How to Create Enduring Interiors That Reflect Your Style

Crafting a space that resonates authentically with your personal style is an art that LBW Interiors has perfected. In a landscape saturated with swiftly evolving design trends and a barrage of interior images on social platforms, the challenge of creating a space that stands the test of time becomes even more profound. As advocates of enduring design, we believe that following trends doesn't always translate to interiors with a lasting presence and meaningful connection, especially within the intimate confines of a home. Instead, we encourage you to embark on a journey of self-discovery, tapping into your individual tastes and preferences. At LBW, we understand that the most effective way to curate a design that endures and feels right for you year after year is by weaving the fabric of your space with your own narrative. Let your personal style be the guiding light, creating interiors that echo your essence and stand as timeless reflections of your unique journey. Join us in the pursuit of design that transcends trends and resonates with the authenticity of your soul.

Know your own style

At LBW Interiors, we advocate for the power of individuality as the cornerstone of timeless design. In a world inundated with fleeting trends and ever-evolving aesthetics, understanding your own preferences becomes the compass guiding our creative journey. Knowing what you like isn't just a design philosophy—it's a personal revelation. It empowers you to navigate through the noise of design trends, social media imagery, and external influences. Our approach encourages introspection, enabling you to define your unique style, preferences, and aspirations. By embracing what resonates with you on a visceral level, we collaboratively craft interiors that authentically mirror your tastes, ensuring a design that not only withstands the test of time but also feels personal and meaningful. Let your preferences be the muse.

Inspiration Journal

At LBW Interiors, we encourage keeping an inspiration journal as a  tool in the journey toward authentic design. Cultivating a personal sanctuary that truly reflects your essence begins with an exploration of your inspirations, and an inspiration journal serves as the canvas for this creative journey. This journal is your space to capture beauty, textures, and colours that resonate with you. It becomes a document of your evolving tastes and preferences—a visual diary that unfolds the chapters of your design narrative. By curating this reservoir of inspiration, you not only refine your aesthetic sensibilities but also collaborate with us to shape interiors that mirror your unique journey. Join us in the art of preserving inspiration, and together, we'll transform your vision into spaces that embody the truest expression of you.

Infusing your space with your values

Infusing your interests and values into design is at the heart of our philosophy at LBW Interiors. Your home should be a canvas that paints the vibrant tapestry of your life, reflecting not only your aesthetic preferences but also the passions and values that define you. Whether it's integrating elements inspired by your love for art, nature, or cultural influences, we believe in the transformative power of design to encapsulate your unique story. By understanding your interests and values, we collaborate to curate interiors that resonate with authenticity and purpose. Every element, from the choice of materials to the placement of bespoke pieces, becomes a deliberate brushstroke in crafting a space that is not just visually stunning but also deeply meaningful. Let us embark together on a design journey that goes beyond aesthetics, creating spaces that authentically mirror the richness of your interests and the depth of your values.

At LBW Interiors, we champion the notion of eschewing transient trends in favor of crafting enduring and classic interiors. Choosing timeless over trendy is a deliberate choice rooted in the belief that lasting design transcends passing fads. By steering clear of fleeting fashion, we ensure that your interiors retain a timeless allure, exuding elegance and sophistication that evolves gracefully with the years. Classic interiors, designed with meticulous attention to detail, become a sanctuary that serves as a steadfast reflection of your enduring style. Let us embark on a journey together, where the choice to be timeless ensures that your living spaces remain eternally captivating.

We believe in transcending the notion of "themed" spaces, steering clear of trends that might momentarily capture attention but lack the enduring charm we seek to cultivate. While themed spaces have their place in the whimsical world of movies, our design philosophy centers on crafting living environments that go beyond fleeting narratives. Instead of adhering to predefined themes, we advocate for a more nuanced approach—creating spaces that organically reflect your personal story, interests, and values.

Designing interiors that compliment the architecture of your home

It is important as a designer to understand the history of the building, it informs the design of the interiors. The building is the skeleton that we hang our designs on, creating future designs that are not only authentic but celebrate the building in its natural form. A good place to start is not only establishing the period of your property but also the purpose of any future design work.  This will help build a narrative on how and why you want to design the house a certain way and be a useful guide to keep you on the right path and the level of detail required to get there.  

I take a lot of my inspiration from the Greeks and Romans who made their mark from 1200 BC to 480 AD and had a profound influence on establishing the classical orders of architecture. Following this influential period other styles emerged, as a rule keeping to these classical orders. Some of the most common styles of houses in the UK today are either Tudor, Georgian, Victorian and 20th Century. The classical features of the Greeks and Romans were reimagined by Andrea Palladio (1508-1580) an Italian Renaissance architect famed for his use of symmetry and classical references. 

