[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]: apartment, melbourne australia

In a few month's time, I will be moving out to Australia for a year. But the friend I will be going to live with has already moved into the flat we're going to share - which she is renting unfurnished. She has never furnished a house before, so I am helping her to plan rooms and find furniture.

A long distance project certainly throws up some challenges, but I'm largely treating the project the same way I would any other.

Bedroom, real estate photograph

The first step is to work out exactly what it is you're dealing with. I have the real estate photographs of the property, which give a rough idea, and the assurance that this carpet is actually blue, not black.

After that I started looking at what we want each of the rooms to be, and how we want them to operate. We're working to a budget, so it's important for us not to become too set on an idea - when looking for cheap or second hand furniture, the priority has to be using what you can find rather than searching for the perfect item.

Photos from my Living Room Pinterest board

I like to create a mood board of photographs to gather ideas, but it's important to be clear why you're choosing each image. Pick out a few aspects that you like about each image, and try to incorporate them rather than trying to copy faithfully. I used shared boards on Pinterest, so that we could both look at the ideas and give each other feedback.

Photos from my Bedroom Pinterest board

I began with an idea of what feeling the rooms should give out; the bedroom would need to be restful, the living room more fun and active. This formed the basis of my mood boards, bringing colour into the living room through bright, geometrically patterned cushions, and using more restful tones in the bedroom. Most of the apartment is carpeted in dark blue, so blue became the base of my colour schemes. The kitchen became about the use of different tones of wood and blue-and-white kitchenware.

Photos from my Kitchen Pinterest board

But then I had to face reality. Once I had the dimensions of the rooms, I started to draw up possible room plans. I could do this with computer drawing software, but you could use a pen and paper and draw to a simple scale. I used real furniture dimensions to plan out options for what could fit in the space, depending on what furniture we could find.

Early living room plan

And now is the fun part. I'm searching through sites like Gumtree for second hand furniture that might work, and my friend sends me photographs of pieces from shops. It's slower and more difficult to judge than working on a project in person, but I love a challenge.

Photograph of an Ikea Gateleg table, E MacColl

Stay tuned for updates! I have plans to customise furniture when I get out there, as well as searching for the perfect accessories.

[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]: living room - photo to interior

When designing an interior, I like to start with an idea that sums up the project. That could be anything from a quote to a colour scheme. A photo works really well, but I'm always cautious of using a photograph of an interior I like, in case it locks me down into an idea I won't be able to accurately replicate.

I took this photograph in Kew Gardens. I love the distressed paint next to the clean green of the plants, a look that would be great in a industrial style living room, with big french windows out to a garden. I'd start by fading the boundaries between inside and out, bringing plants indoors.

Hanging planter, photo from theglitterguide.com

I'm absolutely in love with these hanging planters. Choose a plant with luscious green leaves like a peace lily or a fern, and a simple pot.

DIY copper vase, Bloglovin.com

This idea for a copper vase is gorgeous, and picks up on the industrial style from the photograph. The shining, sleek metal contrasts perfectly with a distressed look, which you can easily get with some second hand furniture. Use chalk paint in a gentle off-white, and sand back around the edges that would get bashed up over use. Wax over the top to complete the look and seal the furniture. I'd be careful not to go too far with the distressing if you're also buying new furniture. A little contrast is good but a lot is jarring, so you may even want to opt for plain white furniture or wooden pieces, depending on what else you're working with.

Weathered coffee table, photo from blesserhouse.com

White interior, photo from stilinspiration.blogspot.co.uk

The interior shouldn't become too cluttered, so I'd keep the walls painted white, with a few simple frames. Soft furnishings, however, are a chance to bring in some more of those gorgeous green tones. Choose a green sofa or a patterned green chair, or accessorise neutral furniture with cushions and throws. Don't be afraid to play around with shades of green, but check before you buy that they aren't going to clash.

Jangala leaf cushions on green sofa, Made.com

Green leaf cushion on neutral sofa, photo from estmagazine.com.au

All these different ideas need one single focus point. Keep the emphasis on one item, and make sure the other pieces of furniture aren't strong enough to compete with it. You could pick a large floor planter, a copper lamp, or a statement chair.

Chicago floor lamp, Made.com

And don't forget to consider what you're going to feel under your feet. Wood flooring will help that feeling of being outside. Though the texture is different to wooden decking it creates that connection to the natural world.

