Journal

I think every room needs a hit of something glossy. Texture within an interior scheme is just
as important as colour or pattern. To me, there is nothing cooler than a lacquered console on a
grass cloth wall. The same can be said for the opposite, a lacquered wall with a rustic,
reclaimed console. I love the contrast of smooth and rough in an interior and I believe that
every successful scheme needs to incorporate this.

Adding a bit of lacquer or gloss into any space adds an instant element of glamour and fun. I
love the idea of gloss on a piece of furniture or even bolder, on joinery, woodwork or the
ceiling. Deep, rich jewel tones like emerald green and auberge are excellent hues to explore
going glossy with. Equally, I love pale tones like sky blue and soft pinks in full gloss. At the
end of the day, it is all about the play on finish and texture that elevates a room to a higher
level.

I have a strong disdain for ‘accent walls’. I truly believe that if you are going to make a statement, go
big or go home. I think this stems from my love of drama in interiors. If I had my way, I would
wallpaper an entire room from floor to ceiling and cover the upholstery in the same print. I think a
room should envelop the furnishings and accessories within it. By wrapping a room in a print or a
bold colour, the walls suddenly take a backseat and sort of act as a backdrop to the furnishings and
art.

By incorporating one dark or patterned wall into a room I think it makes the space feel disjointed
and unbalanced. In my opinion, a successful room should have many things that the eye dances
upon and no one feature should jump out at you. Many people use these ‘accent’ or ‘feature’ walls
as a way to create a focal-point within a room. I think it is much chicer to do this with art and
furnishings. Thinking of a navy accent wall? Why not paint the entire room navy and incorporate a
massive white canvas over the sofa to act as the feature. The room will actually feel larger as the
corners and edges of the walls will blend in and become blurred. The eye will naturally look at the
‘stuff’ within the room and not at the room itself.

I try to incorporate varied levels and types of lighting within my interior schemes. Lighting within a room must serve purpose and be appropriate to the room’s function, however it must also transition from day-to-night and season-to-season. In the summer months we may have opted to keep our curtains open and let the sunlight fill our rooms. We may have also decided not to turn on certain lamps in order to keep the house feeling cool. As we move into winter, we may want the curtains drawn and the lamps turned on with flickering candles and a roaring fire to evoke a sense of cosiness and warmth. It is with this in mind, that I put together my list of must-have lighting for autumn.

1. Varied levels of lighting

I think it is important to incorporate lighting at different heights within a room. I rarely turn on overhead downlights (especially in the cooler months) and rely much more heavily on low-level lighting like table lamps and wall sconces. Depending on the functionality of the room (i.e. if it is a kitchen versus a sitting room), one may want their downlights on at full capacity in order to cook or clean. In my opinion, overhead lights are unnecessary for any other task and instead, I try to incorporate ample low and mid-level lighting which I can turn on at different points during the day. There is nothing nicer than warm table lamp lighting during an autumn evening.

2. Incorporate natural lighting

If possible, and especially in England, I think every sitting room needs a fireplace. The warmth of candle-light and the glow of a fire is my absolute favourite type of light during the autumn months. There is nothing cosier than a plethora of lit candles down a dinner table in the evening or a crackling fire in a sitting room at night. Candles add an amazing sense of atmosphere and calm within a room.

3. Swap out the wretched blue light!


Fortunately, we have come such a long way with LED lightbulbs and there are now countless options on the market for environmentally friendly warm interior lighting. We no longer need to have that uninviting blue light that we had in the early 2000’s. It is as simple as swapping out cool toned bulbs in your lamps for much warmer varieties. Consult with an electrician to swap out LED strip lights in alcove units to the newer, warmer ones on the market now. In my opinion, blue lights are cold and uninviting and must be removed at all costs!

4. Introduce dimmer switches

Having the option to dim lighting is always a luxury within an interior. If you are like most of the population and you aren’t fortunate enough to work with a lighting designer, simply changing your switches to dimmers will completely transform your rooms. Being able to play with the levels of lighting will allow you to create different moods and atmosphere within each room.

5. Go bold!

Introduce statement decorative lighting into your interior schemes. I love incorporating over-scaled table lamps with fun patterned shades into my interiors. Lighting doesn’t always need to be functional and the lamp itself can become a design feature within a space. I love using glazed ceramic lamp bases for a pop of colour, or introducing over-scaled, whimsical pendants to create features and focal points within a room. Companies like Lorfords and Fermoie have stunning printed lampshades made from antique silk or block-printed cotton. Simply swapping out your old ‘boring’ shades can breathe new life into your space and completely transform an old lamp.

