Surrey Interior Designer – Finishes For 2023!

Interior Trends?

Congratulations we’ve made it through the most depressing month of the year and we can see the light (literally)! Now interior trends typically get launched at the beginning of a new year, but this isn’t a report on what trends we’re going to see. This is a blog on what, as an experienced interior designer I would like to see weaved into your homes to make your spaces look and feel unique and incredible! #NOCOOKIECUTTERINTERIORSHERE!

When I’ve been interviewed in the past, I’ve hated that question; “what trends can we expect to see in interiors this year”? Basically who cares? And if you follow my Instagram you’ll know I don’t! Simple rule is: if you love it, then do it. Now that rule isn’t for everything in life (we can’t binge drink, eat copious amounts of sugar and watch back to back Netflix all day), but the rule is for interiors.

Interior Designer Surrey UK

What Do We Love?

Now I do read the magazines (although currently have six month stacked up), go to the interior shows and meet reps for different product lines, as part of my job. I love it, but i’m not doing all that to make sure I keep up with current trends. I do it to feel inspired, see new products and materials and know what I like and what I don’t. Recently a client questioned fluted panelling as she was worried it would date, but date to who? The important question is not “what will everyone else thing of my home in five years” but “what will I think of my home in five years”. If I really love it now, then I’ll really love it later!

In the way that we use clothes, accessories and life choices to express ourselves and demonstrate to the world what we believe, love and find important, our interiors should be no different. So read the magazines, look at Pinterest (if you have to) and then close it all way and think long and hard about what you love and what makes you feel inspired.

So below is some materials and designs that I currently love, but if you hate them then chuck it all out and do your own thing!

Liquid Metal

Now this is a non conventional one to start with, but it is a material that I really love, adds a lot of wow and your neighbours definitely won’t have it.

It is used most commonly on a feature wall (hate that term). I don’t mean a wall behind the bed or sofa, this is a wall in a critical part of the house that really makes an impact.

We are using it in two of our projects in very different ways to highlight an entrance hall. One of our projects has a grand, double height entrance and the impact of taking bronze liquid metal up, across the whole wall will be breath taking.

It can also be built up in different textures to create a piece of art in itself. Rather than looking for that large piece of art to make an impact, the liquid metal does it for you.

Where it is not commonly used is on a worktop. I love using it here, because it is hugely impactful, but also it is heat resistant, mould resistant, water resistant and can be added to any shape, so great for curves.

A glimpse of our recently finished copper worktop is seen below.

Ceiling Design

I think when lots of us think about how we’re going to renovate/decorate our homes we primarily think about what we are going to put on the floor (furniture wise) and paint/decorate our walls. What we don’t think about is the forth wall, the ceiling.

I’m not telling you to add a fancy ceiling detail to a tiny box room in your home (and polystyrene tiles are not making a comeback, although if you love it….), however in large, open plan spaces to look through and see a void of white painted ceiling is pretty uninspiring.

If you look at our recent Devon project, imagine looking through that space and seeing just a flat, white ceiling and not the addition, limed beams. It would be flat, and not nearly as captivating.

Dropping ceilings and adding beams also allows you to add additional lighting and really zone the different parts of a space.

In one of our current projects, we are designing a coffered ceiling to highlight the different zones of this very large, open plan space. As you walk through it subtly indicates a change of use and feel.

Rustic Wood

This is a material I will never get board of, it does create a definite feel to a space, so it’s not right in every project. I love it because it instantly adds warmth to a space and this is very very useful in interiors. If you are adding new construction or completely building from scratch, the hardest element we are working against is to avoid creating a cold, modern box. The materials and spacial planning is absolutely key to avoiding this. When you add warm, comforting materials, such as reclaimed timber, it instantly boosts the feel of the space in the right direction.

Imagine if we had just painted this wall some off white colour and added a door with architrave here. It would be so flat and dull and just leave us feeling cold when we entered the room. Instead when we see the timber, it immediately connects us to nature and make us feel calm and warm, all emotions we want to feel in our homes.

Metal

Patinated metal has been around a while and it has now filtrated into hardware, lighting, sockets & switches. It is if you like a slightly dulled down bit of bling for your home. That’s why I love it because i’m basically a huge magpie. But rather than it being garish and over dominating, the patinated finish pairs it back and adds a subtle glamour that allows it to sit along side other materials really well.

If you work with the right metal specialist, then you are opening up to a whole world of unusual finished metals. Our metal specialist created this beautiful patinated Pewter worktop for one of our projects. It is unexpected but also pairs well with the rustic timber.

Although I’ve also in the past worked with a roofing company to create some copper splash backs which were distressed with acid, so if you can find the right contractor, then you can create something really special.

Cork

Yes, this last one is a bit strange and may bring back certain 1980’s connotations, but bare with me.

Firstly it has come on a lot, it now comes in lots of finishes, tones, textures and sizes, so you have a lot of creative freedom with what you want to produce.

Secondly it is great for sound absorption. Which is incredibly useful in these large open plan spaces, where kids run around, Alexa is constantly daunting us and we are expected to answer work calls 24/7! Surely anything we can add that reduces the volume of noise we are subjected to, is a good thing.

Thirdly it is environmentally friendly, sustainable, renewable and biodegradable, surely this is a big plus!

Lastly because it comes in panels it’s pretty easy to work with, meaning you can do it yourself. So get gluing it to your floors, walls or even your ceilings and make that impact!

Interior Designer Surrey, London UK

Work With Us

That’s my top five for 2023 or at least the next month, but as I said if you’ve read all this and thought stuff that I love my peeling wallpaper and artex ceiling, then good for you and ignore it all!

If, however you’ve read this and thought, how interesting, I would love some help to create an interiors that is unique and represents me, then get in touch and let’s have a chat!

And remember #NOCOOKIECUTTERINTERIORSHERE!