Drawing inspiration from her extensive travels, and an active interest in contemporary art and fashion, Sara wields a keen eye to exact her aesthetic vision.

Story designed a plan where every room of the house would create an element of surprise, provoking a conversation between each piece of art. She has achieved this by juxtaposing various pieces with designer furniture, many of which could be considered works of art themselves.

While the interior is based on a neutral colour palette, Sara has introduced particular elements to add some fun and colour while also bringing the owners’ personality into every room. The modern interior design project is the perfect setting to appreciate the spectacular mountain views in Aspen.

Dining room design

The compulsive art collectors wanted a stand-out piece of furnishing for the dining room design. Sara chose the Diamond Sideboard to make a stylish impact and add an extra wow-factor to an already stunning interior. 

Like a precious jewel, the Diamond Sideboard in emerald green, is a piece of luxury furniture with an exclusive design. It features three sculptured doors with a gold leaf interior with shelving and two drawers.

The exterior of this finely crafted piece is presented in silver leaf finished with a luxurious shade of translucent emerald green with luscious high gloss varnish. 

The fantastic art collection of the owners combined with vintage and modern furniture creates a playful and striking interior. It’s the perfect setting to appreciate the stunning mountain views of this residence.

See more of Sara Story’s design projects at sarastorydesign.com

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The event has been an established highlight of the calendar for 25 years and forms a major part of the London Design Festival.

Step into London’s Olympia and you will be greeted by myriad stands showcasing the very best in designer furnishings, interior design, creative lighting and more.

But that’s not all. There are a host of speakers covering diverse subjects such as experiential retail, architectural design, sustainability, colour and wellbeing.

Although you would be advised to plan your visit in advance to ensure you see the brands and meet the people on your agenda, there is something to be said for allowing some time to wander.

Today, I stumbled upon several new brands and even found myself engaged at a talk about Lego. Not something I had planned to see, but I am glad I did.

100% Design runs until 21st September.

Tickets are available from 100percentdesign.co.uk

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The shows tentacles spread further than ever from the exhibition halls at the heart of iSalone, and many previews are already to be found around the myriad showrooms of Milan.

This year marks the 58th edition of the show which runs between the 9th and the 14th April. It was founded in 1961 to promote Italian furniture and rapidly went from strength to strength, to become the huge industry attraction it is today.

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Rich pigments and block colours

Grey may still be the neutral of choice for many interiors, but primary and secondary colours from across the spectrum can be seen among the premium collections this year, both on walls and furniture pieces. The focus is on block colours with classic design and moody interiors more popular than ever. Violet, navy and stunning emerald green are all key colours for 2018. Meanwhile, the juxtaposition of bold colours against grey patterns adds another dimension to this current trend.

Down to earth

Earthy pigments such as clay, terracotta and ochre are noted hues, and ethnic prints can be seen in many pieces. There is a tactile element to many patterns, materials and textiles.

Wellness

Physical and mental wellbeing are very much front of mind in interior design this year. Biophilia remains a prominent trend across many collections, and playful lighting designs use natural elements to accentuate interiors.

Sustainability

Handmade and natural materials are key contemporary trends. And there is a distinct move towards sustainability, both in terms of materials used and manufacturing processes.

Metallic accents

This year there is a return to warmer metallics such as gold and brass. These give a sophisticated and organic feel to many furniture pieces including cabinets, mirrors and lighting.

More is more

Maximalism makes a return with more colour, decoration and textures than we have seen for a while. Everyday living pieces such as sofas, lighting and cabinets become objet d’art, with fantastic styling and luxurious materials.

So these are the interior design trends we have spotted so far this year. We’d love to hear your views. Add a comment below or get in touch with us directly via the Contact page.

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It features a number of world famous design events and exhibitions including Salone Del Mobile, the annual worldwide furniture fair and Fuorisalone – which takes place across Milan.

It’s an opportunity for the industry to come together to show, discuss and be inspired by the latest designs.

This year there are a number of premium fashion brands also joining the party, with names such as Louis Vuitton, Hermès and Marni.

Fashion houses launching homewares is a trend that we have seen in recent years, and this year sees even more luxury brands showing what they have to offer with their own premium furnishings.

Milan Design Week 2018 promises to be an unmissable. We’d love to hear your thoughts about this year’s event.

Check out Wallpaper*’s coverage or read the Monocle’s Salone Weekly.

