Now is the perfect time of year to embrace your dark side, and what better way than exploring the dramatic impact that Gothic Interior Design can have on your home.  Traditionally an architectural style dating back to the 12^th Century, Gothic design was all about high pointed arches, stained glass windows and rich, dark woods.  Today, Modern Gothic has been making a come back, creating dramatic and awe-inspiring interiors in the home.

Gothic Colour Palettes

As with all design trends there are no hard and fast rules, and Gothic design can be interpreted in a number of different ways, starting with the overall colour palette.  Rich, jewel-like tones work well for creating a dramatic, sumptuous atmosphere; a look I find particularly effective for bathrooms.

Image sourced from Victorian Plumbing

Although dark colours are essential to the Gothic trend, they don’t always have to be overpowering.  See how black and white work together with metallic notes here to create this dramatic yet minimalist Gothic dining room.

Image sourced from Interior Holic

Gothic Furnishings

Modern Gothic Interior Design is all about extravagance and drama, so choose your furnishings accordingly.  Large, exaggerated furniture and luxurious fabrics are perfect for this style.  Velvet and chenille fabrics can be used for the darker more sumptuous Gothic styles.  Or choose soft sheer material for a more ghostly, nostalgic feel.

Chair Re-upholstered in Chelsea Velvet - Eggplant.

Gothic Accessories

With naturally darker palettes you may need to find other ways to bring light to your Gothic themed rooms. With extravagance in mind why not opt for a large ornate mirror to reflect the light around.  Alternatively, choose elaborate lighting where possible; chandeliers are ideal for this trend.  Finally, candles are a must for producing an atmospheric glow in your Gothic room; choose tall candles so the wax can run down in eerie patterns!

Mirror available from Dunelm Mill. Chandelier available from Debenhams.

PLUMBS ON TREND!

Here’s our take on the Gothic trends: Rich – jewel like tones, elaborate accessories, dramatic lighting and luxurious fabrics!

Sofa Re-upholstered in Italian Stripe - Aubergine/Green.

For me a change in season always has me itching for a fresh new look in the home.  I like chunky blankets and warming tones in winter, and fresh zesty florals in the summer months.  One easy and effective way to get an instant seasonal update in the home is to choose loose furniture covers!  It’s a great idea to have an extra set of covers for your sofa or suite, making it easy to change the whole look and feel of your home!

Let’s see it in action.  Here we have the same sofa and chair with beautiful loose covers for a different look all through the year…

Autumn

Here we are at the most spectacular time of the year for colour inspiration!  The world is awash with stunning, rich and warm tones and I cannot wait to bring them into my home.  These loose covers would be my number one choice! Introducing the strong green and orange hues here gives this look a lovely warm feel.  Remember that you can swap and change your accessories to suit the season too; why not add a cosy blanket and an interesting footstool for putting your feet up on cool autumn evenings!

Winter

When the days are cold and short, I like nothing more than curling up on my sofa, so to be surrounded by beautiful fabrics is a must!  I tend to lean toward darker shades to give a cosier feel to the home.  I love the wintry feel created by this aquamarine and snow combination.  A great look for a winter wonderland!

Spring/Summer

As the weather warms up I often like to invite fresh, light colours into the home to bring some vibrancy and life after the winter period.  Pinks and greens are a popular choice and a classic floral like this is the perfect way to reflect the blossoming world outside!

Surprisingly there are so many different looks that can be created with curtains, so I’ve put together a list of my five favourite styles and how they can be achieved in your home!

Contrasted Edging

Using contrasting curtains together, or choosing to have a leading edge can add extra interest and definition to curtains.  You can have great fun mixing and matching curtain fabrics until you get a look that it right for you.  Try pairing plains with florals or patterns for an instant wow!

Co-ordinated

Curtains and blind combinations are becoming more and more popular as a way of adding depth to your windows.  Ensure you choose matching or co-ordinating fabrics and you can even co-ordinate with your furniture for a fully cohesive look.

Dramatic Impact

If you have bay windows, a great way to add drama is to opt for multiple curtains.  The intermittent strips of colour will draw the eye and make a real feature of your window space.  You can use the same fabric or break it up with two co-ordinating fabric designs.

Romantic Drape

Elaborate drapes and floor skimming curtains create an opulent, romantic look.  Lighter fabrics are perfect for this style as they flow and hang easily.  Florals are an ideal choice for romantic looks, or if your prefer plain, choose fabrics with a slight shimmer or sheen.

Casual Chic

For an easy, down to earth look, eyelet curtains are a good choice with their natural, straight hanging style.  You could also consider the length of your curtains, as shorter curtains that end a couple of inches below the window sill can give a more casual, relaxed feel.

