Magazine article: Interiors Trends for 2017 / my healthy recipes

(December 2016, featured in Your Lifestyle Magazine, Birmingham)

INTERIORS: What's New for 2017?

Now that the festivities are over for another year, and we begin to look ahead, I find myself pondering the decor and design changes I’d like to make at home in 2017. The earthy tones that have dominated my living space have been lovely surroundings, I’ll concede, and they’ve certainly accentuated the warm and cosy feel during the last few weeks.

But I feel ready for a change, and I’m intrigued to see which trends are going to inform our design choices over the coming twelve months. 

And what better way to usher in the new year than a fresh lick of paint around the home, in a brand new shade?  I’m really interested to see how our tastes in colour palettes will develop this year, and the ways we’ll be using them.

A great place to start is to look at some of the new additions to the ranges offered by paint manufacturers. These producers can have a huge impact on our style choices; the seemingly simple choice of what colour to paint our walls can then go on to dictate the furniture pieces that we choose, the art we hang on our walls, or the style of rug that we put on the floor.

Let’s look at a couple of the new colours that paint producers are offering us as we approach the year ahead.

Colour me calm                                                          

If there’s one ambience that many of us would like to evoke in our homes this year, it’s serenity; tranquility. It’s been fun to follow the trend for bold, geometric designs, bright colours, and 2016’s zest for tropical, exotic designs, but now I find myself drawn to tones that conjure up a sense of peace and escape from the everyday. 

Dulux (www.dulux.co.uk) has named Denim Drift as its Colour of the Year for 2017. This muted grey-blue can fulfil the design brief for practically any room or space, in any home. It would suit a spacious, airy living room with a high ceiling, an office space, or a teenager’s bedroom.

It co-ordinates well with a variety of furnishing styles and different-coloured accessories and textiles, if you plan just to re-paint; then again, there are a number of directions you could go in when choosing new items to curate a space painted in Denim Drift. It’s striking to see how this apparently plain, neutral shade of blue can be used to great effect in a variety of ways. 

Nkuku (www.nkuku.com), based in Totnes, Devon, have an excellent range of fair-trade pieces that would work in harmony with a grey-blue scheme; their blue Jambo jute rug would make a lovely addition to any bedroom, hallway or bathroom. Their Beso chair also tones beautifully with Dulux’s new palette.

It’s amethyst all the way, however, at Benjamin Moore Paints (www.benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk), my second pick, and most definitely my favourite new paint shade. 

Their new colour for 2017 is named Shadow 2117-30, a deeply seductive purple. I’d love to feature this colour in a bedroom or a dining room, as it would look exquisite by candlelight, perhaps accented with copper or gold accessories. 'Shadow' also works beautifully with natural wood; though dark on first impression, it has rare, rich jewel tones that will really shine in the right space. Look out for this sumptuous colour everywhere from living spaces to furniture, textiles to upholstery. Definitely one to watch!

In with the new

2017 looks set for a departure from the Vintage style. I do think that the 1940s Vintage styling will linger in our homes and our lives for a while yet, but I also notice a progression from that look in this year’s style trends. There’s a late-Sixties flavour emerging in predictions for 2017’s home decor. Lovers of Retro style - myself included - can look forward to many a happy hour scouring outlets for quirky one-off items.

Hand-thrown/preloved ceramics, perhaps from a flea market, charity shop or car boot sale, or family heirlooms, can bring individuality and add an artistic touch and a pop of colour, or blend in with colours of other elements in the room. I’ve always loved handmade ceramics, and over the years I’ve snapped up some gorgeous pieces because their look or style has caught my eye. A favourite set of gorgeous stoneware teacups, which I bought in Oxfam in Bath, have turned out to be the work of a pretty big name in 1970s ceramics. It goes to show that there are some real treasures out there, and not always where you might expect to find them. 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course, and this certainly rings true in the world of interiors. I have quite a strong idea of what I like and what works in my home, so the only ‘beholder’ I try to please is myself. This year, be bold and individual. Choosing colour schemes, key furniture pieces, and textiles can be a brilliant way of expressing a side of yourself that people might not usually see.

Zone out

2017 will see us making little spaces in our homes for cosying up, escaping the everyday, and doing the things we really enjoy. You might like to create a reading nook, or a sewing corner; if you work from home, perhaps you’d like to update your office space to make it a more comfortable place to be. 

There are so many possibilities for your perfect little hideaway, be it something as simple as a favourite comfy chair and small table in an otherwise under-used spot in the house, a bookshelf-lined converted closet, or a craft area utilising the redundant space underneath a child’s high-sleeper bed. 

