How would you describe your personal design style?:
My personal style is eclectic; having always lived in older properties, I inherently lean towards more traditional styling. Warm earthy paint colours, natural materials like timber and stone, styled with items that really mean something to the home owner – I think authenticity is very important.
The problem with working in a creative industry is that inspiration is everywhere! A property that has been designed and styled with it’s age and original features in mind will always appeal to me and despite my preference for a more heritage look, I have designed mid-century inspired kitchens that I have absolutely loved!
Where does your design inspiration come from?:
At Naked, we are lucky enough to work with a wonderful array of interior designers and architects; it is always inspiring to see what this creative community is working on. Our own design team are influenced daily by client’s requests for unique storage concepts, colour combinations and cabinetry styles. It is so fulfilling to be able to manufacture a new door style or beading detail for example upon request, and in turn to create something new and inspiring for others.
In the wider world I am influenced by colour combinations in art, nature, fabrics, fashion – I feel these all interlink.
In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?:
We have seen a real surge in the celebration of natural timber finishes, eye-catching stone surfaces and rich, exciting paint colours over the past couple of years. With so many people working from home, the colour palette we work from is much broader and much more exciting than ever before.
Biophilic design is very popular amongst clients that are looking to incorporate texture and warmth whilst creating a comforting, unpretentious feel to the home.
With online platforms and influencers popping up on our phones daily, showing us the most efficient way to store our clothes, gadgets and appliances, bespoke storage that makes use of every available space has become important to everyone and continues to push us as designers to think outside of the box!
Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in the future. :
Know your client – what are their likes/dislikes (both are very important!)? How many people use the space day to day and how do they see themselves using this space? Do they have a wish list, if so, what’s on it? Gathering this information gives you a good framework to consider during the design stage.
Functionality and layout – no matter how beautiful a space appears, the real test of success is how well it functions, particularly within a kitchen. Are appliances appropriately placed, recommended distances adhered to, are cutlery and crockery appropriately placed etc.
Longevity – this relates to not only the longevity of the design or style of the room, but the choice of materials. It is important to offer the client the best quality possible for their budget as this will inevitably extend the life of your design.
Budget – with the former in mind, obtaining a clear budget from the start always helps to ensure that appropriate suggestions and solutions and proposed from the get-go.
It isn’t personal – when spending a lot of time on a design, it is very easy to become attached. It can be helpful to remind yourself that when a client suggests they might like to explore a different approach to an area, this isn’t personal and in fact there is often lots to be gained from reviewing an area and discussing alternative ideas!
