Western Mail Article - November 7th 2009

Winter warmers are just the ticket as nights draw in

The fierce wind last Sunday certainly whipped swirls of leaves from the trees.

As the days shorten, the home becomes more of a nest, and, like hibernating animals, we spend more time tucked up indoors.

Clearly, an efficient central heating system is the key to keeping cosy during the winter months.

But, in recent years, radiators have become more than conveyors of heat, and have become style items in themselves.



Some contemporary radiators really are works of art, and some are so sculptural you have to look twice before you discover that their main function is heating.

Before wielding the credit card, check that your glamorous new radiator is up to the job of heating the room by calculating how much output is needed to keep the room toasty. Most radiator companies have heat calculators on their web sites (try www.bisque.co.uk)/01225 478 500), but a plumber or heating engineer can work out your specific requirements more precisely.

Given the ornate designs on offer you can site your radiator in a prime location in the room. Many designs are vertical, which means that you can make use of otherwise vacant spaces, for example by placing them symmetrically on either side of a chimney breast.

Don’t be afraid to use a modern radiator in a period property or a traditional model in a modern home.

For decorative styling have a look at Jaga’s designs (www.jagahomeheating.co.uk/01531 631533 – these creations are flamboyant enough to create a centrepiece in a room.

One of the first companies to recognise the need for radiators that are groovy as well as functional was Parissade (0208 830 8073/www.parissade.com) - their designs are very innovative but easy to live with.

Nowadays many towel rails are powerful enough to heat the entire bathroom, so having an additional radiator is no longer necessary. But if the towel rail of your choice isn’t up to heating the whole room, you can always team it with underfloor heating, thereby avoiding overcrowding the room with rails and radiators.



However, beware, if your towel rail runs from your heating system, as you’ll be left with soggy towels in summertime - so go for an electric one that you can switch on and off at will.

For a cool look, check out the fabulous Saturn chrome-finish spherical radiator with towel rail which is guaranteed to draw the eye in a bathroom. It’s available from The Radiator Company (www.theradiatorcompany.co.uk/08707 302250), and costs £1,333.

And B&Q’s Concept radiator features snug boxes to cradle small towels, and also has internal lighting. Find out more by logging on to www.diy.com.

Have a look at the offerings of specialist companies such as Radiating Style as well (www.radiatingstyle.com)

This company produces radiators in a kaleidoscopic range of colours - copper red, antique gold, pastel orange, lava, saffron, ultra marine blue...

Finally, on a slightly different note, I’m truly delighted that Chameleon is included in Andrew Martin’s 2009 Interior Design Review. The competition for inclusion is fierce, and out of 500 international applications only 90 are featured.

Chameleon was one of six from the UK to appear - so many thanks to everyone for their hard work.

Yvonne Jones is a Royal College of Art trained designer, and is the owner of Chameleon Interiors. Tel: 029 2037 1277. www.chameleoninteriors.co.uk


___________________________________________________________

Western Mail Article - October 31st 2009

Turning chaos into order

Tonight is Halloween. For weeks now the greengrocers have been stocking pumpkins galore, so we can expect to see a multitude of carved lanterns making an appearance this evening.

Halloween has its origins in the Celtic festival of Samhain celebrating the transition from the light period of the year to the dark.

Now that the balmy weather is well and truly behind us, and the evenings are dark, it’s time to store away sandals and light clothes until next year.

It would be great to have summer and winter gear neatly separated, so that everything in neatly organised.

But the reality for most of us is that things are stuffed here, there, and everywhere.

So imagine the joy of a walk-in wardrobe - with everything sorted and easily visible.

Walk in wardrobes take up a fair amount of space, so if the bedroom can’t accommodate one, maybe it’s feasible to convert a box room. Sliding doors will also maximise space.

The ultimate is a his n’ hers wardrobe with a low cupboard in the middle on which to lay a suitcase ready for packing. I created just that for clients, and they were delighted with it.



The trick with walk in wardrobes is not to skimp - make sure they really are walk-in, and that there is plenty of room to allow long garments to hang comfortably.

