You may have noticed that minimalism isn’t really our thing either. For me, minimalism is cold and actually, I find it a little depressing. But to some, they love the uncluttered, clean lines and sleek style. My brother’s a minimalist, he hates ‘stuff’ – you know, all those accessories and knick knacks, which to me make a home what it is, but to him, it’s all just extra crap that he doesn’t need. And yes, he is HARD to buy presents for.

But the thing is, I’m not even sorry to all those that love a bit of beige, because do you know what? It really doesn’t matter what I think, what your next door neighbour thinks or what, heaven forbid, your mother thinks (more on that here).

Golden Feather Mirror | Gold Beetle Wall Decor | Hiding Hare Table Lamp

It’s YOUR home. Do whatever the hell you want with it, whatever makes YOU happy. I love colour, quirk, frivolity, and a touch of fabulous eccentricity. I have to have objects around me which evoke happy memories; sentimental items which have been passed down through generations, or even just a painting that reminds of a fabulous holiday. But that’s what makes ME smile – what makes YOU smile?

Our co-founder, Amelia’s tropical bathroom renovation

If you know what makes you smile, then fill your house with it. Be it colours, flowers, clean lines or even minimalism. Learn to recognise what it is you like. Yes, we can tell you what’s on trend at the moment, what colours are bang on the money or what ‘goes’ well with what. But if your home doesn’t quite feel ‘you’, then there isn’t enough things about it that make you smile.

So how do you find out what it is that makes you smile? How do you find what YOUR style is? Well, you have to actually stop and take notice of interiors. If you’re really aesthetic or design minded then you’ll do this naturally, but otherwise here’s a few tips to help you find your style:

Cherry Pink velvet Chair | Faiza Mirrored Tables | Beaten Gold Plant Pots | Velvet Leopard Jungle Cushion | All items available at Audenza

1. If you want to really get to grips with your style, it’s a good idea to start making a note of things you like as they crop up. Just jot down things in the notes section of your phone as you spot them and then whenever you’re next on Pinterest, have a browse for ideas that fit with whatever it is you’ve written down, so you can start to build up a moodboard. Don’t forget you can also create secret boards on Pinterest too, so only you can see them.  Naturally, if you spot something you like in a magazine, rip it out to refer back to. That might sound a bit over the top, but you’re never going to remember it otherwise!

2. Start with your own home- look around you. What do you love having around you? And importantly, what not? Are there things that you love in someone else’s home, but just couldn’t imagine living with yourself? If that’s the case, why is that? Is it just that you think you’d never be able to make it work in your own home, or is it that for instance, even though you like, ‘bright colours’, you wouldn’t want to live with them?

3. Naturally, Pinterest and Instagram are ideal for helping you define your style.  Look back through your Pinterest boards to see if there are any similarities. Start recognising the trends between them; colours, shapes, textures. For me, it’s kind of hard to tell what I like, because basically I like everything, all at once. Which is also kind of great, because it means I can have a really care free attitude to decorating. Clashing patterns? Sure. One thing I don’t like though- minimalism. Except, I’m starting to like the idea of a calm office. Not minimalist, obviously (let’s not get carried away), but perhaps the only white walls that I’d like in the house would be in the office. Again, I’ve only twigged that by really noticing what images and rooms I’m drawn to and feel a connection with.

4. Don’t forget to take notice when you’re about and about, visiting a hotel or cafe for instance, or basically, anywhere with a nice interior. What do you like and importantly, dislike?

To highlight the point that taste is merely a case of perception and personal opinion, I asked 2 of my favourite interiors bloggers & Instagrammers what makes them smile and to share a pic of their own home:

Image and quote: Kate Rogers, Online Interior Design and Event Styling, Over at Kates.  Follow Kate on Instagram here.

“What makes me smile is when you can really see peoples personality in their home! When I am decorating and buying things for my home, I never worry about whether they will go with a particular look or scheme. I figure as long as you fill your home with things you love then it will always come together!”

Image and quote: Olivia Silk, Interiors Blogger – Lust Living.  Follow Olivia on Instagram here.

“What makes me smile? At the moment I’m really into Hygge living, which is the Danish concept of living well and living simply. It’s all about creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the things and people around you so I’m trying to reflect that in my home lately, using soft textures for example my merino wool chunky knitted throw, sheepskin rugs and having an unnecessary amount of candles lit at all hours.”

