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

1. Things that have meaning for you

Frida Kahlo Style Art | Aziza Console Table | Marilyn Velvet Armchair | Colourful Berber Style Rug | All items available from Audenza

Be it objects and photos of sentimental value that remind you of friends and family, but also objects that speak to you personally because of what they stand for. I’m a great admirer of Frida Kahlo, not only for her use of colour and pattern in her life and work but for her feminist stance in a male dominated world. Which is why I proudly hang this print in the style of one of Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits in my home.

 2. Tactile textures

Leopard Print Faux Fur Throw | Gatsby Velvet Armchair | Louie Leopard Floor Lamp | All items available from Audenza

Soft, furry, hard, rough, smooth, the list of textures is endless but the ones that give us the most comfort and pleasure are soft and warm, encouraging us to stroke and be soothed by. Today’s interiors abound with velvet’s and soft wools, in chairs, rugs, throws and cushions, that bring us that sense of pleasure and happiness that we all want in our homes. Snuggle up on the sofa with a velvet cushion, or two and drape yourself in fluffy throws for a relaxing, calming vibe.

3. Quirky pieces to make you smile

Flamingo Floor Lamp | Aslan Lion Planter | Faux Sheepskin Chair | WOW Balloon Ornament | All items available from Audenza

Every home should have a touch of the quirky to lift it from the everyday and make us smile.  They also take us out of our comfort zone slightly and encourage us to be more daring.  Forget what the neighbours think and add that quirky Flamingo Floor Lamp to your living room!

4. Beautiful everyday objects

Pink Martini Glasses

Leopard Print Coasters

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful” (William Morris).   As a maximalist, I’m not sure I agree with that… BUT, combine the 2 wherever possible. Ugly, functional objects have no place in my home (in full view anyway).  Take pleasure from that first morning coffee in a beautiful mug and enjoy setting the table with pretty glassware and coasters.  Everything tastes better when everyday objects are pleasing to the eye.

5. Plants, real or faux

Faux Pink Medinilla Plant | Artificial Trailing Spanish Moss | Faux Potted String of Pearls | Artificial Peace Lily

Plants bring us pleasure, and real ones are beneficial to our health with their magical air purifying properties. We’d thoroughly recommend this book, which is (in our opinion) The Definitive Guide to Houseplants.  But of course, we are not all green fingered; despite being an avid gardener, I’m somewhat neglectful with my houseplants. So I stick to the easy ones indoors, such as spider plants and succulents, with the odd ‘mind your own business’ dotted here and there.  But to get that sense of calm and peace that verdant lushness promotes, add a few faux plants into the mix.  I find ferns are the devil to keep alive so have quite a few faux potted ferns.

All these 5 elements are the icing on the cake that turn your house from a dwelling that you happen to live in, into a retreat that is a pleasure to come home to, and a space to be yourself.  I’m very home orientated so I take great pleasure in creating a space that I, and my family, can feel cocooned by and relax into, and feel comfortable in.

Jacqui x

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Photography: Amelia Brooks/ Styling: Jacqui & Amelia Brooks

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

Flamingo Floor Lamp | Faux Sheepskin Chair | Lion Planter | Everything available from Audenza.com

Aim for at Least 4 Different Light Sources

When I say 4 different light sources I mean different types of lighting – ceiling lights, wall lights, table lamps, standard lamps and spotlights all have their part to play in illuminating a room, and creating atmospheric pools of light.  I always think lighting is like mirrors – you can’t have too many!  Dark painted rooms will always require more lighting sources, otherwise you will have gloomy corners that make a room feel dull and unloved.  And lighting should be at different heights, just like furniture, to give a balanced look to a room and create interest.

Palm Tree Floor Lamp

A Dimmer is Essential

If you have a central pendant light, put it on a dimmer switch so you can get a softer light and moodier atmosphere when required. Quite often a pendant light is more a style statement (on or off), than for the actual light so I think a dimmer is essential to create different light levels according to your mood or task.  I like to see my dinner when I’m eating, so I have the dining room pendant on full and then soften it down for the after dinner chat, pre Covid, of course!

