Parisian Perfection

I was instantly taken with this beautiful Parisian apartment and it's brave colour palette. The young couple who own the apartment wanted a space that was both quiet and vibrant, contemporary with exotic touches. I think they achieved that.

When greeted with matt black walls and a suspension of copper and neon tubing in the entrance, you know there'll be more excitement to come. Simple but striking.

The light, bright living room is a contrast to the moody entrance. A mix of antique and contemporary furniture coexist happily on a large custom made rug.

A gorgeous big fan palm in the corner of the living room provides a link to the foliage wallpaper in the dining room beyond. Although there is a lot of pattern going on with the checked fabric and palm frond wallpaper around the dining table, it works because they both consist of the some palette - green, black and white.

A stunning use of jewel colours in the library creates an intimate, cosy space. The blue velvet sofa is absolutely beautiful, and the books and pictures seemingly float on the matt black walls.

Emerald green kitchen tiles continue the theme of jewel tones and black, and a Cardoso stone bench top adds more subtle texture.

In the bedroom warm tones of brass and wood are balanced by the indigo bedding. In the bathroom a marble bath is tucked into an alcove and a wooden cover converts into a bench.

photography by Yannick Labrousse

Such a stunning apartment, don't you agree?! I hope this encourages some of you to take some risks and be bold with your decorating.

A Starting Point

To create a welcoming and cohesive living room you need to have a starting point and work from there. Choose a piece of art, a rug, or a favourite piece of furniture and let that determine the style and colour palette. 

These first three images have a strong piece of art as the focal point, and everything works around it. Pick two or three colours from the art to use in furniture and accessories. This will create a common thread to tie it all together.

1 | 2 | 3

A rug is another excellent starting point, and is like a work of art in itself. If, like me, you love a patterned rug, then let that be the 'hero' and everything else should compliment it. Using the same rule as the artwork, let the rug dictate your colour palette working with three main tones.

1 | 2 | 3

You'll often find that you unconsciously create a common thread with your colour palette as you're drawn to certain colours. Mine is blue with accents of pink and yellow. That doesn't mean you can't have the odd splash of green, or a touch of black, but keep your top three consistent and you'll have a harmonious room.

Armadillo&Co | New Rugs

I've just received images of the latest releases from Armadillo&Co, my favourite rug designer and supplier, and I love them all. Let me introduce you...

'Sierra Weave' is a beautiful wool rich blend available in the delicious natural colours of pumice, silt, and chalk. Reminiscent of a soft, cosy jumper, it will bring warmth and fabulous texture into your room.

One of the first Flower Weave designs, 'Zinnia', is back better than ever. Available in natural and pewter, it's 5ft (1.55m) in diameter.

A new member of the Flower Weave family is 'Geranium', woven from 100% soft Bangladeshi hemp. Bringing personality and earthy charm to any space, Geranium is a generous 6ft (1.8m) in diameter. You'll be pleasantly surprised how soft these Flower Weave rugs are, they're simple gorgeous!

The Junior Collection is so delightful and it just keeps getting better. These four new designs combine muted, natural backgrounds with eye-catching colour. Available in two sizes - 1.4x2m and 1.7x2.4m.

Caterpillar

Rainbow

Rainbow

Confetti

Confetti

Bunting

If you want any further information, or would like to purchase any Armadillo rugs, send me an email. A rug is such an important part of your room, and adds such great impact. An Armadillo rug will be a welcome investment for your home.