You can apply this ‘does it make you smile?’ principle to decorating the whole house, but also to individual purchases. You can be as rational and logical as you like when trying to make a decision, but ultimately if it doesn’t make you smile then it won’t work long term, no matter how ‘functionional’ it is. You’ll come to begrudge it’s ugly presence soon enough and end up replacing it with something that makes you happy.

Us Audenza ladies don’t like anything in our house to be purely functional, in fact anything which doesn’t serve up a hefty dose of aesthetic pleasure is just down right offensive in our book. Which is why we cover boring lever arch folders in patterned paper,  spray paint pretty much anything that doesn’t move, and why we source and fill our home with beautiful objects that are not only functional, but seriously stunning too. And it’s why we started Audenza and this blog in the first place, to help and encourage others to do the same.

So tell me, what makes you smile?

Hollie x

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I’m Glen, A Thirty something hairdresser & interior enthusiast. I live with my fiancé and Frenchie baby in the Midlands UK.

How would you sum up your style?

I would say my interior style is moody with a bit of a glam eclectic edge, I’m a huge lover of a pattern clash and love to use lots of different textures in our home.

What sort of condition did you buy the house in? 

Whilst we haven’t done any major structural work we did  strip the house right back, we saw the bare bones. We bought our house in May 2020 & worked on it for around 4 months. The house was structurally sound but the inside needed a full renovation. We ripped out the old kitchen, bathroom, electrics & stripped all the walls of artex. We practically took it back to an empty shell so we could really put our stamp on it. We did a lot of the prep work ourselves to cut some costs and had tradespeople in to do the big jobs such as plumbing, electrics and plastering. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole process of renovating and would recommend it to anyone that likes to get their hands dirty.

Decorating is very much a learning curve – can you tell us about a decorating mistake that you’ve made over the years which others could learn from?

Whilst I think it’s good to grab the bull by the horns when decorating, preparation is key. When we started thinking about decor and interiors I got very overwhelmed with all the different styles. initially we tried out different styles in every room such as Scandi, bright & colourful & sugary pastels but I soon learnt that most of them weren’t for me. I have since found the style that suits me but I’ve definitely gone around the houses to get there. So when thinking about decor be careful not to get bogged down with all the different styles out there, yes do your research but try creating a physical mood board with paint samples, wallpaper samples, tile samples & different colour/texture samples etc there’s nothing like seeing something in the flesh. But most importantly be true to you, I’ve figured that my interior style reflects my personal style and tastes. So you, yourself & your loves would be a good place to start. Don’t make my mistake and end up painting most of the house 4 times in 1 year.

You totally nail gallery walls – what are your top tips for creating these?

To be honest, I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to put a gallery wall together. It really depends on the vibe you want. For instance in our lounge our gallery wall changes a lot but I normally like to go for a maximal/busy vibe so I tend to start with the print I want as the focal point in the centre of the wall and then work outwards with no strategic placement but with equal spacing between each frame. I love to add in other types of wall hangings into our gallery walls and the odd neon light can really make an impact too.

We love the way you’ve used totally different patterns within one room scheme! Do you think care needs to be taken when clashing patterns, or did you just pick them and go for it?

Why thank you! As you can tell from my grid I do love a pattern clash! I’ve always been a bit obsessed with a pattern clash which started with clothing and now interiors.  I think when it comes to pattern clashing it’s personal preference on how far you go with it as everyone’s tastes are different. If you’re new to pattern clashing try starting off by clashing soft furnishing such as cushions and throws. Don’t be afraid to push the boundaries with pattern after all clashing is to appear discordant and it can create a really striking look.

What’s your best piece of advice for making dark interiors work?

Well first of all I would say do not be afraid of going to the dark side. There’s a myth that dark interiors close in a space but in reality dark walls can disguise the fact a room is small. Since working with dark colours I have found it’s created so much depth to every space I’ve used it in. Dark walls work really well with any style and are great for reflecting metallic accents or pops of boldly coloured accessories & also gives a space a really sublime feel.

It’s interesting as when you look at Glen’s maximalist style, it would be easy to think that he always had a bold confidence to his interior styling. Therefore, we really appreciate that he spoke about initially feeling pressured to follow the latest trend, but then flourished when he decided to simply choose what he liked instead. A big thank you to Glen for sharing his interior journey and giving some words of wisdom for anyone apprehensive about going to the dark side of interiors!

If you’d like to see more of his home, you can find Glen on Instagram (@inside.number.twelve), TikTok and Facebook.

