Cambridge Property Edition February

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FEBRUARY 2016

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FIND YOUR DREAM HOME

PROPERTY NEWS

INTERIORS

TURN OVER FOR

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CONTENTS

ON THE COVER…

Hampden bed £549, Alexa Jacquard bedding set £69, authentic weave cushion £12, chevron embroidered cushion £17.50. All available at M&S. www.marksandspencer.com

EDITORIAL For editorial enquiries, contact Editor Nicola Foley 01223 499459 nicolafoley@bright-publishing.com

ADVERTISING For commercial enquiries, contact Key accounts Maria Francis 01223 499461 mariafrancis@bright-publishing.com Senior sales executive Natalie Robinson 01223 499451 natalierobinson@bright-publishing.com

THIS MONTH… 16-18 • PROPERTY NEWS The latest from the buzzing Cambridge property market 22 • BOOMTOWN News on the new family homes at the Aura development 24-25 • ARCHITECTURE We take a look at the challenges facing Cambridge 26 • EDITORS’ PICKS Colourful cushions to keep you cosy 29-36 • INTERIORS Angelina rounds up the hottest home trends for spring

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

N TO G S N W PI O M D U A TR ME

NEW YEAR, NEW HOME CHAFFINCH AND SKYLARK HOMES RELEASED AT AWARD-WINNING TRUMPINGTON MEADOWS DEVELOPMENT n a piece of good news for property hunters seeking their dream home in 2016, Barratt Homes has released a further phase of their highly sought-after development, Trumpington Meadows. Located three miles outside central Cambridge, the award-winning development offers a collection of impressive, high specification homes and apartments set in a beautiful country park, near to excellent schools and an abundance of amenities.

The latest properties to hit the market are the Chaffinch and Skylark; two spacious four-bedroom homes set across three storeys which would make ideal family homes. The light, modern Chaffinch offers a large family/dining/kitchen, utility room and WC on the ground floor, whilst upstairs you’ll find a study, three double bedrooms (one en suite) and a single bedroom, along with two family bathrooms.

The sleek Skylark again offers a ground

floor family/kitchen/dining room, with doors out to the rear of the property to the integral garage. Upstairs on the first floor there’s a living room, a family bathroom and a good-sized double bedroom, whilst the landing leads to the second floor which houses the master bedroom and your en-suite, plus two further bedrooms with another family bathroom.

For more information contact Barratt Homes on 0844 811 4888.

Barratt Homes is offering a £5,000 purchaser redeemable voucher on plots available at Trumpington Meadows. This voucher must be redeemed prior to making the reservation and cannot be used in conjunction with any other incentives. (Terms and conditions apply. Valid until 31.03.16)

Reference C.E02

EXCLUSIVE £5,000 DISCOUNT VOUCHER FOR CUSTOMISING YOUR NEW HOME

For more information contact Barratt Homes: 0844 811 4888 www.barratthomes.co.uk/new-homes/cambridgeshire/H618701-Trumpington-Meadows

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PROPERTY

PROPERTY Edition takes a look at the latest happenings in the buzzing local property market

MARKBY CLOSE, CB22

The Cambridge countryside:

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

SW AP PI P CA EA NG N CE TH BR FU E IN L BU G CO SY HU U C GE NT ITY BE RYS FO NE ID R T FI E HE TS

With central Cambridge becoming more crowded, increasingly expensive and hard to navigate for first-time buyers, we asked Carter Jonas Bradshaws about the advantages of life outside of the city Cambridge continues to be a beacon for world-class organisations and has become home to one of the most talented workforces in the world. With house prices to match some of London’s most prestigious postcodes, it’s becoming more difficult for buyers to get a slice of the central Cambridge property pie.

According to a recent Lloyds Bank report, nine out of the ten most expensive streets in East Anglia are in Cambridge. First-time buyers don’t even stand a chance says Mark Wood, partner at Carter Jonas Bradshaws. “Since 2006 we’ve seen a huge decline in the number of first-time buyers able to purchase in the city. With Cambridge’s prosperity continuing to grow and driving more people to the city we have seen great economic expansion, but unfortunately it’s been at the expense of the first-time buyer.”

So what approach should first-time buyers take? Buying outside the city is the best option and swapping the busy city for the peaceful countryside can bring huge benefits.

