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Sophie Robinson
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04 Oct 17

I want that style: The design process

So drilling down your own look and getting your into your own style groove is something I’m really passionate about. God forbid we all follow trends and become little design auto-bots so I’m always up for helping people get in touch with their inner design guru. So when I was contacted by Hillarys earlier this year to get involved in the #iwantthatstyle campaign I jumped at the chance. The idea was to ask four very different design professionals to be involved in the design of a room scheme that reflected their personal aesthetic. I was to be joined by  Kate Watson Smyth the top blogger from Mad About The House, Daniela Tasca York the recent winner of The Great Interior Design Challenge and interior stylist and best selling author Emily Henson to be a part of a project to design a room four ways. As designers we all have a very different signature styles and so I was excited to see how this project was going to show the amazing diversity of interior design taste and style. Here we take a look at the design process.

First up I was invited up to Hillarys in Nottingham to view the new Autumn Winter Collection to pull together a series of fabrics that I think would work in a scheme of my style. I do love a sneak preview and the table in the design studio was laden with fresh new prints and plains for us to ogle at. While Kate Watson Smyth chose an oh-so-sophisticated delicate pale pink for neat Roman blinds, and left it at that, I went away armed with a bevy of clashing patterns from stripes to toile’s, florals to geometrics. Part of my signature look is to mix patterns with gay abandon and I was going to specify them for curtains, blinds and cushions. Secretly envying Kates less is more approach I know I never make it easy for myself!

Sophie robinson interior designer at Hillarys in Nottingham

Selecting fabric swatches is a key part of the design process

Back in my studio I used these swatches as a spring board to pull together a Pinterest page of inspiration. Pinterest can be a real rabbit hole but I think its most effective if you approach it with some focus. The fabrics I’d collected from were pinks and navy’s with some yellows so I used this as my colour palette while searching for relevant images. You can view my full Pinterest page here.

Creating a pinterest board is an essential first step to forming your ideas around your interior room sheme. I always do a pintererst board beforemovingonto a mood board

Researching on Pinterest is a great start

Next up I pulled out a few key images to make up my mood boards as these were going to be used by the team to design the room set. This is a good way to consolidate your ideas and make notes. You can either print out your pictures in colour and mount them to a board, or I often use an app on my ipad called Mood board as it’s so quick and easy and then I can email it off instantly to the client.

Interior designer Sophie Robinson puts togther a mood board for an interior design scheme for a pink and blue living room

First mood board captures the feel and style

A second mood board shows product ideas

 

So then the photography team at Hillarys got involved in designing the room set- as well as sourcing products that were similar to my mood boards. The design board had sketches which showed how the product would be placed within the set and an idea of the angle for the photographer. It also bought together all the styling ideas and product suggestions so everyone could approve the design on paper before it all gets collated. From this board I was able to approve the design and the stylist had a clear vision of what items needed to be sourced.

An interior design board can bring togther sketches of the set, furniture options as well as paint colours and furnishing fabrics. This design by interior designer Sophie Robinson for Hillarys

The shoot was held in Manchester at a photographer’s studio, made up like a set so the rooms could be made to look identical for all four looks. Unusually for me I was’nt in control of picking out the props for the shoot or styling up the image on the day but it was a good excercise for me to hand it over and see how someone else interprets my style.

 

So here it is, my pattern clashing, colour loving style realised by Hillarys. Let me know what you think!

Interior designer Sophie Robinsons designs this interior designed room set in her colour clashing favourite shades of deep blue and pink. Complete with chevron rug and accents of yellow the style is eclectic and vintage. Great use of mixing fabrics

The finished room set by Hillarys

6 ways to get my signature style

1 Clash Colour. I love to clash bold colours together as they create real drama and impact. It works when you use bold colours together as you get that great burst of energy which is what I really love.

2 Mash patterns. I get a real thrill from mixing patterns together and seeing how they jostle next to one another. The way I do it is to restrict myself to a colour pallette otherwise it all goes a bit mad. Next make sure there is a mixture of large scale and small scale prints and some plains for balance. I love to mix modern gemetrics with flouncy florals so its the clash of styles that really works for me.

3 Gallery walls. I love to collect artwork and a group of framed prints all collected on one wall creates a really pleasing focal point. It also looks super striking against a dark coloured wall as the art really pops out. I talk in more detail on how to achieve this look on my How to hang art post.

4 Mix styles. The eclectic style has long been heralded as I thing but it’s at the heart of every scheme I design. I’m positively petrified of the overly matchy-matchy so I like to see different design genres and styles together as it gives a room personality. It also suits my hunter gatherer instincts as it means I can keep adding pieces over time that capture my eye.

5 Think floors and ceilings. It’s a given that colour and pattern can be applied to walls but all too often the floors and ceilings are completely overlooked. I like to show them a bit more love and always think to use the surfaces to add more colour. In my view oversized rugs (big enough so the feet of the furniture can sit ontop)  in a bold pattern are a great way to create a feature floor, and ceilings should never be white.