In thought, curling up next to a roaring open fire is the idyllic setting for cool autumnal evenings.  But, as I have learned from experience, sometimes it can all seem a bit much like hard work.  The last thing I want when I’m feeling a chill is to be on my hands and knees sweeping up last night’s ashes and having the inevitable debate as to whose turn it is to refill the coal shuttle!

So, with central heating merely a switch away, I’m warming to the idea of making better (hassle free) use of my fireplace.  Here are a few of my favourite finds…

Candles

The same romantic effect with none of the fuss!  Filling your hearth with candles is a quick and easy way to maintain that cosy glow.  Choose a variety of shapes and sizes to give different levels and create a stunning focal point.

Storage

Why not make use of the extra space and tranform your fireplace into pretty storage shelves.  You could have great fun making this a real feature in the room.  Try backing the shelves with interesting paper.

Flowers

Bring your empty hearth to life with a beautiful arrangement of flowers.  You could place a vase inside with a beautiful bouquet of seasonal blooms, or why not use the firebasket itself packed with artificial flowers.  Either way, the greenery will bring a fresh look to any neglected fireplace.

Books

For a quirky centrepiece to your room why not transform your fireplace into a unique bookshelf! Whether adding shelves as before, or simply stacking the books as we see here, this is bound to create a real talking point in your living room!  Depending on the look of your books you could create a very colourful display or a rustic feel with more traditional looking, leather spines.

Logs

Ok so you may not be burning them in the open fire, but what’s to stop you creating that country feel with a display of logs!  Stack logs of different cuts and widths to create an interesting feature.  You could even line the mantle piece and hearth with tealights and small candles (but not too close!) for a wamring glow.

Do you have an unusual fireplace?  We’d love to hear about it!

I am handing the floor over to you today to see what you make of our latest project?  We’ve reupholstered this stunning occasional chair in carefully co-ordinating fabrics that could give homes a real wow factor!

For me this is ideal!  I like furniture to make a statement but all too often I find myself not daring enough to opt for eye cathcing fabrics like this Chenille Velvet Stripe.  This latest project would allow me to showcase a modest plain fabric (in a stunning attention grabbing colour I might add!), as well as showing off my personality with the more daring design!  I think this look gives great definition and interest to furniture.  What are your thoughts?

As the nights grow darker it’s only natural that we find ourselves gravitating indoors and relaxing in our own home.  So what better time of year to explore some of your window dressing options: curtains, blinds, shutters and window film.

There are many different solutions available to you and the choice of window dressing can differ from room to room, with some solutions more practical than others.  You should consider the size of your windows and the style of your home.

Curtains

A popular choice for adorning our windows, curtains have far more benefits than it may at first seem.  Not only are they easily drawn and help to soften your windows, but did you know that curtains are a great way of keeping those heating bills down?

Particularly with lined and interlined curtains, having an extra barrier between your room and your windows will help to keep warm air in and cold air out!  Adding a pelmet also helps as it prevents warm air that has risen from falling behind your curtains as it cools, and escaping through the windows.

Blinds

We are all aware of the practical benefits of blinds in rooms like the bathroom and kitchen. They stay neatly rolled or pulled up out of the way until we are ready for them. But blinds are fast becoming popular choices for adding to living rooms and bedrooms. Used alone, a roller or roman blind can give a contemporary feel to a room.  Or you could try combining with matching curtains for a co-ordinated look.  Curtain and Blind combinations are great for adding extra depth to your windows.  Plus, blinds also contribute toward keeping cool air out on those cold winter nights!

Shutters

A pretty feature that can often add character to your home, shutters are becoming increasingly popular for bedrooms.  Enabling the most control over light levels, shutters can be pushed wide open to allow maximum natural light to flood in during the day. You could even consider coloured shutters to bring interest and life to neutral rooms. The pink shutters here combine beautifully with the white colour scheme to create a chic, femenine study.

Window Film

This is great to use in bathrooms, utility rooms and kitchens where window space may be tight. The frosted film can provide privacy whilst still allowing light in and you could even opt for a unique design to add extra interest to your windows.

You could opt for full window film like this one or just film half way up your window for that extra touch of privacy. With so many designs available on the high street and online there’s sure to be something for every taste!

What makes the perfect kitchen?  For some it’s an ultra modern blend of stainless steel, gloss surfaces and brilliant lighting.  For others it’s a quaint, quiet place where you can while away an afternoon baking or reading at the table.  For me it’s a beautiful, character rich country kitchen!  And today I’ve let my imagination roam to the five essential features that would make up this perfect country kitchen.  Spare a moment to indulge with me…?

