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13 Aug 20

Focal points and Gordon Whistance interview,Podcast show notes S8 ep3

Sophie Robinson's kitchen seating corner. white dining chairs with pink legs, colourful patterned cushions and colourful botanical wallpaper

Hello and welcome to my show notes for episode 3 of the Great Indoors. A huge thanks to Neptune for sponsoring and supporting the series and of course our lovely listeners, you can catch the full episode here.

On today’s episode, we cover all aspects of creating a focal point within a room (on which I get to educate Kate on the subject!) and we chat with DIY SOS designer, Gordon Whistance, about how to make a stylish home for those with disabilities that require specialist and accessible design solutions.

Focal points

When I design a room, first I think about the mood, colours and patterns, but I quickly move on to what will be the focal point when it comes to the layout. It can be a whole manner of things but the headline here is to really think about it, consider that you need one, as it brings the whole room together. When you walk into a space it’s nice that the eyes are drawn to something – ideally across the other side of the room. This could be am arresting colour, for example a bold colourful armchair, that draws the eye across to the room helping to create depth.

Kate’s focal point in her living room is the fabulous palm tree lamp

So while you can use colour to draw the eye, the other trick is to use scale. Kate’s enormous palm tree floor lamp is a great example. Yes, I am a maximalist but I know when to stop – when it comes to focal points you don’t want too many things fighting for attention as they can cancel each other out. Whist you may want to show off a particular piece of artwork or furniture you could also ask yourself what is the room’s best feature and how can you make that the focal point. Here are some pointers:

  • If you have an amazing view outside, you may want to draw attention to the window with some fabulous curtains – or alternatively, as Kate suggests, paint the window frame a strong colour to draw the eye.
  • If you have a splendid mantlepiece, accentuate it with some artwork or hang a gorgeous mirror over the top to celebrate this area.
  • For a more ordinary mantlepiece, wallpaper the alcoves in a strong colour or pattern to take the eye away from the fact the fireplace and surround are not the star of the show.
  • Bedrooms are easy, as you can quite easily make the bed the focal point. If you have a plain bed without a bedhead you can paint or wallpaper behind it.

Annie Sloan knows a thing or two about paint effects. Bedroom Wall Paint in Old Ochre, Honfleur and Scandinavian Pink chalk paint.

The Kitchen – there’s a lot going on so what can be the focal point in the hub of the home? If you’re lucky enough to own a stove like an Aga you may want to show it off, and why on earth not! However, consider that the kitchen island may not be something to highlight as this tends to be a more practical piece rather than a decorative one. I for one love my little seating corner and with the colourful cushions against the Rabarber wallpaper by Boråstapeter, it certainly packs a punch. Or how about some artwork? Despite Kate’s reservations of placing art in the bathroom or kitchen, as long as you have some form of ventilation or extractor fan you’re good to go. I based my whole bathroom scheme around a rather special piece of art so keep an eye out for the reveal coming soon!

If you want to show us your focal point triumphs do get in touch on Instagram where I’m @sophierobinsoninteriors and Kate is @mad_about_the_house and of course don’t forget our very resourceful Facebook group.

Interview with Gordon Whistance

I worked with Gordon on a DIY SOS Children in Need special – what an incredible project to be involved in!

We’ve been thinking about specialist design and how it can combine beautiful form with practical function. This conversation was inspired partly by Vicki of @wheelchichome and Jo of @wheelieliving who make their homes work for them and look gorgeous too.

Someone who knows all about marrying design, form and function is interior designer Gordon Whistance, who I’ve had the pleasure of working with on BBC’s DIY SOS. Gordon has been the Design producer for the show for the past six years and there is nothing he doesn’t know about this subject. It was a good time to chat with him as the show recently won a special BAFTA in recognition for their outstanding creative contribution to television.

So we rolled out the virtual red carpet for the award-winning Gordon.

How do you pull off an extraordinary big build in just nine days?

“When you get so many people wanting to do the same and pulling together, that’s a massive thing in itself. We get many people saying that ‘you can’t do a good job and you must take short cuts’ but we don’t, it just means that we can get everyone inside at the same time.

For those of you who don’t know what DIY SOS is all about:

“It’s a safety net in many ways for families and charities that have nowhere else to go. We get inundated with stories of those who have tried everything, there’s a disability in the family and this is our last chance to transform our home that we just simply live in. We then sift through the applications that we know we can help. The problem with working with any time of specialist interior is that there are often so boring and look like hospital rooms. So our goal is to give families and charities a space that they flourish in and one that doesn’t feel specialist or different in any way.”

This is part of the house I designed for Johanna and support worker partner William who live in a small terraced home in Bromsgrove on the outskirts of Birmingham and Johanna’s sister Karis, who has Cerebral Palsy, uses a wheelchair and is in need of constant care. You can see the full redesign here.

“Within these beautiful designs, there are some clever solutions, for instance, underfloor heating is a simple thing and it just means that if someone has a disability and they fall they won’t burn themselves on a radiator.  If someone can’t get into a bath we do a hoist, but we’ll try and disguise it slightly or if someone, including carers, can’t bend over we can put rise and fall baths in.

I know you work with an occupational therapist from the start, and there doesn’t seem to be one blueprint design – each project is specific, is that right?

“They are very specific, otherwise why would we do it! If we’re doing something non-specific it would just become a hospital bedroom because they are generic solutions for generic issues. We have specific solutions, not just for the person with a disability but for the carers too. I ask for two lists: 1. What is it the family critically must have, and this can be to literally keep someone alive. 2. What would be fantastic if they could have it?

“A really key part of what we do is bringing the family together and making sure no-one feels ostracized and to make it work for everybody – as a family.”

The Ratcliffe family adopted four children, three of whom had very demanding specialist needs. This is young Curly’s room which included a motorised bed, heaps of storage for all his medical supplies, and an advanced air purification system.

Have you got a favourite project you’ve done over the last 6 years?  

“It feels like an obvious answer but it’s true, each one is brilliant in their own way. I’ve never regretted a build or thought one should never have happened but the stand-out ones for me are a couple of very big ones. We did the build under the Westway, London for the Grenfell community and it was a huge achievement and we are very proud of it. We did one on Canada Street which was revamped for ex-military personnel which was over a couple of years which was fantastic. The two stand-out homes were the Isle of Sheppy, two wonderful guys with four fantastic kids (Ratcliffe family) all with some special needs which we did with you Sophie and I think we created something extraordinary for them.  The other stand-out one was a guy called Ben who had a tragic accident whilst on holiday which left him paralysed from the neck down and he was about to embark on doing to his house and inevitably that would never happen for him. So we stepped in and added two enormous extensions, redesigned and reconfigured the house so that he could be with his family.”

This Kitchen we designed for wheelchair user Amanda Worne features a rise and fall worktop, enabling Amanda to once again cook for herself and her family.

Huge thanks to Gordon and for creating a recording den under his desk to chat with us, our fabulous sponsor Neptune and our producer Kate Taylor for making things happen.

 

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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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