Whats the Interior design process?

So you have decided that yes you definitely need an interior designer and you have selected the one you think will turn that jumble of overwhelming ideas in your head into some sort of coherent reality but whats next? Whats the Interior Design process?

Below I have outlined the design stages that I follow:

We start the process with an initial 15 minute zoom or phone call to discuss your property and so I can get a brief understanding of what you are looking for.

Following this initial call we will look to arrange a site visit if appropriate where we can discuss your project in far more detail and understand your hopes and dreams for your property. This will help us define the project brief. From there we move on to:

Stage 1 - SITE VISIT

We will meet in person on site to further discuss your requirements and refine the scope of works If there are no architectural plans a survey will need to be undertaken

STAGE 2. - INITIAL CONCEPT

We will come up with an initial concept based on our discussions. This will include key colours, materials and initial layout ideas. The initial concept will need to be signed off by the client before we proceed to the next stage, we will do this via zoom.

An example of a concept created for a beach house in North Wales

STAGE 3 - DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

During this stage we will refine the design further and select all the furniture, fixtures and materials. We will also design all the bespoke joinery, advise on window treatments and draw floor plans. We can provide CGI rendered images at an extra cost. This will be presented in person and all elements will need to be signed off before proceeding to the next stage

STAGE 4 - DOCUMENTATION

We will prepare all the costs for the fixtures, furniture, joinery, window treatments Detailed joinery drawings, paint schedule, soft furnishings/window treatments will need to be signed off Please note this can be a lengthy process

Below is an example of a further refined mood board

STAGE 5 - CONSTRUCTION

We request a site visit with the builder to discuss the designs and work through any specific requirements or for them to raise any issues prior to building work starting Plumber and electrician will be issued with product spec sheets which must be signed off prior to any ordering We also ask that our joiner & curtain maker be allowed on site to undertake a site survey We would like to undertake a site visit at key stages throughout the build, 1 x prior to building work starting, 1 x prior to first fix, 1 x prior to 2nd fix as well as when our trades our undertaking their survey

STAGE 6 - INSTALL

We will manage the install of all the FFE, style and dress the space for you

STAGE 6 - PROJECT COMPLETION

The final phase of the project and where we hand over to you, not before conducting a final walkthrough of the property to ensure nothing has been missed and you are happy

Below is an example of a basement kitchen we project coordinated in a grade 2 listed Welsh Cottage.

If you need any help with your own project then get in touch to see how i can help you

How do I find the right Interior Designer for my project?

So you have decided that you need an interior designer for your project, the next question is ‘How do i find the right interior designer for my project?’

When searching interior designers make sure to pay attention to the designers portfolio and previous projects. Ask yourself, do you like their style? Can you see yourself feeling comfortable in a space designed like that? Do you like the colours they have used? Do you like what furniture is in the space? If your style is wildly different to what the designer is showing on their website or social media then maybe they aren’t the right designer for you. For example; If you love a traditional country style with lots of patterns and colours and the designer has projects showing very calm spaces with minimal pattern then that probably isn’t going to work. Most designers are able to turn their hand to a style that you like and enjoy trying new ideas but you will always get the best out of your interior designer if you like their current style.

A consultation is incredibly important when hiring a designer. The designer and client must get on on some level as you spend so much time in communication that a good working relationship is vital, This not only makes the project run smoother it also makes it an enjoyable experience for the both of you. This is a 2 way process and it needs to be the right fit for the designer as much as it does for the client.

Location is also key, yes we can do lots online now and zoom has really opened up the whole world but if you want someone who is able to visit the property on a regular basis then having a designer relatively local to you works out best.

Do they specialise in e-design, renovations or one room designs? Some designers love walking into a building and can see the potential for a space and enjoy the build process and seeing the building come to life, others love the softer side of interior design, focusing primarily on what you can do with paint, new cushions and accessories. Make sure you pick the designer with the right skill set for your project.

So if you are thinking of hiring an interior designer and would like help with your own project and believe we could be a good fit then contact me to see how I can help you.

Kitchen jargon explained

Kitchen cabinet shopping can be a bit of a minefield as there are so many options for finishes and it can be a bit confusing about what everything means, veneer, foil wrap? Which is best? Whats a carcass? Which is the most durable door material? A kitchen is also a very considered and expensive purchase so its not a decision you should rush into without first doing your research and making sure you are getting the kitchen you are after.

Below I have broken down some of the most common queries I have had with regards kitchens and their finishes for you so you can choose your kitchen with confidence,

What is a Kitchen Carcass?

This is the main body of the kitchen unit and is generally made from MDF. This structure helps support the worktop, has the internal shelving that make up the cupboard, supports the plinth and is also the structure onto which you hang your door. Most carcasses come with a service void at the back of them, this can be anywhere from 30mm to 45mm and is where your electricians and plumbers will run all their pipework so its out of sight.

Many are of the assumption that if they are keeping their carcass and only changing the doors that this will be a massive cost saving. This is only a little bit true. Yes you are saving the cost of the carcass but most of the cost is in the construction of the doors so the savings aren’t as high as you might expect

Kitchen Door Materials decoded; What do they mean?