Before Redecorating, Consider the Lighting

If you are redecorating consider your lighting options before going ahead, then any rewiring can be done first. Make sure you have plenty of wall sockets for table lamps in different areas of the room.  Do you want wall lights e.g either side of the fireplace?  What about shelving units and bookcases?  Down lighters can be wired in to illuminate them or LED strip lights behind each shelf to make a feature of them in the evening, otherwise they are liable to be a dark gloomy corner.  There is nothing worse than finishing a room and realizing you haven’t got the lighting right, so think long and hard about your lighting options before wielding the paintbrush!

Gold Sunburst Pendant Light

Brass Flamingo Table Lamp

Consider the Shade Colour & Lining

Think about what you want the light to achieve. Is it just for atmosphere and a warm glow, or is it task lighting whereby you want to be able to read or sew? For instance, darker lamp shades cast less light, whereas a pink shade, gives a really lovely warm light, and a light coloured lampshade will give a brighter light – obvious but sometimes we forget these things in the moment. Task lighting is essential if you want to read or sew, I have an Anglepoise floor lamp for my quilting which I wouldn’t be without as it’s high enough to angle down onto my work. Also bear in mind the lining colour of a lampshade.  White gives off quite a cool light (even with a warm white bulb in), whereas a gold metallic lining gives a very warm, soft glow.

Gold Snake Table Lamp

Bronze Palm Leaf Floor Lamp | Scalloped Velvet Chair | Everything available from Audenza.com

Create Ambience with Shadows

Think about the effect a light will have in the evening when it is lit up.  Our Antique Bronze Palm Leaf Floor Lamp casts amazing tropical patterns on the wall that are really quite stunning, and add a tropical vibe to your décor.  Similarly, a fretwork pattern on a lampshade will create patterns on the walls that just add that extra dimension to a scheme.

Gianna Neon Canvas Art 

Think Beyond Floor & Table Lights

You can add extra light sources in more unusual ways, like our Gianna LED Neon Canvas Art. It’s a great way to add an extra light source, and combine a piece of artwork into the mix. Neon lights add a quirky splash of light that makes you smile. Also, candle holders are great for adding a soft glow on a mantelpiece or sideboard and creating more atmosphere. Wall sconce candle holders are another option to create a glow and interest on the wall, whether as part of a gallery wall or a display in themselves. If you are worried about using real candles and naked flames, then there is always the option of Led candles that give a remarkably realistic flicker and glow.

Lemon Vase | Parrot Wall Sconces | Rhubarb & Gin Print | Everything available from Audenza.com

Check your Measurements

Check the height measurements of table lamps before you buy. It has to look visually right against the other furniture, so hold a tape measure up to where the lamp will come to in relation to everything else. You want objects to sit at different heights to create more visual interest.  If they are all on the same level it can look flat and uninteresting.

Have Fun!

Gisella Giraffe Floor Lamp

And finally when it comes to choosing decorative lighting, have fun – after all, we all want something to make us smile in our decor! In the grand scheme of things lamps, like cushions,  are one of the easiest thing to change, and are a fabulous way to create drama and adventure in your home – lit or unlit!

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

Hi, I am Angie and I am an interiors stylist with a penchant for bold and colourful interiors. My home is a shade of blue feast where I share snippets of and other lifestyle bites over on my instagram page called Something Blue Home.

I live here with my partner, K in the North West of England. I eat, breathe and sleep interiors and I’ve just launched my virtual interior styling & e-design support service. My home is a burst of bold colour, patterns and print. I love to keep things refined by playing around with the tones and hues of the colour blue whilst mixing it with pops of accent colours here and there. I have no rules when it comes to decorating, just find it, buy it and style it!  As soon as you walk into our home, you’re greeted by the vibrant splash of the gorgeous yellow on the banister!

How would you sum up your style? 

My style is definitely eclectic! It mixes the house’s Edwardian Period heritage with bold colour, beautiful artwork and traditional elements.

What sort of condition did you buy the house in? 

