Healthy Art Healthy Mind: colour palette inspiration ...xx

We’re all feeling patriotic as we move ever closer to a busy summer of events. ‬Fittingly, this trend is a nostalgic celebration of all things British and champions design classics alongside an eclectic mix of vintage-style typography, utilitarian style, florals and even Victoriana. Here are the main focuses for the Sentiment trend and how you can bring them into your home.

First, the Best of British. This aspect of the trend focuses on iconic designs we all know and love. Double-decker buses, postage stamps and red telephone booths and naturally, the Union Jack feature heavily in home accessories. This postage stamp rug has been given a hot pink makeover and inventively redeployed as wall art.

The Penguin books style and the London Underground map have been applied widely to interiors products whilst a myriad of variations on the “Keep Calm and…” posters of wartime and other examples of vintage typography are enjoying a resurgence. We love this Union Jack version, it really plays up to our pride in all things British this summer.

You can reference this trend easily by incorporating patriotic cushions and prints of these images. Consider including bunting for a post-war, street party style, celebratory feel.
The utilitarian stream of this trend harks back to an era of British designed and made. Furniture is stripped back to reveal something of the manufacturing process with exposed zips and seams. British fabrics like cotton, canvas, linen and silk and traditional techniques such as Herringbone weave are in vogue. Utilitarian pieces are pared down with functionality being key.
Excellent examples of this are metal filing cabinets and galvanized plant pots and buckets. We love this shelf display from Labour and Wait of items from a by-gone age by. For a softer interpretation of this trend take a
look at these pretty enameled peg buckets.

If you’re not a fan of the industrial feel, try the third element of the trend – pretty, ditsy, micro-florals. Think English country garden and delicate pattern. Tassels and intricate trims on cushions and blankets are key with softer colours the order of the day. Florals are everywhere, from soft furnishings and wallpaper to dainty crockery and these beautiful tiles from Wellbeck. The teacups are from Royal Albert would add a lady-like, nostalgic feel to any table setting.

 

                  Trend Bible 

DWELL-STUDIO-INSPIRATION trend bible We love amber yellow mixed with turquoise and a little brown cardboard for a retro 50s vibe.

Trend-Bible-Crown-Paint-4 crown paint 2012 colour panel
”One of the key concepts I was keen to get across for emulsions ws about thinking beyond traditional colour groupings like ‘pastels’ or ‘brights’ or ‘neons’ or ‘neutrals’,” explains Trend Bible director Joanna Feeley. “So the strongest palette for me was New Directions, which cleverly blends pastel shades with bubblegum pink and acidic chlorophyl brights. Grey still underpins strong colour and we see grey as being a key backdrop to brights through 2012.”

Trend-Bible-Crown-Paints-3 The event, held at the Swarovski Crystalized Lounge, London, showcased four colour palettes; New Directions, Summer Jewels, Surreal Botanical, Modern Nostalgia.