‘Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.’ William Morris.
My Interior design style and Why?
So, hello there, welcome aboard!
This is my first ever design blog post and it’s to tell you all about me, my story into interior design and my love for a modern vintage monochrome home.
Do I begin with the journey from vintage preloved furniture? Something that just happened after my second child or do I tell you about my design days as a textile, knitwear designer pre children? Either way, the emerging story continues to evolve.
They say being a lover of textiles, surface pattern, layering textures and tones is in the blood, and I have to agree. It never leaves you. It just adapts to your emotions and the process continues to be applied to everyday living, whether its fashion, lifestyle or interiors.
I first began with my monochrome obsession when I painted my first upcycled cabinet, in black and I immediately fell in love.
This was my very first painted piece I did, and even to this day, I still totally love it. It’s a true favourite of mine, moving from one house to the next, having prime position and never failing to provide the wow factor in the room. It providing the base and starting point for each room design it has lived in. Its simplicity is beautiful yet impactful, its sustainable, its built to last and creates an interior scheme that is timeless and its helped reduce waste.
What’s not to love?
So, this is where it began, the upcycling, and after many years of textiles, fast fashion and knitwear design. It was refreshing, seeking out old and giving new life, it was truly rewarding, and a far cry from the fast throwaway fashion Industry that I once loved and to what it had become.
I was being creative again and finding my own style. Fast forward a few years of painting and selling black, white, and every shade and tone in between. Seeking out, and servicing clients with vintage and antique furniture, and sourcing vintage accessories to sell alongside.
I had created a successful style and my monochrome Scandi style signature design style was formed.
client love
“I am so grateful for the service Helen provided, she made it so easy for me, not only giving me a floor plan to follow, but also a detailed sheet with prices and links to everything I needed to purchase. This made it an enjoyable process buying all the lovely pieces she had suggested and I was excited to see everything coming together. Everything is so personalised and even purchased an antique chest for me, which was a really great piece, and just what I had in mind (and arranged for a courier). I also bought one of the lovely pieces from her Lived & Loved renovation side of the business – a cute side unit that was sourced especially for my snug and restored to it’s full beauty, with tones that complimented the rest of the room. I totally love the little locked drawer – it’s all in those little details :)”So, what better way to evolve, than bringing the love for preloved pieces, and trying to be a bit more ‘eco’ together with my skills and experience in design and textiles, but to head into Interior design and offer my services out there. So, on went my brave boots and Lived and Loved Interiors, my modern vintage design studio was born, with my Monochrome obsession in hand.
So, what exactly is a Modern vintage design studio? and have you Ever heard the phrase Scandi Style?
Well, it’s a very similar take on an interior design style. And has a very similar ethos. Let me explain.
Scandinavian interior design is a minimalistic style using a blend of textures and soft hues to make sleek, modern décor feel warm and inviting. One of the ideas of the Scandi design style is the idea of creating a home that stands the test of time, by mixing old and new, using items and materials that are thought out. Furniture arrangements are uncluttered and simple, they tend to boast white or pale grey walls to highlight light, a neutral-heavy palette, natural textures such as wood, wicker and stone, painted bricks, minimal window treatments, to allow maximum light and simple no fuss accessories.
A monochromatic interior is decorating in one colour or the same undertones. Its simplicity is stunning, and it provides a strong impactful neutral base, generally white or greys and gives a complimentary base for the Scandi style principles of interior design.
So, a modern vintage design studio encompasses these interior design styles, mixing old with new, upcycled and renovated, layering textures and tones, simple classic timeless design. Creating interiors that are built to last, light fuelled and elegant spaces.
So, what makes it so different to the rest?
It’s just an interior design studio? Right?
Well, for me Its. And bit more than Interior design, it’s doing something you love, and find great gratitude with, helping people create a cosy, individual totally unique home that can only but grow with them as they build and add to the look Whilst making a difference to our environment as well. The motto is DESIGN. CREATE. RENOVATE.
To design a room, create the theme and adding potentially adding renovated antique or vintage upcycled piece, is the aim, to accessorise the room by finding brands that have considered the environment with the products they sell. To hunt out vintage accessories, and one off finds from antique and vintage fairs, adds interest and offers designing that doesn’t date. It’s not chasing the latest fad or trend, and not being part of the continual mindless consumerism where everything starts to look and feel the same, and creates unnecessary waste.
Here at lived and loved Interiors, we’re considered, and source the right pieces to best we can, we are an interior design studio, guided by environmental considerations, focusing on the people and the planet. And by working together, communicating with one another and taking our time, curating the design not rushing. We can embrace the slower pace of life. find the calm and harmonious home we are all seeking whilst looking after the planet we are living in.
Its interior design that is soulful, unique, heartfelt and stands the test of time. That’s what makes it different to the rest.
If you would like to find out about the services we offer please take a look at my interior designs services.
Or book a design consultation here > contact me.