fbpx
Sophie Robinson
  • Home
  • Workshops
    • Marrakech Retreat
    • Ban the beige
    • Masterclasses
  • Online Courses
  • Collaboration
  • Podcasts
  • Blog
  • About
    • About me
    • Work with me
    • Press
  • FAQs
  • Contact
  • Interior Design
  • Interiors
  • podcast
25 Feb 21

Interview with Nicola Harding, Podcast show notes S10 E4

Blue walls and ceiling, high green lacquer sideboard with colourful geometric artwork. Design by Nicola Harding

Hello and welcome to my show notes for the fifth episode of the tenth series of The Great Indoors. As always you can listen to the full episode here and do head on over to our Facebook group for more tips and advice on all things interior.

As you may have seen recently, a photo of Princess Anne’s living room went viral across social media, and I was desperate to hear Kate’s thoughts and see if we could take any styling tips from the royal household! We also chat with one of our interior design idols, Nicola Harding and our style surgery is all about making do – tips, tricks and hacks on how to live with something you can’t get rid of.

Princess Anne relaxing at home watching the Six Nations rugby

Who doesn’t love a good old nose around someone else’s house, especially a royal one and this photo of Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence was quite a surprise, to say the least.  Twitter went wild with reactions to the couple sitting on their terracotta chintz sofa surrounded by books, paperwork and memorabilia. One person said, “love to see that they’re watching TV in a room as cluttered as the average person.”

Whilst joyfully ordinary, one of the responses on Twitter was that it looked like their Nan’s front room, rather than the living room of one of the most wealthy and privileged familes in the country. It does feel quite refreshing to see it’s lived in look, especially in contrast to the world of ‘Instagrammable’ homes.

The general feedback was positive and praising her for her unpretentious approach, however, I did spot some design crimes! Can you?

Nicola Harding interview

I am so excited to be able to share an interview with our interior design crush, Nicola Harding. It seems that we are not alone, she has been listed as one of the top 100 interior designers by House & Gardens magazine. She has designed homes for famous artists and film directors and sees herself as a matchmaker bringing together people and pieces in a marriage that will last a lifetime and is part of her ethos for sustainability and central to her work. I’ve stayed in a couple of hotels that Nicola has designed, The Rose in Deal and Beaverbrook in Surrey, and I just love the ‘at home’ feeling she creates whilst making it feel very special too. I can’t tell you how much I much have drooled over Nicola’s designs for many years and her love of colour and pattern have heavily influenced my design choices.

You made the move from London to the country three years ago. Can you tell us about country life and taking on a big renovation?

‘It’s a big change we had been stewing on for a while, we took on a gorgeous house which hadn’t had anything done to it for a long time and it’s not like a project for a client with a massive budget and you just do the whole shebang. We need to do it in increments and the way I do it, as with clients, if you know you’ll be doing chunks at a time, start by thinking about the master plan. If you are trying to make a budget stretch, the biggest shame would be to do things twice. Even if you think the whole plan will change and evolve, think about the whole picture, maybe draw a floor plan of your house, take out the bathrooms and kitchens and just look at the shape of all the rooms and ask yourself what your life looks like. People have always put their washing machine etc in the kitchen and now all the laundry stuff is upstairs near the bedrooms, so if you can shoehorn them into an upstairs space even in a cupboard on the landing. ”

 

One of the fabulous rooms at The Rose.

If you’re moving into a house that needs completely gutting what would you prioritise first?

“The kitchen is key. We temporarily moved the kitchen into another room in the house, so that we could carry living in the house while we did the kitchen, which involved taking walls down and moving things around.

There’s an element of making do in the initial period.

“And also throughout, this comes into our sustainability approach, it’s about how much you buy as well as what you buy. The biggest element of our carbon footprint comes from consumption so if you can make do and make better use of it and avoid buying something new is the best scenario. Channel your inner-granny, they would be horrified at how much we throw out, they would be mending, repairing and reimagining and buying a piece for life – buy better, buy once. For example, we inherited a pink bathroom suite and we moved it to another room, created a loo under the stairs. We teamed the pink suite with some reclaimed brass taps, a much nicer loo seat and a reclaimed handle for the flush. So our 70s pink sanitaryware is  against chocolate brown panelling and a lime green wallpaper off-cut from another project with peacock blue glazed floor tiles. 

