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Pastels don’t have to be polite: 18 rebelliously pretty pieces for the home
From fabric to furniture, lighting and homeware, these pieces are inspired by Sofia Coppola’s take on femininity
Since the release of her first filmThe Virgin Suicides, Sofia Coppola has crafted a directorial style that challenges notions of girlishness. With Marie Antoinette in 2006, she leant fully into this aesthetic, building a world (with Kirsten Dunst’s title character at its centre) that felt decadently hedonistic – think towers of macarons and a French court filled with ladies in a patisserie-counter-like display of pastel dresses and wigs. Now that Coppola has been selected as artistic director of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs’s inaugural Bal d’Eté, to be held during Couture Week in July, it’s clear that the colour scheme she has become associated with is set to have ever more impact on fashion and our homes. Let them have decadent pastels!
‘Loop’ table lamp, Bryan O’Sullivan
This table lamp, part of interior designer Bryan O’Sullivan’s collection, perfectly encapsulates modern femininity, with a gentle contrast between the pastel ceramic base and the soft linen shade. The delicate pink detailing around the shade frames the shape with small loops that mirror the base. £4,560, bryanosullivan.com
‘Diva’ teapot, Ginori 1735
The contemporary revival of the original ‘Colonna’ collection by Giovanni Gariboldi combines modern elegance and retro charm. The teapot is a tribute to the art deco movement, with a pink and green colour palette and dainty gold detailing. £535, harrods.com
‘0414 10th Anniversary’ chair, Gallotti & Radice
Celebrating its 10th anniversary with the same style and elegance that made it an icon, this chair is a modern take on mid-century style and would be a beautiful choice for decadent dining – especially in the pistachio colourway or this dusky pink version (pictured). From £2,628, gallottiradice.it
‘Aperigon Parade’ wallpaper, Sanderson
Part of fashion designer Giles Deacon’s collection for British decorating brand Sanderson, this stripe has a sawtooth edge and comes in a palette of macaron-like shades – we love the soft blue of ‘Porcelain’. £78 per roll, sandersondesigngroup.com
‘Wobbly Bow’ vase, Maison Flâneur
Handmade in Brighton by Gracie Hughes, this fun and whimsical ceramic vase is decorated with a bow crafted from clay. The design’s imperfect, wobbly form softens the prettiness of the piece, lending it a more offbeat artisanal feel. £80, maisonflaneur.com
‘Squash’ mirror, Poltrona Frau
Designed by Faye Toogood, this wall mirror echoes the organic outlines of the armchair in its namesake collection. The contrast between the soft curvy leather frame and the rigid glass is a nod to the play between hard and soft in English Folk Art. £3,990, poltronafrau.com
‘Sorilla’ damask fabric, Sanderson
Perfect for curtains and upholstery, this jacquard weave features a floral pattern that feels traditional. The rose blossoms and lilac are delicate in their beauty, but the two-tone colour options lend the fabric an extra contemporary quality – the dialled-back palette of ‘Eggshell/Linen’ (pictured) is especially appealing. £102 per m, sandersondesigngroup.com
‘The Flower Meadow’ rug, Jaipur Rugs
This rug was designed by Tatiana de Nicolay as part of a collection that represents gardens from around the world. It’s a romantic design that depicts the wild and colourful nature of an English plot. The green trellis border encloses a variety of flowers to bring elements from nature into your home. From £985 per sq m, theinvisiblecollection.com
‘Mag’ coffee table, The Conran Shop
Butter yellow is the colour of the moment. Here, it is given an extra buttery, glossy quality by the ceramic glazing technique. Designed by Daniel Schofield exclusively for The Conran Shop, this table can be used indoors and out – perfect for tea parties whatever the weather. £895, theconranshop.com
‘Melon’ teacup and sauce, Augarten Wien 1718
Crafted by masters in Vienna, this timeless piece features a celadon gloss that complements the mesmerising gold interior and flower-like rim to add a subtle feminine touch. £520, bonadea.com
‘Connect’ sofa, Muuto
Designers Anderssen & Voll have reimagined the modular sofa as something more sinuous – able to bend around corners or be arranged in a circle like a modern conversation pit. The key is 14 differently-shaped modules. It’s softness and relaxation, but with an innovative edge. From £8,783, muuto.com
‘Moire Sauvage’ wallcovering, Arte
This luxurious wallcovering utilises light and shadows to create a captivating ripple effect that adds a chic and elegant touch to your home – akin to the silk swags of royal courts. It’s available in an array of colours, but this duck-egg blue is just the right side of girly for this look. £36 per m, arte-international.com
‘Sadie’ cushion, Molly Mahon
Textile designer Molly Mahon specialises in block printing to produce handmade creations blooming with colour and pattern. This cushion’s floral scene is surrounded by a pink border that is outlined with hand-embroidered blue stitches. £160, mollymahon.com
‘Spitalfields Stripe’ fabric, CC Moulton
There’s something very Marie Antoinette (through Coppola’s lens) about the soft blue and dainty florals of this blend of velvet and linen. It would make a stunning gown, but instead is intended for the home, adding some elegance and grace to window dressings and upholstery. £396 per m, ccmoulton.com
‘Dot 3X’ wall light, SKLO
With its trio of opaque glass spheres available in a wide choice of soft, pastel colours that you can pick to suit your whim, this wall light has the appearance of a three-pack of macarons from a fancy French delicatessen. Customisable and delectable! Approx £922, sklo.com
‘Seaweed Woven’ fabric, Salvesen Graham
The subject matter may be different (this is far from a traditional floral), but we think the depiction of seaweed in this pattern by interior designers Salvesen Graham is as delicate and evocative as any bloom. Plus, it makes a modern change to swap the country garden for the coastline. £240 per m, salvesengraham.com
‘Triple O’ candleholder and ‘Stripe’ candle, Yod & Co
What could be more decadently feminine than a dining table laden with candles and candleholders in a patisserie shop-like assortment of colours? This jesmonite holder and the striped candle are made in east London. They’re so tasty-looking you’ll need more than one! Candleholder £16; candles, £20 for four, yodandco.com
‘Kymo’ cabinet, Soane Britain
Curves are integral to this decorating scheme, that’s why a cabinet literally named after the Greek word for wave is an ideal choice. The natural rattan looks almost as if it has been draped, ready for you to draw back the doors and explore what’s inside. £13,400, soane.co.uk
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