Regular readers of my dispatches will know that I don’t put much stock in the opinion that decorating is just whimsy, lacking in substance. How we choose to surround ourselves with colour, pattern and texture (or the lack of it) in our most private of spaces says a great deal about who we are, and how we feel about the wider world and our place in it.
Nothing ever appears from nowhere. As such, this month’s issue, our annual examination of spring decorating, could be considered a temperature gauge, not only of where interiors are going, but also of what is driving our desires and fears and how this filters through to our daily existence.
Given the state of the world, it is perhaps no surprise that as we pulled together the diverse elements and inspirations on these pages there was a notable divide, a clash or contrast if you like, between two opposing styles, summed up by the dilemma posed on our cover: to soothe or provoke?
What's everyone reading?
Both aesthetics are intrinsically ELLE Decoration, in that they’re irrevocably modern, carefully curated and with a focus on craft, materiality and finish. Yet, whether you choose to go for a calm approach or in a more explosive direction will have a definite impact on the way you decorate.
This is an issue where you will find both extremes as well as the many degrees in between, from a pastel-hued moodboard kicking off proceedings and a bright, bolder-than-bold Berlin home (check out the ceilings) to the pared-back Parisian apartment by Christophe Delcourt gracing the cover with chic understatement, and a futuristic Toronto penthouse where technology has been integrated throughout. Then there’s our beautifully photographed exploration of the season’s new fabrics, wallpapers and paints – where drapery and upholstery play an integral role.
The kitchen is also a key focus at this time of year, with the inclusion of the 10th annual volume of ELLE Decoration Kitchens, which you’ll find bound to the back of this edition. Back in 2016, we were the very first interiors title to produce a standalone special dedicated to perhaps the most important area of the home. Not combined with bathrooms, not just a flimsy few pages, but an entire magazine produced with the same care and attention we put into each of our standard issues. It’s telling that we’re still the only ones doing it. It’s also perfect timing, as in my new home I’ve inherited a rather hellish, lurid-blue, retro-Americana-style monstrosity, so I can’t wait to use our valuable research to work out what I will replace it with.
If, like me, you’re working out what your next kitchen might look like, or figuring out where you sit on the decorating spectrum – provocateur or peacemaker – hopefully our ideas will give you the self-belief to go with your gut and do what feels right. Even though it’s hard at times, confidence (as always) is key.
