A few weeks ago I went to the Anish Kapoor exhibition at the Hayward Gallery in London. I knew of Kapoor's sculpture work and had seen the brilliant Cloud Gate bean-shaped mirror sculpture in Chicago several years back, but I wasn't prepared for some of the works in this new exhibition. In particular the 'Vantablack' images. Image: Anish Kapoor at the Hayward Gallery/Southbank Centre Vantablack is a substance created 'with nanotechnology that absorbs up to 99% of visible ligh

1. What direction does the room face, and how do your sash windows affect the light?Victorian terraces are often built in long rows facing the same direction, so front and back rooms can have very different light quality: one flooded with morning sun, the other permanently in shade. Original sash windows also tend to be smaller and more divided than later Edwardian glazing, letting in less light overall, which changes how a colour reads compared to a swatch held up in a brigh

Most period hallways are dark for structural reasons, not decorating ones. A narrow hall lit only by a fanlight or a small half-landing window, with no direct daylight source of its own - that's just how these houses were built. Here are three fixes I come back to most often on Victorian and Edwardian projects. 1. Paint the woodwork a bold, dark colour The instinct with a dark hallway is usually to paint everything white and hope for the best. It doesn't work - white woodwork

An In-Depth Interview with South West London Interior Designer Hannah Ashe For many homeowners, buying a property is just the beginning. The real journey starts when you begin shaping that space into a home that works for your lifestyle. For buyers across South West London, from Wimbledon to Putney and beyond, interior design plays a key role in how a property feels, functions, and even how it holds its value over time. This blog post is an edited repost of an interview with

Today I am writing about the influence of the natural world in interior design. In my own work, biophilic design (incorporating nature into our indoor environment) plays a significant role.

A common phrase I hear as an interior designer is: “I just don’t have an eye for colour.” But here’s the truth: you don’t need a magical design gene to create a beautiful colour scheme. You probably just need a process. If you’re willing to put in a little time and trust your instincts, you absolutely can pull together colours, patterns and materials that feel cohesive, balanced and completely you. Here’s the four-step method I recommend to my clients who want to try it them

You’ve bought the period property of your dreams and moved in, but now realise that the Victorian charm you fell in love with is hiding below many layers of (probably leaded) paint, peeling wallpaper and layouts that aren’t practical for modern family life.

Tom sent me these photographs of his bathroom and explained that 'our bathroom is outdated and needs an urgent refresh. The house is currently on the market so we don't want to spend the earth'.