INTERIORS

Pic: Spacejoy, Unsplash

Cosy Curves

www.romo.com

Pic: Spacejoy, Unsplash

As we welcome in yet another new year, we pack away our decorations and recently made memories from the festive period. The first months of the year can often feel longer than the others, dragging on with bleak weather and the continuation of short days without the relief of festive cheer; it can feel an age until we notice the lighter evenings, first buds of spring, lambs in the field and the temperatures beginning to rise towards summertime again. The almost primordial temptation to hunker down and hibernate through these months can be overwhelming, juxtaposed with the desire to see this new year as a boundless opportunity for change, growth and reinvention, of ourselves as well as our surroundings.

Just as the curves of our bodies after an indulgent festive period should be celebrated, so should curves within the home! No longer should our interiors feel austere, straight and sparse, reinforcing the feeling of chill in the air, and the bleak feeling of the dark winter. The emergence of curves and comfort trends within the home has been happening slowly over the past couple of years, with some even suggesting it is a natural reaction to our enforced time at home during the various lockdowns in the earliest years of our decade. Having to spend so much time in our own homes didn’t just mean that some of us saw the existing flaws to redesign, but also that our theoretical checklist of “must haves” at home changed too. People now want to differentiate home office spaces from comfortable evening places. We want to be able to move through our whole house with ease and autonomy and for it to be able to perform as both office and home – on the one hand looking chic and sophisticated, but on the other - cosy, welcoming and relaxing, somewhere where we are comfortable spending a lot of time. The latest trend of curves taps into all these desires.

Product designers have a helping hand in this, bringing us pieces of furniture and accents for the home with more curved silhouettes and increasingly fluid and natural looking lines. Think round or free form coffee tables, naturally shaped and raw edges to dining tables, hallway consoles with semi-circular ends, demi-lune tables and cabinetry, sofas and chairs with rounded backs or arms and deep, well-filled, squishy cushions. Of course, we’re not suggesting you need to rush out and replace every item in your home with a curved equivalent solely to be able to achieve a cosy winter equilibrium! But updating a worn-out piece of furniture to one with a softer outline, or adding a circular shaped accent here and there, can be all you need to achieve the desired effect. Try a round or wavy mirror in place of one that is rectangular, introduce curvaceous lamps and planters, or even change something as simple as your square edged table lamp shade to a version that is drum shaped.

To take things a step further, you can add curves as a structural or architectural element, creating archways instead of door openings or building an arched or organic shaped bookcase into a fireplace recess. If such drastic and permanent changes aren’t possible, then why not try experimenting with paint. Paint blocking using curves can be a great way to direct flow through a space, or to delineate between one area and another. We are not all blessed with endless rooms in a large house - for some, one room might have

Rosie Kinsella Interior Designer 01604 751262 www.millsandkinsella.com

to double as a sitting room, office, dining room and kitchen. Using paint blocking techniques, well placed curvaceous furniture and clever pools of light that can be changed for any given use, can create a fluid space, that tricks the mind into feeling like there are many different rooms and areas within one. Something that one can’t help but be mindful of at the moment is the increasing cost of living. Homes should be our sanctuary, our safe space; warm and inviting. Whilst interior design may not be high on your priority list currently, when it comes to spending, keeping warm surely will be. Luckily, designers have got our backs here too. As with curves, soft and tactile textures are being seen as a big trend that’s here to stay. Think knitted blankets, upholstered footstools and furry cushions - items that can look great in the home and also help to keep you warm during these last couple of months of winter. Muted tones ensure the mind stays calm and comforted too, use palettes of soft terracottas and pinks, or combine sage greens with greige and off-whites. These colours are relaxing for our senses and work well with natural textures such as pale wood, stone, jute and cork (currently in vogue), all of which help to create a cosy space. Lift the muted natural colours with accents of black, a darker jewel tone, or pops of gold accessories, any of which will help to prevent a space feeling washed out.

However you choose to step into this new year, you can rest assured that in 2023 style does not have to forgo comfort, and comfort can be an important component of style!

www.romo.com

The inspiration of colour: Art to bring you positive energy in 2023

The use of colour in our environments can have a huge impact on our wellbeing. With the experts of fashion, paint and design having made their colour trend forecasts for next year, we’re pleased to see a focus on creating a positive feeling.

So what do these colour trends look like, and how are our artists bringing these colours into their pieces?

Honey Yellows

Versatile Lavender

Another colour with origins determinedly in the real world, lavender can’t be ignored. 2023 brings us a new take on this purple shade - providing calm and serenity, freshness or - harking back to it’s royal history - richness and decadence.

Dan Crisp

Dulux has announced Wild Wonder as their colour of 2023, creating a warm glow and connecting us with nature to help us ‘feel better in our homesʼ.

This natural warmth seems like the perfect place to start our exploration of trending colours with its rich positivity and sumptuousness. While the examples of such warm yellows on the walls of the Rose Gallery provide very different perspectives, each promotes a feeling of boldness and vibrancy which shines.

