Tuesday 28 January 2014

The Great Interior Design Challenge...

Well. Did you see it??!

I am still reeling from it all to be honest, but I would love you to indulge me just a little bit further...


Firstly, I cannot express how much I LOVED every single second of this whole adventure. Really. I totally totally loved it and just didn't want it to end! It was one of the most exhausting, exciting and exhilarating things I have ever done. I was totally in my element, and ended up being very proud of what I achieved.


A lot of comments on twitter throughout the series have been about Design vs. Decorating/Styling. I have nothing to compare what I did to - I am probably one of the least experienced of all the contestants - my only experience of designing (decorating?!) is doing my own home. I love to collect. I love visiting vintage shops and finding a piece that catches my eye. And I love to buy work from small, independent designers - most of whom I have met through facebook or twitter! There is an abundance of incredible, original talent out there. Anyway, I buy what I love. So, this collecting, it takes time. And it is always only for me. I have never had a time schedule to finish anything, nor have I ever decorated (designed?!) for anybody else. So this certainly was a challenge...



Paula and Johnny, my gorgeous 'opponents' in my round are both currently studying different aspects of Interior Design, as were a lot of other contestants. Me? Well, when they said we had to produce a mood board I panicked as I had never even seen a mood board, let alone create one before! I literally googled 'how to do a mood board' and so every single step of the way was a huge (but enjoyable) learning curve.


But, spending someone else's money? Wow, now that was brilliant. Working to someone else's brief? That took time to get my head around. I saw wallpapers, fabrics, curtains, lamp shades that I fell in love with, but had to keep reminding myself that I wasn't designing for me, it was for Bev. That was difficult to do. I think in the end, I probably played it quite safe, but in the whole process I wanted to give Bev a room that she loved, and would enjoy living in. And I am thrilled to say that I know I achieved that.


So no, I don't believe I 'designed' a room. I styled Bev's room, I decorated Bev's room, and I loved every minute. But no, I didn't design anything - and that is what this process has taught me. Paula and Johnny designed their rooms, but I was SO privileged to have been chosen to feature on this programme alongside these talented Designers that that is what I am taking away with me. Not many people get an opportunity like this and for that I am extremely grateful.



I met some truly wonderful people. Everyone behind the scenes - well, I think I fell a little bit in love with each and every one of them. They worked SO incredibly hard, the amount of effort that goes into something like this is phenomenal and they are a massively talented bunch of people. I want to say a huge thank you to all of them, especially my 'boys' - Dickie, Scott and Charlie, who were just wonderful. Also Marianne, Sarah and Emma, you were just the loveliest. Sophie and Dan - thank you for all your constructive advice, I really hope that I have taken it on board with my current work. Please don't underestimate what these guys did, not just for me, but for the whole series. Hours, days, months of really hard graft.


All I did was paint a few walls and make some cushions. I had the easy part!

xxx


22 comments:

  1. I loved your room! So many gorgeous details. The giraffe cushion was especially lovely.

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    1. Thank you so much Denise!! Hope you are well?? xxxx

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  2. loved it too. my favourite was the ottoman. Well done Helen - you are incredible xx

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    1. Thank you so much Carmel, what a lovely thing to say xxx

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  3. That was a really lovely and charming summary of your adventure! My heart sank for you when you had to use an unknown sewing machine! I'd have hated that. Good luck in everything that follows.

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    1. Thank you!! Yes I couldn't believe I had been so foolish to have forgot my lead - just so much to remember I guess!! It was amazing x

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  4. You were so good my lovely. Was enormously proud of you and your talent. I hope it propels you forward to bigger and better things. You deserve it x

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  5. Found you via Oooh Betty fb...loved your room and strangely drawn to your crochet necklaces! Eco Ethel xx

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  6. just wanted to say that i am enjoying watching this programme every night BUT i strongly disagreed with the result last night - the chap didn't even finish the project!!! however i am so glad you enjoyed your experience and learnt a lot from it - good luck with all your future projects!! xx

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    1. Thanks so much Lynne - yes I was soooo gutted not to have gone through!! An amazing experience though xxx

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  7. Loved your room and the creative touch you gave it, especially the giraffe cushion.Good luck with your future projects of which I'm sure they will come! Anita xx

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  8. Watched it and loved it! Well done :D

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  9. I watched it and felt intrigued to track you down lol. Here I am and I'm not disappointed. I am truly inspired by you and you're beautiful shed. You are living the dream in my eyes. Well done x

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    1. Wow, thank you so much Racheal! That is such a lovely thing to say!! xxx

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  10. Hi Helen
    I stumbled across your blog as a link from the one about Jordan. I think you are so brave to have gone in for this. I'm a closet designer...I have all of these wonderful ideas but nothing ever gets done! Sometimes I have inspiration, I design it and get my dad to build it, but I'm still not sure if i'm just "decorating". I did design a Thunderbird 2 bed for my son though and it lasted him a good few years.

    And I've managed to lose the lead off my sewing machine in a house move, so I feel for you. Still, it was an excuse for me to buy a new machine. To create a mood board and design for someone you've never met and in a house you've not been to seems an impossible task to me. Is this how it all works in the real world I wonder? As I spend hours and days deliberating how to do things, I was amazed at how your ideas came to fruition so quickly. I have found the series very inspiring and I'm hoping to draw on some of the ideas I've seen in my house as it's the first house I can call mine after many years of renting.

    Good luck in all you do!

    Love Lottie xxx

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