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20 Jan 16

How to impress the judges on The Great Interior Design Challenge

Sophie and daniel series 3 on sofa low res

The much-anticipated series three of the great Interior Design Challenge is set to hit our screens and I know you guys are just going to love it. Three series in and I’m forever amazed at the inventiveness, audacious ambition and sheer raw talent that our amateur designers demonstrate during one of the most gruelling TV challenge series. Bake a cake? That’s for wimps. There can be no underestimation how hard these guys have to work and I take my hat off to each and every one of them.

In the ‘real world’ first of all you’d get to meet you client face to face and view the property you want to design in the flesh. See the proportions and how the light falls, how the person lives within the space. But this isn’t the real world, this is TV and the hint is in the title. It’s a Design Challenge. Daniels job and mine is far from easy, and the designers make sure of that. They throw their all into it and with only a week to prepare their designs, it’s a roller coaster ride from start to finish. They are all so hungry for it, so eager to get it right for their homeowners, so the pressure is on us to make the right decisions. So what’s on our checklist as to what we are looking for when putting an interior designer through to the next round?

 

  1. Has the designer tackled the brief? This is a key part of the design process. One thing we’re certain of is this isn’t a showcase for a designer’s ego. As Daniel says, “As a designer ’ You’ are the least important part of a project”. So if we hear a designer say something like “I love this I’ve got it in my own house” (which we hear alot!), it’s a thumbs down from us’.
  2. There are serious bonus points, however, for going beyond a brief. Some client’s put down all the  styles and colours they love. Some quite frankly want the moon on a stick. The answer isn’t to aim to deliver on everything if the end result is an incoherent jumbled mess. It’s the interior designers job to edit a design, make it coherent and prioritise what can be done within the budget and time frame.
  3. How creative have they been? When you’ve been in the game for as long as Daniel and I, showing us something we haven’t seen before is a tall order. But the designers on The Great Interior Design Challenge regularly surprise us. It might be an original way of using colour or pattern or some ingenuous product innovation. Either way if they’re innovative they’re likely to get fast tracked to the next round!
  4. We are always impressed if a designer has tackled the boring bits as well as the fun stuff. They’ve addressed the storage, the layout the lighting plan. All the nitty gritty bits that don’t feel that creative but make a massive difference to how a room functions, and the enjoyment for the homeowner.
  5. We’re also looking out for the interior designer’s people skills. How do they cope under pressure, how well do they work as a team? Having great people skills to not only keep your client on board but also keep your team motivated is essential in the professional world.
  6. How well the designers communicate and present their designs is an essential element in the judging process. This is the designer’s first opportunity to make a winning impression on their homeowner. If they have any risqué design ideas they’d like to push through this is their opportunity to convince their client. One thing that does not sit well with the judges is if they try and sneak ideas through under the radar. That’s not the way to design someone’s home!
  7. We’re keeping an eye out for a level of practical skill. Some might argue that in the ‘real world’ an interior designer isn’t required to have practical craft or making skills, but within the parameters of the Great Interior Design challenge, being able to create bespoke items for your project, takes the design up a significant notch. So whether it’s sewing, decoupage, painting, carpentry or up cycling, we want to see ingenious ideas and a high level of execution!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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DESIGN CRIMES - BUSTED! After years of designing DESIGN CRIMES - BUSTED!
After years of designing homes and helping people fall in love with their spaces, I’ve noticed a few design mistakes that crop up time and again. So, I’ve rounded up 5 of the most common design crimes that I see all too often, and how to fix them!

From towering TVs to short curtains (just… no), these little tweaks can make a big difference to how your home looks and feels.Which ones have snuck into your home?

I want your confessions below, or share your own design crime story. Let’s swap notes and make our homes the best they can be 💛

#DesignCrimes #InteriorDesignTips #SophieRobinsonInteriors #HomeStyleHelp 
#ColourLoversUnite #MaximalistStyle #TVStylingTips #DesignWithPersonality 
#Maximalism
Feeling stuck on how to make your home flow - with Feeling stuck on how to make your home flow - without it all looking the same?
You’re not alone. One of the biggest challenges with bold, maximalist decorating is getting that sweet spot where every room feels unique and still sings in harmony with the rest of the 
house.

This week, I opened up my home to guests at my VIP Masterclass — and since it was looking unusually spick and span(!), I thought I’d give you a rare peek too. What you’ll see is 
colour, pattern, and personality in every corner… but behind the scenes? There’s a very intentional design process holding it all together.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by all the decisions, unsure where to start, or terrified of making a mistake, my online course ‘How to Create Maximalist Interiors’ is designed to take that fear off your shoulders. I’ll guide you, step by step, through how I create spaces that 
feel joyful, cohesive and so very you.

✨ Want to see what’s possible — and learn how to make it happen in your own home? Comment MAYJOY25 and I’ll DM you the link. The course is 25% off throughout May, so it’s a brilliant time to dive in.


