From Good Housekeeping, June 2015 (original article here)
Category: Lifestyle
These are the before and after photos of the ground floor of my client design and build project in Fulham.
From one big unloved open plan space, mostly used as storage rather than for living, the Architect and I created 2 double bedrooms with a master bathroom and cloakroom/shower room
The after photos are not styled or furnished by myself, but simply photos of the not-yet cohesively furnished interiors.
Before
This is the area which was turned into a shower room/cloakroom on the left hand side and the master bedroom on the right hand side in front of the window
The master bedroom area before
The beginnings of the passageway off which is the master bedroom on the left hand side and the 2nd bedroom at the far end. The bathrooms will be on the right hand side
The far left of the photo is where bedroom 2 will be
The beginnings of the master bedroom and passageway.
The ,master bedroom will on the left and bathrooms will be on the right and the 2nd bedroom at the far end of the passage
The nearly finished master bedroom with engineered oak wood floor
The master bedroom with the new shutters and radiator with the client’s own furniture, but not yet finished with a proper headboard etc
This is the 2nd bedroom area before the build
and after
client just moved in
2nd bedroom still with boxes
master bathroom after
Guest cloakroom/wetroom with a glass screen that folds flat against the wall to create space needed in front of vanity unit when the shower is not in use
Savage Beauty at the V & A
What an amazing exhibition!
A visual treat.
I was one of the lucky ones invited to go to the press preview ahead of the celebrity event in the evening with Victoria and David Beckham, Kate Moss and all.
As a celebrity stylist I was invited to most of Alexander McQueen’s fashion shows during London Fashion Weeks. I went to his very first show ever, when he was the avant-garde controversial new boy on the fashion block.
This was held at the old Bluebird garage, a then derelict building on the KIngs Road, Chelsea which is now the Conran Bluebird bar and restaurant.
This first show was shocking to the audience as it was a fashion game changer with “bumster” trousers- the first time ever anyone had seen very low-rise, low slung androgynous trousers. His extraordinary creative talent, especially for tailoring, was already evident.
He was very particular about which press publications were allowed into his shows and which celebrities could wear his creations. There were many who were deemed not suitable.
I wonder how he would now view the transformed image of Victoria Beckham …….
The following photos that I took at the exhibition, need no words, as I believe they speak for themselves as a selection of McQueen’s talent and artistry in fashion.
Here are some before/after views of the ground floor
It was similar to finishing a difficult jigsaw to create and design small spaces that felt roomy.
This is where the cloakroom is planned for
beginnings of the cloakroom/wetroom
The toilet changed position quite a few times to accommodate the client’s Purbeck stone vanity unit worktop
and to become the guest shower room/wet room as well as the main guest cloakroom for the house.
This is before the wet room is finished with a glass screen that folds back against the wall to give more space
The angled mirror is not part of the final room design, just temporarily placed there for safety.
The ground floor of this live/work space was one big open space which the client wished to become 2 bedrooms, master bathroom/shower and guest shower room/cloakroom
Other wishes were storage, neutral colours, classic, functional, with mood lighting that can be dimmed throughout.
This is the master bathroom/shower after build with a free standing roll top bath at one end of the room.
With a generous sized walk in shower at the other end of the room.
This is how the shower area looked during the build
This is the view of the kitchen area that was originally the study/ seating area
We took out the partition walls and shower room and moved the galley kitchen from the far end of the room to create a modern minimal kitchen area, with Shaker-style units in keeping with the style of the property
The original dining area is now a cosy seating area that will have new sofas set around the log burner
(The client has not yet finished unpacking his boxes, paintings and furniture or buying his new pieces)
The walls of the former galley kitchen are now opened up to create an l-shape area for a desk and a large flat screen TV that can be viewed from anywhere in the room
To achieve this final open plan living space new bannisters have been added where walls have been removed.
Should your home be flowery, just because your dress is?
It’s nearly July and dedicated fashionistas will be turning their attentions to Autumn & Winter’s styles; their Summer wardrobes picked out months ago. But does it follow that, to be truly in vogue, what’s hot on the High Street should be reflected in your home?
- Floral ‘14 – various designers interpret this year’s trend
A hallmark of Spring / Summer ’14 has been the rebirth of flower power; maybe not as brash as in its ‘60s heyday but, nevertheless, livelier than Jerry and Margot’s chaise longue! With floral patterns set to continue through Autumn & Winter, does your home décor need to echo that flowery dress?
- Should interior design mimic clothing styles?
Perhaps the main difference between interiors and clothing is the fleeting nature of sartorial style. Before the High Street has a chance to catch up, leading designers have moved on to next season’s looks. We do our best to keep our wardrobes in check, but to extend that through the home would be a major undertaking – both practically and financially.
- This bathroom design reflects current pastel and floral trends
Clothes and interiors do share a similar function though. We dress ourselves and our homes as an expression of our personality. We’re unlikely to wear something that feels uncomfortable, just as we might not choose to paint our walls neon yellow – even if it was the season’s colour.
