6 minute read
At home with Charlotte Turner
High-end interior designer Charlotte Turner has a relentless passion for turning houses into homes. She creates timeless, custom interiors that can be enjoyed practically, while also achieving the wow factor. Most of Charlotte’s clients remain confidential, but she specialises in creating luxury residential homes across the UK, priding herself on her designs that result in long-standing client relationships. She talks to Lynda Clark about her career, her long-term plans and gives some advice on how to decorate a home on a budget
Photos: Mike Prior
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FTB: Have you taken that first step on the property ladder?
CT: At the moment I am renting, but I will soon be house hunting for a home around the Cheshire area, which is very exciting. I was living in a two bedroom apartment in Altrincham, but I needed more space for my office. I am now renting a four bedroom house, which is lovely and actually costs the same in rent as the apartment did! I can also have my little dog, Hennessey, live here with me – life just wouldn’t be the same without my pet.
FTB: How did you start in the world of interiors?
CT: I was an avid viewer of Changing Rooms on the BBC when I was younger and was constantly re-decorating my bedroom. My poor mum had to live with lime green walls and once I painted it with navy blue spots! Eventually I did my degree in interior design, but a lot of what we did was for commercial properties and I have always been interested in working in residential homes. Actually, my lecturer told me there was no money to be made in residential, which of course is quite wrong! I needed to get some work experience and a friend had contacts in an interiors company in Alderley Edge and they offered me a position. I started right at the bottom and worked on things like organising 50 shades of white samples and getting them in order. It was very good grounding though, and eventually
I was offered my own project in Chigwell. I had to learn quickly and at that time a lot of the girls were on maternity leave so I was pretty much on my own. I learnt how to deal with suppliers and all about deadlines, which are very important. It was a great job and I was lucky enough to travel as well and went to Paris for the furniture exhibition and to Milan – it was very exciting.
FTB: What happened next?
CT: I decided that I had learnt everything I needed to and decided to start out on my own. It was a big decision, but looking back I think it was completely the right one. I have been running my own business now for four years and it’s going extremely well – it’s called Statement Interiors.
FTB: Tell us about some of the work you have been doing
CT: Most of my clients are very confidential. I have recently been working on the new interior for the fabulous and very wellknown restaurant in Manchester called Rosso. It’s in a Grade II listed building and is really stunning. I must admit I was a little nervous to start, but they really loved my design scheme and it was great fun to work on. Everywhere you look is perfect for taking photographs and I call it the “Kodak moment”, so I had to make every angle work. The ladies’ loos are sensational and all the girls want to take selfies there as it’s so opulent and special. I got inspiration from the paintings in the Sistine Chapel in Rome and painted little cupids on the ceiling. It was during the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, so I decided to paint all the cupids in different races – it really does look so unusual. The restaurant has received rave reviews, with a renowned food critic stating, “It’s out-Mayfairing Mayfair” – I am very proud.
FTB: What are your plans for the future?
CT: I am hoping to go over to Los Angeles next year and build up my brand recognition and do some networking. I know a few people there, which will help as they can introduce me to some key people and hopefully it will lead on to exciting things.
FTB: What advice do you have for first time buyers to create a beautiful interior to their home?
CT: I love neutral colours and think you can’t go wrong if you stick to a palette of creams, taupe and off-whites and then add a splash of colour. You can achieve this with some bright scatter cushions or abstract art on the walls. I have recently been experimenting and buying a blank canvas from somewhere like Hobbycraft and then just literally splashing colourful paint on to it – it’s so easy and looks amazing and it is vital and I ensure that everything is delivered on time and on the date I want it, so things don’t get out of hand. I usually ask my clients to stay away from their home during the installation week and when they come back and see for themselves what has been done, the impact and the wow factor gives them the full experience. I just want my clients to be happy, and the best compliment I ever get is that they trust me and often ask me to come back to design another room or they recommend me – my work is extremely important to me and I truly love it.
costs very little too! I also love adding some texture to the room by using faux fur for glamour, leather, timber, marble or suede – it breaks up the space and is also very tactile. Another trick is to use coffee table books in lots of colours as they look very effective piled up and you can pick some up really cheaply in charity shops or car boot sales. If you want, you can buy a book stand and display an open book at a colourful page and then you can change the page every day so you get a different look all the time. Glass vases, or jars with fake oranges, lemons or limes in them, work very well in the kitchen to give a focal point to the room. Scented candles are also a must and again they are quite inexpensive from places like Zara Home or H&M Home Collection.
FTB: What is the secret to your success?
CT: I am obsessed with my work and take my laptop everywhere I go. Being organised
