10 minute read
AMC DESIGNS
Y E A R I N T H E MAKING
Ilkley-based Ann Marie Cousins, founder of AMC Designs, on what we can we expect to see in interiors in 2023
From mood-boosting colour palettes and curvaceous furniture, to spa style bathrooms and tactile textures, 2023 will be the year to truly show personality through interiors. Ann
Marie Cousins, founder of AMC Design, has provided her expert insight into what to look out for in the new year.
“We’ve already started to see bold and colourful interiors this year, but they will be even more prevalent in 2023,” she states. “There has been more of a focus on creating surroundings that heavily influence our moods and wellness, so introducing a vibrant colour palette is a great place to start.
Explore your more playful and nostalgic side and experiment with patterns and textures to create the ultimate uplifting atmosphere in your home.
“A bathroom isn’t only a necessity in a home, but a wellness space to wake up in the morning or relax and rejuvenate in the evenings,” Ann Marie continues.
“In 2023, we will see an increase in bathrooms as wellness spaces in themselves, where homeowners can
enjoy some true R&R. The new year will welcome the luxuries and amenities of hotel suites and spas into the comfort of our own homes, ranging from double-vanity units and luxurious wallpapers, to striking light fittings and swoon-worthy tiles.
“Stay ahead of the curve and move away from slim profiles by incorporating rounded and shapely furniture and décor into your home, as we expect a continued resurgence in 70s and 80s design,” she says on how we are looking to the past for inspiration. “From tiles and sofas, to mirrors and rugs, gone are the days of straight lines and instead, replace them with aesthetically pleasing soft, curvaceous pieces. I’ve especially seen a continued request for scallop designs, which can be introduced in a number of di erent ways, instantly adding intrigue and charm.”
How about adding some extra character to your property? “Texture is one of the easiest and most dynamic ways to add character to your home, regardless of the interior style,” Ann Marie answers. “We’ll see a shift from minimalistic and paredback style, and a move towards maximalist interiors. One of the best ways to do this is by layering natural materials such as wood and stone, with tactile fabrics like velvet, suede and leather in a variety of tones and patterns. Don’t be afraid to be bold, and try experimenting throughout the seasons to see what works best.”
Recognised for interiors that deliver energy and vibrancy, the Ilkley-based interior studio AMC Design creates bold interiors for stylish everyday living. Using a mixture of colours, patterns and textures, each project introduces interior flair that is personalised to each homeowners’ preferences and personality.
HEIDI MARFITT
HEIDI MARFITT
WETHERBY - 01937 581451 POCKLINGTON - 01759 487437
THE TEAM AT FURNISH & FETTLE
I N F I N E F E T T L E
Eleanor Goddard, of Furnish & Fettle, on closing their Harrogate showroom and what this means for the company
Q Why have you decided to close your Harrogate showroom?
A Footfall has changed dramatically over the past couple of years and the marketplace has polarised. The more price sensitive shoppers are increasingly turning to the internet, while at the other end of the spectrum are people looking for expertise and service, and these are the majority of our clients. With rising costs, it just makes no sense to have two showrooms so close to each other.
Q Will it be hard to leave the area?
A Yes, it is a bit sad to be leaving Harrogate, especially as we are in such a beautiful building, but our Wetherby showroom is less than 10 miles away.
Q What will this mean for your two other showrooms?
A All of our team members are staying with us, so without now needing to provide showroom cover for three showrooms, the team will now be able to work more closely together.
Q What can we expect to see at the showrooms in early 2023?
A We have already started to refurbish both the Wetherby and the Pocklington showrooms with inspirational room sets, which will still feature pieces that can be bought there and then, but will mainly serve to showcase design ideas and our bespoke craftsmanship.
Q Those aside, what else will the Harrogate closure enable you to do?
A Without the distraction of the retail side of the business we can now focus more clearly on the interior design side of our business, which is where all of our team's passion really lies. To support the growth in the projects side of the business, we have taken on a new storage unit and workshop and upgraded to larger vans to make delivering larger projects and pieces more straightforward. We are also looking to expand our team.
Q What kind of interior design projects have you taken on to date?
A We have a broad spectrum of projects that we are working on at any moment in time. Some people come to us just for window dressings, upholstery and soft furnishings as we have a lot of experience in this area, while others are looking for more help with a whole house project which might include spatial planning and bespoke furniture design. Others just want us to help them with styling their home.
Q As a business, what will Furnish & Fettle look like in 2023?
A We will be a much tighter, more streamlined organisation focused on creating beautiful, bespoke homes for our clients.