MDF Lacquer - A door that has numerous coats of paint, it provides a durable and smooth finish

Veneer - Thin sheets of wood on top of MDF

Painted & Lacquered - Gives a really good smooth finish

Foil wrap gloss - Wrapped on top of MDF - Its like coating a weetabix in a foil colour, in some lights you can see the texture.

PVC wrapped - this is one of the cheapest finishes, its has a very thin layer of colour and an MDF inner

Foil wrap - al pieces individually wrapped all the way round with an MDF inner

MFC - AKA Melamine faced chipboard. Entry level in terms of expense but relatively strong. The chipboard core will expand and blow if moisture gets in at all.

Veneered gives the beauty of real wood without the fear of warping. A thin layer of timber is applied onto MDF to give the impression of a single piece of wood. This can be left with a natural finished and stained or can be painted any colour you desire. The beauty of this option is if you want to change the colour in the future its easy to do so as the layer of timber means you can sand it back and paint over.

flat pack or rigid built kitchen. which is best?

What do these even mean? Flat pack is your IKEA type scenario where everything is separate and you need to build it all from scratch, cue lots of arguments!

Rigid Build means that the carcass is delivered built but without the door attached.

Most companies are offering rigid built but Howden’s and Ikea still lead the way in flat pack. There are pros and cons for each of these, namely:

• flat pack is generally cheaper as there is less to do in the factory

• the upfront costs can also be slightly cheaper however this is a more laborious route once its home and you could find that the labour costs to put it all together add up

• More chance of missing parts

• Its doesn’t require as much space to store if you need to

• Rigid build can take a bit longer to be delivered as it needs to be put together

• It takes up more storage space so if you aren’t quite ready to have your kitchen fully put together you will need to find somewhere to store it

• As there is less to put together it can be cheaper in terms of labour

So hopefully I have decoded a bit of the kitchen jargon that many in the industry use for you and you can be more informed when you go ahead and purchase your new kitchen.

5 pieces I'm loving this month

I spend a lot of time trawling the internet for interesting pieces for my clients and every now and again there are items that stand out for all the right reasons, be that price, design, versatility or uniqueness and I wanted to be able to share them with you so you can incorporate them into your own schemes.

Below are the 5 Items at various price points I am particularly loving this month:

Zara Striped Wool Rug, £229.99

Projektityyny, Gingham Chindi Cushion, Blush, £70.

Wyld Home, Green Gorgeousness £195.

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Madam Stoltz, Ochre Stoneware Bottle Vase, £21.00

H&M Home Coffee Table, £149

Project reveal -Northwich, Cheshire Extension

We were contacted by our client in Northwich, Cheshire back in January 2019 as they wanted help with designing their open plan Kitchen/dining/snug extension, hallway and playroom. They wanted me to assist with the design and sourcing of the areas as well as the general presentation of the space. I was approached as they wanted to achieve a warm, textured space that had authentic materials whilst also being family friendly.

The owners lived in a Victorian semi-detached house which featured all the usual period detailing of that decade including these lovely Minton tiles in the hallway that they were keen to make a feature of. The front door also had beautiful stained glass panels, which are removed in the below photo, and they wanted to enhance this space and make it a pleasure to walk into to and for it to set the tone for the rest of the house.

The owners have 3 young boys and wanted help redesigning the playroom that not only worked for them now but grew with them when inevitably toys are replaced with consoles. They wanted additional storage so as to which could be used to hide away all the kids toys when not in use and to have something on the floor that was hard wearing and would keep up with the demands of active young boys.

Below are some images of the space prior to any work being carried out. The clients were keen to have lots of light flooding this new extension and to also have good views out into the garden.

Below are a couple of images during the fit and you can see how open the space is and how we needed to come up with a scheme that brought all these different areas within one space together. One colour that runs throughout the open plan space is a burnt orange. We used it on the lights above the Island from Holloways of Ludlow and as an accent colour in the other spaces, this helps link the

Velux lighting was added into the in the ceiling to bring some light into the space along with a 3mx3m pivot door from the kitchen leading out onto the patio.

We designed some floor to ceiling built in storage for the boys playroom and painted them Dulux stonewash blue in full gloss with leather handles from Dowsing & Reynolds. The flooring we choose to withstand 3 lively boys was the Bacana Grey Classic Cork from The Colour Flooring Company which is a hard wearing material but is relatively soft underfoot compared to wood and is waterproof so perfect for those accidental drink spills! The kids were big Marvel comic fans too so we wanted to have a nod to this without becoming too themed.

The handmade woven pendant light from Naomi Paul above the dining table is a standout piece in this space and one of the products I was excited to see up and in place. This light was a bespoke piece for the client who were keen to create a unique space.

The majority of the walls were painted in Wevet from Farrow and Ball which was also carried into the hallway but to help create a feeling of intimacy in the snug we opted to use a darker studio green on the walls to help distinguish the space from the rest of the open plan area. The darker colour in the snug area also acts as a perfect foil for the rich purple and ochre colours and helps them really shine!

Product

Chairs: Joined and Jointed

Sofa: Arlo and Jacob was the Ferdinand

Table: Conker from Loaf

Flooring: Coast from Ted Todd

Lights over Kitchen Island: Futura Pendant from Holloways of Ludlow

Coffee table and rug are both vintage