Edwardian Edge

Adding An Edwardian Edge To Your Dining Room

A time of grandiose and splendour, the "Belle Epoque" as it was also known may have been short-lived but it brought with it a breath of fresh air. Fresh air that can be easily applied to your home with just a few key changes.

Period interior design is very on-trend at the moment and Edwardian style provides you with the opportunity to achieve an alternative look in your home's interior. Should you be choosing to transform your home, we believe the dining room is an excellent place to start. In the past there was a significant focus on mealtimes, so the dining room was a focal point of the home, follow our tips below and add the Edwardian experience to your own dining room.

Furniture

Usually reproduction pieces, Edwardian furniture was known for reviving styles from previous eras and was largely an eclectic marriage of styles and influences. Whether you choose baroque, Art Nouveau or Tudor pieces, the key thing to look out for is furniture that is smaller and less bulky. Edwardian furniture was known for being a departure from the large, heavy and formal Victorian furniture that preceded it.

For a truly Edwardian look, consider furniture made from mahogany or lighter materials such as wicker or bamboo.

Flooring

For an authentic look in any interior, choose highly polished wooden floors that are stained with an oak coloured varnish.

Wallpaper

When it comes to wallpaper, choose a design that adds a breath of fresh air to your interior. Perhaps consider paper that features floral interior designs such as roses, wisterias or sweet peas, or perhaps a striped design. When it comes to wall interior design, a key Edwardian look was to break up the wall with a dado rail. Perhaps choose to emulate this and paper half the wall with a patterned design and paint the rest of the wall.

Colour schemes

Continuing the floral theme, choose pastel colour schemes and floral colours. Think lilacs, leaf greens and primrose yellows.

Lighting

Electrical lighting was relatively new in the Edwardian period and therefore was designed to be grand. Fabric lampshades with frills and tassels, smoked glass and ceiling roses are all very true of the period.

Heating

Again still a relatively new innovation, radiators were a big deal during the Edwardian period and were designed to be a talking point of the home. Take inspiration from these reproduction cast iron radiators and choose updated colours to contrast your space. These reproduction radiators stay true to Edwardian designs but are equipped to modern plumbing and interior design standards.

PALETTE TRENDS: Blue & Lemon Green

A soft, airy and placid combination is today’s fabric palette. It is hard not to like blue it is also hard to ignore as it surrounds us in our every day life. Blue is perceived as a color of stability, in light shades as having a calming effect. Using different textures in blue creates an interesting yet peaceful variation. Compensating the excitement that light-blue lacks, lemon green accents add rhythm to the palette. Although our example is a soft version of yellow-green it is a very vibrant color, literally! As experts say it reflects more light than other bright colors producing a stronger vibration. It is uplifting and promotes creativity but may border on being fatiguing or over stimulating. But no need to fret; simply use lighter shades on large areas reserving the stronger versions of it for accents. In a large room a sofa may be an accent piece much like a throw pillow in a smaller room. Knowing the implications of color helps us create rooms that are uncommon, pleasant and beautifully combined. In short this palette marries two opposite color personalities to create a complete environment. Below are designs that embrace using such stimulating color with confidence. Bravo!

1. CLEMENCE, COBALT-LETTICE /HILL BROWN
2. CARREG, LIME-CREAM / SANDERSON
3. SOFA ANIS / PIERRE FREY
4. PATOLA, CITRON / HILL BROWN
5. MEPHISTO, BLANC /CREATIONS METAPHORES
6. COMO, COMO /D.G. OSBORNE & LIITTLE
7. CALLAS, 15 /CREATION BAUMANN

Fabrics by Daniel Fragata /design intern

Text by Andrea Chery /design associate

Cliff Lee - Porcelain Pottery

I came across a piece of Cliff Lee’s work while traveling and was instantly drawn in by the sensual shapes and delicate details that are strongly influenced by his family's Asian roots. Born in Vienna, Austria in 1951, Lee moved to the United States in 1968 to attend the college where he earned a degree in biology and went on to specialize in neurosurgery.  Lee took his first ceramic class as a way to relieve some of the stress brought on by his demanding career. As the weekend activity slowly began to evolve into a deeper passion he enrolled in a ceramic class at the University of James Madison in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

In 1993, President Clinton invited Lee to showcase his vases with the White House Collection of American Crafts that was set to tour the country. Today his pieces can be found in the Renwick Gallery, Mint Museum of Craft and Design and Racine Art Museum as well as the White House Collection of American Craft.