“Our first-time buyers are purchasing property outside the city in places such as Cambourne, Ely, Sawston, Hardwick and Cottenham where there are strong links to the city. There’s a better quality of life too, with plenty of open spaces and good schools.”

The picturesque market town of St Ives also holds real potential for those looking for a new home within close proximity of the city. “We’ve just launched properties on a new development called Meadow Park. Prices are very reasonable, with one-bedroom studios starting from £97,000. The average price of the same property in central Cambridge is £190,000 and the return for investors are in excess of 5.5%, making it a highly attractive and most importantly, affordable prospect.” carterjonas.co.uk/bradshaws

Who? Carter Jonas What? Four-bedroom detached house Where? Markby Close, Duxford, 1 mile from the M11, 1.4 miles from Whittlesford train station, 8 miles from Addenbrooke’s Hospital How much? £425,000 Tell me more: Markby Close is a large, modern property situated in the popular village of Duxford. It boasts four bedrooms, one bathroom, two reception rooms, a garden and a double garage, covering approximately 1,227 square feet. The nearest schools are located in Cambridge and Royston, and have, on average, been rated highly by Ofsted.

Duxford itself remains sought after for its proximity to the M11 and Whittlesford station, which offers a direct link to London’s Liverpool Street, and there is a comprehensive range of facilities available in nearby Sawston, as well as further afield in Cambridge and Saffron Walden. www.carterjonas.co.uk

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PROPERTY

WHAT CAN I GET HISTON ROAD, CB4 Who? Carter Jonas What? Three-bed semi-detached house Where? Histon Road, Cambridge, 1.5 miles from the city centre, 2.9 miles from the train station How much? £450,000 Tell me more: As well as its three bedrooms, this property offers a front and a back garden, two bathrooms and two reception rooms. It has already been extended and has potential for further development. It occupies approximately 1,173 square feet and is located near several good primary and secondary schools. The property offers great potential, especially with a few updates, and the location, whilst a little way out of town, offers both shops and parks within easy walking distance. www.carterjonas.co.uk

NEW STREET, CB1

THE DONCASTER, CB8 Who? Bidwells What? Five-bedroom detached house Where? Anvil Way, Kentford. 5 miles from Newmarket, 1 mile from Kennett railway station, 28 minutes’ drive to Cambridge How much? £425,000 Tell me more: In Kentford, rural Suffolk, the Doncaster has five bedrooms, a spacious living room, dining room, en-suite shower and double garage. Kentford is a small village located between Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds which offers a post office, two pubs and a primary school. With a 90-minute commute to central London, Stansted Airport is 40 minutes away and there’s easy access to the A1 and M11. www.bidwells.co.uk

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Who? Carter Jonas What? Two-bedroom duplex penthouse apartment Where? New Street, Cambridge, within walking distance of Anglia Ruskin University, the train station and The Grafton Centre How much? £450,000 Tell me more: New Street is a slick city-centre development boasting two floors, two bathrooms and two bedrooms, plus exclusive access to a roof terrace. The development includes 14 one- and two-bedroom apartments. Whilst there is a store for cycles and bins, no parking is available. As with all central Cambridge properties, New Street is within close reach of outstanding primary and secondary schools. www.carterjonas.co.uk

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PROPERTY

Nightswapping

STAGE YOUR HOME TO ACHIEVE A HIGHER SALE PRICE

TOP TIPS

Clare Freenan, certified home staging & styling professional, offers tips to boost your home sale price When you put your property on the market to sell it is crucial that it stands out from the crowd so that you can get the highest possible price.

Home staging is preparing your home for sale or rental by making the best of its features and space. Without doubt this will ensure that your property appeals to the greatest number of buyers and sells in the least amount of time. In turn, this will allow you to act quickly on the property you want to buy; particularly essential in the fast moving property market in and around Cambridge.

• Does your house have ‘kerb appeal’? Is the garden tidy and well-kempt? Is any garden furniture that you have well placed so you can convey to potential buyers that you have useable outdoor space?

• Do you think the general appearance and ambience of your house suggests that it is a warm and welcoming home?

