BEDDED BLISS Create calm, classic romantic and sustainable schemes informed by expert guidance.

Bedded Bliss

Ensure the best night’s sleep possible with soothing, stylish decor, a comfortable bed and cossetting, sustainable soft furnishings and accessories

The desire for a good night’s sleep should be the requisite behind every bedroom design. Mattresses that provide the right level of support for the neck and head, combined with pillows and duvets made from sustainable materials, should be the foundation for quality rest and relaxation. Take a cue from timeless looks and combine beautiful shades of colour, furniture designs and accessories to give the bedroom a seasonal refresh. Be inspired by the calming effect of soft neutrals, the reassuring charm of classic heritage designs or the fanciful exuberance of a romantic style and prepare to dress the bedroom with finesse.

ABOVE No2 The Icon Felix bed, £32,270, Savoir Beds. Headboard, Malmo linen, £250 a metre; Cream Wool Waffle bedspread, £891; Linen/Wool Bouclé cushion (far left), £231; bespoke cushions made using (from left): Hoxton Linen £180 a metre, Malmo Linen £250 a metre and Hunter linen, £225 a metre; curtains, Cricket linen, £145 a metre, all de La Cuona

Calm

Create an environment conducive to good sleep and relaxation with colours, textures and materials that are calming to behold.

White is often seen as a safe option for walls, bedding and accessories, but its ability to induce a sense of order on the senses means it is an excellent choice for creating a welcoming sanctuary to retreat to at the end of the day. To maximise the effect, use a palette of off-whites and pale neutrals in rooms that are blessed with natural light, ensuring, of course, that windows are sufficiently covered for blocking out any light at night. As Dr Rebecca Robbins, Savoir Beds sleep expert, points out, “Whereas bright light wakes us up, darkness is what allows the sleepinducing hormone melatonin to secrete in the brain, so ensure your curtains can close and your bedroom can be completely dark when you are attempting to sleep.”

Natural materials also have a calming effect, so source furniture and accessories in pale oak, ash or whitewashed pine. Rustic-style benches, side tables and baskets provide a relaxed, summer coastal-style bedroom that is light and airy. Use bedlinen and accessories to add hints of soft colour and for a seasonal update. Pale aqua, duck egg and blush pink will feel refreshing in a predominantly white bedroom, whereas darker, muted lilacs, soft greys and taupes will add warmth in the cooler months.

Introduce subtle decorative detail with a simple pattern such as a utilitarian or nautical stripe or a contrasting trim. Even a textured white throw or a knitted cellular blanket will add interest yet keep the look light, bright and beautiful without being visually overbearing.

TOP Hatton 3 Pendant £315, Original BTC RIGHT Osaka seagrass storage baskets small £85, large £95, Ella James FAR RIGHT Axel cream rug £499, Danetti ABOVE Charlie headboard, from £1,110, Ardel linen bedspread, large, £370, all other products Neptune

LEFT Natural oak Teramo two-door wardrobe £1,780, Ercol RIGHT Emilia double bed in Alabaster brushed linen cotton, £860; Taylor side table, £290; Ecclestone scatter cushion in Millennial Pink, £35; Ecclestone scatter cushion in Cornish Fudge, £35, all Sofa.com

ABOVE Lana Dressing Table II in European Oak, £5,380, Pinch Design

Limewashed Parquet chest of drawers, £695, Cox and Cox ABOVE ABOVE Natural Ticking Stripe linen bedding Stripe linen bedding bundle with double bundle with double duvet, two pillowcases duvet, two pillowcases and white linen fitted and white linen fitted sheet, £224, Chalk Pink sheet, £224, Chalk Pink Linen Company Linen Company

LEFT From top: Bexley Stripe cushion cover, £35; Somerton Oxford pillowcase, £25; Selby throw, £140; Bexley Stripe bedspread, £140, Burnham bench, £325, all The White Company BELOW Bedroom designed by Albion Nord

ABOVE Rose Blush ABOVE Rose Blush Pink Merino throw, Pink Merino throw, £132, Tolly McRae

Classic

Apply a modern approach to traditional design for a bedroom style that is classic, comfortable and full of heritage charm with rich, indulgent colourways and opulent textures.

Dark shades of grey, blue and green work particularly well in period homes. Team with antique furniture that is luxurious in design and detail, such as traditional bedsteads in iron, brass or pewter whose generous proportions will work well in a room with high ceilings.