To be honest, the house was in pretty good shape structurally! It was just very beige and had no character or soul – which is perfect when you’re like me, who is always looking for the next interior challenge.  The only structural change we made was knocking down a wall to create a big open plan kitchen living space and building in a downstairs cloakroom! That was a palaver in itself because the waste pipe was on the other side of where I wanted it to go. All the builders suggested putting it on the same side because it would be an easier job to do but in the end, I put my foot down because I knew that from a design point of view, it wouldn’t work!  In the end, we knocked two walls, replaced a decorative stain glass window, and installed a new kitchen.

You have created a home that looks elegant and timeless, and won’t go out of style as trends come and go. What’s your top tip for pulling this off?

I think the biggest tip is to go for what you love because it will never go out of style. I do believe that style changes as your home evolves and I do change things around from time to time. It’s about listening and trusting yourself that you and only you, know what’s right for your home.  For example, with the hallway, I chose to paint the banisters yellow, as I like the idea of having something unusual and unexpected in a space. I do that a lot with colour and I think it a great and fun way to experiment with your decor! I believe that if it’s something that YOU love, it will never go out of style!

More commonly people tend to design each room in their home with different colour palettes, but you have boldly stuck to a beautiful, cohesive colour palette throughout your entire home. What made you decide to do this and why do you think it works so well? 

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn to blue, I love the classic combination that you see in blue and white export china. I also like to wear a lot of Navy Blue.  I wear Navy like most people wear black. There’s just something very uplifting and alluring about the colour blue.

The thing is I love colour, not just blue, but all colours. I find colour incredibly effective in creating different moods in the home.  In my home, I have gone for the darker, richer, inkier blues because they create the most beautiful and cocooning atmosphere, which is always the look I want to create in a room! When we first moved in, all the walls were magnolia and I could not wait to get the paintbrush out to transform them. I DO like neutrals – it’s just that I need to feel a certain way when I am in my home and I create that feeling through bold colour, mood lighting and lots of texture!

You have used lovely dark blues all over your home. What’s your best piece of advice for making dark interiors work?

When we first moved in, it was all beige and I couldn’t wait to put my own stamp on it. I wanted to create a cosy home that we can entertain, dine and also just relax in. The key to making dark interiors work is LIGHTING. You need to overdose on the lighting and aim to have at least 8 different light sources, this is what is going to transform the space and create the soft and seductive mood. I think pendant lights coming from above can be quite unflattering and harsh so I recommend having these on a dimmer switch so that you can adjust it. Put all lights on dimmers where possible. Oh and lots of lamps too!

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

Oh gosh! YES! Many moons ago – when I was testing samples, I used to paint them directly onto the walls. I remember there once when there must have been at least 30 different spots that I then desperately tried to cover up with layers and layers of paint! Secondly, also about paint – when you’re upcycling furniture, it is really important to prep your surfaces properly. I’ve painted directly onto surfaces which were not prepped properly and the paint just chips and scratches off! Be patient! Do the prep work! I promise you, it will be worth it!

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

For me, personally, I think it’s to keep it simple and a keep a close eye on the colour palette. I tend to use one main colour and then accent with 2-3 others. I find if I have too many colours or things in a room – it starts to look a bit untidy and jarring. I find that by restricting the colour palette a little bit allows you to create a more refined and elegant space! This is just what works for me though! The key to fabulous interior style is to do what you love and the way you want to do it!

Angie’s home is a fabulous mix of styles curated for a pleasing family home. I love the vibrant yellow banisters but I’m not sure if I’m brave enough to do it myself. But it really works – it’s the sense of fun you get from that bright splash of colour. I also love the restfulness that comes from adhering to the same colour palette throughout the house, although I am too much of a magpie about colours to be able to restrict myself. Do navy blue interiors work for you or do you feel it restricts your choices and you want to break out?

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Image credits: Something Blue Home

Image credit: @layered.home

In this lush green room with its tropical vibe and textural contrast, the ginkgo table really shines through the greenery for a splash of gold, with the ginkgo design being part of the overall theme.

Image credit: @comedowntothewoods

An individual and very colourful room with lots of quirky accessories for a real hit of eccentricity. The ginkgo table lends an air of elegance and brings sophistication to the scheme.

Image credit: @lou_a_watkins

A moody grey scheme with pops of pink and red to enliven it is given some brilliance and shine with the gold drinks trolley and gold table.

