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18 Mar 21

Maximalist bolthole reveal

Cottage Sophie Kitchen Main

Maximalist interiors really make my heart sing. They are a celebration of everything I love about interior decoration. All the colour, all the pattern and all the joy! I love it all so much I can’t get enough of it, and here is the thrill, with a maximalist interior, you can have it all!

Our little three-bed bolt hole in Brighton was the perfect opportunity to flex my maximalist muscle. Bought in 2009 my husband and I decided to renovate it and rent it out as a holiday let. Situated down an ancient twitten lane the house is reportedly one of the oldest residential buildings in Brighton, dating back to 1565. As a result, it’s ceilings are low and proportions are, shall we say, bijou! The three-story terrace is only a narrow staircase width wider than the image above.  But as they say, the best things come in little packages and we could see the potential. As a grade 2 listed property, we couldn’t do anything to it structurally so the transformation was going to be all down to the decoration.

But this tiny cottage could pack some punch with the right decoration and inspired by the infamous Brighton Pavillion, I decided to channel my inner Prince Regent and go for broke. As a holiday let it would also deliver on all the thrills with lavish wallpapers, sumptuous furnishings and decorative accessories and feel like a little trinket box of delights to whoever visited.

Living room

I used the empty and redundant fireplace as an opportunity to create an area for display.

As a starting point, I am often inspired by wallpaper designs and this Bloomsbury print by Graham and Brown hit the right note with it’s large scale and unapologetic floral design. With the verdant green and punches of coral, peach and lilac I felt like I would have a lot to play with here. Using the paper as my anchoring colour palette I was then able to quickly pull together fabrics and furnishings that tied into this colour story. The collection of cushions were made in a selection of Linwood weaves. I worked with local company Mister Smith interiors who made them up for me adding the incredible ruche trims that also pick up on the accent colours. I mixed in a few high street cushions in plain fabrics but the great thing about making bespoke cushions in a maximalist interior is you can really make it all sing together.

Cushions in, (from left) Rainforest Rabble; Pagoda Candy; Pampas Charcoal; Rainforest Rabble; all Linwood made by Mister Smith Interiors; Pink velvet cushion, Habitat.

There comes a point in a maximalist interior when you just have to go the extra mile and add MORE pattern! I had this leopard print rug made especially for the room so I could make sure it was the right size for all the furniture to sit on it. This really helps a room feel cosier and more cohesive.  The doors, ceiling and architraves were cleverly colour matched in with the wallpaper to offer a seamless cohesion while the custom made shutters from Hillary’s were also colour matched to blend into the scheme. This helps bring cohesion to such a small space and allows the eye to focus on the patterns and decorative elements instead.

Bloomsbury emerald wallpaper, Graham & Brown; Paint is Avery Green and colour matched by Mylands; Rug in Quirky B Leopard Java, Alternative Flooring; Emi love seat, Wayfair; Window shutters, Hillarys; Chest bought in India. (image taken by me)

I sourced some modern pieces of furniture from online giant Wayfair to mix in with the vintage pieces we bought on a trip to India. Their huge choice of items meant I could find just the shades of velvet I was looking for for this scheme. The danger is there is so much to tempt and the oversized arched window style mirror also ended up in my cart! But I love the way it helps give an added dimension to the room.

Kitchen

Colour Pop Tiles in Verde Negro, Ca’ Pietra; Kitchen cabinet handles, Dowsing & Reynolds; Cabinets, paint in Verde Negro colour matched by Mylands; Jun tub chair,  Wayfair;

The studio kitchen is open onto the living area so the design had to be really compact with a slimline dishwasher, microwave oven and I tucked the fridge under the stairs. In a small house, you have to make use of every inch. Rather than fitted units above, which would be more practical in a regular home, I decided to keep them open as another great opportunity to display plants and china and add some texture and depth to the room.

Master bedroom

I fell in love with this wallpaper from designers Divine Savages as soon as I saw it! It was made for the birdcage don’t you think? Because the print is so strong I picked out the bold blue, yellow and pink and colour blocked them around the room; on the shutters, headboard and bed quilt. You can’t see it from the pictures but this is a four-wall strategy and you just feel wonderfully immersed by this incredible print. I felt that with a wallpaper like this- it didn’t need too many other patterns jostling for attention but I love the cool geometric cushions in the Linwood Pagoda. It’s just so decadent!