An oversized headboard in sumptuous velvet or wool will have a similar effect. “A large headboard helps to ground the room whilst also acting as an attractive focal point,” Adam Black, co-founder of Button & Sprung, explains. “Curved or winged designs with luxurious upholstery will add interest whilst contributing to a classic, hotel-inspired look and feel many homeowners desire.”

Add oak and mahogany cabinetry, antique carved mirrors and dressing tables, and artisan pieces such as charming bobbin tables and consoles, and use symmetry to add an element of formality when hanging pictures or positioning lighting.

Dress the bed with crisp Egyptian cotton or soft pure linen sheets, opting for a top sheet and a cashmere throw during the warmer months as a seasonal alternative to a heavy duvet.

Introduce pattern with soft furnishings and accessories in classic ikat, Indian floral and kilim designs in rich colourways of saffron yellow, paprika, teal and gold to bring an exotic and exuberant element to the mix.

ABOVE Mahogany and gilt mirror with gold-leaf scallop shell and Prince of Wales ostrich feather, £1,195, Titchmarsh & Goodwin RIGHT Avirai rug (240cm x 305cm) in Antique Green, £1295, Oka FAR RIGHT George double bed in solid brass and cast iron, £2,595, Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Company Double bed in Caramel Gold Velvet, £1,495, Rockett St George

Pod table lamp, £173, Pooky

ABOVE Croxton dinner plates £96 for 6, side plates £60 for 6, Handsworth 24-piece cutlery set £90, all Neptune BELOW vases £7.95 each, Sarah Raven

TOP Eclectic dressing table, from £2,250, And So To Bed ABOVE Saray Ottoman in Zold linen, £900, Mind The Gap BELOW Billington swing arm wall light, £448.80, Vaughan Designs TOP RIGHT Camelia king-size bed upholstered in Mercury, with Ebony Shark’s Tooth legs £1,245, Button & Sprung RIGHT Montpelier chair, £1,035, plus three metres of fabric, David Seyfried

Atkins and thyme

RIGHT Elodie printed bedspread, £280; Elodie cushion, £85, both Sweetpea & Willow ABOVE Cushion made in Sonnet Sateen Jacquard in Oasis, pillows made in Fresco Alaska, both £122 a metre; Reversible Cashmere bed throw in Silver/White £975, all Johnstons of Elgin

Romantic

Create a dreamy bedroom full of romantic charm with furniture and accessories inspired by the glamour of times gone by. From the indulgent art deco era to the extravagantly lush rococo style, period designs can inspire colour, texture, furniture and accessories for a bedroom sanctuary that is decadent in every way.

Soft shades of powder pink, peach, mint green and pale blue work particularly well with the rich gilt, gold and metallic tones of these iconic looks.

Source furniture that is indulgent in shape and style, such as upholstery with heavy fluted detailing or ornately shaped headboards, which can be upholstered in any fabric to suit, for example, silk, satin or damask. Accessories such as mirrors carved and gilt-edged detailing and opulent glass chandeliers add further decadence.

For an ethnic twist introduce chests of drawers and cabinets with intricate inlaid patterns made from mother of pearl or flowery carved wood panels.

Floral patterns are ideal for making a romantic statement in a bedroom. Consider a bold, graphic rug design creating a focal point in the centre of a room, a pretty floral print for bed linen or simply a posy of scented flowers on a boudoir-style dressing table. As Joanna Ross, general manager of design at Sheridan, says, “Utilise nature. Bring the outside in and add flowers and perhaps a spring-inspired floral bed linen or wallpaper to add a lovely romantic feel to a bedroom.” 

TOP Knightsbridge chandelier, £4,931, Christopher Hyde ABOVE GingerLily silk double duvet cover, £389, The French Bedroom Co

RIGHT Lexington Fuchsia two-line satin-stitch cotton sateen double duvet cover, two pillowcases and fitted sheet bedlinen bundle, £205, The Fine Cotton Company ABOVE Scalloped bedspread, in collaboration with Katharine Paravicini, £185, Sarah K LEFT Atika grey carved chest of drawers, £399, Atkin and Thyme BELOW Broadway console, £399; Carnaby footstool in Champagne Pink velvet, £119, both Atkin and Thyme

ABOVE Bedroom designed by VSP Interiors RIGHT Caprini Multi quilt cover set, from £159, Sheridan BELOW Peonia Grande Zinc rug, £2,250, Designers Guild ABOVE Natural Flora boudoir cushion, £14, Julian Charles RIGHT Constance headboard, from £6,850, excluding fabric, Ensemblier

RIGHT Margaux Pink Velvet emperor bed, £2,129, Pepper Sq

Delphis wall light in decape and gold finish, £2,365, Beaumont & Fletcher

Sustainable

These days, in an ever more environmentally conscious world, mattresses, pillows, duvets and even bed linen made from eco-friendly and sustainable materials are often crafted using traditional methods combined with innovative technology.