As for accessories, good quality hangers - all the same design for the sake of neatness - are a worthwhile investment.

See-through perspex boxes are great for storing shoes. While a peg rail mounted on the back of a door is good for neatly storing scarves, belts and other accessories.

And a full-length mirror is a must.

So where do you go for a walk-in wardrobe? Here at Chameleon we custom make them with the help of our joinery company.



Another expert company is the Walk in Wardrobe Store (www.walkinwardrobestore.co.uk) - the company’s modular systems can be adjusted to suit individual requirements.

Contemporary furniture company Minimo (www.minimo.com/020 7498 1119) also offers good storage systems. Choose from a variety of finishes: oak veneer, dark or light oak, white lacquer; and also look at the special design features offered.

The company also provides designs for awkward spaces, for example, rooms with sloping ceilings. Some of their designs can also be installed in alcoves.

Light is very important too - there’s no point going to all the trouble of fitting a vast wardrobe just to flounder around in the gloom. That said, take care not to choose anything too glaring. You want a flattering reflection looking back at you when you check your outfit in the mirror.

Step outside your cavernous wardrobe, and make sure you are confronted by appealing bedlinen. It’s worth spending as much as you can afford, as the better the quality the longer the items last. I have had my bedlinen for many years, and it has survived umpteen washes without ill effect.

Have a look at Dwell (www.dwell.co.uk) for some attractive options at sensible prices or stores such as M&S.

Yvonne Jones is a Royal College of Art trained designer, and is the owner of Chameleon Interiors. Tel: 029 2037 1277. www.chameleoninteriors.co.uk

Western Mail Article - October 24th 2009

Bask in some reflected glory

This weekend the clocks change and summertime is officially over. As the nights draw in and the sun loses its power, we need to maximise as much light as possible in our homes.

Whatever natural daylight comes in, make the most of it. If you can do without net curtains, so much the better as they repel pale winter sunshine as well as prying eyes.

Large mirrors do a grand job of bouncing light around as well as making a small room or narrow hall look more spacious and balanced.

Place your mirrors very carefully - the fragile golden orb you capture in winter might become a glaring fireball in summer - dazzling all in its vicinity.

Be careful too that the mirror reflects something you want to see - there’s no point doubling up on something that’s best hidden.



The earliest mirrors date back to Greco-Roman times. These were relatively simple affairs, often made from tin, bronze or silver, with a reflection created in the highly polished surface. The backs of these hand-held mirrors were ornately decorated.

Superstition has it that breaking a mirror is extremely unlucky. This could be because mirrors were astronomically expensive until the 19th century, when improved manufacturing techniques meant that mirror purchase was no longer the preserve of the fabulously wealthy.

I often put mirrors to good use in my design schemes.

In one home I used floor-to-ceiling mirrors on an entire wall. This made the room look so much larger, but not overwhelmingly so as I brought in plenty of warm tones to make the room look inviting.

The rug, pictures, flowers and vases all glow warmly, and the chocolate brown chairs add depth and contrast.

Allowing pieces such as vases or lamps to be reflected in the mirror helps create a pleasing symmetry in a room.

Unframed mirrors are generally used to create that tricksy ‘doubled space’ look, the lack of frame permitting a seamless reflection that deceives the eye into thinking the space is twice the size.

But mirrors come in many guises.

In Feng Shui they are used to attract, redirect or move the flow of energy around.

They can be hugely decorative, purely functional, ornate, simple, imposing or delicate, and they come in a multitude of different shapes, round, oval, square, rectangular....

In the bathroom more than anywhere style and function combine. Obviously, a mirror is needed in a bathroom for practical purposes, but it can do so much more.



In a confined space, a sizeable mirror generates welcome light and space. Try installing a bathroom chandelier so that this glamorous, gleaming piece of art is reflected wherever you look.

Gustavian (0208 440 8043/www.gustavian.com) have a luscious bathroom chandelier costing £480.

It’s the only light fitting of its type to carry an electrical rating (IP44) allowing it to be used above the bath or shower.

Resplendent in lead crystal and polished chrome, it exudes wow factor.

