September is always a good month for us here at H&H. The start of a new season means the introduction of new trends and looks and the launch of plenty of products for us to ogle and covet.
In terms of key looks this autumn, muted colours predominate; the vivid primary hues that were everywhere this summer now replaced by powder blues, moss greens and soft greys and purples.
Picking up on this, Ikea have temporarily diverted their attentions away from white MDF to produce the rather elegant Isala range of tables and cabinets (from Dh895, Ikea Yas Island). A contemporary take on Swedish Gustavian style (the Swedes' simplified, pared-down interpretation of 18th-century French design) they're available in soft mauve and grey.
Ikea have also produced a cool new range of
postcards and posters
, including these of old
wooden printing blocks
. I'm not really a fan of shop-bought, mass-produced art, but framed and grouped, these are a cheap, simple and stylish way to perk up a blank bit of wall space.
Staying with Scandinavian designers,
BoConcept's
latest collection (
) of accessories includes the lovely
applique cushions
, again in muted shades of purples, grey and greens. I really like the one with the
bird-motif
(Dh219, Bo Concept, Dubai Mall and Khalidiya, Abu Dhabi).
Birds remain a popular design in home accessories, and you can also expect to see plenty of
applique and embroidered
in the coming months.
The One
in particulalr have gone big on applique this season, with pieces such this
folksy floral cushion
(Dh199) illustrating the trend.
European folk traditions are the main inspiration of the London designer
Becky Baur
), whose fantastic orginal print cushions and ceramics is now available through
Hunkydory Home
,
one the best international online retailers around. Great finishing touches for nurserys and children's rooms, the 'Red Riding Hood' and 'Fox' feather cushions are £45 (Dh268 plus shipping) each.
As a side note, Hunkydory say their hugely popular
Rabbit Lamp
(£4.99, Dh30 plus shipping) is now back in stock after demand outstripped their supply. They're not strictly new but they are pretty great and also ideal for kids's rooms (they're perfect as a night light), and it's a good excuse to post a picture of one here...
Finally, new at
Harvest Home
(Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai, 04 342 0225) is this fun range of washing up accessories (well, as much as much as anything to do with washing up could ever be fun). And though she's far too pretty to be let near any dirty plates, shouldn't every draining board be graced with a
Kimono Doll Dish Brush set
, complete with kimono dish cloth?
•
Premier dolls dish brush, Dh65 each
• Dog dish brush with tin, Dh72 each
•
Kimono Girl dish brush set, Dh68
