Author: Ann Little

Interior Design – Ask the Experts

We’ve been tempting you or a while with titbits of our exciting news and now we can do a full reveal.

Sallie, of Interiors at 58 has joined the expert panel at House Beautiful; answering readers’ interior design questions each month. We are honoured to have been asked and have been eagerly awaiting the first edition.

With years of experience, Sallie is ideally placed to answer this month’s question:

“I love all the botanical prints around at the moment, but how can I use them in a room without feeling completely overwhelmed by greenery?”

Leaf and botanical prints have become one of the biggest trends in the last few years, adding vibrancy and personality to a room. There are many variations to choose from.

Click here to read Sallie’s full answer and get hints and tips for your own home design.

The first edition is the April issue which is out now – get your copy today and see the article in print.

Home is Where the Heart Is

February is the month of love, hearts and flowers so we are looking at some apt accessories to inject a little love into your home. Heart shaped and heart inspired accessories can be gorgeous additions to any room.

This hand cut and polished heart, made from natural stone from Westelm is something lovely to add to a room, and perfect as a gift.

Rockett St George often provides us with some of our favourite things, and this is no exception. Over a mantelpiece or a bed, this light adds warmth to your home.

Mirrors help add light to any space and enhance any décor, not to mention their practical uses. These beautiful heart-shaped mirrors from notonthehighstreet.com could add a little something to your bedroom or hallway.

If you want something a little more discreet, have a look at these cushions from Amara. An everyday reminder to the person of your choice, and a little fun put in the house.

These cute heart-shaped stools from Melody Mason are an affordable way to add vintage chic into a country kitchen.

In red or white, this LED light from Cult Furniture can be wall mounted or freestanding so you can put it anywhere, and in any room.

And finally, a stunning heart-shaped shelf from Melody Maison; perfect for trinkets and ornaments as well as a décor triumph.

There is a huge choice of accessories, something for everyone. February might be the month of love, but any of these items will stand the test of time.

Interior Design for New Build Properties

You might think that interior design is all about updating décor and refreshing a look, but as interior designers we work with a lot of blank canvases too; new build flats and houses. There are two main reasons why you might get a designer involved, one if you are the purchaser of a newly completed project and two if you are a property developer.

Home Owners

When you’ve bought a new property, you have often waited quite some time for its completion, and you’re raring to move in. If you have just bought a brand new, freshly decorated home, you may be wondering why you would consider changing anything at this stage. It is usual for a new home to be finished in a fairly bland style, with magnolia paintwork and neutral carpets for example. Nothing about the house says anything about your style; about your personality. Interior design not only brings your personality to each room but it allows the very best use of the space throughout.

With our knowledge and expertise we can recommend what works, both for style and practicality, and we can source everything for you. What might take you months to decide and find, we can present to you in a fraction of that time. With the decisions made, you’re ready to go with the designs and for the work to be carried out. Potentially, at this point, you are in a great position to employ an interior designer and get the work done prior to moving in. If this is an option for you, you will be able to avoid the inevitable hassle that comes with living in your home whilst the work happens around you.

You can see our work on a contemporary new build in the gallery section.

Services for Property Developers

We can help developers design and shape their properties from the outset so that they appeal to the widest market of potential purchasers. This can include curating decisions on paint and floor, and choosing the right kitchens and bathrooms – these are all critical elements in creating the right atmosphere and attracting the right kind of buyer for your property. We can also dress the project for sale to help buyers envisage how the space will be used as an empty, bare house does not demonstrate its potential to best effect. Houses need to stand out from the crowd to sell quickly and achieve the best possible price. We can, cost-effectively, dress the house, inject ambience and personality, and show prospective buyers the lifestyle that can come with owning the property.

We work to developers’ brief, however strict or vague; selecting kitchens, bathrooms, paint colours, taps and tiles as well as providing stylish and desirable furniture to showcase your property at its very best.

We have recently completed a project for a number of flats in Bedford; you can see the results here. (link to photos to be added).

If you have a new home that needs the wow factor, contact us now. And remember, we’re on Facebook too.

An Interior Designer’s Christmas

It’s that time of year when everyone is thinking about Christmas. Maybe you’ve already got your decorations up, maybe you’re waiting a while longer; everyone has their own tradition. We wanted to share with you a few of our favourite things for Christmas, and give you a snapshot of our family home at this time of year.

 

We love the rustic natural tones of this star from castlegatelights and at 52 cm high it’s a real showstopper at a great price!

This piece is a real bargain from The Range – a gorgeous light up tree with stunning pearl detail!

