Welcome to our Ideas for Living section, where independent Interior Design Consultant, Fiona Casey of Design Source, offers you some ideas to spruce up your home. Remember, Fiona will have a new tip every month in our "Interior Tip of the month" section. Why not join our mailing list and we will send you on our Interior tip every month - see below.

Autumn / Winter 2004

It's about enjoying the home you have created.

Your home is an expression of your personality, and your retreat from the world. Create a home that you look forward to returning to after time spent away, (even a day at work!), and are proud to call yours.

This season is all about glamour and comfort. Surround yourself with beautiful things, from fabrics to accessories, luxury is essential.

Just as you would invest in a "capsule wardrobe" and add to it with seasonal items which allow you to adapt it for many occasions, you should invest in quality furniture which will stand the test of time. Great furniture will last or generations and even improve with age. It only takes a few key pieces to fill a room which can be updated, as trends and seasons move on, by replacing your accessories and changing the wall colours.

The new vintage style is an upcoming trend which is easily achieved with the timeless Legacy collection. The warm tones of the wood can be combined with duck egg blues to create a calm and light space. Here a bedroom has become a relaxed retreat by combining Colortrends "Grackle" on the walls with luxurious "Floccus" wallpaper by Osborne & Little.This wallpaper combines flocking with a metallic sheen and makes a real feature of the bed. Using wallpaper on just one wall allows you to indulge in something really special without too much guilt due to the small quantity involved.

The return of wallpaper to popularity is big news, with a wide selection of styles and textures available.

In a living space why not team warm wood with warm colours to give your room a cosy feel for winter. Reds and golds will warm up any room. Try using Laura Ashley's

"Faded Gold" with a splash of "Summer Pudding" on a chimney breast or feature wall and tied in with coordinating cushions and accessories.

Caramels and burnt oranges teamed with dark chocolate brown will also create a cosy atmosphere in your home this season.


The clean fresh lines of the Vision range are ideal in a contemporary urban chic style home. The dark oak, with its chrome handles would be ideal in a neutral colour scheme, using opulent fabrics such as silk, satin or leather and a suede effect wallpaper to add textural interest. The leather chairs in a choice of rich dark brown or soft cream are an ideal accompaniment to the sleek chrome of the handles and the smooth dark wood. Keeping to simple clean lines and geometric patterns will help to define the style and an injection of vibrant red accessories will top it off. You could also introduce some colour by painting an accent wall in a strong colour such as "Ignite" flat emulsion from Crown's new creative paints feature range.

The light oak with its beautiful grain will create a serene, sophisticated, crisp look. Using colours inspired by nature - a palette of greens toning with greeny-blues will keep the feeling fresh.

Don't overlook your windows when glaming up your home. This season windows are being dressed with full curtains in luxurious fabrics. Use plenty of fabric, at least twice the width of the windows, and allow extra length to allow the curtains to pool on the floor for dramatic effect. Interlining the curtains gives an extra luxurious look and also helps keep out any draughts.

Just as you wouldn't want to be a slave to all of the latest clothing fashion trends, you don't want your home to lack the character and personality that comes from mixing high quality pieces with high street buys and combining older pieces with new. Choose pieces that you love, have fun combining them, it will create an individual home, not just a house.

Even if you only treat yourself to a beautiful bunch of flowers have something in your home that pleases you and puts a smile on your face when you see it. It's the little things that make it home.

Words: Fiona Casey ­ www.designsource.ie

Styling for Rossmore shots: Lynda Shepherd