Create the kind of serene aesthetic that’s very much in line with this year’s focus on calm, natural spaces. Simple, clean, stone-effect worktops and cabinets will provide a firm foundation to build on.
Once the basics are sorted, it’s up to you. Feel free to bring in some colour and fun. “Changing your light fitting is a great way of updating a kitchen space quickly and effectively,” says interior designer Laura Melville-Brown. She recently styled a converted barn in north Devon. One of the finishing touches was a playful, contemporary chandelier above the kitchen table. “It doesn’t have to break the bank,” adds Laura.
Stylish pops of colour can be cooked up in no time by choosing the right appliance. The team at Rangemoors in Winkleigh say contemporary electric range cookers are growing in popularity, and colour palettes have shifted away from the traditional green, claret and cream options. Instead, buyers are picking vibrant colours, stainless steel and glossy blacks. Brass trim is making a strong comeback, often chosen over steel or chrome alternatives.
If your kitchen/dining space is open-plan, consider filling it with homegrown talent. There’s been a lean towards British-made furniture that’s built to last. Splashing out on an Ercol table, or a cabinet, bench or barstool made here in Devon will bring some timeless charm to the hub of the home.
Get the look: Find inspiration for artisan-made furniture at Ambrose Vevers, a woodsman based in Ashburton who produces contemporary furniture and kitchenware using traditional craft techniques.
Cultivating a biophilic interior will create a sense of harmony in your living space. Biophilia – the practice of integrating natural elements and patterns into the indoors – is still bang on-trend. You can be at one with nature and include the latest designs by using botanical-inspired wallpapers or a lush and leafy tropical mural. Be bold with your choices.
“Living rooms are a wonderful space to embrace a dramatic pattern or a large-scale mural, and wallpapering all four walls is the simplest way to achieve a truly impactful design change,” says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at luxury paint and wallpaper firm Little Greene. She adds that designs featuring colourful flowers, tropical birds and exotic trees can help you to relax and unwind. “Biophilic designs such as these are really effective in giving the illusion of a window to the world or a sense of escapism, blurring the lines between the exterior and interior and delivering the beauty of nature into your home.”
You can also take inspiration from the seasonal palette when it comes to background colours. Gently comforting terracottas are the current shades of choice and will bring a cosy glow to your living room.
Prefer the minimal look? That works too. Jose Cortizo, director at Devon Stone and Jam Interiors, says he’s seen a big shift towards Scandinavian-inspired tones. “Paring everything right down seems to be a big trend at the moment. We currently have about five or six projects on the go like that.”
Cosy things up with a woodburner. Demand is still high, according to local firms. And eco-design regulations mean that modern stoves are more efficient than ever. If you go electric, opt for the ones with realistic flame technology and make them part of your ‘media wall’.
Get the look: Ivy & Ethel, based in Exeter, is a brand of handcrafted, high-end wallpaper designs, many with influences from the local landscape, including Dartmoor (featured in our SS 24 edition). And Farrow & Ball’s Red Earth is a lovely, warm and soft shade.
Space doesn’t get more personal than in the bedroom, so it’s important to fill it with things you love. Having the bedroom tailor-made to suit your personality is an obvious but well-defined interior design style that’s really being pushed this year. ‘Personalisation’, as it’s known in the trade, is about expressing your story and your life through the medium of colour and pattern (and pillows and throws).
Quiet and sophisticated? Muted shades and luxurious layers of blankets and throws will help you relax at the end of a long day. More of a party animal? Use bold, playful patterns and colour to make your mark. Statement headboards are still having a moment and a great way to add a personal touch.
“They’re a brilliant way to breathe new life into a bedroom,” says Laura, adding that headboards are a blank canvas. “We’ve taken inspiration from the deer we see most mornings with a beautiful, heavy-weave material called Balmoral Indigo from Warner House.”
Laura also suggests repurposing items that you love to elevate your bedroom style. “Framing is a good way of salvaging an item and staying sustainable,” she says. “Antique screens that are too delicate to display in their original form can become beautiful wall art.”
Making your bedroom a personal sanctuary also means hiding your tech. The move to create smart tech spaces means making your home more convenient and efficient but also recognising that we need to keep it out of sight and mind, when necessary. Integrate where you can and go wireless as much as possible. Automated lighting systems, including those that can be programmed to work with our circadian rhythms, are not just a flash into the future. These sorts of systems are available now.
Get the look: On Sundays, South Molton flea market is full of great antiques if you’re looking for screens or other one-off finds. For a great bedroom colour, experiment with the pale, caramel tone of Farrow & Ball’s archive shade, Cane. And Intelligent Abodes in Marsh Barton, Exeter, can create a smart tech space in your home. Also in Exeter, Amos Lighting can help to illuminate your bedroom.
Mix materials for a modern bathroom look that will also stand the test of time. Sleek glass, natural woods and tiles will work together, whatever size space you have to play with. And don’t be afraid to mix colours and patterns. Whether you want to stay light or go to the dark side (bolder hues are definitely dominating), be brave and turn your bathroom into a haven, not just a functional pit stop.
Get the look: Honiton Tile and Bathroom can help you create the perfect look, or check out Trinity Marine in Dunsford for some salvaged nautical bathroom lighting.
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