Next Monday will be the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere and will be what we call the ‘summer solstice’. This means summer will finally be here, and we couldn’t be more excited.
The solstice does not occur on the same day every year. It is on the day the sun travels the longest path through the sky and reaches the northernmost point from the celestial equator- that day has the most daylight.
Also known as midsummer, it is a magical night celebrated around the world. Over centuries, different rituals have developed: bonfires, dancing, and prayers for abundance, health or fertility.
So with the summer solstice approaching, now seems like the perfect moment to review our favourite seasonal schemes for some interiors inspiration before the summer starts…
In Room 211 at Covent Garden Hotel, the refreshing combination of blue, yellow and green makes the room vibrant and dreamy. The big headboard pattern by Fanny Shorter transports us directly to Sicily with its lemons and the beautiful flowers.
Traditional patterns in unexpected colours give a twist to an interior. This works perfectly with a more graphic pattern in the same tones like my ‘One Way’ design for Christopher Farr Cloth. Linen curtains always help to create a fresh and timeless finish.
In Apartment 22 at Ham Yard Hotel, the powerful turquoise background of the William Yeoward fabric on the headboard takes centre stage. Around it, we added interesting and colourful small patterns to make it sing. I love the subtlety of the green and white stripe background on the walls.
At Crosby Street Hotel, using similar colours but a very different pattern by Edit Textiles, we have taken a more graphic and modern approach. The room exudes summer, but because of the graphic pattern it also looks very cosmopolitan and striking – perfect for The Big Apple!
Sometimes a sea-related theme or something that evokes a memory of a beautiful holiday can be enough to create a scheme reminiscent of summer.
In this residential project, the coral colour is a perfect background for the beautiful headboard covered in Turnell & Gigon’s Under The Sea embroidery fabric. A splash of colour from the green lamp lifts the scheme, popping against the linen walling and defusing the formality of the room.
If you are planning to lift your interiors during the summer, remember that some natural ceramic pots, linen lampshades and cushions with pops of light blues, greens and yellows can go a long way.
In this airy orangery at the same home, we love the warmth of the yellow and orange tones of the Raoul Textiles fabric. To keep it fresh and make the most of the light, we have painted the room in a crisp white, which balances the scheme.
This beautiful artwork in the Loft Suite at Covent Garden Hotel reminds us of late summer evenings and fairies dancing among the trees.
Whatever you’re doing next Monday, we hope that you can take a moment to enjoy the sun stretching out the day and warding off the night sky. Happy midsummer!