MY DESIGN SERIES

I always get excited when the Vamp Funriture news letter comes into my inbox. I’ve been watching it for a few months now, waiting for the perfect little side tables. Woohoo! These little tables, in the perfect colours for our bedroom, were sold in a second!

An anglepoise lamp works well over the bed as a feature, especially with low side tables, that don’t really work for bedside lamps. We got ours from The Lighting Warehouse.

AMERICAN shutters (as used here) keep us up to date with the latest in decor trends.

( Above: Your shutter choices)

In 2011, home décor creates a sense of calm, a contrast from the chaos of modern life, whilst aiming to be environmentally sustainable.

Rethink

For many, the expense of selling and the slow property market has made home renovation an attractive option. The sentiment is, ‘Why move when you can improve?’  When it comes to making home improvements, the form and function of rooms are being considered more than ever before.

This year the home office has come into its own. Gone are the tucked away, stuffy libraries and dusty studies of yesteryear; today’s home office is fresh, welcoming and seamlessly integrates into the home.

City slickers in open-plan urban loft-style apartments can create a stylish separation between ‘work’ and ‘play’ with internal bi-fold or by-pass shutters. “Internal shutters allow for easy manipulation of the dimensions of a room and in open plan homes, offer a measure of privacy and insulation without the loss of space”, explains Palmer.

Recycle

The inconvenient truth of global warming has inspired designers to rethink product design and look for stylish ways to make green living feel as natural as breathing. What’s more, conscientious homeowners are making a difference at home by investing in environmentally sustainable home décor and fittings.

“Our eco-range of Decowood shutters and Privacy blinds are examples of home fittings that encompass green ideals but don’t compromise on high quality and style that adds real value”, states Palmer.

She explains “The Decowood shutters are made from medium density fibreboard and manufactured using engineered wood composite sourced from certified Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) plantations.  Wood composite production incurs very little waste with up to 95% of a tree being utilised as opposed to 68% being utilised to manufacture solid wood products”.

The Privacy custom-fit blinds offer exceptional light block-out with its slot-free slats and tight louvre closure. And because they are made from lightweight and durable Kiri wood – a rapid-growth tree which releases up to 6kg of pure oxygen per day, it’s the perfect eco-friendly way to dress windows”.

Renew

Once considered ‘old junk,’ vintage suitcases, clocks, ball and claw style furniture and even doilies are seeing a revival as the increasingly popular vintage décor trend grows.

Furthermore, we’re all being urged to recycle and in design this is being interpreted in soft furnishings, art and home fittings. “To this end, we offer a range of Security Shutters, made from 100% recycled aluminium, that are an attractive alternative to burglar bars”, shares Palmer.

The renewal trend also extends to colour and beige tones in particular. This long-standing colour favourite for home decor has also undergone an update with new neutrals that are simply serene in shades of grey. Softened with white and enhanced by deeper shades like charcoal and aubergine, grey is the colour of sophistication in 2011.

“We have recently introduced a new range of Larchwood shutters in three gorgeous shades of grey to complement this trend. Both our internal and external Larchwood shutters are available in a variety of custom colour finishes but are equally attractive in their raw wood state to complement the current trend for natural design finishes”, reveals Palmer.

“Whether it’s with inspiration from the past or the future, AMERICAN shutters currently has a range of customisable shutters or binds to enhance the form and function of all interior designs in the ‘greenest’ of ways”, concludes Palmer.