WE LOVE YOUR INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT! IT ACTS AS A GREAT VIRTUAL SHOP WINDOW FOR WHAT YOU DO… It’s a wonderful way for me to get feedback on my work. I’m always so thrilled to get likes and lovely comments on the photos I post of spaces I’ve designed. By continuing what I’m doing, and reaching out to more people, I want to give people the confidence to try some of this for themselves. I want them to feel that if I can do it, they can do it. Of course, this doesn’t mean that they will go for a full-on black and white room full of flamingos, but it does mean pushing personal boundaries. followers to engage with me and get a sense of who I am beyond my career in interior design; I’m a mother, a wife, a friend, a daughter. I also feel strongly that design carries through from the house you live in to the clothes you wear. In the same way that your home should make you feel safe and happy, your outfit should make you feel good about yourself and empower you in that way. Both should equally reflect your style and who you are as a person. I do sometimes post photos of myself, because I want my
for their style or their taste, but if they present me with a piece of art that they love, that is the easiest insight into their soul. That art tells me what they’re all about and what they love, what need that art fulfils for them. That one piece of art will tell me more than any mood board could ever do. Hence why, ideally, I like to source the art as a first step. Every room needs a focal point, and for me that should be art. I find it’s much better to build a room around the art than vice versa. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself searching for art based on the colours used in the composition or the size of the frame, without stopping to consider whether or not it really reflects you, your personality and your home. Art should never be chosen just on its ability to fill a space. If you haven’t got the budget for art, or it’s just not your thing, you could find a really striking wallpaper you love, or source a stunning clock. The only rule is that you need to love it. Don’t be blinkered purely by how something looks, you should always aim to create emotion and atmosphere within a room – and this will vary from room to room. For example, you might lean towards something that creates an air of calm in a bedroom, whereas you might want something a bit more funky and upbeat in a kitchen or family room. WHAT ARE YOUR GOLDEN RULES FOR HANGING ART? For me, it needs space to breathe. I would never crowd it or make it fight for space on the wall. Lighting is also crucial, and I’ve learned over the years that not lighting a piece properly strips it of its wow factor. I always try to take note of how pieces are lit in the gallery so I can ensure I do the art justice when I get it home. Dark rooms in particular will need good light sources to lift the colours in artworks.
touch to a room and therefore the last thing you need to buy, and I want to change this perception. Not only should it be top of your list before you begin decorating or remodelling, you should also be thinking how you’re going to light it. TALK US THROUGH YOUR OWN PERSONAL STYLE… First and foremost, my design ethos is that there are no rules. I love using supposedly clashing colours; I love making bold, brave choices and experimenting as I go. I use a lot of black and white offset with bright colours, I find that they complement each other so well. I give a great deal of thought to every single element within a room, and what it signifies or contributes to an overall design. When I was designing our house, my main priority was to create a home that felt fun, warm, safe and welcoming for my children and my husband; somewhere where we can come together and enjoy spending time. In my mind’s eye I saw it as a haven, filled with happy memories and a sense of freedom. Also, I wanted it to be a creative environment for my children, somewhere that would inspire them in turn, so we involved them in the renovation process to allow them to make an impact on their home.
To me, more is more!
The key is thinking ahead. People think that the art is the finishing
FINE ART COLLECTOR SPRING 2017 13
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