Firstly, thank you to all my loyal subscribers, your support and participation keeps me inspired!
After 20 years of interior designing one-on-one with my clients I've uncovered some common faux pas people make. It's this discovery and my passion to help people create beautiful spaces that has led me to this next exciting chapter. Before I launch into what the future holds, I'd like to share with you why I do what I do, my journey and how I can help you with your interior design!
– Upcoming Workshop – What's your Bathroom Style?
I was 12 when I first wanted to change the look and feel of a space. I didn't love being in my uninspiring bedroom, so I begged my mother for permission to change it. To my mother's dismay, I was talking a complete floor to ceiling colour and style overhaul.
I wanted to turn my bedroom into a space I never wanted to leave. For me that started with the perfect paint colour. You know that Tiffany turquoise? It's a favourite colour of mine, it makes me feel good. A quest began to find the paint colour I had in my head. The colour didn't exist so we had it mixed, the walls got painted and there was no looking back. My room became my space. My perfect retreat. My perfect colour is never far away and still inspires me to this day!
I've often been asked how I do what I do?
When I walk into a client's home I instinctively see a 'big picture' and direction for their interior. Yet I would never impose style on a client. Susie Miles Design is all about creating personal style by developing meaningful relationships with my clients. I work with people who are renovating, refurbishing or building because it's really hard to do it yourself. I help clients understand their vision and style, then together we embark upon a journey step by step and room by room exploring design ideas to achieve the home of their dreams.
I love sharing my design knowledge and after 20 years experience, I've developed DesignerSecrets Workshops based on a step by step method to create beautiful interiors.
Most people have great aspirations for their home but don't know where to start, can't develop interior design ideas and lack confidence. It lights me up knowing I'm adding value to peoples' lives, giving them a starting point and steps to create a beautiful home, or even just one room.
Every participant leaves my workshop having created a personal style Moodboard which becomes the essence for every space in their home.
1. START WITH YOUR BIG PICTURE – Think about the look you want for your home and tear out room images that inspire you from magazines, or create an online folder of images. Start a Colour Style Moodboard by visiting showrooms and collecting samples including paint swatches, flooring, fabrics or stone and laminate samples for kitchens and bathrooms. Look at your swatches over a few weeks, then start narrowing them down. You'll soon see a theme emerging, this is the start of your personal style!
2. CONSIDER COLOUR AND FLOW – Look at the colours you're drawn to in your Moodboard and even in your wardrobe. What colours make you feel good when you wear them? It's likely you'll use these in your interior design scheme! Flow is about having continuity throughout the interior, with colour and style flowing from one room to the next.
3. CHOOSE YOUR FLOOR – Do you know the floor is one of the biggest blocks of colour in your home decor? It's important to start with flooring choice and get it right before designing the rest of your scheme.
Upcoming DesignerSecrets Bathroom Workshop – 3 Key Secrets to Designing Beautiful Bathrooms!
Southern Tiles and I are collaborating and holding a Bathroom Style Workshop in October. What's your bathroom style? Gain bathroom design ideas, inspiration and the knowledge you'll need to create your perfect bathroom.
I'm excited to be releasing a design blog each month and tackling some of the common faux pas I mentioned. If you're facing your own interior challenges, please let me know by commenting and I'll aim to answer them in my next blog!