6 Have curtains and blinds. I love to see a window really well furnished which is why I often opt for a combinaion of curtains and blinds. Its a great way to add more colour and play with different patterns.

Further reading

For more about the #IWantThatStyle project and to see the other room sets inspired by the other designers, hop on over to Mad About the House blog here

Read my interview about the project with Hillarys here

Come and discover your own unique style by signing up for one of my colour workshops here

 

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Catch Sophie In All Her Colourful Glory On Instagram

DAY 18 of #easywininteriors and I’m getting the DAY 18 of #easywininteriors and I’m getting the paintbrush out! Giving old and unappreciated brown furniture of coat of colour is not just easy but quick too and you get ooodles of satisfaction giving something a new lease of life. Since the sun is starting to poke it’s head out it’s the perfect opportunity to fling open the windows, roll out the dust sheet, and calm your senses with the therapeutic strokes of a paint brush. I transformed these battered old Ercol chairs that I found at a car boot sale with an undercoat of Zinsser and a top coat of eggshell so they really can withstand the knocks. ( here’s a tip, use a sag brush for spindly furniture) I love how the pink legs pick up on the pink in the wallpaper. I’ve got a couple of pots of chalk paint waiting in the wings. This just might be the weekend to tackle the bedside tables at last! Have a wonderful weekend  and I hope the sun shines on you wherever you are! 

CREDITS Reclaimed terracotta tiles @ca_pietra_  Borastapeter Rubarber wallpaper @wallpaperdirect Clock @newgateclocks Doors painted in Rose Ash Light @sanderson1860 Everything else is vintage 

#easywininteriors #kitchen #countrykitchen #upcycle #upcycledfurniture #countryliving #countrylivingmodernrustic #countrykitchen #greenkitchen #greenandpink #interiorinspo #interiordesign
DAY 17 of #easywininteriors is all about making do DAY 17 of #easywininteriors is all about making do with what you’ve got and making it work. For most of us, decorating our home and choosing all the things we want to go with it is a long if not a life time journey and there are plenty of compromises along the way. One of the ways I make do with things I’m less happy about is with distraction. You can use colour to draw the eye and highlight the bits you do like and similarly blend away the areas that need to fade into the back ground. For me joinery, radiators and my unattractive windows all get painted in the same colour so they fall to the background and then the cushions and artwork can come to the fore and catch your eye. I painted these lovely old solid wood doors bright yellow on a whim with some left over paint. It was a quick and easy way to inject a burst of  colour joy. So don’t discount doors and architraves as a fun way to play with colour, but only if you have nice ones. 
On the PODCAST today @mad_about_the_house and I discuss more ways you can make do. I interview leading interior designer and queen of colour and pattern @nicolahardingandco who has amazing insights on how to go about planning your schemes, conjure mouthwatering colour palettes and work with what you’ve got. And our style surgery is from Callum who finds himself stuck with a shiny blue green sofa which he doesn’t love and doesn’t know what to put with. Obviously cover it with cushions and distract the eye with A bright yellow door Callum! 

If you have a question for our style surgery do please send it in as we are lining them up for the next series and we’d love to hear from you! Drop us an email to thegreatindoorspod@gmail.com.You can here all our ramblings and insights on today’s show The Great Indoors and thankyou to @katetaylorldn for producing the show. 

#thegreatindoors #bluesofa #yellowdoor #banthebeige #interiorspodcast #podcast #interiordesign #interiorinspo
DAY 16 of #easywininteriors and I’m extolling th DAY 16 of #easywininteriors and I’m extolling the benefits of an occasional chair. I’ve always loved occasional chairs primarily for their decorative function. I’m a patterned fabric addict and so an occasional chair I’d another opportunity to add more pattern, more colour and another cushion to boot! But during these extended periods of lock down and staying at home I’ve appreciated the quiet little corners they offer. I’m lucky enough to find a space for one here on my landing but they can also find a home in a bedroom, a home office, under the stairs or indeed #lifegoals in the bathroom. So rather than playing second fiddle to THE SOFA put your occasional chair in pride of place and grab yourself 5 minutes solitude! Most of mine are junk shop funds bought back to live with my hoarded stash of remnant fabrics. So it’s time to raid grannies attic and  create a seat that makes you smile . 🥰  use the hashtags #easywininteriors to share your favourite corners of escape.

#easywininteriors #vintagearmchair #armchair #occassionalchair #colourlover #banthebiege
DAY 15 of #easywininteriors and I’m having a re DAY 15 of #easywininteriors  and I’m having a reshuffle on the bookcase to celebrate the happy Back To School vibes! 🙌 YES! This one is a work in progress because sorting your books as to the spine colour can be really meditative! I’m excited for you guys to share your colour coded bookcases using the hashtag #easywininteriors because I’ve seen some amazing examples on here! This idea can also include colour coding your ornaments or glassware collection too. Somehow grouping them in blocks  just intensifies the colour and I love the 🌈 effect. Happy faffing! 

