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11 Jun 20

Diversity in design, colour expert Marianne Shillingford and kitchen revamp Podcast show notes S7 Ep5

Bright green painted kitchen cabinets and large green dining table by Annie Sloan

In this episode Kate and I  discuss diversity within the British interior design community, we talk to colour expert and trend forecaster Marrianne Shillingford and share our tips and ideas around refreshing your kitchen decor. Here you’ll find all the links and useful images to support the show.

As always a big thank you to our sponsor Geberit for supporting the series. You can listen to the full episode here

Wow, what a week. This episode of the podcast goes out just two weeks after the death of George Floyd who was killed on the 25th May 2020 in police custody in America. His unjust death has sparked a protests around the world,  fighting for racial equality and that not all lives matter until #blacklivesmatter.

So what does this have to do with an interior design podcast?  It has been an extraordinary time for many of us to stop and think about our attitudes to racism and equality. We are responding to the call for us to be anti-racist and consider what that means and how we can be part of the change. I can start by looking in my own back yard and that is the interior design community. Kate and I felt we would bring the conversations we are having around the kitchen table to the podcast, and here we are.

Does interiors have a problem with diversity?

The short answer is yes, and we want to start by apologising for not addressing this topic sooner. However we wanted to begin by listening to the stories and experiences of  Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic voices; designers, editors, commissioners, stylists, bloggers and influencers, who all make up the wonderful world of interiors. Now is the time to withhold our opinions and resist rushing in with quick-fix solutions. So for this episode we pass the mic in order to start a conversation, with the intention that these conversations lead to more off-line conversations and onto significant change.

We reached out and were astounded at the response, especially from people who have never spoken on this subject before. The recent events have been very provocative for everyone so we are particularly grateful that so many people shared their views and often painful experiences at this time.

Designer Eva Sonaike has a UK based luxury homeware brand the sells internationally, drawing on her Nigerian heritage and love of colour

You can check out the great design accounts behind the voices here:

Gemma Samuels @happihabitat

Melody @architravelmel

Angie @somethingbluehome

Decor by Delali @decorbydelali   decorbydelali.com

Poonam Sharma   @modernluxeblog  modernluxe.co.uk

Terian Tilston @teriantilston_interiordesign  teriontilston.com

Rukmini Patel @rukminipatel  rukminipatel.com

Read Rukmini’s blog post about diversity here

Sarita Sharma @saritastylist  saritasharma.co.uk

Jecks Stone @personaabode personaabodeinteriors.com

Eva Sonaike @evasonaike evasonaike.com

Camellia Odojukan  @mrsodojukan

Bhavin Taylor  @ bhavintaylordesign  bhavintaylordesign.com

Busola Evans @busolaevans  livingetc.com

Michelle Ogundehin @michelleogundehin  michelleogundehin.com

Read Michelle’s blog post  discussing diversity here

Charmaine White @twhinteriors   thewhitehouseinteriors.com

Simon Hamilton @sihamilton747  simonhamilton.me

Thank you all for taking part and we’re sorry to those who contributed valuable stories but who we couldn’t include on this occasion.

Interior designer Bhavin Taylor enjoys encouraging his clients to make bolder colour choices

We don’t have the solutions at our fingertips right now but we hope, that by listening to these stories we can all work towards a more inclusive world that seeks out and celebrates talent regardless of skin colour. My take away from this episode is that we need to continue to listen and accept that there are hurdles put in front of people of colour, and help dismantle them. It’s clear to me that BAME people need to be seen, in this industry in order to feel like they have a place. And young people need to be actively encouraged that this is an industry that they can aim to be part of, succeed and be welcome. The interior design world will only be richer for it.

Interior designer Rukmini Patel creates colourful interiors that are stylish and unique rukminipatel.com

Poonam Sharma is a successful blogger and Instagrammer who shares her stunning home on her account @modernluxeblog

Interview with Marianne Shillingford

Marianne has, like me, been around the design block, and I first met her back in 2005. With a career spanning 25 years, she studied Fine art, ran her own interiors company, was artistic director of the National Design Academy, before venturing into journalism and TV. Finally, she’s found her legs under one of the most exciting tables in the industry as UK Creative Director of colour megalith Dulux. As part of the global Colour Futures team, the very influential global colour forecasting branch, she has her finger on the pulse of what the best-dressed walls will be wearing a full eighteen months in advance of the rest of us.

