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Velvet Tassel Cushions

So you know I always say that you should buy an outrageous sofa and bring it down with cushions? Well sometimes you gotta do it the other way round. Mostly if you already own a sofa and have no intention of buying another – which is most of us isn’t it. Then you owe it to that sofa to dress it well – especially if it is a neutral, sensible sort of chap.

And particularly at this time of year when it’s cold and dark outside and you are spending more time indoors, it’s time to have some fun. I’m a great fan of the seasonal cushion and while I never have actually swapped to Christmas cushions (there I said the C word) I like the idea of changing the decor a little at this time of year and I haven’t actually ruled it out.

My Grandmother always moved the sitting room around in December, in theory to accommodate the tree and my Great Grandmother – who would only sit in one chair in one place in the room. My suspicion is that it was so everyone could see the telly better – remember the days when the whole country stopped to watch the Morecombe & Wise Christmas special? But it was also so exciting to see the room looking different and you knew, all through the month, that the excitement was coming.

A Swedish friend of mine puts fairy lights everywhere in December and while I have always resisted going too soon wit the decorations she maintains that extra lights twinkling away makes the long dark days more bearable. She’s right.

So yes these fabulous velvet tassel cushions, named Acts of Daring, would be perfect to bring a little extra special something to the sitting room in December.

They were created by Melanie Roseveare, founder of Melody Rose, who started out in ceramics making durable tableware in Stoke on Trent with everything handguilded.

She has just launched her textiles collection with many of the same characters now residing on velvet instead of china. I can’t decide which I like most – nudes on pale grey or trapezers (is that a word?) on rose.

They cost £85 and are made entirely in England with a duck feather inner and a hidden zip. Release your inner gymnast for Christmas…. On the other hand if velvet cushions aren’t for you then I always think a cool tea towel and a great mug makes for a really good present. See below…

What do you think?

Kate Watson-Smyth

The author Kate Watson-Smyth

I’m a journalist who writes about interiors mainly for The Financial Times but I have also written regularly for The Independent and The Daily Mail. My house has been in Living Etc, HeartHome and featured in The Wall Street Journal & Corriere della Sera. I also run an interior styling consultancy Mad About Your House. Welcome to my Mad House.

3 Comments

  1. I just went to her website shop and I want EVERYTHING. Sadly, shipping costs to the colonies are prohibitive, at least for me.

  2. Haha, I love them. I am tempted by the nudes but can already imagine my mom’s catbum mouth if she were to come over and spot naked bum cheeks on the settee 😄

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