The Insider: what you'll be seeing in Habitat this autumn

First up, let's just talk about these rugs, shall we?

I was transfixed by them on my whizz around the Habitat Autumn/Winter 2014 collection preview last week, which took place in a big old warehouse on the Southbank, in London.

I'm eyeing that two greens and white one, the Cortez, £95, to brighten up my kitchen floor (though I know opinions run high on rugs in kitchens... not least amongst myself). Then again, the yellow one, the Orell, £40, would look good. The red, white and blue, the Clifford runner, £65, is also enticing, but wouldn't go at all... unless I redecorate. It's an option. Here it is in context.

The textiles room at the event was my favourite. Couldn't you could just live in there with no other furniture quite happily?

Pattern and texture were big looks and, pictured above, these cushions with raised surfaces and layers are a good example. On the left is the Zelma, £30 and on the right, the Sancho, £15.

Even the ceramics aren't smooth, as seen in the Dunas range above and starting at £8.

The Pixela range, pictured above left and from £8, continues the trend (it is so named because it looks pixellated), while the Sintra – serving bowl, £20 and plate, £28, pictured – mixes and matches.

There's also no escaping the copper trend, which – like me – you may have thought had shone hard and bright and burned out last year. Not in the least, and there's a lot of it coming from other retailers too. LED is also big, after Ikea started the trend and went for it big time a couple of years ago; the lean lamp above, the Poise, £120, is a good example of both trends combined.

Nice to see bronze getting a look-in too, though. I was very drawn to the striking lamp at the far end, the Marlowe at £120.

Above and from £10, the candlesticks and vases mixing copper with flashes of bright, block colour, work well don't you think?

And how about metallic clocks? I love the gold Karlsson one, far right (all prices TBC).

There was also some copper in an interesting set of collaborations Habitat has up its sleeve, but it's all hush hush until next month so you'll have to wait on that one.

So aside from the kitchen rug, and the brassy lamp, this sofa was a favourite. With those fat, squidgy cushions it looks insanely comfortable, and an arm-rest so flat it doubles as a table... Yes. A good sofa.

If only they did one in yellow. Oh, wait – hello...

Meet the Sedgwick sofa – something sunny to look forward to when the days are darker.

All these goodies will be available later this year as part of Habitat's Autumn range.

Post by Kate

Object of the day: Urban Outfitters' zig zag rugs

Remember that monochrome rug I wrote about last year? It was one of Ikea's very popular items and, as such, was quite a palaver to track down.

Now Urban Outfitters has got in on the act (but with more colours, see below). And they're way cheaper than the Ikea version...

...However, that is because these ones are lightweight cotton and as such are – yippee – easily washable. But will – boo – fade, which I discovered after washing mine. Still looks good though. And they come in green or pink (pictured below) and lilac, navy and grey too, as well as various sizes.

The prices are: £69 for the large rug, £35 for the medium, £30 for the runner and £15 for the little one. From Urban Outfitters.

Post by Kate

House porn Thursday: a space-saving NY loft with space for three generations

There's so much to love about this hallway, featured in NY Magazine's ever excellent Design Hunting section, edited by Wendy Goodman. 

The Manhattan apartment was redesigned by its owners specifically to accommodate visiting children and grandchildren. And it's done some very clever things to maximise the available space, as well as making it flexible, depending on who's staying.

Photo: Frank Oudeman for New York Magazine

Hence the nifty fold-down hallway beds. Ingenious. And the combination of the bare brick walls – love the fact the building's structure has given it a row of nooks, on the left – with sleek white fittings, that fantastic, colourful runner on the floor and, importantly, good lighting, makes it so much more than a corridor.

Here's a glimpse of some of the living area. Concrete and bare wood (especially in that incredible clock): top combination.

Photo: Frank Oudeman for New York Magazine

But you need to check out the soundproofed TV cube – check out the full story and slideshow at Design Hunting.

