Brands We Love

Bold & Punchy Velvets

Velvets have long been used to showcase richness and elegance, but over time they had become a slightly dated option — until now. Interior Designers are ‘crushing’ over this fabric choice once again, using bold colour to give our spaces that extra punch of style. The material is a great way of adding texture and depth, and can come in a wide variety of colours and styles.

   
Pictured above:  Annie Soft and Igloo chairs by Calligaris

Consider the Annie Soft Chair or the Igloo Chair by Calligaris, their simple frames allow the bold colours of the velvet covered seats to take centre stage. They can create a brilliant contrast against more subtle style features, or set the tone as the main colour theme for a space. 

For a more subtle introduction, the Maya Chair by Connubia Calligaris and the Ines Chair by Calligaris will both work well. Available in a wide range of colours, these chairs can both push and pull focus with ease. The minimal frame designs again allow the seats to draw your attention, whilst the chair shapes will suit most spaces without taking away from any signature pieces. 

   
Pictured above: Inès Chair by Calligaris and Stella Sofa by Sits

And If you want to really highlight velvet within your space, we think the Stella Sofa by Sits is a great choice. Its modular design available in various configurations means you can fit this into most spaces, and the bold and brilliant colours of Classic Velvet or the washable Bellis fabric make a powerful and luxuriant statement. 

Why not introduce a bold and punchy velvet into your space — and embrace this latest interior design crush.

Circular Coffee Tables

Round occasional tables are becoming a popular interior trend, running rings around their rectangular counterparts — not surprising when they allow you to break up the linear surroundings of a space, and make for a great focal point.

   
Pictured above:  Amerigo and Billy Keramik by Bontempi Casa

Take the Amerigo Coffee Table by Cattelan Italia, its brushed brass lacquered steel tabletop makes it a stylish and elegant selection, and the sculptural cone base gives it that contemporary edge. This would look great as a contrast against leafy greens and clear quartz signature ornaments. The Billy Keramik Coffee Table by Cattelan Italia also lends itself to more contemporary spaces, with its ceramic top finish and a lacquered steel base. The table comes in four sizes or as a trio at various heights which allows you to play with great depths and create new lines in your space. 

   
Pictured above: Planet by Bontempi Casa and Gong by Pacini Cappellini

The Planet Side Table or the Planet Coffee Table by Bontempi Casa are both contemporary design choices, featuring a circular tabletop on a tripod frame of cylinder rods made of lacquered metal. The tables both add stylish design to your space, playing with rounded shapes both vertically and horizontally which adds more dimension to the introduction of this trend. If you love creating stark contrasts, then you’ll appreciate the Gong Coffee Table by Pacini Cappellini for its rounded ‘gong’ like tabletop that sits atop a rectangular cross format base. The design blend between strong linear lines in the base, to the rounded tabletop make this an easy addition to any interior, complimenting a variety of spaces.

We encourage you to introduce a circular table into your interior design, you’ll find it allows you so much freedom to play with lines and contouring, and gives you a means to introduce new shapes with ease. 

Best Formal Dining Chairs

We may not be planning many dinner parties this year but we can look forward to times when we can again. Many of us focus on making sure we have enough places, without giving the seats themselves a lot of thought - so we’ve curated our top formal dining chairs to offer guests all the elegant style and comfort they need.

   
Pictured above:  Clara Chair and Tai Quilted Chair by Bontempi Casa

The Clara Chair by Bontempi Casa is available in a wide range of leathers and fabrics, and comes in a quilted back option for elevated style. The legs come in a choice of metals or can be upholstered, and support a padded seat with a wraparound backrest that comfortably hugs you into the table.

For more quilted elegance, the Tai Quilted Chair by Bontempi Casa is another firm favourite. Featuring minimalistic metal legs which support a seat and gently curved backrest with a quilted back side and a flexiback option. Available in a selection of fabrics and finishes.

   
Pictured above: Norma and Flamingo by Cattelan Italia

The Malik Chair by Bontempi Casa is another example of minimalist sophistication. This timeless design features a metal frame supporting a simple upholstered seat and backrest. Available in a range of fabrics and finishes and again, comes with a flexiback option. 

If leather is your finish of choice, why not look at the Norma Chair by Cattelan Italia. Its neat design is simple yet effective, featuring square legs with a distinctively curved backrest. The backrest comes in a high or a low back option, and the legs be upholstered to match the chair, or come in a range of metal options for a striking contrast.

The Flamingo Chair by Cattelan Italia is our final selection. With its unique contemporary design, we’re sure this seat will get your guests talking. Available with swivelling spider legs or a fixed cantilever base, it features a seat pad with wing-like raised edges either side for a truly supported seating experience. 

Styling Statement Staircases

Most of us ignore the staircase in our homes as a necessary but under-utilised space, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Statement staircases have become much more popular in new home developments, ensuring that they not only function, but are also showcased for the innovative designs that they can have. There are a number of ways we can create more of a statement around our own existing staircases, or even embellish the statement staircases we have designed in our homes.

   
Pictured above:  Rituals Suspension Cluster by Foscarini and Sablier Suspension Cluster by Cattelan Italia

Take a suspension light cluster such as the Rituals Suspension Cluster by Foscarini. The various height levels of the lamps allow the focus of the staircase to shift upwards and makes a point of elongating the space above. The pearl glass in spherical shapes resemble oriental lamps and brighten up the space even when not turned on, but for a more contemporary design, the Sablier Suspension Cluster by Cattelan Italia may be more what you’re looking for. With their hourglass shape in either clear or smoky blown glass, this design still plays with depths and heights but has a more modern twist and would really accentuate a spiral staircase or a minimalist multi level stairwell. 

   
Pictured above: Tour and Terminal Console Tables by Cattelan Italia

You can also use console tables to extend the space and create a focal point. The Tour Console Table by Cattelan Italia is a unique design with its oval support and glass or wood tabletop. The angled oval support displaces your focus, making it a great solution for carrying focus up the staircase. The Terminal Console Table by Cattelan Italia also makes a great feature, with its X-shaped angular base and wood tabletop - strikingly bold and well suited to making an entrance. 

However you decide to add detail, don’t ignore your staircase. It really can become a great style extension and make a strong visual statement within your home.