With many suppliers displaying some fabulous products, that are set to be big is 2012, so here’s my take, from that show, on the trends that are due to be big:

Traditional shaped furniture with a modern twist

We’re talking classic design, but brought right up to date. Sofas shapes are looking back to the 1950’s and even earlier to inject some real glamour and form back into our upholstery.  They’re far cosier than the early designs though.

These chairs show exactly how this trend works – with a traditional wing chair design covered in charcoal wool and lifted with the mustard silk cushion.

Bright, bold colours

This year, bright and colours are going to be hitting our homes with a bang! Different colour palettes lend themselves to a number of styles – from more muddy colours for the retro schemes, tropical colours for modern, clean spaces, and strong, period colours adding depth to traditional interiors. Used in various different ways, they enable you to stay on trend and on budget. I have to say, these modern, bright lights really stood out for me – perfect for family spaces!

All in the detail

Less is definitely more in this trend, and it’s about keeping it quite minimal, but ensuring the detail speaks volumes throughout the scheme. Sofas with contrasting trims are going to be very big, following on from how we’ve seen a rise in popularity of contrasting buttons on various upholstery items.  Using patchwork is still a lovely way to make your interior unique – as seen on one of the entrance displays on the way in to the arenas – this display was great at showcasing a real vintage theme, set off with these fab chairs.

But be careful here as it has to be used in the right way – too much detail and it all merges in to one. Choose your pieces carefully to ensure you get the right impact with them.

What’s ticking all the boxes?

Well, for one example, this fantastic new range of occasional furniture. It would work in so many homes and you don’t have to be a fan of the 1950’s to love it. Just the bookcase alone in a dining room or hallway would create a fab focal point – plus it literally hits every one of the trends above!

And what’s not?

Well for me, it has to be this sofa and chair set…

Just a little taster – but hope it’s got you excited to start thinking of ways to update your home! Would be great to hear your thoughts so feel free to add your comment below

Interior Design Projects and Articles from Furnished By Anna

I know that my flat isn’t to everyone’s taste, but I absolutely love it! I love bright colours and bold patterns, but only used in the right amount as I love the clean and airy feeling. I’m really in to prints where the inspiration is natural items such as leaves. Sophie Warren-Smith was the stylist on the shoot and it was great to work with both her and Lu.

The readers comments were really positive which was a relief to be honest. It’s always nervous showing your own home to others as they expect a lot from an Interior Designer. One of the readers, Leigh, said “You can tell Anna is a designer as her home is fantastic – one of the nicest I’ve seen. Painting the doors green was brave, but works really well”. Thanks Leigh! If you’d like to leave me a comment too, then there’s a box at the bottom of this page.

Excuse the not so great photos of me, but I’ve scanned the article in for you to have a look at too:

Sophie is a brilliant interiors stylist who works for lots of magazines. She has her own blog “all things stylish and beautiful” which you can read here. Lu is a fab photographer who reguarly features in home magazines. To get inspiration from other homes she’s photographed, take a look at her website.

Interior Design Projects and Articles from Furnished By Anna

So I thought I’d ask one of our previous clients how the process was for them. I worked with Ann and Trevor on the renovation of 3 of their rooms (you can read a little more on the project page here…).  It was a huge renovation project and so heres how they felt during the project and why they sought the help of an interior designer:

Ann, you have a really good eye for interiors yourself, so what made you look for an interior designer?

The main reason for deciding to go with you was time.  Working full time at that stage meant that I did not have the time to source either decorators and/or products.  In addition Trevor and I have very different tastes and although I usually get my own way I thought it would be good to get a third person’s view on what would work!

Were you nervous? If so, how did you feel and did this change as the process went on?

Yes we were nervous especially as we both like to think we know what is best and because we were investing a great deal of money in this project!  We had to get our heads around trusting someone else to carry out both the design and the work and that did not come easy.  This was the first time we had used an interior designer so both of us did not really know what to expect and it did take a while for us to just let you get on with things.   We gradually learnt to do this by you showing us that you could deal with any thing we needed.

Do you feel you had a lot of input in to the project?

We did have a lot of input and found that you were always willing to compromise whilst keeping to the design themes agreed upon.

Does it feel like your home?

Although everything is done to a high specification it is still a home and is very comfortable whilst being very impressive.