Image credit: Audenza. Gold Ginkgo Leaf Side Table | Gold Ginkgo Leaf Table Lamp | Gold Beetle | Blush Velvet Armchair | Pink Textured Rug | Brass Planter | Artificial Philo Plant

Simple, elegant and with a Japanese feel to the styling with the screen and gold ginkgo leaf table lamp.

Image credit: Audenza. Glam Gold Floor Lamp | Orange Cushion Cover | Gold Ginkgo Leaf Side Table | Ornate Leopard candle Holder | Snake Print

Another colourful, crazy room setting but the gold floor lamp and table help to pull the scheme together and give it some grounding.

Whatever your style, whatever your colour preference, there is usually a way to work something you love into your home.  Hopefully these 5 different room settings have given you plenty of inspiration for how this beautiful side table can be styled.  Do you have a favourite?

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                                                                                                                        Entryway

Tell us a little bit about yourself and where do you live?

I’m Lissi, Mummy, Wife, Primary School Teacher and lover of home interiors and DIY. We have lived in our unconventional barn conversion in Leicestershire for 6 years and before that, we rented for years in Oxford.

                                                                                              Open plan living room/dining room

How would you sum up your style?

I would describe my style as colourful, eclectic, fun and makes you smile.

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?

When we bought the house, it had been rented as two separate properties so the first job was to knock through the adjoining wall and door and gradually making the property of two halves come together as one. We had two kitchens, two living spaces and two bathrooms, so over time we have converted one kitchen in to a home office and extended out to the rear of the house replacing a crumbling conservatory with a family friendly open plan kitchen, living, dining space.

                                                                                                    Lounge. Monochrome Face Plates 

You mentioned on Instagram, that prior to buying this house you had a scrapbook full of magazine clippings, which was your colourful ‘dream house manifesto’. Yet when you first moved in, you painted most rooms ‘greige’. It then took you a little while to find your creative feet and to do what you really love – colour and quirk! What do you think held you back from doing what you loved in the first place? And how did you overcome that?

This was the first house we owned, the one where we could actually paint walls and not just talk hypothetically about it. I think we were so overly concerned with what other people would think of our new house we overlooked what we actually wanted and liked and played it very safe in order to quickly put our initial stamp on the place and delete the magnolia. Over time, we began buying our own furniture where previously this had come with our rented flats and this started to shape our taste for more colourful and quirky surroundings.

Bedroom

Now let’s talk about that divine tropical and pink bathroom of yours! Deciding to tile over the top of wallpaper was pretty ingenious and it really works. Can you tell us a bit more about the work you’ve done in this room?

I’m so pleased you like the bathroom! I’m really proud of it because I learnt to tile and wallpaper on the job, and between myself and my husband we’ve done the whole thing ourselves. It’s actually the guest bathroom and because it doesn’t get used every day I felt like we could go a little wild in there! We began by ripping up the laminate and laying patterned ceramic tiles on the floor, wallpapering with a beautiful tropical paper and using marble hexagon tiles around the bath. The shape of the hexagon tiles lent itself to having a bit of fun and so I mixed my own green grout and went a little rogue with the layout either side of the bath ignoring conventional backsplash designs! I had always planned to use pink as an accent colour in here but ended up painting all the woodwork including shelves, skirtings and cupboards pink too. We were undecided when we started the project as to whether we would keep the original bath panels or replace them, I had a go at upcycling them first with paint and gold leaf and loved the result so they have stayed and the bath is now one of my favourite elements in here.

                                                                                                              Guest Bathroom

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?

When I’m pulling a new room scheme together I create a mood board as a basis but almost always end up changing things as I go along. It’s great to have an idea of where you’re heading but the journey is part of the fun for me too. I will usually start with either a colour combination or a single piece like a statement chair or some artwork and work around that. I prefer a tactile mood board to a digital one so I use paint, fabrics and magazine cuttings to bring my ideas to life.

                                                                                                            Family Bathroom

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?

Thank you! I think this is definitely easier to achieve with white walls and so in our open plan space where even the sofas and dining chairs are neutral the rainbow of accessories does all the talking. I try to pick out the same accent colours at different points around the room so that wherever you look it feels deliberate and not chaotic. In the rooms where we have a dominant wallpaper, I have kept the colour palettes simpler but still bright and fun with plenty of pattern and texture.

