Autumnal Colours Bring the Tasteful Warmth of Spice

As the evenings begin to draw in and the summer fruits ripen on the trees, colours mellow from vibrant summer pinks and greens to the warm hues of russet and gold. Sumptuous textures and engaging designs mean fabrics this season are comforting and confident. 

Many of the russet hues of Autumn are named after spices - and rightly so - they bring warmth with their tasteful style. In this article we look at how a bedroom can look mellow in chantreuse;  a funky spice pattern brings autumnal style to a retro living room and how burnt orange can be used in a traditional living room to bring comfort and style.

Read on.....

Inspired by French Liqueur - Chantreuse 

   

 This bedroom uses a chair in the colour Chantreuse with browns and beige to give a clean modern look. A made-to-measure eyelet curtain reaches elegantly to the ground, providing the perfect backdrop for the main feature - a large bed.

Chantreuse is the name of a French liqueur which is actually a yellow-apple green.  Made up of 50% yellow and 50% green, the colour Chantreuse sits beautifully with autumnal colours.

Spice up your life!

Featuring the colour spice - this funky fabric called Fjord Ferle gives a really uplifting autumnal ambiance to any living room. Other similar fabrics in colours such as Cayenne, Paprika and Cinnamon continue the spiced theme.

Confident Traditional Styling

 

This fabulous fabric in burnt orange shows how Autumnal colours can lend warmth and style to a traditional room. 

Choose browns and oranges for your living room now the kids are back at school. Be bold with vibrant orange – you won’t regret it as Autumn light fades into winter. Claim the space as your own.

The timeless qualities of Dusky Pink

There is a reason why dusky pink is a best seller on the Aspire Made-to-measure Curtains and Blinds website.  It is calming, versatile and can be used almost like a neutral - with some fabulous results.

Inspired by this article on WGSN I decided to write a short article about why Dusky Pink has such a timeless quality. Starting with its traditional roots, exploring how Farrow and Ball paints has influenced its success and ending with some practical uses.

Traditionally pretty in Pink

We all think of pink as being a very very feminine colour - used classically in a little girl's room you can see how inviting it looks.  Pink is calming and safe, comforting and warm - all with a light, uplifting feel.

Indulge your feminine side and treat the special little ladies in your life to a beautiful dusky pink room,  Be careful not to stray into the sickly pink, bubble-gum hues which is hard to make tasteful or elegant.  

Contrast with sky blue to prevent the room becoming flat and enjoy!

Calming Chamomile

Described as dusty and romantic Smoked Trout from Farrow and Ball is packed with a variety of pigments which gives it a magical quality. In darker areas it appears to be a dark mushroom tone but in well lit rooms it appears almost purple, giving it a romantic and almost ‘dusty' feel. The perfect dusky pink.

But my favourite is the lighter Chamomile, named after the lotion. It is delicately fresh and has a blue undertone which prevents it from being too sugary. Both would match this beautiful fabric from Aspire Curtains and Blinds called Marisa.

In the Pink

Putting a modern twist on pink is easy.  With the current trend for vintage, pink can be seen in every trendy cafe and hotel.  However, clever designers are giving it a really contemporary twist pairing it with grey and mustard.  I love it - but you'd have to be really careful where you used those three colours together!

Eleven Ways to use white for windows

Bright, light whites and creams bring to mind feelings of purity, cleanliness, and airiness. These tones are often lovely for pairing with a bold accent colour or black for a modern feel, or touches of browns or other natural tones for a subdued and elegant look. Shared spaces like living rooms can be made to feel larger and roomier by playing with these psychological effects of the colour white.

Here we address the tonal qualities of white to give you eleven ways to use white soft-furnishings in your room.

1.     Snow White for Children’s Rooms

This crisp, clean white gives the purity of the colour a cold backdrop. The colour snow white as a subtle hint of blue in it, so beware of using snow white in a north facing room or one with very few windows. You may add an unwanted chill which could make the room feel unwelcoming.

The colour  works well in children’s rooms when paired with pastels, which appear to pop when placed next to snow white. It can be remarkable practical for curtains in a child’s room by providing a constant neutral backdrop when the décor in the room is updated as the child grows. However, teaming white curtains with blackout blinds is highly recommended, if you want to get any sleep!

