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So how do we achieve this look and feel ? Well, there are several ways to go. The thoughtful use of colour to set the mood is very important. If the room in question is a bedroom you can really go to town with rich emeralds, hot gingers, passionate reds or the wonderful sludgy greens and blues that are very much in vogue at present. You can of course use these fabulous deep tones in living rooms too, but be careful, as the last thing you will want is to create a room that you absolutely love for six months or so but then become heartily sick of. As I’ve said before, if it’s a dining room, be as indulgent with colour as you like, but consider reining it back a bit in a sitting room. You can just as successfully create a stunningly romantic room using shades of warm neutrals, stones or creams.
Once you’ve decided on a colour, your next choice is paint or wallpaper. For out and out romance, consider one of the magnificent full-on designs of wallpaper that many of the major design houses are currently offering. Our Hagley Road showroom is bursting with pattern books that will truly inspire you.
However, fabric is the real key. Use loads of it. Patterns, textured weaves and plains, if thoughtfully put together will look stunning. If simple elegance is your bag, make your window treatment lined and interlined curtains with hand pinch pleated headings and plenty of fullness, hung from a substantial pole. Or go a step further by adding a deep, padded pelmet instead of a pole. Layering also gives that dreamy romantic feel. A voluminous soft sheer under your curtains will not only give privacy, but will focus the attention inside the room, blotting out external distractions and making the room really cosy. Dumped curtains, or London length as they’re sometimes called, look opulent and romantic, but can be a bit of a pain to live with. It’s ok if they’re to be tied back and left as dress curtains, but they will need constant re-dressing if you’re going to use them on a regular basis. And for some reason, known only to their owners, dogs and cats just LOVE to sit on them.
If your romantic room in question is the living room, make sure you have large, comfy sofas with generous arms, and plenty of scatter cushions. These will not only soften the overall look, but
will be great to snuggle up in. If it’s the bedroom, what about a fur throw on the bed, an outrageously large headboard, and once again a plethora of scatter cushions ? A deep, velvet pile carpet is fabulous to bury your toes in, although some people find the footmarks that are always left too much trouble for everyday use. Multi level lighting is essential to give a romantic feel. Use as many table and floor lamps as the room will take, along with any ceiling fittings, and make sure they’re all controllable on a dimmer.
Finally, add the all important finishing touches. The sense of smell may not be utilised much in the world of interiors, but in creating a truly romantic room it most certainly is. Whilst a bedroom will probably naturally smell of its occupant’s favourite fragrance, albeit perfume or aftershave, a living room will need a little help. And although there are plenty of gorgeous smelling reed diffusers available, you simply can’t beat fresh flowers. Now if you’re a man reading this and you’re thinking of picking up a bunch of carnations at the garage on the way home, may I say that really won’t cut it. I’m talking about a generous, lavish arrangement that will not only look fantastic, but whose aroma will evoke the most wonderful heady, romantic atmosphere.
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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