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25 Jul 19

Biophilia, colour-blocking and our childhood homes – show notes S4 Ep2

Hello and welcome to the second episode of series four of The Great Indoors and a big thank you to Topps Tiles for sponsoring our latest series. If you haven’t already, you can listen to the full show here and please remember to rate and subscribe – it all helps other lovely listeners find our pearly gems of wisdom and become part of The Great Indoors tribe!

So in today’s episode, we discuss whether our childhood homes shape our future interior tastes, the hot topic of biophilia, a return to the colour-blocking trend and of course, my personal tongue-in-cheek fave, design crimes.

Are we influenced by our childhood homes?

I was clearly influenced by my childhood home(s) to some extent as my parents were the original fixer-uppers! We moved quite a bit when I was growing up and I became quite intrigued with the transformations my mum and dad created – with the odd mishap here and there!

My real family home was from the age of six until I moved out and I can remember my mum fully embraced the decorating trends of the era – and yes I’m talking rag-rolling, stippling and scumble glazes – you name it! And I have to say, my teenage bedroom featured some extravagant paint effect decor, so I guess you could say I was inspired by my Mum’s love for the creative techniques and projects.

Kate related much more to her grandmother’s style – furniture in particular and has some pieces dotted around her house  – which are much more ‘her’ than her mum’s swags and curtain pelmets. Kate feels very much attached to the sentimental pieces and the stories they tell, I, however, became somewhat stricter when we moved and insisted if things don’t fit the space – they have to go! Sorry, Robinson family!

So, while we may take snippets of inspiration from our childhood homes, and it may skip a generation, we do inevitably form our own tastes and styles.

Biophilic design
 Biophilia and the benefits of introducing plants and greenery to the home are discussed by interior designer Sophie Robinson. A green velevet sofa, plenty of houseplants and light interiors all create the look. read more here. #biophilia #sophierobinson #podcast #thegreatindoors

Sainsbury’s Home Urban Paradise collection features invigorating green accessories set off by natural greenery in the form of house plants

So this is a subject which has had the spotlight recently – Biophilia is the love of nature and in particular the human attraction to natural processes. So why have plants come back into fashion again? Well, it could be that we have become more aware of the benefits of having living plants around the home. For one, they absorb toxins which in this age of technology can only be a good thing, and of course, the colour green is invigorating. In addition to greenery, biophilic design and eco expert Oliver Heath has stated that there have been studies showing that natural materials such as wood, wool and stone can actually help reduce stress and heart rates! You can see Kate’s full interview Oliver here, where they discuss this fascinating subject in depth.

Biophilia, is a love of nature. A refurbishment project by Oliver Heath features a natural reclaimed wooden clad wall and a variety of living plants in his vintage boho home in Brighton. #biophilia #oliverheath #podcast #sophierobinson

A full eco refurbishment of a 1960s house in Brighton by Oliver Heath, a biophilic dream!

In my recent office refurbishment at home, I just had to knock a hole in the wall to give me a view of the garden from my desk. The room before the renovation was dark, uninspiring and had no view at all. Now I get the best view in the whole of east Sussex. My home office was the old dining room and its a really good size but as my job takes up most of my week, I feel it’s important to prioritise having a really great space. I have written more on the subject on how to design your ultimate work space here.

Colour blocking

Use geometric patterns as a colour block design. Linee Studio featured clean lines and complementing colours so the space doesn’t look too busy

This is one trend that started life in the fashion world and has translated into the interiors world perfectly. Case in point, fashion designer Roksanda Ilincic makes her interior design debut that echoes her style. She designed this penthouse apartment (below) in the Gasholders complex in London’s Kings Cross.

Roksanda’s design features a mix of midcentury and modern furniture, a clever mix of curiosities and specially commissioned artwork. The table is by Angelo Mangiarotti from 1970, the Costes dining chairs are by Philippe Starck.

As the name suggests, it uses different – ideally strong – colours in large blocks. For me, you can never enough colours in a room but if you’re starting out you can achieve the look fairly simply by choosing a strict palette of around three ‘hero’ core colours and you can do this with a plain piece of furniture, a rug, and artwork. If you have an open plan space, paint blocks or sections on the walls to create zones.

