TrendsSophie Lambert

The AW17 Trend Report

TrendsSophie Lambert
The AW17 Trend Report

This is one of our favourite times of year here at Houseology. The seasons have just started to turn and the design shows have drawn to a close leaving us filled with exciting new design ideas and interior inspiration! The Houseology buying team have spent the last few weeks travelling the globe to attend some of the world's biggest design shows including Maison & Objet, 100% Design, Decorex and Design Junction. These shows are a hotbed of all the latest interior design talent featuring exciting new pieces from some of our favourite designers as well as innovative collections from brand new design houses and we are delighted to bring these straight to you!

As well as new designs, these shows are the perfect place to see, first hand, the key interior trends for the new season and the AW17 design fairs certainly did not disappoint! From the most prominent AW17 interior colour trends to the key materials featured across the collections, the shows were bursting with gorgeous new looks and we have distilled these into our favourite new season trends, prepare to be seriously inspired!

EMERALRD GREEN

Green in all its shades was prominent across a number of the design shows but lush and vibrant, emerald green ticked all the boxes with our buyers. "Emerald green is a bold accent choice that adds a contemporary twist to classic, elegant schemes," says Houseology's buyer, Lauren. "When paired with brass, this colour creates the perfect balance between modernity and timelessness, I have a feeling this look will be around for a few seasons to come."

PURE PLUM

Ranging from soft chalky purples to rich damson, plum is certainly the shade to watch this season. Working as the perfect complement to luxurious wintery schemes, plum can be added through opulent, tactile accessories such as deep pile rugs, soft velvet cushions and designer throws. To really embrace the look, plum can also be incorporated through statement furnishings or a striking wall covering. "Delicate nude pink is still a popular tone for AW17 interiors," says Lauren. "This provides the perfect partner for this decadent hue and adds a luxurious femininity to the scheme."

The AW17 Luxe Look

The Houseology AW17 Luxe look has taken on an Art Deco edge for the new season with sharp lines and precise, controlled designs taking centre stage alongside decadent details and geometric accents. Brass is definitely the designers' favourite metallic finish for AW17 and across a wide range of products, from lamps to furnishings, brass details are adding warmth and understated glamour to interior spaces. In keeping with the Art Deco inspirations, furnishings with slim brass legs are particularly prominent this season.

When it comes to luxurious upholstery, velvet is one of the most opulent materials around with its thick pile and decadently soft finish. Working particularly well with rich jewel tones and black, velvet is perfect for softening the clean lines of the Luxe style. A statement velvet sofa is the ultimate embodiment of Luxe interior styling but a scattering of velvet cushions or a footstool is the perfect way to add just a touch of the new season look.

The AW17 URBAN LOOK

The Urban look is firmly rooted in the Scandinavian design traditions and, for AW17, the emphasis is on celebrating the materials featured in this style of interiors. From the natural timbers of the Nordic woodlands to deep piled sheepskin rugs, this season’s take on Urban style fuses the rawness of the Scandic landscapes with the simplicity and sophistication of classic Northern European design to create a stylish yet cosy haven.

As the nights get darker and the weather cools, darker greys are also being added to the AW17 Urban scheme through woollen upholstery and cushions to bring a moodier dimension to the look. To ensure that these deep, charcoal greys don't become overbearing, we're pairing them with stylish blonde timber furnishings. Like Scandinavian interiors, Urban looks maximise natural light in order to create spaces which feel open and airy. As well as ensuring the layouts are carefully curated and that the lighting scheme is as effective as possible, the use of lighter timber finishes also contributes to this. Blonde timbers such as ash and oak are a signature of the AW17 Urban scheme and feature heavily on furnishings and accent accessories.

To complete the look and keep it feeling cosy through the colder months , we're also incorporating deep wool rugs in warm cream shades and sheepskins draped on sofas and dining chairs and layered on hardwood floors. These instantly soften the scheme and ensure the space is inviting and cosy for the colder months. Rich tan leather accents also add essential warmth to the AW17 Urban scheme. Armchairs and sofas with buttery soft leather upholstery are a wonderful addition to any space, bringing a contrasting texture and warming up the palette overall.

AW17 CHIC LOOK

With comfort and character at its heart, the Houseology AW17 Chic look combines relaxed styling and unrefined materials with the highest possible quality and timeless designs that never date. Mixed materiality and artisan craftsmanship are an important component of the Chic look with weathered timber, petrified wood and faux fur combining with aged brass and leather to build a look that offers both visual depth and unrivalled comfort. Rugs, cushions and throws with oversized weaves were also seen at a number of the brands and these help to build the Chic look's irresistibly tactile finish.

In keeping with the natural materials that appear in the Houseology AW17 Chic scheme, the palette is also muted with cream, sand and taupe shades featuring. Dimension is added to the look with touches of black or chocolate brown, these darker tones are used sparingly in artwork and lighting and serve to bring a little punch to this trend.

Manhattan Loft Styling

Architectural and interior looks from around the world were also being celebrated at the AW17 design shows. Elegant Japanese inspired spaces and vibrant Moroccan styling were seen at a number of brands as was the unmistakably cool Manhattan style loft scheme. "I love the Manhattan loft style," says Lauren. "This look was particularly noticeable at several of the shows with some of our favourite brands XVL and Eichholtz really embracing the style. Industrial lighting is paired with super comfy oversized sofas, hide rugs and exposed brickwork which makes this style absolutely perfect for the colder months as it is wonderfully cosy without feeling cluttered. It is also the perfect look for those who like to use their space for entertaining with plenty of seating areas and a sophisticated lighting scheme."

brands in the spotlight

Houseology favourite Eichholtz never fails to amaze and this year's new collection was proving extremely popular with attendees to the shows. This year marks 25 years of this world famous brand and the collection that has been released to celebrate their 25 years of luxury is truly breathtaking. As well as highlighting the brand's signature luxurious style, a number of the pieces felt like an exciting new chapter in the Eichholtz story. "The new Eichholtz washed oak collection is really special," says Lauren. "As well as being incredibly luxurious, these pieces embody a whole host of the AW17 trends and would work in any of the three Houseology looks, these are real investment pieces."

One of our newest brands, Bolia really caught our attention with their incredible Maison & Objet stand which showcased the brand's Luxe Scandic fusion style. Featuring a huge number of their bestselling design pieces, this stand was a fabulous work of art combining abstract concepts with sophisticated room sets. Cascades of white bubbles combined with elegant Urban living room schemes and vibrant walls of flowers were paired with delicate blush pink furnishings and the result was quite stunning. "I'm really excited about this new collection," says Lauren. "From the quality to the innovative nature of the design, this is definitely a brand to watch!"

By sophie lambert