Fabulous kitchenware items to set your culinary juices flowing …

1. Duck Feet Egg Cups £11.50

2. Cookbook Holder £19.00

3. Colombian Tajine £27.50

4. Wine Glass Holder £10.50

5. Large Oven Serving Dish £40.00

6. Ceramic Storage Jars from £10.00

7. Sandwich Plates £15.50

8. Heatproof Mat £9.50

9. Colombian Serving Dish £72.50

10. Bag in a Box Wine Stand £22.50

These are the new pieces that you’ll love … from cushions to kitchenware … double yum!!!

1. Colette Silk Cushion £32.00

2. Architect Silk Cushion £38.00

3. Grapes Funky Cushon £40.00

4. Glasgow Cushion £52.00

5. Plaza Cushion £32.00

6. Fab Love Cushion £70.50

7. Alejandra Cushion £42.00

8. Velvet Stripe Cushion £38.00

9. Vita Linen Cushion £40.00

10. Fiesta Funky Cushion £30.50

In this series we will feature some of our designers favourite iconic hotels and show you how to achieve this look in your own home.

This comfy, stylish Penthouse master bedroom at The May Fair Suites London is dressed in rich suede, with deep, warm textured accessories.

To achieve the luxurious tone of the room in your own home we have selected a range of occa-home products for you to layer and personalize according to your style and budget.

Hints & Tips

A key feature of the room is the feature wall behind the bed which has been covered in quilted panels to create a more plush opulent feel.  This is easy to achieve… ask your upholsterer to create mdf panels with foam then cover in a tactile fabric that is pleasing to the touch. The headboard protects the wall from wear and tear.  Fabric and headboards are available from occa-home – please contact customer services for further details.

Keep the carpet neutral – a slight tonal pattern helps create some depth in the room.

1.  Opera 4 Ball Smoked Glass Table Lamp £221.00

This Opera 4 Ball Table Lamp makes a stunning statement in your bedroom; the smoked glass glistens in the light and the mink crushed velvet shade will give your bedroom a luxurious look and feel.

2.  Barcelona Ottoman £1047.00

This fabulous Barcelona ottoman will bring style and class to any room setting with velvet seat and polished stainless steel frame.

3.  Designers Guild Nabucco Pearl Cushion £65.00

This Nabucco Pearl cushion form Designer Guild, a company synonymous with variety of colours, textures & patterns would look fabulous layered on the bed atop plumped oxford pillows.

4.  De le Cuona Small Buffalo Cushion £136.00

Layer this small Buffalo cushion to create that sumptuous May Fair look.

5.  Luxury Graphite Pelted Faux Fur Throw £347.00

Words cannot describe how fabulous these throws feel – their wonderfully soft and tactile finish will have you running your fingers through them constantly – we just couldn’t put them down!  Fabulous draped over a bed and just as stunning in your living area draped over the sofa with a couple of cushions for a luxurious look – and feel!

6.  Mirage Black Side Table £727.00

We have a number of bedside tables that would work with this look, however, this stylish little side table is striking in black and chrome, and right on trend!  The touch of black helps to give the scheme some depth and prevents it all becoming too tonal and flat.

Pantone have recently announced PANTONE 15-5519 as their colour of the year – and we love it!  This gorgeous shade of turquoise is sophisticated and fresh, evoking thoughts of clear blue tropical waters.  A mix of the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green this shade is wonderfully relaxing…almost spa like with it’s suggestions of calm and wellbeing.  It picks up from some of the shades and colours that caught our eye at Maison & Objects in Paris. A fabulous accent colour, it works brilliantly in more natural backdrop of taupe and linen, where you can inject colour via cushions, throws, accessories and even artwork.

In Comfy schemes I can see this being played out in a bedroom – imagine crisp white linen, fully and soft pillows complimented with stunning turquoise cushions in this colour combined with and a slightly darker shade and a textured throw to complete the look.

In Fancy schemes this colour would make a fabulous feature wall in an open plan kitchen diner with lots of glazing, bringing a striking and bold statement to one wall that evokes all the freshness and promise of spring.  Mix with black and silver for a really dramatic design.

What a great colour for a Funky design – take a neutral white scheme and use the turquoise to inject a stunning bolt of pure colour – bold artwork against a white backdrop, a stunning cushion on a white chair, or a collection of vases and pots on a white table…

The semi precious turquoise stone was seen as a protective stone to ward off evil spirits and it’s a colour most people respond to positively – with both warm and cool undertones, it appeals to both men and women…it even seemed to bring luck to Rodger Federer’s at Sunday’s Australian Open final!

The average hotel guest will form a lasting impression about a hotel within the first 15 seconds of entering the lobby. That is why the design of the reception and public lounges of a hotel are critical to the ongoing success of the business. There are many design principles that apply to both a hotel and home living area and with a few careful considerations you can have the hotel chic feel at home.

