All the trimmings

No one understands that better than Annabel Lewis, owner and founder of VV Rouleaux haberdashery shops, who conjures magical effects with ordinary materials, from ribbons, feathers and beads through to humble string.

As she showed me round her largest shop in Glasgow, she explained: "Furniture and household objects can't afford to become complacent - they need to reinvent themselves (with your help) to keep the love affair fresh.

"I love to give old things a fresh new use, so I'm constantly bringing objects into the house and looking for ways to make them pretty, as well as useful."

She uses ribbons and trims - 250 international suppliers make her collection a dazzling display of pattern and colour - to adorn chairs and door panels and make carpet edgings and wall decorations.

"I want people to think of ribbons in a chic way, as something with style, and not just to use them for children's hair. They can look fabulous used within interiors."

But that's just the tip of her decoration iceberg, for shells, glass beads, even glass pillaged from old chandeliers form part of her art and her stock.

Her secrets and tips are revealed in a new book, called Ribbons & Trims, which would inspire even the most craft-phobic to try a project.

Dilapidated deckchairs, old cattle food bins and junk shop furniture are transformed by her imaginative effects and it is small wonder top fashion and interior designers such as Paul Smith, Miuccia Prada and Nina Campbell beat a regular path to her door. Annabel's creation of a glass curtain, used as a room divider, was so admired it was commissioned by Madonna.

"The crystal curtain in my sitting room was crafted from fragments of chandelier threaded onto wire. It was made in 1933, when there were quite a lot of glass hangings made. We made a similar one for Madonna's bedroom, with plain-edged crystals."

Naturally Annabel believes that the best way to decorate a room is to begin with a beautiful trimming that appeals, and use it for inspiration.

Choosing one of her own design ribbons she demonstrates how she matches its colours to curtains, walls, and soft furnishings.

"I want everyone to do it this way because it really works. Just think of the trimming first, start with one piece of beautiful ribbon and work outwards."

Annabel's final tip for successful rooms?

"Don't overdose on colour if it is not your style. Just have one bright, decorative piece like a ribbon-trimmed chair or a dazzling feathered lampshade to set off a neutral setting and give it instant personality."

STRING & CORD 8Trims can be anything from string, cord or fringe to pretty floral tape or decorative braid with tassels, beads or glass drops. "Builders merchants have all kinds of string, ropes and cords in bold, bright colours. Ordinary string can be drafted into use and knotted, tufted, tasselled or plaited and used to edge seats and decorate cushions," said Annabel.

"I find all types of cord are a practical means of covering unsightly items and turning them into stylish interior pieces."

"The crystal curtain in my sitting room was crafted from fragments of chandelier threaded onto wire. It was made in 1933, when there were quite a lot of glass hangings made. We made a similar one for Madonna's bedroom, with plain-edged crystals."

Naturally, Annabel believes that the best way to decorate a room is to begin with a beautiful trimming that appeals, and use it for inspiration.

Choosing one of her own design ribbons she demonstrates how she matches its colours to curtains, walls and soft furnishings.

"I want everyone to do it this way because it really works. Just think of the trimming first, start with one piece of beautiful ribbon and work outwards."

Annabel's final tip for successful rooms?

"Don't overdose on colour if it is not your style. Just have one bright, decorative piece like a ribbon-trimmed chair or a dazzling feathered lampshade to set off a neutral setting and give it instant personality."

BE INSPIRED 8Give garden furniture a new look with huge knots of cord, or nail colourful rope around an old wooden outdoor table.

Decorate a plain curtain finial by wrapping it in coloured cord. Bobble fringes, usually used to trim lampshades or to edge curtains or cushions, could be used to cover a cushion, a lampshade or even to trim a bedhead.

Wrap old chimney pots in cord to make holders for walking sticks and umbrellas.

BEADS & SHELLS Glass beads, crystal glass pieces from chandeliers or acrylic faux'glass can make a room sparkle, and pair well with shells, which have been used since Victorian times for decoration.

Annabel said: "I get endless ideas playing with crystal drops, beads and wire. I love old chandeliers, not only as exquisite hangings when intact, but - better still - in pieces. Then I use the components - rounds, squares, oblongs, almonds or teardrops, for other decorative ideas, such as embellishing lights or creating glass curtains or wreaths.

"You can transform the surfaces of boxes, mirrors, picture frames and tabletops with shells."

BE INSPIRED Thread glass beads onto lengths of wire and wrap them around a lamp base. Substitute glass studs for covered buttons on furniture with buttoned upholstery, and team it with satin fabric for ultimate glamour. Glue shells to the ends of flexible wire and then twist around table napkins, or add shell fringes and drape around headboards and over mantelpieces. Glue shells to the top of battered tables or mirror frames.

BE INSPIRED 8Trim tired cushions with ribbon, and embellish with glass beads or buttons (above), or add brilliantly coloured ribbon to plain carpet. Jazz up dingy deckchairs with lengths of ribbon on the canvas, or even make a windbreak with poles and thread ribbon through.

RIBBONS & BOWS 8 Reinventing a piece of furniture with ribbons and trims is exciting. If a favourite heirloom or junk-shop find is looking tired and not quite trendy enough, the easiest way to give it a makeover is either to paint it or - far more versatile, colourful and dramatic - to cover it with trims, ribbons and fabric.

"Don't always choose safe colour combinations," Annabel said. "Try clashing bold hues and patterns as well. For instance, I might use a tartan edging next to a floral design, followed by a stripe. I also like to mix textures together - velvet fabric, striped grosgrain ribbons and bright pink glass beads are one example."

Trim or cover the surface of a chair, sofa, table or chest with ribbons, either by sewing, gluing or stapling it in place. Or use double-sided tape so you can ring the changes when you fancy.

FEATHERS & FRINGES Feathers come in fringes or boas, and many feathers are turkey plumes dyed a rainbow of colours and cut to size.

"Feathers are an embellishment of fantastic versatility and are surprisingly robust," Annabel said. "You can sit on various sorts of ostrich plumes, for instance, without damaging them.

"I love pale green ostrich as an edging on tablecloths, wall hangings or throws, or look for other feather fringes."