Page 36 - ESPC July 2022

INTERIORS INSIDER

George Clarke’s Top 3 (genius) WHICH ITEMS NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE?
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home decor tips The Anglepoise Lamp. I love a good coffee table! Parquet flooring is amazing.

You could put it in a
traditional house or a super It’s the perfect place to just Any shape or pattern,
put stuff...a glass of wine, good
herringbone or staggered –
Where to save, when to spend – plus the ONE modern house and it’ll still magazines, beautiful books. they’re all beautiful. I’ve just
design trend that everyone should ditch. look amazing. Again, you’ve got flexibility of re-used some from an old
design – I’ve put contemporary school gymnasium in my
Gilly Ferguson reveals all…
designs in traditional houses house.
and they still look beautiful.

he interior design industry is booming, with What are your tips for making a house a
Instagram and TikTok providing endless home? And where do you start?
Tsources of inspiration – CoastalGrandma, You’ve just got to make it personal. Do What’s your top tip for people wanting to let you paint walls, then decorate. They might
Cottagecore and Whimsigothic are just some of something that’s completely unique to do their home on a budget? make you paint it back to the original colour
the latest trending buzzwords. you and your family and get them involved Update it with soft furnishings. Add a rug, when you move out, but if you’re renting it for
in design ideas. A lot of people will let kids cushions or pictures on the wall to make it feel two or three years you may decide, you know
But how do we navigate what’s hot now, versus design their bedrooms, but that’s not really more personal for less. what, it’s worth it.
those stylish (and sustainable) forever buys that enough. If it’s going to be your home for
ideally every home should own? We ask Britain’s the next 15/20 years, you’ve got to make If you invest in your home, what would Where do you find your inspiration?
favourite architect and home interiors it personal. Have strength in your you spend money on? A lot of my designs are inspired by nature, in
expert, George Clarke, of course. conviction and ideas, don’t be In any house, I’d spend the most on the architecture and interiors – not just in an eco
Want to know how to get the swayed by opinions. If you kitchen and bathrooms because they take the way but in terms of colours, fabrics, tones and
most from your home? He really like a colour or fabric, most wear and tear. You can always give other landscapes.
has the answers... go for it! spaces a lick of paint or change the accessories
and soft furnishings, but if you spend money I love Japanese design too. Think about
What advice do you Are there any trends on doing a really nice kitchen (and lighting it somewhere like Tokyo, if you’re going to design
have for anyone you’d like to see the beautifully) you won’t want to rip it out in ten a beautiful house in the middle of Tokyo you’ve
worried about falling back of for good? years time. The same goes for bathrooms. got to balance design with nature and urbanism
into the ‘trend trap’? Shower curtains should They are the two most intensive spaces in the – Japanese architects do it better than anyone.
Following trends can be be banned – replace house – you want them to last for 25 years Kengo Kuma is probably my favourite living
problematic – if you go too them with proper shower – with decent taps, fittings, tiles, electrics... architect, he’s brilliant.
far, it can look very dated very screens. And carpets in decent everything. It’s worth spending money
quickly, but good quality, classic bathrooms? Bad! I’ve seen on them. What’s your favourite space to escape to
design is timeless. A well-designed carpets up the side of bathtubs! and why?
piece of furniture or a beautiful piece of And, I don’t even know what they call How can you improve a rental home I built a garden studio at the end of the garden.
fabric, like a William Morris-inspired wallpaper, it anymore, but that rug that goes around the without losing your deposit? Super simple, very Japanese-inspired, with lovely
will always look good. If your style is more base of toilets to keep your feet warm? That Soft furnishings, indoor plants and light fittings – glazing. It makes my garden feel like a courtyard
modern, try an Eames-inspired piece. You can just becomes a wee sponge! find those things that are genuinely affordable, because we’ve got the house, then the garden,
mix up trends with classical design, of course and that look good. That’s the best way to finish and then the studio. All my drawings and books
you can, but that takes a bit of skill. your house on a budget. If your landlord will are in there, it’s where I can hide from the world.

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