Marianne Shillingford, colour expert and Creative Director at Dulux

She also founded the Colour in Design Awards to encourage a new generation of designers and her passion for this industry is indeed infectious!

“I founded the Colour in Design awards which recognises and rewards great use of colour in design and it’s all about young, new people coming into the industry. In the last couple of years, I have to say I have seen more people with a greater diversity of background, although there still aren’t enough people with a story to tell of their culture and background. Although something is happening out there, there is greater confidence and think about it, the riskiest thing a young person can do with their future is to invest all their time and money in a precarious industry likes ours – it takes confidence, and it’s our job to help this next generation.”

Colour in Design Awards

The awards were launched to celebrate the use of colour in design and the talent of emerging designers. Also to show that colour is not just an aesthetic element of design, rather it’s a fundamental element.  Through these awards, it has enabled Marianne to meet hundreds of new designers who are pioneering the use of colour to change the outcome of design in a positive way.  Any graduates that would like to enter, you can find out more here.

Colour confidence

Marianne offered advice for those who are less confident about using colour and the barriers they find themselves behind.

“One thing we find easy to do is to buy small things that we can move around the house, but when it comes to committing to one colour that’s when we get scared. If you look at the small things, a piece of art, a beautiful cushion or something you’ve had for years, that’s where that magic colour lives. Use a colour picking tool like the Dulux Visualiser to be able to pick out the colours of those things you love and seeing them on the walls is where the journey starts.”

I know many people feel the fear when considering a strong colour, so the Visualiser sounds like a great tool. When it comes to dark colours, I often see people cop-out of making a full commitment and I loved Marianne’s analogy “you can’t be half married”. It’s a commitment!

How do you want to feel in a room?

This is at the core of a successful scheme and the question I always start with and it’s at the core of Marianne’s design philosophy too.  She thinks that more and more of us are finding it difficult to sleep during these turbulent times of a global pandemic, so if you are decorating why not surround yourself in colours that help you relax, feel restored and help you reach a deep sleep.

The rich jewel tone Emerald Glade by Dulux is the perfect shade to feel relaxed, restored and nurtured

If you find it hard sleeping (like my Tom) what are the best colours to use? Marianne suggests:

“Colours of the night, colours of the forest, deep emerald green, inky blues and deep dark greys where there is no visual stimulation of colour. It’s all about using colours that don’t stimulate, some colours demand attention and you’ll find it hard to concentrate on anything. For some, it’s about the tranquillity of soft biophilic green and beautiful colours that blur the indoors and out and for others, quiet colours are dark colours and you can combine these by having a deep dark green like Emerald Glade by Dulux.”

Marianne works at the core of colour forecasting and is on the panel to settle on the hotly anticipated Dulux Colour of the Year. The colour is chosen a year and a half in advance and is a reflection of what we all ‘need’ from a colour emotionally.  I wanted to know if the pandemic, which seems to have shaken the whole world upside down, is going to make the team desperately change tack. Marianne comments:

“The most important influence on trends is the human condition – what do we want and need from our homes? We started to see, global pandemic aside, a return to the familiar and return to nature and reconnection to things that make us feel safe and secure in an increasingly digital age. We are seeing a return of the softer colours in nature, think about where you would like to stomp off to after an argument – the countryside, hide in the forest – where you want to dream and relax. These beautiful organic colours, trends are reflected in how we are coping with what’s happening to us.”

So the colour of the year for 2021 is still on track and Marianne thinks that we will come out of this pandemic with the same worries but we may have more care, love and attention to all the details as we have enjoyed them, we’ve enjoyed the peace and cleaner air. So my money is on another green shade!