2.     Arctic White in a study

The deep blue tones in arctic white give it a clean crisp finish.  The colour is great when used as a neutral when a modern minimalist finish is desired. And ideal when used with black.  If arctic white is overused it can give the feeling of ‘snow blindness’ making a room appear featureless and dull.  Layer the colour with tonal whites for a more homely look or contrast starkly with a strong colour for impact.  

Arctic white roman blinds are ideal in an office or study.  They serve to keep the room fresh and light, while shielding the worst of the glare of the sun from screens.

3.     Ivory for classy living rooms

Warm tonal shades of white, such as ivory are great for living rooms and communal spaces.  The use of a light colour lifts the energy in the room and gives a far more uplifting neutral than beige.  Installing Ivory coloured curtains and an ivory sofa allows the savvy homeowner to make the room work year round.  Introducing new accessories each season - even moving the furniture - makes the décor in the room as varied and interesting as modern life.

Don’t be afraid of the practicalities of using white in such a busy space.  Modern fabrics are easy to clean and the shabby-chic look relaxes the rules when it comes to perfect white.

4.     White in dining rooms

Think crisp white linen; think sheer white curtains and white folded napkins.  Whether you’re planning a romantic dinner for two or using all the spare chairs in the house on Christmas Day white can unify any space to create a stunning dining room.

If the flooring in your kitchen differs from your dining room, you can unify the two spaces by using white linen and soft furnishings. And white goes with anything! So, whether you’re using the best china or plastic picnic plates you’ll be able to create the perfect atmosphere for your dining room with white curtains, blonds and table linen.

5.     Chrystal white for bathrooms

Where else do we classically see white but in the bathroom?  It is a classic look for a reason.  It works. The more turquoise blue in crystal lends itself to the watery world of bathrooms. When you want a room to appear clean and fresh there is no better colour than chrystal white.

White blinds and soft, sheer curtains soften the light in a bathroom making the first glance in the mirror on a cold winters morning that little bit easier.

Often the smallest room in a house, using white in a bathroom can often make it appear more spacious, especially with added mirrors.  This gives you an ideal backdrop to accessories in line with the personality of your home.

6.     Chalk white in hallways

With a warm tone, chalk white can open up cramped hallways without making them feel cold. Corridors and passages seem to have more space with the light reflecting qualities of chalk white. And what nicer way to welcome someone to your home? Entrances and landings suit the white treatment.

Chalk white never seems boring like beige, yet it can be used in all the same ways. Used in a hallway it has the ability to co-ordinate with all the coloured rooms which open onto it, unifying them.  The ultimate in versatility.

7.     Textured fabrics in white

Where white can be stark and cold, a white textured fabric helps to overcome this.  Softening the appearance with the tonal effects of texture printed or woven into a fabric can give a luxurious, opulent look to a home.

Take care when mixing textures as well as colours. When done well a pair of white curtains with a contrasting blind can look amazing.

8.     Go dotty for spots on white blinds

The upbeat tend for spots, particularly in kitchens, allows the designer to add colour, with the open space of white.  Spots can be in a single colour matched with co-ordinating block colours or choose a curtain fabric which brings your room together with multi-coloured spots on a white background.  Most of all – have fun!

9.     Formal stripes

Stripes have added impact when they include white.  The contrast allows the colours to sing.  Whether bold bright or calming pastels, there are some fabulous fabrics which make use of stripes and white to great effect.

Vertical stripes add height to a room; making a large window into a striking feature. Horizontal stripes are used to declare bands of colour – often ringing a room together. Beware when buying horizontal striped curtains that the stripes exactly match when the curtains are closed.

10.Checks and gingham

Whether contemporary or classic, checks are synonymous with style and so easy to use. Checked curtains instantly give a room status.  We often see them in hotels and castles where their timeless quality adds to the atmosphere.

Make sure to pattern match your checks along the seams of your soft furnishings.  A mis-match is particularly noticeable when the curtains are drawn or when lengths are joined in large windows.

11.Whites and florals

Nothing says summer more than floral white curtains blowing in a gentle breeze. And when it is not sunny outside, remind yourself of hazy, lazy days with summer blooms all year round. Using white a a background to your floral curtains allows the fabric to co-ordinate with the rest of the room.

Beware of using busy floral fabrics in a room which has other fussy features – stick with a dainty design.  Colour match your binds, curtains, tie-backs and cushions by purchasing them from the same supplier.