1) A Belfast Sink

Although washing dishes is one of the last things I enjoy doing, I love the simple chunky design of a Belfast Sink.  This is a lovely way of making a feature of your window area and breaking up the lines of your cupboards.

Image sourced from House to Home

2) Traditional Appliances

An increasingly popular feature, the traditional style range cooker is a great way to give an instant nostalgic feel to the kitchen.  A bright, rich red like this one makes a real statement, or cream designs can give a more vintage feel!

Image sourced from Day Dreaming Foodie Blog

3) Quaint Accessories

Sometime less is more and for my perfect country kitchen I love the idea of simple white crockery.  Mixing in a few pretty fabrics and rustic designs can give a beautiful quaint feel which can be created no matter what style of kitchen you have.

Image sourced from House to Home

4) Exposed Beams

Nothing says country to me like beautiful exposed beams and the kitchen is one of the best places to feature them.  Packed with character they’re not only a stunning feature but practical too for hanging pots, pans and pretty accessories.

Image Sourced from Country Living

5) Kitchen Dining Bench

Benches in the kitchen are an instant way to evoke a nostalgic tone and are great for getting the family together.  Combine with beautiful cushions and you can even make a matching table runner for a co-ordinated look!

Image sourced from House to Home

What would make up your perfect kitchen?  We’d love to hear from you!

We all love to bring a little of the outdoors into our homes, which is why floral designs have long been popular in soft furnishings and interior design.  With each passing year the world’s designers bring us fresh new takes on the floral trend, with recent years focussing on big, bold and beautiful flowers!

This year however, more and more often I am seeing simple, leaf designs.  Top names, such as Sanderson are looking at the cleaner lines of leaves to create simple yet striking designs for the home.  So with Autumn just around the corner, and the beauty of leaves taking precedence this season, what better time to celebrate the wonderful possibilities of foliage in your home…

The simplicity of the leaf alongside the stark contrast of colour gives this design a modern, abstract feel.  Inspired by the paintings of Henri Matisse, Sanderson have created an exciting design, perfect for a feature wall in the home.

The botanical approach is also increasing popular this year, with the fresh green and white palette being an ideal choice for kitchens, conservatories and garden rooms.

You can choose a warmer colour scheme for a more autumnal feel.  Remember, as with floral designs, you can mix and match your leaf patterns to cement your theme.

PLUMBS ON TREND!

Discover our own collection of Autumn inspired fabric designs.  I love these different takes on the leaf design – which is your favourite?

The latest instalment in our Featured Fabric supplier series looks today at Ross Fabrics, and in particular their beautiful velvets. Ross are one of the leading suppliers of upholstery fabrics in the UK, and have almost 80 years experience in the fabric industry!  Their collection includes chenilles, weaves and velvets in both traditional and contemporary designs and colourways.

At this time of year velvets can be incredibly inviting.  There’s nothing I’d like more this week than to be snuggled up in the reassuring folds of my sofa, so my ideal fabric would have to be soft to touch, smooth and comfortable.  Velvet it is then!  But as well as the sensory benefits of these smoother fabrics, velvets can also add a touch of grandeur and sophistication to our furniture.

Bijoux Crushed Velvet is a popular Ross fabric here at Plumbs!  With a subtle sheen this fabric oozes luxury and gives an elegant feel.  Plus, it’s shimmering quality can keep furniture sparkling all year round.  You could choose a neutral colourway and simply change your curtains for a new look for Autumn-Winter, and another for Spring-Summer.

Autumn is one of the best times of year for home style inspiration.  With the natural world undergoing spectacular transformations and the weather experiencing dramatic change on a daily basis, there are many different ways we can interpret the season.

The typical autumnal colours of burnt orange and fiery reds can give homes an instant glow.  Break up the amber hues with warm neutral bases of creams and browns.

1) Premier Zeus Orange Glass Floor Lamp – Inspire My Home
2) Loose Chairs covers in Katie – Autumn Fabric – Plumbs
3) Glass Mosaic Tealights – Next
4) Evening Fern Metal Wall Art – Very
5) Rattan Storage Trunk – John Lewis

For a more earthy approach, choose a black and brown scheme with accents of rust or olive. Remember to extend the theme with your finishing touches. I love this windswept tree as a focal point above a fire place, even if it is designed for the garden!

6) Matisse Leaf Wallpaper – Charcoal – Sanderson
7) Windswept Tree Wall Art – UK Garden Products
8.) Cubes Coffee Table – Argos
9) Scatter Cushions in Oracle & Octavia – Parchment Fabrics – Plumbs

Which Autumnal Colours Do You Prefer?