Lux for less A high-end home from the high street
Talib Choudhry and Jessica Doyle round up some of the best – yet affordable – new styles to freshen up your home this autumn
It’s official – according to the meteorological calendar, today is the first day of autumn – and to help usher in the new season, the high street stores are unveiling their latest homeware collections. There are some stylish yet affordable things to be found – if you know what to look out for. Here’s our round-up of the strongest seasonal offerings, from forever pieces to pick-me-up, trend-led accessories.
Debenhams
High-street collaborations with fashion designers might be two a penny these days, but Debenhams kick-started the trend and continues to lead the field. The Designers at Debenhams home collections are seasonally updated but each has a distinct signature style; J by Jasper Conran consistently channels understated glamour.
Conran’s creations for autumn tick all the trend boxes – velvet armchairs, rich colours (teal, midnight blue, wine, forest green) and brass statement lighting. It all looks a great deal more expensive than it is and would blend in beautifully in a plush boutique hotel.
Be sure to browse the lighting department, too. Claire Woodward, the former lighting buyer at BHS, was swiftly snapped up by a bright spark at Debenhams last year to oversee the launch of a new collection. debenhams.com/home
French Connection
The new collection from French Connection Home offers a grown-up take on industrial loft style (metal shelving, practical-yet-pretty lighting, distressed leather and cowhide seating) with a sprinkling of glamour (soft pinks, muted metallics and marble surfaces). It’s a seductive mix that’s gracing the pages of all the interior style bibles.
The rugs and cushions – inspired by Moroccan carpets – are consistently lovely, featuring patterns that enliven a room without being too shouty.
Look out for the eye-catching botanical wall prints (£58) designed exclusively for French Connection Home by Michelle Collins, the artist. Her website, at greenlili.com, has a wider selection of styles. frenchconnection.com
Hay x Ikea
Hay, the furniture brand, is the peak of Danish design chic. Combine that with Ikea, the Swedish superstore, and you have a must-have Scandi home collection.
The Ypperlig range by Hay for Ikea hits stores in early October and spans large pieces such as sofas and smaller accessories (think sleek LED table lamps for £35). The idea is to offer contemporary basics at affordable prices; there’s even a stylish reworking of the iconic blue Ikea bag.
“We wanted to do something that was beautiful, well-made and usable,” says Mette Hay, who founded the brand with her husband, Rolf, 15 years ago to produce “quality, affordable design for our generation”.
“It’s not always the wealthiest people who have a strong passion for design. These are really good products made by Ikea and sprinkled with a bit of Hay.” ikea.com
Marks & Spencer
If you thought Marks & Spencer’s home department was only good for bedding and towels, think again. The
recently expanded in-house design team has excelled itself this season, producing both updated classics that form the backbone of a room and trend-led accessories in look-at-me prints and finishes.
First up: the forever buys. The neo-victorian extendable Clarendon dining table (£899) has handsome black turned legs, while the art deco-inspired Webster drinks cabinet (£599) adds on-trend retro elegance. Among the accessories are agate-print cushions (£19.50) and a hexagonal shelf mirror that gives the idea of the “shelfie” a new spin.
“We’ve developed some striking prints for the new collection – bold monochrome stripes and eyecatching geometrics are key for this autumn,” says Claire Roberts, the
lead designer. “Perfect if you want to inject some personality into your room without having to overhaul your decor.” Sounds good to us. marksandspencer.com
John Lewis
John Lewis still stocks the big brands (see main image on previous page), but its House range has been subject to a major rebrand this autumn, to tie in with the store’s aim for 50 per cent of all products to be own-brand. The new collection adds more than 200 products to the range, with an emphasis on flexible living, trend-led colour and affordability.
Key pieces include a folding table with drawers that can be used for working or dining, mix-and-match storage solutions, and a sofa bed that can sleep a family of four. Philippa Prinsloo, the head of design, says: “The House porcelain range has been added to with coloured accent pieces and blush-pink concertina lampshades, joined by magnets, are easy to assemble and compact to pick up when out shopping.” johnlewis.com
Zara Home & H&M
Always a good choice for a fashionforward accessory to refresh your interior, Zara Home has upped its tabletop game in particular this season. The porcelain collection runs the gamut from painterly botanical designs to flamboyant animal print, while glassware comes with elegant gilt edging or pop art colours. Check out the cutlery – there’s a varied selection, from understated etched silverware to shiny black, matt gold and a rainbow-hued iridescent finish that would add pizzazz to a party.
H&M’S Home line has quietly been going from strength to strength, too. The autumn collection includes bohemian-style cushions, stonewashed linens in muted tones, and chunky bowls and carafes that are much cheaper than their crafted look would suggest (from £8.99). zarahome.com and hm.com
Habitat
Statement lighting is the star of Habitat’s autumn offering, where Seventies Italian glamour has been an inspiration. “Marble and polished brass are two key materials that we have always wanted to work with in the design studio,” says designer Aaron Probyn, who has conceived elegant floor lamps and striking chandeliers that add a shot of high style for £250 or less.
The moodier flip side of all that shine comes in the form of angular designs in dramatic black, including Shadow, a conceptual hollow frame inset with LEDS that leans against a wall, casting slices of light on the walls and floor (£175). habitat.co.uk