Love this oversized star(85cm) the perfect way to enliven some blank wall space and bring in the Xmas spirit in a contemporary way. There are some other great Christmas accessories from Rockett St George.

This fantastic garland would look gorgeous wound down the banisters in your entryway, or draped over a mantelpiece, it’s beautifully elegant and understated and perfect for those who prefer a subtle look. Another beautiful Christmas decoration from Rockett St George!

Here at Interiorsat58 we have these beautiful gold leaf lights, made in bespoke lengths by Autumn Weddings from Etsy, perfectly delicate and as they are battery operated very versatile, we will be putting them on the table on Christmas day in Jars.

This Jingle Bell wreath from Anthropologie is a fun and stylish take on the classic leaf wreath and best of all will last for years!

 

For more Christmas favourites and decoration ideas, have a look at our Facebook page.

We would like to thank you for your support over through the year, and we’re looking forward to announcing something very exciting in 2018.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 

 

 

Winter Inspired Interior Design

With winter here, we want warm homes! When you’re thinking about heating in the house, especially in the living room, you don’t need to focus solely on functionality. A fireplace can be a real focal feature in a room; it can help you create your perfect place to relax, and while you use it for heating in the colder months, you need to make sure it fits with the feel of room as it will be there all year round.

What look do you want to achieve?

Minimalist
Uncluttered, sleek lines and a Scandinavian feel, a minimalist room requires something that will blend in. This collection of fireplaces by Houzz show how each would work in a room.

Traditional
When you have opted for the comfort and calm of a traditional décor you want to choose a fireplace that is homey and fits with the room. Take care to choose the right scale for the room; while this will be a feature of the room, you aren’t looking for anything too overbearing.

This beautiful marble fireplace is one we sourced for a client’s home came from Architectural Antiques Bedford;  check it out for great reclaimed and original pieces.

Open Fireplace
You might be surprised that an open fireplace can suit many interior decors. With the wide range of fireplaces available, you don’t need to stick with a classic, large, stone built fireplace. There are many different designs of wood burning stoves to choose from, and more discreet open fires if you have a minimalist and uncluttered room. Ideal Home show how some open fires can suit a room.

Modern

A contemporary style of fire is often a “hole in the wall” fire; a fire that is flat to the wall behind a glass screen, and sometimes a frame. These types of fire don’t change the lines of the room, and could be viewed as a work of art. These fires are versatile and can be used in any room, you aren’t restricted to a living room or spacious room.

We had London based company fireplace experts Lcm Fires build from scratch this incredible open fireplace  for a client that we then had clad in a beautiful quartz. Click here to contact them directly.

Consider the role that you wish your fireplace to have within the room; is it purely functional or do you want to notice it and adorn it with ornaments and decorations? Like every piece of furniture within a room, a fireplace needs to complement or contrast the other pieces to form a complete look.

If you are thinking about transforming your home through interior design, contact Interiors at 58, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook.

Seasonal Trends for Interior Design

Autumn is here, and winter is coming, so we’re looking at the hottest interior design trends for the season. With new styles being released you can use the opportunity to freshen up the feel of your home. You can do that by adding a carefully chosen piece of furniture or some seasonal accessories, or by using the season’s trends to redesign a room. We’ve picked some of our favourite pieces from these trends identified by House Beautiful that we feel are the perfect seasonal update.

 

We’re seeing a variety of greens in the Season’s colours and there are lots of ways you can introduce green into your rooms:

 

Emerald Green

We’re obsessed with this amazing chair from Anthropologie; the Elowen Swivel Chair – the most incredible desk chair!

 

Teal

We love the stunning colour of this gorgeous teal footstool and the texture of the velvet! The gorgeous brass base makes it look much more expensive than £149! You have the choice of matching chairs if you want to extend the look.

 

Natural

You can get back to nature with this fab, updated take on the classic Hans Wenger wishbone chair; the Murciana Goat Hair Armchair. It’s a really fun, and also comfortable, addition of the goat hair seat that really adds the wow factor and some great texture to your scheme. If you want a more affordable alternative then this one from Only Home is a great option!

 

This wallpaper – Trees One wallpaper fresco – gives real impact to a room bringing in a pop of green. It’s an affordable way to introduce the colour as everything else can, and should, be fairly neutral. Wallpaper and wall decorations can be fun to use to change the colour and feel or a room.

 

Pastel

We love these pastel coloured Geometric tiles from Topps Tiles – beautiful colours and the perfect balance of interest without being over the top! We are using them in each of the 3 colour ways in a commercial job right now and can’t wait to see them in situ! We’ll be posting the finished job on our Facebook page.

