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And here again, trimmings are making a welcome comeback. Many of the more bespoke design houses are releasing new ranges of gorgeous fringes, ruches and wide braids. Not only can the wonderful array of braids be used to bring extra design and colour to plain cushions, but they can really enhance, or even transform plain or textured curtains by adding a vertical line, set in from the edges.
You may think I’ve been banging on about cushions ad nausiam, but they really do add a certain something to a room. Most designers will incorporate them into initial schemes, to set the tone or balance of a room.
Throws can also add an element of texture and softness, although I have to say they are not a personal favourite of mine. Whilst I’m happy to see a strategically placed band of a wool or cashmere fabric draped over a sofa, I’m not a fan of the type of throw that is supposed to completely encompass the sofa or chair. It always looks dishevelled, and never seems to quite cover everything, giving me the irrepressible desire to lift it up to see what lies beneath.
So far we have talked mainly about living rooms, but soft furnishings can really come into their own when used in bedrooms. Here, a new bedspread or bed sash can change the feel of the room instantly. Whether it be something simple and readymade, or beautifully quilted, the impact is immediate. As most of us now use duvets instead of sheets and blankets, the majority of bedspreads these days are throwover rather than fitted. If however you are the type of person whose bedspread spends most of its time thrown in a crumpled heap in the corner, a bed sash could be more suitable for you. As with cushions, because of the relative size of the sash to the proportions of the whole room, you can use a stronger and more impactful fabric to add warmth or drama.
For me, one of the most underrated items of furnishing in the bedroom is the headboard. As well as being supremely practical for preserving a fabulous wallcovering, and giving comfort while you are sitting up in bed, it can add a whole new focus to a room. Don’t be afraid to make it big and bold, even up to a metre and a half tall in the right setting. It can be in a striking fabric or combination of fabrics, and can be deep padded, buttoned or squared. On a practical note though, these fabulous large headboards are best fitted to the wall, rather than to the bed.
After all, we are told that 80 per cent of accidents happen in the home. Need I say more . . . ?
JOHN BIDDELL - JOHN CHARLES INTERIORS 349 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B17 8DL T. 0121 420 3977
www.johncharlesinteriors.co.uk
LIVE24-SEVEN.COM
HOME S & INTERIORS JOHN BIDDE L L
John Biddell - John Charles Interiors
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