Lee currently lives in Pennsylvania where he now spends most of his time in the pottery studio creating works of art with rich detailing, character and a sense of history.

Coffee Tables - Avanzato Design

The coffee table, a staple piece in any living room, became popular during the Victorian era when tea-time was a celebrated afternoon activity. Over the years, the essential use for the coffee table began to evolve. Today the furnishing is incorporated into modern day settings for a variety of reasons. They are a wonderful place to display our objects, harmonize our seating arrangements and bring a layer of design into our living spaces.

Coffee tables should be thought of as functional works of art. They can be used to communicate our style while creating a platform to showcase our passions. Whether you’re feeling modern, traditional or classically chic, accentuate your decor with a coffee table that speaks to you and your design personality.

Depending on your selection, a coffee table can be the grounding center-piece to your living space. Before finalizing your coffee table decision, think about its function and what purpose it will serve. Dress it up and make it a true reflection of your design aesthetic by adding flowers, vases, books and other ornaments. Incorporating an eclectic mix of pieces will allow you to create a unique arrangement for both you and your guests to enjoy.

A truly beautiful coffee table should be able to create a striking visual when standing alone. The staging of your coffee table should never over power its true purpose. Always leave enough surface area for useable space.

PALETTE TRENDS: DEEP BLUE SEA

Deep blue sea …is a very dark color, but it has an exceptional richness that encompasses power, abundance, strength, and the imposing presence of royalty. Its deep character yields a fine contrast with any light crystal color such as sea foam, mint green, aquamarine. In this palette we have a deep blue velvet (#1) as the main fabric, its embossed floral pattern adds a subtle elegance to the already shimmery hand of velvet. Such enigmatic fabric is perfect for a focal point piece, a sofa for example. Add a pop of color with silk pillows and juxtapose it with additional pieces upholstered in the color family accents such as striped jade, light blue, aqua and sand. We added a large printed silk (#3) for curtains to continue the drama to the walls, it has a light background so it won’t be visually bulky, it brings rhythm by braking away the rigid stripes. It introduces a little vibrant rose to the composition for contrast. Compliment it further with a kidney pillow or an accessory in a rose tone. The contrasts and the rhythm between the patterns is gauged to deliver a brave yet welcoming space whether it’s a living room or a more intimate space.

Below you will find some examples of courageous design using dark blue as the center of their color scheme. The first image is the Blue Room in the White House as it was around 1903 during President Teddy Roosevelt’s administration. The second image is a daring kitchen showcasing a contemporary dark blue with deep earth tones and contrasting white solids.

1. PEONIS, 50 /JAB
2. BACKSTAGE, MINERAL / KRAVET
3. LE CABINET CURIOSITES, ROSE /MANUEL CANOVAS
4. JULES, PIVOINE /MANUEL CANOVAS
5. ENGLISH BURI WOOD FINISH /NANCY CORZINE
6. QUEENS, SPRINGFIELD /SHYAM AHUJA
7. ILLUSION, PARIS BLUE /GREAT PLAINS HH
8. SOIREE, MIDORI /GREA PLAINS HH
9. MARIN, NATTIER /MANUEL CANOVAS
10. NATURAL OAK WOOD
11. ROYAL FLUSH, BLUE CHIP /GREAT PLAINS HH

Reference;

http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/floor1/blue-room-history.htm

http://www.cococozy.com/2010/12/color-watch-dark-rooms-pitch-black-and.html

Designer's Pick - Orrefors Glass

Why not add a touch of elegance to your decor by incorporating a stunning glass design from the Orrefors collection? Showcasing the essence of classic Scandinavian beauty, these glassware assortments feature both utility glass and glass art, all made from polished crystal. The history behind the collection dates back to 1898 where, in Smaland, Sweden, expert Orrefors glassmakers worked alongside some of the top designers in the area to perfect their craft while developing new and innovative techniques and designs. Today the Orrefors team is made up of five designers, each of whom works to interject their own creative vision into the timeless and well refined collections that Orrefors is known for.

Look and be inspired by how the crystal glass adds a layer of sleek sophistication into each of these interior spaces.