Flippa Interiors

Last week I attended Ideasfest and am still buzzing from it! Designed for entrepreneurs, whether fledgling or established, it featured a fabulous line up of diverse and inspiring speakers and focuses on creating new connections. I really loved hearing Emma Sayle from Killing Kittens, Andrew D'Souza who created 'Boardy', a Social AI that helped all the people visiting the event to match up with a buddy, and Amelia Sordell who talked about her journey setting up Klowt.

I'm constantly keen to learn and grow and the vibrant blend of knowledge-sharing and fun left me feeling supported and inspired. I'll be back next year and should you run a business I really encourage you to look this up! x

Images from a recent project - a modern townhouse in St Clements Oxford. We worked with the client and recommended they move their kitchen into this new space at the rear of the house (formerly the living room) and install large Crittal windows. This gave them more room, allowing us to design a snug area, whilst also including a generously sized dining table. The dopamine inducing colour scheme has worked brilliantly and the clients have told us how much joy their new space is bringing them. x

Ever wondered why we respond to colour as we do? If it's a subject that fascinates you as much as it does me, then I highly recommend the book I'm currently reading for work. 'The Colour Code' by Paul Simpson explains how colour codes underlie everything and looks at how eleven key colours have shaped our evolution, persuaded us in politics and culture and allowed us to express or oppress personal freedoms.

In the studio we start each new project with a client by exploring their colour psychology and style preferences with our in-depth questionnaire. This invaluable insight helps guide us to design a space that truly reflects their personal style. This dark blue living room is a north facing and largely only used at night for relaxing and entertaining. Here dark blues and greens work perfectly in this setting and at night create a cosy, cocooned feel.

I am SUPER EXCITED to have won a place to attend the IDEAS FEST and can't wait to share my vision for changing interior design in the workplace with the entrepreneurs and movers and shakers who will be attending the festival. At Flippa Interiors, we specialise in transforming commercial spaces into comfortable, residential-inspired environments, or 'resimercial' as we call it. This picture is from a series taken of one of our recent office projects. The company needed to find a way to bring employees back into the office and part of our brief was help promote conversation and connectivity, which we did via a series of chill out zones that also doubled as impromptu meeting and work spaces too.

What's your happy place?

Mine is very definitely a wonderful mix of family, friends and dancing! Here's a few gorgeous moments from the last few months - a raucous hen party with wonderful women and the lovely hen, the Hans Zimmer vs John Williams open air concert, my eldest son's graduation (I was bursting with pride and love) , watching the tea dancing in Blackpool and a riotous night out at Henley Festival with friends. I'd love to know what are your happy places? x

Take a look at this amazing waterproof wallpaper. We adored the charming design, 'English Garden' from with its elegant colours which worked so beautifully with the terrazzo from . The ensuite was part of a much bigger presentation for a summer house on a client's estate.

All the wallpapers from Italian company, London Art, can be made waterproof by printing onto a fibre glass base, which due to their special manufacturing process, make it waterproof. The wallpaper has an embossed surface, like a slub fabric and comes in two waterproof finishes - one for areas that need frequent cleaning and are subject to wear, such as kitchens and the other is specifically for wet spaces with flowing water, such as shower interiors, basin splashbacks etc.

Would you use waterproof wallpaper? x

I had such a fun networking trip to Beckonscot model village with the Tourism South East group. It brought back lovely memories of going there as a child and then later with my own children. The model village is the world's oldest, and, as an interior designer I loved looking at the 1930s styled buildings. There is a new cafe, and the miniature railway continues to be a big attraction. As the summer holidays start it was a timely reminder of one of the attractions in our area.

