Home Styling: The Best Dressed House

Feb 27 2009 By Anne Hatton

FASHION REVIVALS

Just as we've seen a renovated look at the eighties in fashion, home decoration can also take its cue from the past.

Geometrics are currently all the rage, found in wallpapers, fabrics, carpets and rugs. International influences, such as Moroccan or Indian, continue to bear fruit in both fashion and domestic interiors.

Even jewellery has made an impact, with crystals and semi-precious stones found in trimmings and embedded within fabrics. (Some trimmings even look good enough to wear as a necklace or belt!) Metal studding as well as feathers and beads embellish surfaces that would have traditionally been left bare.

And don't forget that even the lighting industry has discovered the beauty of glass and crystal, which catches and reflects brilliantly.

A COUTURE NEST

Couture designers can't resist the opportunity to dress a home, just as they would a model. Many of the top fashion houses have made forays into the interiors market - such as Armani, Fendi, Versace - and particularly Ralph Lauren, who has had one of the most successful crossovers. Look at his website www.ralphlaurenhome.com for some top tips on incorporating fashion into your home.

Whilst we may not be able to budget for the full couture effect, we can certainly learn from their expertise.

Anne Hatton teaches interior design through Bucks Adult Learning, as well as running her own interior design practice, Embellishments Ltd. She is an Associate Member of the British Interior Design Association (BIDA.) She can be contacted on 01753-882425 or 07776-171-328 or through her website (www.embellishmentsltd.com.)