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14 Nov 17

DIY SOS Children in Need special for the Roots Foundation

DIY SOS The Million Pound Build for Children in Need for The Roots Foundation in Swansea

When I got the call to see if I would be available to join the team for the DIY SOS Children in need special I knew this was going to be something on a whole other level of epic. I have to pinch myself sometimes that I have been lucky enough to carve myself such a creatively fulfilling career, but working with the team at DIY SOS just takes this up to a whole other level. You’ve all seen the show so you know that Nick Knowles and his band of brothers galvanise a community to pull together to create something really special for someone who has been dealt a bad hand in life, through no fault of their own. But for Children in Need The Big Build, the boys really raise the bar. In this post I introduce you to some of the faces who made this happen. The rooms reveals will be in a follow up post!

Interior designer Sophie Robinson with Pudsey bear for children in need DIY SOS

Feeling star struck to meet this big guy

This time round DIYSOS swoops in to help The Roots Foundation Swansea who is a charity with a mission to help and support kids who are in the care system or more poignantly getting ready to leave the care system. Be that foster homes, guardianship or care homes, they are ultimately often feeling very alone in the world. My husband and I are currently going trough the gruelling adoption process so I have a very acute awareness of how harsh it is for kids who come from a very broken and damaged homes. It’s totally heart breaking to think that some kids slip through the net. They never get adopted into families and remain on the outskirts of society. I was particularly humbled to meet Emma from Roots and her amazing team. I’m just so chuffed this show gets to also shine a light on what these guys do, and make us all challenge our opinions about what we think of kids who’ve had a rough life.

Emma lewis from The Roots Foundation with Mark Millar and Pudsey the Bear. And the delapidated scout hut.

So how could anybody not get behind Emma and team at Roots who were carrying out their work from a draughty scout hut. Enter the DIYSOS team and some 900 volunteers. With just 11 days to build a state of the art Community center complete with 3 live in studio flats to provide a transition for kids leaving care and going out into the big wide world alone. There was a really strong vibe amongst the team that the Swansea community were out to show these kids that they are worthy and they do matter and the wider community cares about them. My task was to bring my sense of design and colour to the project. What an ask! 350 square meters would be made up of a community space, office and four self-contained apartments to help the young adults transition into independent living.

Interior designers Sophie Robinson and Gordon Whistance from BBC Ones DIYSOS

DIYSOS in house designer Gordon Whistance. All round super star, talented man and one of my favourite people because he makes things happen!

Well of course I rose to the challenge like a Phoenix from the flames. The team at DIYSOS wanted colour so paint chart in hand I rustled up some of my most mouth-watering colour popping schemes yet. Working with the in house design team at DIYSOS we pushed the boundaries every step of the way and the designs are amongst my most accomplished yet. Not only thanks to the design team but the retailers, furniture makers, and joiners we invite on board who couldn’t have been more generous with their talents. It blows me away every time how generous people are donating their time and their products for the build. It’s completely epic what is achieved.

Interior designer Sophie Robinson with garden designer lawrence Mitchell

Humbled by this mans talent, garden designer Laurence Mitchell who turns mud into gold

I had people travelling as far as Edinburgh to Swansea to help me style the rooms and finish on the last night. Working through till 5am to dress the rooms the team of volunteers didn’t let me down and stayed with me through the thick of it. I fondly remember on the final push we were just looking at the huge building, thick with builders dust, and thinking we were never going to get it clean in time, let alone dressed for the morning reveal. We threw out a tweet asking for cleaners and before we knew it this chap arrived with the most enormous industrial floor cleaner. He’d been watching X Factor at home, checked his phone and thought, ‘I can help with that’, and rocked up! We had him cleaning floors well into the small hours of the morning with the most infectious smile on his face throughout. That’s the power of DIYSOS. Always a smile and an ‘ I can help with that’ attitude in the face of adversity. It’s a wonderful insight into the true nature of the human spirit.

Mark Millar, Sophie Robinson and Alun Wyn Jones

All hands on deck. Project manager Mark Millar and Welsh rugby hero Alun Wyne Jones.

You can watch DIY SOS Children in Need Special at 8pm Wednesday 15th November. To donate to Children in Need here.

The purple shirts from BBc ones DIYSOS Jules, CHris and Billy with interior designer Sophie Robinson

Rod, Jane and Freddy with er… Bungle

 

One of the many cupcake donations which keeps the troops going

 

Part of the 5am styling team!