 

Whether you want to refresh one room or refurbish a whole building, contact Interiors at 58; we can assist with your interior needs however large or small the job.

 

You can follow us on Facebook for more tips on interior design and current trends.

Interior Design for a Home Office

It’s back to school and work now we’ve hit September, so we’re thinking about how to make the best of our home office spaces! Maybe you own a small business and work from home permanently, or periodically you spend a day working from home instead of the office. Whatever the scenario, you need to make sure that you have a suitably designed environment where you can focus and concentrate. But where to begin when you are designing the room?

 

An office needs the right balance of comfort, practicality and character. A bland, generic office space, however practical, will not entice you in to work. Likewise filling the space with beautiful furniture that doesn’t serve the practical service won’t be a satisfactory end result. As an interior designer, it’s our job to put together the perfect space for every client’s needs.

 

The key pieces required in the majority of home offices are a desk, a chair and some storage.

Desks

 

We like this desk from Ikea for space saving, which we recently recommended to a client for space saving. This is what it could look like in situ.  Other items of furniture can be used as desks if you need more space or a space for the occasional email rather than lots of files. We recently used this gorgeous Anthropologie dining table as a desk in a client’s luxury home in Surrey – we love the gold legs and fine frame that enhance the feeling of space in the room.

Chairs

 

This desk chair from My-furniture is a bargain at just £49 in the sale or if you’re at your desk all day and need support and comfort this chair from Made.com is great for a home office as it’s stylish as well as practical.

 

Storage, be it drawers, shelves or cupboards, provides a practical element to the room, as well as a way to keep organised. You can choose open storage and display your items as a feature, such as a classic book collection on show or you can choose to keeps things hidden away and maintain an uncluttered space; we love this upright sideboard from Dwell for a contemporary office space that needs plenty of storage but in a compact area. The pieces you choose can add to the style of the room; practical doesn’t need to be boring.

 

You will need to ensure that you have adequate lighting including task lighting from an angled desk lamp, this little gold number is on our desk here at Interiorsat58! You can introduce texture and colours with your choice of curtains and blinds.

 

Accessories, such as a piece of artwork or ornaments, enhance a room but take care to avoid overcrowding in the room which could lead to distraction. Choose pieces that inspire you and you won’t go far wrong!  We love this quirky stapler for injecting some personality to your desk space – its predecessor the Dachshund Stapler was regularly featured in the style press and this one is just as fun! It would look great with this super stylish desk set!

 

If you need help or guidance with interior design for your office, whether it’s home or commercial, contact Interiorsat58.

 

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Interior Design Inspiration

A question that often comes up is “where does the design inspiration come from?”. A good interior designer will get to know their clients and truly understand their styles and tastes. Then they can begin to put together a room or a home that reflects the client’s personality and interests. If a client is unsure about what direction to take their project we often start with images from magazines and Pinterest that the client likes and piece together their desired look. Then once the project is underway the client can see it all come together on a bespoke mood board which really brings the inspiration to life!

Travel can be a great place to look for ideas; think of countries you have been to and what you love about the typical look of that region.  Throughout the world, different cultures have iconic styles that you may wish to replicate in your own home, office or working environment.

Scandinavian and French styles are extremely popular for interior design and have quite a timeless feel, they can be used on their own or mixed successfully with other looks such as vintage or modern.

If you fancy a minimalistic look with clear lines, then a Scandinavian look could be for you. You’ll see wood, often reclaimed timber, playing a big part in a Scandinavian styled room, with wooden floors and wooden furniture. Tapered and angled legs on furniture are a signature look of this style. Neutral, light colours create an airy light room with accessories and furnishings used to add colour and texture to the room.

We recently used this elegant coffee table from Coachhouse that had a bleached out Scandinavian wood top but is paired with contemporary chrome legs for an updated take on the look.

If you prefer a refined, elegant look then a French style is for you. You generally won’t see bold colours on the wall of a French style room. The décor is characterised by white walls; not a blue based cold white, you will see a warm white. Black furnishings are popular in French homes and upholstery will add some indulgent luxury into the room. Gold, gilded or metallic accessories make a statement in the room and reflect light creating a spacious feel. This cute mini French side table from Melody Maison was one we used recently.

A room doesn’t need to rigidly stick to style guidelines; it is your room and should be designed to your tastes. You can take a handful of elements initially and build on that. You can use items with personal meaning to accessorise your rooms whatever style they are, just try and group them together to create a feature or frame photos in such a way as to complement the scheme.

