The nights are drawing in and it’s most definitely jumper weather. It’s that time to make inside feel cosy. To light the candles, and layer your sofas with blankets and throws. It’s that time when surely there’s nothing better than curling up in front of a roaring fire, hot chocolate (or mulled wine) in hand?
I love November. Halloween is done (I’m not a fan of Halloween!), and there’s a little autumnal lull before Christmas. It’s time to rest, wrap up warm and get cosy. So, if you haven’t done already, spruce up your hearth and bring the logs in to dry. Get a mug of something warm and enjoy taking a look at the fireside favourites I’ve put together for you! Happy Friday!
Nothing says indulgence like marble, and these marble candles from Soho Home are just the kind of fireside luxury you need.
It’s not a cosy Friday without a mug of hot chocolate, or mulled wine. These textured mugs in muted colours from Rose & Grey are perfect for either.
I have fallen completely in love with this blanket from TOAST. It makes me want to curl up and hibernate right away!
There’s nothing more beautiful than flickering candle light around a roaring fire. These fruit candles from Anthropologie are enough of a nod to Christmas for me at this stage, but they start to add a bit of twinkle to your fireside.
Is there anything better than curling up on a sheepskin next to the fire? Although, usually my dog gets there before me. I love these ones from Hyde & Hare.
You can never have enough blankets and throws in Autumn, right? Just as well because this Soho Home is a beauty; a fabulous mix of modern and traditional. It’ll be finding it’s way into my blanket based this season, I’m sure!
If you’re looking for art to make you smile; to wrap you up and give you a hug, then you’ll love Jo’s work. There is an energy about her work which is infectious. Jo’s enthusiasm for her work, and her love of colour is evident the first time you set eyes on her paintings. Jo’s use of colour is bold, yet there is a lightness in her work. Layers of bright, light colours create a feast for the eyes.
Jo is also an award-winning local interior designer and in our conversations she talks about how these elements of her creativity overlap. She has a skill of creating interiors and artwork which knit together perfectly. Art is certainly not an afterthought in Jo’s schemes! You can see more of Jo’s artwork in her interior projects over on her design instagram page @designbyjobee. And to find out more about Jo as an artist, keep reading…
1/ PLEASE CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WORK FOR US?
Fun! I just enjoy having fun with my painting. I love abstract work, lots of colour (although I don’t like harsh colours; I’m quite picky – soft brights are my thing) and I love floral art and come still life. I use a range of materials including acrylic, paste, crayon, house paint, chalk paint, water colour as well as collage. I love texture so like things to feel very tactile; like you want to touch them (but can’t!).
2/ CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY TO BECOMING AN ARTIST?
I am a creative obsessive. I studied fashion at the London College of Fashion and Interior Architecture in Newcastle and have always loved art. I was surrounded by art growing up; my mother is an artist and lots of people in my family are art lovers and collectors so I have always dabbled in painting/creating. I enjoy it so much! A good friend of mine has a lovely cafe in Burley-in-Wharfedale and we decided it was the perfect collaboration to hang some of my pieces there. I have since been asked to hang pieces in lots of places and am excited to be currently working on several projects. I have my own interior design company and creating art ties in perfectly with this process as I am often asked to curate and create pieces by my clients.
3/ WE’D LOVE TO KNOW WHERE YOU FIND YOUR INSPIRATION?
Everywhere, but one of my main sources of inspiration is from flowers and texture in nature, as well as textiles and fabrics that I work with everyday. My mind is a constant buzz of ideas!
4/ WHICH ARTISTS ARE YOU MOST INSPIRED AND/OR INFLUENCED BY?
So many! Heather Chontos is one of my favourite artists. I discovered her whilst on a design trip in London. I love her bold use of colour and shape.
5/ CAN YOU DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY FOR US?
My days are pretty crazy as I have two small children! So I balance my time between them and working in my new studio in Ilkley; both with my design business and my painting. Being creative is what makes me feel alive and keeps me going! So, even though I’m quite often exhausted from running around after two small humans, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I feel so lucky to have a passion, and even luckier that it is my career.