 

Interior designer Sophie Robinson from DIYSOS

If you ever need a picture hanging, or try 50 pictures hanging from midnight to 5am, then Steve is your man! Total legend

Could someone explain why builders can’t resist picking me up!

Errr, they’re all soggy!

 

 

 

 

I’m just delighted

Without wanting t ruin the ending…we did it!

 

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comments

Zoe Meredith on 15.11.17

Can’t wait to watch it tonight Sophie!! What an achievement, well done you! Your smile in these pics is something else, you look so happy and chuffed. An inspiration to us all. Zoe xxx

Reply
Sophie Robinson on 15.11.17

Thanks darling! Working on DIYSOS is like being inside a big human hug!

Reply
Zoe Meredith on 15.11.17

It was fantastic Sophie! Hats off to you and all the team involved. Big hugs all round Xxx

Reply
Christine on 21.11.17

I’ve just watched it… your designs are amazing. I wish the programme could show more of you putting your ideas together. I love that the apartments are all different, and all so beautiful. The children and young adults are really going to appreciate what you’ve done for them.
Christine

Reply
Sophie Robinson on 11.01.18

The programme isn’t nearly long enough to cover everything that goes on but it is a shame the deisgn element never gets fully explored. But then that’s what my blogs for!

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No decorations are allowed in the house until the No decorations are allowed in the house until the first of December and we start the morning with Arthur’s advent Calender! That’s as far as I’ve got in the hallway I’ll be honest as this grid post is a hark back to a previous year. But I’ll be decorating it the same way I do every year. I like to use a mixture of colourful baubles I’ve collected over the years, paper  honeycomb balls for maximum wow and plenty of foliage. I keep the ribbons year on year and rarely buy anything new. The repeated tradition is part of the charm. 
On the podcast @mad_about_the_house and I talk all things Thrifty Christmas. It’s been a really challenging year for most so we invited guests @rocketandsquash and @hazelgardinerdesign to share their money saving ideas to make sure you don’t bust the bank account and yet still have a lovely treaty time. Ed has some lovely ideas for feasting around Christmas that crucially cuts down on waste and avoids unnecessary expensive ingredients. And Hazel loves to use foraged foliage in her floral displays so has plenty of ideas on that. 
It’s a peach of a show jam packed with creative inspiration. Listen on your podcast app, and why not leave a comment below on how you will be being thrifty this Christmas 👇 

#1stdecember #itsbeginningtolookalotlikechristmas #hallway #hallwaydecor #christmasdecor #thegreatindoors
Who is looking forward to the weekend! 🙌 Welc Who is looking forward to the weekend! 🙌 

Welcome to a rare tour of my home! Since every room looked tidy, I grabbed my phone to show you around. 

You can see how I have lots of colour and pattern in every room but still the house has flow. I use the same palette of colours through which helps make it all hang together. But it takes more than that to make a maximalist home sing. Repeating the same materials, design motifs, styles and shapes helps to create a feeling of cohesion.

For the ultimate insight into how to decorate in a way that supports you emotionally, flexes your creativity and leaves you loving your home, check out my interior design school where I teach you  everything you need to know. 

- how to harmonise colours
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And this weekend you can enjoy 25% of ALL COURSES across my entire design school by using the code BLACKFRIDAY25 at check out. Click on the link in my bio or visit courses.sophierobinson.Co.uk ☝️

#housetour #banthebeige #bbbinteriors #colourlover #colourfulhome #maximalistinteriors #eclecticdecor #onlinedesign #designschool
It’s podcast day on The Great Indoors and we hav It’s podcast day on The Great Indoors and we have a very special guest! @banjo.beale is a BAFTA award winning TV star, winner of series 3 @interiordesignmasters_tv , interior designer and recently adding author to his rosta of talents. While reality TV launched Banjo’s stellar interiors career we managed to bag him for a chat while he took a short beak from sourcing vintage for his second series of Design The Hebrides. 

This is an opportunity to listen to this whirlwind of a design mind, with insights into what it takes to win a TV completion, how living on a remote island in the Scottish Hebrides has made him ultimately resourceful and his unique design process. 

Listen to The Great Indoors, whoever you get your podcast. Hit that subscribe button and come back here to let us know what you thought! 

#thegreatindoors #banjobeale #designingthehebrides #interiordesignmasters
This is the perfect time of year to up level your This is the perfect time of year to up level your bedding. With the autumn chill on its way I’d rather hike up the tog count than whack up the central heating. 

