My Top 5 Interior Design Product Selections from Swoon Editions
One of the activities I love about being an interior designer, is selecting products for my clients. It keeps me on my toes about what the latest trends are and what the wonderful furniture manufacturers are creating. Nothing excites me more! I mean, who wouldn’t be excited? who doesn’t like shopping?…….especially when it’s on someone else’s credit card?! Seriously though, this is one aspect of my job that brings me immense satisfaction, because it’s the turning point of when a client’s vision, and my interpretation of it, starts to take physical form.
When it comes to product selections, I like to keep my options open. Provided the products are of extremely good quality, I search in high street and online stores, as well as with the more exclusive high-end furniture suppliers. By doing so, I am not limiting myself in any way, to what is available to me, and ultimately, to my clients.
Of the online stores, Swoon Editions is a favourite. I can honestly say there are very few items in their collections, that I would not use in my designs. Everything is absolutely stunning. They have a lot of art deco inspired furniture, lots of geometrical patterns in their designs, lots of golds, lots of velvets, and…….did I mention golds?! Yes, if you haven’t guessed it already, I do love me some gold!
Given the stunning furniture pieces Swoon Editions currently have, selecting my top 5, has been more difficult than I had imagined. In making my selections, I have chosen to style a small sitting area; somewhere cosy one would retreat to for some peaceful down-time. So here they are, my top 5 product selections from Swoon Editions.
Ziggy Sideboard
by Swoon Editions
“It’s the stunning brass-clad starburst front that makes the Ziggy really stand out from the crowd – with a simple shape and hairpin feet, it’s the perfect combination of sophisticated storage and stunning design”
Price: £649
May I just state, for the record, that I am having a secret love affair with Ziggy! Ohhhh Ziggy, how I love thee…….! Seriously, there’s no denying it. I literally go weak at the knees whenever I see him….sorry, IT! With its handcrafted mango wood frame, antique brass gold foil door fronts, not to mention the art deco starburst detailing, and the ever so simple hairpin feet, can anyone blame me?! It really is a stunner. One which will work extremely well with a dark backdrop, and velvet seating to enhance its uber glamorous appeal. It is an absolute focal point for any room.
2. Febe Armchair
by Swoon Editions
“Petite, pretty and proud – that’s our Febe. Got a small space, an eye for design and a love of statement seating? You’re on the money. Our obsession with this neat armchair starts with the welcoming, scallop-effect fluting of its back panels – which look like ladyfingers and make us crave tiramisu. It continues on to the L-shaped brassy legs (a palatial plinth for your perch) and a tall, smart seat cushion. Take a seat and never leave? Yes please. Able to deftly slot into any living space, and with a fixed back for support, the Febe is an Art Deco sensation from the Swoon Studio.”
Price: £799
Anyone who knows me, will know that I love structure, and this is especially true when it comes to seating. You’ll never catch a big frumpy sofa in my home. Sorry, but, I can’t think of anything worse than getting stuck in one of those huge, unshapely, oversized sofas, and having to have others heave you out of them. Nope, not a good look!
So, over to Febe, the armchair. Not only is Febe absolutely good looking, she is perfectly formed. For my selection, I have chosen Febe in the colour indigo with velvet fabric. When the aim is to invoke a feeling of luxury with one’s home interiors, velvet never fails to hit the mark. Likewise, choosing an intensely deep colour such as indigo, will serve to enhance the desired look.
Aside from the structure and fabric of this armchair, what makes Febe stand out from the crowd for me, is the addition of the slender gold metal feet. There is nothing masculine about those feet, at all!…….think sexy stilettos! Come on, tell me, who doesn’t like stilettos?! Finally, the fluted detailing of the backrest gives this armchair visual depth, and it is therefore a great match for Ziggy.
3. Libra Coffee Table Set
by Swoon Editions
“Geometrics really get our hearts pumping, especially where the Libra’s concerned. These semi-nesting coffee tables match simple shapes and gorgeous materials, and it’s a beautiful union. Timber and marble, circle and hexagon, triangles in brass and a diamond shape on the floor when these occasional tables partially nest. So many personalities in one design – it’s diverse, daring and we’re dreaming.”
Price: £399
Libra, is a very unique coffee table set given its geometrical shapes and material combinations. Usually, with a set of coffee tables, each table in the set will have the same shape and be made from the same material, but differ in size. Here, the two tables have differing shapes and differing materials. One is round with a mango wood table top, whilst the other has a hexagonal shaped table top in marble. The frames, which tie the look of the two tables together, are triangular shaped, top and bottom, and have a brass finish.