Finding inspiration for your home can be a wonderful process. With our clients, we love to draw from their interests and bring it to life through the means of fabrics, light and colour. Inspiration can also be taken from collectibles such as artwork, furniture and antiques which makes the project so personable and humbling for us and the client. Trusting our process, following the overall vision and cohesively working together with our clients, it makes the job far more rewarding.

While finding inspiration, it is important to keep in mind the practical considerations for the house in parts, and as a whole. We like to follow a principle of balance, harmony, proportion & scale, contrast and detail, this we consider the beginnings of our inspiration and the stepping stones to achieving the overall look & feel for a home.

Why hire an interior designer?

I think hiring an interior designer is a great way to make your vision come to life. A lot of people may have ideas for their home, but struggle with how it will all come together. A designer is great for interpreting your personal aesthetic and making it work in your home.

How would you describe the role of an interior designer?

I would describe the role of an interior designer as a varied one. Sometimes we are psychiatrists, sometimes we are relationship councillors, but at the core, our job is to make people fall in love with their houses. It is all about creating a home that is a complete reflection of those that live within it. The goal of my work is to create a house that is tailored perfectly to the client in both aesthetic and functionality, all while interpreting their likes and dislikes into a defined concept and cohesive design.

When choosing an interior designer what questions should a customer be asking?

Choosing an interior designer is an extremely personal decision. I think in the age of social media, people are a lot more informed with what options they have with regards to their homes. I definitely think a designer’s aesthetic is important in the customer’s decision-making process. I would check out sites like Instagram and Pinterest to see what a designer is drawn to, or what their design mantra is. For me, I love colour and pattern and I like to define my designs as classic with a twist. For me, infusing colour and a bit of unexpected whimsy is what I am all about.

How colours work best in interior designs…

Picking a bold statement colour and painting the entire room in it, or wallpapering the entire room on a bold print is my favourite way to allow for the pieces you love to stand out and take centre stage. In my opinion, a successful room should have many things that the eye dances upon and no one feature should jump out at you. There’s no maximum number of colours you are allowed in one space, although I work with my clients to create stunning schemes with prints, patterns and colours that complement each other.
In juxtaposition to this, having a neutral wall can also really help your colour scheme to stand out. Picking a tonal paint or wallpaper to sink into the background can create the canvas for a jewel toned sofa or an exquisite piece of vintage art to shine. I’ve also created schemes with clients where we use all of the same colour in one room, just in differing tones, to create a vibrant space that they loved. The world really is your oyster when it comes to colour – once we’ve found a jumping off point together, there’s no stopping us!

What to consider practically

When choosing a colour scheme, practical elements definitely need to be considered. If your room is north facing and gets minimal natural light, painting it a warm tone might feel more welcoming, whereas a room with all day sunshine or a door to the garden could be your chance to go bold, bright and beautiful. Seeing colours on swatches, or even painted on the wall can help you to visualise what will work best in your home.
A colour scheme usually tells a story through your home, and works in harmony with the items and people who inhabit it.

How to start planning

There are a myriad of ways to start planning, but my absolute favourite is to start pulling out fabrics and see what speaks to me, my team and my clients. Curating a colour scheme from there flows naturally and that’s how we start to build our design. We would then start to build a concept with a mood board to show the design direction, but this can adapt and change until the client is happy with the overall feel of the space.

Designing a house for sale is a completely different approach than designing a house for living. I have worked on numerous home staging projects, which basically involve depersonalising a home so that it appeals to the consumer as well as a specific target market for the area.

Home staging may mean de-cluttering personal belongings, freshening up the colours, neutralising the space and bringing in more contemporary furniture. Allowing the home and its features to stand out and enabling the viewer to visualise their life in the house is the goal of staging a home for sale. It’s important to keep the house fresh and free of odours (e.g. smoking and pets). A few scented candles and some strategically placed plants work wonders!

I offer home staging as well as interior design services, and I enjoy both approaches to design equally.

Brown holds a traditional charm that effortlessly warms up any room in your home which is why it’s a timeless colour for any residential interior design project. Whether you’re finding interior design inspiration for your home or want to enhance a space, this earthy tone, reminiscent of the natural world, offers a grounding presence to

When it comes to designing a residential space, achieving a cohesive look is essential. One of the most important factors in achieving this is by matching the interiors throughout the home. It’s crucial for the colour schemes, furniture styles, and patterns to complement each other seamlessly. You can coordinate complimentary tones throughout or you can

A well-designed interior is the key to creating a luxurious and inviting atmosphere in any home. One of the most neglected aspects of this design is often the lighting. If you’re a beginner looking to add great lighting design to your home, it is fundamental to understand the overall ambience of any space and how