Kitchen revamps

So how do you give your kitchen a fresh up-to-date look? We have talked about painting cupboards plenty of times, but as a recap, as it’s a great way to the kitchen a facelift and if you can add more colour then I’m all for it. I’ve noticed there are so many fab makeovers on our Facebook group that I had to share the love. They have gone to the dark side, we’re talking, black, navy and inky shades.

Painting cupboards:

  • For a traditional/rustic kitchen – go for Chalk paint. Annie Sloan recommends allowing the finishing lacquer two weeks to cure.
  • Use a great undercoat like Zinsser – it can go on a multitude of surfaces without any need for laborious prep. You can then put any colour of your choice on top.

The fabulous and work-in-progress painted kitchen of Elizabeth Buckeridge I spotted on the Great Indoors Facebook page. I don’t care if she can’t reach the books to read Kate, it looks awesome.

Another place to make a difference is on the floor, not always the easiest as it depends on what’s down already. Often sneered upon but there are some fabulous vinyl flooring designs out there, check out Harvey Maria, Atra and Amtico. We also discussed painting or stencilling your existing floor with chalk paint. Here is the design that Kate mentioned that stylist Marianne Cotterill did for Annie Sloane using her chalk paint and a dinner plate. Genius!

Painting tiles with a dinner plate by Annie Sloan and styled by Marianne Cotterill

Huge thanks to Marianne for her uplifting and insightful input, always such a pleasure. Thank you to our fab sponsors, Geberit, our producer Kate Taylor and to you, our lovely listeners. Please feel free to pepper our podcast review page with your positive vibes and why not come and join the private Facebook page at The Great Indoors Podcast.

If you’ve been affected by the recent events surrounding #blacklivesmatter, here are some places where you can make a difference by donating:

Here in the UK

standuptoracism.org.uk
runnymedetrust.org/
institute-of-fundraising.org.uk/home/
inquest.org.uk/
theblackcurriculum.com/
southallblacksisters.org.uk/

 

In the US

blacklivesmatter.com/

minnesotafreedomfund.org/

reclaimtheblock.org/

bailproject.org/

 

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Cottagecore, Matt Gibberd interview and garden updates, Podcast show notes S7 Ep6 Bathroom design, interview with Laura Jane Clarke, Podcast show notes S7 Ep4

comments

Gude at Watermark Homes on 03.07.20

Another varied and interesting post! Thank you for sharing so many great new BAME accounts to follow.

Reply
Ryan on 15.12.20

It’s nice to hear that in the design industry is open to all colours and create a community that allows best ideas to be seen.

Reply

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DAY 18 of #easywininteriors and I’m getting the DAY 18 of #easywininteriors and I’m getting the paintbrush out! Giving old and unappreciated brown furniture of coat of colour is not just easy but quick too and you get ooodles of satisfaction giving something a new lease of life. Since the sun is starting to poke it’s head out it’s the perfect opportunity to fling open the windows, roll out the dust sheet, and calm your senses with the therapeutic strokes of a paint brush. I transformed these battered old Ercol chairs that I found at a car boot sale with an undercoat of Zinsser and a top coat of eggshell so they really can withstand the knocks. ( here’s a tip, use a sag brush for spindly furniture) I love how the pink legs pick up on the pink in the wallpaper. I’ve got a couple of pots of chalk paint waiting in the wings. This just might be the weekend to tackle the bedside tables at last! Have a wonderful weekend  and I hope the sun shines on you wherever you are! 

CREDITS Reclaimed terracotta tiles @ca_pietra_  Borastapeter Rubarber wallpaper @wallpaperdirect Clock @newgateclocks Doors painted in Rose Ash Light @sanderson1860 Everything else is vintage 

