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17 Oct 19

House tour with Michelle Ogundehin – Podcast show notes S5 Ep2

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A year ago today Kate Watson-Smyth and I set out on this new ‘podcast’ journey not quite knowing what to expect, and here we are on our 1st birthday and we have had the best time with some great guests, great sponsors and not forgetting our fab producer Kate Taylor. To mark the first year, we’re asking you, our listeners to get in touch with your favourite moments from the show, whether it’s insight, inspiration or my raucous moments of laughter, we’d love to hear from you and you can get in touch here thegreatindoorspod@gmail.com You could even record us your own clip on voice notes and email it to us, and you might make the show!

Moving on to today’s episode, we would like to say a huge thank you to our new sponsor John Lewis & Partners and please remember to rate and review us, it really does make all the difference, and don’t forget our thriving  Facebook group! Its a den of design lovers and a really lovely community.

Now, on with the show! (If you haven’t caught up, as always you can listen here.) We have been trying for ages to get an invite with the former Elle Decoration UK Editor-in-chief, writer, TV presenter and all-round Interiors expert Michelle Ogundehin and she’s not been easy to pin down. But dear listeners our persistence finally paid off and I’m so pleased because this house tour is all you could wish for and more! I mean what this woman doesn’t know about interiors surely isn’t worth knowing! Ten years as Editor of much loved and highly regarded Elle Decoration magazine means she knows her interiors onions. But what type of home does such a style maven live in? Michelle is deeply personal when it comes to her home and it’s never nor shall be featured in any magazines or blogs. So its a deep privilege indeed to be invited in. Thrilled we could take you with us!

The yellow sofa in Michelle’s study is my idea of a happy place!

The first thing that possibly surprises when entering the picturesque Regency cottage was that it isn’t an uncompromising minimalist pad or the design museum you may expect. What it is is a very beautiful, warm and inviting space. I’d even go so far as saying homely, and I know Michelle would take that as a compliment. Michelle’s ethos on decorating your home, as is mine, it’s all about how the space makes you feel. And Michelle’s home makes you feel good!

The Floor

The gorgeous ebony chevron parquet flooring was created by laying the individual boards by hand which were then stained by Ecora.  Babygate is to keep her two adorable Basset hounds in the kitchen so they don’t trash the beautiful floor!

The beautiful dark parquet flooring was quite a process as it took a while for Michelle to get the finish she knew she wanted – as Michelle says you may not know what you want until you see it and then you’ll know if it feels right and so she kept experimenting until she found a colour that “was not too black, and not too brown” and kept going until in the words of Goldilocks “it was just right!”

The walls

Michelles study shelves are a display of pictures and momentoes that spark happy thoughts and memories.

Michelle has long been a fan of Anaglypta wallpaper and so has Kate, despite some long-held views that it belongs in your granny’s house. Michelle has given it a modern interpretation by adding it between panels and painting it in ‘bruise purple’ as she refers to it – officially it’s Arquerite by Little Greene. You’ll also notice the foxed mirror above the panelling which is actually a wallpaper – check out this paper by Cole & Son for similar, it’s available in three tones. Michelle has a talent for mixing textures, in one corner of the room there’s the textured Anaglypta, velvet curtains and the metallic hint from the foxed effect wallpaper panel. All in her signature bruised purple but it makes the space feel so calm and elegant.

Michelle’s colour palette has a calm and cohesive feel and every surface is a celebration in feel-good textures. Wood next to marble, next to velvet, next to textured papers. Heaven!

Some top tips..
  • Michelle says the walls are your biggest palette so you can try colours that resonate with you. She feels its a shame when all the walls, skirting and coving are the same colour so adopt a playful approach.
  • Don’t make the mistake of buying ‘one thing’ and then decorate around it – you need to start with the walls and then build up your palette of finishes first.
  • Be inventive and creative and think outside the box. One day Michelle was sitting at the dining table and pondered what it would feel like to paint an inch strip of mustard under the shelf that is only visible if you’re sitting down. So she tried it and loved.
  • Work out a palette that works for you for a cohesive look – the mustard stripe in the living room is echoed by the mustard ceiling in the kitchen and in the yellow sofa in the study. The Cararra marble in the fireplace is also in the kitchen and bathroom. It helps make a home feel cohesive if similar materials and colours are repeated throughout.
  • You can do tones of colours but stick to one palette – one set of colours, and one of set of materials – metals, woods, stones and tiles. Michelle’s palette repeats throughout the whole house.

Another modern little touch is a hidden strip of mustard under the shelf which can only be seen when seated or if you are under the age of eight.

  • Use gloss paint on the ceiling (all Blackened by Farrow & Ball downstairs) to add a sheen and to create a light and airy feel.
  • If using metals, use only two in a room and vary the finish to add interest – brushed, hammered or polished perhaps.
  • Take the time to figure out what colours, textures, fabrics and finishes mean to you and go with it.

We did wonder where the TV was – can you spot it? Yes, it’s the peach artwork, the very clever Frame TV turns into a work of art when not in use. The floating sideboard was created using Ikea cabinets and the doors are by Superfront which feature a very ‘on trend’ scallop design.