Barry Hilton – Sweeping Skies

Warm Neutrals

Creating warmth in your home can also be achieved with textures and patterns with many experts reminding us of the importance of neutrals within our interior palette. The paint company Behr announced their colour of the year as Blank Canvas. Such neutrals and beiges bring calm into our space, something many designers have recognised as essential.

On the walls of our gallery, you’ll see beige is certainly not boring in the stunning cityscapes of Alena Carvalho or the vibrant animal stories of Bev Davies.

Alena Carvalho – City

Bev Davies – Fox Pinky Red or Reddy Pink

We’re looking at you - Pantone’s Viva Magenta, “vibrating with vim and vigor… rooted in nature… an animated red that revels in pure joy”. Uplifting, vibrant shades which make a statement with boldness and warmth radiating equally, bringing a surprising range of opportunities for contrast and coordination. Artist Craig Alan has great examples of this bold colour in his work.

Craig Alan

Rich Blues and Jewel Shades

Identified by experts across platforms and reflecting what we’ve already seen, rich deep hues are lifting our spirits and emotions.

While blues are versatile, providing depth and strength to colour palettes across the spectrum, the more vibrant and luxurious the shade the better.

Creating energy with colour

Whatever energy you need in your space, calming neutrals, warm yellows, vibrant reds and rich jewel shades can bring you peace, inspiration, hope and joy. We know that colour has the power to lift and nurture, as art does, so enjoy discovering new colour energy in your home!

Natalie Trembecki Gallery Correspondent www.therosegallery.co.uk

Competition congratulations

Iain with the runner-up of the Back To School Bot Competition

Aiimi visit and Hospice opening

Iwould like to take this opportunity to wish you a Happy New Year! I hope you have enjoyed the festive period with your family, friends and loved ones.

Christmas Card Competition

Every year I run a Christmas Card Competition amongst schools in my constituency and this year was no exception. This year I have received The winning entry of Iain’s a couple of hundred entries coming Christmas Card Competition from over 11 schools. I am pleased to congratulate Enia from St Mary’s Wavendon CofE Primary School as this year’s winner! Her artwork will be featuring on my card that is going to family, friends and colleagues. Also, I would like to mention Batoul from Glebe Farm School and Sofia from Oxley Park Academy who were the runners-ups.

Back To School Bot Competition

As you will remember, I ran the Back To School Bot Competition with Ben Everitt MP earlier this year. Last month, a pupil at Christ The Sower School was announced as the runner-up of the competition. Following her success, the design was printed onto a delivery robot which will now roam the streets of Milton Keynes to make deliveries. The contest was run over the summer holidays for students across the city by Starship Technologies and the Milton Keynes MPs to show off the innovative skills of MK’s young people.

Aiimi

Recently, I visited the offices of Aiimi in Central Milton Keynes. I met with the CEO, Steve Salvin, and the team at Aiimi to learn more about the business. Aiimi are a British company that specialises in data and artificial information, helping to deliver more reliable and efficient services. Whilst having a tour of their facilities, I heard about the companies and organisations that Aiimi have helped with their technology and consulting services. The list includes Rolls-Royce, Jaguar Land Rover and Anglian Water, and it continues to grow. Also, I learned about how Aiimi’s research and development has helped to set them up for success.

New facilities At Willen Hospice

Another visit I attended was to the Opening Ceremony of the newly extended and refurbished facilities at Willen Hospice. I was pleased to hear of the positive impact this work will have on those in Milton Keynes with a life-limiting illness, now and for many years to come. On the visit, I was given a tour of the new facilities and saw the specialist services that Willen Hospice are able to provide to residents to ensure best end of life care to all those who need it. I was excited to learn about the plans to open up their doors to members of the public to use their café space, providing Willen Hospice an additional income stream.

As we head into the new year, my team and I will always be happy to help you where we can. If we can do anything for you, please do get in touch with me on the contact details provided.

Iain StewartMP for Milton Keynes South

CONTACT DETAILS: Tel: 01908 686830 Email: iain.stewart.mp@parliament.uk www.iainstewart.org.uk Suite 102, Milton Keynes Business Centre, Foxhunter Drive, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes MK14 6GD

School visits, Knife Angel and helping the homeless

Happy New Year! It’s now been three years since I was elected to represent Milton Keynes North and I could not be more proud to be your Member of Parliament. There is no doubt it’s been a tough few years with the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine and the effects of both causing such an impact on our economy, but we have still achieved so much I am proud of. We’ve funded and opened the brand new Maple Centre at Milton Keynes University Hospital. Milton Keynes has finally been made a city. We’ve set up Op Deter and recruited more police officers to tackle knife crime. We’ve reduced the number of people living homeless. And we’re continuing to invest in education, healthcare and supporting those most-in-need across Milton Keynes.

I will continue to work for the people of Milton Keynes North throughout 2023 as I campaign for better bus services, a new hospital for Milton Keynes, investment for MK:U, support for our rural communities, extra funding for homelessness and rough sleeping and boosting our local small and medium sized businesses.