#easywininteriors #kitchen #countrykitchen #upcycle #upcycledfurniture #countryliving #countrylivingmodernrustic #countrykitchen #greenkitchen #greenandpink #interiorinspo #interiordesign
DAY 17 of #easywininteriors is all about making do DAY 17 of #easywininteriors is all about making do with what you’ve got and making it work. For most of us, decorating our home and choosing all the things we want to go with it is a long if not a life time journey and there are plenty of compromises along the way. One of the ways I make do with things I’m less happy about is with distraction. You can use colour to draw the eye and highlight the bits you do like and similarly blend away the areas that need to fade into the back ground. For me joinery, radiators and my unattractive windows all get painted in the same colour so they fall to the background and then the cushions and artwork can come to the fore and catch your eye. I painted these lovely old solid wood doors bright yellow on a whim with some left over paint. It was a quick and easy way to inject a burst of  colour joy. So don’t discount doors and architraves as a fun way to play with colour, but only if you have nice ones. 
On the PODCAST today @mad_about_the_house and I discuss more ways you can make do. I interview leading interior designer and queen of colour and pattern @nicolahardingandco who has amazing insights on how to go about planning your schemes, conjure mouthwatering colour palettes and work with what you’ve got. And our style surgery is from Callum who finds himself stuck with a shiny blue green sofa which he doesn’t love and doesn’t know what to put with. Obviously cover it with cushions and distract the eye with A bright yellow door Callum! 

If you have a question for our style surgery do please send it in as we are lining them up for the next series and we’d love to hear from you! Drop us an email to thegreatindoorspod@gmail.com.You can here all our ramblings and insights on today’s show The Great Indoors and thankyou to @katetaylorldn for producing the show. 

#thegreatindoors #bluesofa #yellowdoor #banthebeige #interiorspodcast #podcast #interiordesign #interiorinspo
DAY 16 of #easywininteriors and I’m extolling th DAY 16 of #easywininteriors and I’m extolling the benefits of an occasional chair. I’ve always loved occasional chairs primarily for their decorative function. I’m a patterned fabric addict and so an occasional chair I’d another opportunity to add more pattern, more colour and another cushion to boot! But during these extended periods of lock down and staying at home I’ve appreciated the quiet little corners they offer. I’m lucky enough to find a space for one here on my landing but they can also find a home in a bedroom, a home office, under the stairs or indeed #lifegoals in the bathroom. So rather than playing second fiddle to THE SOFA put your occasional chair in pride of place and grab yourself 5 minutes solitude! Most of mine are junk shop funds bought back to live with my hoarded stash of remnant fabrics. So it’s time to raid grannies attic and  create a seat that makes you smile . 🥰  use the hashtags #easywininteriors to share your favourite corners of escape.

#easywininteriors #vintagearmchair #armchair #occassionalchair #colourlover #banthebiege
DAY 15 of #easywininteriors and I’m having a re DAY 15 of #easywininteriors  and I’m having a reshuffle on the bookcase to celebrate the happy Back To School vibes! 🙌 YES! This one is a work in progress because sorting your books as to the spine colour can be really meditative! I’m excited for you guys to share your colour coded bookcases using the hashtag #easywininteriors because I’ve seen some amazing examples on here! This idea can also include colour coding your ornaments or glassware collection too. Somehow grouping them in blocks  just intensifies the colour and I love the 🌈 effect. Happy faffing! 

#interiorinspo #interiorstyling #colourlover #banthebeige #faffthegaff #bookshelf #shelfie #shelfiestyling #rainbow #rainbowstyle #mycolourfulinterior #colourfulhomevibe
DAY 13 of #easywininteriors and Sundays here are o DAY 13 of #easywininteriors and Sundays here are often the day I get the house in order before the week starts again. It’s laundry day, the on-line shop gets done and if I can be bothered I might do some batch cooking. 💪 But the garden is also pulling our attention at this time of year and I spent yesterday picking up twigs that have littered the garden after the high winds and piled it all up for kindling. Satisfying! I’m not a naturally tidy or organised person  but I do feel like I’m winning at life once chores have been done and everything is in it’s place. And here lies the easy win. If you have systems in place it makes it so much easier! This shoe storage was game changing. Before the hall was littered with shoes and bags that I was always tripping over. So planning your storage and then using it is key to creating order and an element of calm. And once the storage is fit to bursting, it’s time to have a declutter. How do you keep the house feeling orderly and calm and do you use Sunday as a Sort It day too? #sortitsunday 

