INSPIRATION
Whether you’re in the market for a must-have essential or trying to source a lovely-to-have little extra, our style experts have scoured the shops (on the high street and the internet!) to point you in the right direction…
TILES
BERT & MAY has a team of in-house artisans who design its encaustic tiles and make them by hand using traditional methods. To those in the know, its colour palette is instantly recognisable: each chalky shade is made using natural pigments. The brand also has a great approach to sustainability (bertandmay.com).
CLAYBROOK is great for contemporary tiles with a playful aesthetic. These good looks are matched with a commitment to high-quality materials and practical durability. The brand eschews sales and offers, preferring to keep its prices fair and fixed. Plus, there’s free delivery on all orders (claybrookstudio.co.uk).
OTTO TILES & DESIGN stocks beautiful tiles from across the globe – think hand-painted zellige from Morocco and floral designs sourced in Turkey. It has a wide selection of terrazzo and marble too in out-of-the-ordinary patterns and colours. The expert team offers one-on-one design consultations without a fee (ottotiles.co.uk).
READY-MADE CURTAINS
ANTHROPOLOGIE is an excellent option if you have a more eclectic style. This season’s range includes a selection of very pretty florals, an opulently embroidered yellow silk set and a vibrant safari-inspired design that makes the curtains look like a mural when they’re drawn. The retailer sells in simple ‘short’ and ‘long’ sizes (anthropologie.com).
TERRYS FABRICS offers iconic patterns by Orla Kiely, William Morris and other well-known designers. Each set is available in a wide variety of sizes, so the website is an excellent resource even for awkwardly shaped windows. The brand’s huge selection of blackout and thermal curtains proves that practical solutions can look smart too (terrysfabrics.co.uk).
ZARA HOME has pleasingly minimal designs in neutral shades. Each curtain is made from high-quality linen and you can choose from low, medium and high opacity. They’re designed to be fed through a rail or casually hung using hooks, so are best suited to laidback rooms that have a relaxed feel (zarahome.com).
DESKS
THE DORMY HOUSE has an excellent workstation, Bruton, that is described as ‘pure elegance on the outside and an office wonderland inside’. The company also offers traditional desks with multiple drawers (including a corner number) and more contemporary console-style options too (thedormyhouse.com).
OLIVER BONAS sells its desks as combination dressing tables. They tend to be quite narrow, but work brilliantly if you don’t need an external monitor for your laptop – perfect
