Ever since I started working as an interior designer people have been asking me “what’s your style?” I dread this question, particularly if it comes from a potential customer or a journalist as the reality is I don’t have one and I worry this makes me sound flaky. Maybe one day when I’m an internationally famous and fabulously rich designer (cue giggling and pig snort) I will develop a trademark style that is instantly recognizable and much sought after. But right now I genuinely like working with and can appreciate all styles of décor if they work. In fact I find that if I’ve been doing a lot of one style I start missing others. Right now I’m itching to rock a bit of 70’s retro but I might need to look outside Cumbria for that..
Having said all that I have noticed a trait starting to appear in my work, the interior design UFO. The unexpected final object. I can’t resist finishing off a room with a little surprise. It’s usually something personal to the room owner and/or a bit quirky, without being out of place or tacky. The feeling I get when customers spot it and chuckle is deeply satisfying as I’ve made them laugh. For them the design instantly becomes unique and they will get the same enjoyment I get when their visitors spot the UFO and chuckle.
Here’s some couple of my recent UFO’s
‘Ear protection must be worn’ sign in a young boys bedroom – he likes to play the drums. Signs like this are not expensive and easily available from companies that supply factories and construction companies.
Pub wall sign in traditional Cumbrian dialect. Joe Fagan is the pub landlord and a true Cumbrian. The sign means no spitting, no shouting, no fighting.
The customer loved these tap towel hooks so much we put them in all 3 of her bathrooms!
Personalised selfie coasters ordered from Snapfish using photos downloaded from the customers Facebook page
Custom made time zone clocks in my own kitchen. Mr W is often in New York or Europe so it helps me figure out if I can call him without waking him up!
So maybe the UFO will become my trademark, and photographs of my work will become the interior design version of where’s Wally, who knows. Or maybe I’ll just continue to sound flaky until I’m rich and famous, and possibly beyond…..
Another quick chicken count before I sign off. Unfortuntely we are now down to 5. Victoria Peckham recovered from her run in with Finlay the spaniel but Beate is MIA presumed dead. It’s made the remaining ladies very nervous and they now roam around my garden and the neighbouring fields together watching each others backs. It won’t be for long though. Harold is making me a new chicken coop so next week I’m off chicken shopping to fill it and restore egg production at Holly Cottage. I’m thinking about silkies – look how cute they are – pom pom chickens!