If you don’t know where to start on your interiors, contact Interiors at 58 for help and advice.

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Using Accessories in Interior Design

Interior Design is about making a room both functional and aesthetically pleasing; it’s about creating a space that you want to spend time in. We believe in investing your budget in quality timeless pieces such as sofas and curtains and then adding accessories that convey your personality and sense of style, whether it’s something traditional, like a vintage vase, or something fun and quirky, such as a faux fur upholstered chair.

Accessories are perfect for complementing the décor of a room, and should work with it and be in keeping with the rest of the room. They do, however, need to be selected carefully to create the right balance. Accessories can include: Artwork, Sculptures, Vases and Ceramics, Antiques, Rugs, and  Cushions.

If you are looking to accessorise your home, why not read our guide as to how the items below can be used to great effect!

Mirrors

The range of mirrors available is wide and varied and you will always be able to find one that fits with your room. Both size and style play their part, and they can be very useful in smaller, darker rooms too. A carefully placed mirror will create a sense of space, reflecting light within a small room; placing a mirror behind a light works wonders for lighting up a small or dark area. A mirror in a hallway delivers a first impression as soon as you walk into a home, and gives the all-important opportunity for a last-minute check before you leave the house. Don’t be afraid to go large with a mirror if you have the space, they can give a real wow factor like this reasonably priced mirror which is a huge 120cm diameter from William Wood.

Clocks

You might think that clocks are merely timepieces and while they do serve that purpose, they can also be a statement piece; a focal point on a wall. As with mirrors, the range of clocks is vast, and they come in all shapes, sizes and prices and in a large size they can be a great affordable way to give some impact to plain wall. We recently used this large clock from The Range to complete the end look, demonstrating that taste doesn’t always need to be expensive.

Cushions

Cushions allow you to bring colour, texture and a touch of luxury and decadence to a room. You can use them to introduce in a statement colour to a room or accentuate a colour from the décor, or you could use light-coloured cushions to give the illusion of light and space.

The choice of accessories seems limitless which, if you’re not a decisive person, can leave you confused about what choose.  To make the search easier have some guidelines to stick to. The type of accessory, budget and colour scheme should all be considered before you start your search. You may be drawn to certain shops and suppliers, but don’t be afraid to explore a variety of retailers. Online, there are a plethora of websites and shops where you can source accessories, and don’t discount high street retailers; you can often find great bargains in TK Maxx and we love Next for affordable lighting.

 

Follow us on Facebook to see some of our favourite accessories and Interior Design tips.

Interior Design Tips For Transforming Small Rooms

At Interiorsat58 we love to make the most of a space. A misconception is that interior design is for large houses, big rooms and massive budgets; but this isn’t so. Small rooms are often crying out for some creative thinking so that you can take advantage of every inch.

Here are some of our top tips for smaller rooms.

• A well-placed mirror will maximise any space. Installing a mirror next to, or opposite, a window will mean that the natural light is reflected and you are giving the effect of another window. Having a mirror behind a lamp will also maximise the light in the room, stopping it from feeling poky and dark, however small.

• Make sure colours blend together well and are tonal.

• Keep clutter to a minimum. Accessories and artwork can add colour and character to a room, but choose them wisely. Plain walls with a statement framed picture will give a room a classic finish. Lots of ornaments can create a very busy look which gives the impression of a smaller room.

• Use soft lamp lighting and textures to make the room cosy.

• Plan your room. Put together a mood board with the colours and styles that you like and make sure that they work together to form a complementary finish; an interior designer can advise on this. And, of course measure your space and make sure everything is going to fit; especially important when space is restricted.

• When you’re thinking about the colour scheme of a small room, remember that light colours enhance the feeling of space. Don’t rush into decorating with dark, bold colours that might drain the light from the room.

• When you are choosing your furniture, be smart with your choices to make sure that your room is both well designed and functional. Source furniture that has multiple purposes. This coffee table from Wayfair includes both a handy storage drawer, and 2 stools that can be hidden away when not in use.

• Keep the furniture size appropriate and pick items of furniture that are on legs so that you can see underneath, which will give an enhanced feeling of space.

• If you choose an ottoman with a firm top it can double as a coffee table, but can also be used as a footstool to increase the comfort of a less deep and more delicate sofa.

A small space can be as desirable as a large room when it’s designed properly. If you don’t know where to start, or are struggling to imagine how the final finish will transform the room, contact Interiorsat58. We can work with you to create a completely bespoke space that reflects your personality and style, and works for the way you live.

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