LIVING ROOM
The daffodils peeking out of our flower beds provide inspiration for a spring paint job: not only is yellow one of Pantone’s colours of 2021, but it’s in a new collection by the designer Kelly Wearstler for Farrow & Ball.
“A yellow can introduce an optimistic and uplifting feeling to the space perfect for spring,” Wearstler says.
She adds that where you paint is important, too. “Don’t ignore the ceiling – a strong tone with a hint of brilliant sheen is an artful opportunity to add contrast and depth.
“I also love to completely saturate a room in one colour, painting all the mouldings and doors too.”
For an even quicker wall refresh, Rey says, “I am completely fascinated by old tapestries,” which she hangs on walls for instant wow factor. “I spend a lot of time looking at and searching for good ones at auction. I love the texture they bring to a room, especially if they have a lovely amount of fair wear to them.”
Vintage textiles can also be repurposed into cushions – as Ashby does with its line of patchwork cushions.
“The resulting meld of pattern, colour and texture is fabulous and the act of upcycling is always hugely rewarding – and uplifting too,” she says (studioashby. com/sister).
Or as Lisa Mehydene, founder of edit58 has done, you could turn them into new pieces of furniture that come imbued with a sense of history (edit58.com).
“I recently had an ottoman covered in a vintage rug that I loved, but which had a few marks on it.
“By cutting the fabric in such a way that we didn’t
use the marked parts, we were able to put it to good use and create a really special piece that helps to pull together the rest of the room.
“Suddenly, once reupholstered, you breathe new life into the item and the space in which it sits, while also giving you that hit of newness you desired, without having to buy new.”
It’s not just upholstering – a lick of paint can do wonders. Bianca Fincham, who documents the renovation of her luxury holiday home in Cornwall @ pembrokelodge, is expert at finding vintage pieces.
“I love Facebook Marketplace for finding little treasures locally. It’s like an amazing car boot sale online and really is cheaper than anywhere else,” she says.
“Recently I found this little bobbin bench near Exeter and it reminded me of something I’d seen on a designer vintage furniture website at a ludicrous price.
“I painted it with three coats of black eggshell paint from Farrow & Ball. It’s definitely something we’ll keep forever.”