Creating chemistry

Today I’m giving a seminar (part of an all day masterclass hosted by Livingetc and KLC) on how to create interiors with chemistry. You need a big dose of confidence – creating mysterious, velvety and intimate rooms goes against most people’s ideas of how a house should look, so you will have a lot of friends and colleagues out there who will warn you against.  I am it should be said a little obsessed with creating magic and mystery – I think its so often missing in light, bright sun kissed rooms. I do think (possibly naively) that there is a trend all be it a slow one for spaces that push the envelope – maybe its to do with celebrating life in such uncertain times – wanting to come home to a space that makes you feel happy the moment you open the door. And what simpler way to add joy then through colour, pattern, ornamentation and decoration. Clash colours with confidence (after all nature does it all the time) decorate out of your comfort zone choose quirky items that make you look twice and stop you in your tracks, as well as considering the unusual  acid bright rugs, supersized rococo vases for example,  not all together in isolation. Yes we are all time poor and schlepping around shops can be a bore (apparently – don’t quite understand that) but we have  the internet so searching out finds from the comfort of our sofas is so easy. Castle Gibson, The French House, 1st Dibs, Ebay are regular stopping off points for me on my computer and my list goes on and on – all viewed in front of the fire, tipple in hand snuggled on the george smith.

I guess the most important thing to remember is that if you fancy creating emotive eclectic interiors the simplest thing you can start with is colour. Its the single most transformative thing you can do to your home. Overdose on it I say!

Beautiful just beautiful burnt orange coupled with red against a dark inky floor – my idea of heaven.

Again the colour totally transforms this space, lifts it to new heights, makes you stop, makes you stare (won’t continue with this little quote but you get my gist)

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15 thoughts on “Creating chemistry

  1. You have my heart aflutter. I am adding your blog to mine as inspiration. Keep up the great work! Thank you

  2. Suzy says:

    I think you mean *albeit.* Not *all be it.* Although I thought that was cute.

    • abigailahern says:

      I did your right regrettably schedules are frantic and writing a blog each morn is done under alot of time pressure so you will have to excuse mistakes – apologises

  3. Just adore the tangerine into red tie dye curtain…..now that’s smashing….
    pumpkins!!!

  4. Juliette says:

    Love, love, love. I’ve been so ‘against’ colour until recently. I actually think colour injects life into an object and gives a room a sense of playfulness. Heart your blog and your style. xx

  5. sue says:

    enjoyed your yabbering at Focus muchly… would have introduced myself at the end (as i feel sometimes like i’m cyber stalking people through their blogs), but you were being mobbed so i thought i’d let you be! ;)
    and just when i thought i couldn’t love your style anymore if i tried, you mentioned your dislike of carpets!!! i have an allergic reaction whenever i have to pick a carpet for a scheme… just the thought of entering a carpet shop sends shivers up my spine… and i thought it was just ME! hoorah… there is someone else fighting the cause too!!! merci!

    • abigailahern says:

      Thank you and thank you for coming yesterday – yes with you on the carpet thing not quite sure they bother me so I guess because they are so permanent whereas with rugs you can float one on top of the other move around and so forth

  6. Audrey says:

    Just perfect, really loving these colors.

  7. whitney says:

    I think the word that sums up both this post and so much of what you do is “confidence.” So often people are terrified of making the wrong choice instead of going with their gut and trusting that if it makes you smile then bring it in to your home. Thanks for the great post. Love the pom pom’s on the coverlet!

  8. Palma Johansson says:

    I hope you wont find this a completely foolish suggestion, but here it comes anyway.. I live in Copenhagen and it makes joining your seminar a litte difficult. This made me think that perhaps you could record and sell seminars as downloads. Would LOVE to hear everything you have to say about decorating
    Happy weekend

    • abigailahern says:

      Not a foolish suggestion at all its a good idea, and floating around the back of my mind is the idea to hold a whole host of workshops abroad so will keep you updated

  9. Palma Johansson says:

    Wonderfull!

  10. [...] at Modern Destiny Woman. Creating chemistry Abigail Ahern Wed, September 28, 2011 7:46 AM UTC Abigail Ahern Rate this story Share this story (function(){var [...]

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