PLANNING

By now you’ll start to realise that in professional design, planning is key to a gorgeous and effortless look and prevents costly mistakes in the long run. Draw a plan of your space, write a list of activities that you will undertake in the space and think about how you will make these all work together.

At occa we like to look at the proportions of a space and work with these to create a strong feature – a focal point is a great way to bring a focus to your room and design. . Our natural [caveman] instinct is to gather around fire – rather than make your focal point a dominant TV in the corner, the introduction of a fireplace in the room is always a winner. The design of this should be considered in line with the overall concept and feel you want in the room…what’s your style going to be? Funky and contemporary? Comfortable and easy? Fancy and dramatic? Whatever the style, make sure each element you add works with everything else for a hotel chic and designer feel.

• Decide on the best size and configuration of sofa and chairs for your room [and life!] centre this on the fireplace or focal point

• Think about storage as early as possible in the design process – this is critical to creating a clutter free environment. Can this be built in or does it all need to be in the form of furniture?

• Think carefully about electrics and phone points to ensure that your layout works for the way you use the room

• Lighting [preferably flexible] is key to making a living space function in a variety of uses. A mix of fixed and functional fittings combined with more ambient dimmable fittings will ensure the room works well day and night.

STYLE

Think about your favourite styles – what makes you comfortable? What don’t you like? Create your scrap book [see professional Design Guide] and work on it for at least a month before making any decisions. Very soon your own style and preferences will become apparent.

BUDGET

Thinking about 1 and 2 above, determine your budget. Working this out early on will ensure that you get the very best value for your money and help keep you focused on the key elements.

Once you have these key aspects of the room design worked out, it’s time to consider the basic design:

LIGHTING

Good lighting is fundamental to creating a relaxing atmosphere and having a multipurpose room. Invest in dimmable ceiling lights, compliment these with stylish table lamps either side of the sofas and chairs  and layer with floor lamps if the room can take it.

• Consider the wiring and lighting control in the room – by switching your sockets to 5am outlets, you can control the switching of table lamps from the main door switch.
• The style of table and floor lamps that you chose will have a big impact on the overall theme in your room.
• There are a huge variety available on the market and the design of your chosen lamp must be selected with the style of your furniture and overall look in mind.

FLOORING

There is a huge variety of flooring on the market today most of which can be used in living rooms. In hotels we use a huge variety of floor finishes depending on the budget and use of the space. Timber, ceramics, carpets, rugs, marble and even glass are used in hotel public area floors and are mixed to great effect.

Things to consider in living area flooring:

• This is usually the largest expanse in a room  and subsequently will take a good proportion of your budget
• Being the largest expanse it will have an influence on the overall style and you should ensure that it ties in with your headboard and lighting designs / colours
• If you have external doors leading to or from your living room think about using a tiled area or inset mat well at the entrance to protect your main floor finish
• Older properties usually benefit from carpeted floors, keeping down draughts  in the winter – this can also be achieved by laying a new solid timber floor over existing floor boards
• Rugs are a great way to update and inject colour and texture to your room
• Design the floor – don’t be restricted to one material in the room, consider a perimeter of timer with an inset carpet or think about designing a two tone timber floor with ebony and dark walnut for dramatic effect – the possibilities are limited only by your imagination!
• For a vintage look, consider painting floor boards white, allow them to distress over time and layer with bright acid tone rugs.

FURNITURE

Having carefully planned you room and measured the space you will know exactly what scale of sofa and chairs to select and whether they can fit through your doors when they are delivered!

At occa we like symmetry round our focal points as this adds order and a sense of calm to a room.

The seating area will form the heart of your social gatherings and should be considered as such. The shape and style of the sofa and chairs will dominate the overall design theme in the room. It is also likely to be the most expensive piece you will purchase so it is important to get this right. Keep referring to your scrap books!

Layer the sofa with throws and cushions in various textures and shades for a luxurious and welcoming look.

Is there space for some hidden extra seating in your room? A small upholstered box stool tucked under a side table is a great way to bring in additional seating for larger gatherings.

Coffee tables are a great way to inject your own character and personality in the room Avoid the over coordinated look of the high street furniture ranges and pick from the huge variety of unusual and unique pieces on the market. Trunks, chests, upholstered ottomans all give the room and individual and unique feel.

In a similar vein, adding a design classic armchair or unusual one off piece instead of a coordinated 3 piece suite arrangement will instantly add some hotel designer chic to your space.

Console tables either side of the fireplace or behind a sofa are a great opportunity to position some feature table lamps and personal collections. We like to position a lamp at either side and a floral arrangement in the middle to create a stunning symmetrical composition within the room.

Bookshelves and wall units add depth and colour to a room. Think about their proportions and make sure they work with everything else in the room and again if they are positioned in a symmetrical manner around your focal point the rhythm and flow in the room will work beautifully. Bookcases or cabinets are also great ways to display your own personal collection of books, pictures, artefacts, candles etc and bring some real personality into your room.