Using Black for Curtains and Blinds

Never underestimate the power of black in a room.  In this short article we outline ways in which the colour affects the atmosphere of a room and reveal nine shade of black fabrics used for curtains to achieve very specific results.

Choose black as a neutral

Black can be used as a neutral backdrop to give a feeling of depth to your room. At Aspire, we can offer a variety of black curtains, from the simplicity of block colour to interesting textured and print designs. Black can be seen as a non-colour which absorbs light and reflects nothing back. It is best when used in moderation. You can use them to create a blank starting point upon which to build the style of your room.

Use black for contrast

Choosing black curtains will make other colours stand out and create a great contrast. Black can make other colours appear brighter, and combining black with red or orange will create a passionate and powerful colour scheme. And black curtains work well to temper the sugary sweetness of pinks, pastels and florals.

Practical ways to use black to make things cosy

Black curtains are also practical as they help to reduce daylight even without a full blackout lining, and help to keep a room dark during the summer months. Like other dark colours, black can make large rooms appear smaller; making them feel more cosy and homely, and even a well-lit room looks darker with a lot of black.

Choosing the length of curtains to reflect your style

If you want to create a formal feel in your room, use black curtains and let the fabric gather slightly at the floor, or for a more informal feel, use black curtains that are the same length and width as your window opening. Whatever style you go for, your black curtains will refresh your room to create a powerful and elegant statement with minimal effort!

Things to avoid when choosing black curtains:

Don’t use it as a base colour, if not handled correctly – it can be depressing - think of all those angst-ridden teenage bedrooms! Never allow the curtains to come into contact with bleach – and take care the black doesn’t fade with washing, we’d recommend a professional clean.

Great for: 

Black curtains are great for tempering the sweetness of other sugary colours such as pink – especially with slightly textured fabric. They also add great drama to vibrant colours – by creating the biggest of contrasts.

Getting the shade of black curtains ‘just right’

The devil is in the detail! If you can narrow down your choice of black to an exact shade, you’ll get a far more cohesive look to your room.  Compare all these black fabrics from our website which also show a name for their ‘shade’.  To make really sure you have the colour you need make sure you request as many of our free samples as you’d like.

Blacks available on the Aspire Curtains and Blinds website:

Charcoal

The shade ‘Charcoal’ gives a hint of grey to black, softening it.  Here we see a sample of Bethan, a traditional design with a checked pattern, with black accents.  Great use of black as a neutral.

Click to read more and to order a sample of Bethan in Charcoal.

Ebony

The shade ‘Ebony’ gives a much deeper, darker shade of black; useful  when a sense of drama is required.  Here the sample shows the abstract pattern ‘Astrid’. 

Click this link to read more about the use of ‘Astrid’ in ‘ebony’ for curtains in your room – or to order a free fabric swatch.

Graphite

Graphite is a shade of black softened a little with a hint of grey.  Here is it mixed with grey circles on the abstract fabric ‘Sphere’. This fabric would be great subduing intense light or balance vivid colours.

Click this link for more about the use of ‘Sphere’ in ‘graphite’ for curtains in your room – or to order a free fabric swatch.

Jet

When you simply want the blackest of blacks, and nothing else will do, you can do no worse than choose a fabric in the shade ‘jet’.  It will tame the light in a room when used beside vibrant colours and florals – and add a real sense of drama when used as an accent.

To order a swatch of Kendal fabric in the colour jet, simply complete the form and we will rush one out to you.

Liquorice

Bringing forward the playful side of black, the colour ‘liquorice’ has a warm undertone making it ideal for abstract designs in contemporary and modern spaces. Use to make cosy spaces from oversized rooms.

For a free sample of The fabric elegance shown here, simply click this link and complete the form.

Midnight

The shade ‘midnight’ has a deep, dark, cold blue hue behind it.  This gives it a cool masculine feel. It is up to you to exploit this for a bachelor pad or contrast it with hot pinks for balance. A really versatile shade of black, show here in dramatic horizontal stripes.

Follow this link to request a free sample of the striped black and grey fabric ‘Tara’ in the shade ‘midnight’.

Mineral

The shade ‘mineral’ has a subtle brown, making it a great match for stone, cream and neutral rooms.  Here it is shown in the fabric ‘Java’ in an abstract design which would liven up a potentially dull corner in an otherwise neutral room.