Inspired? I am!  That bathroom is the biz – tropical wallpaper, pink, green and gold (my favourite colours), lots of plants and snazzy tiles – ooh what more could you want in a bathroom?  So, for you colour lovers out there take inspiration from Lissi’s home and break out of the ‘greige’.

Do go give her a follow her on Instagram: @Oxfordone and join in with the monthly Instagram hashtag that she co-hosts: #colourmyhome.

Jacqui x

Image Credits: Lissi Walker

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And that’s why I agreed to review ‘Love Colour: Choosing Colours to Live With’ by Anna Starmer.   To be honest, we are quite often asked if we’d like to be gifted a copy of a book to review on the blog, but we never accept unless it’s something we think our readers will genuinely love. I’m personally always on the lookout for good books on colour and the front cover of this one drew me in instantly with its glorious colour combination.

Before we dig in, I wanted to just take a moment to apologise that we haven’t posted for a couple of weeks.  As you can imagine, as retailers, this time of year goes just a little bit crazy at Audenza HQ, but this year has been particularly so! We will be posting a fabulous gift guide in the next week or so, but after that, I imagine in order to help retain our sanity, that will be our last post of 2019.

Now then, on to the book review.  The author of this stunning book, Anna Starmer, is an international trend and colour forecaster who has worked with some of the biggest names out there, so who better to guide us through the myriad choices we have.  The book is a mouth-watering display of colour and its transformative effect on our lives – and not only that there is in-depth analysis of colour and how to go about choosing colour for different rooms in the home from a personal viewpoint.  With every photograph of a colour scheme, there are colour bars that show you the proportions of colour used to make the scheme successful, and the reasons why she uses the different tones in the accent colours.

Every colour has a grid of colour inspiration from everyday objects and nature, to further wet your appetite and help you understand and collate your colour preferences.

This image is taken from the front of the book and really resonated with me for its bold and vibrant use of colour.

The above two images are both taken from the section on pink, to give you an idea on how comprehensively Anna deals with colour – you couldn’t get two more different vibes from these images.

Another striking combination for the adventurous, this time from the blue section but again with different tones of pink.  I imagine by now you’re getting a feeling of which colour palettes I’m naturally drawn to!

This stunning photograph is from the red section and I have fallen deeply in love with that Cole & Son wallpaper.

My final selection is a little different, but beautifully shows how the classic combination of black and white, can be given a modern twist with the use of pattern and texture.

That’s just a taster of the book, and I have chosen the stronger palettes as that’s what draws me, but there are also sections on white and neutral colour schemes.  Whether you are a novice at colour or an old hand there is so much here to inspire, and it encourages you to be experimental.  There is also a handy pull-out booklet of swatches of key colours from every chapter for you to take with you to the paint and fabric stores.  To sum it up, I was kindly gifted a copy to review, but I love it so much I’ve bought another copy for a friend!

Love Colour: Choosing Colours to Live With by Anna Starmer, published by Ivy Press, RRP £25. Available from all good bookshops, and online.  You can also follow Anna’s colour adventures on Instagram.

All image credits: Anna Starmer

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Clerkenwell Grind

Clerkenwell Grind is based in a fabulous old warehouse building in Clerkenwell.  The décor is simple and uncluttered, as befits an old warehouse setting.  But fabulously rich and stylish with dark walls, marble tables, delicious velvet seating and lots of brass lighting.  Very much a mood of the moment if you go for the simple, but rich, look.

Elan Café

Elan Café is deliciously feminine and decidedly girly – but oh so fabulous.  Like being in a pink bower of English garden loveliness, and oh so pretty.  Not strictly a restaurant as they are open for coffee, cake and snacks, but not one to be missed if you love floral abundance, and they make face and hair masks from the coffee by-products – imagine that!

