 |
ALL THAT GLITTERS
Fashionistas know that gold, silver and all things metallic are essential for the well-dressed girl, and they should also feature in the best-dressed homes. We find all things that glitter to make rooms
sparkle.
All that glitters neednt be gold, in fact it could be silver, steel or bronze, but its an essential to make todays homes sparkle.
Razzle dazzle metallics took the fashion catwalk by storm this year and inevitably are now a must-have for rooms.
Design author Elizabeth Wilhide is just one expert who highlights a metallic palette as a key trend.
She enthuses: These lustrous finishes instantly add glamour. Metallic surfaces are glitzy and atmospheric. Part colour, part texture, the heart of their appeal is the reflective shimmer that gives depth of character to surfaces and finishes.
The inevitable, alluring association is with the luxury of precious metals such as gold and silver.
Nick Fox, director of Housing Units, a Manchester home store, confirms the trend. He says: We are seeing sparkle in the furnishing of homes whether people use it discreetly with the use of fantastic metallic accessories, or make more of a statement with furniture or fabrics.
He identifies the key finishes as dark chrome and pewter contrasted with a greeny blue teal colour. Burnished dark gold - like an antique gold - and bronze teamed with chocolate brown or red will dominate later this year, he predicts.
Celebrities, of course, give glitter a bad name because they overdose on bling. Instea, use a light touch and follow the less is more rule to achieve the best effect of precious metals in rooms.
Choose from the rich sheen of gold or bronze, or the harder shine of silver or steel or even a mix of the two, but dont ignore this trend unless you want your rooms to look tarnished, dull and seriously out of date.
JOIN THE GLITTERATI: EXPERT TIPS
:: Wilhide, author of New Decor,a guide to interior trends, says:
Metallic schemes dont have to cost the earth. On walls and furniture, specialist metallic paints or foil papers will do the trick.
Accessorise with burnished metallic objects and plenty of mirrors.
HER TIP: Commercial gold and silver leaf kits for walls or furniture are inexpensive and not too tricky to apply.
Paint metalwork and radiators with metallic paints, such as Hammerite, that dry to a textured finish.
Metallic spray paint for cars can be used on reclaimed metal filing cabinets and similar items.
COLOUR GUIDE: Accent metallic schemes with strong statement colours such as Chinese red or clear yellow, and use matt black or gloss on floorboards.
:: Daniel Hopwood, Dulux Creative Board member, says: In clothing metallics are bright and brash but luckily furnishing is taking a more subtle approach.
In textiles metallics are being used to lift a fabric, for example chenilles are incorporating metallic base cloths to make it both shimmer.
HIS TIP: Use metallic paints such as Duluxs Silver Lustre. Paint a picture rail, a piece of furniture, or brighten a dark hallway or dull room.
Hopwood suggests: Paint the ceiling as well as the walls and then stencil over the metallic wall, either large circles in a contrasting metallic or a bright colour such as turquoise.
COLOUR GUIDE: Warm tones of copper and deep platinums are very liveable.
HEAVY METAL HOME
:: KITCHEN
Metallics can add shine and warmth. Fired Earths metallic Midas tiles, made in the sunshine of the Balearics, include Bronze, Brassy Gold and Gold Pyramid designs. Theyre not cheap at £235.26 a square metre, but could look stunning used in a compact panel behind a cooker.
Why slave over a dull stove when you could shine - and show off your culinary skills - with Falcons range cooker in Liquid Gold. It costs £3,695.
Add lustre and luxury to a table with Villeroy & Boch tableware decorated in gold, silver and bronze. Its new collections include Golden Gardenware and the NewWave Premium Gold cup and saucer sets
:: LOUNGE
Metallic papers are the bright stars in Graham & Browns wallpaper collection. Pick from their own stunning designs or those by designer Julien MacDonald. Papers start from £20 a roll.
For a subtle effect, use metallic sheen fabrics for upholstery, loose covers, bedcovers or curtains.
Swaffers Glitterati and Metallica collection includes metallic-finished weaves, which start from around £35 a metre.
If the budgets tight, Linwoods Damask collection has damask designs in metallic hues of pale gold and silver. They start from £9.60 a metre.
Marks & Spencers ready-made gold damask curtains, start from £125 and it has sofas upholstered in gold fabrics.
:: BEDROOM
Metallics bring glamour to a bedroom, especially a combination of glossy black with mirrors.
Harveys Amelia bedroom range combines mirrored glass and a black lacquer, and starts at £129 for a dressing stool.
Laura Ashleys champagne-coloured Kayleigh bedspread, £150 hints at fizzing gold.
Marks & Spencers Gold Royale collection of bedding and curtains, starts from £49.50 for a duvet cover.
:: BATHROOM
Splash the cash and bathe in style surrounded by gold tiles made from 24 carat gold by Bisazza. They start from £150 per square metre, plus installation.
Ripples, which also stock the tiles, has a classic bath trimmed with a bespoke stainless steel surround. It costs from £2,800.
:: SHINY TREASURES
Accessories make or break this look. Contrasting old with new and use touches of antique gold set against shiny contemporary surfaces.
GOLD: Try Waterfords Crystal Red Sea vase from £100, or a Red & Gold platter, £215.
Debenhams Gold Ridged Table Lamp, £55, available from the end of August.
Laura Ashleys gold cushions start from £15, and gold antique mirrors start from £100. Marks & Spencer Deco Metallic cushion, decorated in gold sequins, £19.50.
SILVER: Argos has a sleek silvered Teardrop Table lamp, £24.79, and shiny silver Tapered Ceramic candle holders, £6.99 a pair.
Menus sleek Silver Sphere Vase, made of hand-blown glass with a silver interior is £19.95.
GLITTER GANG
:: Andrew Martin: 020 7225 5100/www.andrewmartin.co.uk
:: Argos: 0970 600 2020/www.argos.co.uk
:: Bisazza Tiles: 020 7584 8837/www.bisazza.com
:: Debenhams: 08445 616 161/www.debenhams.com
:: Falcon: 0870 755 6486/www.falconappliances.co.uk
:: Fired Earth: 0845 366 0400/www.firedearth.com
:: Graham & Brown: 0800 3288 452/www.grahambrown.com
:: Harveys Furniture: 0870 120 4848/www.harveysfurniture.co.uk
:: Joanna Wood: 020 7730 5064/www.joannawood.co.uk
:: Laura Ashley: 0871 230 2301/www.lauraashley.com
:: Linwood: 01425 461 176/www.linwoodfabric.com
:: Marks & Spencer: 0845 603 1603/www.marksandspencer.com
:: Menu: www.menu.as
:: Ripples: 0870 750 1626/www.ripples.ltd.uk
:: Swaffer: 01733 371 727/www.swaffer.co.uk
:: Villeroy & Boch: 020 8875 6060/www.villeroy-boch.com
:: Waterford: 0800 039 0077/www.waterford.com
:: New Decor, by Elizabeth Wilhide, is published by Quadrille, priced
£14.99. Out July 2007.
|
 |
|
