Eco Friendly Interior Design

It is great to see more people investing in good materials that not only last longer but are also less wasteful. LED lighting, stone and concrete surfaces, solid wood floors, linoleum and well crafted furniture - these are some of the more expanding areas that prove that our throw away mentality is shifting. Where once interior design was almost of a disposable nature- people are taking a good look at better materials and spending more. Sustainability in Design

It's no secret I am a lover of Farrow and Ball paints. The intensity of colour and the coverage of their paints is excellent.

But I have just been introduced to New Life Paints . This relatively new and progressive company reprocess waste water based paints back to a high quality grade emulsion which is suitable for interior and exterior use.

Using anywhere between 50 -90% of waste paint, they are currently saving around 100 tonnes of waste paint from ending up as landfill each year.
With 32 colours and a full colour matching service, they are definitely worth checking out. Matt, vinyl, exterior and also specialist paints available. These guys have really got your walls covered!

Certainly it makes sense not to throw out a sofa or chair you like, but whose fabric could do with a change. However it isn't true that all sofa frames are worth reupholstering. Many of the cheaper models might as well be chopped up. But if you are happy with your solid piece then  A Little Furniture Shop based in Shropshire will  refurbish it. I know for a fact this  little Art Deco sofa nearly ended up as landfill till it was lovingly restored using a Romo fabric.

FearsandKahn have for sale this pair of matching 1960's teak cabinets.

 Vintage furniture, modern classics- call it what you will. Their site hosts an array of  furniture and accessories that are fun and stylish.

Best of all, a new generation of people are able to enjoy them.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle- anyone want to gold paint their old toys into a lamp base?

WebEcoist  have some tremendous ideas, including a plastic spoon chandelier.

So apart from investing in good materials that will last longer and be energy efficient, being creative with what you already own, rather than throwing things out is positive for the environment too.

http://www.phillipscollection.com/

Recycled galvanised plates.

Loving the Mason Jar lights too...link via Patti Carden.

Outdoor Space

Whether you have a balcony, a yard or a garden -it is rather lovely to have some personal outside space. Having lived and visited some major cities, I am aware of the planning that is required to achieve the beautiful public garden spaces found in Hong Kong, New York and London among many others.

As much as the planting is important, so too is the design and the flow of space. Do you want to have a barbecue, somewhere to dine, somewhere to gaze at the stars or to grow your own vegetables or herbs?

There is no doubt that some of the Feng Shui or Greek Classical elements are often included in great gardens: Wood, Fire, Earth and Water.

Many gardens or balconies either have an open Chimnea or are partial to a barbecue or two. There are now many very attractive Biofuel fires that are suitable for indoor or outdoor use- require no chimney and run off bioethanol fuel. This blog previewed the one shown here from Indian Ocean back in 2010.

Water whether still as in a pond or birdbath, or running as a fountain or waterfall is also hugely popular.

There is something rather soothing about the sound of running water, and without going all Feng Shui, you can kind of feel the flow of energy that the representation here brings.

There are many water features suitable for small areas  available, or why not consider a natural pond?

Lighting is as crucial as warmth if spending time outside. As much as moonlight or candles may be all the low level lighting required for a small area, larger areas may need more illumination.

This fabulous lamp is available on import from the USA.
I don't think I have ever seen anything that comes close to this in the UK.

There is the Levada patio lamp which is good value at under £150 and quite a neat size.

I rather like this quirky outdoor chandelier. I have seen many similar styles using coloured glass too. This is from Etsy 

Tea lights in jam jars hung from branches, outside fairy lights, garden or patio LED lights, pool lights...the choice is improving all the time. 

Working with Trades

As soon as a client says their "interior designer" is on site the trades all yawn and think "yeah right".

The one thing I have learned working on site and on building sites over the last 20 years, is that I am confident and knowledgeable about what I know and do to earn some equal respect.

I know electrics, plumbing, decorating, payment systems, health and safety- enough to know to help questions re selections. I can wire a plug and choose a shower. But I can also tell if the distance, pipework and electrics will support that funky shower 50 metres away from water source.

I have built up some really very great relationships with trades over the years, in the South East and in Wirral.

So if need a project manager/ interior designer to work and plan your scheme, get someone who knows their stuff. It's wonderful helping to choose flooring and fabrics, but you need to know it is going to work and fit when it is actually installed.

Black and White- and shades of Grey

A very clean predominately white scheme, with the feature items highlighted in black.

The built in furniture blends with the walls, whilst the freestanding cupboard and couch are accentuated.

By painting the floor, wall and ceiling all in the same pure white shade- opens up the corridor like space, giving an airy feel.

Here the vastness of the space is anchored by the
low level darker items including the dark wood floor.

Instead of having a colour contrast feature item, the white chair is used.

With so much higly polished and reflective materials- the textured curtains add some softness.

A very dramatic, and highly personal bedroom.

Eclectic furniture, contrasting greens with grey,a mix of patterns.

This is a bedroom lovingly crafted with favourite furnishings- and not bought from a catalogue.

The polished wood floor here feels like a yellow brick road- leading you through the black and white rooms to a wealth of colour at the far end.

This is maybe not too dissimilar to the first image on this page, but the effect of the darker wood floor certainly focuses the eye.

The contrast woods on lamp and chairs adds warmth and  a more cosy feel where metal would not succeed.

This show bathroom again shows how the element of wood adds detail, contrast and warmth to a predominately black and white scheme.

There is a very balanced feel to the use of vertical and horizontal elements.


This bathroom via Posh Bathing