Get the look

Contemporary starburst wooden clock, £94, Jazzitupinteriors.co.uk
Wooden disc clock, £34, Jazzitupinteriors.co.uk (both clocks come in walnut or oak)

Recycled rag runner, £20, Not on the High Street
Rug, £40 (down from £70), Urban Outfitters

Faux sheepskin rug, £10, Ikea (for the sheep lovers among you – if you prefer the real thing, they also sell those for £30), Ikea.com; Olive green 60s/70s swivel arm chair, currently £60 (auction only), eBay.co.uk

There is also some info half way down this makeover post about how to get concrete surfaces without the weight and without quite so much expense.

Post by Kate

Crochet rugs

Crochet rugs. Not a patchouli-scented 1970s throwback (or am I just thinking macramé?) but a rather lovely strand of enticing new items found on Etsy today.

What do you think? A giant, tactile doily on the floor, I like it.

This this grey crochet rug, £127, above, is by a young Finnish company called Hooked Design, whose debut collection (ie, this one) specialises in ecological lace carpets hand-made from recycled material salvaged from the textile industry, largely cotton.

The rugs are all made to order and so take three or so weeks to arrive. I really like this big black design – this size (200cm – the largest they make), though a) you can't see its lovely holey bits in this photo, and b) it is out of my price-range at £665. But the smaller rugs start at around £60 for a 60cm diameter.

I also really love this colourful hexagon crochet rug by La Casa de Coto. It measures 75cm across and costs £56.90.

And if Britain was a sunnier country, one where you could really justify outdoor textiles of the rug variety – I'd have one of these luscious turquoise patio rugs, for around £32 made by Camille Designs in Georgia, in the US. Then again, it'd work just as well inside – quite a nice bathroom rug for the right floor. made from mildew-bashing braided cord and measuring 33 inches across.

She does a nice hot pink one too, for around £45 for a slightly bigger diameter of 35 inches and a frillier shape.

Eley Kishimoto exhibition at Aram – and rugs

I've long loved the quirky graphic prints created by the Brit-Japanese fashion design duo, Eley Kishimoto. 

I like designs that stray from the classic ideas of what is classically stylish, or flattering – and while the the bold, brave distinctive Kishimoto look isn't always something I'm bold or brave enough to pull off, I like looking at it (and seeing bolder, braver types wearing it well).

So I was pleased to hear about an exhibition of the pair's work during – and beyond – London Design Festival; Living with Patterns takes place at the Aram Gallery, alongside the launch of a new range of Eley Kishimoto-designed rugs, exclusive to Aram Store, using archive prints. I can't afford the rugs (they start at £850). So I'm just enjoying them as part of the exhibition...

"Chains"

"Chains" in cream and brick red 

"Damask" in blue and cream

"Flash" in cream and black 

"Jigsaw"

"Ropey" in blue, cream and black 

"Ropey" in mustard, cream and black

The exhibition – which also includes other Aram-favourite designers and artists – celebrates 40 years of Aram, as well as the working relationship between Zeev Aram and Wakamo Kishimoto, which began when he put on her graduation show in the early 90s. Eley Kishimoto designs will also be on display on seven Moorcroft vases in the exhibition, as well as some lace drapes they have designed for MYB textiles.

The rugs are exclusive to Aram, and in store this month priced £850 each (Chains, Flash, Jigsaw and Ropey, which are hand tufted and measure 170 x 240 cm) or £950 (Damask, which comes in hand made Dhurry and measures 200 x 300 cm).

Find out more about the Aram-Kishimoto collaboration, and the names behind the label – husband-and-wife design team Wakako Kishimoto and Mark Eley – at the Aram website. 

Exhibition details 

The gallery is open Monday-Saturday 10am–6pm (Thursday until 7pm). Find it at Aram Store, 110 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5SG

Rug love

You may remember I had an issue with a rug earlier this summer. It was in my friend's flat in Berlin that I helped him do up. I've had some grief for posting about it but, hey, it's already done so in case you didn't see the Ikea monochrome rug saga, here's a little recap.

