Best of: DIY Christmas Decorations

By Richard Croft, CC BY-SA 2.0 If you have a spare afternoon in the run-up to the festivities I can heartily recommend putting on your favourite Christmas movie, gathering a pile of snacks and settling down for a few hours of relaxed crafting. Because there’s nothing quite like making your own decorations to add that…

Christmas Gift Guide for Interior Design Lovers

This article was originally written for the December issue of The Bath Magazine. I’ve posted an edited version here for those of you not based in Bath. A Christmas gift list for the interior design enthusiasts in your life! Featuring options from high street shops, online specialists and designer boutiques, there’s something to cover every…

Statement Wallpaper in the Bathroom

Image: Clair Strong Interior Design A bold and bright graphic print will instantly transform any space. So if you want to turn a functional space – such as the bathroom – into a beautiful one, wallpaper is your best tool. It may seem strange using wallpaper in the bathroom; paper and moisture are not a…

Tips for a Happier, Healthier Home

Image: Clair Strong Interior Design There’s no time like now – the season of colds and flu – to think about the ways in which we can make our homes healthier. Here are some simple tips for creating a happy, healthy home environment. Get on board with the houseplant trend Plants are good for your…

Small Kitchen Savers

Image: Clair Strong Interior Design If your small kitchen feels cluttered and claustrophobic, it’s time to make some changes. If an extension or a full kitchen refit isn’t on the cards, simply finding ways to use the space more efficiently can create a functional kitchen you’ll love to cook in. Here are some clever tricks…

High-End High Street

Champagne interior design on a sparkling wine budget; here are five homeware collections blurring the line between high street and high-end. Zara Home Zara Home AW/17 Zara has always had the ability to make high street clothing look high fashion. Now they’ve turned that talent to homewares with a large range of furniture and accessories…

The Best of: Smart Home Gadgets

Google Home If you want to make your home more organised, more eco-friendly or just a little lower maintenance, check out these incredible smart home gadgets. Nest Learning Thermostat The Nest Learning Thermostat is widely regarded as the very best smart thermostat money can buy. It self-controls hot water and heating based on your usage,…

Bert’s Boxes: Modular Living Spaces

I’ve long been a fan of Bert & May. The company started out in Spain selling beautiful reclaimed tiles. Now they’re known for their handmade artisan tiles, engineered wood, natural pigment paints, furniture, bathroom fittings, kitchens and… modular living spaces. From selling reclaimed tiles in the countryside of Spain to designing and building prefab homes…

Embracing Excess: Maximalism in 2017

Image: Clair Strong Interior Design Maximalism is a movement of excess. It’s a direct reaction against the simplicity and function-focused philosophy of minimalism. It’s a bold and daring design aesthetic that takes the motto ‘more is more’ and adds sequins to it. If you’re left a little cold and uninspired by minimalism, maximalism is the…

Design Inspiration from… Iceland

Image source: Guðný Hafsteinsdóttir Iceland has been a go-to destination for intrepid travellers for some time now; the thrilling landscapes and unpredictable elements drawing crowds at any time of year. But this mysterious Nordic nation is popular for other reasons too. A close neighbour of Scandinavia, Iceland has a design scene as exciting as Sweden…