We just loved The Pure Edit and their 'relaxed home furnishings that are serious about the planet'. Their timeless beautiful designs cover fabric, wallpaper, paint, curtains, blinds (both ready made and made to order), cushions, bedding and furniture. Their ranges are considered at every step – from natural and recycled materials to our carefully chosen partners and low-impact processes. For example, their sofas and chairs are foam free and made from a combination of natural latex, coconut and fibres produced from recycled bottles whilst their bedding is made from 100% linen or organic cotton. Take a look at their beautiful website for more inspiration www.thepureedit.com

A supplier visit from German company JAB with their range of fabrics and floorings. As I'm speccing for a client with large bifold doors it was good to see this range of wonderful light curtains in such a broad spectrum of colours. I also loved the range of more muted recycled linens, which would be ideal for patio door curtains, and I loved the rugs from their Light and Shade collection which are 100% wool and so deliciously chunky and tactile. x

Our clients, a retired couple, who have lived abroad for periods of their working lives, have recently bought a modern house and wanted help marrying together their favourite pieces of furniture from their time in Asia, with their modern property. Previously, the couple had favoured blue colour schemes but they were keen to try something new, and they especially loved this rug from Singapore, so we used this as our starting point. The result is a is calm and relaxing sitting room which perfectly compliments their treasured pieces of furniture and art works.

I really enjoyed my day at the Interior Design and Architecture Summit at the Hilton Hotel in Canary Wharf, London and it was great to see a few familiar faces. The event was a whirlwind of innovation and inspiration, akin to speed dating for suppliers, punctuated with some of the most insightful seminars I have heard in a long while.

The opening presentation on 'The Pitching Process – Designing the Bathroom at WOW!House 2024' was a standout, offering a glimpse into the future of luxury bathroom design. The seminar on AI's role in interior design, presented by Wren Loucks, delved into the creative benefits and potential risks of this emerging technology. The 'Designing for GenZ' panel, hosted by Sophie Harper, was a forward-thinking discussion that addressed the preferences and values of the upcoming generation, ensuring our designs remain relevant and engaging.

I particularly enjoyed networking with industry leaders like Emily Hunt from House of Rohl and exploring their WOWHouse installation, which featured a bath large enough for nine. Other stand-outs included Prestige Bedrooms' bespoke wardrobes, BoConcept's durable Danish designs, bespoke lighting solutions from Dernier & Hamlyn, Bella Figura, eco-conscious flooring from 2tec2, innovative bathroom designs from Grohe Ltd and HEWI UK LTD, Otto Tiles and Design's exquisite handmade tiles and marble flooring.

The opportunity to network with peers and discuss future collaborations was invaluable. This summit not only provided a platform for discovering cutting-edge products and designs but reaffirmed the importance of our work in shaping living spaces that resonate with personality and purpose. I'm really looking forward to implementing these insights into my projects and pushing the boundaries of interior design.

PHOTO CREDIT: House of Rohl
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This week Hannah and I managed to slip away from the studio to whet our creative juices at WOW!house 2024 in the Design Centre at Chelsea Harbour. Built within the Design Avenue, WOW!house is a one-of-a-kind showhouse covering 500 sqm and featuring 19 full-size rooms and outdoor spaces. Each room or outdoor space has been designed by 20 world-class interior designers, working in collaboration with globally recognised design brands and incredible suppliers and we have to say we found Wow!house truly inspirational. This year's rooms have a distinctly architectural feel and ceilings (the 5th wall) are given wonderful treatments, whilst the palettes tend towards ochres, greens and blues.

Here are a few snippets from our visit - but if you'd like to see the best of the best at work producing some truly inspirational spaces then Wow!house is open until 4 July.

Through the key hole!!! Have you ever wondered what an interior designers house looks like? Well, I'm selling my house and here's a link to brochure.

https://lnkd.in/eXWSWPfU
https://lnkd.in/eqnCYe2c

Over the years we've made some significant changes to this beautiful 1907 Arts and Crafts house but always sensitively. My love of entertaining and dancing has really influenced my design decisions. There's a big emphasis on spaces that are multi-functional, for example, the flooring in the garden room is actually professionally sprung for dancing but you wouldn't know it when you're curled up on the sofa enjoying the view of the garden; the open fire and chairs in the large entrance lobby are great space for parties, and I designed the top floor room as my design studio for me and my team, but with a generous space and large shower room ensuite it would make a great master bedroom or den for teenagers for the next owners. x

Desperately sad to hear about the death of Michael Moseley. He and his work literally changed my life for the better.

