What is the secret to creating a very personal, comfortable and welcoming interior? The answer lies not in the big buys but in the details, if we can harness how to use them
FEATURE SAMANTHA SCOTT-JEFFRIES PHOTOGRAPHS P82, 83 © JAMES MCDONALD; P85 (PORTRAIT) @ MARK ANTHONY FOX, HARRY CROWDER; P86 © HARRY CROWDER; P87 (PORTRAIT) © SIMON BROWN; P87 © JONATHAN BOND; P88 © CHRISTOPHER HORWOOD
It is the small things that give a home its unique personality and character. The perfectly placed oil painting found in a junk shop, the tassels added to refresh the curtains that contrast so well with the cushions on the sofa – these are the finishing touches that pull a room together in a way that is unique to its creator.
To discover the best ways of making a home personal to its owners, we spoke to interior designers who specialise in creating layered, inviting English interiors that give the impression that they have evolved over time. Here, they share their thoughts on the importance of detail and reveal some of the styling tools and design ideas they employ for their clients.
KATE GUINNESS
Founder and director, Kate Guinness Design
Why are details important to you when designing an interior? For me, the details are about reflecting the personality of the client and also about a scheme feeling like a home and not too designed. I may have considered and bought details as an interior designer, but those details need to come together to create a natural space. If it’s over designed, it’s not going to have personality. It’s also hard to distinguish what detail means as a specific element. Is it a light switch, the artwork or all of the finishing touches?
At what point in creating a scheme, should we be considering the details?
It varies and can sometimes be based on urgency. In a recent project, we looked at architectural and hard finishes, then curtains, furniture and then details later. That can work well as you can see the scheme growing and building up, but we don’t always work that way. C
