Starting point

Where do I begin?

Its that age old question isn’t it.

You’ve got that space that’s calling out for a revamp and the first thing that comes into your mind is where should I start? What colours do I choose? How much is this all going to cost me? A design or decoration change can come from many forms, and in this blog, we’re going to explore several which should hopefully give you the knowledge to know where to start.

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The easiest and simplest thing is to use the internet or magazines. You can now search for what you want and hey presto, the internet shows you a picture. We recommend this if you have a specific colour in mind or are starting a complete renovation. Pinterest is a great visual search tool. You may want to create a board of multiple pins (ideas) and collate these making something unique. The internet is a great tool however it can sometimes be bombarding or overwhelming if you haven’t homed down your search. It can be a hindrance rather than a help so please just be specific.

When we normally venture into a client’s home and they don’t feel like they have anything to go on, we look at what’s on the walls. Art is so subjective. You can tell allot from a person by the pictures that they hang on their walls. Is it bold, colourful and abstract or subtle, pastel and detailed? Do they have multiples of the same artist or style? Use this as a base to form a colour palette. We recently helped out a client whose scheme derived from several water colour paintings on the wall. The palette was pale greens and pinks with a hint of gold. We tailored the design to enhance the paintings and knew the client would like the colours based on their taste in artwork.

We’ve had a few clients recently who have asked ‘do we start with the paint colour or the soft furnishings?’ And the answer is that it really doesn’t matter. Some people may have a clear idea of paint colour and therefore the fabric can follow. If you want to easiest option, in our opinion, its nice to pick the fabric first. Whether its a plain, floral, striped or geometric, the choice of fabric you make can easily dictate your paint colour. We had a client recently who had 3 separate rooms that all interlinked, a kitchen, dining room and conservatory. The client had decided they wanted to go for a darker colour in the kitchen which had to match with an existing turquoise in the conservatory. Working alongside a soft furnishing company, we found fabrics that would tie in the clients wants and determine the colour of the middle room (dining room).

Lastly, we are well aware that majority of the time budget plays a huge part in where you have to start with your renovations. That’s why sometimes its easier to use existing pieces within a space to start the process. I’d like to give you an example based on my personal experiences. In our downstairs toilet we have tiles around our sink and window, they wouldn’t have been my first choice however were there when we brought the house. Instead of thinking that I need to remove the tiles, possibly plaster the walls and then buy new tiles, I’m working with what I have. The new scheme will include the wall tiles and paint colour and new less expensive floor tiles that have a pattern incorporating the wall tile colour.

Giving me a starting point has allowed me to make quick, decisive decisions with a colour scheme that has already been dictated for me. I urge you to look around what you have, pick something that you love and let the design involve from that. Everyone has a starting point for a great design, they just need to search for it.