A good-quality mattress that supports the neck, head and spinal cord is imperative for a good night’s sleep, for posture and physical health. Eco mattresses often include wool as the optimum natural filler for traditional pocket sprung mechanisms, creating a product that is synthetic- and chemical-free as well as preserving and protecting local farming communities and heritage sheep breeds. Wool also has hypoallergenic and antibacterial properties, making it ideal for allergy sufferers.

When it comes to headboards and bed bases, seek out those that use wool alongside Tencel – a sustainable fibre made from tree pulp and FSC-certified wood.

Dressing the bed can be an environmentally beneficial process, too, with organic cotton, natural linen and bamboo fibres being used for bedlinen. Source certified organic textiles made from 100 per cent natural fibres and manufactured without the use of harmful chemicals.

Whilst cotton makes for comfortable, crisp, cool bedlinen, linen boasts superior eco credentials. Made from naturally biodegradable flax, it is exceptionally hardwearing, so is an investment for years to come. Alternatively, consider products made from recycled fabrics and materials, such as recycled-wool throws and pillows made from recycled feathers. ■

Bloomingville recycled pink cotton throw, £26, Beaumonde

RIGHT Isabella 100 per cent natural upholstered bed made from FSCcertified timber and filled with natural coir and organic wool, £2,329; double mattress filled with natural British wool, from £899, both The Wool Room

ABOVE & LEFT The Cloud bamboo double duvet, £129.95 and Urban Grey bamboo bedding set, £92, both Wearth London RIGHT Oat waffle organic cotton and linen throw, £129.99, True Linen LEFT 100 per cent natural mattress with wool and hemp filling, from £3,395 (double), Maker & Son RIGHT Oat waffle organic cotton and linen throw, £129.99, True Linen BELOW Eco pillow, £69, Herdy

BRINGING THE OUTSIDE IN

Reinvigorate spring interiors with fresh bed linen in designs inspired by nature

For New Zealand based textile brand MM Linen, there is never a shortage of inspiration – which is found in the infinite and unwavering beauty of the natural world – for its collections. The striking range of luxury bedding, ready-made curtains and cushions, alongside a growing range of beautiful homestyle accessories, is designed to bring the outdoors in.

To help create the intricately detailed range, Kerry Jackson, founder and creative director of MM Linen, has cherry-picked some of the most talented artists from around the world to bring the seasonal collections to life. “Each design in our product portfolio is hand-painted using a variety of art media to capture the diminutive details in nature that make it so breathtakingly beautiful.” From its bestselling Fiori, full of floral drama, to the more whimsical woodland appeal of Briar, MM Linen looks to both flora and fauna to inspire its collections.

Every piece is designed to be effortlessly paired, layered and co-ordinated with other designs from the range, allowing for a truly original way to update and refresh interiors.

As a champion of the natural world, it goes without saying that MM Linen holds sustainability close to its heart, and, as a carbon-neutral company, offsets all the emissions created from seed to store by investing in clean energy. Not only that, in a move to proactively reduce the amount of plastic that is discarded as waste, it has introduced fabric packaging to its entire range.

This spring, MM Linen launches its SS 2022 bedding designs, including the chic and modern Isola, which boasts posy-style flowers on a rust-gold background; Carrie, with its pretty meadow flowers scattered over a pastel base; and Valencia, a dramatic and romantic flurry of large painterly blooms for those looking for statement bed linen. Whichever design is chosen, the uplifting benefits of being surrounded by nature without having to step outside the front door are guaranteed. n

ABOVE LEFT A large-scale floral print of intense yet delicate handbrushed blooms, Fiori bed linen exudes an opulence that creates a show-stopping focal point in the bedroom. Fiori, from £105 for a double duvet set ABOVE A classically modern design, Isola features a flourish of posystyle flowers on a rust-gold background. Isola, from £105 for a double duvet set

CALLAGHANS OF SHREWSBURY

POWERFUL PORTRAITS

When Spanish artist Ignacio Trelis decided to travel the world, he developed a portfolio of portraits inspired by his cultural explorations

When you are born into a family with a deep appreciation of art, it is almost impossible for it not to rub off on you, as was the case with Spanish artist Ignacio Trelis, who was born in 1960 and particularly drawn to painting from an early age. Mastering his art whilst studying at The Spanish Academy in Rome, he continued his studies at several other art academies in Europe before honing his skills under the watchful eye of Spanish master painter Paco Barrachina.

