Notes from the Interior Designer

Styling for a Farrow & Ball press event, working with Veevers Carter Floral Design

Charlotte Stuart started her career with Farrow & Ball and has worked with some of the interior design world’s greats. She’s known for her keen eye for colour and pattern and helping clients feel comfortable pushing the boundaries, without losing the styles they love.

Where does your love of design come from? My childhood. I credit my Grandmother for introducing me to leopard print and in the 80s I’d watch my mother rag-roll walls in warm peach. I found her black and white flagstone floor and dark raspberry drawing room magical and will always remember the effect of a designer fabric in pale blue squiggles that I’ve tried to recreate in my own study today. Through my mother I learned that no colour was off limits, you just have to work them.

What trends are prominent at the moment? We are currently stepping away from the darks – the navy blues, blacks etc. More on trend are rusty reds, deep blush pinks, ochre yellow and earthy tones. I believe this is because we are living in a time when we want to feel cocooned and secure in our homes. Social media means the interior world moves at a much faster pace and it’s almost caught up with fashion – there are clearly defined Spring and Autumn collections and a colour that dominates the runways will make it onto our walls very quickly. I remember a sell-out coat on the high street in blush pink and six months later the shade was all over our walls.

Which interior designers do you admire? I am lucky to have worked with some of the greats, including former Director of Colefax & Fowler, Imogen Taylor and queen of fabric couture Kit Kemp, Co-founder of the Firmdale Hotels group. Imogen Taylor instilled the importance of understanding a client's style and to give them support and encouragement to push boundaries. She told me firmly that you need to get to know your client’s taste and offer inspiration, encouragement and support – it’s not like buying a dress because you have to live with a paint colour for years. Ashley Hicks

Above: Sourcing suitable pieces from The Rug Company to fulfil a client’s brief

because he’s so hands on, always inventing, carving and creating specialist hand-painted finishes. Nicky Haslam isn’t afraid to rip up the rule book. In the fashion world, Tory Burch has helped change my approach to business by focusing on the importance of building a brand. And Charlotte Olympia was always my weakness in footwear.

What style rules do you share with clients? You can be stylish without always having to spend lots of money. Social media has democratised everything and you can follow people whose style inspires you and recreate something similar, simply by being resourceful. During lockdown the number of enquiries I got via Instagram increased hugely. And I’d advise anyone not to be intimidated by

interior designers. We aren’t there to rip everything out. There is no such thing as bad taste; it’s every bit as subjective as art.

Which current trends do you believe will stand the test of time? I am not sure that overall I buy into trends, but I do recognise the influence they bring. From a personal view point, I believe that anything you truly love will stand the test of time. If I had to put my money on investing in anything it would be on classic ‘brown’ furniture. It’s made with skill and craftmanship and will always hold a story. You can also get it very affordably at the moment.

Trends you’re glad history has forgotten? The Victorians over-iced the cake with their claustrophobic heavy fabrics and by adding a skirt to everything. Jumping to the 70’s we have to be very grateful that not many are a fan of the aertex ceiling and woodchip wallpaper anymore.

Above: A bespoke family kitchen designed for a classical Georgian townhouse

How do you get started with clients? Whether embarking on redecorating a room, a renovation project or a new build, I work with clients in two ways. Either by project, which is a full end-to-end interior design service tailored to the client, or by providing ad hoc consultancy. This is very popular for those who require guidance, editing and

Art is like taste – a connection means it can't be wrong to the person who cherishes it.

L-R: Enjoying a creation by The Rug Company while wearing her cherished Charlotte Olympia Kitty Shoes. A bespoke kitchen Charlotte designed with John Lewis of Hungerford. A leopard print chair captured for inspiration in Frou Frou Paris. Charlotte immersed working in colour and pattern.

Above: A Julian Chichester Countess mirror waiting to be hung in a client’s hallway. Left: Mood boards are a tool of the trade. This one was created for an editorial feature while Charlotte was at Farrow & Ball

WORDS: AMANDA MORISON. PHOTOGRAPHY : @CHARLOTTE_STUART_INTERIORS help to talk through their ideas and lead the project at their own pace and budget. Either way, before getting started I work through the client’s brief, budget, practicality and expectation of the finished look.

If you could save or install one piece in your own house what would it be? Decoratively, it would have to be architectural mouldings. I’m a massive fan of doors, architraves and a good cornice – they are the bones and finishing details to a property that are so often overlooked. From a practical point of view I would be quite keen for a hands-free vacuum cleaner that runs around after you. Do you have a life motto? You’re only as good as your last job. Life is about learning, growing and expanding and designers are constantly pivoting to expand their repertoire. Before Covid I had done very few Zoom consultations and never a virtual visit with a fabric house. I’m very aware that many of the suppliers we work with have been hugely affected by Brexit and the current situation internationally is also going to have an effect. On the upside I think these issues will make us value our home-based craftspeople even more and I believe we should be looking after the incredible talent in the UK.

So much of a designer’s value is in the research they’ve put into every choice. It’s not as straightforward as coming in with a few cushions for your sofa…

Get in touch for a friendly chat to discuss your project.

charlottestuartinteriors.co.uk @charlotte_stuart_interiors thelist.houseandgarden.com

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