As You Like It Interior Design

“How can I use lighting to create a particular mood or ambiance in a room?”

Swipe for my top tips! I’d love to hear what else you would add to my list… Got any ‘illuminating’ ideas that I’ve missed?!

As You Like It Interior Design updated their business hours.

As You Like It Interior Design updated their address.

Should you invest in good quality paintbrushes when undertaking your home decorating project?

Check out my latest blog on this topic to find out!

And while you’re there why not read about How To Choose Wooden Flooring, Is Premium Paint Worth The Extra Investment and more of my insider tips and advice too?

https://asyoulikeitinteriordesign.co.uk/blog

All good things come to those who wait...

I've been wanting to host another women's health event since the success of my last one back in 2019! And finally here it is!

In collaboration with Lift Nutrition (IG .nutrition) come and enjoy an evening of science-based nutrition and lifestyle advice, discussing all things peri-menopause and how you can help support yourself to feel better!

Painting a ceiling can be tricky - but with the right tools and technique, anyone can achieve professional-looking results. Here are a few tips to take into account before you get started:

1. Prep your space – cover the floor with dust sheets and plastic sheets.

2. Choose a good quality paint – look for one that is ideal for ceilings. Professionals usually suggest you go for the flattest finish.

3. Use an extension pole – this will keep you from having to climb up on step ladders, as well as reduce strain on your back when painting. It will also help you get a better finish.

4. Invest in a good quality roller – use one with synthetic fabric which is designed to hold more paint and spread it on smoothly.

5. Start from the edges – begin by cutting in around the edges of your ceiling with a brush, then fill in the rest with a roller. Ideally use a 3” synthetic brush for cutting in and start rolling your ceiling near a window and work away from the light. Doing this will help you avoid getting any misses.

6. Be patient – take your time when painting, don’t rush through it or you may end up with uneven coverage or drips/streaks on your finished product!

By following these tips you’ll be sure to have a uniform-looking finish that looks like it was painted by a professional!

Save this post for your next decorating project!

For help and advice on paints, colours and for The Little Greene Paint Company sample pots speak to me. And if you want to outsource the job of painting speak to S.E. Shone Ltd, Chester painters and decorators for three generations!

Season's Greetings to customers, clients and friends, old and new!

The studio will be closed from 5pm on Wednesday 21st December 2022 and reopening on Tuesday 3rd January 2023 at 9am. You can of course email me with anything urgent on [email protected] in the meantime and I'll get back to you asap.

Many thanks for your continued support and here's to many more happy years helping you with your interiors!

With warm regards, Rosalind x

From concept to reality…

Absolutely delighted with how this room is coming together! The client came to me for an informal consultation to find out how best to incorporate the Hindustan Aquamarine wallpaper by Mind The Gap into this family room.

We have paired the paper with Little Greene’s warm and earthy Yellow Pink on the walls and Whitening on the woodwork for a crisp contrast.

The Butterscotch stain-resistant velvet on this Teddy 4-seater sofa by Sofa.com works perfectly with the walls and wallpaper and will withstand whatever the family throws at it!

Next job, a rug to pull every together!

For an investment of £75 for my fee, the client benefitted not only my professional experience but also enjoyed significant savings on the products specified. What’s not to like? Contact me for help with your next interiors project…

Delighted to work with S E Shone, a family run painting and decorating business working out of Chester for 63 years… especially since they’re making serious inroads to being 100% sustainable ♻️

Now that the evenings have drawn in, you may be hankering after deep rich colours in your home to create a cocooning space. Little Greene’s Chocolate Colour is a deep brown that offers a warm alternative to black. Draw out the natural warmth of this sumptuous colour by pairing with reds such as Tuscan Red or Arras, the soft neutrals of the Rolling Fog family, or go all out and use it all over walls, woodwork and ceiling. It looks beautiful here contrasting with the mustard upholstery and the rich red of the rug.

For help and advice on how to pull this look together speak to Rosalind at As You Like It Interior Design , who can come to your home from as little as £75.

Welcome to the second installment of our mini series focussing on wooden flooring, in collaboration with . We hope this series of helpful tips will guide you into making informed choices when choosing your next wooden floor.

Do you have underfloor heating? The team at Living Floors & More are seeing a steady increase of new build homes and extensions with underfloor heating. They recommend an engineered wood floor in this case and the use of a Fidbox monitor that links to your smartphone and will monitor temperature and humidity to keep your floor in perfect condition.

Save this post for future reference and keep an eye out for our next installment coming soon.

Welcome to our mini series providing professional advice on your interiors dilemmas.

Here we have guidance from Living Floors and More LTD on choosing the perfect wooden flooring for your home. The first thing to consider, to help narrow down the plethora of options is…

What style is your home? Sleek prime grade woods, super wide planks and oversize Herringbone floors are perfect in Contemporary homes. A traditional townhouse may suit a traditional pattern floor with borders or a narrower plank floor. Country style homes look fabulous with Rustic woods, lots of knots and grain and textured finishes.

Watch out for more expert advice from Living Floors here and in the meantime check out their website : https://living-floors.co.uk or visit one of their showrooms in Chester or Wilmslow.

Reality versus perception

Most people think that interior design is mainly about mood boards and shopping but the reality is that most of our time is spent pouring over spreadsheets, project trackers and emails (as much as I hate emails it’s imperative to keep a paper trail!)

