April Ideas: Our key picks for this month

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Thursday, 5th April 2012

The days are getting longer and the sun is making more appearances - spring has begun! I can’t help thinking of luxuries like leaving the back door open, digging in the garden, and getting up for work when it is light.  So now is the time to start looking out for light and bright interiors pieces to reflect the change in seasons.  Easter is all about soft pastel colours, sweet treats and daffodils and High Road Auctions have a range of items and ideas that will help you achieve this in your home.

 

The key items that stand out to me this month are soft and romantic floral pieces, pastel colours and whimsical patterns.  I love this green tin wine container which has the rustic charm of a French café and would bring character to any room.  It is included in this week’s sale on Tuesday 10^th (est £30 - 50).   

 

 

Crockery is a great way of bringing spring right into the middle of your home, and is something we always have in our weekly auctions.  My favourite upcoming piece this month is this Royal Worcester dinner service decorated with butterflies, flowers and plants as well as exotic Chinese features, infusing strong colour with creative patterns.  I am also a fan of mixing and matching crockery patterns to bring a freshness to each set.

 

I love silver all year round but it looks particularly lovely in spring, gleaming and sparkling in the sun.  Silver can instantly brighten any table and is often very reasonably priced for high quality and for pieces you will always treasure. But silver isn't just for fancy dinners!  In the photo below I  have used silver and glass cosmetic bottles of different shapes and sizes as vases for fresh garden flowers.

 

 

Assorted fabrics are another great way of using simple items to transform the whole feel of a room.  They can be used a huge amount of ways as wall hangings, to sofa covers and bed spreads or even get a small collection and stack them up as a colourful and rustic feature to any bedroom.  Our weekly auctions often feature eclectic and varied fabrics and quilts so keep your eyes peeled for upcoming items or create an online wishlist, notifying you when we have something you might be interested in.

For mums looking for some inspiration to keep kids busy over the holidays, why not make your own Easter tree like our one in the picture above?  Easter trees are popular all over Europe after originating in Germany and are a lovely way of celebrating.  You can make your Easter tree with whatever you want but a simple way is by using freshly cut forsythia or pussy willow branches and decorating them with hanging painted eggs, sweets or ribbons.  Put them in a light coloured decanter, vase, bright ceramic pot or even a watering can for a vintage garden feel.  We put ours into a blue and white Oriental style jug and popped it in the Cafe Bar window for a traditional Easter tree!

 

Tips on spring time styling:

• Why confine herbs to ceramic pots? Use pastel pails to add colour to your kitchen
• Combine different floral patterns and prints for a shabby chic feel in your home
• Put tea candles in patterned tea cups to use as soft and romantic lights
• A simple and neutral mirror is another great way of bringing light into a dark winter room and making a feature of an empty wall.  Classic pieces can also be easily upcycled and updated in the future with a new coat of paint, so are great investment items.

 

P.S. Don’t forget about April showers! Eclectic pieces like these Edwardian Chinese parasols are wonderful to have either as fashion statements or hanging in your home.  These were sold a few weeks ago for £30 and have made the new buyer very happy indeed!

 

Equally glamorous on a wall or on the Chiswick High Road!

 

Featured items

• A green tin wine container decorated with a bowl of fruit and flowers (est £30 - 50), Tuesday 10^th April, Lot 472
• An extensive Royal Worcester dinner service 'Peking' pattern for six to include three tureens, a graduated set of meat plates and a gravy boat etc (est £150 – 250), Tuesday 10^th April, Lot 270.
• A leather cased travelling vanity set comprising of six jars with hallmarked silver tops (est £60-80),  Tuesday 10th April, Lot 438.
  
• Blue and white ceramics are often featured in our weekly Tuesday sales.