What are the most important things to consider when renovating a property?
Have a realistic time scale! When we got the keys to our house I was determined
to get everything completed within six months, and we are now six months down
the line and we still have so much to do!
I also think it’s important to realise that good tradesman are hard to
find and if they are good you will have to wait a while for them to start
work. I always think alarm bells should
ring when a tradesman says he can start the next day!
What are the most effective ways to feel 'at home' in rented accommodation?
Accessorise! The ‘visual merchandising’ part of any
interior design project is the most exciting in my opinion. Personalise your space with things that you
love, if you can’t change the paint colour on the walls, hang a gorgeous mirror
or a painting. Hate the flooring, throw
down a fabulous rug!
What are your tips for 'sprucing up' on a budget?
I think a lick of paint on the walls
works wonders for any room and can transform the feel of it instantly. It doesn’t cost the earth and as a bonus you
get that freshly painted smell that is just divine! You can also pick up great accessories on the
high street and in supermarkets for not a lot of money that can update any
room. Use a simple vase with hand
picked flowers from the garden, this can uplift an old sideboard or table in an
instant.
How do you design a room that is 'timeless' and what are the easiest ways to keep a room up-to-date?
A timeless room can be created by
keeping things simple and by not buying in to seasonal trends in a big way, as
these will often look dated a year down the line. I like to buy classic pieces of furniture and
then add ‘fashion’ accessories to modernise the space. I have just bought a stag head door hook which
is very ‘in vogue’ at the moment and will give my room a stylish look, but it
was not ridiculously expensive so I won’t mind taking it down in a few months
time when the trend passes by.
I like to keep colour schemes classic
too, I’m a massive fan of the Farrow & Ball paint range and also Kelly
Hoppen does a great neutral based range.
You can then make the room up-to-date by buying small accents of a
trend, add in cushions, vases and accessories to update the room and make it look
super stylish.
Can you think of any design choices that you would consider a 'faux pas' or 'cliche' and would avoid?
I hate the idea of a top to toe look
taken directly from a catalogue or specific brand, it lacks a bit of
imagination! I think the idea of great
design is not to copy a look entirely but to take inspiration from different
elements of the design and personalise it.
It might be the easy option but in my opinion it’s unrealistic to think
you’ll find the perfect pieces for your home immediately, it can take months or
even years of searching to stumble upon the ‘perfect’ piece of furniture,
painting or accessories. Be patient!
How has social media changed the way you approach your business?
The main part of my business at the
moment is virtual so social media is an incredible resource to have. Not only for business-to-business contacts
and PR but also to understand my customer.
I find it amazing that a blog I write at my kitchen table is read by
people in Russia, Portugal and Hong Kong and it’s all down to the power of
social media. Therefore, a daily part of my job is to update my Twitter, Facebook
and Pinterest accounts, something that would have been unheard of a few years a
go in business. But people want instant
information and new ideas now, customers don’t want to wait anymore for
anything! It’s a fast moving world we
live in.
What do you love and hate about blogging?
I can honestly say there isn’t one
thing I hate about blogging, I absolutely love it! However, I am slightly obsessed about looking
at the statistics, where people are viewing the blog from, their comments and
feedback, how many people have looked at the blog this week etc. I have over 4000 readers now from all over
the world, and I find that very exciting!
What are your tips for those attempting a new start-up?
Just go for it! I have wanted my own business ever since I
graduated university and finally this year I drastically quit my job from a
high end fashion label and embarked on this new path. It is extremely scary, but massively
exciting, everyday is different and creative.
Be passionate about your business and
know every finer detail about it, leave nothing to chance. You are the one who has got to back it 100%
and drive it forward in the right direction.
Finally my sensible tip is that it’s
so important to have a tight business plan in place and that your figures are
accurate. Do a profit and loss analysis
and it’ll give you realistic expectations of what to work towards.
What have been the most exciting moments of your career so far and what are your goals for the future?
I still
think that it is to come with Butterfly Lane and the launch of the online
boutique.
I really want to create the
Butterfly Lane brand in to something special and that people love.
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