Whilst this coffee table set might not look like the most obvious match to the other products in my top 5 selection, it actually works extremely well. Like Febe, the frame is gold, slender and structured. The triangular pattern to the framing, top and bottom, mirrors the starburst pattern in Ziggy’s door fronts and of its hairpin legs. Ziggy’s frame, and one of the table tops, is made from mango wood. Furthermore, the hexagonal shape of the marble table top enhances the overall geometrical look and feel of the furniture selections. As for the use of marble in the table top, well, marble in itself, is a luxury item and given its soft white colour, it pairs nicely with the gold elements of the other selections.
4. Pero Mirror
by Swoon Editions
“The look of love. That’s what we see when we gaze into the Pero Mid-Century mirror! It’s pretty strapping too, a real statement piece for your wall; robust, with a thick frame, and hung with a gorgeous leather strap…”
Price: £179
Pero, is a very classic, Mid-Century mirror, with a brass frame and leather strap. It ties in well with the solid gold framing of the Febe armchair and Libra coffee table set. I chose a circular mirror, as opposed to a square or rectangular mirror, because, although my furniture selections are extremely geometrical in shape, when you look at their detailing, they all have a commonality. The starburst pattern in Ziggy’s door front starts from the centre of where the two door fronts meet, and radiates outwards, thus mimicking the shape of a circle. One of the table tops in the Libra coffee table set is round. The leather strap from which the mirror will hang, naturally makes a triangular shape which matches that of the coffee table frame, and also the detailing in Ziggy’s door fronts and hairpin legs. Finally, the circular shape of the mirror matches the light fitting I have selected.
5. Pero Mirror
by Swoon Editions
“The Orea brass-plated pendant leaves the traditional fabric pendant shade lingering in an earlier decade. Unlike sharp cage lighting, this piece achieves an elegant rounded shape. Defy the other pendants on the market with this standout design. Hang above your dining table and watch the shapes and shadows form - every culinary indulgence needs a memorable feature.”
Price: £119
As with the Pero mirror, I have intentionally chosen a circular shaped light fitting to match with the patterns and shapes found within my other selections. In addition to this, rather than choose a sold framed light fitting, I have chosen a wire framed fitting as not only does it mirror the detailing in Ziggy’s door fronts, the metal cage matches the slender framing of all the other selections.
Trailling Orchid
by Osborne and Little
“Over-scaled orchids trail downwards from on high while exotically plumed hummingbirds dart beneath. Each roll of wallpaper is composed of three different panels. Two colourways: pink orchids on a watery teal ground; yellow orchids on mid-grey.”
Frieze Wallpaper: Folium - Trailing Orchid Ref W7334-01
Manufacturer: Osborne & Little
www.osborneandlittle.co.uk
£210/roll
In order to give you a completed look, I have included this wallpaper from Osborne and Little’s Folium range, called Trailing Orchid. I am quite cautious about select wallpapers as they can date quickly. However, I make an exception with this absolute show-stopping stunner. With its colours and cascading detail, it is a perfect match for Ziggy. One would wonder why, given the fact that there are so many geometrical elements in my product selections, I have chosen a floral wall covering. A geometrically patterned wallpaper would work, however, the overall look would be extremely bold which for a small sitting area, might become a little too over-empowering. This wallpaper softens the overall look and invokes feelings of peace and serenity.
Whilst it may look like we interior designers are geniuses who just throw a selection of products together and hope for the best, there is usually some logic, and definitely, a method to our madness! Spotting how pieces match and work together is something that comes with experience. However, before you all go and cry into your teacups, thinking this is all too daunting for you, take heart, because, I do genuinely believe that everybody has the ability to do this.
So, the next time you’re searching online, or go to the shops in search of interior design products and furniture pieces, keep in mind the elements I have descried here. Ask yourself, what are the common elements in the different pieces that you like? Do they work together? Do they have similar shapes? Do they have similar colours? Similar materials? If you start to ask yourself even just some of these questions, you will find that your selections will look and feel a lot more harmonious, than if you just select pieces because you like them individually.
So, there you have it, my top 5 product selections from Swoon Editions! I hope my selections have inspired you to go shopping. And remember, if you do, take somebody else’s credit card! Trust me, you’ll thank me for it!