So even if it might feel a bit nervy at first, the brilliant guys who work with me on the renovations and I ensure that we’re in control of everything, in as much contact with you as needed and in the end, deliver a fantastic result!

Interior Design Projects and Articles from Furnished By Anna

The room designs had to have mass appeal with the emphasis on the carpet itself, and rooms designed to show how the carpet can suit many styles and tastes – without a specific one to work towards. It was a real challenge to work on but really enjoyable!

My favourite shot was this bedroom one – we designed two totally different themes using the same range of carpet, to show how the same range can be used across a number of schemes and tastes.

Interior Design Projects and Articles from Furnished By Anna

So I opened the September news from Harlequin about their new Kallianthi range and thought ‘Oooooo!’. Bright colours, modern patterns, something a little bit different and some fantastic designs. And it looks a bit familiar. Like the Clarissa Hulse wallpaper I had in my bedroom. Then lo and behold, it turns out this is the Clarissa Hulse for Harlequin Collection.

Now bear with me, I did feel a bit miffed as I like little known wonders and something a bit different! It took me ages and ages to find the perfect wallpaper for my bedroom and I do love Clarissa Hulse designs. Okay I know that there was some bed linen with House of Fraser so she was opening up her designs to more people but I like things that aren’t normally seen – something to make each room stand out, in my home and my clients! Something that’s not in every interior’s shop window.

But this collection is beautiful.  They’ve won me over and as more people start to see these designs around I’ll hopefully get to use one of my favourite designers more often!

Harlequin say that Clarissa has designed the collection by  “drawing on a number of influences, including her love of plants, pressed flowers and all things botanical, long walks in the countryside and her half-Greek heritage…The collection rejoices in glorious fusions of bright and bold, offset by pared back neutrals: tumeric, magenta, paprika and chartreuse; hot pinks, coral and stone; indigo, aqua, lime and ashes of roses; pebble and shocking pink; absinthe, citrine and putty; charcoal, ash and cloud.” How colourful does that sound??!

I say that the deep orange colours are bang on trend for interiors at the moment and I just love the Grasses design. You can imagine these designs sitting perfectly with some fantastic oversized furniture and lots of candles on the go for a beautiful winter’s evening.

Feeling brave? Then you can go to town with the colours and mix and match the fabrics together brilliantly. It’s coordinated without being matchy matchy. Going all out you can use these to create a modern morrocan theme in your house. Warm and inviting yet still contemporary.

Just want to dip your toes in the water? Mix in these earthy and natural patterns in more of the netural and metallic colours. They’ll work with tons of schemes and even as a couple of cushions will just inject a little bit of something different in to your room.

You can see more pictures of the collection here and leave me a comment below as I’d love to know what you think of it too!

Interior Design Projects and Articles from Furnished By Anna

Delivery slots are vague at the best of times, but what if something goes wrong? Send it back and start again. And more time at home waiting??!

Not with me! Listening to my clients on prevous projects, this was a major source of annoyance for them, and so I wanted to promote how we take care of all of this for you. My suppliers work with me so that things are there when needed. We collate and organize all the beautiful new items that are waiting to go in to your new room, check them over, keep them safe and then one day, we turn up with a big van and put them all in the room – instantly transforming it. You can be there if you like, or you can be at work! But you have total piece of mind that everything is going to be there.

Inevitably, I won’t lie, there’s the odd time when things don’t go as smoothly as I like. On one project a bed was out of stock for weeks and weeks. But in these rare instances the client was kept updated as much as I could and after I’d made lots of phone calls and emails to the supplier for news I was there at 7.30am one morning for the first possible slot the guys had to come and install the new bed.

All part of the service – one delivery of furniture and one point of contact for any queries. Makes things so much easier and saves your holiday time for holidays!

Interior Design Projects and Articles from Furnished By Anna

Personally I love it as it gives history to the piece and also it a real talking point to the room. It also gives you the option to have it exactly how you would like it! I was asked to comment on an article Katheryn Sharman was writing for UK Handmade Magazine, and it featured the pink chair in my living room, which started life as a traditonal wing back chair in a duck egg damask fabric. It’s being totally changed by the Designers Guild Hot Pink fabric and green buttons, and everyone comments on how much they like it when they come in!

Kathryn has her own blog that read more on here

Interior Design Projects and Articles from Furnished By Anna