Try and avoid large soulless TV stands that dominate a room. Think about clever ways to conceal your TV while making it perfectly accessible – build out a feature wall panel in veneered timber and recess the TV in it for an alternative focal point or adapt a piece of furniture to hide it in.

The style you go for should be reflected in the shape and form of every piece of furniture in the room. If it’s funky it will be simple contemporary lines without too much detailing – maybe in high gloss black or white finish for the furniture and self coloured textures for the sofa. Lines will be straight and architectural and forms should all be similar.

Comfy rooms will tend to have a softer, slightly more organic or fluid feel with lighter timbers and rounded edges with a little detailing in the shape of the legs or style of the arms.

Fancy styles will be plush and opulent with real attention to detail, dark and dramatic colours, chrome and metallic finishes and materials.

Or create your own style – the only rule is to look for a common form or feel from each piece of furniture that makes sure it belongs in your design, whether is round or circular shapes or a cross leg detail on a table, carry the theme through your design – don’t try too many conflicting styles in the one space. There’s a very fine line between introducing some key chic pieces and ending up with a car crash of a room where every idea you have has been thrown at it! Stay disciplined!

At occa we like to aim for an effortless chic look in our public areas where guests are impressed by the design but not alienated by it. It is important that they can feel welcome and are comfortable using the space and this is even more true for a home.

Hotel chic comes into its own in the beautiful bathrooms that are created to provide guests with a sense of tranquillity and style.  What makes hotel bathrooms so special and absolutely covetable?  They are carefully designed to create a wonderful relaxing escape from the busy world outside. Hotel designers recognise that bathrooms are critical to the success of the overall room design and must be well considered rather than just a functional after-thought.

To create your own hotel chic spa retreat at home, there are three critical steps that you must consider when designing a bathroom:

1. 1. Planning
2. 2. Technical know how
3. 3. Gorgeous products

Planning you bathroom is vital in order to make the most of what is quite often the smallest room in the house – especially as it is also a room that requires  the most trades on order to complete it – plumbers, joiners, tillers, electricians…to name a few!

Professional hotel designers have many challenges to overcome with bathroom design – not least the fact that all the services come from a central vertical route in the hotel and the bathroom must therefore be designed with this in mind. It can restrict the layout as items such as the WC and shower –these are the fittings used most in a bathroom and therefore need to be nearest the service ducts.

At home, you may not have this problem to overcome but you do need to consider the same basic principles before you can begin to think about selecting products and fittings.  Things to note include:

1. Where is the main waste pipe that takes all your WC waste to the external drains positioned? Can this be moved without unnecessary expense and disruption? If not then your WC must stay in this location
2. Similarly where is the drainage for the bath / shower and wash hand basin located?
3. Where do the hot and cold water supply pipes enter the space and how easy is it to alter this? Can these be re-routed though a ceiling void or under a floor or would you need to box them in somewhere?

Having an understanding of the technical issues around the location of these main services in your bathroom will enable you to design the most effective and efficient space without wasting money unnecessarily. The location of your main waste can impact on your decision to have a concealed WC cistern with an elegant wall hung pan or alternatively the requirement to go with a more typical floor mounted WC with an exposed cistern. Similarly the drainage routes and depth of the floor will determine whether or not it is possible to create a wet room rather than a bathroom.

Once you identify and understand any restrictions with the layout of your bathroom, you are in a position to start looking for the products that will help you realise your dream bathroom.

The style of the bathroom will be largely determined by three key elements:

1. The Sanitaryware – i.e. the WC, the wash hand basin, the bath etc
2. The Tapware – bath taps, basin taps, showers etc
3. The Tiles or floor & wall finishes as well as any feature tiles or materials.

The combination of these products will create the style of the space. In good design, it is vitally important that you consider these as a group and that there is a commonality or family of products having the same characteristics to ensure they all work well together.

On our web site [ www.occa-home.co.uk ] we have created three key looks to suit our Comfy, Fancy, Funky schemes. If you browse through them , it is evident that each element in these ranges has been carefully selected to ensure that it compliments all the others in that scheme, to achieve an elegant and well designed whole.

As professional designers we decide on the style and shapes that we feel are right for the room and project.

Baths - are regularly the key feature in a hotel bathroom – they set the scene.  When designing a hotel we aim to fit in the biggest bath the space will permit and centre it on the wall opposite the door.  This is so that the first thing you see when you enter the room is the stunning features of the bath [and not the WC!].  Quite often we will create some recesses and shelving on this wall which gives us opportunities to design in concealed lighting and wall mounted taps or to position accessories and candles…lovely!

Although baths come in a variety of materials these days – acrylic, stone, wood and even glass, hotel baths tend to be made of enamelled steel. Why?  This is a more expensive option than the popular acrylic choice but it is also extremely durable and retains the heat for longer.  One of our favourite bath manufacturers is Kaldewei who have a seriously fantastic range of baths and shower trays that regularly feature in our finished projects – we particularly love their double end range and super slim shower trays – especially with their stunning damask designs.

