INTERIOR DESIGN SHOWCASE >>
Giving your home a makeover is an exciting prospect, but if you're in danger of drowning in swatch books and paint samples, fear not - help is at hand. At this year's Homes & Interiors Scotland Exhibition we have gathered together the country's top interior designers, who will take part in a series of talks throughout the event.
They will also be creating a stunning Interior Design Showcase at the heart of the show. Taking the form of a series of beautifully designed rooms, it is sure to give you ideas about what you can achieve in your own home. This walk-through attraction will house a family-friendly kitchen/diner, a drawing room, a dining room, a study, a master bedroom, a guest bedroom, a hallway and a garden.
All the designers will be on hand to talk you through how they put the rooms together and to answer questions about your own decor dilemmas. Here we introduce the designers taking part as they give us a sneak preview of what they are planning for the show, as well as talking us through their top tips.
AMABILE DESIGN
21 South Glassford Street
Milngavie, Glasgow (by appointment only)
0845 450 2601
info@amabiledesign.com
John Amabile and Carol Yates created Amabile Design eight years ago, although both had had successful careers in the design field prior to this. John's varied experience has been an essential part of the service provided by Amabile Design. His ability to create tailormade sophisticated and comfortable interiors blends perfectly with Carol Yates's skills. Her sense of style and innovative approach means she has been involved in many exciting commissions from private individuals, hoteliers and more. Based in Milngavie, the Amabile studio holds a vast design library of fabrics, wallcoverings, lighting and furniture.
KITCHEN/DINER
"Our room is a quirky design statement with a free-standing Philippe Starck kitchen and tall dining table at its heart, proving that functionality can also be decorative and glamorous. Our colour palette is bang-on trend, with zesty citrus colours and hot metallics complemented by exotic fabric textures and extravagant lighting."
Top tip "Personality is key - think outside the box, use interesting objects and accessories to humanise the space. For socialising in the kitchen, a range of varied seating is best - bar stools, occasional chairs and even sofas are essential."
BEYOND FOUR WALLS
The Design Studio
22 Athole Gardens, Glasgow
0141 341 0349
info@beyondfourwalls.co.uk
Beyond Four Walls was established by Mark Brunjes and John Henderson in 2005. The pair design and build contemporary outdoor spaces for both residential and corporate clients. Innovative design solutions include architectural and exotic planting, water features, sculpture and cutting-edge lighting. The company designs and manufactures all bespoke items in-house to ensure a signature style. Its aim is to get people to think beyond conventional boundaries, and help them realise the true potential of their outdoor space.
GARDEN
"The title for the show garden is 'The Great Escape' and features 'The Pod', a contemporary offspring of the traditional garden shed and a lunar landing module, and offers a whole new exciting reason to work from home. The garden will also have a variety of hard and soft landscaping, water features, lighting, tensioned shade sail, custom-made fencing, external lounge furniture and innovative planting ideas - don't miss it."
Top tip "Treat your garden as you would any other room in the house. Start with a wish list and make a mood board. Combine this with a list of your practical requirements and together this will give your designer a feel for your dream outdoor space."
BRYCE MCKENZIE
77 Dundas Street, Edinburgh
0131 556 2185
bryce@brycemckenzie.co.uk
Bryce began his career 16 years ago as
an interior designer for Liberty, going
on to manage design practices in both Glasgow and Edinburgh before opening his eponymous design studio in 2008. Since then he and his team have worked on bespoke interiors in a variety of town and country houses for clients throughout Scotland. Although each commission is tailored to the individual, the signature of quality, detail and understated elegance is apparent in every interior produced. His Edinburgh showroom displays many examples of his inimitable style and has a library of fabrics and wallcoverings from leading manufacturers all over the world.
DINING ROOM
"The dining room colour palette is warm and relaxing. The balance of old and new styles is gentle with the emphasis very much on the interplay of textures and details throughout the design to create subtle harmonies."
Top tip "Carefully consider exactly how the room will be used to ensure the result is practical as well as aesthetically pleasing. Lighting is very important in any room, but particularly in a dining room, since these are so often used at night. Use warm colours to create a comfortable and intimate atmosphere."
CHELSEA McLAINE
157 Milngavie Road
Glasgow
0141 942 2833
info@chelseamclaine.co.uk
Chelsea McLaine comprises a team of creative and inspired individuals. Margot Paton, who founded the company in 1992, leads a team with over 40 years of combined experience in the profession. They have the ability and flair to successfully complete any project, from a single window dressing to a complete house renovation. Each project is offered the same enthusiasm, attention to detail and quality of finish, regardless of scale. Based in Bearsden, Glasgow, its retail showroom offers an eclectic mix of interior accessories which sit comfortably alongside its interior design studio.
