SOUTH COAST STONE

Transform your kitchen with a unique surface

South Coast Stone specialise in the importation, fabrication and installation of all types of natural and engineered stone and ceramic tiling.

With all this extra time at home lately it may have left you noticing areas of your house that are in need of a little re-fresh, in particular South Coast Stone are seeing a rise in the of customers wanting to breath new life in to their tired kitchens. Simple changes like a new worktop or new tiles can completely transform the look and feel of any kitchen, so why not make yours one of a kind!

At South Coast Stone they source the finest and highest quality stone from around the world, enabling them to craft truly unique pieces, bespoke to the customers

CONTACT

01202 677188

info@southcoaststone.com requirements. As well as looking stunning they are also a practical choice; you can choose from granite or an engineered stone depending on the mood that you want to create in your room.

With one of the most extensive ranges of materials and suppliers on the market their experts can provide you with an all round design and installation service tailored to your needs. Worktops can vary in size, material, colour and edge detail, all left to the discretion of the client. Samples of complicated edge details are available upon request, ensuring our clients are completely satisfied with the proposed finish.

Once they have assessed your kitchen project they are able to offer a choice of finishes and preparations to suit the specific requirements of your property. The highly trained team have the skill and expertise to create a durable and versatile finish to you, regardless of size or complexity.

Contact South Coast Stone today for expert advice from one of our team members on 01202 677188.

WEBSITE

www.southcoaststone.com LOCATION

3 Cowley Road, Nuffield Industrial

Estate, Poole, BH17 OUJ

How to rock some rich, moody vibes at home

As the darker days set in, Sam Wylie-Harris shows how to embrace moody blues, plush velvets and bejewelled tones, for cosy and sumptuous schemes.

If you’re not afraid of dark colour schemes, feel bold enough to brave the shadows and make your mark with luxurious fabrics, this is the season to style it up. With a little glitz and glamour and a smattering of jewelled tones, dark room sets have the power to transform the mood of a space (as well as our own moods in the process) – especially when there’s a sumptuous velvet sofa, dramatic carpet and gold accents in the mix.

And when an iconic fashion label that goes back to the swinging Sixties and Seventies – Biba – launches a fantastic fabric collection to dress our sofas, armchairs or footstools, all the more reason to get excited about this dark, rich trend.

“Our Biba fabric collection embodies the beguiling blend of beautiful design and plush materials. There’s been a growing trend for jewelled-toned velvets to cater for bolder, more Instagrammable interiors and these fabrics are perfect for bringing a layer of luxe into your everyday space,” says Claire Wilks, designer at Sofa.com.

R I G H T

Biba Fingal 2.5 Set Sofa in Navy Filigree, Biba Fingal Armchair in Navy Palm, Ottoman Medium Rectangular Footstool in Navy Filigree, other items from a selection or part of room set, Sofa.com | PA Photo/Sofa.com

ACCENT ACCESSORIES (Pictured on previous page) Biba Fingal 2.5 Seat Sofa in Navy Filigree, £1,460; Biba Fingal Armchair in Navy Palm, £830; Ottoman Medium Rectangular Footstool in Navy Filigree, £490 (other items from a selection or part of room set), Sofa.com (PA Photo/Sofa.com)

“To complete your look of luxury at home, style sumptuous velvet upholstery with accent accessories of brass and marble – whether it be a beautiful brass floor lamp or a marble coffee table. These mixed material pieces paired with plush textured velvets, will elevate your space into one of a glamorous boutique hotel,” suggests Wilks.

DARK DECADENCE (Pictured right) Costellini Velvet Ottoman – Perfect Navy, £250; Lempicka Screen – Antique Gold, £1,295 (other items from a selection or part of room set), Oka (PA Photo/Oka)

For the ultimate in dark decadence, if you can’t resist the thought of reclining on a smouldering velvet sofa, kicking off those shoes and putting your feet up on a midnight blue ottoman, Oka’s new Master Pieces collection dials up drama with its rich colours and textures.

LIGHT AND SHADE (Pictured left) Midnight Velvet Lamp Shade, from £69; Concrete and Brass Hexagon Table Lamp, £115 (other items from a selection), Graham & Green (PA Photo/ Graham and Green)

When it comes to light and shade, think about using velvet as a backdrop for metallic accessories. With its rich texture topped with a gold inner to channel a warming glow and chic concrete lamp base, this is instantly inviting.

LUSTROUS WEAVE (Pictured right) The Rug Seller Deco Multi-Coloured Rug, from £269 (other items part of room set), The Rug Seller ( PA Photo/The Rug Seller)

To highlight those furnishings, floorwear also serves as an amazing piece of decoration, especially this lustrous weave. “Those who favour the dark side can luxuriate in the opulence of midnight blue, rich russet, amethyst, emerald green and deep teal this season – and black is back!” says Daniel Prendergast, design director at The Rug Seller.

