So this week I was asked by Carpetright to be their 'interior advocate' for the launch of their new range of flooring in collaboration with House Beautiful. I do love a collaboration, so think it's great that these two brands have come together to combine their expertise.
I was asked to share my thoughts on creating a timeless interior, and actually this is something I'm thinking about a lot recently, as we are in the process of (hopefully) buying a new house. We hope it is somewhere we will stay for quite a few years, so I want to make the right decisions at the start in terms of decor, so that it will be long-lasting in terms of style, and will just need minor updates now and then.
For me I think the best way to start is with a neutral backdrop. White, grey or pale colours on the wall, which you can then add to with art, accessories and perhaps the odd piece of brightly coloured furniture if you want to create a statement - just make sure you really love that statement, otherwise you might grow tired of it quickly!
Period features are another way to have enduring style, as long as you maintain them and accentuate them. Look at the windows, radiators and panelling in the above shot, so lovely. Even if you aren't lucky enough to have original features, you can always replicate some of them in your home. Perhaps add deep skirting boards, if the height of your room can take it, or there are lots of great cast iron radiators around - we got some for our kitchen/dining room, which we sprayed copper.
Of course flooring has a huge impact on the overall look of a room, so make sure you really think about what you can live with, what is practical for your situation and of course what you can afford - as it can become costly. I love this image above, which would you believe is vinyl flooring! At first I thought it was concrete, which I'm massively into at the minute.
While we might not all be lucky enough to have these huge windows, we can bring a little nature into the home via indoor plants and flowers. These will never go out of fashion, so make sure to always have some greenery in your space, whether it's an easy to care for group of cacti, or a pretty posy of flowers on the kitchen table.
I'd love to hear your thoughts and tips on enduring, timeless style. I really want to achieve this in our new home! Oh and by the way, if any of these images have inspired you to put down some new flooring, Carpetright are running a competition to win £700 worth of vouchers as well as some other goodies. You can enter here.