In this article I want to focus on The Georgian Era (1740-1830), known for its elegance and neo-classical style based on the Greek and Roman ideals and championed by architects such as Robert Adam. Georgian interiors feature pastel colour schemes, classical columns (Corinthian, Ionic and Doric) , detailed stonework, ironwork and marble. These were often presented with motifs such as swags, ribbons, garlands and more often than not the Greek key pattern.  Classical figures and vases were often displayed and real and imaginary animal figures such as dolphins, sphinxes, griffins and satyrs. They would often form bases or handles of objects and plasterwork details, and can be seen in Basildon Park in Berkshire. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berkshire/basildon-park/the-house-at-basildon-park  This Palladian villa was built in the fashionable Adam style, with typical neo-classical interior detailing of the time such as plasterwork ceilings and classically inspired furnishings.

The Georgian period spans the reign of 4 consecutive King Georges, from George the 1st in 1714 until the death of George iV in 1830. During this century there were 4 main interior fashions.  Including Palladianism, Rococo, Neo-classicism and Regency.  The later two are the easiest and most popular to replicate in modern interiors.  These were mostly inspired by Aristocrats returning from their Grand Tours and were generally houses of a ruling class. These houses were built by the upper classes as symbols of wealth and power. The interiors were therefore grand and designed to impress guests, often to showcase souvenirs that had been collected on the Grand Tour. Roman statues, sculptures, books, items of culture and numerous artworks were collected, space needed to be found to display these items so grand libraries and bookcases were built.  

These Georgian properties were built well and are well sought after in the UK today.  When presented with the restoration of a Georgian property, don’t get too bogged down in the details. The original architectural details of a period property are what make them unique and this should be celebrated as much as your furniture or artwork. Plan the structure first including any plasterwork or joinery details and design the decoration of the interior around them.  If you don’t do it this way round, they will become an afterthought and will therefore not look cohesive. 

Features

When replicating Georgian joinery, it is important to get the proportions correct and the plaster work and joinery detailing should be as close to the original as possible. Try getting reclaimed or if you are unsure consult a professional.

You can still reinstate the Georgian character whilst transforming it into an elegant family home by keeping period features such as the fireplaces (or re-instate these if they have been removed) and mix these with modern elements to create bright and beautiful rooms. Jamb London does a good collection of period antique and reproduction fireplaces.

Colour

Pea Green, mauve and pinks were common paint colours in the Georgian period, green and soft pinks (not so much mauve) and very popular still and historically appropriate paint colours are available by companies such as Edward Bulmer https://www.edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk/product/natural-paint/pea-green/

Pea Green and Warm stone are two of my favourite colours of theirs, that they recommend to use in a Georgian interior. I also love how they give you a little history lesson on each paint colour too, this somehow brings life into a colour. Don’t over complicate your paint spec and try not to pick out too many different colours in one room or pick out the dado rails, picture rails and cornices in white. For a more modern look, I recommend matching the skirting panelling and cornice to the wall colour, this gives a softer look without contrasting lines breaking up the walls. Picking out a contrast colour in bespoke joinery is a good way to break up the colour scheme and add a punch of colour here if required. 

Furnishings

When choosing furniture and furnishings it is ok to mix different styles in a room, this was acceptable in the Georgian period and eclectic interiors became fashionable.  This includes mixing antique and modern pieces, taking your time and visiting antique stores and buying furniture that you love as well as fits in the space available. Online antique stores are also a great source such as the Decorative Collective https://www.decorativecollective.com/ 

If you are looking for specific items, tell your favourite Antique dealers, they will keep an eye out for you and alert you when they find something that might be suitable.   Plan the furniture layout on paper and make sure you know the measurements when specifying new and antique pieces. (I carry a copy of these measurements with me in case you come across something unexpectedly that might work – you can check the dimensions right then) It is important to make sure you get the scale right, if in doubt go slightly larger. Beaumont and Fletcher https://www.beaumontandfletcher.com/all-furniture-products/ are a good example of traditional and high quality British made furniture.  It is also important to mix the height of furniture in a room, some low level and some higher.  Mixing table lamps and floor standing lamps are also a good way of mixing up the levels of light in a room.  Vaughan https://www.vaughandesigns.com/ is one of my go to lighting companies, they have an excellent range of traditional and more contemporary pieces.  

Georgian interiors celebrated natural light with big sash windows and roof lanterns.  It is best to get curtains that are made to measure, Georgian interiors generally have large windows with beautifully crafted wooden surrounds so it is important to not cover these up with huge pelmets or complicated swags and tails.  Keep the curtains simple and choose the best quality fabric you can afford. This can be expensive though, if you need to make a saving choose a plain fabric and add the detail with a decorative border or trim to the leading edge.  Mirrors are also a good way to reflect the natural light, place these opposite windows, not only will this reflect the light but also give glimpses of the foliage outside.  

LBW are always happy to help create and develop interiors that work with your architecture. We understand the importance of envisioning your space and help you to imagine your interiors. Remember with all interiors, enjoy it and take your time.