Answering my most asked house questions
The most asked questions about my home because very time I share a glimpse of the house on Instagram, my inbox fills up with questions. Where did that come from, what’s that colour, how did you do that. So, I’ve pulled together some of the questions I get asked most, with the honest answers so you can create a colour fuelled home you love too.
The Ludlow kitchen from Magnet in Chalk Blush, Harvest Yellow and Morello
What colour are your kitchen cabinets?
They’re painted in three colours: Harvest Yellow, Chalk Blush and Morello, all from the Ludlow hand painted range at Magnet. There are over twenty cabinet colours to choose from, which is a proper playground if you love colour as much as I do, but the trick isn’t picking your favourites at random. I took my lead from the Woodland Floral wallpaper I designed with Harlequin and pulled three colours straight out of it, which meant that the whole scheme had a true foundation that feels harmonious and authentically me. Yellow, pink and red might sound like a bold combination but they are very harmonius, sitting next to one another on the colour wheel and so sit together beautifully. I love how it proves that kitchens can be colourful too.
My family bathroom covered in Ottoline Wallpaper with baths and taps from Burlington Bathrooms painted in Blazer by Farrow and Ball
Has your bathroom wallpaper stood the test of time?
It’s been 5 years and not a single peel, so I’ll happily share the trick. Make sure the room is well ventilated, use an extra strong wallpaper adhesive, and don’t skip the prep on the wall you’re papering, that’s where most wallpaper disasters actually begin. It’s also worth knowing this particular room doesn’t have a shower. If it did, I’d be tempted to add a couple of coats of decorator’s varnish over the top to make it properly moisture resistant. Wallpaper in a bathroom is one of those things people assume is risky, but with the right groundwork it’s far more resilient than you’d think. I also made sure the splash backs were made in bathroom friendly a moisture resistant tongue and groove panelling, sealed with a coat of eggshell paint.
My colourful conservatory canopied in Wildflower Meadow Fabric from my Harlequin Collection
Where did you get your conservatory blinds?
Here’s a confession, they’re not blinds at all. I had a seamstress measure up the roof window panels and make fabric sails to fit, then we attached them with eyelets and hooks, screwed straight into the conservatory frame. The fabric corners simply hook into place, so I can take them down or wash them whenever I need to, although in practice I never do, because they create the most beautifully diffused light left up all year round. It’s also considerably cheaper and in my view more stylish than proper conservatory blinds, which is always worth considering before you assume the shop bought option is your only route. To say I’m thrilled with my beautiful tented canopy is an understatement!
Woodwork and walls in Lazuli by Zoffany
What colour is your hallway?
This was the very first colour decision I made in the house, back when it was head to toe magnolia, and I couldnt live with it a day longer. This is a very special colour called Lazuli by Zoffany, a rich, deep, dark cobalt blue that’s been a long standing favourite of mine for years. I love how it changes throughout the day, warm and jewell like in the mid-day sun then turning into a rich moody navy by night. I colour drenched the entire ground floor and landing in it, and it’s become a real design thread through the whole home. You’ll find an echo of that blue in every single room, whether it’s in a wallpaper, a fabric or just a single accessory. That repetition is what makes maximalist interiors feel cohesive and anchors even the most abundant homes and spaces.
What’s your favourite room in the house?
This is so hard to answer! Every room has its time to shine depending on what mood I am in. But if I was forced to choose, it’s got to be the kitchen dining room. It was the last room we designed and renovated, and its had the biggest impact on the way we actually live in this house. It’s become the real hub, for family, for friends, for everything and I love how it has really bought the element of gatherings to the heart of my home.
Colour psychology is at work here too. Warm yellows and soft pinks are proven to lift a mood without ever feeling jarring, so the room energises you when you need it, but can also be very calming making it the perfect centre of the family home.
Beni Ourain rug from Studio Lid showroom in Sidi Ghanem
Where do you buy your Moroccan rugs?
I’ve been travelling to Marrakech for years, both for inspiration and to host my design retreats, and shopping there is one of my great joys. Sometimes I’ll pick up a vintage piece in the souk, and I’ll always make time to visit my favourite Soufny Art Gallery for a bit of inspiration too, where Ibrahim, who knows absolutely everything there is to know about rugs, tells me all of the incredible details. If I have something specific in mind, I go to Studio Lid in Sidi Ghanem, Marrakech’s industrial design quarter, where the Lamdaghri family have been selling carpets for generations, from exceptional vintage pieces to producing new rugs to order. They ship worldwide and can commission bespoke sizes, which makes buying something special from Morocco far easier than people assume.
Is there anything you regret?
Yes! Just one thing, and it happened early on. I painted my office entirely in white, convinced I needed a colour free space in order to think clearly. I hated it almost immediately. I never wanted to sit in there to work, and instead of feeling inspired I felt completely flat and unmotivated. The fix was simple, I wrapped the walls in glorious, colour-soaked wallpaper and pattern, and now it’s a room I actually want to be in, one that helps me do my best work and think creatively. It makes total sense to me now and proved my theory that I now die on the word for- that colour makes you the best version of yourself.
sr office
If there is anything that you are still curious about, let me know in the comments on my Instagram. here…
