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30 Oct 17

My living room and why I love autumn interiors

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Isn’t it just the most splendid time of year?! I’m totally in love with Autumn, the light is just magical and all the colours looks so intense, from the fresh blue skies, nut brown conkers to our recent haul of livid green cooking apples. We’ve had an exceptionally warm October but the frost kicked in this morning and I’m delighted that our wood burner will be all systems go from now on.

So while it’s closing in outside my attentions are turning inside and well, in a nutshell my house is hideous. We’ve been here over a year and I’ve really not tackled the interior decoration. Partly because we’ve been focussing on the garden and partly because I’ve not had the money to just throw at it. Only today I parted with over £3k to have the oil tank relocated. Funnily enough Mum wasn’t happy with it directly outside her kitchen window!

BEFORE: The living room is a good size but not too sunny. The inglenook fireplace is the real focal point.

But I’ve given myself until Christmas to tackle the living room, as it’s a seriously depressing space. I don’t even have curtains! So the big debate was whether to go light or dark with the wall colour and for the first time I must admit I felt torn. I’ve always been a lover of dark walls as it really allows my love of insanely bright accessories to pop but it’s been 10 years decorating on the dark side and I was up for a change. However the room is rather lacking in sunlight and there is always that danger that if you paint a dark room pale, it just looks disappointing. So over on Instgram stories I opened it up to vote. And just like brexit, it split the country in half. But there were a few more for votes urging me to Leave the darkside.

 

So I took it back to the drawing board. How did I want the room to feel? I made some notes:

 

Cosy, snug, dramatic, enchanting, nostalgic, established, sociable, relaxing, fabulous, country, rustic, warm.

 

It’s also a good idea to think about what you use the room for. It’s certainly a room we use the most in the evenings, to watch TV and films and enjoy the fire. In the daytime I’m either in the kitchen or favour the conservatory, or my upcoming home office (so much to do!). So it’s significant to know it’s a room mainly used in the evening.

create a mood board to help visualise your scheme. This one here is fror my living room which is Autumn according to colour psychology

You can quickly create a vision board for a room scheme using swatches, print outs from Pinterest and some paint chips.

So when you consider how I want to the room to feel, and what we use it for, combined with the fact that its not the sunniest of rooms, all points towards decorating in a combination of rich and intense colours. In terms of colour psychology this is the autumn personality to a tea. When you are considering an autumn scheme the palette is rich, warm and intense. The style suits anything with a nod to heritage so is in tune with the country vibe that I’m channeling. And as for styling Autumn loves lots of stuff so the enchanting feeling that I want to create will come with the arrangements and tableaux’s I create. The textures and fabrics that I am drawn too are also very autumn. Rich velvets next to super soft wools and well-worn wood, all help to create that nesty vibe I’m after. If you’re liking the sound of all this you can read more about the Autumn personality on my blog post here.

The snug at the beaverbrook estate designed by Nicola Houghton

The Snug at the Garden house inside the Beaverbrook Estate is a major inspiration. I have a bit of a girl crush on the interior designer Nicola Harding, as her colour schemes are just perfection!

 

So after over a year deliberating how to decorate my living room, I nail it in a morning with the help of Pinterest, my colour printer and a little help from Colour Psychology to give me that framework. I love the way it makes the design process so much easier and faster. Helping to keep you focused it stops you veering off on a tangent or down another Pinterest rabbit hole.

This manor house in Wiltshire, designed by interior designer Ben Pentreath features the most amazing crimson wallpaper. Could I get the other half to go for this?

If you run a design business and want to learn more about colour psychology and how it can totally up your game then we have just a couple of spaces left on the Colour Psychology course for interior designers coming up in just two weeks time that I am running with Fiona The Brand Stylist. You can learn more about the day here. Meanwhile, 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. 

#OfficeGoals #CreativeWorkspace #BoldInteriors #BeforeAndAfter #SophieRobinsonStyle 
#CobaltBlue #HarlequinWallpaper #ColourLovers #InteriorDesignUK #InTheWoodsMural 
#DesignForJoy #MoreIsMore
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 👇

#interiordesignmasters #maximalistinteriors #maximalistdecor #portmerion #colourlover #banthebeige
Longing for a life-changing escape? You’re not a Longing for a life-changing escape?
You’re not alone. Our next Discover Colour Retreat at @elfennmarrakech just sold out in just a few hours, snapped up by our incredible subscriber community who said yes to more colour, creativity, and the trip of a lifetime. 💫

If you missed out, don’t panic, we’re already planning more dates in this dream of a design destination. Think: bold design, deep connection, sun-drenched inspiration, and the kind of joy that lingers long after you get home.

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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!

If you’re ready to stop playing it safe and fully embrace creating a home that truly reflects you, my specially designed online course has everything you need to keep you falling into any more traps. I’ll guide you through uncovering your unique style, choosing colours with confidence, and mixing patterns like a pro, all while making it feel beautifully cohesive and creative. And the best bit? It’s 25% off until the end of May! That’s right, just a few days left to pick up a massive discount.

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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.

I’ve always believed that a joyful, soul-filled home isn’t just a reflection of who you are… it’s a catalyst for who you want to become. When you’re surrounded by colours that lift you, patterns that energise you, and decor that tells to your story, something magical happens.

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Because great design isn’t just about how it looks — it’s how it makes you feel.

And that feeling? It ripples out into every part of your life. 💛🌟

#FeelGoodDesign #JoyfulHomes #MaximalistInteriors #ColourConfidence #InteriorInspo #DesignWithSoul #SophieRobinsonInteriors
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