Garden Blooms

Summer and florals go hand in hand, and with the trend for maximalist décor growing ever more popular, even if you’re shaking off the raindrops outside, indoors you can enjoy a display to rival those in the best English gardens. We look at ways to inject interiors with the full essence of the season using pretty floral fabrics and hothouse bloom prints.

Flowers underfoot: A modern patterned rug placed in front of a neutral sofa will give your space a new energy. This instant look is also ideal if you live in rented accommodation and are unable to make major redecorating changes. The Rug Company has an array of floral designs in contemporary styles.

(therugcompany.info)

Modern tapestry: Scatter petals across your room by using fabric swatches to create an alternative wall display. Take large cuttings of your favourite floral designs then clip them into wooden embroidery hoops, using them as pretty circular frames. You can pick these up from your local haberdashery store and play with sizes and styles. The look and atmosphere of a room can change instantly depending on the size of your pattern, for example with these curtains. We love this Rosie fabric panel from Bluebellgray whose bold oversized florals are really on-trend.

(bluebellgray.com)

English eccentric: With maximalist styling really hot right now, we love the idea of using contrasting floral prints within an interior scheme. Mix together styles of floral furnishings, cushions and wallpaper to create an eclectic English manor effect. Try Colefax and Fowler’s Colefax Classics collection of fabrics and wallpaper for gloriously flower-strewn chintzes. Alternatively, a print with a smaller and denser pattern like the ones on these armchairs gives a sweet, vintage feel.

(colefax.com)

Bed of roses: There’s nothing like pretty florals in the bedroom to create a feeling of relaxation and harmony. So layer up a mixture of vintage and contemporary bed linen for a decadently styled sleeping space. Have fun with the sizes and styles of your textiles but do keep to a similar colourway in order to tie the look together. Designers Guild has a great selection of contemporary floral prints.

(designersguild.com)

Colonial charm: We love the idea of injecting wild pattern into a minimalist room. This pair of armchairs upholstered in Sanderson’s lush green Woodland Ferns fabric adds a delicate colonial air to a neutral room. Also try Zoffany’s jewel green Richmond Park wallpaper and Romo’s delicate Fougere Cilantro fabric. Style up the rest of your space with pot plants to mirror the pattern and add a dose of freshness.

(zoffany.com)
(romo.com)
(sanderson-uk.com)

Country walk: Channel the romance of meandering weekend walks with fabrics and papers that mirror the dappled greenery and trailing ferns of quintessential English parks and woodland. A way to achieve this mood would be to reference the Victorian explorers and horticulturists who used to display exotic illustrations in their studies and drawing rooms. British company Surface View's new V&A collection of large-scale artwork, including archival imagery from the Royal Horticultural Society, helps create a contemporary botanical display.

(surfaceview.co.uk)

Hothouse blooms: Pick a lush bouquet of florals to instantly transport you to tropical climes. Fabrics and wallpapers featuring exotic patterns in jewel-rich colours will ensure that no matter what the British weather does, you’ll be feeling in a warm mood. Inspired by 1970s wallpaper archives, Little Greene’s Reverie Jungle wallpaper features lush tropical ferns and glowing hothouse flowers.

(littlegreene.com)

Wallflower: There's nothing more charming than seeing beautiful blooms creeping up the walls of your interior. With so many quality artisanal designs on the market, we think now is the perfect time to embrace wallpapers. Illustrator Abigail Borg's intricate floral patterns have something of a contemporary William Morris about them, and we think her Mr Chrysanth looks striking alongside vintage furniture.

(abigailborg.co.uk)

© 2012 Dalani Home & Living - written by Rohini Wahi
Photos courtesy of The Rug Company, Bluebellgray, Colefax and Fowler, Designers Guild, Sanderson, Zoffany, Romo, Surface View, Little Greene, Abigail Borg