CREDITS walls in Lazuli and woodwork in Perfect white @zoffanyfw . Havana Bauta cement Tiles @claybrookstudio . Fabrics are vintage and @thestripescompany . Stair runner @roger_oates 

#easywininteriors #colourlover #banthebeige #hallwaydecor #hallway #interiorinspo #declutter #storageideas #shoestorage
DAY 12 of #easywininteriors and I’m back in the DAY 12 of #easywininteriors and I’m back in the bedroom and enjoying a well earned lie in this morning! My morning routine has been really important to me during lock down. In  his brilliant book ‘think like a monk’ @jayshetty talks about how a positive morning ritual sets you up for the day. Similarly a good night time ritual sets you up for a good nights sleep. Styling up your bedroom  to support these ideas really helps! I’ve taken to setting my wake up alarm an hour before the rest of the house so I can enjoy some quiet solitude before the day gets going. I make my coffee in my favourite mug and spend a while reading or exercising. But no phone scrolling! My bedside is laid out with everything I need including a big pile of books and a dish for my watch and specs. I charge my phone in the kitchen to keep it away from temptation! Admittedly I’ve never had a problem sleeping but I was hardly what you’d call a morning person. Now it’s my favourite time of the day! Have a gorgeous lazy weekend folks x

CREDITS wallpaper @mollymahonblockprinting bedside table is vintage. Lamp @pookylights Vases and dishes all vintage. Pillows and duvet @cocoandwolf Flat sheet and bedthrow @societyofwanderers 

#easywininteriors #bedroomdecor #countrybedroom #colourfiedhomes #colourstylehome #colourlover #banthebeige #patternclash #interiorstyling #interiordesign #interiorinspo #faffthegaff
DAY 11 of #easywininteriors and we are over half w DAY 11 of #easywininteriors and we are over half way there! Whoop whoop, March is  just nine short days away! And I can feel the Spring vibes! It’s getting lighter, the bluebells are coming and the birds are singing! But back to it, we’ve got work to do! Today I’m sharing how I switch my home from working day to home time, without leaving the house. It’s so important for our mental health that we can make that transition. I’ve worked from home for years so I’ve always done this, but I find it essential to tidy my desk/kitchen table at the end of everyday and get it out of sight. This often means piling up all my paper work, laptop, pen pot and putting it all into a tray. And if you don’t have a deep tray a cardboard box does the job. Then hide it in the cupboard, pop it on a shelf or slide it under the table. The key is that you can’t see it and it doesn’t encroach on your non-work life. Out of sight out of mind kind of thing. 
And you might notice in the back of this shot is my 2021 vision board. I keep this in my view everyday as it helps keep me focused, uplifted and motivated. Im hosting a live webinar next Tuesday on how and why I create vision boards for every aspect of my life, including my interiors. If you’d like to join me it’s 7pm 23/02/21 and I can promise a fun, creative and enlightening evening! Link to book is up in my bio if you fancy getting a boost of inspiration towards creating your dream home. 

Happy Friday and have a lovely weekend 😍

#workingfromhome #myhomeoffice #interiorstyling #visionboard #interiorinspo #interiorinspiration #homeoffice #creativeworkspace #colourlover #colourcolorlovers #banthebeige
DAY 9 of #easywininteriors and I’m going to make DAY 9 of #easywininteriors and I’m going to make it super easy after yesterday’s kitchen cupboard love, which I’ll be honest, felt a bit strenuous! So today is all about creating as simple but effective styling moment; a trio of vases. Three seems to be the magic number when it comes to styling your objects and I have a few tips . I like to make sure there is a mixture of sizes, colour and textures but all held together with a theme. These three work because they’re  all vintage, Picked up from various car boot sales over the years! You can create little trios all over your home from the sideboards, book shelves, worktops, bathrooms and side tables. Push the tall one to the back and bring the small one to the fore but it’s the lack of symmetry that makes it pleasing. And you don’t have to stop with just vases, a trio of objects works with picture frames, ornaments and candle sticks too. 

#easywininteriors #vintagestyle #howivintage #myvintagehome #interiorstyling #interiorstyle #interiorinspo #colourlover #banthebeige
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