You might even spot Rita (his gorgeous Frenchie) in some of his pics too!

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Image credits: @inside.number.twelve

Tell us a little bit about yourself, who you live with and what city you live in?

Hi, I am Amara; a small business owner, content creator and nocturnal DIY-er. I live in a rental property with my husband and three children in Berkshire, UK. I love life in technicolour but living in a rental property means I often have to tinker with unusual design ideas and DIY hacks fuelled by midnight creative juices to add colour around the house. I am at my happiest when I am surrounded by like-minded people, paint tester pots and nature.

How would you sum up your style?

A colour enthusiast on the edge of maximalism with an eclectic appetite. I love a happy balance of cohesion and complication in my style.

What sort of condition did you rent the house in?

The house was in fairly decent condition apart from heavily used carpet and bulky black pleather furniture. Although the sofas were not our style, but we still ended up living with them for a number of years. We’re very lucky to have a healthy relationship with our landlord. We have been living in this property for almost 8 years now so you can imagine it is a long time indeed. However, I cannot paint the walls so, I am forever cooking up ideas to put my own stamp on this house making sure that every hack is damage free.

What are your top tips for making a rental property your own?

– Don’t underestimate the power of a bold gallery wall.
– You can invest in self-adhesive removable vinyl wallpaper & decals to create a feature wall.
– Washi tape rolls can be used as quick budget friendly transformations.
– Faux floor stick-on tiles can help update a boring floor without costing a fortune. I’ve also used them in my home to create a splashback on pre-existing bathroom tiles.
– I’ve also painted over self-adhesive clear vinyl as well as used it as a protective base to put wallpaper in my rental. All saved in my highlights on Instagram.

You totally nail gallery walls – what are your top tips for creating these?

That is so kind of you! I love a gallery wall specially in the room where you entertain guests because they can often become a talking point. A great gallery wall, in my eyes, always needs a whimsical element! Choose prints and artwork which invite the eye to explore the details. It is meant to make a statement, so don’t hesitate to make it loud. A little renters tip, if you aren’t allowed to drill nails in the walls, choose lightweight frames with plastic front instead of glass so you can hang them easily with adhesive hooks.

Decorating is very much a learning curve – can you tell us about a decorating mistake that you’ve made over the years which others could learn from?

Take time to explore your core style before committing to decorate a space. I often felt drawn to the industrial style and mistook it to be ‘so me’. After a few impulse buys and expensive mistakes, I realised where I had gone wrong.

What’s your top styling tip?

Introduce eye-catching light fixtures to add some serious charm and personality in a room. They help set the mood and carry the cohesive look all around the space. You can also use them to add contrast in your decor without thinking too much. I really live by this tip.

It has been an absolute delight to speak with Amara and we really appreciate her sharing her knowledge with us. From perfecting a statement gallery wall, overcoming the obstacles of living in a rental home and innovative DIY tips – we have been left feeling positively inspired! If you want to see more of her technicolour home or creative ideas, take a look at her Instagram @thepajaamahub or website, The Pajama Hub.

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Image credits: The Pajama Hub

How would you sum up your style?

I find this so tricky; people often describe my style as ‘colour blocking’ but something about that doesn’t feel right to me, I’d say it’s more a retro futuristic colour crazy casa! … So I guess colour blocking is the more succinct answer! 😂

What sort of condition did you buy the house in?

The house was in great condition when I moved in, aside from a lumpy lino in the kitchen, the majority of the work was cosmetic – for now! I have grand structural plans but that’s far off in the future!

Decorating is very much a learning curve – can you tell us about a decorating mistake that you’ve made over the years which others could learn from?

I’m only a year in, so I’m still in the early phases of the learning curve, but the best advice I can give is to trust your gut; when you listen to/follow others too much or hesitate half way through, it can dilute your idea and you can end up wishing you’d gone full tilt, so always go full tilt!

You manage to use lots of different colours within one room, whilst still making it look considered and edited. What’s your top tip for pulling this off?

My biggest tip for this is to always consider the balance in the room; if you use a bold colour on one side, make sure to add elements of it across the room so it feels cohesive, taking the time to stand back and consider the colour combinations too (lots of standing back, artistically pondering 👨🏻‍🎨).

You’re a paint effect extraordinaire! What are your secrets for executing these without making a mess?!