Clothing designers present a collection of styles, from which we select the elements that suit us best. A three quarter length coat might drown a petite frame, but its monochrome colour scheme could be just your cup of tea.
- Various uses of monochrome – it’s not all black and white!
Good design always suits its era. ‘40s and ‘50s styles were built around post-war austerity, innocence and traditionalism. Modest wooden furniture and window blinds characterised interiors, while clothes were utilitarian, simple, and chic.
- Film stars, Fred MacMurray and Doris Day, demonstrate simple 1940’s elegance
Designers in the ‘60s were pushing boundaries – colours and shapes were brighter and bolder, and the materials used were at the forefront of technology. People were excited about space travel and psychedelics, and metals and plastics were used in futuristic ways. At the same time, the hippy movement took us back to the earth, with flowers and natural materials the order of the day.
- 1960s style experiments with colour, shape, texture, and materials. Rama CC-BY-SA-2.0-fr (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/fr/deed.en), via Wikimedia Commons
The ‘70s maintained this split personality. Experimentation was taken to overblown proportions, but equally balanced by subtle, Scandinavian minimalism.
- The bold patterns worn by these models in the early 70s were at odds with the restrained minimalism of this Scandinavian interior design. Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-L0902-114 / Ulrich Häßler / CC-BY-SA 3.0-de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en), via Wikimedia Commons
The number of styles covered over these few decades show how quickly fashion develops from one trend to the next; the constantly changing seasons only helping to spur it on.
Interior design changes at a naturally slower pace. It’s like a go-to outfit that you change-up by varying its accessories. Imagine deciding on an outfit that you had to wear for the foreseeable future. The same kind of thought is involved in designing interiors but, fortunately, we can turn to stylists who are in tune with the zeitgeist!
Trends are a great thing for keeping us on our toes, but it’s what we choose to do with them that truly shows personality – and makes fashion and interiors such an exciting area of work.
With thanks to
www.interiorgoodsdirect.com
for this guest blog
My original replies on my thoughts on dressing rooms
some of which has appeared in the Daily Mail interiors feature on Dressing Rooms below
To me, there’s something very luxurious and glamorous about having a dressing room – do you agree? Why do you think it is? Is it our associations with showbiz etc?
Dressing rooms have an association with celebrity, glamour and 50’s style old-school Hollywood glamour in particular.
To have a dressing room also means that you are affluent or successful enough to own a large selection of clothes and accessories and also to have enough space in your home to be able to create the dressing room which is not a necessity but a luxury.
Have you worked with clients to create dressing rooms at all? Have you noticed an increase in demand?
All my female clients would like a dressing area- or a whole dressing room so that they have a separate space for their clothes to their husbands or partners. Usually I find that the man’s wardrobe space and indeed many of the wardrobes around the home have been overtaken by the wife’s clothes/shoes/coats/evening dresses etc
I created a weekly column in a magazine, quite a few years ago now, when I was regularly styling celebrities, “in the closet with….”
It was an interesting insight into the world of celebrity and how, what and where they stored their clothes….
Are dressing rooms just for very big homes/ very wealthy clients – or can they be achieved on a budget?
My whole Interior/property styling business/ethos is to create an aspirational lifestyle for my clients on the budget they can afford- however small- (cerilcampbell.com)
There are always ways of creating the look/the dressing-room/the living space you want within your budget. Its about thinking outside the box.
This is my forte.
Making the inexpensive appear expensive, and the simple look luxurious.
Have you seen or worked on any examples where space has been used creatively in this regard – for instance, a cupboard being turned into a dressing room?
yes- with clever use of room dividers, dressing areas in bathrooms, in corridors, walk-through wardrobes, walk-in wardrobes. Borrowing space from the room next door, creating a dividing area between bedroom and bathroom. Anything is possible with creativity,
What to you makes the ultimate dressing room? How can you combine practicality and luxury?
Firstly mirrors
You would be surprised how few clients have long mirrors to see how they look- (many try never to look in a mirror at all)
and mirrors to see your backview too.
Hanging space that creates logical storage and easy access to the clothes to be worn in the current weather/season.
Ie;Summer clothes in the Summer and Winter in the Winter and the rest to be stored.
rails high enough for long clothes and enough shelving for folded clothes, accessories and shoes.
My top tip is plastic or acrylic shoe boxes which can be stacked and you can see what shoes you have. I have changed many a clients life with these!
Its all about organisation
It has been said that a dressing room can add value to a property – are they quite a savvy investment in this way?
I would say that a stylish kitchen and bathroom add the most wow factor and value to a property, but I think that its often women who may help sway the decision to buy a property, so a dressing room would always be a plus point for us.Bit like Carrie in Sex and the City when she was going to get a flat with Mr Big- the flat had a walk-in closet where she could put all her shoes!
With the difficult housing market, have you noticed a trend for people making modifications to their home instead of moving/ selling – as a sort of more affordable treat?