• Have you made the best use of all the spaces? Do you perhaps use a room as a study or storage area that should really be a dining room? If so, convert it back to a useable dining room, accessorising either with existing linen and glassware or perhaps choose some new dining room furniture and accessories that you would like to take with you to your next house.

• Would your house benefit from storing some excess furniture or personal items to create more space in the various rooms? You will need to pack up your belongings when you move anyway so this is really just part of the process, but it will really help any potential buyer to see the full potential of each room.

• Maybe you have always thought that the layout of the house would flow better if a certain wall was knocked down or a door was removed but you just haven’t got round to it? If this is the case you could undertake some relatively minor and low-cost building work which would almost certainly help to improve the value of the property.

Ever see the Cameron Diaz/Jude Law romcom The Holiday? Well now you can have yourself a houseswapping adventure of your very own, with the help of a nifty little app that’s becoming increasingly popular with Cambridge homeowners.

Nightswapping, the latest indie travel craze, is the first website to facilitate swaps between members completely for free, offering its well-vetted users the opportunity to swap ‘nights’ for accommodation at members’ properties across the globe. Members need to pay £9.90 as a reservation fee whenever they travel, although it’s a set price no matter the number of nights or size of the party travelling. If you’re not in a position to offer space yourself, you can buy nights directly for £7 to £49, depending on the standard of accommodation. With 110,000 members in 160 countries listing 30,000 places, something definitely seems to be working. The idea is exciting, and you have several options: to do a mutual nightswap, to swap for a private room or even for an entire place. Only question is, where to first? www.nightswapping.com

If you are planning to sell your home and think some of these pointers may apply to you but you would like a second opinion or some help to kick-start the home staging process, please do give me a call for a no obligation chat about how I can help.

Equally if you have had numerous viewings but no offers, perhaps now is the time to seek the advice of a home staging professional who can help to make your property into a desirable home that will fly off the market.

Clare Feenan is a certified home staging & styling professional who runs a friendly and affordable property styling company operating in Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Essex. www.clarefeenan.com

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PROPERTY

BOOMTOWN

The latest from Cambridge’s new property developments

Bulletin

S S OU E RI OM XU H LU ILY M FA

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FAMILY HOMES AT AURA ON THE MARKET Developer Countryside has released four new styles of luxurious homes onto the market at Aura on Long Road in Great Kneighton. Situated less than two and a half miles from Cambridge city centre, these three- and fourbedroom properties would make ideal family homes, with the benefit of a selection of top schools located nearby.

Close to Addenbrooke’s, the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Junction 11 of the M11, and surrounded on two sides by mature woodland, Aura combines the convenience of city living with the benefits of a rural lifestyle.

The homes themselves – Allingham, Irving, Kavanagh and Arlington – have a variety of particular features to suit their buyers. The Kavanagh and the Arlington are marginally bigger, with four storeys and bedrooms, while the Allingham and the Irving each have three storeys. All are modern, stylish and spacious, and the neighbourhood, incorporating a wide range of amenities including a health and community centre, library, offices, sports pitches and a 120-acre country park, add to their appeal.

Andrew Loveday, sales director at Countryside comments: “Cambridge offers the perfect combination of historic city charm with contemporary amenities, good schools and transport links to central London. Our new collection of townhouses reflects our understanding of how our buyers live and what they really want from a home in Cambridge.”

Prices range from £715,000 to £995,000 for these three- to fourbedroom townhouses. Call 01223 656167 or go online for full details. www.auracambridge.co.uk

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CAMBRIDGE’S FUTURE

WORDS ROBIN PELLEW

CAMBRIDGE’S

ARE WE KILLING THE GOOSE THAT LAYS THE GOLDEN EGG? Robin Pellew, Chairman of Cambridge Past, Present & Future, considers some solutions to challenges Cambridge could face, as it continues to grow and evolve apace Cambridge is reaping the whirlwind of its own success. A once sleepy university town is being transformed into one of the fastest growing high-tech cities in Europe.

This success is driving an ever-increasing demand for space to expand, which in turn is changing the character of the city. We need foresight, intelligence and creativity if change is to be well managed. What makes Cambridge so successful is not just the

scientific spin-off from both its universities, but the ability of its high-tech sector to evolve. Whereas other European cities may dazzle then fade, Cambridge re-invents itself – first computer electronics and software design, then biomedical and now clean tech: Cambridge always seems to catch the crest of the wave.