With so many moving parts to a project it’s vital that we keep on top of orders, payments, deliveries and contractors, especially at this time of year when most companies close down by mid December.

Whether it’s a simple curtain project or a full house renovation being aware of what’s happening, and when, is a time consuming yet integral part of an Interior Designer’s day to day role.

I have a number of favourite tools to help me with this, including Houzz Pro, spreadsheets, to do lists and task reminders. I have tried using Notion and Asana but can’t seem to get to grips with them - what are your favourite project management tools? Any I simply must try? Sometimes good old pen and paper just can’t fail!

Which? Best Buy 🏵

Which? tested matt emulsion paint from Dulux, Farrow & Ball, Johnstone, Little Greene and more, to find out which brand of washable paint is the easiest to clean and most durable.

Washable paint is certainly useful if any aspiring child artists decide to draw on your walls, but it's not just a good choice for families, it's ideal for anyone who wants a longer-lasting finish to their walls.

It's also a popular choice of paint in kitchens and hallways, where splash stains or scuff marks can be commonplace.

The Little Greene Paint company say Intelligent Matt combines practicality with a beautiful depth of colour. It is designed to be a completely washable alternative to traditional emulsion paint.

Through their extensive testing Which? endorses Little Greene’s Intelligent Matt Emulsion as one of the best washable paints (something I could have told them straight away!) 😉

💗 Breast Cancer Awareness Month 💗

As you may know, every year Little Greene proudly support Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

This year, they have once again partnered with four smaller charities up and down the country, each with a focus on providing invaluable support to those undergoing breast cancer treatment.

A percentage of every sale of Little Greene paint and wallpaper, and they have so far raised over £150,000 by doing so. At a time when people are struggling economically and emotionally, Little Greene’s donation will provide some personal support to help individuals and their families through a difficult time.

Order your paints and wallpapers here in the studio throughout October to support this worthy cause 💗

Have you visited yet?

Had a call from a supplier today who’d spotted the new studio on social media and asked if it was an old railway station…

The building is actually named Wheelwrights and I can only assume it was where the cart wheels used to be made before motorised farm vehicles were a thing!

Coincidentally I live in Smithy Cottage in the next village along and I like to think that the wheels from here went along there for the metal ‘tyre’ on the next stage of their production.

I love history, architecture and our beautiful country… Do you live in an old building? Do you know its history? I’d love to hear about it…

Really excited to announce our next event with Diana Spellman and her Serenely Sorted System, realistic home organisation which will help you live with less mess and less stress!

Diana is a local Chester resident and friend who created her system using skills from her corporate background in systems and process improvement, after working from home meant she couldn't cope with the piles of mess in her busy home.

Join us to hear about how you could implement realistic approaches to your busy family life!

Less Mess Stress – realistic home organisation Less Mess Stress – realistic home organisation that saves you time and gets you tidy, sorted, for life. Want a tidy home but not spend endless hours tidying? How to get started with the Serenely Sorted System - the realistic home organisation approach created by Diana Spellman - that that centres ...

“I am still learning” | Michelangelo, age 87

It doesn’t matter how in-depth your training was or how many projects you work on, there is always further knowledge, inspiration and progress to be found out there.

As a *design professional (* insert any other industry here) it is imperative to stay curious, keep abreast with advances in technology, materials and techniques, drink in spaces, landscapes and buildings, question and enquire if you’re not sure about something and ultimately be passionate about your craft.

This not only makes you feel more empowered and knowledgeable but is also a huge benefit to your clients, who won’t necessarily be aware of all the possibilities available to them when redesigning their home/office/restaurant etc.

I wasn’t really feeling in tune with my laptop today and my back wasn’t up to pouring over the design table so I gave myself over to research and inspiration! A nice cup of coffee, a comfy chair and a pile of my favourite interiors books = heaven.

In order from the top :

Love Colour | Anna Starmer
Styled | Emily Henderson
Mad About The House | Kate Watson-Smyth
Extraordinary Interiors | Jane Rockett & Lucy St George

“It’s not all plumping cushions”

Site visits should start as early as possible when instructing an interior designer as before you know it you’re being asked about finishes, fixtures, electrical layout and a lot of important decisions about how the home will function and feel once complete.

An interior designer doesn’t just help with colours and window dressings, they help hone your vision, crystallise important decisions about functionality and have lots of tips and tricks around storage, room use and layout.

On top of this their fee can often be offset against the savings they can help achieve not just sourcing at trade prices but also by avoiding costly mistakes and thinking of ways to future proof the design.

So, whether you’re still in the planning stages or already living with a building site, give serious consideration to employing an interior designer to help you create your dream home. It’s an investment you simply won’t regret!

Let’s talk about floors… baby, let’s talk about you and me… designing your very own bespoke rug 😉

The Rug Story have six rug designs of cut and loop texture, three different yarn compositions as well as 127 colour options!

It can be hard finding that perfect finishing piece for your room and when you’ve exhausted the usual avenues then bespoke can be a wonderfully unique option.

Choose your size, design and colour palette et voila! Perfection 👌🏼

View all 127 colours and 3 different yarns in the studio with me today and let’s get creative!

Birthday girl...

It's my special day today! 47 years young... Which means I have exactly 3 years left to organise THE 50th birthday celebrations to end all celebrations 🍾🥂

I'm spending today with a wonderful group of friends so am really looking forward it, especially since I haven't had to organise it and only need to turn up...

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend whatever you're doing!