Wall panelling has been making its way into Pinterest perfect living rooms for a while now and for good reason. It’s a classic, simple and stylish way to bring texture and character to your space. It’s the grown up version of a wallpapered feature wall, and it’s certainly more interesting.

Whether you're into the clean lines of shaker style, the modern sophistication of slat walls, or the timeless elegance of wainscoting, it’s actually a great way of adding character to your home.

But it’s not just for Pinterest, or Instagram or stately homes. It’s for you too.

And whilst you can get the professionals in, it’s actually pretty easy to DIY. I’m walking you through how to plan it out, cut your MDF sheets efficiently, and make sure you get a perfect finish.

I definitely wouldn’t consider myself a Swiftie. Saying that, I enjoy that Taylor can swap through her eras, trying out new styles all whilst remaining unashamedly Taylor Swift.

It took me a long time to find my style when it came to my home and to be honest I’ve got to a place where I’m really comfortable with it.

I’d describe it as soft-neutral-modern. I like including some antique vibes and balancing them with cooler textures, using combinations of concrete and marble. I like mixing my wood and my metals.

But right now, I think I’m in my colourful era. When I used to do colour it never worked for me long term because I think I went too bold with it. Now I feel more content with softer, earthier shades that still feel neutral.

I’m also enjoying pattern a little more. I love those glossy tiles in striped patterns and I absolutely bloody love checkerboard. Checkerboard floors, checkerboard tiles, checkerboard countertops.

It’s playful, it’s pretty and it doesn’t feel overly aggressive when it comes to pattern.

I wanted some in my home.

I hear it all the time.

I think it’s in the top three things people say to me about their home.

I don’t want to live in a show home.

I know what they mean. They want to feel as though they actually live there.

They want it to be a family home with personality.

I’ve said it myself

“You know, I know it’s not a show home, you have to live here.”

But, and I’m going to be honest here, I don’t mean that.

Yikes, I said it

Hello!

I know it’s been a little while but truth be told I’ve actually been quite busy.

Yes, I’ve been working on several client projects, but I’ve also been a little bit busy taking time for myself.

In Spain.

Ole, indeed.

Round about February time, in the cold depths of winter, my partner and I decided that it was time to embark upon a Spanish adventure and cross our fingers for a little bit of April sunshine. Failing that at least we’d have enough tapas and vermouth around us to make up for it.

We decided on a 2-week break along Spain’s northern coast and to optimise our flight path home, we’d spend a few days in Barcelona. Which meant, in total, 4 locations and 4 hotels.

Now, I know you’re not supposed to go away for the hotel - it’s not the point of the trip.

But it kind of is.

Something I discuss often is the idea that if you feel confident with your design style, with the colours you like, and the elements that are pleasing to your eye, you’ll feel comfortable and settled at home. You won’t have any of those annoying niggles and little things you’d want to change. You’ll finally be able to relax.

I still don’t disagree with this, but in thinking about design in this way, I’ve not left much room for exploration.

We know that over time fashions and trends change. We see it in clothes, interiors, music and art. Trends come and go. It’s ok to follow them, it’s perfectly fine to ignore them.

But if you choose not to follow the trends, even if you choose to pick a style you love and stick to it, you still need to allow yourself some wiggle room.

Since I moved into this flat more than 2 years ago, the bathroom has been a constant source of disappointment to me.

(You’ll be pleased to note that I haven’t left my penchant for dramatics in 2023)The previous owner had put in a lovely new kitchen and notified me that she was getting ready to do the same with the bathroom but she decided to sell instead. What remained was a windowless, melamine afflicted, carpeted disaster. And it was old.

You know as well as I do that bathrooms are expensive - and prices have only increased over the past couple of years. A whole new bathroom isn’t something I can afford just yet, but what I could do was give it a quick spruce up and make it feel a little bit lovelier to me.

As I sit here writing, I’m on a business retreat, with romcoms on the telly and a Snowball.

A top tier Christmas drink, I’m sure you’ll agree.

Although we’re clinging on to November by our fingertips, we’re getting in the Christmas spirit and the talk has turned today to our trees.

The kitchen is an important part of my home and I spend a lot of time there - and when I bought this flat, it had an almost brand new, top-of-the-range kitchen ready and waiting. It was a massive selling factor that I knew would save me time and money down the line because I didn’t need to replace it.

That being said, although the kitchen was pretty much perfect, it was still missing something for me and I knew I wanted to put my own stamp on it.

When I’m introduced as an interior designer, I usually correct and say that whilst I help you with your interior design - I won’t do it all for you.

I’m an Interior Design Consultant, so I don’t project manage. But what I do instead, is give you all the tools you need, breaking down the process into manageable parts so that you can take ownership of the project.

To make your bathroom feel like your own personal spa, it's important to choose the right colours and tile textures. During the design process, we put together a mood board, so that customers are able to picture their soon-to-be dream bathroom, and we've had many happy customers who love the end result.

But that’s only half of it.

When you go into a hotel bathroom and it feels fancy, it’s not just because they’ve installed a brass tap and polished tile. It’s because they’ve styled it. They’ve added those fluffy towels and luxurious soaps and although you may not realise it - it elevates your experience.

So why wouldn’t you want this in your own bathroom?