Merci was opened in an old 19th century wallpaper factory in March 2009 by Bernard and Marie-France Cohen, founders of BONPOINT the children’s fashion label. Since then this concept store has become one of the biggest shopping sensations in Paris. Located on Boulevard Beaumarchais right in the heart of the trendy Marais area of Paris,…

It’s no secret that the property market is a bit bonkers at the moment. House prices are high, saving for a deposit is a mammoth task, and when you’re actually in a position to buy, properties sell quicker than hot cakes. You may be lucky enough to be reaping the benefits, but for many, the…

Image copyright Clair Strong Interior Design Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas break. Today I’d like to talk about resolutions, and what you can do to make your home even more enjoyable, productive and relaxing this year. I love January; it’s a month of new beginnings and exciting opportunities. It’s…

Image copyright Clair Strong Interior Design Glass is a wonderfully versatile material and there are many different types – some of which are highly specialised. It can be used in both the architecture (windows, doors, walls, stairs) and interior design (ornaments, mirrors, furniture) of your home, which makes it a designer’s favourite. I find glass…

Back in November I wrote about lighting trends – that post was all about the aesthetics but today I’d like to talk about more practical matters. Where, how and why you use lighting is just as important to the final look of a room as the shape and style of a lampshade. You can choose…

Image source: Wikimedia Commons It’s officially December and we all know what that means… It’s time to deck the halls! In a departure from the usual riot of tinsel, baubles and glitter, I’m edging towards a more Scandinavian scheme this year. I love the blend of natural materials and modern elements in a soothing yet…

Image copyright Clair Strong Interior Design It seems to be undeniable that our world is getting smaller. By that I mean take just one look in any estate agent’s window and you will see that we are paying even higher premiums for even smaller spaces these days. Consequently as our world shrinks our demand for…

Reception desk by Steve McIlveen for my recent office design project at Good Energy in Wiltshire For a small island, Britain certainly has a lot of talent. I’ve been following the handmade trend for several years now and it’s been a real pleasure to see local designers and craftspeople make their mark in a mass-produced…

Image copyright Clair Strong Interior Design Wallpaper is back, and this time it looks set to stick around! As a lover of pattern, I am thrilled. Paint is fantastic but unless you hire an extremely talented artist you can’t create quite the same effect as wallpaper in your room design. Like me, you probably have…

Image copyright Clair Strong Interior Design Distinctly bohemian yet surprisingly elegant, ikat has been inspiring new and unusual interior design ideas for a few years now. I’m particularly enthused by this trend because like tie-dye and tartan it has a long and fascinating history. Very complicated dyeing and weaving techniques are used to create the…