My oh my how did we get here? What a busy year it has been. Last year I worked on a number of projects and have been building up the business. I have been working on a number of new homes as well as a Victorian project. I have also been building relationships with a number of suppliers and I am excited about what 2017 will bring. I have a number of projects which are all going live in the next few months and hopefully I can share some of the photos once they are complete. In the meantime if you want to follow me on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter please do. I regularly update my social media sites with inspiration and it would be lovely to see you over there. In the meantime here are some trends which we are starting to see on the high street. If you need any help with design, colour choices or home styling please get in touch.
0 Comments
Apologies for the delay in writing this blog. Over on my Facebook and Twitter pages we are counting down the days to Christmas with lots of inspirational ideas for the festive period. So if you have not had a look then please do. I thought I would look at the top tips for decorating your home at Christmas. So here they are:
So that is my top tips for this year, here is some inspiration for Living, Bedroom, Kitchen, Dining and Bathrooms. I would like to wish everyone that follows me a lovely Christmas and a Happy & Healthy 2016. I will be back in the New Year looking ahead at trends for the coming year.
It is that spooky time of the year again when we all look to the dark side! And I am afraid to tell you that Black is back. Looking at the latest trends black will start to filter back onto the high street over the next few months. I know it is unlikely that you will want to paint your house black (unless you are a goth) but there are some accessories which mixed with metallics can look very elegant. Designer Abigail Ahern is well known for using dark colour, tones and shades but it is not to everyones taste. I have put together some treats if you do decide to embrace the darkness please see below. As you can see black does not need to look dramatic mixed with geometric patterns and colour it can look elegant. I have included some of Abigail Ahern's work so you can see how to embrace darker tones if you are brave enough. So now for some tricks. Designers are often asked what their top tips are for creating a room so I thought I would let you in on a few secrets. (not all of course- otherwise I would be out of a job!). So I thought we would look at how to display objects and pieces to give your rooms a more complete look.
Well that is summer officially over and sadly here in Scotland we did not have a very good one but I always believe that there is no such thing as bad weather and I do enjoy the changing seasons which usually happens here all in one day!!
Autumn makes me immediately think of colour probably more than the summer months do, there seems to be an abundance of colour, texture and form and what more does a designer need than that , maybe just a little bit of autumn light and it can be just perfect. With this in mind I thought I would create an inspiration board based around the wonderful season of autumn. There is so much to chose from at the moment but here is just a small selection of autumn 2015, I hope you can take something from it and be inspired. There are lots of vibrant oranges and yellows still around so I have included some West Elm cushions (you can find these at John Lewis a new designer in store). Moving forward into 2016 it looks like the metallic trend is continuing so I have included a lovely Tom Dixon candle (slightly cheaper than his lights which he is famous for) and you don't need a lot of copper to make an impact. I have also included some lovely Pouf's by Ugg which are great for additional seating in the home or work place, they also do some lovely cushions which will be lovely to snuggle up to. The botanical trend continues with succulents everywhere and probably for the next couple of seasons (I am looking forward to experimenting with them over the festive period so watch this space!) Leather is also continuing as a trend so I have included a leather mirror which adds another texture to any room be it hall, bedroom, bathroom or living room. Tartan is always about at this time of year so check out this very vibrant armchair from John Lewis. I have also included a Tom Raffield light, he has taken inspiration from a fallen pine cone which is just perfect to represent this time of year, his lights are a work of art using only natural materials. The toad stool ornaments come from Asda (yes they do have some amazing home accessories) and the Kubus candle-abra is by Lassen of Copenhagen which brings in the Nordic/Scandi trend which always starts to filter through at this time of year. I do hope you like my little bit of autumn inspiration (there is not a stag's head anywhere to be seen so I hope your not too disappointed) I am off now to collect some brambles and harvest some more plums from our tree which has been amazing this year. I have given so many of them away but have made some Plum Brandy so I will give you an update in December how it turns out. I love the sea whether its the sound of the waves against the shore or walking barefoot in the sand I am never happier than to be beside the seaside. I am so lucky to live in Fife where within 10 minutes I can be walking along the West Sands at St Andrews. However I do realise that not everyone can do this, living inland I like to bring the influence and love of the sea into my home, whether it be a painting, storm lantern or cushion it is easy to achieve the nautical look. Please have a look at my inspiration board below and dream of the sea. If you would like any help or inspiration in your home please feel free to contact me. I am more than happy to help you become a little bit naughtical but nice.......
