Tag: interior design bedford

Give your home a facelift

It is now officially Spring, and time to have a clear out and refresh your home. As much as we love redoing a room from top to bottom, sometimes that just isn’t practical. There are little things that you can do or change in your home to give you a different look without a complete overhaul.

Soft Furnishings

You can make an impact or a subtle change with an update of your soft furnishings; a simple yet effective transformation. New textures and colours instantly refresh a room. There is a huge range of furnishings meaning there is something for every room and every taste. Here are some of our favourites:

We love these cushions from Amara with their bold design and colours they will make an impact in any room.

A simple change of curtains can add a touch of glamour. These striped curtains with tassel details from Anthropologie would do just the job.

In the bedroom, you have the option of making an easy yet effective adjustment simply by dressing your bed. A bedspread can inject colour into a room. We love these quilts, available in a range of sumptuous colours, from Graham and Green. You can also complement the colour with the addition of cushions. A simple yet effective investment for your interior.

A new rug can really change the feel of a room instantly so it is a fantastic choice if you are only looking to update a few pieces. This rug from Westelm is both stylish and functional.

There are other simple ways to freshen up your interiors:

  • Painting the walls a new colour is a great way to make a big change at low cost. Do make sure that the new tone doesn’t clash with your key items such as your sofa!
  • Add faux plants and greenery; focal points that look fresh
  • Rearrange your existing furniture to create a new layout. Consider if there are pieces of furniture under-utilised elsewhere in your home that could be put to better use in the room
  • Hanging art and mirrors will bring walls to life, adding colour and interest to the room
  • Declutter your rooms so that you can display your favourite pieces to full effect. Group items together in odd numbers for an eye-catching display.

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April 2019

Interior Design your New Year

Happy New Year! Christmas is over, and the decorations have come down. How many of you are thinking how blank your walls look? A new year, a new interior look; now is the time to start planning your home renovations for the year. We have talked about colours, textures and statements within the design of a space, but with the fresh start of the New Year in our mind, we are looking at how to use white in your home to great effect.

You can bring a fresh crisp white into a room by decorating, using paint or wallpaper, or with accessories or furniture. A white paint, or white paint with a hint of a colour, can create a great backdrop for bold accessories or statement furniture without overcrowding the space with too many elements.

Accessorising with White

If you choose to have a single colour palette, with one shade of white, it is important to mix up the textures to bring depth and avoid a bland look.

This off-white Sheepskin rug, from www.nordichouse.co.uk, adds texture and luxury to your room. This luxurious rug is beautifully soft and versatile; why not add it to a sofa rather than the floor?

Another Scandinavian touch to add is this pure wool chunky knit blanket. Throw it over a chair, on the end of the end of the bed, or the perfect blanket to snuggle up to; this chunky knit is a beautiful decorative piece, and the ideal choice to cuddle up with on a cold winter’s night.

Invest in beautiful linen for your bedroom. Make every morning crisp and bright with this beautiful bed linen from www.oka.com; the ultimate in luxury.

When you have a dark painted wall as a feature in a room, try this statement piece of white wall art, from Maisons du Monde, for a dramatic finish

Furniture

With many shades of white available, it may be a challenge to exactly match the colour you choose. Try one of these gorgeous Angel and Bohos wooden chairs – they can be painted in any colour so you can choose exactly the right kind of white for your scheme, from pure and brilliant through to a more soft and gentle hue.

There’s no need to worry that white furniture will not stand up to your lifestyle; children and pets, in particular, may be a consideration. With careful choices, white can be made to work in any home. Loaf offer a clever linen that can be used on any Loaf sofa or chair and is spill resistant, no need to be scared of using white.

This high gloss, wipe clean coffee table is a functional item, but still a contemporary addition to style a room.

For more interior updates for 2019 remember to follow us on Facebook.

January 2019

Autumnal Luxury for Interior Design

The nights are drawing in, the clocks go back at the end of the month and the weather is turning chilly. We’re all starting to think about keeping warm and, of course, we want you to stay cosy in style. There’s a plethora of blankets, soft furnishings and accessories available, especially at this time of year, and we’ve picked some of our favourites to share with you. Snap them up to have in your home, or even start your Christmas shopping early and give the perfect gifts to your friends and family.

Chunky Knit Throw

Use this throw from Cox and Cox in the bedroom or the living room; perfect for snuggling up next to the fire while bringing texture into the room. Who can resist a soft, cosy blanket when it’s cold outside?

Vintage Hanging Lantern

When the weather cools down, we like to stay indoors and snuggle up. Candles can add a decorative element to the room as well as creating a romantic and comfortable atmosphere. Relax at home with this gorgeous lantern, from Nordic House, and its soft candlelight.