A current trend in hotel design is having an open bedroom / bathroom concept.  This works particularly well with some of the stunning free standing baths that are on the market especially if the shape and style of them are considered in line with the bedroom furniture.

If you have a shower over the bath as is often the case on hotel bathrooms, make sure you look at the shape of your bath in relation to a shower screen or curtain – a classic mistake is to pick a beautiful curved bath only to realise that you can control the shower water!

Lighting in, around and over the bath that is dimmable is a fabulous way of creating a relaxing mood.

Showers – even for professional designers, the myriad of shower styles on the market is inspiring.  Technology is evolving frequently and the creative opportunities are limitless.  Showers are big business in hotels.  The quality of the shower and water pressure is critical to the hotel guest experience and many a hotel is judged on the quality of its showering experience. Remember this if you want to recreate that hotel chic spa feel.

Showerheads seem to be getting bigger and bigger and combining water with air creates the most fantastic shower sensation.  Manufacturers such as Doranbracht and Hansgrohe have created fully ceiling recessed shower systems for the ultimate in rain shower experience.  Hotel showers work with thermostatic valves that help control the temperature – don’t forget that the style and shape of the controller should tie in with everything else.

The shower tray and screen for standalone showers is an important consideration and the ultra slim trays combine with frameless glass screen are the ultimate in hotel chic – the fewer visual barriers you create, the larger and more spacious the bathroom will feel.  This explains the popularity of wet rooms as a design concept.  With even a small space, you can make it feel much bigger if you dispense with the bath and turn the whole room into a shower!  Wet rooms are fabulous but require a lot of care and attention to deatil.  The room must be properly waterproofed and tiled for adequate protection with the floor laid to fall in the direction of the drain.  This isn’t a DIY job so call in the experts!

Vanity units – and wash hand basins are probably the second most significant feature in your bathroom.  There is a huge variety of bathroom furniture on the market today in gorgeous timbers and high gloss finishes.  We regularly introduce warm timbers in walnut and ebony into our schemes to give the feeling of warmth and opulence.  Add a beautifully shaped, surface mounted wash hand basin and you can create a really stunning feature in your bathroom.  There are also many man-made stone and resin materials on the market that we use in our hotels to created fully integrated units where the vanity and recessed sink are one.

Taps – nothing looks better in well designed bathroom than a striking wall mounted tap for a sleek contemporary style either over the bath or wash hand basin.  Concealing the pipe work like this ensures an elegant and uncluttered feel.

Pick you tap shape carefully to tie in with the shape and style if your sanitary ware. Square shapes work well in funky schemes while more organic shapes suit a comfy feel.  There are a variety of unusual combinations if yours is a more fancy look.

Wall and floor finishes -  …hhmmm…there are so many options! Tiles are the most obvious and we do use them a lot in hotels as they are also the most practical.  However there is a fantastic range of tiles on the market from large format matt tiles to beautiful sparkling mosaic.  A key occa look is the selection of natural and stone coloured tiles that we then contrast with a feature or signature tile detail such as mosaic or even the introduction of back painted glass panels.  There are some fabulous patterned mosaics that create a truly opulent feel.  Try combining texture, matt and gloss, riven and smooth for a more designed look.  Feature tiles are often expensive however by selecting a simple large format white tile for example and combining this with a small area of iridescent or glossy mosaic you can immediately give the impression of a much better designed room.

Mirrors are not only a practical necessity for any vanity unit and bathroom but can be a fantastic design feature too.  Think about mirroring a whole wall of a small bathroom to increase the sense of space – stuck for ideas for a bath panel? Mirror adds a fabulous glam touch to the surround too.

DONT EVER…think that carpet or wallpaper are acceptable in a bathroom.  Neither were designed to last in the hot and humid environment and both will only cause you problems on a regular basis!

Accessories create the final layer of personalising the room.  From the obvious toilet roll, towel and toothbrush holders, the addition of your own pictures, vases, containers and candles will turn a hotel chic inspired room into your own personal heaven…just remember to make sure they work with your original design and concept!

HOTEL CHIC – TIPS FOR THAT STUNNING BEDROOM DESIGN…

Hotel bedroom design is great fun – as designers we get to work on a huge variety of rooms from small limited service products to gorgeous boutique rooms and everything in between.  As professional designers we consider a lot of issues long before we start to think about colour and finishes.  There are so many elements that go into making a hotel bedroom function so well.  These rooms can be quite small but need to deliver a lot and this is often true of your own bedroom at home.