Don’t be deterred if you have a small space, over-scaled lighting looks great, and, because of its shimmering quality, it won’t be overbearing.

Yvonne Jones is a Royal College of Art trained designer, and is the owner of Chameleon Interiors. Tel: 029 2037 1277. www.chameleoninteriors.co.uk




___________________________

Western Mail Article - October 17th 2009

Making the most of seasonal splendour

The seasons have well and truly changed. The balmy warmth of the much needed Indian summer has given way to an autumnal chill.

But when the sun shines, the October golds and russets look stunning.

I love to soothe away the stresses of daily life by spending time in my garden. At this time of year there’s a lot of tidying up to do, especially as the leaves are starting to fall.

Cleaning might seem like an onerous task, but the prospect of sweeping perked up considerably when I found these chirpy multi-spot brooms from mail-order company Country Cream (020 8660 3527/www.countrycream.co.uk).

Country Cream also sells enamelware and vintage-inspired fabrics.

I must have got my love of gardening from my Dad, who has had a lifelong love affair with his allotment.



If I had more time, I’d grow lots of my own vegetables, but the next best thing is to buy organic local produce from a farmer’s market.

Or order a box of fresh seasonal produce from Daylesford Organics (www.daylesfordorganics.com).

I have to confess that I am partial to their gardening products too, and I am the proud owner of a very smart suede apron that I bought as a sneaky present to myself, as well as a set of snazzy horn handled tools.



As autumn advances our gardens look more and more stark. One clever way of adding year round colour is with garden art .

A company called 55Max (55max.com - 020 7625 3774) has a sparkling range of waterproof and durable garden visuals that can revive and revitalise a wintry outside space.

Simply choose an image from the 55Max collections, discuss your idea with the designers, and they will advise on the most suitable and cost effective design and material for your chosen space.

Substrates available include PVC, canvas, acrylic and even printed aluminium.

On a sunny day it’s still conceivable that you could enjoy a lunchtime barbecue. And, if things get chilly you can inject some warmth with a firepit or a chimenea.

The Terrace Brazier from Keen Gardener (www.keenbbq.co.uk/01789 763336) has a wide fire bowl that’s broad enough to take logs, and is equipped with a chrome grill for cooking.

Many garden centres stock chimeneas as they have become extremely popular in recent times.

The chimenea originated from Mexico many hundreds of years ago and was used both as a cooker and a source of heat.

Originally they were made from clay, but now cast iron and cast aluminium have joined the fold.

Cast aluminium is probably the most practical as it won’t rust, is very low maintenance, and is lighter than cast iron and so can be easily moved if the wind changes.

Although clay is aesthetically pleasing, it can crack if subjected to rapid changes of temperature.

Finally, if you are looking for an eye dazzling display of autumn colour, then head for Westonbirt near Tetbury in Gloucestershire.

The arboretum has one of the most spectacular tree collections in the world.

At this time of year the maples are aflame as their leaves turn to vivid shades of red, yellow and orange.

Find out more by calling 01666 880 220 or looking up www.forestry.gov.uk.


Yvonne Jones is a Royal College of Art trained designer, and is the owner of Chameleon Interiors. Tel: 029 2037 1277. www.chameleoninteriors.co.uk


__________________________________

Western Mail Article - October 10th 2009

Home designs that give the planet a helping hand

Reading about climate change worries me, especially as the shrinking of the glaciers and melting of the ice capos seems to be accelerating.

Rather than fret helplessly about the plight of polar bears as their icy world shrinks, I like to try and do my bit to help.

Turning out unnecessary lights is a start - there’s no point lighting up a room you are not actually using.

I also turn down the dial on my washing machine - only the dirtiest loads need to go on a hot wash. And tweaking the central heating thermometer down a tad helps too - and you don’t even notice the difference.

I also try and buy ethical goods and have had fun looking at different sites.

A very enterprising company attracted my attention - Wiggly Wigglers in Herefordshire (www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/01981 500 391) - a company renowned for its wormeries, which are designed to aid the composting process.

During October there’s an introductory offer on the new Worm Cafe, a system that makes worm composting easy to carry out.

