Noelle Interiors Top tips

66
20 APRIL 2011
W
www.offalyexpress.ie
OFFALY EXPRESS
Noelle Interiors Top tips
HEN choosing a new
colour scheme for a
room I find the best
way to start is with the curtains
and fabrics. Curtains are a big
feature in a room and can make
or break a scheme. If you’re on a
budget we have some very nice
and good quality ready-made
curtains available. Keep it simple
and classy and you won’t go too
far wrong.
Classic damask Fabrics will
look well in any interior from
traditional to contemporary or
plain silk is timeless. We also
have a large selection of floral
prints and weaves from the
Cath Kidston look to traditional
English and French floral. If you
aspire to bespoke curtains then
you need to get expert advice.
In many cases, a customer will
come in for curtains and I will
advise them on their choices,
pick a paint colour, the carpet
and any other details they will
need to pull the whole room
together. This advice is free with
your curtains and can make
all the difference in getting the
whole look co-ordinated and
avoiding costly mistakes.
Custom-made curtains can
be costly and there is so much
available in fabrics, trims, poles,
pelmets styles etc., this is a whole
art in itself therefore it’s very
important you get expert help
from someone that’s experienced
and has the imagination and
flare for this job.
The price of linings and making
up will always be the same but
fabrics can vary from 25 per
metre to 85 per metre hence the
many varied prices for curtains.
You want these curtains to make
a statement but not dominate
or be subtle but not drab so you
have to be careful that you are
dealing with someone that knows
what they are talking about and
have the ability to achieve the
right results. It’s important to
know if the fabric needs to be
blackout lined or interlined and
how the design details will look
when finished, what style pelmet
is appropriate to the room and
the fabric.
Be careful and choose wisely.
When you have picked the
fabrics from this you can move
on and pick the colour scheme,
the style of the room the furniture
that is most appropriate to this,
and all the accessories down to
the carpets. For example the satin
damask silk will go beautifully
with the antique chaise lounge
you inherited. Or if you really
prefer then try the modern look
and go for the linen and leather
curtains which go beautifully
with the corner suite you have
your eye on.
It’s important to coordinate the
whole project at the one time
so that everything you choose
is towards an overall scheme.
Even if you don’t buy everything
together at least when you have
a plan you have a focus and are
working towards something.
I feel that no matter what the
budget is it is important to get
help. At Noelle Interiors we have
the experience and expertise
to ensure you make the right
choice for you, your life style and
your home.
Noelle Interiors
No. 1 High Street
Tullamore,
Co. Offaly.
www.noelleinteriors.ie
Ph 057 9324555
Mobile 086 3025066
Full frontal floral
FLORALS might be a perennial favourite for
bringing colour and freshness to interiors, but
don’t assume you’ve seen it all before when it
comes to this blooming style. There are always
tempting new interpretations being explored
by designers and this year is no exception. But
remember our fondness for florals endures
precisely because they never fail to give rooms
a zingy lift, with their decorative evocation of
nature.
Even treating a home to a simple scattering
of flowery printed accessories - a cushion here
and a throw there - will lift the spirits, especially
at a time when we’re all craving signs that spring
has truly arrived.
“Floral designs have always been an integral
part of the Irish and British interior, from the
rich tapestries of the medieval nobility to
today’s pared-down patterns by designers such
as Orla Kiely,” says Lawrence Roullier White,
founder of the interiors company of the same
name.
“It’s the stylised manner in which they are
depicted that changes with the mood of the
time. You only have to look at the austerity of
floral designs in the 1940s and the subsequent
over-blown blooms of the Fifties to chart this
change.”
He predicts that flower designs from previous
decades are bursting onto the scene again: “Art
Nouveau floral imagery from the 1900s became
popular again in the 1970s, cladding many a
Biba-babe, and even that ‘no-no’ of generic
deigns - chintz - had new life breathed into it
by Cath Kidston,” he points out.
“Now we’re feeling more confident and
optimistic, powerful Rococo designs with
large, rich blooms are making a resurgence.”
Clare Price, founder of interiors specialist,
The Contemporary Home, shares her view
that florals never fade but acknowledges that
for some, they’re still an acquired taste, partly
because they’re wrongly associated with dated,
fussy interiors.
“You either love florals or hate them, but be
prepared to be surrounded by them this year!”
she predicts. “They endure because of their
versatility, and their ability to conjure memories
of childhood and a rose-tinted recollection of
perfect country gardens. I think tiny, ditzy prints
are proving more popular because they’re easier
to mix with existing items in the home.”
So think beyond the vase - there’s enough
flowery, decorative homeware around for a
dazzling bouquet - without having to raid the
garden.
:: Modern florals
This look works equally well for fans of
romantic, feminine rooms as it does for those
wishing to use colour and pattern to soften
cool, contemporary settings. “Today’s take on
florals is all about creating a floral paradise
which is both chic and modern,” advises Anita
Kaushal, stylist and interiors author.
“So instead of opting for predictable pastel
shades, consider bolder fuschias, bright greens
and blues. Use a dramatic replication of one
striking bloom in a fabric or a wall print, or feel
free to contrast florals with other patterns such
as bold stripes.”
It’s vital, she says, to allow the patterns
to breathe by contrasting them with pale or
neutral backgrounds, and to ensure a scheme
has cohesion by picking out a few key shades in
plain accessories, or other touches like a blind
or curtains.
:: Funky florals
Bright, zingy colours and abstract designs
are a world away from the tranquil pastoral
scenes of yesterday, but they’re serving to make
funky florals a sought after style fit for on-trend
decoristas. “A floral design is perfect for adding
an injection of colour and fun to an otherwise
fashionably neutral interior,” says Lawrence
Roullier White. “Ideally, keep the scheme quite
clean and plump for one statement
“As a general rule, if you want subtle, select
a pattern with a small repeat, but if you want
drama, the bigger the better. It doesn’t even
matter if the repeat is too big for the application.
A cushion with the design ‘bleeding’ off the
edge looks fantastic.”
:: Traditional floral
Classic florals, whether conjuring a country
retreat or those complementing period style,
have long reigned supreme, but even they’ve
been given a facelift to suit 21st century homes.
“The traditional mid-sized floral chintz is
shaking off its image and has been replaced with
new flower prints, which at the moment are
either small and intricate or large statements,”
says designer Joanna Wood.
“Big, statement florals work well in
sophisticated areas such as living rooms, dining
rooms and master bedrooms. Choose where
you want to create a statement within the room
carefully, and select the fabric sparingly on
one highlight area - a large three seater sofa, a
feature wall or a pair of curtains.
“Prints are highly effective in strong colours,
with orange, bold spring greens and pistachio
featuring this year.” She advises flowersprigged, smaller scale prints for smaller, cosy
areas and children’s rooms. Colours can be
traditional - greens, pinks and sky blues - but
modernise the look by mixing the same print in
several colourways within a scheme.”