[int]: workshop - budgeting

The worst thing you can do to your home is run out of money half way through decorating. You'll be left with mismatched old and new pieces, and nothing will quite work together. The best way to approach a project is to have a plan.

Photo credit: gettyimages

There are a few techniques you can use to plan out your project, and to save a bit of money. The key is to get organised early on, know your budget, and bear these tips in mind.

1. Consider everything

Photo credit: DP Mattinson Ltd UK

A tin of paint doesn't cost much, but when you add in lampshades, curtains, rugs, potted plants, photo frames, the price tag racks up quickly. Make sure you set aside an amount of money for all these little things early on, or else you will be waiting for your next pay cheque to finish the job.

2. Reuse what you can

Photo credit: bhg.com

Your sofa is still perfectly comfortable but doesn't fit the new design? Try a new throw over the top to save you so much. Dining chairs the wrong colour? Try staining the wood and reupholstering the cushions. Chest of drawers that doesn't fit the style? Try changing the handles. Good furniture is very expensive and you'll give yourself so much more room to experiment and buy quality if you can reuse a piece.

3. Go for a bargain

Photo credit: hughesremovals.co.uk

Once you've decided what furniture you absolutely have to buy, shop around for the best place to buy it. There are so many furniture sales throughout the year, especially beginning in January, that unless you want something very specific you'll be best off timing the revamp of your home to coincide with one. If you're looking for designer style furniture but don't want to pay the hefty price, shop around online stores for pieces inspired by major trends, though make sure you trust the quality before you buy. Look out for vouchers or online discounts and search for the piece online to see if you can find it for cheaper elsewhere. And don't be afraid to look for second hand furniture, particularly in a specialist shop where you can be more certain the item is of a good quality.

4. Design with your budget in mind

Photo credit: ArtFilesVicky on Etsy.com

If you're the sort of person who wants a constantly up-to-date home, but has a relatively small budget, then you need to be looking for relatively neutral furniture. Use soft furnishings and small items like art, mirrors and vases to change and update the look as different trends come and go.

But if you have one style in mind that you want to keep for years, then don't try to do it all at once. If you can slowly build up your design, piece by piece, then you'll end up with a better quality of furniture in your space, and so a better design as a whole.

5. Prioritise

Photo credit: frenchfancy.com

Make sure you look for the pieces that are most important to you first. If your room revolves around a statement chair, look for that first, and allow the biggest portion of your budget for that. If you're not sure where to start, look for the pieces that will catch your eye. They're the ones you'll look back to again and again, so they should be good quality.

It can be pretty straightforward to update your home if you know your budget and your priorities. If this post has helped with your project, don't hesitate to let me know or to share!

[int]: kitchen - trend to interior

There are so many gorgeous images of industrial interiors out there - it's a trend that's really popular at the moment. Kitchens are a favourite, and they look stunning when designed well, but this is a hard style to master.

Photo credit: Forbes.com

I can't say this enough; when you're looking to design a room to fit a trend, don't fixate on a single image. You need to investigate a little further into what makes the trend work and what is feasible in your space.

This industrial style is all about textures. There are so many gorgeous interiors that revolve around exposed brick walls, but not many people actually have them in their homes. This doesn't mean you can't make the style work, though - there are other ways to bring in the deep, shadowed textures.

Industrial style kitchen, Homedit.com

This kitchen uses reclaimed wood units and shelving to bring a worn feeling to the interior. There are some great suppliers out there to find some beautiful aged wood, like The Main Company who use reclaimed wood as a veneer over stronger timber. In the image above, I love the way the texture contrasts with the sheer polished white of the worktops and low splashback. Don't forget that you need to be able to work with the kitchen and keep everything clean - the work surfaces are perhaps not the best place to bring in texture.

Timber kitchen cabinets, The Main Company

To really get an industrial feel, you need to bring in industrial objects. One common theme is iron or dark metal fittings.

Industrial style kitchen, Muratore Construction and Design

The main feature of this kitchen is the dark polished metal cabinets. But you don't need to completely remodel your kitchen to get some of this style into your home. Simply by replacing the handles on your kitchen cabinets, you can really change the mood of the space.

Door handles, Ikea

These door handles from Ikea are a really inexpensive way to add some character to the kitchen, and they have an amazing texture for something so cheap.

Industrial style kitchen, HomeDesignBoard.com

The beauty about the industrial style, from a budget perspective, is that one of the main ways of bringing it into your home is to leave it almost unfinished. In this kitchen, electric wires and ventilation ducts are left on show, to give the warehouse or factory feel. The key here is to make sure the lighting and ducts are well positioned - see how the duct follows the line of the beams and each light is an equal distance from the duct.

Accessories really finish the space, especially items as noticeable as lighting and bar stools.

Arthur Deep Pendant Lamp, Made.com

These pendant lights from Made.com give a really strong industrial feel, especially because of the cage beneath. They would make a great statement over a breakfast bar.

