The Coco Målé blog - your daily dose of interior design inspiration! » accessories

Summer Brights

Katie — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 01:48:02 +0000

With all these gorgeous colours around at the moment, we’ve no excuse to be looking dull this season! The weather may not quite have reached tropical temperatures yet but you can still create a little sunshine in your everyday life with these pops of colour!

block colour suede tote by Armani, £489

Alice band, Accessorize, £6

necklace by Nicole Farhi, £60

striped platform shoes by Sonia Rykiel, £261

(okay the stripe shoes are a bit of an anomaly but aren’t they just gorge!!)

Bottega Veneta woven clutch, £890

blue suede bag by Celine, £1250

posted by Emily

Winter warmers

Katie — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:31:12 +0000

It’s bitterly cold outside at the moment, in fact it seems to have been for weeks now! Our heating bill has rocketed, I’m really hoping it gets warmer soon.

floral scarves, by Avoca Anthology

At least we can all step outside and brave the plummeting temperatures in style with these gorgeous accessories. Go for pretty colour and loud print for a cheery outlook on a dull day! Don’t worry it’ll soon be spring…

gloves, by Bernstock Speirs

mohair lace socks, Plümo

wooly knitted hat, Accessorize

finglerless gloves, by Accessorize

ribbon tie cardigan, 3.1 Philip Lim

posted by Emily

Attention-grabbing interiors

Katie — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:00:30 +0000

Isn’t it amazing what a difference the little details can make? Even the smallest accessory in your home can have a massive impact on the image you project. With this in mind, here is a selection of a few pieces that can liven up even the most basic and classic of interiors.

Let’s start small, with this pretty reindeer-shaped candle holder. Definitely cute, it would look great on any dining table before, after and even during (if you’re careful!) Christmas dinner.

reindeer candle holder, thisnext.com

I’m actually quite taken with this next interesting vase / candle holder. I love the whole idea of this dual-purpose accessory designed by Harry Allen. It’s cast from his own arm, and can be used to display flowers to dramatic effect…

Harry Allen Bestow vase/ candle holder $75, at designpublic.com

Or to support a candle in a slightly creepy way…

Harry Allen Bestow vase/ candle holder $75, at designpublic.com

Seriously, can you imagine having only this to light your home during a black-out? That’s got to be scary!

For a more friendly, fairytale-like approach to the old vase, check out this sweet little offering by Jamie Hayon…

Horse vases, at holycool.net

I love how the flowers make the horses look like unicorns. And I think it’s so refreshing to see vases that are able to get attention for their own design rather than be overshadowed by the beauty of their flowers.

Moving on to soft furnishings, this horse head cushion from Kropserkel, is sure to make a statement! Send as a gift-with-a-hidden-meaning to make a point, or better yet an offer they can’t refuse (sorry, I couldn’t resist!) or just pop it into your guest’s bed for some old school Godfather scares!

And finally, for those of us who just want to get back to nature, these cushions, designed by the immensely talented Ronel Jordaan, are just what the doctor ordered…

Horse head pillow $45, kropserkel.com

And finally, for those of us who just want to get back to nature, these cushions, designed by the immensely talented Ronel Jordaan, are just what the doctor ordered…

Stone cushions, at conceptrends.com

The shapes look so clean and earthy, while the material (100% merino wool) makes them a rather luxurious choice.

Making a house a home: a vase less ordinary

Katie — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 09:00:16 +0000

Even a simple vase can become beautiful with the right flower in it. This one right here for example, can bring some oriental elegance to any living room. I love how the red flower just sets off the clean lines and crisp colour of the vase.

vase from materdesign.com

Having said that, why not use your vase as an ice-breaker? The following are excellent conversation pieces. First off, for the ecologically minded, what better material for a vase than recycled newspapers? Apart from the fact that it reduces waste it also looks pretty cool!

recycled newspaper bulb vase $40, at mnlstyle.com

This next vase is just too 007 not to be included here…

3 gun vase $65, at venucci.com

And while we’re on the subject of things you wouldn’t normally think of using as vases, who would have thought that a fish could smell like flowers!

Two fish vase by Christofle $315, at vivre.com

And finally, my favourite. As the two pieces of this vase, created by industrial designer Alessandro Beda, are separate, you can make it as long or short as you want. It really is a gorgeously unusual vase!

Whale vase, by Alessandro Beda

Making a house a home: the glow of candlelight

Katie — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 20:07:47 +0000

Last week we kicked off our accessories series with some unique and inspiring cushions. This week we’re all about the candles! They create an aura of warmth in any space, they smell great and they give your skin the most beautiful golden glow. With so many candles around at the moment, you are almost certain to find one that will match your every mood.

For a bit of decadence why not try this fabulous rhubarb scented candle by D.L. & Co.

