Page 39 - ESPC July 2022

INTERIORS INSIDER

3
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP
DESIGN RULES?

Alignment
When deciding on furniture make sure it’s
aligned to something else, to help create
balance (my dining table is aligned to
the edge of the kitchen). Think of it like
hanging pictures, you can hang them in a
random pattern but you always need a bit
of consistency and alignment within that.

Proportion
In architecture we talk about modular design,
which is based on the proportions of the
human body. For example, if you’re building
a table, you’d base the height of it on the
proportions of the human body. It can prove
a useful guide when you’re working out what
size furniture to buy (there are some super
simple diagrams on the internet!).

Lighting
What are some of the common things Don’t compromise on furniture because you going to do that when there’s an affordability
I’ve seen the most amazing spaces get
ruined by bad lighting. Put power points people forget when they’re thinking haven’t got the space right. It affects everything. crisis going on?
in the wrong place and you end up with about planning a new renovation You can do it all yourself, just plan it all to scale.
cables everywhere, especially in open plan project? Mark it out on the floor with masking tape. Really we’ve got to use less, and anything we
spaces. If I’m sitting at a dining table with Plan the project properly – it’s unbelievable buy has got to last longer. Don’t consume
a downlight overhead – so your body casts how many people don’t. What are the I see it happen a lot with radiators – people say: things just for the sake of it. Buying quality
a shadow over your plate – that drives me timings? What will you do yourself? Can you “Uh, let’s put the radiator there.” The plumber items that last is one of the most sustainable
mad! And don’t put downlights over a bath – handle the scale of the project or do you puts it in, then they realise it’s the only place the things we can do. There’s no point in buying
you lie back, and you’re looking at a glaring need help? sofa fits – and you just end up heating the back something cheap and rubbish which breaks in
light above your head, it’s awful! of your sofa! three or four years.
Plus, plan your spaces properly. Especially
I was in a kitchen the other day, and there when you’re dealing with an existing house How is sustainability/the cost of living We’re always going to be juggling the cost of
were 20 downlights in there, and you could and you want to change the layout. You’ve crisis changing home design? living with buying more sustainable, quality
just tell that they didn’t want to make a got to think about furniture well in advance. That’s a tricky one because being sustainable products that last.
decision about where the lights should be – it You don’t need to think of finishes, but isn’t cheap. Trying to balance being ecological
wrecked that space. You think about all the definitely where your furniture sits. Decide and doing it during the cost of living crisis is
hard work that’s gone into it – flooring, fabrics, what size sofa you want. Too big? You may really hard. I think that’s probably the biggest
colours, everything, and it looked rubbish not be able to fit lamps either side and it’ll challenge we face – we’ve set all these targets Find your interiors inspiration at John Lewis &
because all the lighting was wrong. throw your lighting off. to be net zero carbon by 2050, but how are we Partners or at johnlewis.com

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