With Wimbledon just finished and it being wedding season I thought I would take a look at the colour white. Yes I know it can be difficult when you have children or pets around but there is something so lovely about walking into a room which is all white. White can make a room feel fresh, light and calm. Of course the example rooms below are at the extreme end of the white look but it is possible to add a splash of white to most rooms with a few well chosen objects or accessories. Here are some white objects and accessories you can bring into your home. For details of where to buy please get in touch or if you have any requirements for Interior Design Services please contact me.
Chelsea flower show is now well under way and this years gardens have been absolutely stunning. As designers we are always looking for inspiration and this year there are plenty of floral and botanical wallpapers, fabrics and accessories to choose from. Below you will see a Chelsea inspired collage which I have pulled together which offers both modern traditional and contemporary options. I am now away to do some Chelsea inspired weeding so I have kept this short and sweet! If anyone would like details of where to buy the products below please get in touch.
Have you ever thought about using pastel colours in your home? When I think of pastel colours at this time of year I immediately think of Cadbury Mini Eggs and with Easter in a few days I thought I would look at some ways of bringing some subtle pastel colours into your home. Spring is just around the corner and there is one colour that shouts out spring to me and that is yellow. Now I have to confess yellow is not one of my favourite colours but team it with grey and they are a match made in heaven. I love the way a contemporary geometric print wallpaper or fabric in grey is lifted to a higher level with the influence of yellow. You do not have to go overboard with it either, bring some daffodils in from the garden pop them in a vase or, if you are lucky to have forsythia in your garden, putting some sprays in a glass vase or jar can bring any room to life.
I have recently been introduced to a textile designer called Natasha Marshall who is based in Glasgow. Her fabric designs are bright and vibrant and I fell in love with them when we met at the Scottish Interior Design showcase. I can certainly see myself using her fabrics in the future as within her current collection she has some lovely fabrics in yellow and grey which I have included in my concept board. Alternatively introduce a burst of colour with some yellow cushions (people that know me well will confirm that I love my candles and cushions!!) and I particularly like this Fox Scion cushion in yellow and grey. 50's fashion is is still hanging around too and this can be seen in this crockery designed to celebrate the 1951 Festival of Britain. Now I'm waiting for whenever my forsythia comes into bloom so I can pop some into a vase. Be brave, embrace the sunshine and introduce a little bit of yellow to your life! Welcome to my blog. My aim is to keep everyone informed of my progress as Interiors by Tracy Smith sets out to establish itself in the Interior Design industry. I will be keeping on top of current trends in design, materials, fabrics, colours, furnishings, accessories, art etc. etc and will be posting regularly with my recommendations and inspirations. Occasionally I may digress into some of my other interests (food, music, art, local events etc) so please forgive me for my ramblings and feel free to comment.
As I am based in Scotland, and as we have recently celebrated Burns Night, I thought I would include some plaids, tweeds and tartans which is a trend that never disappears and that I can't get enough of. There are some lovely fabrics out there and although some can be expensive we can always find a cheaper alternative. Currently I have real soft spot for some of the fabrics being produced by Moon Fabrics and I especially love their Bronte range which includes beautiful throws in subtle tones which can be placed at the bottom of the bed or on the arm rest of your favourite chair. With the cold snap set to continue into February it would be lovely snuggle up on the sofa with one of these throws below!! |
Tracy Smith
I am an interior designer who loves all things design. In the past I have worked as a Manager in 4 and 5 star hotels in Scotland so have always been surrounded by beautiful interiors. I graduated in 2014 from the National Design Academy with a Degree in Interior design. I love creating beautiful environments for people to enjoy. Archives
January 2017
|