THE BASICS

A.  Layout

Draw up a plan – think about what you want to have and do in the room.  Do you simply want a sanctuary from the madness of the outside world or do you want a sitting area and combined TV room?  Use a plan to mark up your ideal layout and this will soon tell you what size and how much furniture you will need.  There are five basic elements that we consider when designing bedrooms:

• Decide on the best size of bed for your room [and life!] and position it on the centre of the longest wall, ideally opposite the door so that you get the full effect of the bed dressing as soon as you walk in the room.  Make sure there is plenty space for a nightstand to each side of the bed
• Think about storage as early as possible in the design process – this is critical to creating a clutter free environment.  Can this be built in or does it all need to be in the form of furniture?
• Position your dressing table under or near a window to obtain all the benefits from natural daylight
• Think carefully about electrics and phone points to ensure that your layout works for the way you use the room
• Lighting [preferably flexible] is key to making a bedroom work. A mix of fixed and functional fittings combined with more ambient dimmable fittings will ensure the room works well day and night.

B.  Style

Think about your favourite styles – what makes you comfortable?  What don’t you like?  Create your scrap book [see professional Design Guide] and work on it for at least a month before making any decisions.  Very soon your own style and preferences will become apparent.

C.  Budget

Thinking about 1 and 2 above, determine your budget.  Working this out early on will ensure that you get the very best value for your money and help keep you focused on the key elements.

Once you have these key aspects of the room design worked out, it’s time to consider the basic design:

LIGHTING

Good lighting is fundamental to creating a relaxing atmosphere and having a multipurpose room.  Invest in dimmable ceiling lights, compliment these with stylish table lamps either side of the bed and layer with floor lamps or a dressing table fitting if the room can take it.

One of the best things about staying in a hotel bedroom is the full control you have over all the lighting from the bed – consider wiring your room the same way.  Other things that make a difference:

• Individually switched, flexible reading  arms either side of the bed – great for reading when your other half is sleeping
• Integrated wardrobe lights are great for when you both get up a different times
• The style of bedside and floor lamps that you chose will have a big impact on the overall theme in your room. There are a huge variety available on the market and the design of your chosen lamp must be selected with the style of your furniture and overall look in mind.

FLOORING

There is a huge variety of flooring on the market today most of which can be used in the bedroom.  In hotels we tend to avoid timber floors due to issue with noise transfer however a key occa look in a Comfy room is a solid wood floor complimented with striking rugs to inject colour and character.  Funky rooms look great with stripped floor boards painted white and acid coloured rugs, or even better, white rubber flooring.  Fancy rooms are just crying out for embossed and carved luxurious carpet designs in wool and silk!!

Things to consider in bedroom flooring:

• This is usually the  largest expanse in a room  and subsequently will take a good proportion of your budget
• Being the largest expanse it will have an influence on the overall style and you should ensure that it ties in with your headboard and lighting designs / colours
• Older properties usually benefit from carpeted floors, keeping down draughts  in the winter – this can also be achieved by laying a new solid timber floor over existing floor boards
• Rugs are a great way to update and inject colour and texture to your room

STORAGE & FURNITURE

Critical to ensure that your room functions well and there is a place for everything; you should spend a lot of time working out what you want to store and how you are going to do it.  Measure your existing hanging space and work out how much more you need – can you create a built in double hanging space to take up less footprint?  Is there a good chest of drawer set that compliments your style and offers you additional storage space?  Can you use a divan with storage drawers under to keep your bed linen or out of season clothes?

Other things to consider with bedroom storage:

• Free standing wardrobes can add huge character to the room especially when considered within the overall design but typically offer less efficient storage.
• Built in wardrobes can be customised to suit your space and the volume in your wardrobe and designed to maximise every space centimetre
• Nightstands either side of the bed with drawers are a good way of adding extra pockets of storage – similarly a dressing tale with drawers makes keeping all your hairdryers, straighteners, toiletries etc organised and out of sight.
• Chest of drawers offer great additional storage, add character to the room and also a surface for displaying accessories, personal photographs and bits and pieces that help make the room more unique to you.
• At occa we love using unusual trunks and boxes as side tables or ottomans.  These add huge personality and character as well as welcome additional storage.
• Dressing tables can double up a desks if space it tight – again try to avoid the over co-ordinated look of high street bedroom ranges and select a feature table that adds character to your scheme.

The style of your furniture will dictate the overall style of your room.  Dark gloss mahogany is typical of older and more traditional schemes but there are innumerable materials and styles of bedroom furniture on the market today.  Glass, mirror, high gloss while lacquer, walnut, ebony are all some of the materials we use in our hotel projects.  Avoid going for the standard room sets that make your room just like everyone else – use your imagination and put together an eclectic and personal group of pieces that reflect the look and personality you want your room to project. www.occa-home.co.uk has a great selection of unique and unusual pieces that can be used as side tables that bring personality to any scheme.

THE BED

Clearly the most important element in the room – invest as much as you can in a good mattress and base. In hotel design, the quality of the mattress can make or break the reputation of the hotel. Many chains have their own specification and mattresses created specifically for their properties.  Always go for the best you can afford – we always specify pocket sprung mattresses.  Mattress toppers are great for protection and comfort.

The bed is the signature design element in the room and the first thing to catch your eye whether you go for a divan base and separate headboard or a full bedstead.  Like the lighting, the style of this can determine your design and should be carefully considered in line with all the other elements, especially the furniture to make sure the room is a stylish and relaxed space and not one big experiment in different styles!