The bedroom

Michelle made this stunning headboard in London underground Victorian style tiles. Is it a grey wall though!?

Michelle believes that before you embark on decorating the bedroom think about how you want to feel – if you don’t sleep well all the best decor in the world won’t change that. For her and I suspect most of us, want it to feel like a retreat and a place of calm.

I’m not sure I’ve seen a tiled bedhead before but isn’t it fab. The lavender tiles are by H&E Smith who made the tiles for the London Underground. She discovered they do corner, dado and skirting tiles so was instantly sold. Not only is it a beautiful feature it has a practical function too as it doubles as a handy shelf and it houses the sockets for bedside lights.

The perfect hostess. Michelle baked us this sugar, gluten and dairy-free ‘cheese’ cake. It was heaven! All set on that Arabescato Saarinen table

Michelle’s key philosophy is the whole house should be a place to retreat to and get away from it all – and shouldn’t be limited to just a ‘spa’ type bathroom for example. Create a space that sparks that feeling the moment you walk in the door. I can report back that Michelle is very very tidy. Maybe this is the secret. I’ve taken note!

A huge thanks to our special guest Michelle Ogundehin, (you can read her blog here) for letting us have a snoop around her Brighton pad and don’t forget to check out her beautiful Instagram feed @michelleogundehin. Michelle has written a book, (due out next Spring) about her design philosophy and how to create your dream home in order to make you feel happy. Watch this space!

 

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Before and after! This room took me on a real jour Before and after! This room took me on a real journey.
At first, I thought I needed a calm, blank space to focus… so I painted it all white. I know - can you believe it?! I told myself it was for clarity and creativity, but the truth is, I hated it. I felt flat and totally uninspired.

So, I ripped up the rulebook and went back to what I know works for me: bold colour and big pattern. I painted the whole space in my favourite cobalt blue (Lazuli by @zoffanyfw) and installed the ‘In the Woods’ mural from my @Harlequinfw collection - and now it’s everything I wanted and more.

I feel creative, energised, and completely connected to the beautiful garden just outside the window. A daily reminder to trust your instincts, feel from your gut and be brave. 

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A masterclass in maximalism! 🌈✨ It was such A masterclass in maximalism! 🌈✨

It was such an honour to guest judge the Interior Design Masters final alongside the fabulous @michelleogundehin and wow, what a finale it was!

The setting? The magical village of Portmeirion.
The challenge? Transform a bland holiday cottage.
The winner? The brilliant @john_cooper_design and what a winning design it was! 

John’s scheme was a glorious celebration of colour and perfect  storytelling. I loved how  he used bold Mediterranean hues and motifs from room to room which cleverly held this maximalist vision together. It felt like being whisked away to a land far far away. And thereby perfectly capturing the spirit of Portmerion. Honestly, it felt magical to be there!

I’ve unpacked all Johns clever ideas and design takeaways over on the blog (link in bio) — but I’d LOVE to hear what you thought.

Was John your winner?
What design moment caught your eye?
Could you stay in a house like this?

Tell me in the comments 👇

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Ready to create a home that feels unapologetically Ready to create a home that feels unapologetically YOU?

For me it’s about bold joyful colour, striking pattern, and those magical touches that light you up every time you walk through the door. This isn’t about playing it safe, it’s about crafting a home that celebrates the uniqueness of who you are and how you want to feel. 

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EXCLUSIVE Live with the WINNER of @interiordesignm EXCLUSIVE Live with the WINNER of @interiordesignmasters ! 

Thankyou @john_cooper_design for a beautiful LIVE taking a deeper look into your amazing experience being on the this most loved show. We all loved watching you grow and develop as a designer and your collection with @johnlewis is an absolute triumph! Cannot wait to see what you do next 🙌
All the Finale feels ✨ What a joy was filming t All the Finale feels ✨
What a joy was filming this series of @interiordesignmasters with @michelleogundehin , @chattyman , not mention this year’s insanely talented finalists @john_cooper_design 💙 @ritamillat ❤️ There is a lot of love and positive energy that goes into making this show.

And it doesn’t end here…

TONIGHT at 7pm I’ll be going LIVE right here on Instagram with this year’s winner… SPOLER ALERT….

@john_cooper_design 
I cannot wait to chat all the behind-the-scenes design insights, and what it really takes to win Interior Design Masters. What a smashing journey John has been on. Wow his final design blew me away, it’s was soo well executed and his vision was perfectly in step with the flamboyant eccentricity of Portmerion. Top marks! 

Come join us and ask your questions during this exciting Live event or come back later and watch the replay! 👀

Missed the show? Catch  up with @bbcone  Interior Design Masters on @bbciplayer 

#InteriorDesignMasters #IDMFinal #DesignShow #BehindTheScenes #InteriorDesignUK
Beware of listening to the ‘experts’! I get i Beware of listening to the ‘experts’!
I get it though, designing a house is hard, especially if your taste leans towards the 
maximalist style. There is every chance you’ll feel overwhelmed or stressed about getting it wrong with the end result one hot mess. However here are some of those common ‘design rules’ that I absolutely disagree with! Would love to know your thoughts in the comments below!

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Ready to step into your best life? Start with the Ready to step into your best life? Start with the place that holds it all. Your home.

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