#interiorinspo #interiorstyling #colourlover #banthebeige #faffthegaff #bookshelf #shelfie #shelfiestyling #rainbow #rainbowstyle #mycolourfulinterior #colourfulhomevibe
DAY 13 of #easywininteriors and Sundays here are o DAY 13 of #easywininteriors and Sundays here are often the day I get the house in order before the week starts again. It’s laundry day, the on-line shop gets done and if I can be bothered I might do some batch cooking. 💪 But the garden is also pulling our attention at this time of year and I spent yesterday picking up twigs that have littered the garden after the high winds and piled it all up for kindling. Satisfying! I’m not a naturally tidy or organised person  but I do feel like I’m winning at life once chores have been done and everything is in it’s place. And here lies the easy win. If you have systems in place it makes it so much easier! This shoe storage was game changing. Before the hall was littered with shoes and bags that I was always tripping over. So planning your storage and then using it is key to creating order and an element of calm. And once the storage is fit to bursting, it’s time to have a declutter. How do you keep the house feeling orderly and calm and do you use Sunday as a Sort It day too? #sortitsunday 

CREDITS walls in Lazuli and woodwork in Perfect white @zoffanyfw . Havana Bauta cement Tiles @claybrookstudio . Fabrics are vintage and @thestripescompany . Stair runner @roger_oates 

#easywininteriors #colourlover #banthebeige #hallwaydecor #hallway #interiorinspo #declutter #storageideas #shoestorage
DAY 12 of #easywininteriors and I’m back in the DAY 12 of #easywininteriors and I’m back in the bedroom and enjoying a well earned lie in this morning! My morning routine has been really important to me during lock down. In  his brilliant book ‘think like a monk’ @jayshetty talks about how a positive morning ritual sets you up for the day. Similarly a good night time ritual sets you up for a good nights sleep. Styling up your bedroom  to support these ideas really helps! I’ve taken to setting my wake up alarm an hour before the rest of the house so I can enjoy some quiet solitude before the day gets going. I make my coffee in my favourite mug and spend a while reading or exercising. But no phone scrolling! My bedside is laid out with everything I need including a big pile of books and a dish for my watch and specs. I charge my phone in the kitchen to keep it away from temptation! Admittedly I’ve never had a problem sleeping but I was hardly what you’d call a morning person. Now it’s my favourite time of the day! Have a gorgeous lazy weekend folks x

CREDITS wallpaper @mollymahonblockprinting bedside table is vintage. Lamp @pookylights Vases and dishes all vintage. Pillows and duvet @cocoandwolf Flat sheet and bedthrow @societyofwanderers 

#easywininteriors #bedroomdecor #countrybedroom #colourfiedhomes #colourstylehome #colourlover #banthebeige #patternclash #interiorstyling #interiordesign #interiorinspo #faffthegaff
DAY 11 of #easywininteriors and we are over half w DAY 11 of #easywininteriors and we are over half way there! Whoop whoop, March is  just nine short days away! And I can feel the Spring vibes! It’s getting lighter, the bluebells are coming and the birds are singing! But back to it, we’ve got work to do! Today I’m sharing how I switch my home from working day to home time, without leaving the house. It’s so important for our mental health that we can make that transition. I’ve worked from home for years so I’ve always done this, but I find it essential to tidy my desk/kitchen table at the end of everyday and get it out of sight. This often means piling up all my paper work, laptop, pen pot and putting it all into a tray. And if you don’t have a deep tray a cardboard box does the job. Then hide it in the cupboard, pop it on a shelf or slide it under the table. The key is that you can’t see it and it doesn’t encroach on your non-work life. Out of sight out of mind kind of thing. 
And you might notice in the back of this shot is my 2021 vision board. I keep this in my view everyday as it helps keep me focused, uplifted and motivated. Im hosting a live webinar next Tuesday on how and why I create vision boards for every aspect of my life, including my interiors. If you’d like to join me it’s 7pm 23/02/21 and I can promise a fun, creative and enlightening evening! Link to book is up in my bio if you fancy getting a boost of inspiration towards creating your dream home. 

Happy Friday and have a lovely weekend 😍

#workingfromhome #myhomeoffice #interiorstyling #visionboard #interiorinspo #interiorinspiration #homeoffice #creativeworkspace #colourlover #colourcolorlovers #banthebeige
DAY 9 of #easywininteriors and I’m going to make DAY 9 of #easywininteriors and I’m going to make it super easy after yesterday’s kitchen cupboard love, which I’ll be honest, felt a bit strenuous! So today is all about creating as simple but effective styling moment; a trio of vases. Three seems to be the magic number when it comes to styling your objects and I have a few tips . I like to make sure there is a mixture of sizes, colour and textures but all held together with a theme. These three work because they’re  all vintage, Picked up from various car boot sales over the years! You can create little trios all over your home from the sideboards, book shelves, worktops, bathrooms and side tables. Push the tall one to the back and bring the small one to the fore but it’s the lack of symmetry that makes it pleasing. And you don’t have to stop with just vases, a trio of objects works with picture frames, ornaments and candle sticks too. 

#easywininteriors #vintagestyle #howivintage #myvintagehome #interiorstyling #interiorstyle #interiorinspo #colourlover #banthebeige
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