Plastic fantastic

I simply adore texture! In fact, in my designer repertoire of tools, texture sits right next to colour because of its uncanny ability to create the same amount of drama and excitement in a space as colour. So, when I see a new texture coming into the home fashion market I get excited. Start thinking plastic. Plastic and resin are the new ?it' textures in the design realm. Think of the now iconic ghost chairs of Philippe Starck (the clear plastic chairs that appear regularly on the pages of AD) or the clear resin legs being used on upholstered pieces.

Today I am going gaga over a black plastic deer head that I'm hanging in one of my show suites, and I'm equally as excited about the oversized plastic/resin floor lamps that are starting to appear on lighting showroom floors. Plastic is the new darling with designers. Unless you still have the plastic wrap on your lamp shades (however, if you are reading this column then I'm pretty sure you removed it as soon as you brought those new shades home from the lighting store), then you most likely have little or no plastic in your room (except for the kitchen, which of course is full of plastic storage containers, bowls, etc). Now you have the opportunity to add a plastic piece or two!

Remember, as with all textures, less is more and you don't want to overdo the plastic for fear that your space may begin to look like a recreation of The Jetsons space ship... too much of any great texture or colour is just simply too much... but an element or two of plastic will make a room appear chic and modern.