[int]: grand designs live - show interiors

I'm pleased to say that the photos are now up on pinterest! I'm planning a whole series of posts on the things I've seen at Grand Designs Live, and how you can take those ideas into your own home and designs. But for now, I'd like to take you through my favourite of the Room Sets (located around the Grand Interiors Theatre).

This year the rooms have been themed around fictional places, and I was amazed by how they captured the feel of the place while still, a lot of them at least, feeling relevant. I've picked out my three favourites to talk you through.

Neverland, Zoe Hewett Interiors

Neverland was gorgeous, a very masculine space that felt like a 'den', themed around travel but dark and textured and homely. To get this look: you want a colour palette that focuses on warm greys, deep blues, and a light contrasting colour. Warm, dark wood is key, and a few statement pieces that draw the eye. This coffee table from Made.com really makes an impact and the triangular metal frames of the legs add to the transitory, camp feel.

Fass table, Made.com

Scatter prints across the wall, though choose them carefully to reflect the colour scheme, like the pinks in the print on the right echo the flamingo at the back. Most importantly, don't overdo it! This tiny space has been filled as an exhibition, rather than something you would want to live in, so it's important to take the ideas of the look and not try to replicate it too faithfully.

Pandora, STEFA Interior Design

The Pandora (you know, from Avatar) inspired space was much more contemporary, with a lot of block blues and greens. The wallpaper was beautiful, a Morris-esque palm frond pattern that the rest of the interior hung off. However, I think it was a little overdone. In your own home, I would bring in a contrasting colour, or perhaps some more chrome or wood, to break the single-colour monotony and bring a little more sophistication into the space. John Lewis has some great wallpaper, like this one, which can be used as a feature wall.

Manila wallpaper, Sanderson @ John Lewis

Take a sample with you though when you go to buy furniture, the worst thing that can happen is for a colour to not quite work. It ruins the whole room and isn't easily fixed, especially if you've just bought an expensive new sofa in slightly the wrong shade.

Secret Garden, Create Perfect

My absolute favourite was the Secret Garden themed interior. Plants wound around shelves and crates and I loved the copper-coloured leather chairs. This was all set against a brick-effect wallpaper which, while I hate false prints like that, would work very well against a brick wall in a real home. This look is something to bear in mind for an extension to an older house. Building up against an existing wall brings the weathered brickwork inside. Or if you want something like this in your existing kitchen or dining room, consider aged floorboards instead of the brickwork to bring that bashed up around the edges feeling in. Pair a solid oak table that will last you for years with some statement chairs. These from Made.com give you the leather look on a budget.

Braga dining chairs, Made.com

There's still a lot more to come from Grand Designs Live, but if you've liked this post please let me know by sharing or liking it!