The company’s ethos is to ensure that everything it does helps mother earth - even if only in a small way.

For example, its floristry shop only sells bouquets made with UK grown flowers, eschewing those flown in from distant lands.

Wiggly Wigglers also do EcoBalls that replace detergent in your washing machine - they are filled with dirt lifting pellets that clean the clothes without fading or damaging fabric.

And as the birds will need feeding again very soon, check out tthe Wiggly Wigglers’ options on gourmet snacks for our feathered friends.

One of my favourite web sites is that of Hen and Hammock (www.henandhammock.co.uk). The company is spot on when it comes to creating desirable items from refound or recycled objects.




I am very fond of their recycled linen cushions - perfect for indoor or outdoor use.



They are handmade in the UK from 1930s grain sacks. The stripes indicate which mill the sacks came from.

The company’s groovy denim doorstep makes good use of old jeans - ensuring they don’t clog the place up by going to landfill sites. Each one is filled with 1.5kg of dried chickpeas, providing sufficient weight to prop open most doors on a breezy day.

I am intrigued by the idea of green roofs - rooftop areas planted with vegetation to provide a habitat for insects and birds, while absorbing rainwater and providing insulation at the same time.

Since Livingroofs.org ((www.livingroofs.org)) was launched in 2004 it has helped move the green roof movement forward, actively promoting the concept to such an extent that London now has a distinct green roof policy.

The company’s sister site - www.greenroofdirectory.com - provides details of contractors, manufacturers, suppliers and designers who are active in the green roof industry.

A living roof is a great way to disguise an unattractive flat roof, and you can also consider the option of creating a tough enough top for you to be able to sit up there and catch some sunshine.

Interestingly, the concept of living roofs has been with us since the 1930s, but they fell out of favour when planning constraints curbed their use.

Now, with our renewed interest in things green, attitudes have softened, and, as a result, there’s a growing number of plant suppliers, ecologists, architects and designers on hand to help create foliage filled rooftops in our cities, towns and villages


Yvonne Jones is a Royal College of Art trained designer, and is the owner of Chameleon Interiors. Tel: 029 2037 1277. www.chameleoninteriors.co.uk

Western Mail Article - October 3rd 2009

Rugs and runners provide the perfect home facelift

The much heralded John Lewis store has opened in Cardiff, providing a happy interiors hunting ground for those prepared to brave the crowds already flooding to this famous emporium.

For me, much as I like flea markets and junk shops, the internet rules, as my time is so limited.

So if you live too far away to easily reach the department stores flaunted by big cities, don’t worry, you still have the world at your fingertips without even stepping outside your own front door.

It’s a good idea to do your research on the internet anyway, then you have a clear idea of what you want before heading to the shops - saving you time and stress once you get there.

I’ve been preoccupied with rugs and runners recently as there are so many magnificent designs around.

They are also a great way to provide an instant interiors revamp.

Starting with the hall of your home...

The hall and stairway is the first thing a person sees when they step inside, and, as first impressions stick, if this area looks scruffy, it could colour a person’s view of your entire house.

If your hallway looks a bit drab, liven it up with a rug or runner. It needn’t costs a fortune to change the ambience with a splash of colour.

Similarly, a worn stair carpet can give the place a weary feel. As the stairs see a lot of traffic it’s worth investing in a good quality carpet that will withstand the wear and tear, and stay looking fresh and attractive years down the line.

Roger Oates’ designs (www.rogeroates.com) are made to be used and lived with. His striking carpets, rugs and runners have style and individuality without being formal or fussy.

I’ve used them for years, and they are reassuringly hardwearing too.



For contemporary designs the Rug Company rules (0207 229 5148/www.therugcompany.info). This enterprising firm has played a big part in helping to make rugs upbeat, stylish, contemporary and usable, and many other companies have followed suit, creating the vast ranges in a broad pricing spectrum that we now enjoy.



The Rug Company has a number of ‘A’ list designers on its books, names such as Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith, Diane von Furstenberg, Lulu Guinness, Allegra Hicks and Ron Arad.

