Monday Inspiration Beautiful Rooms

Monday morning and let’s start with the bedroom because since this lockdown started eleventy billion years ago I no longer have to get up at 6.30am to wake the 16yo for school and frankly I’m now not sure I will ever be able to get up before 8 o’clock again. OK sometimes 9… anyway moving swiftly on…

There is something about this unashamedly maximalist room by Wend Morrison that I adore. I think it’s particular shade of soft green and the harmonious colour palette. All the colours are soft and since there’s no high contrast or clashing shades it is, for me, restful. Wendy trained in fashion so she absolutely knows what she is doing, I’m not sure I would know how to pull this off but next time I’m in Scotland I intend to drop by and return the visit that Wendy once made to my house.

Moving from the bedroom it makes sense to stop by the bathroom, and this is another fabulous wallpaper from Divine Savages. That attitude from that ostrich is just fabulous isn’t it?  And a bit of humour like that is just what you need when you stagger in to the bathroom first thing. It’s one of those designs that you don’t see it all the first time you look. I only noticed the fancy wings the second time and the legs the time after that and now I can’t stop looking at it.

Ok so now we’re up and dressed –  and I’m not getting into what time that happens in lockdown either. Let’s just say there may have been a little slippage on that front now there’s no urgency/permission to leave the house. A couple of desks for you.

Above the glorious painted table belonging to designer Inge Watrobski with, contrasting blue chair, pink walls and gold door. In my head it shouldn’t work, seen here it clearly does.

Before everyone starts pointing out that blue and green should never been seen, I’m just going to leave this here as well. As well as reminding everyone that it used to be said that pink and red should never sit together either and that, together with pink and orange is one of the most divine combinations to exist.

Back to the desk and this is a space in the newly refurbished Victorian House Hotel in the Lake District, which, should anyone be planning a staycation this year, would probably love your support. As a child we went on holiday to the Lake District several times and I remember it with huge fondness. Less so the tent and caravan we stayed in – the sound of the rain relentlessly battering on the roof will stay with me for ever.

Before I go, there is an open letter written by the designer Sarah Ahluwalia of SAAL Design, to the British Institute of Interior Designers (BIID) calling for a specific action plan in relation to the lack of ethnic and economic diversity in the interiors industry. You don’t have to be a member, or even an interior designer to sign, so I have included it below so you can read and sign if you wish.

BIID Open Letter

There is also an instagram account @builtbyusuk which is a social enterprise on a mission to create a more inclusive built environment.

And Alexandria Dauley is also working on a programme of outreach, mentoring, working experience and internships that brands will be able to sign up to which she will be presenting to the BIID for official endorsement soon.

Finally, thank you to everyone who has supported the Design for Diversity Pledge which Rukmini Patel and I launched last week. It is a small idea in comparison with some of these but we hope it’s another seed and a step towards making interior design more open and inclusive for all whether you are a professional designer, a happy amateur or just a lover of beautiful spaces.