Cape Red doorway by Little Greene

For the more adventurous among you, use the walls as your canvas to introduce different colours on each wall or section of the wall and even the ceiling. In my opinion, colour blocking works best when using bold, saturated colours that really make a statement.

Design Crimes

Much to Kate’s horror I recently invested in a new TV – all 49inches of it as opposed to Kate’s 27, the size of my computer monitor! Throughout my career in magazines, the TV was always frowned upon and quite rightly so – you don’t really want to look at a huge black block in the middle of the room.  So as the majority of us embrace modern technology and increasing screen sizes, the best solution is to try and incorporate it within a scheme – as I did in my mum’s annex with her custom build shelving.

My mum’s bookcase was built so the TV would sit snugly within it

It seems Emily Henderson agrees as she recently said that we never see a TV in any interiors magazines, when in fact that’s what most living rooms are for, so why try and hide them? The TV on most people’s wish list is the Samsung Frame TV which becomes a piece of art when it’s turned off. For a small monthly fee, you can select your favourite artwork from some the top galleries including the Tate Modern and the V&A or you can display some your own masterpieces.

Spot the TV – OldBrandNew’s gallery wall. The central ‘artwork’ is the Samsung Frame TV

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Catch Sophie In All Her Colourful Glory On Instagram

We are back, it’s PODCAST DAY! After a little l We are back, it’s PODCAST DAY! After a little  lie down over Christmas Kate and I are rebooted and cuddled up inside our ‘duvet dens’ for remote recording Lockdown 3.0. . We have so much to catch up on including more ‘home office’ makeovers. Stop the press, Tom has finally been installed in his new green office that was previewed last series , pictured, and @mad_about_the_house is also having a complete reshuffle now that she has two large teenage sons living at home full time taking up all the space , and fridge contents by the sounds of it. 🍔. We discuss our exciting plans for the year ahead and share our thoughts on the trends for 2021. So for all this and more head on over to the podcast app and find us in The Great Indoors! 
CREDITS walls painted Sage and onion and windows in Lamp black @littlegreenepaintcompany . Blind made by @willowbertinteriors in Textile under Ekvatorn by Joseph Frank’s @svenskttenn . Table is old IKEA. Vintage Eames chair @vinestreetvintage Cushion @fannyshorter Seagrass flooring @alternativeflooring 
#thegreatindoors #podcast #interiorspodcast #wfh #homeoffice #greenroom #threemugs #desksetup #homestudio
How you doing? Just a reminder that while it might How you doing? Just a reminder that while it might appear like we are living the perfectly curated life  in these squares it’s a short swipe to reveal the reality! Lockdown has its unique stresses and I’m making a pact to be gentle on myself and everyone around me. Let me know what your coping strategies are right now. Mine today is makeup and big earrings. 
Thanks to @franklybold for this insanely fabulous pair . When times gets tough, the earrings just get bigger! #gift 

#colourlover #banthebeige #earrings #bigjwellery #bigearrings #lockdown #lockdownlife #lockdown2021
Friday! 🤩 It’s all about the small wins and Friday! 🤩 
It’s all about the small wins and I made it to the end of the week. But already 2021 has me feeling weary. I had such a lovely relaxing  Christmas break and this week has been full steam ahead with all kinds of 💩 thrown at me and I haven’t even started home schooling yet! 😫 But one thing that gave me a mood boost was dressing up in this magnificent gown from @las_ninas_textiles . I met fellow colour lover Nina on these squares and just adore her brand, her ethos and her fringe. Thank you Nina for your beautiful gift of colour joy! It really has shone a Latin rainbow on a dismal grey British week. This stunning indigo and huipil dress even has little threads of glitter running through it. 🌈 I’m pairing it with cosy leggings and my trusty @grensonshoes boots so I might never take it off! 
What do you do to cheer yourself out of the doldrums?