There are a few routes you could go down with this interior, sleek with deep greens and shiny copper, or a more lived-in feel. If you enjoyed this post, please go ahead and share!

[int]: short term lets

There's a lot of advice out there for how to make a rental place your own, but very little of that works short term. I'm at a stage where I have to keep moving around, and in doing so I've learnt a few things about how to feel at home in your rented space.

The chances are, if you're living in rented accommodation on a short term contract, it's fully furnished. That seems useful, of course, but means there's little in the interior that you can put your own mark on. And there are a lot of horror stories when an absent landlord has control over your living conditions. I've experienced poorly constructed furniture, missing drawers, and a leaking ceiling at various points. At best, the furniture has been ill matched and the decor poor.

My current room is covered in ugly woodchip wallpaper and one of the walls is painted pale yellow. The bedside table has no drawers and the two built in wardrobes have different types of door. There is white paint splashed over the curtains, which are held up by precariously balanced poles. But I chose the place for its location rather than its interior design, and I will only live in it for another three months. Until then, I'm following a few rules to make the most of the space.

1. Choose your room carefully

Before you start looking, decide on your priorities. Are you looking for a room in a shared house, something more self contained, or a flat? What sort of size do you want? What orientation, what location? These things you can't change, and really affect your experience of the place you live in. There is nothing you can do to increase the amount of natural light in your room and there is only so far you can go to block out sound. Everything else about your room hangs on bricks and mortar.

Everything is a trade-off, this room is light and airy but small (image found on Pinterest)

2. Colour Schemes

This is where I'd usually start with designing an interior. But when you're moving around a lot it's just not practical to stick to one theme. It's unhelpful to choose a room based purely on aesthetics, so you can't plan your soft furnishings, lamps and decoration ahead of time. It gets far too expensive to replace everything every time you move, too! I go for a rule of bright primary colours, because the chances are the room will be relatively neutral, and primary colours will immediately add some life to that, but you could also go for neutral colours with a few cheap items in bronze or a bright colour that can be replaced if they really don't work with your next home.

Neutral patterned bedding, Anthropologie

3. Storage

Even the most horrific of rooms look better without mess. I prefer all my possessions to be tidied away in drawers but sometimes the furniture just doesn't allow that. I've been provided with a set of shelves, so I bought a simple basket from Primark to hide all my little items inside.

Makeup can be a nightmare. If you have enough, you can buy a stacking set of drawers or boxes that can be easily packed up whenever you need to move. I have a few bottles and tubes that I need easy access to, so I bought a few enamel cooking trays from a pound shop to keep them all in place. I've also seen some great displays with charity shop cake stands or cut glass ashtrays.

There's also the constant danger of the floordrobe. Instead, I have a fabric set of hanging shelves that I've put into one of the built in wardrobes, the one with the doors I like least. I've left the doors open so it's easy to put scarves and jumpers straight onto the shelves. I find I need tidiness to be easy, or I'll let my room fall into a mess.

Hanging storage shelves, Ikea

4. Decoration

There are  plenty of things that you can take from place to place, that can mean home more than the room itself. My family had a picture taken of us all before I left for university, and I have that in a frame, as well as a few pieces of artwork that I love.

Bunting

I've made some bunting that I have hanging up around my open wardrobe, and that adds a little fun to the room. Memories are also important to display - science shows you're actually happier surrounded by photographs of your friends! A lot of people go for a photo wall but I have a corkboard of ticket stubs, invitations and wristbands of things I want to remember that has the bonus effect of filling up a large amount of space on the yellow wall.

Cork board, Argos, with ticket stubs

Plants are also important, bringing some life and colour into the room as well as purifying the air. I have two windows in my room and I've put my plants on the sills, trying to complement the main colours of that side of the room with the colour of the plants.

House plant

5. Don't break anything

This rule is pretty simple. If you're not going to be living there for long it's not worth losing your deposit! Hide what you can of the things that you hate under the bed or in cupboards, and try to cover up marks on furniture rather than scrapping the piece altogether. Ask the landlord to put in picture hooks for you, or use removable sticky ones, rather than risk nailing through a cable or pipe.

6. You

The most important thing to do is to look critically at the way you live. What makes you happy in a home, and what can you do to increase the opportunity for that? I know that I can be happy with mismatched colours and furniture for a short while, so long as I have tidiness and natural light, so I promote that in my room at the expense of a harmony of style. Look at the way you live now, at your routine, and what you could do to make it easier.

If this has helped, please let me know by sharing!

[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.