Things to consider:

• The headboard is one of the first things that you will see when you come in the room and therefore is an important and dominant element in your design.
• Bedsteads are usually a strong feature in any room are more expensive and are less likely to be replaced than an upholstered headboard fixed to the wall.
• Think about your chosen style and what will work. Lower and simple designs in white gloss timber or structural shaped upholstered headboards work best in contemporary funky styles.  Luxuriously button backed or panelled  details in distressed velour  work well in Comfy styles
• Oversize and very high headboards with unusual detailing or a show timber surround would be typical of a Fancy boutique style hotel room.
• Layer the bed with at least two or three throws in different textures and materials for a sumptuous effect
• Pile on the cushions to create a luxurious feel and to prop you up when reading or watching TV
• Go for the best linen you can afford – it really does make a difference!

COLOUR

Muted and heather shades such as the Farrow and Ball or Dulux heritage paint ranges are favourites with the occa designers as they offer colour without being too strong or dominant.  Both ranges have a wonderfully matt finish that adds to the peaceful and calming effect we like to create in many of our bedroom schemes.

A signature style in hotel design is the use of a feature wall paper or paint colour on the headboard wall to bring some interest into the scheme.  There are many fabulous papers and fabrics on the market today from the eye wateringly expensive to the cheap and chic that can make their mark on your design scheme.  These feature papers and fabric are also a good way of pulling together a colour scheme – look at the colours used in the design and think about taking these as the basis for your colour scheme in the rest of the room.

A favourite occa signature is the use of silk slub papers or – better still – fabrics to add colour and texture to a headboard wall as a substitute for a heavily patterned paper.

SOFT FURNISHINGS

Soft furnishings are an important layer that adds the main colour, texture and interest to your room. Bed throws and cushions are great for making the bed more welcoming and stylish.  Curtains, blinds and pelmets are fabulous for dressing the window and small upholstered side chairs help add style and character.  There are so many different ways to dress a window from the lavishly layered and detailed look of a Fancy bedroom to a simple yet stylish eyeleted heading or roman blind.

In hotels we always ensure that curtains or blinds are blackout lined. This makes sure that weary travellers are not disturbed by the daylight to early in the morning and it’s a great addition to your own bedroom too, especially in the spring and summer.

Soft furnishing colours and design should be carefully considered to tie in with your overall concept for the room. Remember to stay disciplined to your chosen style and constantly refer back to your scrap books when making decisions about fabrics and patterns.

Use the colour schemes in the fabric to make decisions on the textures and colours of other elements in the room but avoid the 80s over co-ordinated look by using a variety of textures and hues rather than the same fabric and colour on your curtains and bed throw and cushions etc.

At occa we like to work more with texture and hue and are very restrained in our use of pattern in our signature occa schemes. This creates a stylish and harmonious look that is not reliant on a dominant element.

Soft furnishings can be changed with relative ease to update your room – think about seasonalising the room  – fresh and light accessories and cushions in the spring that can be replaced with warmer and more textured elements in the autumn / winter – little changes like this help keep your room and design concept alive and current.

PERSONALISE IT

The final layer of your design is your own personal bits and pieces that ensure you feel at home and not in a hotel bedroom every night! Framed pictures on the side tables, family pictures on the walls, your own selection of accessories and ornament carefully positioned on the dressing table all work towards making the room your own. Don’t forget the introduction of some gorgeous scented candles to enhance the atmosphere in your room.

Kate Mooney, MD of occa-design and occa-home gives you her insider tips on how to acheive successful and creative hotel-chic designs for your home:

THE BASICS

Hotel design is  a fabulous way for a designer to experiment with a number of different looks and styles. Occasionally the hotel design is pre-determined by the hotel brand and our role can be more  consultative and technical as opposed to creatively designing something new. More often however we are working with global brands to help them determine their style and look or we are working on smaller boutique hotels  that don’t have a prescribed style and offer endless design solutions…as you might imagine, these are the projects our designers prefer!

Having completed a huge number of hotels over the years, we have developed professional methods to bring the whole project together effectively and efficiently. Many of the elements professional designers must consider in a commercial project also relate to designing your own rooms in your own home.  Being armed with this experience and knowledge should help you avoid costly mistakes!

Professional interior architects and designers such as occa-design work on all aspects of the interior of a building from the very begining of a project. We envisage the space from the guests perspective and work with the other consultants to make sure that the whole design relates to that.

There are three elements to being an interior architect and designer and these can be broken down:

As interior architects we work on the space planning, determining where the rooms, restaurants, bars, lobbies etc will go and how they will relate to each other. We look at the location of services, the acoustics, the ventilation and the basic structural elements that affect the way the hotel guests will eventually use and feel in the building.
As interior designers we work on the main design elements of the space that affect the way it is used such as ceiling design, light, floor and wall finishes, fittings such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Using our skill in the decorative arts, we add the final layer of colour, texture, soft furnishings and accessories to give the space it’s character and ambience.