D.L. & Co. candle $35, barneys.com

For understated elegance and sophistication, Philosophy has just the thing: the Amazing Grace candle is infused with the perfume of the same name, and comes with the signature uplifting text on the packaging.

Philosophy candle $36, sephora.com

For an incredibly luxurious gift look no further than Jo Malone’s candle trousseau; a beautiful leather case filled with candles in signature scents.

Jo Malone candle trousseau $595, shop.nordstrom.com

It’s not necessary to buy expensive candles, of course. After all, it’s what you do with them that counts. So here is some inspiration for you from the newmexicophotos.com blog.

from the newmexicophotos blog

I expect it would take quite some time to arrange your candles in this way, but if you have the energy then I definitely think it’s worth it!

Hampton house in Something’s Gotta Give

Katie — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:41:14 +0000

I watched Something’s Gotta Give again last night and fell in love with that Hamptons house all over again. Many say this house upstaged the actors and script and apparently Architectural Digest’s article on it was their subscribers’ all-time favourite!

Simply put, this house is elegant yet simple, beautiful, but not overly designed and has such a sense of warmth and tranquility, you almost feel like you’re surrounded by the ocean. The architectural features are stunning: huge french doors, soaring high ceilings and lots of natural light whilst the interiors are a soothing palette of beach colours…

The living room really did it for me… Of course, the architectural backdrop, the fireplace, covings, balcony etc., is great, but the furnishing is also very successful.

The room is brimming with home accessories – no less than four lamps, tons of candles and shell ornaments, cushions and throws in a variety of colours scattered over the sofas and books piled on nearly every surface – yet it doesn’t look cluttered. Everything seems to blend in and kind of disappear, nothing really stands out except of course the wonderful striped nautical rug that covers the whole floor and the Mora clock with its sensuous curves.

Another important element is the contrast between light and dark: the dark wood floors against the light cream walls, the light blue fabric of the sofas against the dark wood legs and tables. Even the balusters and risers are painted white whilst the handrails are dark.

This corner of the living room oozes warmth and coziness and I can totally imagine myself sitting here happily reading my book with a hot chocolate in hand. I’m not sure if it’s the beautifully shaped wicker chairs and striped cushions, or the pretty vase and flowers on the side table, or simply the super neat array of books on the shelves, but the whole thing just really works for me…

In the dining room, the look is softer and more feminine, with the plate display and large iron chandelier taking centre stage. I don’t really understand the fuss about the slipcovered chairs – I personally don’t like them all that much – I think they make the room feel a bit fussed and girly, but that’s just me nitpicking because the overall result is great…

The same style is carried outside into the patio – the lounge chairs and cushions, again in blue and white, and the simple white umbrellas create a relaxed, beachy feel, whilst the candles, wall lanterns and pool lights perfectly finish off that wonderful atmosphere.

It’s the kitchen that seems to have attracted the most press however and although I’m not a fan of country kitchens, I think I understand why. Firstly, it must be because of its size – I don’t know any woman that wouldn’t love to have all this storage space and TWO island units!! Secondly, the contrast of the dark floors and worktop against the white cabinets, combined with the industrial appliances, country kitchen handles and bathroom- style taps, the result is unique and quirky but at the same time very visually appealing!

Here’s a small shopping list to help you achieve this look:

Cushion extravaganza

Katie — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:41:36 +0000

Cushions are the ultimate home accessory, instantly changing the look and feel of a room without spending the earth (usually!). With an average piece costing £50-£60, the cushions pictured below (from Missoni’s 2008 home collection) are very very expensive, but are sure to make a style statement! Bold and brave as usual, Missoni’s designers have gone for super vibrant colours and patterns.

Although I am a great fan of theirs, I don’t think I’m quite ready to decorate my home so extravagantly yet! Nevertheless, these images are great inspiration and a good example of what one can achieve with colour…

Naturally, Coco Målé also stocks a stunning range of cushions; combining great designs and gorgeous silk fabrics, I truly believe our cushions are great value for money. My personal favourites are the Ella cushion, the Glamour cushion, the Layla cushion and our Carrera cushion although I must admit our bestseller by far is the Moda cushion.

For those of you who are new to interior decorating, here are some helpful tips on accessorizing with cushions:

Choose a key colour for your main cushions, then add layers of interest with other cushions in patterns and textures that complement your main colour.

Mix and match cushions of different sizes and shapes.

Always group many cushions together – ideally in sixes – either scattered on the sofa or stacked on your bed.

Soft cushions in satin or silk lend a warm, yet rich feel while providing a shiny, sparkling effect.

Use cushions as comfy extra seating for guests but make sure your floor cushions are larger than those thrown on the sofa.

Don’t be afraid to be bold with colours and pattern – orange stripes that would look terrible on your walls will actually have the opposite effect when used in small amounts in your cushions.