Abstract Geometry Rug

A rug can transform a room, adding colour, texture and style, and of course, will help keep your feet warm on draughty wooden floors in winter. This stylish tufted wool-blend rug, from Anthropologie, will bring warmth to your floors.

Velvet Bedspread

Luxury doesn’t have to just be for rooms that your guests see. Treat yourself this Autumn with this soft, velvet bedspread and pillow cases from Westelm.

Sheepskin Beanbag

Soft and sumptuous, these sheepskin bean bags from The White Company are pure luxury. The ultimate indulgence and perfect to curl up on on a winter’s evening.

For more ideas about interior design, from classic styles to the latest trends, follow us on Facebook and look out for our regular blogs. Contact us if you would like help creating the perfect home.

Kitchens and Interior Design

A kitchen is a functional room that every home needs, and, being in everyday use, you should ensure that it is a room you can also enjoy being in; a room that reflects your style and taste.

An interior designer might not be top of your list when you think of the people you should consult about your kitchen design, but they can be a great asset to have on-board; they will work with your kitchen designer to not only look at the practical element of the space but also inject that all-important personality and style through use of colours and textures so that the end result is everything you want it to be – and more!  Of course, if you have a small or awkward shaped room, the design element can be of even more importance. Your head might be filled with ideas of beautiful islands, marble worktops and storage galore; your interior designer will help you make sense of your ideas and create a cohesive look ensuring tones and finishes are complementary throughout.

Some of our top tips are:

  • Plan out your kitchen before work commences, a well-thought out kitchen is key to a successful kitchen long term.
  • Give your kitchen some personality using accessories, colour, wallpaper and fabrics. This will make your kitchen more welcoming, and soften the hard edges.
  • Think about how your kitchen will be organised; a space for everything and everything with a space. This is the mark of a well-thought out kitchen; for example tray spaces, wine storage and ironing board storage and so on, will all make a big difference to how easy to use the kitchen is in the long run.
  • Keep the clutter away by ensuring that you have enough cupboard space to keep ugly and bulky gadgets and appliances behind closed doors.

 

In Sallie’s kitchen, this bold French blue stripe elevates a simple white kitchen and is easy to change while simple natural wood toned accessories like the chairs clock and picture frames add warmth and depth.

Accessories can make all the difference to a kitchen, whether you want to revive the space or start from scratch and refit the room. Here are some of our favourites:

Brushed Wire Kitchen Baskets from Anthropologie

Song Bird Tray from Graham and Green

White Concrete Clock from Nordic House

Waterfall Stemless Glass from Anthropologie

Rose Gold Sensor Bin from Simplehuman

White Marble Shelf from Not on the Highstreet

If you need some help designing your kitchen, whether at home or at work, contact us and we can help you create your perfect culinary workspace.

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 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.

 

 

 

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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Using an Interior Designer

You’re thinking about using an interior design service; where do you start?

First let’s look at what an interior designer can do for you. Interior design is the art or process of designing the interior decoration of a room or building. The end results are that the rooms are more aesthetically pleasing and the environment reflects the mood you want. An interior designer plans, researches, coordinates and manages projects. To put it into real terms, an interior designer works with her clients to create their ideal space.

What are the benefits from using an interior designer?

A good question, and one I am asked a lot. The perception can often be that interior design is only for a luxury finish or big budget. In reality, an interior designer will create the finish that a client desires within their budget. Interior designers save their clients time and money; with their bank of contacts from suppliers to tradespeople, they will be able to research and source furniture, furnishings and accessories much more efficiently and cost-effectively. They can work within a budget, and their trained eye will be invaluable when it comes to recommending the best options to meet the brief.  When you employ an interior designer, you are not only tapping into her expertise and experience, you also have access to a wide range of established and recommended contacts.

You know the benefits of interior design, and you want to hire a designer; where do you look?

I would always advise to use recommended companies and individuals where you can. If that’s not an option, there are websites that list local interior designers, for example www.designdirectory.co.uk. Remember to check out their reviews and testimonials; Facebook is a good place to look for reviews. It’s important to meet with a designer prior to hiring them and make sure that you get on. Projects can be a lengthy, and you need a friendly, approachable person who you can communicate with.

You’ve hired a designer, what can you expect?

I work with my clients to achieve the finish they wish for. You can leave the whole job in my capable hands, and I will communicate with all parties throughout, suggest the décor and source everything required. I will liaise with all the other trades involved whether that’s an architect, builder or decorator. Or you can set me to work on a smaller task; this could be planning a room layout to maximise the space, or sourcing the perfect sofa.

For more tips and interior news visit our Facebook Page.