I was going to do my first post as a "formidable first", the most daunting of tasks and one I believe to be somewhat unnecessary. I want to use my blog as a platform to demonstrate how I work, showing where I get inspiration and where I channel my passion. I want to use it as a place to record my current favourites, obscure finds and document my career, and to reach people who may or may not want my hands-on help in their interior design, to contact me directly or simply use me as inspiration for their own spaces. However, dedicating a post to this at this point didn't feel 'right', and instead I wanted to delve straight into the blog and the work I am carrying out. So here it is.
TREND WATCH - American West.
TITLE - Yes, its a play on pronunciation. And no, I'm not sorry at all.
I came across this Bimba Y Lola campaign when flicking through my old magazines and instantly fell in love with the set design and all things cowgirl. For those in the know, fashion has forecast a strong turn towards this culture as a source of inspiration and something to be utilised outside of the Southern ranch-lifestyle and Sheriff Woody. Step up Phoebe Philo for Celine, Raf Simons, and my personal favourite and main point of inspiration, Dior Resort 2018. The trend is modern, mature and definitely for magnifying. When incorporating this into my work, obviously, from the Bimba campaign, wallpaper pattern was the first thing that sprung to mind. If you're like me, you love the idea of cowboys and cacti covering walls and cowhides or deer pelts thrown across all of the furniture and the floor. But I realise that many would shy away from this. So I thought of other ways to infuse the trend. Think wooden lines and stitched up leather, think soft throws and suede. Stripes, hides, fringes and fur. It's all there, and it's all fantastic. Print is obviously the easiest way to go with this trend but subtle details have a huge impact and can really bring the Western accent to a room.
Stacked logs wallpaper, Rasch, £18.99
Cow Skin faux effect wallpaper, Rasch, £18.99
One of the best prints for this trend is crocodile skin. And the range of colours that this can appear in is extensive, and it is good to think outside of the box. My particular favourite for a luxury approach would be this navy one by Elitis at £124 per roll. Other shades can be found at Graham & Brown, Osbourne and Little and even high street stores such as Anthropologie.
Another one of my favourites for snakeskin would be this golden marbled effect print - its a double-win and can be used as a back wall for a Western-themed room then carried into another room that may be of modern decor.
As I stated, fashion is a heavy influence on my ideas for interior design and is a really great source for hacking into a trend and establishing colour schemes, particular shapes, motifs, details such as buckles and buttons and what material was used to make these - all such things which can be incorporated into interior designs. For example, taking inspiration from the Dior Cruise Collection (2018), items such as this skirt show the colours which work with the Western trend.
So I found this wallpaper from B&Q for £12. I think it would look great with the dark reds thrown in, perhaps painted on as a spot of D-I-Y. (Something I will try when I source samples.)
Instead of complimenting the the same shades of wood and chalks, it should be used aside dark reds and browns. Think of your well-worn jeans and a red leather jacket.
Such complimentary colours can be used for furniture or furnishings - so a dark red leather patch becomes a dark red leather 2 seated sofa, or cushions made of leather and denim against it. Lightshades can also be denim or leather, and leather-bound accessories are always chic. Also noted is the red fur strap on the models shoes, the red and larimar fastens bordering the hat...
Looking through the gallery from the Dior Cruise collections shows how easily a trend can be incorporated into the home and the vast array of concepts which can be taken and incorporated.
Adorning walls with whole prints is for some a step too far, and for others simply cannot be done. this is when furniture and accessories becomes key.
French Connection Cowhide Leather Chair, £475
Brown and White cowhide Cushion, Notonthehighstreet.com, £59
Graham & Green have a wide selection of furniture and accessories with a clear Western theme as inspiration, including cow hide chairs and benches, around £150-£175, Cowhide and Springbok Rug, footstools and dining chairs.
My personal favourite items from this collection:
Brown and Silver Metallic Dappled Cowhide Rug, £425
White and Gold Benazir Pouffe, £195
Leather rug, Zara, £429.00
A great product from Dunelm is this 2 seater chair. At only £299.50 if you've got the space, it would be rude not to.
I absolutely love this Faux Leather Tote also from Dunelm Mill. It is only £10 and thought it would look fantastic holding logs and papers next to a fireplace, or magazines and television remotes for those less rustic in sentiment.
Copper and Metal Faux Fur Stool, Maison du Monde.
Upcyling old chairs and furniture is great. The above chair is so so simple but the burnt metal and yellow hue is absolutely perfect. For more lasting furniture, dark mahogany with cast iron details, reclaimed wooden benches and tables - all can be bought and many can be purchased second-hand and from metal- or wood-works companies.
For accessories, I went straight to Ralph Lauren and it did not disappoint. There are so many little items for display. I love the zebra print jewellery box, the thick cut glass used for vases and ash trays, and really like this Grayson Trinket dish, Ralph Lauren Home, £250. The leather waste bins with pronounced stitching nod to the Western trend, and are a totally justified purchase when thinking about how necessary a bin is for ANY room.
An example of how the trend works when collated can be seen in Chef Ludovic Lefebvre's LA property, as featured in ElleDECOR. The details are subtle but the trend is a marked influence and comfortably incorporated. Credit to interior designer Marie Flanigan. https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/house-interiors/g21269929/chef-ludo-lefebvre-house-tour/
This is a very brief introduction to the Western trend but I hope it shows how I work and gives you a bit of inspiration for adopting the theme into your own home, and how easily it can be done. Please do not relegate the cowboy fashions to kids' rooms and party dress up. Used properly, whether most serious or most playfully, Western style can breathe life into interiors even in the most easterly of locations.