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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

No decorations are allowed in the house until the No decorations are allowed in the house until the first of December and we start the morning with Arthur’s advent Calender! That’s as far as I’ve got in the hallway I’ll be honest as this grid post is a hark back to a previous year. But I’ll be decorating it the same way I do every year. I like to use a mixture of colourful baubles I’ve collected over the years, paper  honeycomb balls for maximum wow and plenty of foliage. I keep the ribbons year on year and rarely buy anything new. The repeated tradition is part of the charm. 
On the podcast @mad_about_the_house and I talk all things Thrifty Christmas. It’s been a really challenging year for most so we invited guests @rocketandsquash and @hazelgardinerdesign to share their money saving ideas to make sure you don’t bust the bank account and yet still have a lovely treaty time. Ed has some lovely ideas for feasting around Christmas that crucially cuts down on waste and avoids unnecessary expensive ingredients. And Hazel loves to use foraged foliage in her floral displays so has plenty of ideas on that. 
It’s a peach of a show jam packed with creative inspiration. Listen on your podcast app, and why not leave a comment below on how you will be being thrifty this Christmas 👇 

#1stdecember #itsbeginningtolookalotlikechristmas #hallway #hallwaydecor #christmasdecor #thegreatindoors
Who is looking forward to the weekend! 🙌 Welc Who is looking forward to the weekend! 🙌 

Welcome to a rare tour of my home! Since every room looked tidy, I grabbed my phone to show you around. 

You can see how I have lots of colour and pattern in every room but still the house has flow. I use the same palette of colours through which helps make it all hang together. But it takes more than that to make a maximalist home sing. Repeating the same materials, design motifs, styles and shapes helps to create a feeling of cohesion.

For the ultimate insight into how to decorate in a way that supports you emotionally, flexes your creativity and leaves you loving your home, check out my interior design school where I teach you  everything you need to know. 

- how to harmonise colours
- How to plan and budget
- How to source all the materials
- How to save time and money
- How to burst open your creativity

And this weekend you can enjoy 25% of ALL COURSES across my entire design school by using the code BLACKFRIDAY25 at check out. Click on the link in my bio or visit courses.sophierobinson.Co.uk ☝️

#housetour #banthebeige #bbbinteriors #colourlover #colourfulhome #maximalistinteriors #eclecticdecor #onlinedesign #designschool
It’s podcast day on The Great Indoors and we hav It’s podcast day on The Great Indoors and we have a very special guest! @banjo.beale is a BAFTA award winning TV star, winner of series 3 @interiordesignmasters_tv , interior designer and recently adding author to his rosta of talents. While reality TV launched Banjo’s stellar interiors career we managed to bag him for a chat while he took a short beak from sourcing vintage for his second series of Design The Hebrides. 

This is an opportunity to listen to this whirlwind of a design mind, with insights into what it takes to win a TV completion, how living on a remote island in the Scottish Hebrides has made him ultimately resourceful and his unique design process. 

Listen to The Great Indoors, whoever you get your podcast. Hit that subscribe button and come back here to let us know what you thought! 

#thegreatindoors #banjobeale #designingthehebrides #interiordesignmasters
This is the perfect time of year to up level your This is the perfect time of year to up level your bedding. With the autumn chill on its way I’d rather hike up the tog count than whack up the central heating. 

Beautiful bedding and linen is the ultimate luxury and at this time in my life 👵🏻 my bed is up there as my absolute favourite place to be and my sleep is honestly my favourite pastime! So making it the most comforting, soothing, replenishing experience possible is my priority. 😴

I recently up-levelled my duvet and pillows  to @naturalmatuk goose down products and here is my unbiased review. The pillows are the like sleeping on an actual cloud! Along with the 9 tog duvet I’ll stay cosy all winter, and leave the thermostat turned down.  @naturalmatuk only use natural, sustainable materials, organic cotton and responsibly sourced feathers, which all support a good nights sleep. With a hectic lifestyle, my bed is my ultimate sanctuary 🥱

What’s your self care routine and secret to the perfect pampered night sleep? 