#gift #colourlover #banthebeige #lasninastextiles #haulternativefashion #sustainablefashion #colourlover #lasninastextiles #whomadeyourclothes #dresslikeyoudecorate #dresslikeyourhome #ihavethisthingwithcolour
Who’s back at their desk this week with big plan Who’s back at their desk this week with big plans for their home in 2021! I’m thrilled and excited that my online course Colour Psychology for interiors is open for enrolment TODAY! 🛎🛎🛎 By far the most popular course to date this is a deep dive into how colour works on a deeper more emotional level. Discover how to blend colour harmoniously in your schemes and understand which palettes are perfect for you. Because we all have very different connections to colour and design and finding out what your authentic palette and style is is fundamental to creating a home you love. I’ve spent years honing my own style but with this course you can nail it in a matter of weeks! And it’s a beautiful deep dive into self discovery and creativity while  helping you gain clarity, confidence and cut through the overwhelm. Because there is enough of that going around already! 🤪 I’ll be back here at 6pm tonight on an Instagram live to tell you more about the transformational power of Colour Psychology for interiors so please join me and ask any questions! Bring on the colour joy! 🌈🌈🌈

📷 @aluncallenderphoto #colourpsychology #colourpsychologyforinteriors #colourlover #banthebeige #backtowork #interiordesign #interiordesigner #interiorsesignschool #interiorsesignonline #houseofhackney #newyearnewhome #homegoals #colourmyhome #mycolourfulinterior #colourfulhomevibe #mycreativeinterior #nesttoimpress #stylishhomevibes #atmine
The year we stayed at home. 2020 has taught me to The year we stayed at home. 2020 has taught me to care and love the simple things. And in many ways I’m blessed that being at home is often just where I want to be. The year ahead still holds so many unknowns and managing fears, expectations and anxieties will continue to be part of the battle.  But making a house a home can really help us feel safe and grounded. So here are some beautiful flowers, and rainbow baubles that go towards making my home feel the best it can. How do you make your home feel extra special and bring a smile to your face 😊? 

📷 @aluncallenderphoto flowers @sageandco.floraldesign baubles @rockettstgeorge.co.uk lamp @pookylights walls in lazuli @zoffanyfw artwork @alexmayhughes 

#houseahome #colourlover #banthebeige #marchtothebeatofyourowndrum #homesweethome
This is becoming a habit! All dressed up and no wh This is becoming a habit! All dressed up and no where to go, AGAIN! Ha! Fairwell 2020! It’s been....an experience! Big love to all of you! I’ve LOVED hanging out with you all on these squares!🥰 

📷 @aluncallenderphoto  #colourlover #banthebeige #newyearseve #bye2020 #greatindoors #bbbinteriors 
Dress is @stinegoyastudio at @sirene.boutique ( bought last year)
Hello!!! How ARE you?! I’m loving this twixmas t Hello!!! How ARE you?! I’m loving this twixmas time, having long lie ins, reading loads, and on that subject currently ‘Think like a monk’ by @jayshetty is PERFECT right now for a mental reset. I’m resisting thoughts of 2021, of work or ‘real life’, for just a couple more days. I see lots of people clearing down the decorations and getting the house feeling fresh, but I’m keeping the twinkle a little longer. But I can feel the batteries are recharging and boy they needed too! I meant to do my yearly vision board today but couldn’t get motivated to do that either! . How are you all doing. Anyone feeling ready to take on the new year yet?  #tapfordetails 
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#twixmas #newyear2021 #colourfulhomevibe #colourlover #banthebeige #bbbinteriors #gidc #sodomino #credenza
All dressed up and no where to go! Ha ha! In reali All dressed up and no where to go! Ha ha! In reality I’m in my joggers peeling a mountain of root vegetables but living the dream on the grid just for you! Thanks so much for all of you who have spread the joy and magic of Christmas on these squares. I’ve loved the colour, the creativity and the joy it’s bought. Wishing you all a special Christmas however you are making it work for you, which probably wasn’t  what you’d ever have expected. A special heartfelt virtual hug going out to all of you struggling at this time. See you on the other side! 

📷 @aluncallenderphoto . Garland by @sageandco.floraldesign . Dress @roksandailincic ( not an ad obvs but I know your gonna ask!) 

#christmasdecor #colourfulhomevibe #colourfulchristmas #banthebeige #colourlover #fireside #christmasgarland #christmasgarlanddecor #woodburner #countryliving #countrylife #countryinteriors
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