How to avoid ‘clever’ storage solutions that don’t work for ADHD brains and what to do instead. When clutter is emotionally overwhelming, it can be easy to search the internet for a quick storage fix to solve all your problems, but sometimes that just gives you another place to fill without offering a system for tidying that you can really stick to. This is for the people who try and fail, who are always investing in storage solutions which never quite work out, and who know that if they only had an organised space, they could cope so much better! 

If you’ve ever read any advice on choosing paint colours, no doubt you’ve come across the idea of warm colours and cool colours, as well as warm or cool light. As a rule of thumb in the northern hemisphere, rooms with south-facing windows receive a warm (yellowy) light which shifts as the sun moves across the sky, creating strong contrast between sunny and shadowed parts of the room. Rooms with north-facing windows have a consistent cool (blue) light throughout the day. Rooms with east-facing windows receive warm light in the morning and cool light the rest of the day, whilst…

This week we are looking at the visual impact of your decor. There is a bell-curve of comfortable sensory input, with the neurotypical population sitting in the middle. Neurodivergent people are more likely to be on the extreme ends of this scale – either under-responsive (sensory seeking) or over-responsive (sensory avoidant) to sensory input. At one end of the scale we have visual complexity: this is a busy interior, lots of things to look at, lots of visual stimulation, maximalist, rich or vibrant. At the other end of the scale we have visual simplicity: this is a sparse interior, fewer things…

Do you ever walk into a room and feel like something’s just... off, but you can’t quite put your finger on it? You’re not alone. Often when clients come to me with spaces that don’t quite sing, and more often than not, it’s due to a few simple missteps. The good news? With a bit of tweaking, you can completely transform a room into something that feels beautiful, effortless and uplifting. I’ve put together a few essential troubleshooting questions to ask to yourself, based on my golden rules for creating a balanced and characterful interior.

As the crisp air of autumn rolls in, I start feeling that urge to embrace the season’s warmth and comfort within my home. Like most working mums, I don’t have time for wholesome, hand crafted, creative projects. Nonetheless, you don’t need to spend a lot of time or a fortune to transform your home into a snug retreat that welcomes in the colder months. 

1. Layer Up with Textiles

One of the easiest ways to bring warmth into your home is by layering textiles. Think throws, cushions and rugs. Swap out your light summer cushions and bedding for heavier...

How much does it cost to do up your home in 2024? The cost of decorating has changed significantly in recent years and it can be confusing to work out how best to spend your budget to make the most of it. Did you know that antique furniture generally costs less than new (and it’s usually solid wood where even quite expensive modern furniture is often veneered MDF), but antique rugs usually cost more than new ones? Did you know that you could save £300 per window buy choosing Roman blinds instead of curtains? Below, I’ve set out low, average …

Decorating a child’s bedroom can be loads of fun, but you have a dauntingly tough client, and if you’re pregnant and designing a nursery, chances are you’re trying to make decisions with baby brain fog! Here’s a secret: when I had my son, I had no idea what I wanted his nursery to be like! 4 years on, I’m brimming with ideas for kids’ rooms! Not least inspired by my 12 years working with children and teenagers and of course my own 2 children, they have become one of my favourite rooms to decorate. In this blog I’ve set out …

Are you refreshing your interior on a budget? Many of us have hang-ups about spending large sums of money, and feel like we can’t have or don’t deserve lovely things. Perhaps you feel those are the reserve of wealthier people than you, or simply that your budget won’t accommodate any luxuries at all. Here are my top tips for getting high-end quality without breaking the bank.

I’m so excited to launch this new way of working with you! This blog is about the design journey I took with a client using the Designer for a Day method.

Strap in, this is a technical one! For those of you interested in understanding colour beyond the basics of the colour wheel, this blog is a deep dive into the techinical breakdown of a colour and its related shades and hues. This can help you to build a really successful colour scheme even if you don’t have a natural eye for colour, and can indeed help you to train your eye for colour.

Interior designers talk about investing in the ‘touch points’ - the bits of your home you touch multiple times a day - and ensuring they are made out of authentic materials ... I felt it was important to have solid brass handles for my kitchen cabinets, and to ensure it felt characterful and refined I wanted it to be unlacquered brass. This is the kind of brass that develops a patina over time ... There are 2 ways to get the high-end goods without splashing your cash - second hand or DIY. To make this one work for me, I did both!

Someone asked me what I meant by ‘Spatial Planning Concept’ and I thought, what an excellent question! It can be easy to fall into using design jargon when you eat, sleep and breathe interiors, so here’s a bit of a glossary and in insider’s view of the interior design journey. I hope it’s helpful!