Oh I ALWAYS make a mess, it’s just the side you don’t see! Don’t be afraid to get down and dirty, I guarantee Picasso didn’t paint Guernica without ruining the floor in the process 😂. I tend to just set aside a day of cleaning up – a bottle of white spirit is my dearest friend – and a day of touching up gaps and slips on shapes will see you right!

What’s your top styling tip?

My secret weapon is definitely plants; the use of plants in a space brings life, softens the edges and unifies the space. I now have over 50 in the house and I honestly owe a lot of the styling success to my leafy children!

What’s your favourite room in your home and why do you think it works so well?

Definitely the bathroom; it was the first room where I picked multiple colours (5 beautiful shades from Pickleson paint) and I opened all the tins and just let the paints decide where they were going to go – I know that sounds very hippy but it was the most wonderful way to decorate, and I’m so in love with the result- even if it did take me months 😂.

A fabulous, crazy home that really makes you think about how to create your own unique piece of paradise.  I love it, being a big fan of colourful interiors, what do you think?  Does it tempt you to try colour blocking?  Paint is the cheapest way to decorate so you can’t lose really.  Just a bit of time and effort for a fun, creative home. If you want to see more, follow Rich on Instagram @househomo, for plenty more colourful interiors inspiration.

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Image credits: @househomo

We have a really nice big bathroom, but it’s very bland and the shower is quite old and grimy!  Not quite the luxury retreat I envisaged for our first bathroom.  I find mood boards really helpful, so I put one together for our bathroom renovation.  An extravagant, tropical bathroom in pink and teal, with black accents to make it more striking.

[This post contains some gifted items]

Palmaria Wallpaper by Osborne & Little [Gifted*] | Pink Tiles by Tons of Tiles [Gifted*] | Black Shower Enclosure & Tray by Big Bathroom Shop [Gifted*] | Black Shower Head by Big Bathroom Shop [Gifted*] | Paint colour, Serpentine by Zoffany [Gifted*] | Faux Trailing String of Pearls | Artificial Philo House Plant

Due to the Covid crisis all work came to a standstill for a few months, so I have all the lovely products but I’m now waiting for decorator and flooring people to come.  The mood board has sustained me through the wait and I can’t wait to get it finished and enjoy my luxury tropical bathroom.

This is the before photo – bland and uninspiring, but large and light filled.  The bath, loo and basin are of good quality and good condition so I have kept them to keep costs down.  I fell in love with this black shower enclosure* with white slate tray from Big Bathroom Shop.   The slim frame and very shallow tray are much more streamlined than many shower enclosures.  I chose a black shower head* from them too, to complete the black theme.

The pink tiles* from Tons of Tiles are absolutely stunning and I’m having grey grouting – no more grimy discoloured grouting, hopefully!

I’m keeping the panelling, as it gives texture to the walls and creates interest, and that will be painted in one of my favourite colours, Serpentine* from Zoffany. My front room is painted in this colour as I can’t get enough of it, obviously.  We have also used this colour quite a bit in previous photo shoots for Audenza and it really is a gorgeous colour, rich and warm.  And last but not least, the extravagant Palmaria wallpaper* from Osborne & Little.   Large teal palm leaves on a gloriously metallic background.

The final piece of the design is the vinyl flooring, which is a black and white design reminiscent of a conservatory, as I wanted a sort of palm house vibe for the bathroom.  For the styling I already have several large real palm plants round the bath, but intend to supplement that with some faux plants to get the look without too much TLC.  And lots of brass pots for that all essential touch of gold.

I’m so excited that it’s all finally coming to fruition and can’t wait to see the finished room after months of it being on hold.  Watch this space for the full reveal of my tropical retreat.

*Gifted – the starred items have very kindly been gifted for this project.

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What sort of condition did you buy the house in?

The house was ok when we bought it, just very beige and brown. Everything we have done so far has been decorative. For example the kitchen was brown and beige, we painted the cupboards pale blue changed the handles and laid a white floor. It completely transformed it.

Your use of washi tape around doorframes and shelves is ingenious! Do you have any other tips for adding colour quickly and cheaply?

One of my favourite things is colourful tile stickers. Can add them to your bathroom or kitchens. Colourful pompoms sewn on cushions. Spray painted picture frames, colourful and fun prints, tassels on shades are all great ways to add colour in your home.

We love the way you’ve used to totally different wallpapers in your living room! Do you think care needs to be taken when clashing wallpapers like this, or did you just pick them and go for it?

