AT HOME TO STYLE

Danish furniture designers BoConcept have launched their gorgeous 2023 capsule collection which brings a fresh organic feel to living room design. The Bolzano Kollektion is backed up by newly launched upholstery colours, finishes and hand-painted artwork that continues the organic feel throughout the home.

The Bolzano Kollektion is rooted in the modern organic trend for curved lines and sculpted round shapes. Designer Morten Georgesen has created a 3-seater sofa, a 2.5-seater sofa, armchair and chaise lounge that cocoon the body in comfort, surrounded by cosy, inviting textures and some wonderful colour options. It’s the kind of furniture that makes you want to snuggle up and stay in, surrounded by a sense of home, calm and serenity. It’s like hygge you can sit on!

The capsule collection also includes a new Brown Ceramic finish for the Madrid coffee table that combines strength with resistance to heat, stains and everyday wear. Brown

Lazio is an earthy organic addition to the Lazio bouclé fabric range too, and there’s a range of four new decorative, sculptural hand-painted pieces of wall art developed with Danish-based Malerifabrikken.

BoConcept prides itself on its heritage, highquality designs and finishes and forward-thinking furniture solutions. That’s why almost every design that BoConcept offer can be customised to any size, shape, colour or finish you fancy and the company’s Design Consultants offer a complementary service to help you create your dream space. Along with a 5-year warranty, it comes with BoConcept Scotland’s lifetime care service.

You can see the new collection and meet the brand’s expert interior design team in BoConcept’s Aberdeen store at Sterling Furniture in Bridge of Don. You can also explore the range online, browse the SS23 lookbook and order material samples at boconceptscotland.com

Designer

DESIGNING SMALL GARDEN SPACES CAN BE A CHALLENGING TASK, BUT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF CREATIVITY AND PLANNING, YOU CAN TURN YOUR GARDEN OR BALCONY INTO A BEAUTIFUL OUTDOOR OASIS THAT IS PERFECT FOR RELAXING, ENTERTAINING AND ENJOYING NATURE.

Here are some tips for designing small garden spaces:

Start with a plan: Before starting the design process, it's important to have a plan in place. Think about how you want to use your garden space, where the sun falls, privacy issues etc. Even in small spaces, zoning can optimise use and can also be used to create division toward better privacy and greater interest. Think about casual seating, dining, solo contemplation, play and utility. Division can be achieved in so many ways using containers or planting, wooden panels, trellis, slats, solid fence, or decorative metal panels.

Choose the right plants:

When designing a small garden space, it's important to future-proof your planting by choosing plants that are appropriate for the size of the space. You need to understand what their height and spread will be at maturity. Look for plants that are compact and can be trained to grow vertically, such as climbing plants, dwarf trees, and compact shrubs. If in a sheltered spot, using plants with a jumbo leaf that look almost too big for the space, can create a luscious, vibrant feel, and make the space feel intimate and private.

Create different levels: To make the most of a small garden space, create different levels by using raised beds, containers, or retaining walls. The materials chosen can really pull a design together. Consider brick, block with stone veneer or wooden pressure-treated sleepers. This will not only add visual interest but also allow you to ‘layer’ your planting.

Use vertical space: Make the most of your small garden space by using vertical space. Hang plants from walls, add trellises or support wires for climbing plants, or use tall planters to add height to the garden.

Create a focal point:

A small garden space can benefit from a focal point, such as a water feature, sculpture, or a striking plant. This will draw the eye and create a sense of interest in the space.

Think about lighting:

Lighting can transform a small garden space at night. Add outdoor lighting to highlight focal points, pathways, and seating areas. Solar-powered lights are a budget-friendly and eco-friendly option, but don’t expect too much out of these in the winter months.

Add seating:

A small garden space can be the perfect spot for relaxing and enjoying nature. Add seating in the form of a small patio, bench, or chairs to create a cosy and inviting atmosphere. Use retaining walls to double up as seating. Round tables in square spaces allow the maximum dining capacity and soften angular shapes.

Designing a small garden space can be a fun and rewarding project. By following these tips, you can create a beautiful and functional garden that is perfect for your lifestyle and needs.

Summer’s

Playhouses are brilliant for kids from three to ten, where imaginative play is to the forefront. Choose something with enough headroom and a larger footprint if possible, or upgrade to a summerhouse that can be taken over by the adults when the kids retreat to their bedrooms for a decade. If you have the skills, a DIY playhouse or a treehouse made from reclaimed wood can be a less expensive option.

Look for versatile play equipment that will be of use for several years as your children grow and can be passed on when your kids have grown out of it. There are lots of combination swing sets, by companies like Plum that can be added to over time. Start with a frame and swap out toddler swings for big kid versions, add seesaws, climbing nets and play towers as time goes on.

If you don’t have room for all year round outdoor play equipment, consider the inflatable option. Look for bouncy castles and water slides that are quick to set up when the sun comes out. Paddling and swimming pools are great for hot days and easy to pack away afterwards. If you have a larger garden, sportier options for active kids include trampolines, football goals and oldschool games like Swingball or Tetherball.

Messy play is always fun. Sandpits, water tables and mud kitchens offer endless fun for younger children, though it’s worth investing in a cover for your sandpit if there are cats around.

Outdoor play needn’t be expensive, sometimes a simple packet of pavement chalks, a climbable tree or exploring for insects and mini-beasts is all you need to keep the kids amused for a couple of hours.

Twenty first year Fashion and Textile students from Gray’s School of Art at Robert Gordon University have been working with a team from Braemar Castle, to create a unique sustainable fashion collection. The collection was unveiled during the Gray’s Fashion Show at Aberdeen Art Gallery on Friday 5 May.

The first years focussed on sustainable garments related to the castle’s rich heritage and history. The students deconstructed and reconstructed garments from RGU’s Kaim Co-operative, a second-hand shop run by RGU’s Go Green Society. All the creations had to be wearable and the material repurposed had to be made use of in the new garment.

Angus Lallah, a first-year student explained, ‘For my project, I set about repurposing a kid’s raincoat and a slip dress. I used materials from the jacket to create rigid structures, much like the ones seen in the castle. I combined them with drapes and pleats commonly found in Jacobite Dress. I wanted to work with pieces of clothing as they are rather than cut away and waste them. I was able to use all 59 pieces of my second-hand clothing to create my Braemar Castle Garment.’

Fashion and Textile student, Kimberley Duval, added, ‘The Braemar Castle Project is exciting and very challenging in the best possible way. I especially appreciated the zero-waste component, it made me appreciate my materials in a whole new way and I plan to incorporate that sustainability into my future work.’

The students’ designs will be on show in the castle when it reopens this summer. Find out more at braemarcastle.co.uk and rgu.ac.uk

For more details and to book tickets visit: trendmagazine.co.uk