Before long, Trelis’s exceptional talents caught the attention of his local community and he found himself with a successful career as a talented landscape artist, exhibiting extensively throughout Spain and with his own gallery in Valencia. Whilst Trelis enjoyed capturing the beautiful Mediterranean vistas, arid landscapes and coastal scenery of his surroundings, he found his work was being emulated all too frequently and decided to experiment with different styles and step well out of his comfort zone.

Keen to explore new and different sources of inspiration, Trelis decided to travel the world and see where his adventures would take him. This bold step led to a whole new portfolio of portraits inspired by different cultures across the globe and he is probably best known now for this period in his artistic career.

Daniel and Stella Callaghan – who own prestigious art gallery Callaghans of Shrewsbury – are particular admirers of Trelis’s work. With their 35-year history, Daniel and Stella have garnered a reputation worldwide for their extensive knowledge of European art and artists, specialising in European nineteenth- and twentieth-century oils and watercolours.

“We are immensely proud to have been working exclusively with Ignacio Trelis for over 20 years, during which time we have held several solo exhibitions for him,” Daniel explains. “These often prove a sell-out as people find themselves captivated by Trelis’s otherworldly portraits.”

LEFT Blue Princess, Oil on Panel, 36cm x 25cm

Whether painting an African princess or a shaman, a tribal woman or a sadhu (a holy man of India), everything from their dress and jewellery to their body art and headwear is a source of fascination and inspiration for Trelis. From tribal warriors with pierced eyebrows to the breathtaking detail of kimonos worn by Japanese women, his attention to detail is outstanding and his passion for exploring global cultures is clear in every brushstroke.

Each of Trelis’s portraits is surrounded by what appear to be abstract shapes in vibrant shades, but no part of any of his paintings is accidental. Often, each shape, in fact, represents symbols from the relevant cultural traditions. “Trelis’s attention to detail is phenomenal,” says Stella. “He captures the true essence of the characters he paints with grace and empathy.”

ABOVE Chinese Princess, Oil on Panel, 46cm x 46cm BELOW Brewing Storm, Oil on Panel, 20cm x 30cm

A clear example of this is shown in Trelis’s Shaman painting, a detailed, mystical depiction of a spirit-world guardian to which there is more than meets the eye. Immediately obvious are the impressive plume of feathers, jewel-like beads and azure-blue tones, but upon further inspection, each element Trelis has included holds symbolic meaning. For instance, the horns adorning the shaman’s ears are there to indicate strength as well as humility, two key characteristics required by a shaman as a figure who often represents an area in times of war as well as celebration. The simplistic yet striking background of the painting draws attention to the shaman and his rich historical practice, whilst the dripping effect towards the bottom of the painting gives a nod toward modernism, blending the traditions of centuries with the techniques of the present.

Another example is Blue Princess, whose features glisten as a result of Trelis’s skilful build-up of paint, allowing the work to appear as if the princess has been captured in-between a state of repose and action. Her lack of direct eye contact creates a sense of mystery, a frequent theme throughout Trelis’s work, which lets the viewer create their own personal connection with each piece.

This genius and originality, central to so much of Trelis’s work, has allowed him to build a reputation as one of the most highly regarded Spanish contemporary painters. “Trelis really is one of our favourite contemporary artists in the gallery. We couldn’t be more excited to be preparing for his next exhibition which is aptly named Around the World in 80 Faces,” Stella explains. “As an artist he is a joy to work with and his pieces appeal to a complete cross section of clients and interior designers from around the world. It’s funny really, but whenever we sell one of his pieces, we are always rather sad to see it go, it’s like saying goodbye to an old friend.” n

callaghan-finepaintings.com

ABOVE LEFT Shaman, Oil on Panel, 91cm x 56cm LEFT Sadhu Varanesi by Ignacio Trelis, Oil on Panel, 99cm x 61cm, and Exceptionally Rare Three Seater Sofa, c1900, by Carlo Bugatti, H142cm x W246cm x D53cm

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