6/ DO YOU EVER SUFFER FROM CREATIVE BLOCK? IF SO, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH IT?
No! But sometimes I wish I did! I am the opposite, and don’t have enough minutes in the day to complete all of the creative missions whirring around in my head!
7/ IS THERE A PIECE YOU’VE CREATED THAT YOU’RE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF?
I had a piece framed for my own lounge and I was a little unsure if I was happy with it. However, once it returned from the framers I knew it was the one! I also love a recent floral I completed as it feels really energetic and perfectly captures my mood at the time.
8/ IF YOU COULD CREATE A PIECE FOR ONE PERSON WHO WOULD IT BE?
I would have loved to have created something for the Queen. It would have been a floral piece; what an honour that would have been.
9/ DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR PEOPLE CHOOSING ARTWORK FOR THEIR HOME?
Ask an expert! Art is so personal but it important that it suits both your personality and your home. Framing is also incredibly important – a bad frame can ruin a piece, but a good frame can make it. I love to experiment with my framing and am working on some exciting things at the moment.
10/ WHERE CAN WE SEE, OR BUY, YOUR WORK?
I currently have work on display in Arlo cafe in Burley-in-Wharfedale as well as Luxe Beauty salon in Ilkley. You can see more on my website www.joduerdenart.co.uk as well as keeping up-to-date with me on Instagram @jo_duerden_art
Whether it’s a relaxed family supper or a dinner party for friends, autumnal dining is all about cosy nights in. Curtains closed, candles on and warm, hearty food on the table. I like to keep styling simple; think ceramics, and chunky glassware with seasonal autumnal foliage from the garden. Add a splash of colour; autumnal hues of green, orange and blue work really well together. And keep it fun – this is the season for candlelight chat and laughter late into the night.
Here are a few of my picks to create the perfect autumnal table…
In Part 1, I discussed WHAT an Interior Designer does and WHY you might want to use one. Now it’s time to look at WHEN you should engage a designer and WHO you should approach. And no, the answer to the last one isn’t always me!
SO WHEN DO YOU GET A DESIGNER INVOLVED?
The answer is pretty simple; as early as possible. This doesn’t mean you need to be having regular consultations straight-away but instructing a designer as soon as you know you are going to need one a) means you more likely to get who you want at a time that you want them, and b) means that they can offer assistance and advice during the early stages, perhaps even on things you hadn’t considered you’d need help with. They can talk you through the wider process, work with other professionals (e.g. architects), point out potential pitfalls, and generally help to ensure a seamless process with a beautifully designed space at the end. Basically, the earlier you make enquiries, the more likely you are to secure the right designer, with the right scope for you.
If you’re planning an extension you may already have appointed an architect, and you may have a preferred builder. It can be tempting to leave appointment of a designer until you have the rooms ready to decorate. However, if you get a designer involved from the start you may find you get more from the instruction. For example, when the Architect is drawing up the plans, a designer can have conversations with you about internal use and flow which may impact on the space you create. Starting room designs before the space exists has its advantages too. It means, for example, you have answers about electrical layout as soon as you need them. Rushing decisions about switches and lighting when your builder approaches you for answers is never ideal, and can leave you with compromises to deal with during the interior design stage.
The same applies to room design schemes; the sooner the better! Maybe you know you want a room redesigned for Christmas (it’s a common scenario, believe me!). If you leave it until late Autumn not only will you struggle to find time in a designer’s schedule, but you may also be more limited in your furniture selection given the inevitable lead-times (which are often much longer at busy, seasonal times).
Obviously it isn’t always possible to instruct a designer early doors, or perhaps it’s only midway through a project that you realise you need help. Don’t worry, all isn’t lost, a good designer will be able to support you in a project wherever you’re at. It’s just the earlier you get them involved, even just to have an initial conversation to get time booked in for later when you need it, the more you’re likely to get out of the process and the fewer compromises you’re likely to need to make.