I do think you have to be careful. When using two different wallpapers I tend to go for one very busy and interesting and then paired with one that’s more stripes or geometric. For example flowers with stripes are great together. I’ve gone for butterfly’s and stripes in my bedroom, it’s out there but I love it!! It’s the thing I spend the most money on. I always go for quality papers.

What’s your favourite room in your home and why do you think it works so well?

I love the little toilet I did for the girls. It was just a horrible dark tiny room. I put a monochrome black and white Lino down from eBay for £30. and paired it with a beautiful moth wallpaper by Christian Lacqoix. I even wallpapered the ceiling. Small toilets are a great place to go for it with colour and patterns. My girls love it!!

Have you made any decorating mistakes over the years which others could learn from?

Yes I have I laid a bright purple carpet on my landing, it looked awful, I just couldn’t live with it had it replaced the next day!!!

Top tip:  Don’t lay a bright purple carpet.

Where do you start when you’re pulling a new room scheme together? Do you create a mood board with the finished vision, or do you tend to figure it out as you go along?

A bit of both. I start with the wallpapers and fabrics. I love wallpaper so that’s where I start. I usually use an online mood board to see how it all looks together.

You manage to use lots of different colours within one room, whilst still making it look considered and edited. What’s your top tip for pulling this off?

Honestly I spend hours faffing to get it just right. My biggest tip is just go for it. If you don’t like it, change it. I think people are so scared to be brave in their homes which is why grey becomes the popular choice. I’m not sure people even like everything grey it’s just the safer option. My advise is choose a small room like a laundry room or spare bedroom and just go for it, build your confidence Then you become brave and end up living in a home filled with colour! 🌈

I love Lucy’s home – it really is like a ray of sunshine.  How magical for 2 little girls to be brought up in such a fun family home.  And so many ideas for quick fixes of colour that can be achieved so easily and cheaply.  With so many of us self-isolating or furloughed it’s a good time to ring some changes and bring some sunshine into our homes.  Who knew washi tape could look so amazing?  I hope this fun family home inspires you to revitalize your living space, and do go and give Lucy a follow on instagram @lucyhamiltonathome for more inspiration, or take a look at some of our other house tours.

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Image credits: @lucyhamiltonathome

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I’m Lara and have a huge passion / obsession for design, especially in relation to interiors. I live in a village close to Northampton with my husband and Cocker Spaniel Coco. I’ve been interested in art and design from a young age but didn’t find an outlet for it until we purchased our first house. It needed a lot of work, we could barely pay the mortgage and bills so had to be very creative, re-using, upcycling, visiting reclamation yards, searching for ebay bargains all became the norm and I absolutely loved it. We have now renovated / revamped four houses and have learnt so much along the way. Our current home is a Victorian brick cottage along a narrow little dirt track lane.

How would you sum up your style (in one sentence)?

Creative, eclectic and bold with vintage touches and rich colour pops.

Have you done much structural work to the living room, or has it been mainly decorative changes?

We had to get the external wall injected with a damp proof course. This meant taking the bottom half of the wall plaster off, was such a messy job!  We discovered a totally rotten lintel that was supporting the window, we had to very urgently get it replaced. We replaced some rotten floorboards, my husband fell through the hole in the floor at one point but luckily didn’t quite make it all the way down to the cellar below! We replaced all the skirting with taller skirting, added coving and a plaster ceiling rose to add character. Built the alcove cupboard so we could hide the TV away and have some storage for all the CDs we never listen to. We decided to have one wall of exposed brick because we like it and it meant less money spent on plastering. We re-tiled the fireplace and installed the woodburner as it provides a lot more heat than the open fire. We did it all ourselves apart from the damp proofing.

Where do you start when you’re pulling a new room scheme together? 

I have been trying to get better at visually planning before starting a project but I have a tendency to keep it all in my head. I recently completed a revamp for a rental property and I did do sketches and shopping lists for that as I had to know exactly what I was buying before starting and had a set budget. With my own house the rooms usually start with an idea or a colour combination that I’ve been inspired by. I tend to know the major things before I start but after that the rooms usually evolve and ideas change as I go. I actually painted the living room light blue first, it looked nice but didn’t have the impact or cosiness I wanted. I’ve realised its ok to make mistakes, the important thing is to recognise them and do something about it.

The living room before work began

The room now looks unrecognisable, what was the most challenging part about the whole process? What was the best?