Absolutely, especially as it is often cheaper to modify than move and also will add value.
Is it necessary to undergo serious building/ structural works to create a dressing room or can it be done more easily?
Are there any recent developments – hotels, blocks of flats, etc – which have featured dressing rooms in a way you have admired?
Dressing rooms I admire
see my board on pinterest ( ceril campbell)- “dressing room” board
Finally, any top tips for our readers looking to create a dressing room on a budget?
Find from the High st/online/charity shops/car boots etc
the following
Boxes
stack various sized attractive boxes/vintage suitcases/hatboxes for storage
arrange accessories/bags/jewellery to hang from hooks on walls
source a vintage or 2nd hand dressing table to renovate/paint/decorate to fit your dressing room theme.
find a chair or chaise longue that will make a statement in the room- maybe to re-cover with a new fabric.
A glamorous statement chandelier style light- loving the ones I have just seen at BHS press day for autumn/winter 2014
Fake or real fur cushions/rugs/throws( according to your preference)
any cushions or fabrics which are tactile and appear sexy and lush
Coloured rails for clothes
I thought it would be really useful to share this informative guest blog entry with you on stylish curtains and window dressing, and the best ways to make curtains work in your property.
Accessorising Curtains with Holdbacks and Tiebacks
Curtains are available in almost limitless variations of shape, size, colour, pattern and texture. Particular attention should be paid to your choice of curtain, since they can add huge value to a room’s character and essence. For those who opt out of investing in traditional shades or blinds for more intricately designed curtains, curtain accessories are a practical yet decorative way on holding back curtains for display purposes over general everyday use.
For some, a tieback is an afterthought, something that is not well considered since they can often be seen as boring and ordinary. This doesn’t have to be the case, they can also have fabulous designs which can enhance the look of the home’s interior and allow more light to flow into the home. As well as being extremely useful, tiebacks themselves come in many shapes and forms; ropes, hooks, rings and ties all offer something different for your window dressings.
The right curtain holdback can make the difference between an exciting window dressing and a drab one. There are many options available – no matter the budget – and it is often a case of doing research into your theme to find what has worked well previously.
So, what are the options?
Wooden Holdbacks
These holdbacks generally work well in rooms with a country or rustic theme. Usually they are either purchased unfinished to allow consumers to decorate accordingly or finished with a desired colour to enhance a room theme to help enhance a colour or style . Wooden Holdbacks enable the consumer to either holdback or loop curtains into a desired position. These are often chosen as they are free from adornments, easy to install and use. These particular holdbacks have a hand-turned or machine-turned finish, giving a muted elegance.
Metal Holdbacks
These can be directly screwed into the wall next to a curtain and can protrude five or six inches. The holdbacks these days are made from a wide range of metals – from brass, silver or steel to chrome and iron, often varying in price depending on the value of the metal, design and finish. These metal fixtures come with straight or swivelled stems and are often etched with ornate designs. Metal holdbacks are becoming increasingly popular as they provide a sleek profile that works well with contemporary curtains and are easy to install.
Fabric Tiebacks
The most popular and traditional tieback are made of fabric. They are used all over the world because they are cheap to buy, easy to install and can hold back heavier drapes. The traditional fabric tiebacks are frequently braided and include fringe tassels. This style is commonly used in formal dining rooms and receiving areas, where an air of decadence is often desired. More often than not they will be ropes or pieces of large patterned fabric.
Homemade Tiebacks
In recent years the frugal fraternity have created some innovative and interesting homemade curtain tiebacks in a bid to save money. Many of these homemade tiebacks incorporate household products, jewellery, napkin rings, floors, teddies, bandannas, old rags and clothes. There are thousands of homemade tiebacks online, so if you feel that a unique tieback is what you need for a theme just type into Google “Homemade curtain tiebacks” or take a look at this article on the 10 Creative Ways to Use Household Items As Curtain Hardware.
As you can tell there is no one-size-fits-all solution and households have the opportunity to invest in tiebacks that will not only do the job it was made for but will enhance and add to a theme as well. If you ever struggle selecting one please do ask an interior specialist, the last thing you want to do is mess up all the hard work that has gone in to decorating and creating a theme.
This post was contributed by Karl Young, a DIY and interior enthusiast on behalf of Poles Direct, a leading UK online supplier and manufacturer of high quality curtain poles and accessories, including a wide range of curtain holdbacks and tiebacks.
An Interiors feature in the Daily Mail on the Metallics trend and how to work it into your own home design.
It is simple to take a fashion or interiors trend and try it out as an accent or accessory rather than full-on straight away.
Reflective metallic fabrics, wallpapers and accessories can create opulence and luxury
whilst metals such as copper used in lighting, bathrooms and kitchens can work brilliantly in urban industrial style interiors.
I personally love mixing up textures and styles- smooth with rough, shiny with matte.
It creates a more interesting style in a home.
