Tag: Bedfordshire

Interior Design for All Budgets

Interior design is about making the best possible use of available space, and adding style and personality. Design can work with any budget, and if you haven’t got a lot to splurge there are savvy ways to make the most of every single item in your home. We are going to guide you on where to invest and where to save.

Invest

Manage your budget, and decide on key pieces that are vital and that deserve investment.

   

Sofas and beds are where you spend the most time, and their comfort is vital. Choose wisely, and spend as much as you can on these items because they will last the test of time.

Statement lighting always adds a wow factor to any room and every home. A careful choice of lighting means that a room can evolve and change around it, without it becoming dated.

   

Kitchens and bathrooms feature high in the list of frequently used rooms, and they are key areas for investment in your home. Opting for timeless, neutral finishes give you a solid, long-lasting foundation of each room. Energise the units and furniture with accessories, wallpaper, lighting and art. These are things that can be easily and affordably changed, but can change the style of a room dramatically.

Save

Whatever your budget, there are areas where you can save without compromising the finished project.

  • You can save on accent chairs and occasional pieces. These don’t get the day to day wear and tear that key items, like a sofa, will. This means that comfort and quality aren’t as big an issue and you can choose lower budget items.
  • When choosing things that are overly trend-led, think about how long the trend will last. The budget you allocate for an on-trend finish needs to be proportional to the amount of time the trend will last. A seasonal finish, for example, will only last a few months before you look to change it.
  • There are rooms and furniture in your home that will be most heavily hit by wear and tear. Hallway wallpaper, rugs, kitchen dining chairs, playroom furniture; all things that are likely to get damaged through everyday use. Choose lower budget items that won’t break your heart when they do get damaged, and don’t break the bank when you, frequently, need to repair or replace them.

Re-Use

Upcycling furniture is the perfect way to be cost-effective, and allows you to hang on to heirlooms and loved pieces but giving them an up to date twist.

  • Re-upholstering is an easy way to breathe new life into old furniture. This is a great option where smaller areas of fabric are needed, such as headboards, dining chairs and ottomans. Larger items or fabric areas may be uneconomical to change, however you may be able to re-purpose an item instead.
  • ‘Orange’ pine furniture can look outdated, but this is easily remedied by giving them a whitewash or coast of chalk paint which will give a much more contemporary look.
  • Changing the handles can transform the look of a piece –a simple white Ikea wooden unit can be transformed by gold/colourful or jewelled handles.

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October 2019

Are you ready for summer?

With summer knocking at our doors, we all need somewhere to relax and enjoy every ray of sunshine that comes our way. Outdoor living, whether it’s a patio, balcony or terrace, can be just as stylish and luxurious as any internal room. You can create your perfect patio for relaxing, entertaining and topping up your vitamin D.

The garden itself can create a backdrop with the greens of foliage and the colour of flowers in bloom, but you don’t need to rely on the natural flora. Here are some of our favourite things to add to your garden to inject colour and create your perfect outdoor space.

An outdoor rug from Westelm brings colour and a touch of luxury to your back garden. Whether your patio is set up for seating or dining, walking on this soft wool with bare feet will make you feel like you’re on holiday.

We love this garden bench from Maisons du Monde with its Mediterranean feel. This modern bench is understated and timeless and, importantly, comfortable.

As with an internal dining table, you can dress it up with table linen and crockery. With this vibrant table cloth from Graham and Green you will have no problem feeling summery. Dress your table for a little al fresco dining, or for a tropical garden party.

As much as we want to enjoy the sun, it’s a must to provide some shade too. A perfect parasol lives up this job perfectly! We love this teak and ecru cotton parasol from Maison du Monde. Functional definitely doesn’t need to be boring.

If your priority for your patio is relaxation, there is no better way than lounging in a hanging chair. With its own hanging stand, this chair from Cox and Cox is a great choice.

Small rooms can be maximised with considered choices. Choosing paler colours always works to make a space feel airy and bright, and mirrors are a classic way to increase the sense of space; gardens are no different. This beautiful arched window mirror, also from Cox and Cox, creates new dimensions on even the tiniest terrace.

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June 2019

Colours and Interior Design

Interior designers always consider colours when they are putting together designs for a room or space. There will be colours that their clients are drawn to, and equally colours they want to avoid. There are colours that will optimise the room and create certain effects.

When we commence a project, we take the time to get to know our clients, their tastes and preferences and desired finish for each room. We build a design around that and get creating. So, what can colour bring to your room?

Blue

This calming, meditative colour works well for workspaces, and rooms in which you wish to relax in. Blue can sometimes be thought of as a cold colour, but a room with plenty of natural light and sunlight work perfectly with blue hues. Organic material, such as wicker and wood, has innate warmth and will add texture and balance to a blue room.   Blue is extremely versatile; use it in any room and to create a variety of themes. Used with white, blue gives a feel of lightness and freshness, opening up small spaces.

Green

Bring the outdoors in with the use of green in your room. There are many different shades of green, from emeralds and forest greens which are vibrant and contemporary to pastel hues which work well in a more classic scheme. Aside from the décor, greens look great in velvets and you can use faux greenery to complement the tones.

