Interior Design Advice

• 27 Apr 15

  Reviving the Victorian Revival

  Over the last few years, Victorian style has again been sneaking back into our interiors. You see it in pineapple accessories on a mantle or end table, in the big bold colours that were popular in Victorian art adorning our modern walls, and in the much-loved bird motif of William Morris, which is making a comeback in modern furniture design. Perhaps these trends are becoming mainstream because we all want to bring a little Downton Abbey into our homes, or maybe we’re just ready to embrace the stories of the past. Whatever the reason, we’re really enjoying the Victorian Revival here at Smartstyle!

  Posted by Phoebe Oldrey in Interior Design Advice

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• 20 Mar 15

  How To Maintain an Uncluttered Home, Part II: Spring Storage Solutions

  Last month, I blogged about the drowning nature of clutter– ugh – and this month, I’m talking about the healing nature of well-organised storage. Aaaand sigh. 

  A place for everything and everything in its place. This phrase greatly appeals to my Virgo nature. When a possession in the home is without a proper place, it becomes clutter. As such, well thought-out storage is key to keeping a tidy home. But how do you go about selecting the right solution for your home? I have three great tips that will be sure to help even the untidiest of homemakers.

  Posted by Phoebe Oldrey in Interior Design Advice

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• 24 Feb 15

  How to Maintain an Uncluttered Home: Out with the Old – Part I

  To maintain an uncluttered home, one needs a combination of ruthless tiding and well thought-out storage. But how does one tackle both? This month I’m going to cover the ever-dreaded topic of decluttering and next month, I’ll be sharing some designer tricks to storage.

  Posted by Phoebe Oldrey in Interior Design Advice

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• 26 Jan 15

  What’s Cooking? Kitchen Design Past & Present

  Over the last 20 years, the kitchen has taken center stage in the home, pushing away the walls between dining spaces, living rooms and even the garden to create amazing open spaces for family and entertaining. We all picture ourselves in these open hubs, chatting to friends while we quickly pull together a meal which would make Jamie Oliver proud. Today, kitchens have gone beyond functional to aspirational, creating a very lucrative industry to help people achieve these dreams.

  Posted by Phoebe Oldrey in Interior Design Advice

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• 17 Nov 14

  Something Old

  The house I grew up in was a small grade 2 listed Priest Cottage bursting with history and character, My mother had filled it with interesting antiques. We only had one new piece of furniture in the whole house – a laminated blue coffee table in my bedroom. My mother collected and traded in antiques and so did all her friends, it wasn’t just our furniture but a way of life. It would be fair to say I was immersed in them and they are still something I have a great passion for.

  Posted by Phoebe Oldrey in Interior Design Advice

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• 25 Jul 14

  Necessity is the Mother of Invention

  It is over a year ago that I wrote my blog on the effects of the economy on interior design At the time we were coming to the end (though none of us could sense it was the end) of a long recession. The design industry had taken a hard hit and we as consumers were enjoying a period of time which saw us get creative on a shoe string. Skip diving must have been on an all-time high as Kirstie Allsopp encouraged us to get crafty.

  Posted by Phoebe Oldrey in Interior Design Advice

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