All consuming: The shapes of things to come

Six of the best interior designs

Interior decorating is taking over from television as the second most popular indoor pursuit of the Nineties, making it an increasingly competitive business subject. Even the professional tastebroker has a hard job keeping up with the latest trends. Will it be pink or black? Printed or woven fabrics? Halogen lights or chandeliers? Minimalist or opulent?

One month into 1997 and the trends are already becoming clear. Here are some musts for the smart insider.

Glass acts

Suddenly bulbous shapes are much in evidence. Nicholas Arroyave-Portela's ceramic vessels have a remarkably tactile quality to them, making one want to run one's fingers over their intriguing bumps and dimples. Simon Moore's skilfully hand-blown glass vases (after a design by hip architect Nigel Coates, Professor of Architecture at the Royal College of Art) give the appearance of being a touch tipsy, slightly leaning to one side.

Nicholas Arroyave-Portela, Balls Pond Studios, 8b Culford Mews, London N1 (0171-923 4736).

Simon Moore, Unit Two, Union Court, Union Road, Clapham, London SW4 (0171- 498 0080).

Cool chic

For a nation whose favourite leisure activity is gardening it is not surprising that there is always a demand for fabrics depicting plants in some form or another. A few years ago, brightly coloured rose-strewn chintzes were all the rage. Now a more sophisticated cooler look has emerged drawing upon 18th and 19th century botanical prints for inspiration.

Zoe Hope's handwoven silk blinds - which incorporate found leaves - are beautifully executed and have a charming simplicity. Clearly influenced by botantical prints is the Nieuw Amsterdam Tulip (pounds 82 50 a metre) by Brunschwig & Fils, a leading American fabric house. The Timney Fowler Heritage Collection includes "Parks and Gardens", an elegant design of 18th-century garden urns set amongst sprays of flowers in a typical Timney Fowler muted colour palette.

Zoe Hope, Unit 7, Cockpit Yard Workshops, Northington street, London WC1 (0171-813 3034).

Brunschwig & Fils, 10 The Chambers, Chelsea Harbour Drive, London SW10 (0171-351 5797).

Timney Fowler, 388 The King's Road, London SW3 (0171-352 2263).

Metallic magic

Not since the 1960s have metallics been so glamorous. Osborne & Little's imaginative range of Coloratura wallpapers are the prime exponent of this look and are available in more than 60 colourways that "go beyond the usual paint finishes to show the subtle interactions of paints, inks and glazes". Sacho Hesslein's metallic fabrics - including one called Iron - are the perfect compliment and would look stunning if used as curtains hung on a glass pole with silvered glass finials from McKinney & Co. A truly elegant and sophisticated look.

Osborne & Little, 304 The King's Road, London SW3 (0171-352 1456)

Sacho Hesslein, 24 Chelsea Harbour Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, London SW10 (0171-352 6168)

Mckinney & Co, 1 Wandon Road, London SW6 (0171-384 1377)

Shades of velvet

The close correlation between the fashion and interior design worlds is demonstrated by the abundance of velvet furnishing fabrics suddenly available. This trend closely follows this winter's ultimate fashion accessory, a devore velvet scarve. Camilla Ridley's velvet devore-covered lampshades are an ingenious way of exploiting the contrasting textural effects of the fabric. Renwick & Clark gathered devore velvet shades are another attractive alternative for those wanting a softer feminine look.

Camilla Ridley Designs (0171-221 7329)

Renwick & Clarke, 190 Ebury Street, London SW1 (0171-730 8913)

Radical sheers

Not since Celia Birtwell introduced her stars and paisley motifs has there been such a radical new look for sheers. But this time the multi- coloured, spotted, checked, striped and floral-patterned sheers are the brainchild of Nina Cambell, better known as a purveyor of the English country house look. Printed on floaty cotton voile they have exotic names including Caduranga, Agincourt Stripe and Famille Rose. The colours are in soft pastels shades of rose, sky blue and primrose. Stronger hues of green, red and charcoal more characteristic of Nina Campbell are also available.

Available through Osborne & Little as above

Felted Fabrics

Felt is suddenly smart and no-one has done more to promote it than Asta Barrington, whose pretty felted throws show an innate sense of colour and love of pattern and texture. A graduate of the Royal College of Art in 1995, Asta's distinctive work is also notable for an imaginative use of various techniques which create unusual textures and finishes, drawing on the natural world for organic shapes.

Asta Barrington, Studio 17, Cornwell House, 21 Clerkenwell Green, London EC1 (0171-251 1763). Also available at The Cross, 141 Portland Road, London W11 (0171-727 6760).