ETSY SHOP LAUNCH
My new Etsy shop is up and running with my first upcycled piece for sale!
A vintage homemade (estimated 1960's) sideboard. The doors and drawer interiors have been finished with @arthousewallpapers Deco Tropical. The unit has then been painted in @cornishmilkmineralpaint Cornish Milk Squid Ink blue with @fusionmineralpaint Metallic Champagne Gold and finished with 2 coats of matt varnish for durability. New gold hardware and hairpin legs bring this vintage piece bang up to date. The perfect addition to your home!
Height: 94cm
Depth: 49cm
Width: 137cm
Available to buy in my new Etsy shop here (contact me for further details if you are interested). I am also happy to consider commissions for your existing furniture.
NEW ETSY SHOP LAUNCH!
I will soon be opening my new Etsy shop with up-cycled furniture pieces for sale.
As part of this new venture, I will also be offering a service to up-cycle existing pieces of furniture for clients. There will be several factors to be considered with each commission, such as distance from my business, age, condition and outcome. Once these have been taken into consideration, then you will be given a personalised quote for the work to be completed and any courier costs that are involved.
Interior Design Masters Application
I submitted an application for this years show but unfortunately I wasn't successful. I would assume that it was due to my lack of practical experience. However, I will try again next year! I worked hard on putting together a set of design concepts for my application, the images of which you can see HERE.
Below I have added the concepts and thought processes behind each design...
Mid-Century Modern Living Room
I wish that I could decorate my lounge! After playing with some wallpaper and paint samples to set up some home staging photos, I was inspired to 'decorate' my lounge in the only way I can - virtually!!! Here are the results! It would be lovely to make the living room a more mature and grown-up space. The room needs to function well as a family space but also to entertain and welcome guests. I would like the room to have a wow factor whilst still being a family area. Style, colour, and furniture: There is a lot of natural light in our living room, so I would love to use deep, rich tones to create a cosy and comforting atmosphere. The colour palette I would like to use includes earthy green, ochre, and deep brown. We have a central fireplace with alcoves each side and I would use this area to create built in storage each side of the fireplace to house the TV as well as books and decorative items. It would be nice to then paint these to match the wall colour, so they blend in and are not visually closing in the room too much. We have chosen the wallpaper which is quite modern but pairs well with mid-century modern style furniture with warm gold and copper accents. We would expose the floorboards and use a large rug to add texture and warmth. Other soft furnishings would include floor length curtains as well as an array of different patterns and textures in the cushions and throws. The use of the mirror over the fireplace will reflect the light from the window and open up the space. There is limited artwork as the wallpaper is the main feature in this room. The existing fireplace is a nice focal point of the room, but it needs modernising – even a coat of paint would fix this. There are currently picture rails in the room, but ideally, I would remove these to naturally take the eye up the wall and not break up the space. The double aspect means there is a lot of natural light in this room and so it lends itself well to darker and warmer colours. The out-dated wall lights would be removed, and layers of lighting would be used instead. A centre light, floor lamp and table lamps would add areas of task lighting as well as ambient lighting.
Modern Farmhouse Kitchen
This kitchen is a concept designed for a barn conversion/modern farmhouse. The exposed beams and brick fireplace with an Aga are the focal points of the room and are the inspiration for the décor and colour scheme. Cream cupboards and natural oak work surfaces give a timeless and classic feel, while the deep duck egg blue island and walls add a contemporary feel. By using a neutral palette for the units, the room can be easily updated over the years. Warmth is added using rustic oak floorboards, copper accents and pendant lighting over the island. The brickwork and beams have been left as they are to maintain the period feel of the property. The ceiling lights have been added to give the layers to the lighting and can be controlled separately from the pendant lighting to create task lighting in certain areas. The ceiling has been kept a neutral colour so as not to distract from the beauty of the exposed beam. The tiled splashback adds colour and character with the use of a rustic porcelain random Moroccan inspired tile. Display shelves break up the wall cabinets and make a feature of the wall and display cabinets. This room has French doors leading to the patio and window over the sink that give the room plenty of natural light and warmth. I wanted to make this kitchen feel like the heart of the home, somewhere where you can entertain whilst cooking or just enjoy a coffee and breakfast on a summer morning looking out into the garden. I wanted somewhere that was welcoming as well as functional for a family. Decorative items such as wire baskets, retro storage tins, stoneware pots, vases and plants give the room a personality and a feel that these items have been collected over the years or handed down through the generations.
Black and White Bathroom
After seeing this wallpaper, I had to use it in a design and a bathroom seemed like the perfect choice. I have used the floor plan of my own bathroom and separate toilet and converted into one larger bathroom for this this design. I wanted to create something quirky but elegant and so I stuck with the black and white scheme and highlighted the green in the wallpaper with the towels and plants. By combining the separate toilet and bathroom together, it allowed space for a separate shower cubicle and so I wanted to take advantage of this and have a free-standing Victoriana bath to add character to the space and to reflect the Victorian gallery inspiration in the wallpaper. The black and white tile and white panels on the lower section of the wall, add to the period feel of the room yet keep the colour palette fresh and modern. The wallpaper and tiles make the room busy, so I wanted to calm it down and use plain black tiles for the shower cubicle and not add too many other fussy features. The vanity reflects the colour scheme but is kept simple and functional. The window treatment and use of accessories is simple and elegant. By picking out the green in the wallpaper, the plants become part of the colour palette and a splash of colour is added in the use of the green towels. I have added natural wood to the room to add warmth and to stop the black and white from being too stark and clinical. The room feels brighter and warmer and brings the scheme together cohesively. On each side of the mirror there are vanity lights that are controlled independently from the centre light and so can be used as task lighting for the mirror or to add different layers to the lighting to create a cosier feel.