#ad PR product 
#naturalmat #bedroom #bedlinen #bedroombliss #bedlinen #pillows #bedding #bedroomdecor #bedroom #pamperyourself #pampernight
What a dress! When @benjaminfoxdressmaker spotted What a dress! When @benjaminfoxdressmaker spotted my new collection with @harlequinfw they wanted to make a dress in it! Now I actually match my decor! 

This dress shape is so perfect. I love the big sleeves, that goes so well with a fine knit underneath and the long gathered skirt looks perfect with boots, both of which I bought recently at @cosstores . Team with my signature big earrings ( these are old ones from @anthropologieeu ) and I feel a million dollars! Happy Monday folks! We can do this 👊

#ad - pr product. 
#dresslikeyourhome
I hosted an event this week to show off all the ha I hosted an event this week to show off all the hard work we’ve done in the house and showcase the new collection with @harlequinfw . It was a wonderful opportunity to fill the house with laughter, great conversation and celebrate our mutual love of colour! Since the pandemic I work more and more from home and it felt good to open the door and let people in. 

The guest list was a mix of writers, artists, gardeners, cooks, designers and fashion stylists but one thing we have in common is embracing the joy of colour and celebrating how our homes are the foundation for a happy and fulfilling life. 

However getting the house ready for such a group of discerning eyes was rather exhausting! I had to hide under the duvet yesterday! But I’m so grateful to everyone who came, their positivity and inspiration. Most of whom I met here on instagram. This is a special place to make like minded connections, yet it was great to actually have an excuse to get together in real life! 

And this weekend Tom and are are celebrating not doing any house DIY for the first time in ages! 

Special Thanks to @mad_about_the_house @erica_davies @hillhousevintage @andrea_childs_journo @theottohouse @clairevallis @michelleogundehin @mollymahonblockprinting @sophieabbottartist @gemswholesomekitchen @edwardrobinsonid @dahliabeach for making it such a wonderful day 

 Thanks to @gemswholesomekitchen fir feeding us! 

thanks to @benjaminfoxdressmaker fir the custom made dress!

#harlequinxsophierobinson #athome #colourlover #banthebeige
#AD Admit it! I can’t be the only one beginning #AD Admit it! I can’t be the only one beginning to plan for Christmas. Conversations about the menu for the big day has started with gusto in my family. But my focus is always around creating a magical table setting. This year I’ll be incorporating these classic Christmas tree plates from @by_spode  that set the festive scene without the need to add loads of other fiddly decorations. I’m all about maximum impact, minimum effort this time of year, and I love how this traditional design (85 years old this year) is the perfect touch of nostalgia to accompany my bright Paper straw stripe tablecloth and colourful gloss candle sticks. I then just add simple flowers by snipping some hydrangea heads and popping them in tumblers dotted along the table. Finally bring it all to life with plenty of candlelight. And voila, it’s the perfect table setting for a fantastical festive celebration. Oh, how I wish the Christmas lunch was this easy to prepare! 

#byspode #spode #christmasdecor #christmastable #christmastablesetting #layingthetable #tablescape #christmastablescape #christmastree #christmasdecor #christmasinspiration #banthebeige #colourfulchristmas
I’m so excited to present my new ready made cush I’m so excited to present my new ready made cushion collection, in collaboration with @harlequinfw sold exclusively at @johnlewis 
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Cushions have long been an obsession of mine and I’m so thrilled with this capsule collection for @johnlewis because it combines all the pattern and colour so you can get an instant hit of maximalist spirit by creating any combination that works for you. There is the iconic Sherbert stripe, sitting amongst luxurious embroidered designs and heavily patterned velvets. My personal favourite is the deeply colourful jewel bug design🪲 Which ones yours?!

#cushion #cushioncover #maximalist #maximalistinteriors #bbbinteriors #colourmyhome #colourfulinteriors #colourfuldecor #sofaupholstery #sofaupgrade #livingroomdecor #interiorstyling #interiordesign #harlequinxsophierobinson
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