But this success is under threat. Lack of land for expansion, unaffordable housing

This article originally appeared in issue 70 of Cambridge Architecture Gazette.

Read the digital magazine online at www.cambridgearchitects.org

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CAMBRIDGE’S FUTURE

This is what I think should be done to address Cambridge’s growth problems:

© CambridgePPF

and traffic congestion – collectively these could derail Cambridge’s future prosperity.

So are we killing the goose that lays the golden egg?

The approach of our local authorities seems to vacillate, depending on their political complexion. The ‘compact city’ was the mantra until the millennium, then the release of substantial chunks of green belt for development in the 2006 plan and now back to compact with the 2014 draft plans.

The additional 35,000 homes for the Greater Cambridge area are to be located first in the sites around the city fringe that have not yet been developed and then in new satellite settlements beyond the green belt in South Cambs – Cambourne, Northstowe, Bourn Airfield and Waterbeach Barracks.

This strategy is largely influenced by the Council’s desire to protect the green belt and the setting of the city. A noble and, I believe, an essential objective, but it still has to be asked whether in the current context

the green belt has outlived its usefulness.

Does it continue to play a valuable role in preventing urban sprawl, or is it now an impediment to essential growth? Do we want Cambridge to spread out into an expanding urban metropolis with a sanitised heritage centre?

The Council’s response of creating new settlements outside the green belt raises fundamental sustainability issues that the inspectors are now questioning. Is building a settlement in the middle of the countryside a sustainable form of development?

Commercial developers have been arguing that creating more urban extensions in the city fringe is cheaper, quicker and easier, but we need to consider how realistic this is. While new settlements will need major investment in new infrastructure, especially public transport, it is pernicious to argue that expansion around the fringe can simply piggyback on existing facilities without overloading the infrastructure.

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1. If Cambridge has one thing in abundance, it’s brains. Surely we can mobilise this cerebral resource to encourage fresh, innovative and exciting new thinking about the future of our city? Cambridge Futures and more recently the CambridgePPF 2030 Vision show the way.

2. We need a new approach that addresses the imbalance between the demand by road users and the capacity of the road system.

Demand can best be reduced through the provision of a highquality, public transport alternative, and the way to subsidise such a service is through a congestion charge. What about a new body – Transport for Cambridge – modelled on the London example?

3. A review of the green belt is needed, looking not only at its landscape value and its role in protecting the setting of the city, but also its potential contribution to improving the quality of life of local people. Green belt should be the last resort once all brownfield sites and areas suitable for regeneration have been exhausted.

4. Because Cambridge pulls in people from such a wide area, its spatial planning needs to be addressed at a sub-regional scale. Planning authorities have a statutory duty to cooperate but the degree of practical cooperation varies. 2019 will see the creation of a Combined Authority for spatial planning and transport – rather than this awkward hybrid beast, why not go the whole hog and set up a Unitary Authority for Greater Cambridge?

We need to face up to the new realities so that Cambridge can keep its lead, but civic, like academic leadership requires creativity and political courage.

Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. For CambridgePPF’s position, please visit www.cambridgeppf.org/planning

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INTERIORS

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ORANGE STRIPED CUSHION WITH POM POMS £26 OLIVER BONAS

TOUCAN CUSHION £7 GEORGE AT ASDA

CUSHIONS Get cosy in the month of love with some of these quirky and cool cushions

GEOMETRIC CUSHION £7.99 HOMESENSE LORDS AND MASTERS CUSHION £72 MINE HEART

CUSHION YOU AND ME £24 IN-SPACES VERDON CUSHION YELLOW LB3 £20 MADE.COM

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CAROLA VAN DYKE RACCOON CUSHION £89 AMARA

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INTERIORS

WORDS ANGELINA VILLA-CLARKE

OUT

WITH

THE

From a new colour palette to inspire you to glamorous burnished metals, this season’s new trends will give an elegant feel to your home. Add in botanical prints and a dash of floral decor for schemes that are naturally stylish Blooming lovely: Delcor’s Magnum Sofa, £6,329, features dramatic dark florals in Designers Guild Bloomsbury Rose List fabric

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With a new season comes a desire for renewal, not least when it comes to our homes. The new interior trends for springsummer 2016 take their inspiration largely from the natural world with a hint of highfashion style. Whatever room you want to refresh, take a note from these emerging styles to keep your house looking fresh.

