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How to decorate your home with indulgent shades of chocolate

Inspired by the elegance of Yves Saint Lauren’s Paris apartment we are loving all shades of brown, from molasses to tan

By and Alice Finney
decoare with chocolate, styled by amy heffernan
Victoria Ling

Craving dark, indulgent chocolate? It’s the colour of the season (from runways to interiors), with tones of brown pairing with rich oak and walnut to create a sophisticated cosiness that is what we need in homes right now. We suggest lifting the cocooning feel with modern touches of glass and chrome for a contemporary take on the aesthetic. Here’s our selection of the fabrics, wallpapers, flooring, furniture and accessories that can help you perfect the look.

1

‘Yūrei’ vase, Omnidecor

yurei vase by omnidecor
Omnidecor

Designed by Lidia Covello and Alberto Gaiotto, these quietly beauitful vases feature a painted aluminium tube (in this case in a tantalising chocolate brown) cut through by a curved pane of ridged glass. From approx £305, omnidecor.it

2

‘Voulez-Vous’ fabric, Dedar

voulez vous striped fabric by dedar
Giuseppe Dinnella

Realised in a hardwearing cotton twill, this classic stripe by Dedar comes in nine colours of increasing jollity, but we especially appreciate the tones of ‘Tabacco’ (pictured). It’s an ideal choice for upholstery of sofas, armchairs or headboards. £190.50 per m, dedar.com

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3

‘Oyster’ coffee table, Studio Twenty Seven

oyster coffee table by louise liljencrantz
Studio Twenty Seven

Available in mahogany, walnut or oak, this coffee table by Louise Liljencrantz showcases timber in all its beauty – there’s one distressed, bark-like leg and one smaller, sleeker, branch-like one. Made in Sweden, the piece is part of a limited, numbered edition. From approx £28,950, studiotwentyseven.com

4

‘Pleat’ carafe, New Works

pleat carafe by new works
New Works

The height of elegant simplicity, this stainless steel pitcher was produced with just the most minimal of interventions and continues New Works’ love of sculptural design. The formed tube is pressed at the side to naturally create a spout. £79, nordicnest.com

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5

‘Kashi’ cushion cover, Chhatwal and Jonsson

kashi cushion cover by chhatwal and jonsson
Ryan Laurita Photography AB

Thought you were tired of bouclé? This cushion may make you think again. There’s something about the way the fabric has been carved away to create this natural waved pattern that is incredibly appealing. Plus, in this ‘Off White’ colourway it exudes stealth wealth vibes. Approx £75, chhatwal-jonsson.com

6

‘Fringe’ tiles, Mutina

fringe tiles by michael anastassiades for mutina
Mutina

The first collection designed by Michael Anastassiades for Mutina, these minimalist tiles are engraved with lines that separate each square into precise parallel segments. The width of the lines varies, but the uniformity means the different designs can be mixed to create interesting patterns. £225 per m, domusgroup.com

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7

‘Serie Up Compasso d’Oro’ armchair, B&B Italia

serie up compasso d’oro armchair by gaetano pesce bb italia
B&B Italia

Only 500 of this special version of the ‘Serie Up’ chair by Gaetano Pesce have been made. Created to honour the design being presented with the prestigious XXVII Compasso d’Oro award, the piece is upholstered in a bronze fabric with the chain between the footrest and the seat given a corten finish. From £6,091, chaplins.co.uk

8

‘Mousqueton’ portable lamp, Hay

mousequeton portable lamp by hay
Courtesy of Hay

Designer Inga Sempé named this portable lamp after the French word for carabiner, and the reference makes clear the functionality of this piece. The body is made from weather-resistant stainless steel, meaning it will light up the outdoors even in inclement weather. £165, hollowaysofludlow.com

