all want to be somewhere harmoniously pleasing, cosy and
From there I was spoilt for choice for pioneering women –
charming at the moment.
for instance Lady Penrose is named after local Lee Miller, a
In The Garden, Eleanor is the design that encapsulates my garden the most. It shows Roses, Geraniums, and Californian
famous War Photographer, while Cleo depicts a myriad of bugs and beetles and is named after Cleopatra!
that I drew before I painted them. To create this, I picked
What’s your advice for someone searching for design inspiration?
the flowers and laid them out onto a sheet of a paper, then I
Just keep your eyes open. Wherever you are, or whatever you
painted by their side, catching as much as possible all their
are doing, you are always surrounded by inspiration. Whether
quirks and beautiful shapes. I allowed the watercolours
that is speaking as Designer to Designer, or to a consumer
to puddle and pool and mix fluidly with each other. It’s
looking for inspiration for their Interior style.
poppies. They create a soft stripe, falling onto the outlines
delightful that with modern digital printing, I can capture all that on the wallpaper.
As a designer there are always many art galleries and exhibitions to choose from as well as magazines and social
The design is named after Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of the US
media. Occasionally if I feel a lack of inspiration, I’ll go take
President during and after WW2. However, she was far more
my dog, Rocket, for a walk down in the woods near the
than simply a first lady- after his death she campaigned for
studio and seek inspiration from the natural world around
civil rights and represented the US at the United Nations.
us, and clear headspace. Be aware of what’s going on in the broader world of design around you as well. How are the
In fact, all the designs in The Garden have female names. This
graphics on adverts changing? Is there any particular styles
started with my admiration for Marianne North, a Victorian
coming through in TV and film? Look at the fashion trends
botanical artist who travelled the world, even going up
for these as well – they follow through into interiors within a
the Amazon! The design Marianne features botanical style
year or so. You need to be a big sponge, be receptive to the
flowers, falling onto a ground that also show skeleton floral
creative stimuli around you.
shapes. While I have created a traditional mixed colour floral on cream - the more contemporary colourings of the design
As for the consumer, these days there are so many good
are on Black, sky Blue and an Oyster Beige.
places to find top tips for your styling- start with Instagram or
“People believe you have to be brave to use wallpaper. I disagree”
wallpaperdirect.com
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