raising the bar
Style on a budget Style has absolutely nothing to do with money: in fact I am often at my most creative when budgets are restricted. The trick is to start thinking outside the box. Transform rooms with cheap paint or some super-cool accessories: rethink, reupholster, revamp. From creating your own bespoke blinds (see page 32) to getting the lighting right (page 148), this is called decorating on a shoestring, and I love it!
Top Tip
Tell a story
Your home should tell a story about who you are and what you love. With flea market finds, you can create a look that is completely unique and individual, and easy on the pocket too. Old mirrors, shelving and taxidermy heads shout boho, cool and totally personal. None of it matches and yet it all makes sense.
Back to brown
Brown furniture is one of the cheapest, easiest things to pick up secondhand. The trick to making it look glamorous rather than granny-ish is in the styling. Here a resticted colour palette, and plants, pots and tubs of varying heights provide visual intrigue. And the jewellery hung from a cheap coat hook is a genius idea: first, it adds an interesting layer to the walls and second, it’s super-practical. Brown furniture just got way cooler!
You may not be an exhibitionist but your accessories should be. Embrace humour and quirky items – the odd kitsch figurine, an animal inspired accessory or some supersized lights will add a vital dose of life to an interior. Too much tastefulness is dull and too much fun is tacky, it’s all about getting the balance right.