Each year Pantone, the colour experts, announce their ‘colours of the year’ from which many designers and brands take inspiration. For 2016 the emphasis is on softer shades with Rose Quartz (a warm, rose pink) and Serenity (a cool, tranquil blue) being named as the shades that will dictate the way we dress our homes.

The high street is awash with accessories in pale pink and hues of blue. Check out the dusty-pink, space-saving wall table at The Scandinavian Shop and the pretty rose light-

shades at Besselink & Jones. Bert Frank’s stunning matt, petrol-blue Revolve lamps are great investment pieces too.

Specialists in fabrics and upholstery, Cambridge design-house Barker and Barker offers a sky/pink stripe fabric called Serenity that is bang on trend. Janet Dixon, chief designer, gives her advice: “When using colour and fabric try to use something you really like that reflects your personality, even if it doesn’t follow fashions. Trends come and go, so choosing something you love is important or you may end up with an expensive mistake! Colour and pattern make bold statements and can liven up a room.

One of the easiest, cheapest ways to add these is to use cushions and throws. Adding weaves, patterns and prints in a colour is a good way to make a change so try to incorporate colours that work together

Perfect pastels LEFT FROM TOP Small Telescopic Desk Lamp with pink shade, £625, Besselink & Jones; Star Rug, £75, and Fresh American Cushion, £58, Dash and Albert; Delilah Occasional Chair, £74.99, MY Furniture; Acrylic Painted Boat Bath in Citron, from £1,554, BC Designs ABOVE Make an investment with John Lewis of Hungerford’s Shaker kitchen, which is available in blossom pink and earl grey shades, kitchens start from £25,000

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and prints that won’t conflict. Tone down a bold pattern with a plain, solid tonal colour – this will help to soften the look. Changing your curtains and sofa are another great option, but for a purse-friendly alternative decorative accessories are brilliant.”

Considered a ‘new neutral’, grey-pink can bring a sophisticated, gentle hue to walls.

Teamed with gleaming bronze and flashes of neon yellow, blush tones can look instantly grown-up and elegant. Launching this month, Farrow & Ball’s nine new colours for 2016 include the ethereal Peignoir as well as a range of so-called ‘muted drabs’. This greypink has a romantic feel “inspired by the chiffon gowns in which ladies traditionally brushed their hair in boudoirs”.

You can easily add hues of pink in rugs or cushions, or commit further by purchasing chairs and sofas in pale pink, such as those at Sofa Workshop. For lovers of the shade, why not go the whole way and invest in a pink Shaker-style kitchen, as seen at John Lewis of Hungerford?

The blue theme has perhaps more of a universal appeal with Delcor’s baby-blue

Chesterfield and Pavilion sofas particularly stylish choices. Sainsbury’s Moroccan Blue collection is inspired by a bolder, electric blue giving the ultimate summer feel.

Andrew Tanner, head of home design at Sainsbury’s, comments: “The timeless pairing of classic blue and white invites us to embrace summer style. We’ve updated it by looking to the city of Casablanca, picking up prints and patterns from elaborate tile work, ikat and batik fabrics. This melting pot of influences resulted in a collection of beautiful ceramics inspired by decorative textiles that you might expect to find in Morocco.”

For a fresh, modern feel, add touches of citrus yellow or bright white, in the form of accessories or one-off pieces of furniture, such as the occasional chairs and ottomans available at MY Furniture.

“Nothing adds a burst of sunshine to interiors like yellow. It blends well with pastels as well as darker shades making it a great choice for any room,” says Sally Cutchie, sales coordinator at BC Designs, which sells a citron-painted Boat Bath that will give the wow factor to a bathroom. As

part of its new collection of Architectural Paint colours, Paint and Paper Library offers Chinese Emperor – a dull yellow that contrasts the equally striking Plaster V (a mauve-pink) and Blue Blood (petrol blue).

