Trims and tassels are having a moment in the world of interiors and in our latest collection of Furniture and Accessories. What is the joy of design if we don’t pay attention to the details? In designer jargon, these trimmings are known as passementerie, and they can add so much interest and style to your home. As Henriette von Stockhausen, the creative director of design studio VSP Interiors, once told us, they make a room feel “that much more considered […] the more layers you have the cosier an interior gets really.” Imagine having a nondescript beige armchair in the corner when you could add an eye-catching trim around its edge so that it suddenly has a personality of its own that cannot be ignored. What would you prefer?

If you’re after truly tailored interiors, rich in elegant embellishments, have a gander at some of the eye-catching design details that feature in our new collection:

Perfectly Pretty Piping

Perhaps the subtlest of our details is the humble piped edge. Applied to both cushions and upholstery, this detail acts as a frame for Furniture and Soft Furnishings: on a cushion cover, it surrounds the plain or patterned piece. On an armchair, like our Coniston, it can draw attention to features and craftsmanship like the roll in an arm or the plumpness of a seat. Another advantage of piping – as demonstrated by our Carena and Samena Ottomans – is that it can be used to signify the opening of storage; both of these pieces have piping running around the edge of their lids so that you can easily see where to lift it off. Our Samena Ottoman and our Bonnie Cushion Covers also make even more of a feature of their piping as they have been designed with a contrasting pop of colour to really catch attention.

Timeless Trims

We have a real smorgasbord of trims for you to choose from this season, yet you may notice a deliberate focus in our colour palette… Many of our pieces dip into the camel colour trend, a hue that has previously featured on our cushions but only this season debuted on our upholstery. This timeless shade is boosted with considered red trims that elevate the designs from background pieces to stars of the show. The contrasting colours create balanced proportions, and as our designer Jessica McCauley says, the combination “adds a layer of interest and unique design to some classic shapes.” Take the Russell Ottoman for example, simple in its circular form atop a wooden plinth, but with an additional red and white striped ikat trim that runs around its edge. Not only does the trim catch the eye, it also reveals the opening for hidden storage inside. This trim is matched on our Weston Range – including a dining chair and a bar stool – so that you can dot the style around a room for a sense of cohesion, if you so wish. Similarly, our revitalised Camaret Range now features upholstery in our beloved Serigraph print, contrasted with a pretty red leaf trim that tempers the bold repeating pattern with something softer. This trim is also mirrored on our updated Ellary Armchair and Vaquero Linen Stool. Swaying from the colour trend is our Elowen Coolie Lampshade which features a thin black and natural chevron trim which elevates it to new heights, and the Zelva Throw whose cosy grey wool is bordered by warming orange velvet finished with chain-stitch embroidery.

Tasteful Tassels and Fringing with Flair

Several seasons ago, we brought out the Tarma Armchair with its removable tassel skirt, inspired by traditional hats worn in the Andes mountains. We loved it the moment we saw it, but the dramatic element was a gamble that we had not previously launched on any of our furniture. What we’ve learnt, is that our customers are bold and brave, not afraid of a bit of drama – the Tarma became an instant best seller. And so, we have continued to include tassels and fringes each season since. This autumn, many of our cushions, from the Twinberry to the Wilde and the Archibald feature a fringe that makes them stand out amongst other cushions. The Tableau Throw is no exception, nor are our Ivy and Marquess Rugs that are perfectly finished with tasselled borders. Fringing is fabulous and has a place in every interior, especially during the colder months when it adds warmth and texture.

We say, don’t hold back – layer your tassels and trims and fringes, piping and printed edges and painted rims, bobbin-style feet and carved frames and turned legs, until your home packs a punch overflowing with a personality of its own that perfectly reflects your taste.