Knife Angel Comes To Milton Keynes

It was a humbling experience to witness the Knife Angel as it visited Milton Keynes as part of a month of action against knife crime. I met with the team at the MK Dons Sports and Education Trust (MK Dons SET) to hear about the incredible work they had been doing with schools and young people across the city on prevention, as well as having the ambition to sign up 10,000 new anti-violence ambassadors. The visit of the Knife Angel comes on top of the work we have done with Thames Valley Police, the Home Office and the Crown Prosecution Service to make sure we can say: if you are caught with a knife in Milton Keynes, you will spend time behind bars.

£321k To Tackle Homelessness

Starting on one of the points mentioned above, I’m delighted the Government has provided Milton Keynes City Council with a further £321,034 worth of funding to tackle homelessness across the city. The additional funding from the Government’s Homelessness Prevention Grant - Winter 2022 will allow local authorities to

Ben speaking to students at Walton High’s Brooklands Campus

target support to those who need it most to help prevent rough sleeping and homelessness. The Government has provided significant and decisive support to support people through the global increase in the cost of living including through the Energy Price Guarantee which will help households with their energy bills over the winter, and a further £37 billion of support for the cost of living this year. Over the last few years the Government has provided millions of pounds to Milton Keynes to support with homelessness and rough sleeping, both for prevention and supporting those already living on the streets.

Road Closure Issues

I’ve received a lot of correspondence from residents frustrated with multiple road closures in their area at the same time which has caused travel chaos. I wrote to Milton Keynes City Council, with Iain Stewart MP, raising my concerns about this and pushing for more consideration to be put into when and where these road closures take place. While we understand road closures inevitably need to happen, if there are too many in the same area at the same time they cause huge issues for residents and local businesses. It was also a problem raised with us at a recent local business roundtable hosted by Sophie Etc.

Also this month…

• Students at Walton High’s Brooklands Campus on all things politics from the Whips Office and rebelling against the Government to the war in

Ukraine and MK:U

• I met with LGBTQ+ students from Ousedale School’s Newport Pagnell and Olney campuses to hear about their experiences and the issues they are facing

• I held a number of constituency surgeries with residents who needed support on a number of issues

Ben EverittMP for Milton Keynes North

CONTACT DETAILS: Tel: 01908 686830 Email: ben.everitt.mp@parliament.uk www.beneveritt.com | Facebook: beneverittmk Suite 102, Milton Keynes Business Centre, Foxhunter Drive, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes MK14 6GD

Help is available

for MK residents

over the winter months

Over the next few months, Milton Keynes City Council will continue to roll out the £3.3m Winter Plan to help people through the cost-of-living crisis. There is no doubt that every family will be feeling the crunch by now, with the impact of rising energy bills, the cost of food and falling wages taking its toll. Below is a breakdown of some of the support available to you right now, should you need it.

Call the Warmth and Wellbeing Helpline for free energy advice

As temperatures continue to drop, we are encouraging families to call the City Council’s Warmth and Wellbeing Helpline. This free service offers advice to residents on how to get support with soaring energy costs, as part of a package of assistance set out in the £3.3m Winter Plan.

Those who require assistance can call freephone 0800 107 0044 to get expert advice from the National Energy Foundation’s Better Housing Better Health team, who will assess your situation and suggest help – this could include explaining how to get better energy deals and how to apply for grants to make your home more energy efficient. The team will also advise on wider issues such as avoiding debt, loneliness and accessibility. The helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Become a member of your local food larder to get discounted food

Food larders are becoming an increasingly popular way for families to get core food items at a fraction of the price. These subscriptionbased clubs allow people to pay a weekly fee, which is just a few pounds, and have access to lots of surplus food and items from supermarkets and other retailers.

The City Council has given £20,000 to SOFEA, the charity which runs food larders across the city, to ensure they can stock an additional 14 tonnes of surplus food. This donation will provide the equivalent of 2,300 family-size weekly shops.

Food larders are vital projects that reduce waste while allowing local families to cut their spending. Anybody can become a member of their local food larder; those using SOFEA’s larders don’t need to be means tested or on specific benefits. You can find your closest food larder by visiting www.sofea.uk.com

Homework Plus clubs funded by the City Council offer homework support and a substantial meal

Send your children to free Homework Plus clubs for support and a free meal

Six new City Council-funded Homework Plus clubs have opened in Milton Keynes, meaning that there are now eight across the city. At the clubs, school pupils get support with their homework, including internet access, and a substantial meal. This scheme was launched in 2022 to help local organisations run after-school clubs for children and young people, and we have provided grants for those interested in setting up the clubs.

There has been great interest in the clubs so far, and they provide a safe place for the younger generations to socialise and learn while having a warm and healthy dinner. This is especially important given the rise in the cost of living, so I am pleased that people are taking advantage of this support. The weekly sessions are held across the city including Newport Pagnell, West Bletchley, Fishermead, Broughton and Fullers Slade. You can find out more information by visiting www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/HAF

Pete MarlandLeader of Milton Keynes City Council

CONTACT DETAILS: Tel: 01908 252442 Email: peter.marland@milton-keynes.gov.uk Facebook: @mklabour ADDRESS: c/o Milton Keynes City Council, Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East, Milton Keynes MK9 3EJ