I just love your use of colour, pattern and surfaces in your projects, where do you get your inspiration from?

“Movies and television are a big part of it when you think of the Queen’s Gambit and Mad Men, those intoxicating interior sets. Also, historical interiors, looking through books and online is a good source for me. A big part of TV is how the set design uses colour combinations as a trigger and takes us emotionally to a place in history and how it would have felt at that time. What I really enjoy about interior design is creating a feeling and an atmosphere. I grew up moving house a great deal and craved that sense of belonging and questioning what home means and what it feels like. I think colour is a tool that triggers us and creates a feeling.”

How do you unearth people’s grounding, homely colours? It’s a very personal thing and we have different reactions to it. 

“It’s really listening, ask the same question from a slightly different angle and you will tease the answer out: what is your favourite place to go on holiday, what point of your childhood were you most happy/unhappy, what time of year do you most look forward to, were there things you thought about growing up, what you want Christmas to look and dive into that picture in your head – what was the mood, what were the colours.

There is definitely psychology of colours, different colours make you feel different ways, there’s research that’s shown painting cells pink can have a calming effect on prisoners – I’m talking to you now from my pink living room. I once painted a restaurant pink and since felt it was a mistake as I think it was too calming, you want to have something that’s going to inject a bit of dynamism and energy and slightly clashing colours have more energy.”

 

Another thing I love about your interiors is that there is always a pleasing blend of vintage finds. Some people have difficulty combining old and new, how do you create that perfect blend?

“It’s a cheap trick really, it’s a shortcut to giving a room a sense of permanence, the fact that it’s got a foot in yesterday and a foot in today makes it hard to date. In terms of mixing old and new, I think it’s just trial and error like with colours, my preference is for things that don’t feel too perfect. I really like the energy from something that’s slightly clashing and unexpected, sometimes that works better than others and the way of getting through that is trying – enjoying the stuff that works and moving on from the stuff that doesn’t. There are rules, the more you look at historic interiors and start to build an understanding of periods of style you can see what pieces would have sat next to each other.

You love historical architecture and detailing, what happens if you don’t have any architectural interest? If you have a new build type box how do you bring some soul to it?

“I think look at the things you touch, doors and door handles, sometimes with these new fabrications they can very lightweight and on a subliminal level doesn’t give you a sense of permanence. Maybe identifying a couple of touchpoints where you add a sense of longevity, reclaimed doors and handles can be an easy way to do that.”

What do you think about panelling?

“Panelling is a great suggestion, not only for adding a layer decoratively. In some of the new build houses, the acoustics aren’t great and walls can be thin so by adding extra layers you’re maker the acoustics softer and will make the room feel cosier. There are so many different types of panelling, you’ve got grand large-format panelling and then low key match panelling found at the back of house, which would be best for small houses and is my favourite. It’s interesting when we do hotels, they often have big grand rooms and much smaller rooms, almost always it’s the smaller rooms that people end up liking best, as they feel really cosy and I relish those spaces.

In 2019, you decorated the VIP lounge at Decorex and the big story was around sustainability and the part that the interior industry has to play in that. How are we doing in meeting the requirements?

“There’s definitely still room to go, but I think everyone is interested, wanting to understand where what their buying has come from. The process of undertaking work on your home at any scale involves a lot of purchasing, you’re a super consumer and that gives you a huge opportunity to use your purchasing power, to effect some good.  I would say that the whole environmental situation is very overwhelming and it’s easy to give up before you’ve even started. But actually, the smallest step can make a difference, it could be just repurposing your granny’s old chest of drawers. If you don’t love something you’ll end up replacing it – if you love it, it will work and that applies to a piece of vintage furniture or a colour and the unexpected clashes creates a fun, playful energy. Just relax, if you try too hard it can start to feel awkward – relaxed fun is what a home, in my mind, should be.”