Creating your own haven of tranquility can also be a great way to add style and colour accents to a small part of a larger, monochrome room. I think this has got to be my favourite of all the interiors predictions I’ve heard for 2017.

Make a statement

‘Statement’ furniture pieces retain their star appeal this year. At the comfy, indulgent end of the spectrum, there’s a multitude of gorgeous sofas, cocooning armchairs, and beautiful beds. Add to these the growing range of more utilitarian pieces - with clean lines, a smooth finish, and the juxtaposition of hand-hewn wood and bare metal – and we can see the continuation of 2016’s love affair with contrast. Creating a certain ‘friction’ between different textures, surfaces, materials and styles really brings out our idiosyncrasies as designers of our personal living spaces. 

I’m a big fan of mixing up styles to add a depth of interest to my home, and there’s endless inspiration to be had in interiors blogs and magazines. It can be helpful to create a ‘mood board’, pulling together designs, patterns, accessories and colour inspiration to create a visual representation of the look you have in mind. 

Part of the passion for contrast is the pairing of pieces from different parts of the world with items crafted closer to home. For me, fair-trade is the only way to go when purchasing handmade furniture from overseas, and there are some gorgeous pieces out there.

Montes & Clark’s Wooden Vintage Chair in Slate Grey (montesandclark.co.uk), upholstered in delectable traditional Mexican fabric, will make an eye-catching addition to any living room or bedroom. 

Bring the outside in

 

If 2016 was the year of the Jungle theme, with some wallpaper prints evoking a tropical hothouse, 2017 heads outdoors - and to far-off lands - to bring even more gorgeous botanical elements into our homes. Rattan furniture and historical accents combine to suggest the pioneering voyages of years gone by. Fairtrade Furniture (www.fairtradefurniture.co.uk) have the supremely comfy-looking Jogya suite, while the neat and stylish Kacang table can be found at www.myakka.co.uk. 

I think we’ll see a new take on delicate floral prints and patterns, creating space and a feeling of being surrounded by nature. We’ll be filling all those forgotten vases and pots with lovely blooms, feathery ferns, and succulent plants. Aqua tones, wistful blues and mother-of-pearl white will also be popular choices; think sun-bleached seashells, sand-dunes, and summer-morning skies.

Show off your style

We’re going to be staying with the eclectic vibe again this year; it’s really a matter of pleasing yourself when it comes to decorating, furnishing and accessorising your home. With constant developments in technology and modern design, there is such delight in playing around with different styles, mixing a little bit of ‘old’ with a little bit of ‘new’. After all, who can really predict what our choices will have been when we reach the end of 2017?

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A fresh & healthy start to 2017

 Once the last mince-pie crumb has been snaffled up, and the mulled wine has had its last outing for the year, it can feel great to turn to a lighter way of cooking and eating. Here are a couple of recipes that you might like to try. They’re perfect for an evening with good company and a glass or two of wine. You can prepare them in advance, and then simply reheat just before serving. Bon appétit!

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Buckwheat soba with braised aubergines, roasted peppers, and baked sesame tofu

Serves 4. Vegan.

Ingredients: 

2 blocks firm tofu (I especially like Tofoo smoked or plain tofu - no need to press)

4 tbsp dark soy or gluten-free tamari sauce

1 heaped tsp soft light brown sugar

1 tbsp sesame oil, plus more to dress before serving

1 clove garlic, very finely grated (using a microplane or similar)

2 tbsp very finely grated fresh ginger (as above)

1 tsp ready-made wasabi paste or chilli flakes (optional)

2 tsp cornflour, mixed with a little water

2 red and 2 yellow peppers

2 aubergines

2 tbsp rapeseed, groundnut or sunflower oil

2 tbsp raw rice, toasted in dry frying pan and then ground in pestle & mortar (or food processor)

2-3 tbsp sesame seeds

Small bunch fresh coriander, leaves put to one side, stalks chopped

Buckwheat soba noodles for 4, cooked as per instructions, plunged into cold water & drained

2 handfuls enoki mushrooms, or torn oyster mushrooms

Method:

Preheat oven to 200c/Gas mark 4.

Drain the blocks of tofu and press if necessary: put a tray or chopping board on top of them, weighed down with a heavy book or similar. Try to extract as much of the water as you can.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl or lidded food storage container, combine the soy or tamari, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger and wasabi (if using). 

