The rebirth of Gresham House
The brief for our latest care home refurbishment project was to transform a dark rather labyrinthine building into a welcoming residential home for adults with learning disabilities. Working with an...
View ArticleA showhome in the making
When it comes to show home design there are two questions which I am regularly asked; “What happens to the furniture when the show home is closed?” and “Do you decide the colours or are they given to...
View ArticleDressing with a difference!
Having just joined the HomeSmiths team as a Junior Designer, and with a background in retail Visual Merchandising, the last two months have very much been a ‘contrast and compare’ of the parallels of...
View ArticleThe correlation between High Street fashion and Interior Design
Last week we were visited by a fabric company rep, who was enthusing about a new range in their portfolio. Whist we were flicking through the books I could not help but notice that I had seen these...
View ArticleOne day turnaround!
Nothing like a good old before and after to show the power of interior design but this one also has a story which I thought might make interesting reading.... A large proportion of our projects are...
View ArticleA week of variety
Wow…what a week. As the cold mornings drew in, we were well and truly launched into our busy period! Jacqui tweeted on Monday morning that David, Nikki and myself were to ‘hold on to our hats’ this...
View Article5 things I've found and loved on my trade show travels....
Something.....I have to find a place for. The new designs in the rugs and flatweaves collection from the Rug Company shown here at Decorex. Something.....beautiful. At Tent I found this...
View ArticleFocused feedback
As well as residential work and show homes we also get involved in care home projects - homes for adults with learning disabilities as well as Extra Care schemes for the elderly. Part of the design...
View ArticleBooks galore!!
Since our visit to Decorex, the team has been practically bouncing on their chairs waiting for the arrival of the new season fabric books! This week was the week!! As well as filling most of the...
View ArticleDress to sell
There’s nothing more rewarding and flattering than when your hard works pays off quicker than usual. As a former visual merchandiser (have I mentioned this before?!), on numerous occasions I’ve dressed...
View ArticleA year (and a night!) to remember!
So here we are, nearly at the end of the years work – and what a year it’s been! As I write this I am currently surrounded (but not quite buried) by furniture, soft furnishings and various other things...
View ArticleBe faithful to your intuitive sense
I often get asked how I come up with designs or what the latest trends are. I have never been a slave to trends. Interior design to me is more about designing spaces for people to love and enjoy...
View ArticleBudding interior design talent in Sussex
You know that feeling when you agree to take something on, plan it as much as possible, look forward it...........yet still don’t really know what to expect? Well this year at the Lindfield Arts...
View ArticleAn eye for detail
One of the silver linings to losing the vision in my left eye has undoubtedly been getting to work with London based charity The Thomas Pocklington Trust. They are a leading provider of care and...
View ArticleLove doing nothing
Last night Natuzzi took centre stage at the Serpentine Sackler Gallery in London for the UK debut of their Re-vive range. Supported by The Society of British Interior Design they treated us to the...
View ArticleSight loss is more common than you think
I am an interior designer. I am also an interior designer with a visual impairment. In November 2012 I permanently lost the sight in my left eye due to an attack of acute closed angle glaucoma....
View ArticleDesigning with sight loss in mind
The starting point for designing for a person with a visual impairment is no different from designing for someone with good vision – the first principle is that you need to understand the function and...
View ArticleDesigning with sight loss in mind - lighting
Lighting can make or break an interior scheme whether it’s for someone with perfect vision or a person with a visual impairment. Poor lighting makes a room feel dated, unwelcoming and for a person...
View ArticleDesigning with sight loss in mind - colour and contrast guidelines
Colour plays a key role in interior design, although colour itself is tricky to define as what we see as colour is determined by factors such as the quality of light, the texture of a surface,...
View ArticleDesigning with sight loss in mind - entrances, corridors and stairs
Getting in and out of your home safely and easily is something that most of us take for granted. I did until losing the sight in my left eye a couple of years ago. Whilst the sight in my working eye...
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