Championing the return of white is Helen Shaw, marketing director at paint specialists Benjamin Moore UK: “White is transcendent, timeless and has an unrivalled versatility, that is why we chose Simply White OC-117 as our 2016 colour of the year. From the elegance of layered whites to bold contrasting schemes and warm rustic textured settings, white is not just a trend, it is an essential.”

Give a nod to the new neutrals TOP RIGHT Barker and Barker’s Serenity stripe fabric, £39 per metre, channels the trend ABOVE Sofa Workshop’s The Hunter Chair in Moon Earth Candy, £1,699, is a subtle take on pink

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INTERIORS

While gleaming copper, bronze and gold have been on the design radar for a while, this year sees a focus on more matt metals.

High polish is out with darker, wrought-iron and burnished and brushed metals in.

One easy way to translate this metallic trend is by accent lighting – with a huge range of styles available. Next, for instance, has a choice of streamlined, industrial

DARKER, WROUGHTIRON AND BURNISHED METALS ARE IN

lights, while BHS’s matt, silver mariner-style lighting will give a room impact. For lovers of Victoriana, seek out the wrought-iron chandelier and delicate Peterstow lamps at Fritz Fryer.

For a subtle take on the trend, factor in one of The Nine Schools’ Chinese cabinets or console tables that feature metal handles and locks or go for a decorative, traditional castiron radiator, available at The Radiator Centre.

Giving a talking point to a bathroom, meanwhile, is the Albion Bath Company’s slipper or double-ended baths available in a range of burnished finishes (gold, iron and bronze). Complement it with copper porcelain floor and copper metallic wall tiles from Tile Mountain.

Turn on to brushed metals CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Copper Metallic Modular Wall Tiles, £6.99 each, Tile Mountain; Montefresco bath in burnished metallic finishes, £2,545, The Albion Bath Company; Peterstow Industrial wall light, £90, Fritz Fryer; Madison Diner Pendant, £150, BHS; Antique Wrought Iron Chandelier, £1,300, Fritz Fryer; Arlington Pendant, £120, BHS ABOVE Medium Chinese Cabinet in Oyster Grey, £350, The Nine Schools

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Heralding the end of minimalism is the return of all things floral with big, bold prints particularly in vogue. Cambridge-based interior designer, Cate Burren of Angel & Blume, agrees: “For me, florals have never been out of style but if a contemporary feel is what you are after, there are some fabulous digital prints on the market that are about bold patterns and vibrant colours.”

Jim Carlile, managing director at Elybased Reeds Furniture and Bed Centre, comments: “Floral upholstery is on-trend this season. Mix-and-match prints with plain pieces to get the balance right. Dark prints – such as navy and rose florals on velvet – are of the moment and are a hip version of

the ‘grandma chic’ look. Choose bold, wild blooms over small ditzy prints for a modern feel and show these off on a statement piece of furniture for maximum impact.”

A case in point is Sofa Workshop’s Ives chair, which is now available in Liberty’s Secret Garden fabric, a jewel-toned, floral velvet. Match it with Besslink & Jones’s roses chandelier for a dramatic feel.

Delcor has armchairs and sofas in rich floral designs. If you dare, why not carpet a bedroom or spare room with Brintons’ luxury Florals Parterre – a subtle, floral carpet that is beautifully soft underfoot.

As the weather heats up (we hope), inject a blast of summer into your home with floral motifs found on the kitchen accessories by Pip Studio and Cath Kidston at Daisy Park, the fun and flowery cardboard deer heads at The Scandinavian Shop and the evocative textile designs found at Art of the Loom. Its latest collection, entitled Indian Summer, features fabrics in bright colours and is inspired by the vibrancy of India. The fabrics hint at the influence of embroidered saris, flowers for the temple, painted trucks and decorated camels.

Finally, come the bright soft furnishings and bold wallpapers at the Finnish brand Vallila Interior. Emma Niskanen comments: “Florals are an enduring favourite in design, but we are seeing exciting takes on the theme with edgy designs in bold colours and graphic prints, alongside contemporary motifs in soft, pale shades. Another trend is large-scale botanical prints with a touch of the exotic. These styles look great and are easy to incorporate into modern interiors.”