Geometric Avery wallpaper, Divine Savages; Wall light, Pooky; Cushion in Pagoda graphite by Linwood, made by Mister Smith Interiors; Shutter painted in Smalt by Little Greene.

The detail in this wallpaper is just amazing. With a strong print like this you don’t need to add too much more.

Top Bedroom

As you wind up the narrow staircase you arrive in the top attic rooms. It’s amazing that the ceilings could get any lower, but they have! Anyone over around 5’10” would have to stoop in here, but I wanted to celebrate the angles and did so with this incredible graphic circus stripe wallpaper which takes the eye up and over the ceiling. Getting a window treatment in this space was always going to be a challenge but we had some custom made ship style shutters made. I carried on the oriental extravagance with more Linwood velvet with ruched trim in canary yellow.

 Similar striped wallpaper, Spalding Stripe, Wallpaper Direct; Wallpaper (right) Flora Songbirds, Anna French; Cushions in Japanese garden LF2092FR/003 dayglow, Linwood made by Mister Smith Interiors.

Twin bedroom

Tiny rooms often present a big challenge but I like to embrace the shortcomings and celebrate them! This small room feels like a real nook painted all around in the deep purple. The room is too small for headboards and so we had the whole wall upholstered in a Tetris of upholstered blocks. We simply made MDF tessellating templates and then cut the foam to fit before covering it with my collection of vintage swatches, samples and offcuts. Again I played on my love of mixing stripes, florals and geometrics.

I made this bespoke headboard by covering pre-cut pieces of MDF with remnant fabrics and foam. Throws were bought in a market in India. Walls in Thai Sapphire by Little Greene; Cushions, TK Maxx. 

Wetroom

Where do you find canary yellow wall tiles? Back in 2009 when we took on the complete renovation, the answer was ” Not very easily”. Back then it was a sea of white metro tiles and not much else. Its a reminder of how much more great colour and design has become accessible in the last ten years. I finally found these bad boys on eBay and they really made my heart sing!

Similar tiles, Metro Brick Gloss Yellow, Tiles Direct; Flooring in Dartrey in black, Topps Tiles; This Anna French Songbird wallpaper has been discontinued, try Wild flora girl on a seesaw also by Anna French at UKWallpapers

However, my ambitions didn’t stop there. I coupled the canary yellow tiles with birdsong wallpaper and I just want to highlight that we hung this paper 12 years ago and it’s still going strong! I’ve done a whole post on how to wallpaper bathrooms here, so have a read if you are interested. Wallpaper is a wonderful way to take any bathroom up in the style stakes but really added some punch to this otherwise small room. The dark painted woodwork in Lamp Black by Little Green really helps highlight the yellow and the foil paper bounces the light around.

So that completes my little tour. I hope you can see that even when the rooms are small and unimpressive and there isn’t splendid high ceilings, natural light and architectural details, that by using the maximalist approach you can really raise the bar and create something quite fabulous.

I’m hosting an hour-long Maximalist masterclass on the 25th March which takes a dip into what it takes to decorate in the maximalist style. From contrasting colours, clashing patterns and a general riot of eclectic styles, I’ll share what it really takes to make this look work and look effortlessly stylish. You can book your place at the live event here, and enrollment includes a login that you can use to watch the replay at any time. I’d love to see you there!

Photos by Tim Young.

Please note: I no longer own this property but you can still check in with the lovely new owners on Airbnb.

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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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Because beautiful things come to those who wait…
and this one’s worth every second. 🌺

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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. 

In my exclusive online course How to Create a Maximalist Interior, I’ll guide you through my step-by-step design process—so you can confidently design a space that’s full of heart, soul, and style.

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And yes, you’ll get a personal tour of my own technicolour home, so you can see exactly how I bring it all together.

Let’s unlock your dream home. One room at a time. 💥
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.

Just comment MAYJOY and I’ll pop the link over in your DMs.


#maximalisthome #colourfulhome #interiorinspo #designmyths #interiordesignadvice 
#patternclash #dopaminedecor #banthebeige #maximalistdecor #interiorstyle 
#colourmyhome
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.

You feel confident, calmer. More you.

And if you’re ready to design a home that feels like you, my brilliant online course is here to help.

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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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