may sound
ludicrous to some people, but not to Jago Anderson, creative director at flooring specialist Element 7.
He says: ‘A leather floor is perfect for the country house look, although you can create something very contemporary by using certain dyes, such as slate grey. Leather is extremely durable and so it is perfect for heavy footfall by children, pets and high heels.’
Anderson says leather flooring is mostly used in bedrooms, dressing rooms, studies and living rooms. Priced from £595 per sq m, element7. co.uk.
Walls can also form part of a unique approach to interiors if you use the right materials. David Harris, design director at Andrew Martin, says: ‘In recent years home interiors have included more unusual materials and surfaces to add tactility in the home.
‘Paper-backed cork is a great option for walls and works brilliantly as an alternative to paint or regular wallpaper. It has a beautiful warm soft touch, while at the same time benefiting from fantastic heat and sound insulating properties. For a glamorous look, opt for metallic cork finishes.’ Prices start at £ 498 per 10m roll, andrewmartin.co.uk.
If you’re feeling frivolous in the colour department, then artist and designer Cristian Zuzunaga’s pixel adorned pieces might be for you. His multicoloured sofa series is about as bold as you can get but, for a quieter statement, there are monochrome pieces.
You don’t need to commit to such a large piece of furniture, either. Simply plump for a throw or cushion to brighten up a room. A pixel sofa costs £ 5,995. Prices for throws start at £169 and cushions start at
£ 89, zuzunaga.
Zesty colours are selling well at made. com, which reports that its burnt orange cotton velvet sofa has proven a surprise hit with buyers. Smaller accessories in eccentric materials are also in demand. Throughout September, Amara recorded an uplift in sales across Serax’s Moniek rubber collection. The vases on the site — ranging from £23 to £110 at amara.com — have almost sold out.
‘ The rise of unique materials on the interior scene shows no sign of slowing down,’ says Hood.