Journal

If you've ever watched a home renovation show and thought "I could do that" — you're not alone. And honestly, the best ones are brilliant at capturing the excitement of transformation - I love them too! But there's a version of interior design that television has created which bears very little resemblance to what a professional designer actually does day to day. That gap matters — particularly if you're about to spend a significant amount of money renovating your home. What

Renovation is emotionally demanding — I've written about that before, and it's something I see in every project I work on. But alongside the emotional experience, there are some very practical things that catch people off guard. Not because they haven't done their research, but because they're rarely talked about until you're already in the middle of them. These are the three I come back to most often. 1. It takes longer than you think. Even well-planned projects with experie

Renovating a home is exciting! It’s also one of the most emotionally demanding things many people do — and very few expect that. Over the years, both personally and professionally, I’ve seen how even well-prepared homeowners can feel overwhelmed partway through a project. Not because anything has gone wrong — but because renovation asks a lot of you. There are long periods of waiting. Moments of doubt. Decision fatigue. Living with disruption for months at a time. These thing

Before any renovation begins — before layouts, finishes or building works — there’s one step I often encourage clients to consider first: creating space through decluttering . Over the years, I’ve worked alongside professional declutterers on several renovation projects, and I’ve seen first-hand how powerful this stage can be. Decluttering before renovation helps clients feel calmer, more focused, and far better prepared for the decisions that come with change. To explore thi

Lighting is one of the simplest ways to change how a space feels. It shapes atmosphere, enhances colour, and quietly supports our sense of wellbeing. I often think of it as the emotional undercurrent of a room — something you might not consciously notice when it’s right, but that changes everything when it’s not. Yet standing in front of a wall of light bulbs, faced with numbers and jargon, can feel anything but calming. Understanding just a few basics makes it much easier to

Designing with Nature to Support Calm and Wellbeing There’s a reason we feel restored after a walk in the woods or find ourselves breathing more deeply when we sit by the sea. Nature has a rhythm that steadies us. Yet most of us spend our days inside, surrounded by flat walls, artificial light, and synthetic surfaces. That’s why I believe in bringing the outdoors in — weaving natural elements into our interiors so our homes feel calmer, more alive, and more connected to the w

When I created our home office— Runner Up in the Ufurnish Awards —I wasn’t just trying to make it pretty. I wanted to create a space that supported me emotionally, mentally, and practically. Something that felt like me , but also worked on the most ordinary days.   Now that so many of us are working from home—whether it’s five days a week or just one or two—it’s time we stopped settling for a spare chair and a corner of the kitchen table. You don’t need a big house or a full