By filling her Edinburgh duplex with a mix of impulse buys and carefully considered colours, Clare Blacklaw has created a fun, eclectic family home
Feature Alison Gibb Photos Douglas Gibb
Colour-pop apartment
Clare and Steven moved into their duplex in 2017 from a smaller period property nearby. ‘We loved the feeling of space and the sense of community in the development,’ Clare shares. The couple also liked its layout, with the bedrooms on the ground floor, and the stairs leading up to a fabulously light-filled, open-plan living room, with a separate kitchen and a study area. ‘Having a study was a godsend during lockdown, when my husband was working from home and we were home-schooling our eldest two and had a toddler,’ Clare says.
When they first moved, in the décor was completely neutral, so Clare knew she wanted to personalise it quickly. ‘I am very instinctive when it comes to interiors. I don’t over-think, I just get on with it,’ she says. She effortlessly puts together intriguing vignettes using upcycled pieces she has found in junk shops, painted in eclectic colours ranging from bold, deep emerald to delicate dusky pinks. ‘I have used several key shades repeatedly for continuity, but I am a very impulsive collector: if I see a colourful object that I like, I just buy it and add it to a display, so I perhaps need to beware of being too eclectic!’ she laughs.
Clare also can’t resist a project. She installed the fire surround – given to the couple by Steven’s mother – herself to create a focal point in the open-plan living space. She’s also added colourful accent walls, painted radiator covers throughout the apartment, and sanded and painted the staircase in an uplifting array of pastel hues. ‘I have made some bold choices, certainly, but have also made an effort to stick to a palette that I know works well for a cohesive result,’ Clare explains. The children’s rooms have been decorated with a sense of fun, but Clare has avoided obvious themes so she can update them easily in future. ‘I wanted their rooms to be fairly timeless, as they grow up so fast.’
Unsurprisingly, Clare loves collecting Christmas bits and bobs – she invested in a faux Christmas tree from Homebase that she brings out every year, and has amassed a treasure trove of decorations from budgetfriendly shops such as TK Maxx. ‘I can’t stop buying little ceramic houses that you can illuminate with tea lights for a festive cosy glow,’ she adds.
