As an interior designer, my style seems to be a recurring theme when asked questions or taking part in interviews. I think it’s one of those things people almost expect from a designer; surely we must all subscribe to a design style and one style alone? I always had mixed feelings about this because, for me, style is dictated by so many factors when I start working on a project. What is the history of the building? Who lives in the building? How do they use the spaces and what are their expectations from their home? What do they love, and what are the things they really dislike?
I take all of the information I gather during a first initial consultation and let that guide me when starting work on the design scheme. And if you are one of those people who feel like they *should* settle down and live happily ever after, with a chosen style, I would advise you to start the same way.
So how do we, at Keyhole Interiors, approach a design job? I’m not telling you that I don’t have my preferred interior styles; what I’m trying to explain is that I love myself a bit of a blend. I love contemporary design, and that is usually my starting point when designing. Elements of rustic, eclectic and industrial tend to get mixed into the contemporary, creating a unique and liveable space I (and hopefully my clients) am proud to show off. One thing that never changes is that every design scheme we put together is inspired by nature. There is no better teacher or source of inspiration than nature and we are constantly using its textures, colours and materials as the base of our design schemes.
A few tips when trying to figure out your style…
There is no pressure
You do not need to choose, no matter what others tell you. If you love Scandinavian design but you also love farmhouse style wardrobes, there is absolutely no reason why you couldn’t successfully marry the two together. It’s called rustic-skandi and you are not the only one who loves it!
Mindful shopping spree
Buy what you love, not what you think you should like or what the current style of your home dictates. It is far more important (and sustainable on the long term) to love your home and to have memories connected to the pieces in it, than to try and create a show home that hasn’t got your personality written all over it.
Your property will tell you a lot
Take a good look around your home and listen to what your property tells you. Following the building’s architecture and heritage doesn’t necessarily mean that if you live in a cottage you’ll have to decorate it with flowery patterns and driftwood furniture. But the house will gently nudge you in the right direction and you will soon figure out what really doesn’t work in a space if you just pay attention to its architecture.
Be smart when it comes to trends
When someone says trends come and go, they really aren’t lying! Some trends stick around for decades and more recent ones might only stay with us for 6 months. Don’t build your home around a fleeting trend, because there is a possibility that within a year you will feel like your living room is outdated. This is why it’s so important to create a home you love and you will love for a long time, rather than designing a scheme around something you’ve seen in a magazine in the ‘hot right now’ section. To re-design a home is no small task and not a cheap one either, so you don’t want to grow tired of it within a year or two.
Be brave, embrace your quirks and don’t be scared to apply them to the interior of your home! If you would like to learn more about the way good interior design can affect your life, have a look at this blog post written by Mon Interiors explaning ‘How Can Decor Influence Your Emotions At Home’!
Love,
Melinda
0 Comments