It was Nina’s sister Nikky who reached out for my help! Nikky is a massive colour lover and interior fan and she thought it was time her sister, who had just purchased her new family home, got in on the interior addiction. Could I convert busy working mum and lawyer Nina to come join us on the colourful side?

Nina looked frankly terrified when I first met her. The new house was big, the walls were all white and then the carpet was, shall we say, strong? I was shocked to discover that although they had bought grey (ahem) sofa’s, Nina owned no cushions, artwork, or accessories. She explained that she just had never invested time or head space into thinking about how her home looked. “White walls, grey sofa, job done”, she told me.

So we had to start right at the beginning with Nina, and get her excited about exploring the wonderful world of interiors, without completely freaking her out. With her sister Nikky holding her hand all the way, she was in for quite a ride!

While I have you here, my online course Be Your Own Interior Designer teaches you how to follow a logical design process, from how to pick the perfect palette as well as breaking down layout, budgeting and sourcing the items that make up a room. This takes away all the overwhelm and fear of making mistakes. Or for the full package check out my incredible Ultimate Interiors bundle, currently offering a 50% saving across three amazing online courses.

So to start Nina’s deisgn journey, I began by looking in her wardrobe, which was a riot of pattern, colour, tassles, pom poms and embellishments. Here was one seriously stylish lady but her home was not reflecting that. Through working up mood boards and nailing the floor plans, we bagn to get Nina excited about how her new home could look.

 

Here’s how we did it, with a list of all the products sourced at the end

Before….

 

The plan

After….

 

 

 

 

LIVING ROOM CREDITS

Walls painted in Celadon No. 74, Designers Guild

Woodwork, ceiling and coving painted in Chalk No.4, Designers Guild

Wallpaper in Belton Scenic  3 panels mural, Little Greene

Carpet in Wild Garlic, Kersaint Cobb

FURNITURE

Truman Large White Linen Sofa, Andrew Martin

Bespoke bookcase and bespoke media unit, Jali

Victorian antique Wingback Chairs bought second hand, Ebay

Antique Armchair covered in Sun Rise in Rose/Copper, Molly Mahon 

Antique Armchair covered in Ellies in Rose, Molly Mahon

Chairs Upholstered by Poh Maluna

Coffee table, Nina’s existing, painted in ‘Old White’ chalk paint, Annie Sloan

Indian carved low round table, Kirei Home

Herringbone Wool Pouffe in Blush, Cox & Cox

Charnwood C-Five BLU Wood Burning Stove, Direct Stoves 

SOFT FURNISHINGS

Curtains and blinds made in Daula Tyrian Fabric 236886, Sanderson

Curtains made by Dolly’s Interiors

Amaya Flatwoven Rug, Anthropologie

LIV Morrocan Rug, Sunday & Story

Blossom Rug, Sunday & Story

Tassled Cushion, Ellies Rose, Molly Mahon

Amezrou Multi Stripe Cushion Cover in Pink, Oka

Amezrou Multi Stripe Cushion Cover in Pink, Oka

Frill Cushion, Seed in Iron, Molly Mahon

Cushion in Pattee Turmeric, Molly Mahon

Cushion in Tuk Tuk Blue, Molly Mahon

Frill Cushion in Berry Grass/Sky, Molly Mahon

Jen Hewett Embroidered Block-Print Pillow, Anthropologie

Kilim Cushion Teal, Sourced by Holly

Suzani Cushion, Sourced by Holly

Kilim Cushion Rust, Sourced by Holly

LIGHTING

Cream 5 light Chandelier, Hicks & Hicks

Verona Table Lamp with empire shade in yellow Tulasi, Pooky

Antique Cream Wash Wood Floor Lamp Base, La Redoute

Empire Lampshade in crimson chevrons, Pooky

Letitia 132cm Swing Arm Floor Lamp, Wayfair

ACCESSORIES

Perfect Pink 1 Furniture Knobs, Knobbles & Bobbles

Filigree Metal Plant Pot and Stand, Barker & Stonehouse

Medicis resin vase H46cm, Maisons Du Monde,  https://www.maisonsdumonde.com/UK/en

Antique Indian wooden hand carved wall Panel, Etsy,

Painting- ‘Pink Haze’, Kirath Ghundoo

Broadwell Glass Vase; Teardrop Flower Vase; Wells Bubble Vase, Wide, Round Bud Vase, Castello Bottle; Ravello Flower Jug; Minori Pot; Set Of 3 Fulwell Tealight Holders; Pair Of Portmore Tealight Holders, all Garden Trading.

Green Candlestick Holder, WA Green

Alev Vase Rose Large; Tree Glass Set; Diamond Wine Glass; Fleur De Lys Carafe in Blue;

Strøm Bowl Horizon Blue Small; Flower Bud Ball Vase; Pink Indoor Plant Pot Small; Tabor Yellow Plant Pot Small; Double Totem Candle Holders; Xl Strøm Vase Coral Blush Pink, WA Green; Strøm Jug Coral Blush Large; Picture Frame In Pink And Black; Strøm Bowl Coral Blush Large, all WA Green

Clementina Orange Ceramic Vase; Ceramic Cat; Plant Pot in Blue and white; Plant Pot in pink and white; Modena Diamond Pink Photo Frame 5×7″, all Oliver Bonas

Portus Cale Gold And Blue Candle 215g, Cologne & Cotton

Dotty Blue Textured Vase; Textured Glass Vase; Whitewashed Sunburst Tray;  White Butterfly Bell Jar, all Cox & Cox 

Bedroom

Before….

 

The plan

After….

 

 

BEDROOM CREDITS

Walls in Lani Wallpaper in Denim, Molly Mahon

Ceiling Painted in Venetian Lace, Designers Guild

Woodwork Painted in Washed Linen, Designers Guild

FURNITURE

Existing Bed reupholstered in Linara Marine fabric, Romo

Bed Upholstered by Poh Maluna

White Mother of Pearl Chest of Drawer, Iris

Dark Blue Mother of Pearl Bedside Cupboard, Iris

Marialle Ikat Chair, Anthropologie

Georgette Round Footstool in Flax Linen, Sofa.com

SOFT FURNISHINGS

Curtains and blinds in Linara Gardenia fabric, Romo

Curtains trimmed in Tivoli Fringe Danube, Romo

Roman Blind in Dianthus in Rust & Rose, Molly Mahon

Curtains made by Dolly’s Interiors

Bagru Cushion in Dark Blue, Molly Mahon

Navy Scalloped Bed Linen Collection, Sophie Conran

Goa Quilt, Cologne & Cotton

Rug in Chunky Cotton Pink, Molly Mahon

Merino Lambswool Herringbone Throw, Cologne & Cotton

LIGHTING

Där Ronda Large Pendant Ceiling Light in White, John Lewis 

Aurora table lamp & blue dotty shade, Pooky

Verona Table Lamp, Pooky

Empire Lampshade in crimson, Pooky

ACCESSORIES

Artichoke Candle Holders, Sophie Conran 

Vintage wooden hand carved textile printing on fabric block, Etsy

Vintage wooden hand carved textile printing on fabric block décor 02, Etsy

Two Standing Metal Corals, Cox & Cox

Whitewashed Sunburst Tray, Cox &Cox

Diamond Wine Glass set in Blush Pink, WA Green

Special thanks to Molly Mahon