From all your years as a professional interior designer, what’s the one thing you’ve learnt?

“I think it’s the things I didn’t do rather than the things I did. I wish I had been braver and taken more risks and had more fun and worried less.

If you have a design dilemma and would like to be the subject of our Style Surgery, do get in touch with us at thegreatindoorspod@gmail.com

Thank you so much to Nicola for taking the time to chat with us and for sharing her fabulous expertise. Thanks to our fab producer Kate Taylor from Feast Collective and you, our lovely listeners.

 

  • Interior Design
  • Interiors
  • podcast
How to decorate with New Neutrals How to design a cosy bathroom

comments

K. Ann on 26.02.21

I love this! All of the wonderful colors and pattern matching plus I also love a great vintage piece. It’s playful yet serious. Beautiful!

Reply

Leave a Comment

Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published.

  • Interiors
    • colour crush
    • DIY
    • Home Tours
    • Interior Design
    • Interior Styling
    • podcast
    • trends
  • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Fashion/Beauty
    • Life
    • My House
    • Nosh
    • Travel
  • Rooms
    • Bathrooms
    • Bedrooms
    • Kids rooms
    • Kitchens
    • Living rooms
    • Outside
  • Videos

mailing
list

Videos

Listen

Listen Here

Bedlinen range

Shop

Colour Psychology for professionals

book your place!

Catch Sophie In All Her Colourful Glory On Instagram

How’s your Monday? Did you get to the shops? Dri How’s your Monday? Did you get to the shops? Drink a beer in a pub garden?! I’ve attempted train travel today  and three cancelled trains later I’m wishing I stayed at home! Anyone else not ready for this new normal yet! I’ve grown very attached to my sofa and cosy clothes this past few months! 

CREDITS Cardigan @jumper_1_2_3_4  Trousers @me_andem Trainers @nike Sofa @sofaworkshop (discontinued) in magnolia @gpjbaker  Tiger print cushion @trashvelvetuk pink cushion @grahamandgreen Flowers @sageandco.floraldesign Curtains @habitatuk (discontinued) 

#nonewnormal #banthebeige #colourlover #myhomevibe #noplacelikehome #pink #ihavethisthingwitpink 

📷 @aluncallenderphoto
I do love some HEAVY PETAL action. Florals are eve I do love some HEAVY PETAL action. Florals are everywhere in my home and it gives me full on joy to see them layered up on walls, on furnishings and my latest edition this hollyhock cushion. But they don’t  love me. As the blossom is bursting out this spring my hay fever is in full flow. 🤧sending love and tissues to my fellow sufferers! 

CREDITS Wallpaper is Artemis @houseofhackney . Painting by @beckyblairartist . Side board is vintage from @vinestreetvintage . Vases and chair are @grahamandgreen . Hollyhocks heavy petal cushion @houseofhackney . Flowers by @sageandco.floraldesign . Wall light @pookylights . Floor is intenso parquet @quickstepfloors 

#heavypetal #floralwallpaper #floraldesign #flowerpower #colourlover #banthebeige #bbbinteriors #mycolourfulinterior #mycolourfulhome #howivintage #sodomino #interiors123 #interiordesign #countryinteriors .
Had a very busy day filming today and I got my mak Had a very busy day filming today and I got my makeup done all fancy and put on some pretty clothes. I’m exhausted because it was hard work but I also feel like I’ve had a real boost to play with some all the pretty things in all the pretty colours. Like these new pumps from @roguematilda which are giving me life! And they are flat so my feet are happy to. 😍

Thanks @swainy2021 for the style inspiration and @jadefarmiloemua for the eye bag hack! (See my stories)
It’s podcast day! And on today’s show @mad_abo It’s podcast day! And on today’s show @mad_about_the_house and I discuss the pitfalls of shopping online, because admit it, we’ve all fallen down one! Whether it’s find out your forest green sofa is shiny teal (mentioning no names Callum) to discovering the dining room chandelier is no bigger than one of pat butchers earrings. 
Swiftly moving on we interview the fabulous @_paintgirl , creative director of paint brand @littlegreenepaintcompany who explains why there is a thirst for neutrals right now and how to pick the perfect shade. I’m currently giving my living room a refresh and for one nano second considered a neutral for the walls. 😳 But then I had a chat with myself and remembered that leopard is a neutral. There, I feel so much better! I hope you love the show, it’s the last in the current series. Kate and I will be having a short lie down and then back with a bang on 15th of April. I can promise you an awesome series we have planned with some know guests! So make sure you subscribe and why not leave us a little review if you get a moment. We read them all you know! Thanks to @katetaylorldn for producing the show. 