Another brand that specialises in fantastic designs is Forty Thieves. Lisa O’Connnor, a painter herself, set up the firm to commission British artists to design modern rugs at reasonable prices.

But, even so, as each piece is made to order, prices kick off at £250 per sq. m. Once again, however, the quality and originality add an extra dimension to these rugs. The Kiri and Akini designs, for example, throb with creativity, while the colours in designs such as Shino are deep and luscious. Call 0845 652 5650 for further information, or look up www.fortythieves.co.uk.

Unfortunately, designerware makes a deep hole in the pocket, but don’t despair, there are some great options out there at more manageable prices.

Habitat is always a good bet, and, as ever, Ikea is well worth a whirl.

Then, of course, there’s John Lewis. Whether you are looking for a shaggy sheepskin rug, or a luxurious wool specimen or something simple to grace a lino floor or stripped floorboards, there’s an option there to fit the bill.

And for those inclined to armchair shopping - look up the designs on the web at www.johnlewis.com.

Yvonne Jones is a Royal College of Art trained designer, and is the owner of Chameleon Interiors. Tel: 029 2037 1277. www.chameleoninteriors.co.uk

Western Mail Article - September 26th 2009

Tap into bright and breezy trends for autumn and winter

The late summer sunshine has brought some welcome light into our lives.

And it has been a pleasure to venture out without constantly clutching an umbrella.

Thankfully, this season’s bold and bright trends mean that we can hang onto some Indian summer exuberance - inside our homes at least.

On the fabric and wallpaper front over scaling is still hugely popular - big, bright flowers loom from the walls - there’s nothing apologetic or demure about contemporary floral designs.

Surface View (www.surfaceview.co.uk) has incredible flower images that can fill an entire wall with their triffid-like presence.

Henry Wilson’s fantastic design for Osborne & Little (www.osborneandlittle.com) - Maharani - reflects the heat and passion of the Indian subcontinent, and will bring welcome life to a grey December day in the UK.



Simply light the lamps and a few candles and bask in the fantasy that you are somewhere altogether more exotic.

Last week I talked about the psychology of colour, and its impact on our moods.

Well, it seems that designers are determined to inject some life into us all through the gloomy winter months by zapping us with some truly zinging tones.

Lime green is on the A list, with vibrant oranges and look-at-me reds featuring at the top of the list too.

Pink is on the cards as well, but don’t think delicate, bashful pink, as the shades putting in an appearance this season are more shocking than baby.

It used to be that colours needed to match, or at least dovetail in some refined sense.

Not so these days - clashing brights are no longer kitsch, and you have licence to give free rein to your inner Jackson Pollock.

That said, kaleidoscopic tones swirling around the living room may get out of hand, so, thankfully, there are some rich earthy tones on hand to act as a counterbalance and bring a sense of calm to proceedings.



The folklore revival and all things hand made and artisan are still hot stuff.

Maybe it’s the cautious recessionary climate that has kept homely pieces close to our hearts.

However, there is a dark undercurrent in this season’s homespun creations.

Don’t think cheery and comfortable, think edgy eastern European - enchanted forests and bleak fairy tales, where superficial niceties cloak a deeper unease.

Don’t be afraid to juxtapose ordinary household items, and play with scale and shape. Be brave, and experiment as much as you like. The look for interiors is bold and powerful, with lots of quirky detail.

The boho spirit, where anything goes also lives on. Gone are the days when everything had to be neat, orderly and uniform.

And for a warm feel for a winter’s night, natural wood, rustic textiles in vibrant colours and chunky ceramics are just the thing.

As a counter balance to the folksy, hand made stuff, a futuristic trend is rearing its head. Tomorrow’s World touches interiors in the form of lunar landing inspired shapes for accessories, plus lots of abstract, minimal forms.

As ever, fashion designers influence interiors, and there’s a lot of stretchy metallic material about.

So people who revel in shiny chrome and glass will also have reason to rejoice.


Yvonne Jones is a Royal College of Art trained designer, and is the owner of Chameleon Interiors. Tel: 029 2037 1277. www.chameleoninteriors.co.uk