The influence that colour has on our lives is huge, everything from how we perceive spaces to how we can feel in a room is impacted by the colours that surround us.

Focusing on children's bedrooms which double up as study rooms we were recently asked to recommend colours which would suit. This in itself is a clash of interests, as ideally bedrooms for children should be for rest and play, to allow them to switch off once they are finished their studying.

Also children's age is seen to affect their interaction with colour - For young children up to primary school pastels and light tints of colours are best in bedrooms and strong primary colours for play areas. During adolescence, their tastes have a tendency to change and develop away from the strong primary colours through to bright medium tones maturing to slightly more mixed colours such as turquoises, burgundy and greys.

For a mixed use bedroom / study room an earthy green is ideal, as it calms and balances the mind to help with concentration and relieve stress. Mix this with a complimentary pink to bring out a child's creative side.

Pink has some of the energetic principles of red but shouldn't cause sleep problems or aggression which can so often be associated with more vibrant red tones.

Violet is connected with dignity and respect and is also used to inspire creativity. A violet with blue tones is excellent for encouraging restful sleep. For study purposes this can help children focus as the blue tones are associated with calmness, serenity, communication and imagination. Mix in soft yellows for cheerful energetic positive feelings, but do be careful with yellow as stronger shades can inhibit sleep.

Colours to steer clear of in a bed / study room are reds and oranges as they are to distracting and energetic. Orange tones are excellent for energetic and creative activities, fantastic for the development of your little social butterfly but a no for any bedroom.

Beautiful Jan Kath Rug

German based rug designer, Jan Kath is leading the way with his traditional and contemporary style. Handwoven in the Himalayas and the Atlas Mountains using traditional Tibetan hand knotting rug making techniques, relying on centuries old traditions and the manufacturing sites are often family run. The beauty of the traditional patterns appearing to almost fade out creating an ingeniously elegant style.

Images courtesy of Jan Kath

Draped Chandelier

A truly stunning design with a mesmerizing draped nickel chain chandelier. Creating fabulous shadowing while also appearing to shimmer, this really is a sexy chandelier and one of Quirc & Dunn's coveted items. With many different sizes and shapes, this layering effect creates a dramatic aesthetic in any space.

This type of style appears effortlessly elegant yet artistic at the same time. Splashes of light colour tones with flora and fauna inspired patterns is a wonderful way to style a room. Among others we love Anna French's wallpapers and so do a lot of our clients to give their homes that je ne sais quoi!

We are loving the new lean towards woollen heritage checks with modern colour ways. Using traditional weaves with splashes of colour, we feel this is a look that will go on and on. Osborne & Little show these in abundance in their new collection. Some are a linen and cotton jute mix, which is a beautifully soft to touch fabric in traditional celtic tones of rust, heather and peat livened up with gorgeous purples, blues, zesty greens and magenta. We also show some classical colourways available from our Zoffany collection.

Add these checks to spice up a traditional space or to bring luxury to that special piece of antique furniture. Alternatively you can add a touch of timelessness to modern spaces. Either way a great choice for a classical investment piece with longevity.

Mutiny Reception

Following from the trends for Spring 2011 we fancied turning our hand to the 1950's and 1960's for inspiration.

Through the refurbishment of a reception area for one of our clients we had a chance to explore and modernise this style. With holographic retro style paper and large bold splashes of colour we had a chance to bring this style into the 21st century.

A large blackboard covering a huge part of the space allowing for the writers and creative's that visit the studio to interact old school style, literally. With loads of funky touches throughout, from floating shelving to wall mounted floor lamps the space is full of details which add to the quirky feel.

Flooring Detail

The concept of a gourmet food and retail space combination was behind this deli-cafe in one of Dublin's suburbs. As the designers we strove to create a relaxing ambience by working a traditional style into the space. The materials used reflect this and also help create the cosy ambience in the space.

Deli Meats

The shelving and storage which covers most of the walls create an ideal platform for selling all sorts of gourmet produce sourced from Ireland and around Europe.

These, while practical also lend themselves to the cosy atmosphere which we achieved.

A few trends for homes which have been bandied about of late are being brought to mind all seem to reflect what is going on in the world around us. Words such as "utility design" and "Sobriety" are among the catchphrases. This is reflected in the elegant classic style that will always adorn our homes and magazine pages, which will never fail to date, a style invoking nostalgia and symbolising honesty, quality and consistency. Wouldn't it be great to see something new with an extra burst of life to wow us into this New Year ahead. There was an element of 1960's style creeping into this years Interior shows in Paris which might be more a bubble rather then a burst of life that is needed. Bold retro style carpets through the main show areas, and a couple of new collections dotted around could be seen to embrace this. Imaginative papers and prints adorning walls added an element of youth and imagination. Fabrics and textiles with abstract prints and textures reflecting this slight veer in direction. It has to be said that mixing the retro with the classic, two distinct but complimentary styles with the right measures does indeed lend itself to some fantastic and exciting combinations.

Images courtesy of Andrew Martin. www.andrewmartin.co.uk

Milliefiori Candle with Sia Rose

Its that time of year to bring that loving feeling into your home. Love these Millefiori red candles dressed with a couple of gorgeous faux roses from Sia wrapped around the base. A great way to bring romance to any room of the home. For a Valentines day meal try dressing your table with roses and pearl napkin holders for a classically stylish and romantic tabletop setting. Team with these gorgeous Blanc D'Ivoire plates and vintage style cutlery to achieve this look. A couple of small touches to get the desired romantic effect. Simply gorgeous.

Valentines day table setting

Brighten Up your space with Yellows

Bring some cheer to your life and clear out the darkness of the winter months by introducing some bright new colours into your home this new year. Bring to mind fields of Sunflowers and summer sunny days (its never to early in the year to think of summertime even for those of us who might still be in hibernation at the moment!)Yellow is the colour of the season and is a fantasic way to cheer up any room. If you are afraid of using to much why not use one of the gorgeous wallpapers in Osbourne & Little's new ranges, mix with a warm grey to give a stylish and cheerful space. Great in modern or retro interiors.