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Designed to be a family retreat, this magnificent villa is the work of two brilliant architects and interior designers, Ana Proença and Célia Mestre from Atelier Spacemakers.

The space exudes comfort, originality and authenticity, along with contemporary feel broken down with several vintage pieces that are integrated for added charm and warmth.

The project was meticulously designed from scratch using a choice of bespoke finishing materials and furniture. The weekend house was developed on a single ground floor and it is characterised by modern architecture and clean lines, featuring large spaces and light fixtures, facing the exterior through large glass floors and patios.

The living room is linked directly to the dining area, where the chairs, dining table and the animal print rug are the main features. The COLTRANE Pendant Lamp, by one of our luxury lighting brands (DelightFULL) with minimalist lines and black and gold finish, emerges as an element that, besides being functional, is a decorative and sculptural object, that stands out above all because of its style and simplicity.

The game and cinema rooms open to a contemporary living room where the furnishings are simple, but where the DUKE Suspension Lamp features as adramatic, yet subtle and trendy lighting piece that illuminates and enchants.

In the suite, white, beige and woody tones dominate the chromatic palette. In the reading corner, the neoclassical chest, which is one of the owner’s family pieces, is a stand out piece, and it perfectly matches with the armchair and footrest designed by Charles Eames. The SINATRA Floor Lamp enhances the elegance and simplicity that was intended for this space.

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At times it can be tricky to make the right selection. Particularly if making a choice from several colours, combinations and shades.

In this article we give you a number of useful, fool-proof tips that will help you get the perfect match for your room, office, or other space, while reflecting its individuality.

There are several basic factors that will need to be considered when choosing the right colours.

Make a good colour choice

Firstly, get the feel for the room you are working with and think about what you would like to change about it, and what to keep. What kind of mood are you trying to achieve? What furniture do you have, or are you planning to buy? Would you like the space to feel cosier, and more boutique-like? Or airier and more open?

At this point you will need to take the size and proportion of the interior and its dimensions into account. The rule here is that light colours such as white, cream or magnolia help open up the space and make it appear bigger. Darker colours like dark brown or burgundy, visually reduce the size of your room and give it a cosy mood.

Compare and contrast

If choosing more than one colour, it is important to remember that creating points of interests in your room can be achieved by using contrasting colours. If you want to bring attention to a particular part of your interior it is worth considering highly contrasting paints. However if you don’t want create any focal points in your room, keep the tints close to each other, and at the same level of lightness. This also applies to choosing your furniture and accessories colours.

Knowing how to use contrasting paints when choosing the right colours for your ceiling can play a key part in how your room will look and feel in the end. If the space you are working with is large and has a high ceiling, it is worth considering a contrasting shade. This will bring the airy feel down a bit. However if you are working with a smaller interior, then sharp contrasts should be avoided.

Natural and artificial light are key factors in how the colours look at different times of the day. They need to be looked at when when choosing the colour scheme for your room.

Get stuck in!

The best way of choosing the right colours and shades is to start experimenting. Try different paints, colour palettes and various phone apps. Thanks to these you can get an idea of what the final results might look like. It is important to remember that virtual results will differ from the real ones. And that they can only be used to get a gist of what the space will look like in the end.

One of the most useful ways to see how colours might play out, is to get several paint samples. Paint small sections of the walls, let the paint dry, evaluate the result. Then choose your favourite colour, or colour scheme. If this can’t be done, then a visit to a décor shop and picking up some printed colour palettes and putting them against the walls of your interior might just do the trick.

Tone and colour family are vital factors that have an impact on how the room will feel. Colour tones can be warm, cool, or neutral; each of these have different properties. Cool tones can make a room feel more spacious, while warm tones give a cosy feel to the interior.

Colour theory

In general, the following effects can be achieved with different colour families. Blues are soothing and convey a sense peace and calmness, reds are typically warm and can make your space feel vibrant and exciting. Greens are great for bringing more balance to your interior and help it feel neutral. Yellows brighten up the space and have ‘feel good’ properties.

Whites and beiges are good for creating a neutral feel, however they almost always have either, a cool or warm tone. This means you can play with these to achieve a different effect.

It is always advisable to explore a number of options and combinations before deciding on the colour scheme for the interior. Take into account the interior itself, and also the furniture and accessories that you have, or are planning to buy. Choosing the right colour is a real game-changer. Don’t be afraid to get immersed in a rainbow!

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