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9

‘Stig Stripe’ wallpaper, Cathy Nordström

stig stripe wallpaper in fudge by cathy nordstrom
Cathy Nordstrom

It was designer Cathy Nordström’s love of vintage Swedish ceramics and the work of Stig Lindberg that influenced the simple pattern on this wallpaper – it takes direct inspiration from one of his painterly striped bowls. In this ‘Fudge’ shade the design would lend a subtle warming quality and a hint of playfulness to rooms. £94 per metre, cathynordstrom.com

10

‘Splash’ rug, CC-Tapis

splash rug by objects of common interest for cc tapis
CC-Tapis

Objects of Common Interest explored the patterns in timber before recreating them using jacquard weaving techniques. The result is ‘Splash’, one of three rugs in the ‘Moiré’ collection, all of which are made on traditional Indian hand-looms. It also comes in a cream and lilac, but we love the cherry-wood hue of this ‘Burgundy’ version. £2,530, monologuelondon.com

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11

‘Isle’ pendant light, Lambert & Fils

isle pendant light lambert fils
Lambert & Fils

Designer Zoë Mowat is playing with the concepts of lightness and strength in this design, which sees a glass tube rested on supports made of coloured stones (Rosa Portugal, Rosso Levanto, Nero Marquina, Encarnado Negrais and Guatemala Verde) and aluminium. The effect is like a bridge suspended in mid-air. From £3,300, lambertetfils.com

12

’Wind & Fire’ vase, Serax

wind fire vase by marie michielssen for serax
Serax

‘The shape of these vases is reminiscent of old pharmacy pots,’ says designer Marie Michielssen of her designs for Serax’s ‘Wind & Fire’ collection. Usually known for her work in clay, this is the first time Michielssen has experimented with glass and the results are wonderfully autumnal. Approx £90, serax.com

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13

‘Tinto’ wallcovering, Arte

tinto wallcovering by arte
Arte

Reminiscent of herringbone parquet, this textural wallcovering is in fact made from woven banana bark that has been dyed in three deep shades, including ‘Chocolate’ (pictured). The pattern comes in large-format tiles, making it easier to apply to walls. £228 per m, arte-international.com

14

‘Beosound A5’ speaker, Bang & Olufsen

beosound a5 speaker by bang olufsen
B&O

The combination of Bang & Olufsen’s considerable audio expertise and design duo GamFratesi’s aesthetic know-how, this portable speaker is a powerhouse. There are two versions – one called ‘Nordic Weave’ that is reminiscent of mid-century Danish seating and baskets, the other with a sophisticated façade made of battens of dark oak (pictured). £899, bang-olufsen.com

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15

‘Thorpe’ fruit bowl, Ralph Lauren Home

thorpe fruit bowl ralph lauren home
Ralph Lauren Home

Made of stainless steel, a material that looks super-contemporary against traditional chocolate browns, this piece is inspired by art deco design. The ridges on the base are a nod to another classic Ralph Lauren Home design: the ‘Hudson St’ lounge chair. £275, ralphlauren.co.uk

16

’Midst’ table, Muuto

midst table by taf studio for muuto
Muuto

The high-gloss finish on the linoleum top of this small dining table by TAF Studio adds some literal polish to the streamlined design. This ‘Dark Red’ version has real presence, but we also love the oiled oak variations that offer a more natural look. £3,895, muuto.com

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17

‘Elias’ fabric, Elitis

elias fabric by elitis
Elitis

This soft collection of woollen fabrics takes influences from the softer side of men’s tailoring, with colours cribbed from the interiors of the 1970s. We love this light, caramel-toned brown, but there are also deeper chocolate shades and mustards that speak to a timely seasonal palette. £236 per m, elitis.fr

18

‘Robot’ side table, Glassette

robot side table by new for glassette
Glassette

Made from steel and powder-coated in a wide range of colours, including this off-white, this table by &New is ideal for the bedside. There’s space to stash your latest bestseller, as well as a compact surface on top for a table lamp and clock. £498, glassette.com

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