Flower power TOP LEFT Delcor’s Petite Chair, from £812, will give a floral statement TOP RIGHT Accessorise with Cath Kidston’s Blossom Birds Mug, £6.50, from Daisy Park, and the Amanda and Charlotte cushions, £13.90 each, at Vallila Interior ABOVE LEFT The Amelie large sofa, from £1,239, is from the new Maison Collection by Parker Knoll available at Reeds Furniture and Bed Centre ABOVE RIGHT Miho Mini Deer Trophy in Bonsai, £19.95, The Scandinavian Shop

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INTERIORS

This season there is still a penchant for ‘bringing the outside in’ when it comes to interior design. Consequently, gardeninspired designs bring leaf patterns, fern prints and insect motifs into the living room.

The Botanist collection from Sainsbury’s includes fern-printed pillows, green glasses and butterfly-themed crockery.

Andrew Tanner, head of home design, says: “Autumn’s moody-hued painterly florals give way to fresher botanicals for spring.

This is the sophisticated, fashion-led take on conservatory style. Think a dash of Victorian palm house with botanical illustrations and brass finishes, which beautifully transforms the home into a tropical haven.”

BHS’s Sweet Nostalgia range taps into emerging trends with floral, botanical and nostalgia at its heart. Make a beeline for the pretty lampshades, wooden pictures and pineapple accessories. Offering an eclectic collection of classic and contemporary furniture is Atkin and Thyme. Co-owner Victoria Atkin comments: “Interiors are reconnecting with Mother Nature by finding their roots in unfussy, pragmatic styling that

emphasises natural raw beauty. Handcrafted, artisan products make for truly unique designs that please aesthetically and perform functionally. Surrender the home to the drama of rustic mango wood, elaborate embroidery and colourful prints for a season of wild abandon.”

From jungle-print wallpaper at Lime Lace to the botanist cabinets at The Farthing, the trend has its roots in British history. David Mottershead, managing director of Little Greene agrees: “The bedrock of design, botanicals have never been in or out of fashion – but the way they are presented has changed dramatically – from the eccentric Victorians, to the geometric Art Deco period, to the flamboyant 70s. This year botanicals are being reproduced in modern colours and used as art works or with geometric prints. Botanicals have never felt so fresh and in vogue!”

Use flashes of green for maximum impact – scatter a few cushions with a

BOTANICALS HAVE NEVER FELT SO FRESH AND IN VOGUE

fern or leaf print or introduce the Manila or Hortus rugs from Modern Rugs. Ben Dale, the founder of Modern Rugs, gives his expertise: “The use of florals, botanical prints and green colourways are an effective way of bringing the outside in. This eco, nature vibe can easily be added to a home with accessories and soft furnishings.”

Cate Burren of Angel & Blume agrees: “Green is a calming colour and it visually connects interiors and exteriors. Adding florals is a bonus and keeping the main colour palette the same with accent colours lets you layer textures and patterns without being too hectic.”

Outside inspiration ABOVE RIGHT FROM TOP Winchester Solid Wood Chest of Drawers, £449, Atkin and Thyme; Sweet Nostalgia cushions, from £12, BHS; Manila Green Rug, from £409, and Bluebellgray Mode Rug, from £899, Modern Rugs ABOVE LEFT Little Greene’s Archive Trails collection includes this Darwin Serein wallpaper, £131 per roll

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INTERIORS

© Simon Whitmore Photography

Mix romantic, feminine touches – think velvet and lace – with more contemporary, harder materials, such as concrete flooring or woven textiles, for a modern-day ‘mashup’ style.

Revealing the trend in full effect is the new style of wall tiles that are becoming increasingly popular.

Emma Pratt at St Ives Tile and Stone comments, “Coming on-trend this year is a mix-and-match tiling style.

Subtle florals, geometric patterns and quirky prints are being used in a non-matching way and we are seeing more customers opting for patterns instead of plain tiles. It gives a quirky patchwork effect and is very of the moment.

Love it or hate it, used sparingly next to plain tiles, it gives a wonderful focal point to a bathroom or kitchen. Use them as a stripe down the wall of a shower enclosure, for example, or as a splashback behind a range – above all, this type of tiling gives personality and character.”

