MONTHLY UPDATE MAY 2010

Winter Warmth, Wallpaper, More Tips...

Wellington is still having a beautiful Autumn, but it is the time of the year when we all start thinking about drawing the blinds and curtains as it gets darker and colder. This graphic from Smarter Homes shows the heat loss from the various parts of an uninsulated house. The windows account for 21 – 31% of heat loss.

So before winter really gets underway make sure your curtains are providing as much insulation as possible. This could be as simple as adding detachable linings in a good thermal material.

For the best insulation, without changing the glass in your windows, use interlining and thermal linings when you have your curtains made. To contact Limited Editions to discuss your curtains, telephone 4734220 or email us.

Wallpaper just keeps on growing
Every week we have lots of visitors to our studio seeking out our wallpaper samples and asking advice about paper hanging.

Designers Guild	Cole and Son

Limited Editions has a huge library of books from all the leading design houses – Designers Guild, Elitis, Cole and Son, Ralph Lauren, Osborne and Little, Sanderson and so on – and it’s exciting to see that many background papers are now being produced in addition to the feature patterns.

Tips – this time on colour
Last newsletter we included a few tips to consider when planning your interior. This time I am including some thoughts on the use of colour.

• The difference is in the detail. We have all seen bland rooms where everything is painted in one neutral colour with the reason given that this will be good for resale and a neutral colour goes with everything. This may be true for a beautiful chalk white room, with an interesting wooden floor, and a few well chosen pieces of art, but for most rooms “one colour suits everything” simply leads to blandness. A much better approach is to select 3 or 4 slightly different soft colours and use them to provide detail and interest. For example, the walls may be in a soft neutral ivory – either wallpaper or paint, with the skirting boards, and architraves in a whiter tone, while the bookcases are an old white and the fireplace is a soft taupe. The room is still very neutral, but it has added layers of interest.

• A light colour will never come to life in a dark room. I first came across this reading a book on colour by Donald Kaufman, and he is right. Dark spaces always feel best when coloured in rich deep tones which make them feel warm and inviting.

• When planning a colour scheme think of the various planes in the room - ceiling, walls, floor, and how you want them to interact. Remember too that you need to consider the series of rooms in your home, making sure you see each in relation to each other. Colours between rooms are just as important as colours within rooms.

• For more on colour, read Color: Natural Palettes for Painted Rooms by Donald Kaufman and Taffy Dahl. Another great book is Colour by Victoria Findlay.

Web finds
See the Smarter Homes website for more on insulation and other great ideas to improve your home.

I keep coming across The Sartorialist - images of people photographed on streets all over the world. Click here if you haven’t already caught up with this one. A very easy way to while away a few minutes every day.

Remember Limited Editions can help you with all interior architecture, design and decoration. Our current projects include new kitchens and bathrooms, custom bookshelves and wardrobes, and lots of curtains, blinds and other soft furnishings. To discuss your project please call us on 4734220 or email us. We look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes

Claire and the Limited Editions team