The New Luxe

There’s a smorgasbord of looks and influences in furniture to gladden the heart this winter but the diverse styles are all underpinned by a single unifying theme: glamour, drama and unabashed luxury. Drop-dead gorgeousness is officially compulsory and combinations of the colour black and glitzy gold are sure to impress.

 

 

Banish all thoughts of dictator chic, however. Despots the world over may have bedecked their gaudy palaces indiscriminately with wall-to-wall onyx marble and 24-carat gold tapware but today’s interior interpretations radiate intelligence and a sprinkling of humour – they are infinitely more considered.

 

Idiosyncratic
The decorate-by-numbers, one-size-fits-all approach has had its day and the backlash against the ordinary continues with a vengeance. Savvy designers are now choosing a single statement piece
of furniture with eye-popping, traffic-stopping appeal. Whether it’s a slick lime green occasional table or a decidedly gothic black console, pieces that your mother won’t approve of are de rigueur.

 

Having introduced a hint of the burlesque, the trick then is to civilise it for contemporary living with a thoughtful selection of accessories. Create table-scapes with artfully positioned objects, as well as flowers, fruit and flickering candles – and animate the visually pleasing order of a still life composition. Add, subtract and move pieces until they’re picture perfect.

 

Asymmetry is the order of the day, as is a certain bohemian haphazardness. And remember, it takes effort to make a finished arrangement look effortless − aim for a serendipitous collection of treasures that seem to have spontaneously materialised to contrast with and complement each other.

 

Comfort
Is there anything more homely and soothing than a capacious armchair overflowing with cushions? Never mind that there’s no room for anyone to sit. Half the fun is in tossing a few of those cushions onto the floor before sinking into the remaining pile. And, when there’s a handcrafted selection of beaded, appliquéd, braided, tasselled, fringed and embroidered cushions on offer, there’s no need to restrict yourself to just one or two.

 

“The more the merrier” is definitely the prevailing sentiment. Some cushions have a light dusting of glitter; others gold relief decoration. Whatever the composition, they all beg to be touched – especially the velvet ones. Tactile, comforting cushions are the macaroni and cheese of the furnishing world – the ultimate pick-me-up on dreary days.

 

Photo finish
“Matt or gloss?” was the question photographic shops always asked when you dropped off a film for developing. Luckily, no such polarised choices need to be made for today’s interiors where almost anything goes as far as sheen, shine and lacquer are concerned. Opaque vessels sitting on a glass-topped table with a check-your-lipstick gleaming chrome frame show the complex interplay of transparency and reflection.

 

 

Although it has only a subtle presence this season, wooden furniture could represent the ultimate in matt finishes. From rough-hewn Vietnamese benches to a 1950s-inspired Danske Møbler sideboard for a shot of retro cool, wood acts as a welcome, organic foil to the less restrained elements on show.

 

Bespoke
Pick-and-mix is all the rage – only with furniture upholstery rather than lollies. In Moooi’s exotic collection, a sofa is tailored to the customer’s requirements with frame, pillows and seat cushions each covered in three distinctly patterned fabrics.

 

The notion that an item of furniture must be upholstered entirely in one fabric has been well and truly shattered. Custom-made is now the answer to our yearning for the unique, and that goes beyond a strictly designer setting. Try taking one much-loved armchair and re-covering just a part of it. If your room layout means only the back of your sofa is readily visible, splash out and upholster it in a luxurious fabric but cover the rest more modestly. Not only is it a boon to the bank balance, you’re also achieving a bespoke item of furniture that’s yours and yours alone.

 

Whimsy
A quirky component is often recommended. When a room is in danger of taking itself far too seriously, what better antidote than a soupçon of the surreal?

 

The human face is an understated, yet refreshing counterpoint to spaces otherwise devoted to out and out glamour. Black and white Fornasetti vases depict stylised faces – female; sometimes weeping, sometimes smoking – as does Moooi’s ‘Jester’ fabric. Let’s face it; the human visage is guaranteed to bring a touch of soul and authenticity to the most severe interior scheme.

 

Sumptuousness
Prized beyond all else, gold has long been the choice of queens and kings. Following this tradition, the striking Barbara Barry by Baker gilded chest with diamond-shaped relief patterns (pictured above) is the epitome of modern chic. Similarly, an ornate, oversized, gilt-framed mirror adds a touch of elegance to any hallway or entrance foyer.

 

Furniture design generally is intent on emphasising detail, with cabriole legs, swirls, curves, scrolls and curlicues playing a starring role. Key influences: baroque and rococo. Ornamentation is a happening thing.

 

 

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