#leopardisaneutral #banthebeige #thegreatindoors #thegreatindoorspodcast #livingroom #interiorrefresh #colourlover #maximalistinteriors #maximalistinteriors
Interior design masters final is TONIGHT! I’m be Interior design masters final is TONIGHT! I’m beyond thrilled to be invited back to help @michelleogundehin judge this final along with the rather fabulous @matthewwilliamson and the ever dashing @chattyman . Hasn’t the entire series just been incredible? The extraordinary talent, innovation, grit and determination that has been on show week after week has been an inspiration and credit to our industry. And tonight will not disappoint. The designers @lynseyforddesign and @interiorcurve have a whole house to design and get to bring back their favourite past contestant to help them with the challenge. Delighted to see @moneypennyinteriors and @amywilsoninteriors return for one night only. Buckle up for some serious interior design mastery. See you on BBC2 at 8pm. 

Dress is @stinegoyastudio 

# interiordesignmasters #interiordesignmasterstv
Everyone talks about a room with a view but making Everyone talks about a room with a view but making a view through to a room is just as satisfying. It’s something I always think about when designing a house and I love the way colour and pattern can link one room into the next. I use repetition of pattern, colour and materials to help a home have flow. This gorgeous blue is my main linking colour, rolled out in the hall then picked up in the ticking stripe fabric in the curtains and Artemis wallpaper. When you have maximalist tendencies like me, having a tight palette helps make it all work, and repeating colours and similar patterns help make a rather eclectic home feel cohesive. I’ll be sharing more insights into how to make the maximalist style work on my live masterclass on Thursday evening. Come join me, link up in my profile to book your place because once you embrace the maximalist in you, you open up to the pleasure of decorating from your hearts desire!

Tap the pic for any credits. 

#banthebeige #colourlover #maximalistinteriors #maximalistdecor #bbbinteriors #ihavethisthingwithcolour #colourisaneutral #colourmyhome #interiordesign #interiordecor #interiorinspo #sodomino #apartmenttherapy
Happy Sunday! I’m relaxing on the sofa enjoying Happy Sunday! I’m relaxing on the sofa enjoying the view of one of my favourite paintings by my dear friend @bethpartridgeart . Filling your home with wonderful artwork is a great way to bring the colour joy, create a stunning focal point and help your home feel unique. Installing a striking piece of art in my room schemes is integral to helping a room hang together. This piece has the most incredible palette of colours that link to other parts of the room, like the fabrics and furnishings. I love the neon pop of yellow and pink you can find amongst all the beautiful inky blues. You don’t need to match you artwork to your colour scheme but it can help to make the whole thing really sing. Picking a piece of artwork you love can be the starting point to creating something wonderful. So big love to all you amazing artists out there for making our homes feel wonderful. 

#artforyourhome #artforinteriors #colourlover #banthebeige #focalpoint #interiordesign #interiorstyling #interiordecor #interiorinspo #colourmyhome #mycolourfulinterior #colourfullivingroom
Morning! I’ve got so much work on at the moment Morning! I’ve got so much work on at the moment I’ve got up with the birds to tuck a few hours in before the weekend starts. Sat here listening to the birdsong I could not  feel more blessed! Here’s a little insight into the creative chaos that is my office! Happy Saturday everyone x

#morning #birdsong #colourlover #banthebeige
Load More… Follow on Instagram
Sophie Robinson
  • © 2017 Sophie Robinson

    /
  • Contact/
  • About/
  • Design by MW

Don't forget to join!