slide1

C&J Blog Article

14
Jun
2010

Some Summer trends for you guys, from us. Enjoy!

Trends for Summer 2010

We predict stylish times ahead if, that is, you follow our lead. Saying that, we couldn’t walk tall as design ambassadors if we didn’t package an assembly of summertrend forecasts for your stylish delectation. And what better time to look to the future than right now, as summer slowly dawns. Yup, the one thing guaranteed to get us though a very average Spring is the prospect of summer lurking just round the corner. With its air of freshness and new life, Summer is a tantalising season that excites us more than any other. It’s then that our home ideas spring forth like blossoming flowers as we desperately try to encourage you (and your domestic inner sanctums) to break free of the dowdy shackles of darker days and take on a new and much lighter persona.

Just like our clothing, home decor should be forward thinking, comfortable, personal, and above all… fashionable. Hmm…so now you’re feeling stressed. Thinking you can’t pull it off? Well panic not. To ensure you know your ‘Crystal d’Arque’ from your ‘Philippe Starck’, here’s a fabulous C and J ‘what’s hot and what’s not’ trend guide as Summer dawns. Yay! Read it and reap, guys, to ensure that you stay on domestic trend. And watch, in awe, as your home becomes an eminently fresher, place by design!

Colour is back… again.

The best antidote to dreary skies is to ‘pop’ your home with brighter shades and zingier tones. Many major colour forecasters predict that the colour trend to watch as Summer beckons is ‘VIBRANCY’. It’s THE big buzz word in home design. The trick, however, is to be bold subtly. But isn’t that, we hear you ask, a contradiction in terms? Allow us to clarify - raw, clashing colours can be gorgeous but you should always balance things by tempering your design with translucent or neutral tones to soften proceedings. And remember that, as far as colour is concerned, a little goes a long, long way. An accent wall, a toss pillow or a colourful artwork might be the only punctuation required to enliven a restrained scheme…

Navy blue, as far as we’re concerned, will replace predictable black as a decorating contrast colour especially when teamed with white. And purple, winter’s hot fashion shade, will be softened by the sun to become lavender. Gorgeous! Use punchy yellow to add levity and sunshine and harness its luminosity to contrast with smart sharp grey or to tone in with the subtlest of orange shades.

Several very different greens round off this season’s palette, capturing as they do a theme of freshness and rebirth. Use vibrant natural green to provide the quintessential spring hue of fresh grass. Try darker greens to create a calmer look or incorporate reflective Lucite tones to provide a subtle hue with delicate and very elegant shimmer.

A key trend this season is to mix city with country. As such, combine austere concrete grey and friendly leaf green, or use fresh Kelly green with complementary blue to mimic sky and fields.

Adding Gloss

Gloss finishes will be HUGE this season - both in vibrant colour and crisp clean white - so become a magpie and take a shine to anything with gleam! Use a signature piece of furniture such as a bright yellow Ikea sideboard in a white washed room to elicit ‘art gallery chic’ at home, or add a large single coloured iconic vase or objet to create a serious talking point. Your choice of furniture can also serve as a way to add colour (in addition to function) so embrace that holy grail combo of beauty and practicality.

Lighten Up

Just as days are now brightening, so too should your home. As Summer warms us all up, it’s time to pare down your dark wood furnishings and replace with blonder, lighter timber tones. Invest in low slung, long furnishings or sand down your existing sombre pieces and colour wash them white to create a dusty, sun baked look – think Scandinavian chic meets Andy Warhol pop and you’ll soon be on track. Tones to favour for this look include pink and citrus, all of which will add a candy-like ‘manufactured’ feel that should contrast perfectly with your fabulous new natural timber. And remember to cater to your olfactory sense too, and NOT just to the visual nature of your design; scent your home with cut flowers, aromatic candles and fresh zesty fruits to further capture a Summer like feel.

Eco-chic

Eco chic will remain popular, and as the increasing range of exciting earth conscious products blossoms, so too will our desire to have them. Shop organic, ‘fairtrade’ and recycled and don’t forget that buying second hand items is also a form of recycling. Using the afore mentioned light timber also ties in with this look and adding glass accessories is totally essential; but in a less sleek way than previously. Be on the lookout for bumpy textured glass, or finishes that are reminiscent of running water or chunky ice. We also foresee that handmade items will rise in popularity. HOWEVER; being rustic doesn’t mean you have to be rough! So LOSE the sackcloth and replace with woven linen for a much more sophisticated approach to eco-chic.

Affordable Luxury

As we continue to watch our spending, we still want to feel special at home. This is where our unquenchable quest for adornment comes in as we add simple and affordable splashes of elegance to our domestic worlds. We suggest investing in crisp white cotton bedding; however search out ranges with luxury trims in suede and velvet. Or add elegant touches to your sofa with bejewelled cushions and beaded throws. As days stay warmer, we anticipate seeing the great Canadian high street becoming ever more competitive due to our advanced need for value.

Reinvention

Hot days provide the perfect platform to delve into the past to come up with the future as new interpretations and re-editions of tried and tested home classics continue to signify. As is the case with the motoring industry where icons such as Mini, Fiat 500 and the VW Beetle have all been reborn with new technology, so too will your choice of home furniture and accessories be tailored to echo the past. Think retro diner style coffee makers (now internally refitted to work at the push of a 21st century button) digital ‘Roberts’ radios (which still look effortlessly cool but which now pack a state of the art punch behind the scenes) and ‘old school’ record turntables (which can now be connected to your computer) to get the gist. Yup, the ‘reinvention’ trend is all about mixing traditional with technological…

 

Independence

This season it’s all about YOU - go on, indulge, you know you deserve it! The independence trend is about being your best, your most honest and your most comfortable at home. The focus of this trend is about finding your own style, exploring the inner you and becoming totally at one with your space. And if you feel like you want to plunder elements from each of our key trend forecasts? Then go ahead. That’s precisely what you should do. In today’s ever more stylish world there are no hard and fast boundaries, So go on. Rebel! And let a spot of self indulgent designer anarchy take over. Rules? Whatever. Sometimes they’re made… to be broken!

 

Back To Blogs