It got me tuned into rugs. They are expensive and often a bit hard to visualise in a space – making them quite stress-inducing to buy. So I was really impressed by the Plantation Rug Company's approach: don't just show us the rugs, show us some rooms. It really works, I am really inspired and now want to go out and buy rugs for every room in my house. They are very well priced, too...

Freddie (also comes in red, taupe, black and gold) 100% wool, from £100 for 120cm x 170cm

It is brilliant to see strong patterns and colours like the ones above and below in situ. Sometimes you really need furniture to be able to imagine it in your own context...

Leaf, 100% wool, from £150 for 120cm x 170cm

Shetland, 100% wool, from £150 for 70cm x 140cm

...or unexpected contrasts to spark a new idea for a room...

Lily, 100% wool, from £225 for 120cm x 170cm

I love the combination of this bright, granny crochet pattern with the clean white table and wooden sideboard. The dark floors really work to let its vibrant colours do their thing unimpeded, too.

Nomadic, 100% wool, from £225 for 120cm x 180cm (or £150 for the 120cm circular version)

...and I love how the skilled styling has made me look at rugs I might not otherwise consider as designs I could incorporate into my own rooms. I'd have walked straight past this one, I reckon. But it's actually quite good.

Ooh, and a gold star for anyone who spots the renowned designer whose house is used in one of these shots.

By the way, I have now got lots of before and after pictures of the Berlin flat to post up. They are coming soon.

Tasty textiles at Urban Outfitters

The Grayson Perry TV show and exhibition of his new work, The Vanity of Small Differences, inspired by Hogarth's A Rake's Progress, and exploring class mobility, have helped to put tapestries into the spotlight this month.

And it's not just Mr Perry who's fond of this format. The trend hit the catwalk this spring, and now it's coming into our homes – thanks, in part, to Urban Outfitters who have a range of wall-hangable works of woven art.

Peacock and Tree tapestry throw, £35

Mexican Rose tapestry style throw, £18 (down from £35 in the sale)


And it got me browsing some of the shop's other textiles... and they have so many great designs right now. Keep this up and Ikea's flagship department will be feeling the heat...

Rose stripe rug, £35

Smoke tea-towel, £16, by La Cerise sur le Gateau, aka Parisian designer Anne Hubert, who also wrote The Left Bank Look (Watson-Guptill), a lovely-looking book dedicated to inspiring DIY and customisation.

Rainbow stripe rug, £60

Zig zag curtain panel, £18 (down from £35)

Reversible kaleidoscope quilt, £95

Ikea's monochrome rug

"Can a rug be hot?" I asked a friend yesterday. He's the friend whose flat in Berlin I'm slowly helping him to pull together (it's a slow process when neither of us lives in the German city, among other things...). I asked because I had just – successfully – coerced him to return the black and white rug he'd bought from Ikea. I hated it. 

And I wanted to encourage him that he was doing the right thing. "I sent you the photo of the other one – this one's completely different!" I e-wailed when he had shown me a photo of his new monochrome rug in situ. "They didn't have the one you suggested in stock," he said defensively, and somewhat confused. "And this one is black and white too..."

One black and white rug is not the same as any black and white rug, I told him firmly. (See left – I'm right, right?) And packed him back to Ikea to get the black and white beauty above (seen here in a house-tour at the excellent Ikea Family Live).

"Yes, a rug can be hot," he conceded.

The Stockholm Rand rug (top image) is £99.99 (small) or £259 (large) from Ikea.

Habitat's Spring/Summer highlights

Looking at Habitat's bright and cheerful new Spring/Summer range has perked me up no end. 

I don't know why I love this Marnie ceramic house, £15,  so much. It is entirely useless, but very pretty. The shade of blue ("airforce blue", Habitat have called it), is particularly pleasing.

Clockwise from left: Dephina outdoor rug, £15 (120cm x 180cm); Couleur mug £2.50 (also comes in blue); Fruiti jug, £30; Evelyn cushion, £12