Nigel Wright, owner of Interiors of Ely, gives his advice on translating the theme: “Harness the nostalgia trend by seeking out

HARNESS THE NOSTALGIA AND SEEK OUT A QUIRKY, ONEOFF FIND a quirky, one-off find for your home. We supply a range of unique pieces – such as vintage furniture and unusual accessories.

For something completely original, we also offer a handmade bespoke service so you can create your own pieces. These ‘finds’ will add character and give a talking point to your room. We also restore items of furniture – this is a great way to breathe new life into something you would otherwise replace. After all, who wants to be the same as everyone else – originality is key to being on-trend.”

Unique pieces for your home include the sumptuous, bright tub chairs at Oliver Bonas, the velvet dining chairs and chaise longues at Black Orchid and the quirky, plywood stools designed by Piet Hein Eek and Dutch manufacturer NLXL LAB, which feature paintings from Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum (available at Lime Lace).

Angel & Blume’s interior designer Cate Burren concludes: “Creating a space that is personal to a homeowner is the core of a good design scheme and often this includes a carefully balanced mix of styles. I love to see a modern contemporary home softened with, for example, some feminine textures of velvet, linen, lace and embroidery.”

Opulent desire ABOVE RIGHT FROM TOP Jungle Print Wallpaper by Miki Rose for The Graduate collection, £125 per roll, Lime Lace; velvet tub chair, £445, Oliver Bonas; Silver Versailles Velvet Chaise Longue, £820, Black Orchid, London; Horse Head made of driftwood, £159, Interiors of Ely ABOVE LEFT Interior designer Cate Burren of Angel & Blume Interior Design suggests adding a quilted bed-throw for the perfect nostalgic look

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INTERIORS

OLIVER BONAS 020 8974 0110 www.oliverbonas. com PAINT & PAPER LIBRARY 020 7823 7755 www.paint-library. co.uk REEDS FURNITURE AND BED CENTRE 01353 669754 www.reedshomestore.co.uk SAINSBURY’S 0800 636 262 www.sainsburys. co.uk

ALBION BATH COMPANY 01255 831605 www.albionbathco.com

BESSELINK & JONES 020 7584 0343 www.besselink.com

FRITZ FRYER 01989 567416 www.fritzfryer.co.uk

ST IVES TILE AND STONE 01480 467800 www.stivestileandstone.co.uk

ANGEL & BLUME 01223 479 434 www.angelandblume.com

BHS www.bhs.co.uk

INTERIORS OF ELY 01353 659005

THE FARTHING 0844 567 2400 www.thefarthing.co.uk

ART OF THE LOOM 01200 427744 www.artoftheloom.co.uk

BLACK ORCHID LONDON 0844 854 2794 www.blackorchid.london

JOHN LEWIS OF HUNGERFORD 01223 305480 www.john-lewis.co.uk

THE NINE SCHOOLS 0117 332 3673 www.thenineschools.co.uk

ATKIN AND THYME 0844 409 9834 www.atkinandthyme.co.uk

BRINTONS 0800 505 055 www.brintons.co.uk

LIME LACE 01423 900 522 www.limelace.co.uk

THE RADIATOR CENTRE 01727 840344 www.theradiatorcentre.com

BARKER AND BARKER 01223 733 730 www.barkerandbarker.co.uk

DAISY PARK 01769 579077 www.daisypark.co.uk

LITTLE GREENE 0845 880 5855 www.littlegreene.co.uk

THE SCANDINAVIAN SHOP 01436 673623 www.scandinavianshop.co.uk

BC DESIGNS 01206 827100 www.bcdesigns.co.uk

DASH AND ALBERT EUROPE www.dashandalberteurope.com

MODERN RUGS 01388 663 738 www.modern-rugs.co.uk

BENJAMIN MOORE UK 01753 575756 www.benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk

DELCOR 0191 237 1303 www.delcor.co.uk

MY FURNITURE 0800 092 1636 www.my-furniture.co.uk

BERT FRANK 020 7164 6482 www.bertfrank.co.uk

FARROW & BALL 01223 367771 www.farrow-ball.com

NEXT 0333 777 8000 www.next.co.uk

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THE SOFA WORKSHOP 0800 23 00 048 www.sofaworkshop.com TILE MOUNTAIN 01782 223822 www.tilemountain.co.uk VALLILA INTERIOR www.vallilainterior.fi

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