SO, WHO SHOULD YOU INSTRUCT?
How do you decide which designer is for you? There are so many to choose from! My first advice would be to see the engagement of a designer as an investment in your home. There will be a cost attached, but it’s a service which really adds value, so try not to be driven wholly by getting the lowest quote. There’s much to be said for you-get-what-you-pay-for. This is an important decision; you’re hiring someone to help you create your perfect home.
Ask around. Word-of-mouth recommendations are great. If you know someone has worked with an interior designer ask them how they found the process, and, more importantly than whether you like the finished result, whether the finished space creates the feel they wanted to achieve. Finding someone local can be helpful, especially if you’re looking for project management work. It means your designer will have an even bigger network of trades and suppliers which you can tap into.
Speak to a couple of designers. By which, I don’t mean call round an endless number of designers. Time is precious and no-one likes a time waster. However, all good designers should be willing to have an initial chat, to tell you how they work and help determine whether they are the right person to work with you. You should get a sense of whether you’d be happy to work with a designer from this initial discovery call. It’s an important relationship so you need to be comfortable working with them. It should also be a fun process so working with someone you feel you can build a rapport with is really helpful.
Have a look on social media. Houzz is a great resource for this, especially if you’re looking for someone local. As are Instagram and Pinterest. When you’re looking at a designer, look at their style, and their way or working; is it a good fit for you? If you’re looking on social media though don’t be swayed by big followings and likes. The Instagram algorithm isn’t generated on whether or not someone is a good designer. Social media will however give you a behind-the-scenes, more personal insight into designers, which when you’re trying to establish a relationship can be invaluable.
Make sure you check out their services. Make sure they offer exactly what you need and don’t be pushed into having more work done than you want to. For example, if you just want a design service and want to do the work yourself, don’t approach designers who only do full implementation service. And if you do find someone via social media, check out their website directly and make sure you look at their actual projects. It’s very easy to post images created or curated by someone else; just make sure you do your homework and check out projects they have actually worked on.
Finally, make sure you check timescales and fee structure early on. You may have found a seemingly perfect designer but if they can’t deliver within your timeframe and budget then, unless you can wait, and/or reduce your scope, they probably aren’t the designer for you – this time! It’s also worth having a chat about the process. Just to make sure you’re getting the right level of support and/or involvement.
Engaging an interior designer doesn’t need to be daunting and the process should, most definitely, be enjoyable.
If you want bold, evocative contemporary art look no further than the work of artist, Julia Poulton. Working with oils, her paintings are dramatic yet calming. I am delighted to feature Julia on my blog this week; she’s an artist I’ve admired for a long time, discovering her via the little squares of Instagram. Her account is filled with her striking work and I love watching her behind-the-scenes videos. In this interview Julia talks about her artistic journey, including her time at art college as well as sharing some of her current favourite artists and her tips for choosing art for your own home. I whole-heartedly agree with Julia’s believe that art is all about finding an emotional connection. You don’t have to be able to explain why you love something, or provide a critique of the work; just find something you love, something you’re drawn to, something that evokes emotion. It’s as simple as that. And if you want to see the kind of art that I’m drawn to then look no further than Julia’s work in this blog post. It’s simply beautiful.
1/ PLEASE COULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WORK FOR US
I am an abstract expressive oil painter with a passion for colour. Working mainly on canvas, I paint intuitively, expressing my emotions as they unfold from one moment to the next. With a minimal yet often striking colour palette, I use bold and gestural brush marks to create rich textures and layers. I would describe my work as bold, colourful, calming and ethereal.
2/ TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY TO BECOMING AN ARTIST
I feel like I have always been an artist as I was preoccupied with drawing from a young age. For as long as I can remember I always wanted to go to ‘art college’ and be an artist, so I followed this path and eventually did a Fine Art Degree at university. It is perhaps not an unfamiliar story (among artists) to say that this was a mixed experience! The uncertainties of youth coupled with trying to figure out my artistic path were a recipe for vulnerability in the art college environment. Critique from tutors seemed biased towards their own subjective art preferences, or what was deemed ‘fashionable’. At the time I was becoming interested in landscape painting, which definitely wasn’t fashionable in the early 90’s! However, I was lucky enough to receive some invaluable support and tuition from the art technicians at the university so in the end I was able to navigate my way through uni, painting landscapes while learning quite a lot along the way!
