Inside Storey

STORY TELLING is at the heart of the work we do . My client is a film script & story editor who loves a minimalist aesthetic. While she’s been at this week, we have been repairing her bedroom, which has been drying out after a roof leak (we previously repaired). She even let me add a splash of colour! 😉 The soft coloured walls and her vintage film poster have been beautifully paired with linen curtains & my lovely & mega talented neighbour’s () slow hand stitched throw. I am so privileged to work with incredible artisans who take such pride in their work… my client’s sash windows have been restored and the walls meticulously repaired (see next photo for a close up of how bad they were!).

UTILITY SERENITY: today this space needs a bit of imagination (see final pic). Eventually it needs to pack ooodles of punches for my clients! As a growing family they need this small space to tick a lot of boxes: ✔️a dumping ground for buggies, coats, bags & shoes, ✔️space for a washer/dryer, ✔️a place to naturally dry clothes on wet days, ✔️storage for everything utility including tall cupboards for ironing boards etc and ✔️a decent sink for 🐶 and muddy 🥾 washing. My clients also dream of this room still feeling inviting with a pop of colour. Stepping the cupboards back towards the entrance, utilising a hidden plinth heater, adding a Sheila maid in the vaulted ceiling and a curtain over the dumping ground all help to create a feeling of space and tranquility. interiorstyling

INSPIRATION: This design comes from my client’s love of her garden which is echoed throughout this space. My client’s dream is to transform their awkwardly shaped attic (final pic) into a wonderfully light guest room which enjoys incredible views of their wrap around garden. Working together to create a moodboard (second image) we shared ideas which developed the aesthetic. Utilising a low upholstered ottoman bed, a simple hanging rail, bespoke multifunctional furniture and a botanical statement wall (all doubling up as storage) keeps the space open and inviting. The lighting is key here and will be designed to be a mixture of ambient, task and accent lighting.

OPTIONS: my client was daunted heading into this project. She simply couldn’t imagine how her home could be. 2/3rds of her ground floor was separated into 4 awkward rooms we decided to reconfigure into 2. Her dream was for her multigenerational family to socialise, play & cook together while also protecting her home for the future. She loved botanicals and desired a green calm kitchen. Here we created 2 designs options to help prioritise what was important. By putting holistic designs together we balance all the elements to optimise the family’s enjoyment including storage, social areas, access, flow, heating, structure, extraction, natural light, connectivity with the outdoors, easy clean, whilst also considering ways to minimise costs, BEFORE the builders start!! Changes during the build are costly.
If you want help to plan, design and/or project manage your dream home, I’d love to hear from you. Final picture: the original kitchen.

Happy 99th Birthday 🎁 On a day we celebrate this wonderful human being, we also commemorate the ending of WWII. Both these events are a true reminder of how we can protect our planet. What contributions can we make to be sustainable & minimise waste? Increasingly my clients are focused on their eco credentials, and here are a few ways I have helped them achieve this. If you want to improve your home, but want advise on being more environmentally aware, reducing your energy bills and carbon footprint or you are keen to make do and mend, I’d be delighted to chat.

I love a little vignette when I’m staging a room. This one was from a while back, but returning to the client this week, it’s wonderful to see the bathroom looking as wonderful as we left it. Timeless, classic design, achieved by mixing antiques, foliage and natural stone tiles, never falters.