When we are designing any hotel space, we work with two main considerations – the operational aspects of the building and the style that we want to reflect. This approach also translates very well into planning your home.

From here there are three parts to the design process that we undertake, long before we even start to think about the colour scheme or what fabrics we want to use :

• Layout
• Style
• Budget

LAYOUT

Our hotel bedrooms are often quite small and yet must fulfil a lot of different functions – sleeping, socialising, eating, working, and even washing. We therefore put a lot of time into pre-planning the space.  We draw a plan of the room and consider the different requirements of each of these functions – where will the bed go?  What about a dressing table?  Should this also be a desk? Where can you watch TV? Is there anywhere to eat breakfast or a late night snack?

You should also think these things through in relation to your own room and they way you want to use the space whichever room you are working on.  Draw a plan and mark out a basic furniture layout to suit your needs.  This will give you an idea of how much you can fit in the room and the optimum sizes for your furniture.

STYLE

This is the fun bit – what’s your style?  How do you want the room to feel?  What do you want it to say about you?  On our hotel projects we work on a variety of styles depending on the hotel brand and on the client.  Determining your style is a common process that you can use for all areas of your home to create a carefully considered home that has your own distinctive character running through every room.  A common mistake made by a lot of people is being influenced by too many [and often conflicting] styles and trying these out in every room in their house.   This generally leads to a chaotic and disorganized environment where it is difficult to feel at home.

At occa-home we have created three signature styles to help you decide what you like.

Comfy is our easy and pleasing style – always sophisticated with a neutral pallet and accent colours.  Lighter timbers and softer shapes create a style that is elegant and timeless.

Fancy is our touch of five star hotel chic luxury.  Glam and dramatic with fabulous details in chrome and black, Fancy is definitely a statement style.

Funky is cool and contemporary, bold and fresh, mixing bright white, architectural lines with acid accents and iconic design pieces, funky is full of fun and attitude.

So is your style any of the above – or do you have your own unique ideas?  This is the stage in the design process where you need to think carefully about what you want…and remember it’s important that the room works for you, the way you live and reflects your personality. A slavish reproduction of something you see in a magazine will struggle to make you feel comfortable and at home in your own space.

A simple tip I give to all my clients – even large hotel developers, is to look through magazines and the internet and find images that make an impression on you.  Create a scrap book and add to it regularly – take away from it too if you revisit an image and realise that it’s not really you or your style.  Do this for a couple of weeks and very soon you’ll have pulled together your own mood board that will offer a clear representation of what you like.  Adapt this to create your own unique style and always refer back to it when thinking about how to develop your designs.

BUDGET

If style is one of the most pleasing parts of the design process, budget is more often than not, the most important.  Understanding your budget before you start a project ensures that you will get the very best value for your money when you finish it.  Whatever your style, there is usually a way to interpret it within a variety of budgets.

Pre-planning and creating a wish list with all the costs worked out for your design, helps you realise your dream room without too many mistakes or compromises.  Use your wish list to prioritise the work you want to undertake and the furniture etc you will either re-use or buy new.

As in fashion, some of the most sucessful interiors are created from a mix of design classics and high street finds. Invest in key, timeless pieces where possible and compliment these with more economical elements. Signature items such as a designer light fitting or design icon chair in a room immediately creates the impression that the rest of the space is from the same source – use your imagination to find high street pieces that compliment this style and very soon your room will have depth and character. At occa-design we are particularly good at mixing and matching budgets and dessigns to provide our clients with a five star look at a three star budget!

THE FINAL SCHEME

Only now that you have thought through all these steps, are you finally at the stage where you are  ready to make decsions on colours and materials  for your final scheme – the actual furniture, fittings, fabrics and equipment you want for your room.  If you constantly refer to your scrap book and wish-list when making purchasing decisions you will be sure to make the right choices and prevent yourself becoming distracted by every new product you see or making expensive mistakes.

Having the plan and style already worked out and fixed in your mind, you will be able to implement the main elements in your new room within your budget and then add to this as and when additional funds become available – without losing site of your overall design and concept. Get as many samples as possible of fabrics, paint colours, wallcoverings and keep them all together with images of your prefered furniture, light fittings etc.  Make your own sample board by cutting out and sticking all the pieces down in similar proportions to the scale of the room and very soon the overall look and feel you are creating will become apparent.

Do what you budget allows and retain your wish-list, scrap book and sample board even after the main works are complete, so that when you can afford something new to add to your scheme, you are still thinking in the same style and the new addition will work effortlessly with the rest of the space.

Most of all – enjoy the process and have fun!

Collections 2009/2010 Fall-Winter

Your insider guide to all things interior!