“When these shades are teamed with opulent weaves and fabrics, the look oozes style. A richer, deeper colour palette can add sophisticated drama to décor schemes and help create that all important feeling of being cosy and cocooned. It’s perfect for cosy winter living-room sanctuaries.”

CAFÉ AU LAIT (Pictured right) Biba Iggy 2 Seat Sofa in Light Natural Leopard, £1,940; Biba Iggy Armchair in Dark Natural Leopard, £1,200 (other items from a selection or part of room set), Sofa.com (PA Photo/Sofa.com)

If you’re more café au lait than double espresso when it comes to moody decor schemes, we’ve also gone wild for Biba’s leopard print collection, which sits perfectly with all the faux fur and classic leopard print coats trending this season.

ALLURING TABLESCAPING (Pictured below) Croft Collection Iona 4 Seater Round Dining Table – Black, £399; West Elm Ingrid Dining Chair – Pink, £299; Connubia by Calligaris New York Velvet Dining Chair- Green, £329 (other items from a selection), John Lewis (PA Photo/John Lewis)

For alluring and tactile tablescaping and dining areas, more is more, with so many classic designs being reimagined to stimulate our senses. “Using jewel tones in interiors can instantly make your space feel luxurious, especially when paired with soft velvets and statement furniture,” says Bethan Harwood, home design stylist for John Lewis.

“By using deep tones on the walls, you can create a moody atmosphere, whilst brighter gemstone colours like sapphire can be used in soft furnishings.” She says these tones are best suited to a gold metallic finish and materials with a sheen.

CUSHION ART (Pictured right) Christian Lacroix Birds Sinfonia Cushion in Crepuscule, £110, The Rug Seller (PA Photo/The Rug Seller)

We’ve a huge crush on this swish designer cushion. More like a work of art, this flight of fancy would look super stylish on a Zoom-friendly shelfie.

DECADENT FEATURE WALL (Pictured above) Graham & Brown Timepiece Amethyst Wallpaper, £60 per roll; Epoch Resistance Ultra Matt Emulsion, £70 for 4L (other items part of room set), Graham & Brown (PA Photo/Graham and Brown) Graham & Brown’s Timepiece is a celebration of the top wallpaper brand’s rich 75-year history. Their Wallpaper of the Year for 2021, it juxtaposes contemporary geometric forms with archive florals. “Perfect for a decadent feature wall, the dark jeweltoned purple and teal balance between warmth and elegance, ideal for luxurious autumnal evenings at home,” says Paula Taylor, colour & trend specialist at Graham & Brown.

In the bedroom, Taylor suggests pairing it with gold accents to help create an opulent aesthetic. Alternatively, combine with rich velvet upholstery in shades similar to their Colour of the Year for 2021 – Epoch – for a regal touch to any living room.

RICH SHADES (Pictured on the next page) Tonquin Gold Rug 37005 by Wedgewood, from £375, The Rug Seller (PA Photo/The Rug Seller)

It goes without saying that bold flourishes are a natural bedfellow with black – a rich, versatile shade (probably why we have so much of it in our wardrobes!).

As Prendergast points out: “Some may be fearful of this shadowy shade but there are lots of advantages to using black in the home – it has a real cocooning effect

and it’s nigh on impossible to clash with.”

However, if black feels a step too far, Prendergast says charcoal grey is a great alternative: “Metallic highlights or a contrast of cream shine brightest against a black backdrop. Alternatively, mix in some more surprising shades that express originality, ingenuity and creativity.”

SOPHISTICATED SHADES (Pictured below) ELLE Decoration by Crown Flat Matt Paint in Open Water (left wall) and Movement (right wall), £35 each for 2.5L, Homebase (PA Photo/Crown Paints)

For more wonder-wall inspiration, Crown Paints have teamed up with eponymous trendsetter brand Elle Decoration to create an inspirational colour collection of sophisticated shades.

“People are often reserved about using dark colours in their homes but they really shouldn’t be. Bold, dark shades have an incredible power to transform any room, injecting character into it,” says Justyna Korczynska, Crown Paints colour consultant.

A good way to introduce a darker shade, Korczynska suggests, is to decorate one of your smaller rooms first. “Dark colours work surprisingly well in small spaces, even where there is no natural light. A bold shade can introduce style and help create a space you’ll truly love. If you’re feeling confident, try to envelop the whole room in this shade, together with doors or any other woodwork.”

For a simple style fix, start by painting just a section of a wall to create a zone within a room. And by keeping it tight, Korczynska says you can go really brave or dark with your chosen colour.

Words by Sam Wylie-Harris, PA