It’s that time of the year again when brands are showcasing their new collections for spring/summer and I was excited to attend Laura Ashley’s Press Day last week for the first time. It was held in their stunning headquarters near the Chelsea Harbour and I must say the new collections did not disappoint.
It was great to see so many contemporary pieces which is something I wasn’t expecting to be honest. Laura Ashley are definitely trying to gain new customers by introducing more contemporary designs in their range as well as keeping the traditional flower patterns that their old customers would expect.
The City Dwelling Collection was my favourite out of all of them. Black and white images and greys and whites couldn’t be more up my street. I particularly love the styling of this bedroom. There is something very relaxed about it and it doesn’t look too ‘staged’ even though it is incredibly stylish.
I was also excited to see so many contrasting colours which is apparently a big interior trend for 2016. I love decorating with elegant grey colour tones and whites combined with metallics and darker colours. The dark/black cabinet (below) is beautiful and I love the materials they used for this collection. The whole collection has a real industrial feel about it but still feels very luxurious and stylish at the same time. The Alfred Light below (named after Alfred Hitchcock) is pretty fabulous too. In fact, Laura Ashley lighting collection really blew me away this time. They have so many stunning pieces that it’s virtually impossible to pick your favourite.
I have always loved their textiles as well and I have quite a selection of cushions at home already. The designs did not disappoint me this time either and I am especially loving this black/grey bolster cushion. It is such a timeless design and has a real art deco flair to it which I adore.
Nordic design also seems pretty big at the moment and these minimalistic bar stools prove that less is more. The textured wood looks amazing against the black feet which really give them an edge. If I ever have a kitchen diner with an island, I would go for something similar.
I am loving decorating with white ever since we got our new extension earlier this year. In fact, our extension is looking pretty all white at the moment with a dash of brass, navy and grey. This white magazine rack is beautiful in all of its simplicity. You could also use it as a log holder so it’s pretty versatile.
And, finally some colour! I am still in the process of adding some colourful prints to our extension (as well as the rest of the house). This peacock print caught my eye and it looks great on its own but you could also add a stunning vintage frame to make it a more of a statement piece. It could even look great as part of a ‘messy’ gallery wall.
Laura Ashley Art & Crafts collection is also worth mentioning and it’s pretty clear that gold and brass are still very popular. This map side table looks very chic with the pineapple candle holders and I also happen to be a big fan of the Laura Ashley Pineapple Lamp which is available in two different sizes.
Take a peak at Laura Ashley Blog where you can admire the rest of the SS16 Collections. They have covered both home and fashion collections and there are some amazing pieces worth discovering. The new collections are out in February so keep an eye on the website for your favourites or pop into your nearest Laura Ashley store to have a closer look.
For more information visit www.lauraashley.com
PS. You can read about my recent collaboration with Laura Ashley here.
