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Fabulous Faux

I wrote a couple of pieces back in the new year and thought it was about time that I started to share my musings.  I’ve really surprised myself by how much I love sitting here banging stuff out, anyone who knows me knows I love a good chin wag so I guess it’s much the same, but on here I hopefully get to share with more people (fingers crossed).  I follow many other bloggers via Insta and always enjoy popping over and catching up on their latest posts.  Some of my favourites are Pink House Swoon Worthy Sophie Robinson and Design Sponge

                                                

So here I’m talking all things faux.  Interiors trends come and go however one that has stood the test of time so far is faux wallpapers.  Once the domain of very high end producers I was pleased to see faux leather, tin tile and marble wallpapers become more accessible during 2016, no doubt with new technology and new producers popping up this will be a trend we will see more of in 2017.

There are some fabulous papers and murals available by newly launched brand Woodchip & Magnolia  and some beautiful photographic faux marble wall treatments available from Daniela Tasca York (a fellow contestant and winner of this year’s Great Interior Design Challenge), which provide stunning results.  The high street doesn’t disappoint on this front either, back in the summer I decorated my daughters room and used a light faux brick paper found in clearance at B&Q, the paste the wall paper was super easy to hang and looks incredible, won me some extra Mum points too, win win.

 

The faux flower and plant trend is also one to watch.  Interior Designer Abigail Ahern‘s faux offering is ever expanding since it’s AW15 launch as part of London’s first entirely “faux florist” with it’s stand alone store within Heal’s Tottenham Court Road flagship store.  Following the launch Red Magazine proclaimed Abigail Ahern “The Chanel of faux flowers”.  I personally love to mix the faux with the real to maximise impact, as seen below.  With prices starting at £4.50 for their green berry bundle through to £565 for their large willow tree there’s something for every pocket.

Abigail comments “We love to take things that people are often snooty about in interiors and turn them into something cool, luxurious and seriously desirable.  Faux flowers are our forte”.  Abigail’s stunning blooms and huge cacti are a favourite with the #instahome crowd.  Where Abigail goes surely others are bound to follow, keep an eye out.

I love the English heritage look that vintage taxidermy provides, however Broken Hare have brought taxidermy into the 21st century.  From their Welsh studio the designer maker duo sculpt faux taxidermy, available on Etsy.  A faux fox head is accessible at £110, if you have a spare £2,500 a faux giraffe head would be an investment and one heck of a talking point, but it’s the faux unicorn that was at the top of my wish list, until recently when it was purchased as a belated Christmas present to ourselves.  I must say we weren’t disappointed one bit, packaged in a handmade crate with the Broken Hare seal, super life like (not that I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting one in real life) and made with such skill, Broken Hare are true artisans.  Since named Phyllis by my daughter, this piece will always be with us, on trend or not.

Dutch born Carola van Dyke creates stunning textile taxidermy within a small community in East Sussex, her beautiful deer graced the Christmas windows of Liberty in 2015 and since then she has collaborated again with the iconic store, this time creating textile animals using their iconic silk scarves.  As an avian lover Carola’s cockatoo pouffe is going to the top of my wish list.