Design Dilemmas
Episode 79. A podcast recap with answers to four of the most burning questions I was asked on the day - room updates, core style, trends and where to invest. Plus the Sunday Niche Edit, Nordic style.
A few weeks ago, I was asked to appear on the Style Arcades podcast to discuss interior style. There is not a lot I enjoy more than waffling on about interiors and how to build a home (not literally, but you know what I mean) so I needed no persuading to take part. I was teamed with Kamil who is the owner of North Home, an interiors hub in Leeds - we are very lacking in interior focused stores here in Yorkshire and Kamil’s four floors of home decor bliss (including a coffee and champagne bar, I KNOW) is utter heaven. We chatted with Michelle Eagleton about how to go about creating a home that works for you and the importance of curating spaces that reflect your own personality, essential when you want you home to feel, well, like YOU.
As someone who is currently renovating her own home, it reminded me that I needed to consider carefully every single thing that I am putting into the space, from wall lights to flooring through to textiles and tableware. I have talked for years about only having things in your home that you truly love, but moving from a larger space to a smaller one has rammed home to me where it is worth investing and where I can get away with not. I’ve never before had the opportunity to create a home pretty much from scratch so my head is permanently filled with ideas and working out what I can afford to incorporate and what I can’t has been an important part of this process.
Kamils store is Nordic focused and we also chatted at length about the misconception of this style alongside ‘Scandi’, both of which are often presumed to be neutral and minimal. Although it is true that both promote function and aesthetically calming spaces, there is far more to Nordic design than this. For clarity, Nordic design takes inspiration from countries including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland, while Scandinavian design refers specifically to the styles of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Nordic design is often seen as more expansive, incorporating darker woods, vibrant colours and lots of handmade, inherited craftsmanship, taking inspiration from the rugged landscapes of Iceland and Finland. Every day is a school day, hey?
Anyway, it was really fun to chat and you can watch it here, below. If you’re not a ‘watcher’, then you can also listen to it wherever you get your podcasts.
But back to business and here are the four most pertinent questions that Michelle directed at Kamil and I on the day and which we elaborated on at length, starting with what you can do to instantly switch up a room. How to focus on your own core style and where to start, plus what to invest in if you have a limited budget. And finally, how to decide which trends to incorporate into your home and which to avoid. Plus this weeks Sunday Niche Edit focuses on Nordic design.
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