Sketch – The Gallery and The Glade

Sketch, located in an 18^th century townhouse in Mayfair, is a design icon probably most well-known for its egg pod toilets!  But there is much more to it than that, and each space is completely different – to the extent that you feel you are inhabiting different worlds as you move through it.  My 2 favourites are the Gallery and the Glade.  The Gallery is a vast sea of pink (in the best possible taste, of course) with cocooning pink armchairs, pink banquettes, and pink walls, enlivened by zigzag flooring and amazing artwork.  Dreamy, in fact, for a pink lover like me.  Moving onto The Glade and you would think you had landed in an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ psychedelic forest.  A feast for the eyes and senses, not sure if I would even notice the food!  Very cleverly designed website – in fact so clever I couldn’t use it haha.

Bronte Restaurant

Under the creative direction of Tom Dixon, Bronte Restaurant is spacious, stylish and eclectic, all in a muted colour palette, but with amazing architectural features that give the space grandeur.  Three separate bars, made from pink concrete, green granite and pewter make for a diverse range of materials that create that wow factor.  Add to the mix a ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ feel, with eclectic groupings of treasures from afar and this becomes an iconic space.

Granary Square Brasserie

No minimalistic space at the Granary Square Brasserie – oh no – just a smorgasbord of extravagant colour, lighting and artwork that rocks the senses.  Richly textured with velvet, leather, glass and gold, all encapsulated in verdant greenery to soften the edges – hmmm delicious.  And probably the space most aligned with the Audenza ethos so one of our faves, obviously.

Well, lots of inspiring restaurant décor to get the creative juices flowing there whatever your taste, in food or design.  Not being much of a foodie I’m not sure as the food would matter that much to me, I would be too busy admiring the venue – far more important!  Does the space you are eating in affect the way you feel about the food?  I’m sure there must be statistics out there!  What do you think?

Jacqui x

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Image Credits: Restaurants Own

                                                                      The Lysekil wall panel by Ikea is £35.00 for a panel 120 x 55 cm

One of the cheapest, and easiest options for brass kitchen splashbacks, is from Ikea, the beloved home of DIY’ers everywhere. Double sided panels, one side brass coloured, the reverse in a stainless steel colour, specifically for use as kitchen splashbacks. The panels are glued to the wall surface to create a flat surface that is resistant to heat, water, dirt and grease (but not suitable for gas hobs). Effective and cheap!

                                               The faux tin wall panel by DIY Splashbacks is £16.00 for a panel 61cm x 46cm

Not strictly gold this one – more of a coppery gold, but with a deliciously textured surface to add more twinkle.  The panels can be glued onto existing tiles so are a very cost effective way of updating your kitchen walls.  If using behind the hob though you will need to cover with a glass splashback to protect the faux tin from heat.

                                                  Brass kitchen splashback by Quirky Interiors from £420 per m2 | Image: Interior design by Sophie Robinson, photography by Tim Young

                      Brass splashback/bath panel, also by Quirky Interiors, from £420 per m2 | Image: Debi Treloar

Now this is a seriously luxe range by Quirky Interiors that just screams quality, at a price, for the discerning.  Wall tiles, metal panels – in fact anything you want, in any size or any colour.  It’s completely bespoke so never mind brass splashbacks you can have your kitchen cupboards in brass should you desire.  And it’s a small independent business who specialise in this type of work, which usually means you can be assured of personal and knowledgeable service.  Just take a look at their recent projects page if you want to be inspired.

                                                                  The gold leaf and glass tiles by Original Style are £305.52 per m2 inc. VAT

Another luxe range and a little bit of a twist on the usual brass kitchen splashbacks, is from a company called Original Style.  The Cleopatra range is made from glass with a layer of real gold leaf behind it for the seriously glamorous.  From wet rooms, to kitchens, to anywhere you want a glittering wall of gold.  High spec that can contend with all that water and everyday life can throw at it.  This company have an extensive range of indoor and outdoor tiles to whet your appetite, and a seriously good blog that inspires and informs.

Now obviously the Ikea option is far cheaper than the others, and if you’re on a tight budget, then it’s a great choice. But if you can possibly stretch to any of the more luxe options, then the finish will be worth it’s weight in….

Tempted? If money was no object, I would be seriously tempted by brass kitchen cupboards – how deliciously different is that?  I wouldn’t need to worry about paint chips anymore haha!  Any other areas you would use this?

Jacqui x

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