The Autumn 09 collection thrilled our team of designers. Kate Mooney, Managing Director occa-home reports from the halls of Paris…

“As an interior designer one of the ongoing challenges is to meet the demands of our clients, hotel or domestic, without compromising the key design elements that make a scheme successful. Maison & Objet in Paris facilitates this as it’s a creative hotbed of innovation with design led products that enables us to meet and exceed our clients’ briefs.

Seven enormous halls bursting with fabulous home styles and interior design goodies – stunning furniture, beautiful accessories, funky products…it was all there in abundance! Maison & Object’s reputation as the most inspirational international trade show is well deserved.

This twice a year event is usually the highlight of the interior design calendar and this year was no exception. Despite the economic downturn, luxurious lifestyle statements were everywhere with beautiful room sets and products overflowing from each stand.

1.  Bunny cushion

2.  Pelted graphite throw

3.  Woodstock wooden candle holder

4.  Chrome candle holder

5.  Christmas red wine glass with silver edge £9.50

6.  Christmas champagne glass with silver edge £9.50

7.  (Left to Right)

Glass onion £5.50

Glass ball fashion silver

Acorn micaceous £7.00

Glass ball fashion smoke

8.  (Left to Right)

Tealight stick tiffany silver

Tealight stick tiffany bronze

Cup for light tiffany silver

Overriding themes on display fitted our Comfy style, with striking New England styling and stunning ski lodge sophistication. Furniture was predominately chunky and quite often finished in grey and distressed timbers. Surprisingly, the grey and taupe paint and wall colours that have been around for so long now, were still dominant with black as a favourite accent. Other accents were a stunning winter jade colour complimented by silvered turquoise in paint, cushions and throws. Aubergine and mauve were also in use and looked particularly good against the vintage white of some of the winter collections. Glass and timber accessories were in abundance with stags and bison heads being a really popular wall hanging, especially in chrome.

Our Fancy style was well endorsed with copious amounts of leather, glossy black and sparkling chrome hotel chic, complimented by dark polished timbers, horn and shell. Glamorous mirrors, silver and textured fabrics featured heavily with a clever combination of traditional and more contemporary furniture pieces in weathered velour. Lighting was ornate and alluring with horn, chrome and ebony bases, complimented by silver mesh or black shades.

Texture was more evident that ever – from tactile carpets and textiles, the variety of fabrics and materials was fabulous. Silk, cashmere and linen all played lead roles. However I was also really interested to see a huge amount of natural materials and furs including cow and pony hide rugs as well as fox and rabbit throws – both faux and real. I took great pleasure in mixing these with heavy cable cashmere knits, leather cushions and silk throws – just gorgeous! The trend for combining all these contrasting textures in individual items is set to grow with feathers and leathers mixed to great effect.

New Funky fun was covered by an exciting plethora of innovative and contemporary products, high gloss, lacquered, white furniture as well as unique and unusual seating typically in acrylic and polyprop. Colours were primary and bolder than elsewhere in the exhibition but typically played against white furniture and darker walls. Fantastic accessories and kitchen-ware made this a vibrant and exciting part of the show.

Given the time of year the reindeer’s were out in force, complimented by sweet gingham hearts and fabulous Scottish inspired Fair Isle knits with snowflakes and acorns – reds and greys are big. However, I’m working the “Vintage Christmas” look this year – using the beautiful and understated brushed silver and bronze, mixing old and new and playing with white, natural products and weathered accessories.

Trend Alerts? I’m watching out for luxurious textured carpets and rugs in silk and wool [yes even in this economic climate!] as well as fur throws and cushions. I also see Kilm and Turkish style influences coming through – not quite the Aztec style of the 80s but warmer and more organic. I loved the winter jade and silvered turquoise colours and am looking forward to trying the aubergine and mauve out in a winter bedroom look. The detail and accessorizing on display was also worth a note – layering and displaying objects and picture frames with vases and candles adds a whole new dimension to any room.

MONTAGU TOWNHOUSE HOTEL

This is a beautiful boutique, 16 bed townhouse hotel in the centre of London.

occa-design were called in to undertake the historic refurbishment of two seriously fire damaged, listed Georgian terraced townhouses to create a stylish relaxed boutique and personal hotel for one of our clients

We started by working through the restoration of the original features to re-instate elements of the facade, original fireplaces, timber panelling, ballustrates and plaster mouldings throughout. This helped us to re-establish the original character and grace of the internal architecture.

We then gently manipulated the space to create 16 stunning bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and a formal lounge / reception and dining area.  The result is an elegant and timeless interior and one of the most popular boutique hotels in London – it also featured in Conde Naste Traveller magazine.

1.  Luxor antique gold table lamp £285.00

2.  Bling pendant lamp £760.00

3.  3 Figurine set £40.00

4.  Golden amber vase £5.00

5.  Occa Fancy Ottoman £750.00

6.  Leopard print union jack cushion – by Jan Constantine £80.00

7.  Chawton Graphite Cushion – by Designers Guild £45.00

8.  Klim Brown Black Horn Photoframe £33.50

9.  Beijing Cube Chest £225.00