Interiors

Sustainability design and construction showroom opens in London

If we're to meet our net zero goals, our towns and cities must use far more sustainable materials than concrete and glass. So whether your project is small or large, domestic or contract, sustainability must be at its core as much as aesthetics - which is where the new Edge showroom can help. The approx 2,400 sq ft space covers three floors showcasing the latest green building materials and products, with collaborative workspaces and expert staff on hand to advise professionals and members of the public alike. 

Beds for blissful nights - organic, natural, eco-friendly

Unless you have small children for decades on end, the odds are that you will spend around a third of your life in bed. Which means it is well worth thinking about the healthiness and eco-friendliness of something you'll be spending so much time on and in.

When around eight hours of your day is spent in bodily contact with a surface, you want to know that surface isn't awash with chemicals that may well off-gas for some considerable period and cause skin irritations.

Changing your floors: eco friendly materials to consider

Laminate

5 rules for any DIY decorating job

Five rules for any house decorating job. 

Are you bored with your doors?

Good doors are worth investing in because doors are an important design feature. And they can be very eco-friendly, being made from sustainable wood or recyclable materials such as glass or metal. Urban Front is a UK manufacturer of solid wood and veneered doors.

 

Build a summer house in sunny Spain

'The house is located in an elevated residential area, which is dominated by the hillside that leads down to the sea,' explains architect Ramón Esteve. 'This view marked the direction that the walls would follow, in an abstract manner, defining the project,' 

Dress up your home with orchids

Orchids are endlessly fascinating with their complex sculptural blooms and variegated colour. They're exquisite exotic works of art, yet they have a minimalism about them - which explains why so many contemporary interior designers love them. They have great presence yet they're not overpowering. (And yes, ok, they may not always prove the easiest plant to keep in fine fettle, but more on that later.)

What are the main types of blinds and where to use them?

Blinds are a classic way to shade your windows, they are simple to use, easy to install and most importantly, they look amazingly stylish. Unlike curtains where you have one variation of the shading, choose from multiple different types of blinds ranging from rolling fabric blinds to metal slat blinds. And to help you navigate the world of blinds we’ve teamed up with DotcomBlinds to explain the various types available.

Roller Blinds

Architect Robert Kraus' spectacular Vienna new build

At Deco we're generally not in favour of gawping at pictures of wealthy people's houses. But this house - while far beyond most self-builders wildest dreams - is rather lovely; and on the grounds that it uses lots of sustainable European oak, has ground source heat pumps to keep it warm in winter and uses fabric from Essex-based MissPrint, well, we thought you might find it inspiring.

Patterned tiles for a Mediterranean style kitchen

A lot of us have moved away from ceramic tiles in the kitchen, in favour of resilient flooring such as vinyl, linoleum or rubber and glass splashbacks.

But if you want to be creative, take inspiration from the colourful and detailed encaustic patterns of the 19th century, which you see used to great effect in Mediterranean countries.

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