Two and a half yrs ago I started his online Fast800 diet and exercise program. Since then I have lost 2 stone, become the healthiest and fittest I’ve ever been in my life and recovered quicker from a severed arm and been in a better place to be able to live with osteopenia (low bone density).

I’ve loved listening to his fascinating ‘just one thing’ podcasts on my car journeys and always learn something new.

Thank you Michael for sharing such valuable information and learnings to the masses in an easy accessible and friendly way, that have helped change people’s lives for the better.

RIP

metro.co.uk

This year I made a promise to myself to take regular breaks and ACTUAL holiday! Being self employed and loving my job means in the past I've not booked any annual leave. But I have realised everyone's batteries need recharging and short breaks away, whilst my capable team run the studio, mean I can come back feeling refreshed and recharged.

I had a fabulous long weekend in Budapest - my second time visiting this wonderful city and I highly recommend it as a European city break. The flight isn't long, the vibe is relaxed and fun and there are great places to eat and wonderful architecture. You can see just how happy I looked reading the cake menu! x

Choosing colours can be SO tricky! That's why over the years we have developed a very in-depth and sophisticated colour and style questionnaire for our clients.

If you'd love some help in this area, then I think this Ideal Home article - it's a quick read but gives really excellent information and advice, will help anyone wanting to bring more colour into their home and wondering how to go about it. x

https://www.idealhome.co.uk/all-rooms/all-rooms-decor/colour-rules-interior-designers-swear-by

Knowing and understanding exactly what an interior designer can do for you can be unclear if you've never worked with one before. Read our in-depth blog to find out why you should hire an interior designer for your project - whether it's a residential or commercial one.

https://www.flippainteriors.co.uk/blog

Anyone else been feeling a bit low on energy this week? Others have mentioned to me that they've been feeling sapped of energy. Maybe there's something in the air.

Sometimes it's the small things that can make all the difference to help me feel better. For me, this week it's catching a glimpse of my Weigela's beautiful blossom outside my office window.

How's everyone else feeling? Is there anything you've found that helps lift you? x

At Flippa Interiors, we transform visions into vivid realities. A lovely client recently said this quote in our presentation and it truly encapsulates our mission. We strive to bring clarity to our creations, allowing you to experience the design, not just imagine it. Your brief and dreams, seamlessly translated into design—that's the promise we deliver with every project.

I've always been known as being cheeky, so I coudn't resist!
More fun in Madrid.

Just back from an amazing week away in Madrid. It was my first time visiting this wonderful city and I can honestly say it had so much to do and see. Despite some pretty cold weather (only 9 degrees some days during the day) we enjoyed the food (tapas was delicious), culture and sites and managed to get outside the city on a day trip to visit Avila, Segovia and Toledo (the original capital of Spain) which has the most magnificent cathedral I've ever seen. If anyone's heading off there soon and fancies some tips on places to eat, things to do just drop me a message! x

It's wonderful to get images of our finished projects but not always possible. So so we were delighted to receive not only a great review but also a photograph of a finished room from one of our recent remote design consultation clients.

They approached us because were really unhappy with their living room and unsure how to go about making it work for them. The space had too many functions and they felt it lacked character. Working together, it became clear the room should become an evening room for both socialising as well as cosy TV watching as a family. Our design features colours that work especially well in the evenings, creating a convivial and warm atmosphere.

Take a look at the before and after photo to see the transformation!

My new love!!

This slubby linen from Warwick Fabrics is just gorgeous to use. It's soft and ever so slightly see through making it fabulous for any setting where you need to let the light in whilst still maintaining privacy and bringing a real softness to a scheme. Another way to use this would to be to combine it with a coloured lining, which could lovely in a bedroom where you would like to fully block out light. x

PHOTO CREDIT: Warwick Fabrics

Take a peek over an interior designer's shoulder to see how some of the day is spent. Hannah and I found this gorgeous wallpaper 'Eden' (you can it in the bottom right of the second picture), from Graham & Brown, and it was the starting point and inspiration for this entire scheme. Other fabrics come from Prestigous Textiles, Harlequin and Warwick Fabrics will be used for cushions, piping, curtains, upholstery. This sample tray for our client will be worked upon until we find just the right combination.