#HouseTour #SophieRobinsonStyle #ColourfulHomes #InteriorDesignUK #MoreIsMore #BoldInteriors #PatternLover #HallwayGoals #KitchenInspo #HomeStyle #CountryModern #FloralKitchen #MaximalistHome
Don’t underestimate the potential of small space Don’t underestimate the potential of small spaces. While we are a nation obsessed with knocking walls down and living in open plan (echoey) spaces, I’d go so far to say, when it comes to decorating, small rooms are my absolute fave! Little rooms are where you can really turn up the dial, because at face value they are bland, underwhelming and quite often overlooked. But turn your mind to creating jewel-box fabulousness, inject plush textures, fabulous patterns and standout accessories and the transformation isn’t only fast but exceeds all expectations. 

Here are a few small spaces I’ve designed, that may be small—but they pack a serious punch.

#SmallSpaceStyle #InteriorDesignTips #MaximalistInteriors #SophieRobinson 
#BoldNotBeige #ColourLover #DesignWithPersonality
You’re in the right place. 💛 Around here, we You’re in the right place. 💛
Around here, we don’t do beige boxes or design-by-numbers. This is a joyful, all-inclusive space where colour is celebrated and self-expression is the whole point.

I believe every room in your home should make you feel happy, positive, and 
unapologetically you. 

If that sounds like your kind of vibe, follow along!
✨ Save the ideas that make your heart sing
✨ Explore the joy of colour with confidence
✨And when you’re ready to dive in… there’s 25% off my incredible course How to Create a Maximalist Interior - all through May. Just use comment MAYJOY and I’ll send you the link.

Because great design isn’t just about how it looks - it’s how it makes you feel.


#dopamindecor #boldinteriors #interiorinspo #joyfulhomes #colourmyhome 
#interiordesigncourse #maximaliststyle
If like me you hate your shiny white UPVC windows If like me you hate your shiny white UPVC windows then this tip is for you!

I painted all of ours, inside and out, and it totally transformed our home (costing hundreds of pounds on paint rather than thousands of pounds replacing them with more traditional timber that would suit the Victorian character of our house better). 
The best thing about painting UVPC is with the right primer, there is no sanding or lengthy preparation. It’s important to make sure the frames are clean and dry, and then on with the All Surface Primer, which then ensures that the exterior acrylic eggshell, in a colour of your 
choice, can easily go on top. For many the beauty of UVPC windows is they don’t need decorating or maintaining, unlike timber windows. However, while these have not flaked or scratched yet (three 
years in) I know they will need a lick of paint at some point. But UVPC is a more stable substrate to traditional timber which cracks and swells, so the maintenance will be far less. 

And heres the best bit… you can’t tell the difference!

Works on Front doors and conservatories too! Would you try it? Let me know in the comments!

We used an All surface primer, mixed to match the top coat, of External eggshell in Lamp Black. Walls painted in masonry paint, in Lamp Black. All products @littlegreenepaintcompany 

#paintedwindows #upvcglowup #budgetrenovation #windowmakeover #diyhomedecor
I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but I I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but I’ve needed to hear it again and again this past year.

This little affirmation has carried me through some of the hardest moments of my life; navigating a divorce, facing the possibility of losing my home, and somehow still showing up for my business, my family, and my creativity.

And here’s the thing: I didn’t lose my home. 🏡 I’m keeping it. 🙌 That’s the biggest takeaway for me. Because in the midst of fear and uncertainty, I held on to hope. I kept creating. I kept believing.

Stress and anxiety can really crush creativity. They make us shrink, second-guess, and settle for less than we deserve. But when we give ourselves even the tiniest flicker of faith,  that’s when the magic can return.

So if there’s something you’re holding on for, don’t let go. Keep the faith. You’ve absolutely got this.

And if someone you love needs that reminder too — feel free to share this with them. 

#CreativeJourney #InteriorTherapy #DesignAsHealing #MyHomeMyStory #HomeInspo #LifeLately #PersonalGrowth #ThisIsRealLife #WomenSupportingWomen #OvercomingObstacles
Can you believe this unexpected May sunshine? It’s giving me total garden party vibes, and with that in mind here’s how I set the table outdoors, in my maximalist style!
- Layered pattern textiles, joyful colours, coloured glass, and flowers spilling over with abundance… because when the sun shines in spring, it calls for a table that celebrates more is more.
Everything here is from my new collection with @dunelmuk where I worked to create a collection that you could effortlessly mix and match, that way you can be creative and make it your own style statement. From furniture to tableware, textiles to glassware it’s a full more is more collection! Let’s hope that sun keeps shining as I think we are in for a beautiful summer!
Before ➡️ After From beige to boom! My bathroo Before ➡️ After
From beige to boom! My bathroom is now full of colour, joy and serious personality. Proof that interior design can totally shift your mood and how you feel in your home.

Want to do the same? My online course ‘How to Create a Maximalist Interior’ gives you the tools to design boldly and beautifully — your way.

Get a whopping 25% off all May just comment MAYJOY and I’ll send you the link 🙌
Because design should feel amazing and I can’t wait to show you how.

#MaximalistInteriors #BathroomGlowUp #BoldDesign #ColourLover #SophieRobinsonInteriors #FeelGoodDesign
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