Designs for better LIVING
It’s time to pack up the last of 2022 along with the Christmas decorations and start a new year with a fresh outlook
January is a prime time to embrace some new look trends and find ways to improve your lifestyle. Along with the inevitable new diet and fitness regimes, you can look at how your home can be improved.
With the garden still largely o limits due to the dark evenings, we’re all still focused on indoor life, and the shortcomings of our homes are highlighted when the Christmas glitz is gone. It’s a perfect time to get organised and identify how your property can be adapted to better suit your lifestyle. Investing in improving your home not only gives you the benefits of better functionality, but also helps with its resale value when you decide to move.
Making better use of space is Hartleys raison d'être, with creative storage solutions going to the very heart of what they do. A free, no obligation visit from their designer will reveal how you can gain much more within the footprint of each room. You don’t necessarily need to build an extension to find more space for living and storage. They look at streamlining your existing space, working with, rather than against, tricky architectural features to build furniture that not only looks fabulous, but also gives you tailored storage so you can clear away the clutter and create more floor space. You can achieve a more minimalist look without having to throw away half your possessions!
From bedrooms featuring ‘stable door’ access and overhead storage to guest rooms turned into home o ces with luxuriously comfortable foldaway wall beds, Hartleys Bedrooms specialise in giving you new multi-purpose spaces to enjoy.
All their furniture is made-to-order to your exact individual specifications, and they o er a wide range of finishes and styles to choose from. You can go for sleek and shiny, light or dark, or opt for warm natural wood tones. Whatever your taste or the style and period of your property, they design the furniture to fit.
Everything is made locally in their Yorkshire factory in Skipton, using sustainably sourced robust materials, so you can be assured of furniture with a low carbon footprint – plus it’s guaranteed to last.
Find out more about their transformational furniture at hartleysbedrooms.co.uk and call 01756 700471 for an appointment
THE PROJECT BEFORE...
... AND THE PROJECT AFTER COMPLETED BY GLASS SOLUTIONS
MODERN LIVING
Whether it’s in the form of a staircase, balcony, balustrade or bi-fold doors, nothing makes a statement in the home quite like glass
If you’re looking to give your home or garden a contemporary makeover then the introduction of glass can really add the wow factor. No-one knows this better than Paul Dale, who set up Glass Solutions 12 years ago. “I worked for a glass merchant as a glass cutter for eight years before setting up Glass Solutions,” he says. “I’ve always been creative and wondered where all the glass would end up when we’d made it. So I started to take an interest and set up a bespoke glass installations company.”
Glass Solutions cover the whole of
Yorkshire. Paul is constantly on the road supplying and delivering daily, and can provide feature glass staircases, staircase renovations, glass balustrades, balconies, windscreens and bespoke glass projects.
It’s a real family business too; Paul works alongside his wife, sister and brother as well as a dedicated team of engineers and joiners.
A glass staircase is incredibly versatile and when teamed with an oak base and handrails can work perfectly with any décor. “I get huge satisfaction in bringing old staircases back to life using oak and glass, we get a huge reaction,” adds Paul. “Adding oak newels and rails alongside really does give a contemporary look, but also a nice contrast of colours to the areas. Some believe you must remove the whole staircase, but you actually don’t.”
Glass staircases are usually installed much easier, quicker and simpler compared to that of a normal staircase. Glass panels, in a glass staircase, usually attach using brackets. In some instances, the base and handrails will feature a groove which enables the panels to slot in.
“We can renovate any staircase to a modern or traditional design,” says Paul. “Our standards are high and to ensure we meet the highest level of workmanship our family business skill set consists of qualified joiners and engineers. Our renovation service is a quick, mess-free way to achieve the look of a brand-new staircase. We only use the best materials and fittings to ensure we achieve the best results.”
Due to light being able to pass through, a glass staircase is a great option if you’re looking to keep as much natural light in the room. If you have a smaller space to work with, a glass staircase will give the illusion of extra space, especially if you choose clear glass panels.
Balustrades are barriers that go around the edge of a designated area, such as a balcony or staircase, to make it safe. The options and products Glass Solutions o er include, frameless glass designs, Juliet glass balconies, decking glass, glass walls and windscreens, and stainless steel and glass.
Whilst staircases and balustrades are Glass Solutions’ most popular types of installations, they also undertake bespoke projects too. You’ll find examples of their work at their new o ces at Killinghall Stone Quarry. This quirky space has one of the biggest splashbacks you’re ever likely to see, the Knaresborough viaduct image measures nine by four metres!
GLASS SOLUTIONS
15d Killinghall Stone Quarry, Ripon Road, Harrogate, HG3 2BA 01423 509940 / 07734 654 668 hgwsolutions.co.uk
