“Metal has always had a place in interiors, but what’s changed recently is how it’s being used,” says Marta de la Rica. “We’re seeing a shift away from metals as purely industrial or decorative details, and more as a central material in furniture that feels sculptural and emotional.”
Her new Of Marble and Metal collection exemplifies this evolution, celebrating metal as a tactile, living material—one that’s meant to be touched, and which slowly develops its own patina over time. The secret to using metal beautifully in an interior lies in contrast. On its own, metal can feel intense and stern, but when paired with natural materials—marble, linen or timber—it becomes softer, more grounded and human.
“Metal records the passage of time,” de la Rica adds. “And I think that’s what makes it feel so relevant now: it carries, presence, memory and permanence in a world that’s constantly moving.”
Decorative detailing
Decorative detailing—think fringing on beds, sofas, chairs and cushions—is one of the easiest ways to elevate upholstery, curtains or soft furnishings, say Rose Hanson and Charlotte Tilbury of Penrose Tilbury. And with countless fringe styles to choose from—bullion, beaded, brushed, tasselled—there’s room to be as subtle or as extravagant as you like. “They’re a simple way to make a plain curtain or fabric look incredibly luxurious,” note Hanson and Tilbury, adding that Samuel & Sons remains one of the best sources for high-quality trims.
Other intricate embellishments are also poised for a resurgence. Hollond predicts the rise of textural tassels, stepping in to replace the scalloped edges that have found their way onto every pelmet, console and lampshade in recent years—so much so that they now risk feeling mass-produced and overdone. Opulent tassels, by contrast, are making themselves known on curtains, furniture and cushions: “They’re playful but in a less obvious, try-hard way,” she says. “They’re just chic.”
Really big art made easy
It’s not always easy finding great artwork at a good price—not least when you’re after something XXL. Enter Emma Lang, founder of SOTA, an online marketplace for affordable art, who has launched the XL Print Collection. Featuring more than 500 large-scale works (some stretching up to two meters wide) by artists from across the globe, the collection makes it possible to fill that daunting empty wall with something striking—at a fraction of the usual cost and with all the integrity of the artist’s craft preserved. “So many people dream of living with big, beautiful art, but original works are often out of reach,” says Lang. “The idea was to bridge that gap, offering scale and quality without compromise.” Some of our favorites include Frankie Penwill’s Tomatoes in a Red Bowl and Richard Heeps’s Karma, Milan, 2018.
Freestanding showers
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