STUDY
"For our study we use muted tones of grey and aubergine with highlights and accents of chrome, pale grey and cream. A combination of textures - velvet, leather, cashmere, chrome, glass and wood - creates interest and warmth. We juxtapose glamour and sophistication with industrial chic."
Top tip "Consider how to light the room to fulfil all the various potential uses of your study. Make a list of activities which will require different types of light, such as task lighting and mood lighting. Include objects that have sentimental value in order to create warmth and a feeling of belonging."
DESIGNWORKS
38 Gibson Street
Glasgow
0141 339 9520
info@designworks-scotland.co.uk
Henrietta Simpson set up Designworks 30 years ago, after studying interior design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee. Providing a comprehensive service, including interior design and interior architecture, as well as architectural and custom furnishings, Designworks is one of Glasgow's oldest and best-loved interior design studios. Henrietta and her team have worked on residential and commercial projects in the UK and abroad, where every project is individually tailored to each client. Their west end studio displays a diverse range of contemporary furniture, lighting, fabric, wallpaper and accessories.
DRAWING ROOM
"For our room set, we have chosen a subtle palette of charcoal and chalk. Striking curtain fabric with a bold graphic print, complements a grey grasscloth wallpaper. Some pieces of furniture are bespoke, including a tall cabinet with textured inlayed doors and matching side tables. The sofa is a luxurious mohair velvet with textured cushions in graphic patterns."
Top tip "Try to plan your overall scheme in advance. You can always do things a bit at a time as you can afford to do it, so long as you have an overall view in mind. Create a layout plan to rationalise the space available."
INTERIORS BY ANGELA BARR
Carmichael Place, 8 Lochwinnoch Road, Kilmacolm
01505 872223
enquiry@abarrinteriors.co.uk
Angela started her design career in 1997, swiftly gaining a loyal following of repeat clientele. She enjoys the diversity of each of her projects, which range from listed buildings to ultra-chic town apartments. With a carefully selected and passionately dedicated team of professional craft and tradespeople behind her, she works to deliver results beyond her clients' expectations. Angela and her team work from concept to completion, designing and sourcing all materials - including wallcoverings, furniture, flooring, lighting and accessories - in order to create carefully designed interiors matched to her clients' needs and personalities.
MASTER BEDROOM
"Our theme is romantic glamour. We have selected a dreamy powdery palette dusted with silver highlights to provide the backdrop for a stunning range of bedroom furniture by Jetclass. Decadently soft and luxurious furnishing fabrics will further add to the drama, as will a stunning chandelier."
Top tip "We spend about a third of our lives in our bedrooms but many modern bedrooms are small in size. Using mirrors and mirrored furniture is an old trick that works. They bounce back light and double the impression of space. Team with metallic elements in wallcoverings and clear glass accessories."
INTERIOR DESIGN PARTNERSHIP
33 Barnton Avenue West
Edinburgh
0131 312 6866
info@the-idp.co.uk
After training in interior architecture, Gilly Corkery and her husband Brendan launched IDP in 2005. The couple's passion for interior design and property development, combined with their business backgrounds (Gilly is a qualified lawyer and Brendan is a chartered accountant), has resulted in a loyal and varied client base both in the UK and abroad. From its Edinburgh studio, IDP works on a range of residential and commercial projects. Its portfolio is broad and includes stylish Georgian offices in the New Town, an elaborate orangery near Edinburgh, a baronial home in Ayrshire, an ultra-modern chalet in Switzerland and some contemporary villas in Cyprus.
GUEST BEDROOM
"We decided to create a calm, sophisticated bedroom that would be a cocoon of comfort. Our palette is primarily a blueish dove grey with bold dashes of mauve - a backdrop colour which allows accent colours to be changed easily with a new cushion, throw or lampshade."
Top tip "If you use one colour predominantly in a room - just as we have in our room set - it is important to introduce variety in terms of fabric textures, furniture shapes and splashes of a key accent colour."
JEFFREYS INTERIORS
8 North West Circus Place
Edinburgh
0131 247 8010
mail@jeffreys-interiors.co.uk
Founded in 1842, Jeffreys Interiors is an ever-evolving professional design company with a unique, award-winning retail showroom. Headed by Jeff Laing and Alison Vance, along with an experienced team, they bring creativity and knowledge to each individual project. Jeffreys Interiors' design service can be tailored completely to your needs and the firm is renowned for its professionalism and approachability. The team will work alongside you, your architect and your builder to maximise
the potential of your home.
ENTRANCE HALL
"Probably because so many are dark, small and badly designed, hallways are often considered unimportant compared to other rooms. But it's from here that we welcome the world and leave first (and last) impressions, and with some professional advice this neglected space, whether grand or humble, will set the tone for the rest of your home."
Top tip "Involve a professional designer as early as possible, since more often than not they'll be able to envisage a solution for a space that you can't see yourself, helping you avoid costly mistakes and ensuring that you achieve that all-important wow factor."