Where do you find inspiration for your interiors?
I get a lot of inspiration from my surroundings. Things like architecture, spaces and even shadows I interact with in my everyday life, whether it be a restaurant or art gallery. I am very influenced by the spaces I visit, getting a lot of my best ideas when I’m listening to music or walking – it’s usually when my imagination is running wild and I’m not really focusing on a particular task. Of course, it goes without saying that I look towards other designers for inspiration – this could be fashion designers, graphic designers and of course interior designers. I try to keep up with the latest trends and what’s going on in the design world as much as I can.
What are your tips for finding the perfect sofa to fit your living room?
To find the perfect sofa to fit your living room you have to take into account how the room is being used. As an example, how often do you sit on the sofa, and how many people use it? Do you have pets? Do you use your sofa for naps? Asking yourself these questions will help you to decide what size, shape and style of sofa you need. If you use the sofa a lot, then you need to make sure you choose one that will go the distance as well as looking good and feeling cosy. You need to understand your style – a sofa is an opportunity to make a statement and really set a vibe for your space.
What would you say are the key elements to consider when designing a living room?
First and foremost you need to make sure you nail the layout, and this will depend on how you use the space and what you like to do in that room. You might enjoy entertaining, you might be into cosy movie nights or you might use the room to read – whatever your use case, be sure to find a layout that best suits your needs. Once you have that sorted you can start thinking about dressing the space. Start with the ‘main pieces’ of furniture, like your sofa, coffee table and TV area, and then build around that. Think about materials, texture and what colours you may want to use.
What was your favourite task on Interior Design Masters?
I really enjoyed designing and reworking the dressing rooms at Wembley Stadium. It felt surreal being backstage at such a large venue. I had so much fun playing around with the walnut, copper and concrete palette and it gave me a great opportunity to have fun with some lighting designs.
What interior trends are you loving now?
I’m really loving mixing two contrasting looks together, a mix of old and new, like contemporary and vintage, or architectural and organic. For me, I like to bring contemporary, organic, architectural and calming spaces together that are dressed with interesting vintage pieces. I feel by doing this you can create really grounded spaces that feel calming whilst still catching the eye.
Now we’re into Winter, what’s the best way to update your home as the seasons change?
During the chilly Winter months, I tend to dress my space with warm, cosy throws to inject my spaces with texture and depth. Another tip for the Winter season is to use more atmospheric lighting – this is great for daytime when it’s not so bright outside. More low and warm lighting will lift the space without oversaturating with artificial light. One of my biggest pet peeves is having the main light on when it’s daylight!
Finally, from Sofology’s AW24 trends, which piece have you got your eye on?
All of the AW24 styles are really on trend and very design-led, but the one that really caught my eye would have to be the Adler sofa in the ‘Pumpkin Spice’ look. The materials used look amazing – they’re warm and rich, with an almost mid-century like feel. A close second would be the Flex sofa in the Christmas design ‘Joyeux Noël’. I love the ‘chunkiness’ of it. It looks like a confident design, strong yet very comfortable.