Click this link to request a fabric swatch of ‘Java’ in the shade ‘mineral’ and to read more about ordering made to measure curtains and blinds for your project.

Noir

‘Noir’ - being the French term for black, depicts a strong black with a cool undertone.  This fabric called ‘Patrice’ has a subtle pattern allowing it to be used as a softer background than a plain fabric.

Click this link to request a fabric swatch of ‘Patrice’ in the shade ‘noir’ and to read more about ordering made to measure curtains and blinds for your project.

Slate

The shade of black called slate has a definite grey hue to it – indeed it could be argued that slate is a very dark grey. However, with such dark tones it can be used in exactly the same way as a black, where a softer contrast is required.

To see a fabric swatch of the Kiso fabric in slate follow this link and complete the form.

To see the full range of black fabrics available via the Aspire Curtains and Blinds website please follow this link or view our Pinterest Board.

Texture to add atmosphere

We have five senses and great interior design engages all of them.  Imagine the smell of a soft-leather suite, the touch of luxury fabrics, the hushed sound of footsteps muffled by a deep pile rug and the taste of freshly baked bread. Well OK, perhaps not the bread, but you get the idea. Appeal to more than that which our eyes can see and suddenly your room has atmosphere and ambiance.

KEY IDEAS

1.   Before starting on your room, include a variety of textures in your mood board
2.   Rough stone floors, deep pile rugs or minimalist matting – instant atmosphere
3.   Vintage furniture may bring the aroma of its history – are you comfortable with that? Or would a bit of restoration mask some of the charm – but all of the smell!
4.   Exposed brick work may look fab in your loft apartment – but warm throws on the sofa and furs on the floor will get you through a British winter
5.   That gentle click of the slow closing cupboard – quality will show through in your furniture.  If you want a luxury feel make sure your sofa springs don’t squeak and your cupboard doors don’t slam.

 However you choose to decorate your room, make sure the atmosphere you create engages all your senses and that it a perfect reflection of the aspirational you.

Feel-good Interior Design

More than a synonym for luxury, the word luxe extends the concept from expensive and high quality, to the condition of being elegantly sumptuous. So where on-trend, nature inspired interiors could drift into looking ‘rustic’ or even ‘worthy’, bringing in a luxe element allows rooms to glow and the warmth of comfort.  The addition of luxe to a nature-inspired room is particularly useful when for in bedrooms or living rooms.

Ways to add luxe to your room:

Accessorise, Accessorise, Accessorise

Adding golden or bronze objets to your room brings instant luxe.  Work within the context of your surroundings – but be prepared to go big.  Big works best when it comes to luxe. Think mirrors, metallic sculptures and door furniture.

Fabrics and Furnishings

There are some fabulous lustre fabrics available. And hanging next to the window means that the shiny fabrics will give off a lovely glow. Made-to-measure curtains will ensure a quality finish and lift any room to elegantly sumptuous.

We can all benefit from nature, but bringing a little luxury into our lives helps us feel even more special.  The nature luxe is a really feel-good way to decorate your room.

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Four reasons I use blinds in my kids’ rooms

Decorating a bedroom for a child is great fun.  With the enormous range of fabulous products on the market it’s hard not to go overboard!  However, there is one thing I always choose. I always buy blinds for the windows.  And here’s why...

1 They’re Practical

The practical side of me want my child’s room not only dark at night – but also at nap time.  So blackout blinds are essential.  I tend to go belt and braces here buying both black-out curtains and blinds to ensure everyone gets to sleep soundly.

2 They Protect

With the light on passersby can see directly into your home.  If your child’s bedroom or playroom is at street level, protect them from prying eyes by fitting translucent blinds.  These will allow the light in whilst at the same time protecting them from unwanted attention.

3 They’re Safe

Fitted close to the window, blinds do not cause a trip hazard unlike long curtains. Ideally use cordless blinds or make sure the cords have a cleat and breakaway fixings. There is an enormous range of child-friendly designs on the market and all are designed with child safety in mind thanks to standards brought in during 2014.

4 They’re Stylish

Pick a colour, any colour and you can get a blind to match.  Made-to-measure blinds are easy to buy online and blinds can be made from any fabric to suit any room. Delivered in less than two weeks blinds are the perfect choice when decorating a child’s room.