Let loose with lush fabrics and gothic drama as the summer fades
Victorian curio, modern Baroque, antique-wrestles-Warhol, there’s so many ways to describe this warm, intriguing, rather naughty look. It’s confidence, personality, deliberate irregularity and real emotional joy. Above all — there should be a good dash of you in it.
Accruing things over time and updating the appearance of furnishings in wild colour is an ages old approach to interior design.
On a budget, it presents exciting, affordable possibilities. With classic shapes and instantly recognisable popular themes, genres and historical periods can sit cheekily together.
Take some time to experiment in mixing it up. Dark, sumptuous walls in a solid paint colours, or openly eccentric wallpaper, with a foreground of jewel colours in furnishings and accessoriesd— amethysts, sapphire blues, emerald greens and faded gilded metallics — these daring theatrical palettes dominate the look-books of every major retailer and many designers this winter.
Cosy, fascinating, highly individual, build your set against enveloping, comforting wall colour, adding car-boot finds, and carefully considered new buys.
Go straight to the high street to be inspired by brand-new accessories with the appearance of a century’s rub.
Vintage country-life themes of game birds and mammals, maps; butterflies; classical busts and Rococo landscape paintings are easy to find.
The wry and witty work of Abigail Ahern for Debenhams comes straight to my mind — those flocked velvet rams, pelicans and parrots in statues and lamps (candlesticks are now down to just €21).
M&S has some wonderful mercury glass pieces evoked by inky dark portrait cushions and weird new brass beasts for walls and tables.
I love the truly silly topographical themed Explorer duvets sets from just €35 from Home Focus at Hickeys.
Laurence Llewellyn Bowen has long been a gothic dandy — this is his moment. His black velvet curtains, Baroque n’ Roll clocks (from just €19), and Queen of the Night throws for Littlewoods, are a steal that would please an 18th century highwayman for opulent splendour.
* Celebrate an old classic shape in vibrant new life. Take the voluptuous shape of an old chair or sofa and add 1950s graphic print or tropical coloured velvet as upholstery. n Wood reproduction bores can be rediscovered from a miserable brown varnished finish with a rub or spray of gilding — fabulous even on machine carving. Sand first for a good key. n Deliberately mix-match those accessories. Throw cushions in wild prints and patterns together on a sofa or chair of one colour of solid velvet. n Gather disparate ornaments (great for those holiday souvenirs that no longer fascinate), and group in odd numbers, huddling close. n Get to work on an oddities gallery. Print out some free vintage-style imagery from the Internet and set in a collection of old frames. n Printer ink is not light-fast, so for greater hold, look up French newspaper illustrations on Ebay — hand-coloured originals from as little as €30. n Don’t get too gloomy. Black and dark grey can be lifted by another layering of rich colour. Add lighter romantic touches of drawing room Victoriana and the French turn of the century courtesan’s salon — birdcages, fresh flowers, fey prints and pretty little objects in groups. n Lace and crochet are far from Miss Havisham’s hamper and can be boiled white or dyed for a full on pop-culture meets antique finish. These pierced, malleable pieces also add texture — vital where there are other flat, matt, possibly dark colours on the prowl. Look up lacy print bedding by Fearne Cotton (Erin) for Very.
The haunting charm of Jennifer Slattery’s linens and cushions are perfect for Victorian light. www.jenniferslatterytextiles.com
Afraid of the dark?
Scatter those jewel colours before a white or putty grey background. Oversize motifs such as flowers and insect life, mix up unusual collections and put them behind glass.
Play with the magical draw of coloured glass, gilding and mirror finishes. Lene Bjerre strikes a very pale but off-centre style with his deconstructed antique pieces. www.theelms.ie
Buy up those odd 19th century dining chairs, a steal at any auction to compose a harlequin set around a table.
Unite with a daring print in an upholstered seat. Use the original padding if it is in good condition, applying a new look with a staple gun or small tacks.
Mind the folds on those corners.
Yes, I know, there are no rules, but judging by some of the dribbling efforts on show at the local boot-sales, not every furniture re-invention with this popular product is a winner.
The talented gals at The Paint Pot, Patrick’s Quay, Cork, run half-day courses on using your chalk paints from €75. www.thepaintpot.ie
Choose integrity. If the piece is failing in its essential structure, no amount of paint will glue it back together. Tighten up those joints, loosen out the drawers with a little candle wax, but get it working before you work it up.
Look for a line. The colour might be all that it needs, but essentially you want something with a beautiful, worthy shape for starters. Step back and consider that figure.
Quality paint. The difference between sample pots of bog standard emulsion and something like Annie Sloane chalk paint is not only the quality of tint but the level of adhesion. With a grittier mix, paint will stay where it’s put.
A key is key. Paint will not stick well to layers of old oil paint or varnish type finishes with a high shine. Use wire wool to give your new colour something to cling to. For the really filthy, damp dust with a solution of sugar soap.
A matt primer will always give you a better end result and in a contrasting colour you can use it as a base coat, scrubbing through for a two-tone finish.
Patience takes days not hours. Dribbles are caused by over-loading the brush — slow down and sand between coats to remove imperfections. Soft finishes are caused by rushing through colour coats and not allowing the surface to cure before waxing.
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