FEATHER AND OAK

KATY HUSBAND of Feather & Oak Interiors

Cosy up to autumn

KATY HUSBAND FROM FEATHER AND OAK TELLS US HOW TO ENJOY COMING IN FROM THE COLD WITH SOME STYLISH WAYS TO WARM UP OUR HOMES.

As the heat of the summer starts to dissipate and the nights start to close in, our thoughts turn to amping up the ‘cosy’ in our homes.

I love autumn – the settled sunny days, the stickiness of marshmallow residue from outdoor bonfires, the flaming foliage and nights where it is cool enough to start to snuggle under blankets.

Autumn styling in your home can be simple and artful. A beautiful sculptural vase with leafy foliage from outside, a cloche of pine cones, even a bowl of ruby red apples on the kitchen island can inspire those warm tones.

There are lots of ways to cosy up your interior when the cold starts to draw in. Texture and layering are keys to increasing the cosy comfort factor – textured throws and blankets, nubbly linen and glossy velvet cushions, woven rugs and soft lamplight.

In the bedroom, upholstered headboards are a lovely way to provide another layer of interest to your space. With such a fabulous range of fabrics available and additional details with studs and headboard shapes, your bedroom can provide the perfect spot to snuggle in and binge-watch your favourite shows.

If you are in need of additional warmth in your home over the winter months, now is a good time to start thinking about your windows. Although glazing and window frame technology have improved over the past 20 years, our windows still represent a significant area of heat loss in our homes. Window treatments – especially curtains and pleated blinds – can dramatically increase the thermal efficiency of your home.

Curtains provide thermal benefits when they are full length and wide – covering your window entirely. The correct use of linings for the room position as well as the face fabric, ensures that the cool air is trapped against the glass and between the layers of lining and the room. Heavier weight curtain fabrics can provide additional benefits. However, the heavy lifting in a thermal sense can be done by the linings, ensuring there is still a wide range of options when selecting your face fabrics.

Pleated blinds are another highly effective thermal solution. These blinds are a honeycomb construction that fit tightly to the window frame so that there is minimal cool airflow around the blind and into the room. The honeycomb construction traps the air between the cells and minimises the heat transfer into the room. Pleated blinds also stack tightly when opened, so are a good solution when you want to keep your window furnishings simple and minimal whilst maximising the view.