Terrys Fabrics’s Blog

Home Living Styles – Part 7 – Art Deco

Although the term Art Deco wasn’t used until after the 60s, the name derives from the world fair held in Paris in 1925, Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes . The inspiration for Art Deco is considered to bring a whole new look to fashion and interiors with decoration and eclectic influences derived from the primal arts of Aztec Mexico, Egypt and Africa as well as the powerful images of the ‘new’ high tech age of radio and skyscrapers. The style makes use of angular, balanced geometric shapes, a good example is the classic skyline of the 1930, the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building. Art Deco interiors are streamlined, geometric which often includes curved fronted furniture, mirrors, chrome hardware and glass. This style began as a Modernist repose in opposition to the Art Nouveau style with its elaborate flowing natural forms and imagery of the female form. To create an Art Deco interior materials to include are inlaid wood, lacquer,... [Read more...]

Home Living Styles – Part 6 – Modern Families

Modern family homes have to be practical and functional, yet they do not have to be without style! The main room of all family homes, especially during the evenings, is the lounge. With the abundance of modern styled furniture creating this type of living style is amongst the easiest. For most modern homes the TV is the focal point within the room, with the latest wide screen plasma TVs being hung on the wall rather than poked into a corner. This only allows for the TV be as large as you wish as it does not take up precious floor space. Comfortable seating is imperative and whether you opt for leather or fabric upholstered sofas and chairs is purely a matter of personal choice, however, most modern families opt for durable leather which is easy to maintain. Family homes should also reflect the fact that more than one or two people actually live in the home, this is typically achieved by having family photographs and knick-knacks placed around the room for everyone to see. This does not... [Read more...]

Home Living Styles – Part 5 – Modern Rustic

Many of us live in modern homes but would like a rustic look which is modern, functional and suits modern living styles. Using white is the main base colour for walls is a great idea for smaller rooms, and selecting a more vibrant tone for the feature wall to make a focal point within the room. To create a warm and cosy ambience look for colours within the warm spectrum, this includes terracotta, oranges, reds and yellows. The fireplace makes logical main focal point and to achieve a rustic look many people use either real or imitation bricks for the chimney breast, and while most people prefer not to return to the days of an open fire due to the mess and the inconvenience, modern gas effect fires set into the chimney breast provide a rustic look with a modern twist. Flooring is also modernised by use of laminate flooring rather than original stripped floorboards. In this style of home mixing old with new embraces one of this years hottest interior design trends, focusing on returning to... [Read more...]

Home Living Styles – Part 4 – Contemporary

To achieve stunning contemporary interiors which have the ‘wow’ factors it’s best to keep the colour scheme simple with natural tones such as wood teamed with pale turquoise to add warmth. Pieces of wall art are perfect for both living areas and bedrooms. Standard radiators for heating are no in keeping with this style. Instead under floor heating and a feature wall mounted fire against a striking contrasting wall colour will provide the desired visual look. If you don’t want to mount the fire inside a wall free standing fires are also in-trend and very acceptable. If you have a large open plan space try dividing it with a false wall or mount a smooth glide curtain track so that it projects across two-thirds of the area. Dress with plain white curtains or dove grey to make a divider. It’s also a good idea to change the flooring at the same place to give each area definition and purpose. Wood makes a good affordable choice, you can still have carpet just also... [Read more...]

Home Living Styles – Part 3 – Retro

The retro style provides a vibrant yet soothing colour palette which is one of its key features. Popular retro colours include aqua, turquoise, mustard yellow, Coco Cola red, blue, bubble gum pink and of course black and white. Chequer board patterns teamed with red and white motifs are timeless classics along with polished chrome, laminate surfaces, vinyl and lino flooring! To add a real retro feel you should also try and include chair styles such as the Eames lounge chair, the butterfly chair or the tulip chair along with retro wall art which resemble star bursts or satellites which were fashioned around the Sputnik. All lounges had a star-burst wall clock as well as a kidney shaped coffee table or curvy shaped coffee tables. This was the age of daring and breaking the moulds of traditions, much to the tut tutting of the older generations! Wallpaper patterns were also bold often geometric styles. Window dressings consisted of Venetian blinds in the retro house, along with curtains made... [Read more...]

Home Living Styles – Part 2 – Country Manor

Country Manor interiors conjure up images of grandeur and elegance, with the emphasis being put on the desires and whims of the Lord and Lady of the home. Although this quintessential English lifestyle does still exist it is only the gentry or those who have managed to buy a country manor estate! However, this doesn’t mean you can’t use some of the fabulous interior design styles and colour schemes to create your own country manor. Think along the lines of old well worn Chesterfield sofas and wing back leather chairs. Dark colours are typically used as country manor houses have the benefit of large rooms, tone the colours down a couple of shades so as not to make your rooms to dark and dreary looking. Dark green is a staple colour along with burgundy and deep rich reds. In older country manors the floors are left as stripped and polished floorboards which again are dark in colour either naturally as seen in dark oak or stained to give the appearance of dark oak. Rugs are placed... [Read more...]

Terrys Fabrics’s Blog