Since then, whilst life has taken me on different paths, including various jobs and motherhood, I have always come back to painting and for the last decade, it has become my career.
3/ WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION?
I am inspired by many things from moody skies and dramatic landscapes, to a shaft of sunlight bouncing off the studio wall. As an intuitive painter, I am hugely inspired by the process itself – those exciting (often unexpected) moments that occur along the way, be it a particular mark, shape or texture. Colour is a big source of inspiration, whether it be in the studio, out in nature or admiring other artists’ work.All these moments of inspiration are what drive me forwards and keep me excited about my painting practice.
4/ WHICH ARTISTS ARE YOU INSPIRED BY?
As a young artist I was inspired by many ‘known’ artists, such as Jean Dubuffet, Milton Avery and Georgia O’Keefe, to name but a few. In more recent times, with the advent of social media and the huge change in ways artists can now be visible to global audiences, I find I am inspired by many contemporary artists who I may follow or stumble across on Instagram. A few I currently love are Katy Brown, Deborah Moss and Billie Bourgeois.
5/ DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE PLACE TO WORK?
I’m very lucky that my husband built me a studio in the garden, which is my absolute favourite place to be! It’s a great space with lots of light.I like to work big and often on a series of work, so it was important for me to have plenty of wall space and room to step back to view the work.I don’t have a ‘typical’ day as such as there are always different things to be doing, such as admin/website stuff, so I try to go with the flow and paint when I have no other distractions!
6/ DO YOU EVER SUFFER FROM “CREATIVE BLOCK” AND, IF SO, HOW DO YOU TEND TO DEAL WITH IT?
I don’t feel I suffer from creative block as such, but more the ‘ebb and flow’ of the creative process, which for me means there will be days when I’m not feeling it, and decide to leave it and go back another day… or days when I’m painting for hours, but I’m not happy with the way it’s going – this can be frustrating, but I have learnt over time that it’s all part of the process, in fact it is an essential part of the process. I have many paintings I love that have evolved through numerous layers of paint, pleasure, frustration, inactivity, and more, before they get to their final happy selves!
7/ IS THERE A PIECE OF ART YOU’VE CREATED WHICH YOU’RE PARTICULARLY FOND, OR PROUD, OF?
It’s hard to pick out one painting, as my work has changed and developed over time and I always tend to favour my most recent work! I was particularly proud of a recent series of paintings named the Midnight Collection. With a slightly darker palette and suggestion of night-time, these paintings evoke an almost dreamlike and ethereal quality for me. I particularly love ‘Midnight Serenade’ – the rich darkness, complimented by the warm colours and details that draw the eye in.
8/ DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR PEOPLE CHOOSING ARTWORK FOR THEIR OWN HOMES?
Choosing artwork is a very personal thing and whilst it can be important to find the style and colours that suit your interior, I believe it’s essential to feel an emotional connection with an artwork. You may love the colours, the mood, it may remind you of a special place or memory. Or you may just feel ‘drawn’ to a painting without consciously knowing why.Either way, it is something you will have in your personal space and see every day, so it’s important you love it!
9/ WHERE CAN WE SEE, AND BUY, YOUR WORK?
My work is available to buy direct from me, via my website, or studio visits by appointment. I am also represented by a selection of UK galleries and regularly have work available through them. Instagram is my main platform for sharing my process and new work, so I’m happy to receive enquiries about artwork seen there. It may be available even if it’s not on my website yet.
10/ WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?
After a little summer break, I’m ready to get back in the studio to start on a new series of paintings, which I’ll be launching on my website around November time. I am also excited to be working with a couple of new galleries soon, so I have lots to keep me busy over the next few weeks!