Aldgate bar stool, Argos

A simple bar stool like this one sold by Argos can help to bring the interior together, tying the style through each item in the kitchen.

Kettle, Bosch

If you can, make sure you keep the style running through the appliances and crockery that you choose. This kettle uses undecorated stainless steel and sharp angles, fitting in beautifully with the rest of the style.

This style will of course look best with an entire remodel, if you can afford to change your kitchen completely. But there are a few ways to bring in the style more subtly, without breaking the bank. If you've enjoyed this post, please like and share it!

[int]: workshop - how to design luxury

I've seen a glut of interiors where money appears to have been thrown blindly at the room, with velvet soft furnishings, diamantes, and crystal chandeliers. To me, these efforts just look gaudy. There's a much better way to design in luxury.

Photo credit: bungalowclassic.com

When designing an interior, you need to think about how you're going to live in it. So think about the amazing dinner parties you'll have, yes, but also think about when you've got the flu. When you want to curl up under a blanket and get comfortable, where are you going to do that? Certainly not on sequin embroidered pillows. So instead of that, I've got a few ideas about how you can bring some sophistication into your home.

1. Greyscale

A careful use of neutrals can add some elegance to your home, making it seem more sleek, less cluttered. To bring a little more warmth into the space, choose one highlight colour and use it sparingly. Metallic accents also work well; try warm colours like copper or brass and coordinate throughout your room.

Kitchen, photo from Raya Todorova on Behance 

This kitchen uses a beautiful palette of charcoal grey, off-white and pale wood. The materials used are stunning and well finished, and the whole composition is complimented by the brass stools and pendant lights.

2. Well made furniture

An entire room can hang off a great piece of furniture. Choose something that fits your style, with a timeless quality. It will make for a great investment, and will instantly add an extra level to your space.

Flow chair, Ercol

Designer companies like Ercol have been tested for generations, and still make beautiful, up to date furniture. They carry a hefty price tag, but for real luxury you do have to spend more, and when you buy a piece you love it will stay with you for years.

3. Organised design

Clutter makes an interior look too fussy, but clean lines keep the character simple and strong. Take one idea and run with it; even in a large room you don't want to try to combine too many ideas for a luxurious feel.

Bedroom, photo found at thescoutguide.com

Every element of this bedroom has been carefully placed, with simple furniture. The frames on the walls have been arranged beautifully, and the cushions on the bed are mirrored along the centre line. There aren't too many cushions, too many pictures or accessories. Everything has been balanced, which gives the feeling of luxury.

4. Textures

I'm not endorsing damask sofa fabric or velvet curtains here - what I mean is the textural feel of your furniture. Choose something that's a joy to touch, as well as to look at.

Kitchen, photo from thedesignchaser.com

This kitchen uses a combination of rough wooden flooring and smooth polished stone, which will hold your interest for a long time after the novelty of a new interior has worn off.

5. No fakes

I'm serious here. If you don't have the budget for the real thing, nine times out of ten you'll be disappointed with how the facsimile holds up over time. Instead, I'd look for alternatives that preserve your style, like a richly polished concrete instead of stone countertops. The same holds for products like brick effect wallpaper or artificial plants. When you're up close, they don't throw the right shadows, and they don't move right.

That said, there are some exceptions to the rule. I wouldn't attempt them unless you've seen them in situ, at least a couple of years after they were installed. You want to see how well these replacement products last before you buy them yourself.

Polished concrete countertop, photo from bloglovin.com

I love the use of this polished concrete, giving the same sleek finish as stone would. It's equally hardwearing, and far less expensive than solid stone.

6. Maintenance

You might have a team of cleaners on hand to sweep up every little mess, but regardless, an interior that isn't hardwearing is going to deteriorate quickly. Keep children and pets in mind, and avoid spindly, fragile furniture if you think it may be damaged. Cats can destroy a sofa, so you would do well to cover yours with a throw if you own one. Metal can be less easy to scratch than wood, and I would keep vases out of reach of children.

Round coffee table, photo from bloglovin.com

This round table has no sharp corners for children to run into, and the stone top is hardwearing and difficult to damage. I love the three-legged design and the combination of materials too. It proves that your furniture can be both beautiful and practical.

If you have specific needs and want a luxury design, it might be worth your while to hire an interior designer. Be sure to make sure they're interested in styles that you like, too, or you may end up with something gaudy and ostentatious rather than stylish and sophisticated.

[int]: grand designs live - trends

A final mop-up post for you all, looking at the odds and ends from the exhibition.

Sofa, Adventures in Furniture

Everyone loves leather sofas, right? Wrong. The pieces that stood out for me the most were much more textural, more interesting to touch. Using light neutrals helps to bounce natural light around your space, and the base colours can be accessorised with throws and cushions that permeate your colour scheme throughout the room. Big, blocky styles like this sofa are really comfortable to sit in and have real presence in the room.

Hanging planters from Where the Wild Things Are room set, Nisha Stevens

These hanging planters were everywhere in the show, and turn up on my pinterest feed all the time. There are loads of different tutorials available with different knotted patterns, so have a look around and see what you like best. Be careful what plant pot you use, though; one with a hole in the base will drip dirty plant water through to your floor!