Scandi Inspired Lounge
As part of my journey in becoming an Interior Designer, I have been looking more closely at the concept of Hygge design and living and so I was inspired to design a lounge using both Scandi and Hygge concepts. I wanted to create an open living space that incorporates a living and dining area but remained cohesive and cosy. The colour palette uses neutral and natural tones and is complimented using natural materials in the décor and accessories. Some of the most important areas I wanted to concentrate on in this design were the fireplace and the seating area. I wanted to create warmth and comfort. This space needed to be inviting all year round and be a sanctuary from the outside world, not just for the owner, but for their guests as well. As well as this, it was important to have a space that takes advantage of the natural light as well as using other light sources to create atmosphere when needed. The lighting in the living area and dining area are independently controlled and the floor lamp adds texture to the lighting concept. The two windows give warm, natural light to the room and the use of different window treatments means these can be closed off when required. The seating area is cosy enough for one to create a reading nook in the corner under the floor lamp, but at the same time is large enough for guests and other members of the family to relax and find comfort. The dining area is incorporated into this space so that there is a natural flow between entertaining, dining, and relaxing. Natural textures such as wood, foliage, jute, stone etc are used to add interest and warmth to the space. The accessories, art and books tell a story of the person living here and add personality and depth to the space. These textures and an array of knitted throws and soft cushions add warmth to the cooler blue of the walls and stop the space from feeling too open and cold.
Floral/Dramatic Bedroom
For this bedroom design I used the floorplan of my own bedroom and I wanted to add some drama to it! The wallpaper I used is Matthew Williamson and after ordering a sample of it for my collection, I knew it would be perfect for a dramatic boudoir-style bedroom. The wallpaper is reflected in the oversized headboard that could be either panelled with the wallpaper or padded/tufted with the matching fabric. This headboard is the main feature of the room and is in direct sight as you enter the room. It creates the drama and feel that I was aiming for. The colour palette for the rest of the room is inspired by the colours in this wallpaper. I felt that the headboard needed a dark background to really make it stand out and so the use of navy, I feel, accomplishes this. By adding the ochre accent to the skirting and moulding, these are not lost or forgotten about, but rather they are highlighted to add texture and interest to the room. The wallpaper is reflected again in the bedspread and cushions and key colours are used in the bedding to create a cohesive colour palette. Although the floorboards are exposed, I wanted to the room to be luxurious and so a large area rug is used to bring cosiness and warmth to the room. This is then reflected in the ceiling colour. Mismatched furniture and an antique wing back chair add character to the room and continues the sense of drama throughout. I wanted this room to be practical as well as beautiful and there is still plenty of storage as well as seating and practical furniture. I feel this room lends itself to reclaimed and antique pieces to bring it to life. Quirky floor lamps and bedside lamps add humour and texture to the room whilst pulling together the copper and brass tones of the metals used throughout. Deep, rich tones and textures give this room a sense of luxury and warmth, but it retains a sense of character and fun.
Boho Bedroom
Relaxing, calming, and peaceful. They were the main emotions I wanted to convey when I designed this bohemian inspired bedroom. I wanted to use elements of both the boho and coastal styles to create a space that was elegant and charming and that also reflected someone well-travelled and stylish. This bedroom features a dressing area that has been zoned off with these interesting lattice style panels. This means that the dressing area can be made into more of a stand-alone feature and so I have used palm tree wallpaper to accentuate the different zones further. The main theme that runs throughout this bedroom design is that of nature. The colour palette is very neutral, with hints of earthy browns and browns and oranges that are complemented by deep blues and greens. Plants, baskets, wooden and metal ornaments, plates, mirrors, and lanterns add interest and personality to the room. It creates a sense of travel, comfort harmony by combining an array of natural materials that pull both the boho and coastal styles together. All these create a sense of peace and harmony. Decorative items are a mix of souvenirs from holidays and travel, artwork, personal photos and candles or lanterns. The lighting is its own feature. Rather than a central light, the main source of lighting is two longer pendant lamps over each bedside unit. These allow for bedtime reading as well as creating interesting layers to the lighting alongside the corner floor lamp and dressing area lighting. The floorboards are exposed to keep their natural character, but rugs have been added and layers to create texture and warmth.
We’ve been selected as a ‘recommended interior designer’ by designer homeware brand, PAD Lifestyle!
At Lotus Interior Design, we have created beautiful, timeless interior design schemes for homeowners across the Midlands. And after all the hard work, it’s wonderful to be recognised within the community as a top interior designer. Which is why we’re proud to announce that Lotus Interior Design has been selected to feature in PAD Lifestyle’s ‘Recommended Interior Designers’ list. PAD Lifestyle is a stockist of beautifully unique furniture, homeware, art, fashion and lifestyle items, showcasing some of the most in-demand and underground brands from across the world. As a brand with a passion for all things colour, pattern and texture, the essence of PAD Lifestyle certainly matches our aesthetic and desire to make a space stylish and practical. And we loved hearing what the team at PAD Lifestyle had to say about us: “It’s clear that Deborah at Lotus Interior Design is a master of her craft. “A home should be an extension of your personality. And, as seen through her wonderful reviews, her experienced use of colour and texture helps create a space that perfectly reflects the homeowner’s preferences. “Her designs bring excitement to rooms across the home but ensure that each space works practically for the needs of the homeowner. “This is why we’re proud to include Lotus Interior Design in the PAD Lifestyle Recommended Interior Designers list”.