It’s so easy to forget about it but the amount of dust and mess from all the plaster was pretty awful. However, I think the coving was the most challenging thing! The room isn’t square or oblong so the corners were an absolute nightmare.

Think the best thing had to be the original fireplace. It was boarded up with a gas fire in front of it but we were so lucky that the mantle was left in place and I loved gold leafing it to give it the wow factor it deserves.

How long did the renovating process take from start to finish?

This room took us about 2 months because of the amount of work involved and we were doing it over our weekends and evenings. Although I’m always tweaking so I’m not sure it’s ever really finished!

What’s your best piece of advice for making dark interiors work?

Although I do think top to bottom dark interiors can look absolutely stunning, for me I love a bit of contrast too. The living room is small and I wanted it to be cosy, I think the black really helps to achieve this but all black would have felt too dark for me and we didn’t have the budget to add extra ceiling lighting. I have a small dressing room with low sloping ceilings and painting the ceiling the same dark colour as the walls has done an amazing job in there, it really is like the ceiling has disappeared and feels so much higher than when it was white. I think it is important to get the lighting right in dark rooms with different options for different moods, subtle flush spotlights in the ceiling, lots of lamps and always a large focal ceiling light is a must for me. Be brave and try it, you can always paint over it if it doesn’t work for you.

Who are your favourite interior Instagram accounts for inspo? 

Oooh I think this may be the hardest question, there are so many accounts I love, so many creative, talented people out there. This can be a problem as it inspires me to want to change things way too often. I know I need to keep this short and sweet so here’s my top 7.

• @andthentheywentwild – just so in love with her home, her designs and total styling perfection.
• @suszi_saunders – I love Victorian houses and this is a stunner with perfect dark interiors.
• @jewelmarlowe – Inspiring use of pattern, colour and textiles, love her creative designs.
• @agi_at_59 – styling queen, beautiful rooms without the huge budgets some lucky people have.
• @patirobins  – love her eclectic dark interiors, so much DIY inspo, tips and tutorials.
• @theobert_pot – Interior stylist with a stunning home, really love his use of rich bold colour.
• @em.gurner – interior designer with awesome bold designs, so much inspo.

I can think of so many more!

A fabulous black living room but with a light an airy vibe, and pops of vibrant colour for happiness.  I absolutely love the gold fireplace surround, and have a desperate urge to gold leaf mine, but I’m terrified of making a mess of it.  I have done small projects, but it’s quite daunting to tackle something of that importance in a room.  Lara is now running workshops for gold leafing not far from me so I think that will be my next challenge.  I will keep you posted as to how that works out!

Image credit: Lara Bezzina

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How would you sum up your style?

With regards to my interior style, colour is everything. It makes me feel happy and my husband and I made a conscious decision to only have pieces that we absolutely love and that make us smile. Your home is an extension of your personality and your safe haven so it is vital for it to bring joy and feel like the place want to be most. I’ve gone for an eclectic style as where’s the fun in playing it safe.

What sort of condition did you buy the house in? 

I originally bought the house 14 years ago while still working in London which is when we made some initial renovations as the rooms were small and rather austere. Once our children came along, I moved to the seaside permanently rather than weekends only and we realised that we needed to rethink the space to suit our needs as a family and the main object was open plan living. We wanted to create a home filled with warmth and plenty of space for all our family & friends. We embarked on a year long renovation ensuring we respected the 1930’s feel in terms of architecture. As the building is locally listed we are restricted in what we can change structurally, however we were told we could extend on the ground floor and roof terrace as long as it was in keeping.

One of the main features of the interior became the steel spiral staircase to accentuate the curves of the art deco era. We designed it together with a local company called Mortek Welding who did THE most fabulous job as it was quite a complicated process but we are so delighted with the result.

We’re obsessed with your aqua window frames and front door – are these original, or did you put them in?

When we recently renovated, an essential (and costly) change was removing the pvc windows in favour of Crittall style aqua coloured aluminium windows. I’ve always loved the windows in the Hoover building and wanted to be respectful to the 1930’s era.

You use colour in unexpected places such as doorframes, is there anywhere else you think it works really well to do this?

Colour is so important to me as its mood enhancing so I filled my home with all the colours of the rainbow. When we started designing the interior we wanted mainly a blank canvas so that the furniture would incorporate colour and make the statements. But I’m a huge fan of feature walls with wallpaper or a splash of neon in a doorway, that way it doesn’t detract from the other pieces in my home and rather compliments them.