When the tofu has stopped releasing water, pat it dry with kitchen paper towels or a clean teatowel, slice each block in two horizontally, and submerge in the sauce you’ve just made. Cover and put aside for a minimum of 1 hour (or overnight in the fridge).

Cut each pepper in half lengthways, slice the aubergines, discard stalks and pepper seeds, and spread them out on a parchment-lined baking tray (peppers skin side up). Drizzle with oil, turn to coat, and season lightly with salt & freshly ground black pepper. Roast for 30 minutes, or until soft and the peppers have blackened a little. Remove from tray. Leave oven on.

While the veg are roasting, remove tofu from marinade and drain again, placing colander or sieve over the remainder of the marinade so as not to lose any. Add cornflour mixture to the marinade, and check seasoning. You may like to add a little more sugar or sesame oil, and some water.

Cut tofu into cubes, or leave them as they are; spread them out on the baking tray, drizzle with oil, and return tray to oven for 20 minutes. Turn halfway through cooking; bake until tofu is slightly crisp. Remove from oven. (Note: if you prefer, you can cook the tofu and veg on separate trays at the same time, to conserve energy and save time.)

Pour marinade into a small saucepan and heat gently until starting to thicken. Add tofu cubes and gently toss to coat in the sauce. Add chopped coriander stalks. Check flavours and seasoning.

To serve: Divide the noodles and raw mushrooms between plates. Top with the roasted vegetables and tofu, drizzle the sauce over, and sprinkle with roasted rice, sesame seeds, and coriander leaves.

Recipe adapted from Green World Cookbook by Rachel Demuth (Chupi Publishing, 2002).

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 'Dreaming of Summer' Warm Salad

Serves 2. Vegetarian/Vegan.

Ingredients:

350g baby or new potatoes

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

2 courgettes, sliced lengthways

500g tomatoes, halved

1 jar roasted red peppers in oil

1 red onion, sliced thinly in half-moons

Small bunch fresh oregano, shredded

Small bunch fresh mint leaves, shredded

Stale ciabatta or rustic bread, torn into chunks

Half a pack Feta cheese, at room temperature (omit this if vegan - substitute with 2 tbsp capers)

Freshly-ground black pepper

Fresh basil leaves or flat-leaf parsley

 

Dressing: 

6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

2 tbsp balsamic or red wine vinegar

Salt & freshly-ground black pepper

Optional: 1/8 tsp garlic puree

Method:

Boil potatoes in salted water until soft, and place in large salad bowl. Crush lightly with potato masher or fork.

Heat oil in frying pan, or heat griddle pan to high heat and use the oil to coat the slices of courgette. 

Add courgettes to pan and fry until al dente and a little charred. Add to bowl.

Drain roasted peppers and tear them into pieces. 

Add peppers, tomatoes, red onion, bread and herbs to bowl. 

Crumble Feta or toss capers over the ingredients, season well with black pepper.

Whisk dressing ingredients together and add to bowl. Toss all ingredients together, turning to coat.

Enjoy over a glass of wine (and this Summer’s holiday brochures!).

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My easy minestrone 

You can tweak this simple, delicious recipe to use any veg you have in your fridge. Packed with goodness, it's comfort food for any season, equally enjoyable for lunch or dinner.

Serves 4. Vegetarian or Vegan.

Ingredients:

300g of any small dried pasta (broken spaghetti, ditalini, stars, macaroni, conchiglietti)

1 carton (500g) passata, or 1-2 cans of tomatoes blitzed with a blender

Olive oil

1L vegetable stock

2 onions

2 carrots

3 sticks celery

1 orange, yellow or red bell pepper 

300g courgette or squash of your choice

250g waxy potatoes (optional)

4 sticks celery

1-2 heads garlic

Large bunch fresh parsley

Dried mixed herbs

1 can cannellini, butter or borlotti beans, drained and rinsed

Fresh basil leaves, to garnish

Method:

Heat 3 tbsp oil in a large pan on medium-high heat. Boil a full kettle. Put thick slicing blade in food processor, if using.

Wash and prepare all the vegetables, and slice them all in food processor, or slice/chop by hand. Add to the pan, stir well, cover, reduce heat to low-medium, and let the vegetables sweat for 10-15 minutes, checking occasionally to avoid sticking. 

Add fresh parsley, dried herbs, and pasta. Increase heat. Stir well to combine, add stock, passata and beans, check seasoning, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until pasta is cooked.

Place fresh basil leaves on each bowl of soup. Serve with bread, if you like.