Yellow

Yellow is a welcoming colour and it can be used to warm up and brighten up spaces without windows and with a lack of light. For these reasons, yellow is perfect for entryways and hallways. To avoid yellow being overwhelming, it is especially suited to accent the room whether that is with a feature wall or selected yellow accessories. Yellow particularly suits Scandinavian themes and is very effective when paired with navy blues.

White

White is the most commonly used colour in interior design, whether it’s ceilings and woodwork or fittings and walls, it is a solid choice. White reflects light so can be used to make spaces seem larger and rooms more spacious. This neutral colour can be used to complement a bold accent colour, such as black or gold. It can also be used with great effect to showcase architectural features and as a backdrop for artwork. To avoid a room feeling cold from the use of a lot of white, use accessories with warm colours and introduce textures or accent colours. White will help you create a minimalist, modern look.

Colour affects our moods, so choosing the right colours within your home is vital. If you’re not sure how to achieve the desired effects contact us.

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May 2019

Should you use bold colours in your home?

Interior design is not all about muted colours and minimalist rooms. As a designer, we talk to our clients to understand their preferences, and design a room to perfectly suit their tastes.

When you want to include a bold or bright colour or design into a room, it is important that you don’t overpower the room by using too much. To help you avoid making a mistake we’re bringing you some ideas of how to introduce statement colours effectively.

Feature Walls

A feature wall, or accent wall, is one that is different to the other walls in the room. It can be a subtle difference, however we are talking about making a bigger difference and creating a dramatic effect.

We love striped wallpapers and Sallie herself has a bold French blue stripe wallpaper in her kitchen which has been featured previously. We love these designs by Sandberg, which can be used to great effect to bring a strong colour into a design. With a range of colours, there’s something for everyone.

Farrow and Ball have a great range of colours and have released their new colours for 2018. With such a variety there are plenty of options for a standout feature wall and complementing colour scheme.

Key Pieces

Every home, every room needs certain key pieces of furniture, whether that’s a sofa in a living room or a table and chairs in a dining room. These pivotal pieces do not need to blend into the background and can be a feature in any room.

We love these chairs with their strong blue colour and fantastic floral backs from Turnball and Thomas. A striking, luxury addition to any meal time.

And this statement green velvet sofa from Swoon is another key piece that we love, and it looks far more expensive than its price tag

Artwork

Hanging a piece of art on your wall allows you to bring in a bold splash into a room; abstract art can often be the perfect option. There is plenty of choice from Kari Taylor and Nancy Ortenstone at www.art.co.uk. The work of these two abstract artists can enliven and add interest to the barest, bleakest of walls.

Rugs

Remember, the floor is also a part of a room’s design, and the installation of a striking rug can transform your home. We have recently installed a Paul Smith bold striped runner in a client’s home to give a contemporary hallway the wow factor, we balanced the other side of the room with strong artwork and kept the rest beautifully simple.

We also love this abstract rug by Bluebell Gray; splashes of colour bring a room together and make a bold statement.

It is important to note that, in order for bold statements to work, it is all about balance. When you have chosen your bold colours and pieces, ensure that they are not all placed in one area of the room.

 

If you need help deciding your colour schemes, and want ideas for brightening your rooms, contact us now. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for more interior design ideas!

 

 

Interior Design Inspiration for Awkward Spaces

It’s not often that you find a home full of large, rectangular rooms with not a challenging corner in sight. Our homes, and therefore the rooms, are all unique. While that leads to a lot of variety, it can leave home owners confused about how best to decorate and furnish an awkward shaped room. Maybe you have a long narrow living room, and L shaped bedroom, or a room with sloped ceilings or curved walls. There is a design for every place.

Have a look at our tips for dealing with some spaces to give you some ideas:

Asymmetry

We often strive for symmetry in a room, but with a small or awkward space this may be compromised. Try for balance rather than symmetry, for example if you are using a tone or pattern in one area of the room for curtains use it on lampshades or cushions in another area. With the right choice of furniture and accessories, it can be a stylish space that doesn’t feel compromised.

Zone a Large Room

You may not consider a big room to be awkward to design, but sometimes a bigger space leads to too many decisions resulting in a confusing or muddled space. Use furniture and colours and patterns to divide a room into different sections with different functions. The result is a well-organised room with clearly defined areas.

Embrace the Quirk

Instead of trying to hide or disguise an awkward, embrace it, for example an awkwardly shaped alcove could become a desk space with the help of a simple shelf! Use bespoke elements, maybe an usually shaped mirror, or make a feature with a bold pattern or accent colour.

Nooks and Corners

Utilise the space with fitted storage. A bespoke storage system will make any space functional and can be designed in keeping with the rest of the room. This technique is also useful for a small or awkward shaped bedroom where you need storage built around the bed. In narrow spaces consider a sliding door rather than one opening into the area for a more spacious feel, and use mirrors to bounce the light around the room.

With space planning and thinking outside the box, any room can reach its full potential. Work with the space you have and don’t be afraid to be bold.

For more ideas for small and awkward spaces, see our Facebook page and check out the May edition of ‘Ask the Expert’ in House Beautiful.

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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