The couple we are working for are brave with colour and loved this print when we presented it to them. This scheme has been designed for their open plan kitchen diner and we can't wait for the end result. x

I really enjoyed my visit to the Delphian Gallery in London to look at thought-provoking exhibition ‘The Way of All Flesh’ which takes the viewer on an immersive journey exploring the human form, the ephemeral nature of life, and the connection between our physical body and the spirit within.

The Delphian Gallery are worth watching - an artist run, nomadic galllery and arts platform that aim to show the most captivating and challenging work by emerging and early career artists. X

Take a look at Sweet Embrace - the Dulux Colour of the Year 2024. Its delicate pink is welcoming and evokes feelings of comfort and assurance. It's a metameric colour - which means that at different times of the day different shades are highlighted. In this picture Sweet Embrace has been teamed with Peanut Butter for a modern look in this home office space.

We like this warm colour - but is this a marmite colour? Anyone a real lover or hater of pink? x

IMAGE CREDIT: Dulux

This week's Flippa Loves returns to one of our favourite suppliers, ILIV. We really enjoy the creativity of design led fabrics and love to see each new season's collections.

ILIV was launched in 2013 and over the past decade has become the UK's fastest growing premium, interior fabric brand. Known for designing a wide array of looks, ILIV collections range from traditional English florals to contemporary and eclectic designs which is one of the reasons we love them so much. Much of their range are also suitable for the contract fabrics which has made designing for commercial spaces so exciting in recent years. We really liked the LUXORIA range.

Today is International Women's Day, a day to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women around the world. As an all-women interior design company, this is an important day for me and my team. I am proud to be part of a creative and diverse industry that values women's talents and perspectives. I am also grateful to have a supportive and inspiring network of women who have helped me grow and thrive in my careers and lives.

I want to take this opportunity to thank some of the amazing women who have inspired us, made us laugh, helped us become better people and have kept us going when things have been tough. These are just some of the names that come to mind, but there are many more: Nicole Farah, Sophie Sinkinson, Hannah Jones, Kate McNab, Pamela Bamford, Carol Wood, Carol Lloyd, Terri Connor, Sam Sylvester, Maria Score, Lisette Hellegeson, Ange Wilkinson, Karine Loridon, Celynn Morin, Kathy Quinlan-Perez, Tracey Miller, Kate Hatherell, Jane Fryatt, Jayne Johnson, Helen Parsons, Kate Cooper, Siobhan Brookes, Suezanne Murray-King, Cathy Dunbabin, Sonia Kearns, Kerry Gudim, Valerie Savarie, Sonata Saric, Susie Mollison, Courtney H***h, Bettina Wicks, Neolani Oliver, all the ladies from PSI, and of course the women in my family and especially my amazing supportive mum.

You are all amazing and I appreciate you so much. Happy International Women's Day!

French supplier of fabrics, wallpapers and rugs Pierre Frey came to visit us yesterday and are definitely this week's Flippa Loves.

As the main French company in the home textiles sector, Pierre Frey is also a family business with a history of passion for interior decoration that has been handed down for three generations. We love their products but especially loved this handmade linen embroidery which reinterprets work by 18 year old artist Emily Jackson. Its richness and playfulness is so intoxicating. x

Receiving this review was an excellent end to an exciting week. One in which we won a 'Best of Houzz' 2024 award for Customer Service, connected with two new clients, AND received this glowing review from a commercial client. This is just a snippet of what they said.

We were thrilled to hear how much our 'resimercial' office design has drastically improved their workplace. At Flippa Interiors we specialise in transforming commercial spaces into comfortable, residential-inspired environments, which we've termed ‘resimercial’ interior design. If you're intrigued take a look at our website and our commercial case studies to see how gorgeous commercial interiors can look.