Herringbone flooring, Jack Evie

I absolutely adored this flooring idea. Herringbone patterns in tiles are everywhere now, so why not floors? The use of stained or painted pieces brings a subtle colour into the room, in a really unique way. And this effect is so easy to recreate at home with reclaimed flooring or even by applying wood stains to shop-bought pieces. Test the mix out first before you lay them, to make sure the effect looks right in the room.

That's it for Grand Designs Live. If you'd like to see more photos from the show, look here or go to the Grand Designs Live twitter feed.

[int]: grand designs live - lighting

I got seriously excited about some of the lighting at Grand Designs Live, and I'd like to let you in on the hype.

Statement lighting is one of my absolute favourite tricks to a great interior. The quality of the light you put into a room really effects the mood, and that draws a lot of attention to the lighting you use. It's a great opportunity for an accent piece, especially in a room where you have little other opportunity to make the space your own, like a rental or a small home.

Pendant lights, Culinary Concepts

Small pendant lights like these, or clusters or arrangements of them, look great in small spaces. Be careful in larger rooms, though, or they might start to get swamped. A line of these gorgeous jam jar lights along a breakfast bar in a kitchen, or a cluster in a small nook, would look great and wonderfully atmospheric. They're very of their time, though, so be aware that in a few years time you may want to change the look up.

Pipe chandelier, Jam Jar Lights

This light is a little more lasting, provided you're a fan of industrial chic. There's a range of interior styles it can be used in, from sleek and well curated to a little bashed up around the edges. I've also seen this pipe style in floor lamps which, at eye level, can be more prominent in the room with careful placement.

Floor lamp, Culinary Creations

This was my absolute favourite floor lamp at the show. It was made from a Rolls Royce headlamp, or so I heard, and it's beautifully unique. It would provide a stunning focus in a minimalist living room, but it definitely needs to be given some space to breathe.

Table lamp, Raft

For a smaller budget, or a smaller space, table lamps like this can be used to bring a similar character to the space. I love the proportions of this little light, bringing the attention to the fitting itself.

Pendant lights, Jam Jar Lights

Whatever your project, there are a few things to consider with statement lighting. Make sure you fit the size of the light to the scale of the room or area you're looking to design. Don't let the light get lost, or overbear the space. Match the styles of the light and the room, otherwise the whole space will feel discordant. And most of all, consider the type of light you need to use the space. It's no good putting a small pendant light in your living room if you want to sit on the sofa and read in the evening, it's just not going to direct the light where you need it.

If this post has piqued your interest, or helped your project, please don't hesitate to like and share!

[int]: grand designs live - wood furniture

With this series of posts I'll be putting the focus on specific groups of furniture to talk through what I saw at Grand Designs Live. This time, it's the turn of wooden furniture of all shapes and varieties.

I love using wood in the home. A lot of people shy away from it because they think it doesn't look 'modern' enough and use chrome or painted furniture instead. But well designed wood furniture is stunning and adds warmth both to your colour scheme and to your interior - unlike glass or metal which saps the heat from your skin when you touch it, wood feels the same temperature as the rest of the room. Touch is a very important sense to consider when buying furniture, as you're going to be interacting with the piece with more than just your eyes.

Dovetail Joint, Fineline Furniture

It's tempting to be taken in by the overall look of a piece, but make sure to check the detail. The more you use a piece of furniture, the more you will notice every single aspect of it, good or bad. I love this dovetail joint by Fineline Furniture, using dark wood for the vertical pieces and light wood for the horizontals to highlight the junction. It's stunning how the designer has drawn attention to the joint rather than trying to hide it.

Chair, Joined + Jointed

There were some gorgeous pieces on show, like this chair from Joined + Jointed. Its 70s style curves give movement and balance to the chair, and it would be ideal as a statement piece.

Bureau, JackJames Furniture

I absolutely loved this fold-out bureau from JackJames Furniture; the bright corners of paint give a modern, fun feeling to the piece when closed, and it's filled with functionality when open. It would work so well in a project where you're tight for space.

Table, Fineline Furniture

But style alone isn't the only reason to choose furniture. Take this table from Fineline Furniture. I love the ingenious way that tables like this open up to add a couple of extra spaces. There are a few types of systems that you can get like this, folding or opening, but this is one of my favourites with its sleek mechanism. You can tuck it away when you want some extra space, or open it out for guests.

Dining chair, Fineline Furniture

Comfort is also something to consider. Again from Fineline Furniture, this seat back follows the gentle curve of the spine to support the back, and gives the chair its elegance.

Lamp, Joined + Jointed

I'd like to leave you on this lamp by Joined + Jointed, an all-wood lamp. It's finished to a high polish so the light plays of the curved surface of the shade beautifully. And it's just that little bit different, which really adds a touch of individuality to your room.


If you liked this post, please share! It lets me know what's working.

[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!