What’s your best piece of advice for styling/curating a colourful and bold home?

My best piece of advice is be brave, trust your vision, surround yourself with things that bring joy and have fun.

What’s your favourite piece in your home?

I have so many favourite pieces in my home. The amazing Lily pad tiles from Ca Pietra on our doorstep make a dramatic entrance.

The Marilyn Monroe painting and the large abstract painting on the landing were commissioned by us and painted by a local artist that we went to school with called Ben Winters. We were very specific about what we wanted and the colours and Ben was so patient and professional. He is seriously talented.

The Harlequin sideboard was another discovery from instagram. I had seen the Prism wallpaper by Cole & Son and loved it but felt it would be a little too much for our home so when I found it on an upcycled solid vintage G plan sideboard I was over the moon. It originally came in black but the highly creative Zoe @mucknbrass kindly painted it aqua for us and it couldn’t fit better into our home.

The peacock chair on the first floor landing was painted in neon orange by Bristol Paint. I will never say no to a touch of neon!

Who’s your ultimate ‘house lust’ for inspiration?

My ultimate house lust is undoubtably Matthew Williamson. I find his use of colour so uplifting and inspirational.

I’ve always been in love with Art Deco architecture, but the challenge is how to decorate. Do you remain true to the style or can you find a way to bring out the beauty of the house, but make it your own? You can see from the photos that Natalie has put her own stamp on this Art Deco house, and made a beautiful home for her family, with an exceptional eye for colour and design, which comes out in her photography work. The house is also available to rent for location shoots.

Image credit: Natalie Orton

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Tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Rachael. I’m a mother to two beautiful girls, Gabriella – 8, and Florence – 4. We live together in a semi-detached, rented house in Sheffield, England. Most of my friends and family will call me crazy – but all the best people are right?

How would you sum up your style?

Colourful, eclectic, the opposite of minimal and totally individual to my personal tastes.

What sort of condition did you buy the house in? Have you done much structural work to it, or has it been mainly decorative changes?

I don’t own my house unfortunately, but my landlord lets me have free reign thank goodness. If I did though, I can guarantee I’d have knocked down lots of walls, adding and extending rooms etc. But because I don’t, the work I have done is only superficial, but I bet you I have spent years of my life painting over these walls. It was a pretty beige, blank canvas when I moved in – and now it’s the opposite.

You manage to use lots of different colours within one room, whilst still making it look considered and edited. What’s your top tip for pulling this off?

Although I’m far too impulsive to do proper design plans, I do seem to have a bit of an instinct when it comes to knowing what colours will and won’t go well together. I usually get an urge to use one colour, and then I’ll try to put contrasting, but complimentary colours together – either in my head or by producing little colour collages on my phone. Then I take it from there. I try to do things that I’ve not seen done often before because I like to go against the grain of what the ‘norm’ is – whatever that is. I usually use a pastel colour or two as a bit of a base on walls etc and then I add in the brighter colour pops in the details and accessories.

Where do you start when you’re pulling a new room scheme together? 

I usually feel inspired by something I’ve seen, whether it’s on tv, whilst I’m out and about or whatever else, then I begin to visualise what I want to do. My first thought is always choice of colour and my first port of call is to find and purchase the paint, and then the practical side of the design comes in after that – backwards right? But it works for me. I definitely wing it until I’m satisfied with a design and sometimes, if I’m not happy with how it’s coming together, I will press pause whilst I re-evaluate and then potentially change the design until I’m happy.

Have you made any decorating mistakes over the years which others could learn from?

Definitely! Because I’m so laid back, I’ve made decisions on paint colours before I’ve really committed to them, and before I know it, I’ve had a whole room painted in a colour I dislike. These days, I never use a colour unless I am absolutely in love with it! Also, forget trends – I’ve tried to follow what others are doing before and I’ve ended up with a colour scheme that doesn’t make me happy at all.

You totally nail gallery walls – what are your top tips for creating these?

I try to use a variety of different sized frames on my walls – both portrait and landscape and I also collect smaller things to fill gaps such as plates or lights. I always get the frames up first and then I work on filling them. And I tend to start from the middle and work outwards – sometimes having to buy some extra bits to fill the wall up. And if I’m using a variety of colours, I try to spread them evenly throughout the pieces.

What do you think the secret to fabulous interior style is?