Beautiful bedding and linen is the ultimate luxury and at this time in my life 👵🏻 my bed is up there as my absolute favourite place to be and my sleep is honestly my favourite pastime! So making it the most comforting, soothing, replenishing experience possible is my priority. 😴

I recently up-levelled my duvet and pillows  to @naturalmatuk goose down products and here is my unbiased review. The pillows are the like sleeping on an actual cloud! Along with the 9 tog duvet I’ll stay cosy all winter, and leave the thermostat turned down.  @naturalmatuk only use natural, sustainable materials, organic cotton and responsibly sourced feathers, which all support a good nights sleep. With a hectic lifestyle, my bed is my ultimate sanctuary 🥱

What’s your self care routine and secret to the perfect pampered night sleep? 

#ad PR product 
#naturalmat #bedroom #bedlinen #bedroombliss #bedlinen #pillows #bedding #bedroomdecor #bedroom #pamperyourself #pampernight
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This dress shape is so perfect. I love the big sleeves, that goes so well with a fine knit underneath and the long gathered skirt looks perfect with boots, both of which I bought recently at @cosstores . Team with my signature big earrings ( these are old ones from @anthropologieeu ) and I feel a million dollars! Happy Monday folks! We can do this 👊

#ad - pr product. 
#dresslikeyourhome
I hosted an event this week to show off all the ha I hosted an event this week to show off all the hard work we’ve done in the house and showcase the new collection with @harlequinfw . It was a wonderful opportunity to fill the house with laughter, great conversation and celebrate our mutual love of colour! Since the pandemic I work more and more from home and it felt good to open the door and let people in. 

The guest list was a mix of writers, artists, gardeners, cooks, designers and fashion stylists but one thing we have in common is embracing the joy of colour and celebrating how our homes are the foundation for a happy and fulfilling life. 

However getting the house ready for such a group of discerning eyes was rather exhausting! I had to hide under the duvet yesterday! But I’m so grateful to everyone who came, their positivity and inspiration. Most of whom I met here on instagram. This is a special place to make like minded connections, yet it was great to actually have an excuse to get together in real life! 

And this weekend Tom and are are celebrating not doing any house DIY for the first time in ages! 

Special Thanks to @mad_about_the_house @erica_davies @hillhousevintage @andrea_childs_journo @theottohouse @clairevallis @michelleogundehin @mollymahonblockprinting @sophieabbottartist @gemswholesomekitchen @edwardrobinsonid @dahliabeach for making it such a wonderful day 

 Thanks to @gemswholesomekitchen fir feeding us! 

thanks to @benjaminfoxdressmaker fir the custom made dress!

#harlequinxsophierobinson #athome #colourlover #banthebeige
#AD Admit it! I can’t be the only one beginning #AD Admit it! I can’t be the only one beginning to plan for Christmas. Conversations about the menu for the big day has started with gusto in my family. But my focus is always around creating a magical table setting. This year I’ll be incorporating these classic Christmas tree plates from @by_spode  that set the festive scene without the need to add loads of other fiddly decorations. I’m all about maximum impact, minimum effort this time of year, and I love how this traditional design (85 years old this year) is the perfect touch of nostalgia to accompany my bright Paper straw stripe tablecloth and colourful gloss candle sticks. I then just add simple flowers by snipping some hydrangea heads and popping them in tumblers dotted along the table. Finally bring it all to life with plenty of candlelight. And voila, it’s the perfect table setting for a fantastical festive celebration. Oh, how I wish the Christmas lunch was this easy to prepare! 

#byspode #spode #christmasdecor #christmastable #christmastablesetting #layingthetable #tablescape #christmastablescape #christmastree #christmasdecor #christmasinspiration #banthebeige #colourfulchristmas
I’m so excited to present my new ready made cush I’m so excited to present my new ready made cushion collection, in collaboration with @harlequinfw sold exclusively at @johnlewis 
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Cushions have long been an obsession of mine and I’m so thrilled with this capsule collection for @johnlewis because it combines all the pattern and colour so you can get an instant hit of maximalist spirit by creating any combination that works for you. There is the iconic Sherbert stripe, sitting amongst luxurious embroidered designs and heavily patterned velvets. My personal favourite is the deeply colourful jewel bug design🪲 Which ones yours?!

#cushion #cushioncover #maximalist #maximalistinteriors #bbbinteriors #colourmyhome #colourfulinteriors #colourfuldecor #sofaupholstery #sofaupgrade #livingroomdecor #interiorstyling #interiordesign #harlequinxsophierobinson
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