How to give the shell trend a modern decorating update
Shellwork is having a renaissance, but you don’t need a grotto to get the look. Try scalloped edges and mother of pearl finishes
From the creation of grottos (a craze not seen since the 18th century) to decoration on everything from mantelpieces to mirrors. There’s a fairy-tale escapism to the popular shellwork look that is appealing. If you don't believe us, take a look at the Instagram-ready grotto by decorative artist Mel Campion in renowned ‘party pad’ Kin House. That was painstakingly assembled using individual abalone shells, but we suggest nodding to the style with shimmery, mother-of-pearl finishes, scalloped shapes and hints of nautical blue. The following pieces will help you come out of your shell…
‘Curios’ tiles, Balineum
Illustrative artist Fee Greening has taken inspiration from the natural work for her collection of tiles which alongside this ‘Pearl’ design also includes images of a snake, a butterfly and myriad foliage. Arrange them in a mix, interspersed with plain tiles, for a little whimsy. £1,827 per sq m, balineum.co.uk
’La Chaise’ chair by Charles and Ray Eames for Vitra, Aram
It’s a shell of the polyurethane variety that forms the seat of this elegant design, created back in 1948 for a competition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Its fluid shape, as modern today as it was then, is inspired by Floating Figure, a sculpture by Gaston Lachaise. From £9,240, aram.co.uk
‘Shell Grotto Panel A’ wallpaper, Schumacher
This intricate wallpaper designed by Mary McDonald for Schumacher provides the detail of a traditional grotto but without the need to hunt the UK’s beaches for the finest specimens and painstakingly arrange them. Consider it a stylish decorative shortcut. £450 per panel, fschumacher.co.uk
‘PH 3/2 Pale Rose’ table lamp, Louis Poulsen
A modern twist on Poul Henningsen’s opal-glass design first seen in 1926, this piece keeps the same perfectly proportioned shades but adds a pale pink hue that emits a warming, cosy glow. £1,425, hollowaysofludlow.com
‘Yeso’ fabric, Elitis
The irregular cracked texture of this linen is beautiful in its imperfections, much like the surface of a shell. It’s just one of the standout design’s from Elitis’s ‘Éphémère’ collection that draws from the most delicate of natural inspirations. £358 per m, elitis.fr
Pearl and ceramic dish, Completedworks
This enticing objet d’art is, says Completedwork, ‘a comment on memory, society, consumerism and a host of other massive topics’. That may sound a little heavy, but this gorgeously draped design is a piece with real visual lightness. £125, completedworks.com
‘Pink Onyx Dolce’ stool, Marbera
Honed from pink onyx, this stool has been polished to allow the natural colours of the stone to shine. The upholstered seat, which can be removed from its container adds comfort to this appealing piece of living room furniture. Approx £2,392, marbera-studio.com
‘Conchiglie’ wallpaper, Cole & Son
It should be no surprise that Piero Fornasetti was ahead of the curve when it came to this decorative flight of fancy. The designer covered the walls of the dining room in his own Lake Como home with shells, and this wallpaper is a geometric ode to his forward thinking. £245 per roll, cole-and-son.com
Giant Clam Shell, Matilda Goad & Co
Can you hear the sea if you hold this oversized, hand-sculpted ceramic shell to your ear? The jury’s out. But with every one of these shells completely unique, as they would be in nature, and perfect for displaying anything from fruit to bath salts, we don’t care. £225, matildagoad.com
“Purity’ wallcovering, Siminetti
This mother-of-pearly veneer finish can be used to clad walls or as inlay on furniture, bringing a translucent brilliance, similar to gazing into the inside of a shell. An ultimate luxury, it will catch the light in endlessly enchanting ways. £1,111 per sq m, siminetti.com
‘Caldera’ side table, John Pomp
There’s a precious but very contemporary look to this artful furniture piece, which features a burnished silver base into which glass is hand-poured to create this opalesent finish. Place this in any room and it will become an instant talking point. Approx £9,146, johnpomp.com
’Cartouche’ fabric, Designers Guild
The cuts made into this elegant jacquard velvet (ideal for upholstery) are inspired by swirling leaves in a storm rather than a nautical theme, but there is something about the lustre of the material and its pearly hue that makes it a natural fit for this palette. £130 per m, designersguild.com
‘Clam’ candleholder, Ferm Living
This dainty little brass candleholder brings to mind pirate booty. Snap it shut and you can pop it in your pocket ready to provide some atmospheric lighting wherever you may be travelling. £49, fermliving.co.uk
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