Be you and totally own your personal style! Fabulous to me may not be somebody else’s fabulous. Your home is the place you wake up, you go to sleep and do everything in between. It has to be personal to you and be an expression of who you are. As long as it makes your own heart sing – then to me, that’s fabulous! For me, that’s colour and lots of it because colour always has and always will lift my spirits on a rainy day.

What’s your favourite piece in your home?

It has to be the mid-century sideboard I upcycled. It took me weeks of hand painting as well as waiting for paint to dry and it was the first time I really allowed myself to let my ideas spill out onto a piece of furniture. My heart and soul went into that piece and I’m not sure I could ever part with it.

Rachael’s home is wonderful, witty and exuberant, and I just love Rachael’s gallery walls, it’s something I find really difficult. I think you have to be brave and just go for it and hope it falls into place, which about sums up Rachael’s style ethos. Do what you love and sod everybody else because, after all, it’s your home and where you want to feel happy and relaxed! I think it should be called the pop art inspired house, what do you think? You can follow Rachael on Instagram @rachaelhavenhanddesign and shop her prints on Etsy.

Image credit: Rachael @rachaelhavenhanddesign

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Elephant Head Wall Mount | Orange Tibetan Lambskin Cushion | Monkey Table Lamp | Brass Crane Statue | Pink Rug with Fringing

The guys from Michael John flooring (my local Amtico suppliers) simply screeded over the old tiles in the garden room and then laid the new tiles on top so no mess and a relatively quick job.

Before & After | Amtico floor tiles used: Composite Calcium & Graphite Slate

Back to the garden room revamp, and the decidedly gorgeous floor meant I had to have a new rug, and a change around of the accessories, of course! The soft, hand woven pink rug was perfect for the general soft pastel tones of the room and just the right size as I wanted a soft area to sit with grandkids and play, but some hard flooring left for Play Doh and painting, and I still wanted to be able to actually see the beautiful tiles, otherwise what’s the point of them. The tiles tone perfectly with the paint work and wallpaper base colour for a more seamless flow, with the added pattern of the black squares, cos I do love a pattern.

When you work in the industry it’s so hard not to be seduced by new stuff coming in all the time, which is something I’m trying to curb, but goodness it’s so hard – like a kid in a sweet shop. Back in early spring at the trade shows I fell in love with the orange monkey table lamp and knew I had to have it, although where it was going was a mystery. The mystery is resolved now as an injection of coral/orange was just what the garden room revamp (the second one, that is) needed, for a bit of zing to cut through the ice cream look. And then I had to have the orange Tibetan lambskin cushion – and so it goes on. I can feel a need for an orange zebra plate coming next, to continue the animal, orange/coral, pattern theme! My abiding love has always been green and pink in all their varying shades – for the home and the garden – but I do want a shot of colour running through and I think orange is the one to really bring on the razzle dazzle. But hey, I was here on the orange heyday of the 60’s and 70’s.

Lion Head Planter | Faux Areca Palm Tree | Gold Rock On Hand | Golden Monkey Bookends | Cobra Snake Ornament | Pink Rug

Palm Paradise Pink Cushion | Love Coral Cushion | Pelican Cushion | Dog Leopard Print Cushion

Cushions are the easiest way to revamp a room, so I added a couple of coral/orange cushions to keep the vibrant hits of colour going and, as gold is always welcome, my next new love is the gold lion planter. Another instant falling in love that called to me across a crowded trade show and couldn’t be resisted.

Pink Velvet Armchair | Mustard Palm Tree Cushion | Flamingo Table Lamp | Pink Rug

Still blank walls, you may notice, very unusual for me but I felt there was enough going on and I’m loathe to put up pictures and then want to change them and damage the paper, so blank walls it is, apart from the gold elephant head. Maybe one day I will find the perfect pictures and fall in love, until then blank walls. I really don’t like to rush doing a room and feel things acquired over time give a scheme far more vibrancy and depth and avoid the catalogue look so common to instant revamps that don’t change and evolve.

You can see how the room looked before on our previous before & after blog post, what do you think to the old ceramic tiles? Decidedly beige and very hard on the head when the babies fall over, and china doesn’t bounce on a ceramic floor. A very important point for a clumsy person like me! I love Amtico floor, and no I’m not being paid for saying that, it’s not only the range of styles, looks and colours, its Amtico’s ability to always look good and the ease of maintenance. And the orange/ coral – are you loving it or hating it? It is a colour people are shy of, but it has an amazing ability to glow, and create warmth and ambience if used sparingly.

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