I love this photo of Anita Roddick.  Growing up in Brighton in the 1970s at the time this first special shop opened here - me and my friends knew The Body Shop so well! It was where got your ears pierced -or not - if you like me you weren’t allowed!  For me it was where I choose the next colourful sticker for my collection from a reel on the cash desk, while my Mum bought 'car-rot' cream for my Gran (family joke!) or had a potion refilled.  

I would spend my pocket money there.  I bought soap for my soap collection (will tell you about that another day!).  Then had gift baskets made up there as I got older ....and I started to engage with the company’s values - especially Against Animal Testing. 

When I returned to Brighton after university - it was the recession of the early 90s.  I had a bumpy start and was made redundant from my first ‘proper’ job.  So in desperation, I hand wrote a letter to Anita.  I remember it well.  I asked if they might need the help of a 3D designer in their head office (just along the coast in Littlehampton).  At that time Brighton was not the place to get furniture or interior design work.  Then it was all about finance, insurance and tourism.   Well I got a reply! ...and I promptly headed up to their London office in Great Titchfied Street to beginning helping designer Daisy Cresswell with some small merchandising projects.  

That lucky break lead to a wonderful 10 years of working on projects in lots of countries - and working with MANY other inspiring Anita fans.  I even worked for their Australia and New Zealand head office for the best part of a year.  It was fantastic!

I’m telling you this because ethics and business have been what I have grown up with and I had my sustainable design grounding in - all learnt while working for this pioneering company.  It is very much in the DNA of my own company now and I am very proud to continue Anita's way of being a business into my own. 

You can read more about my ethical business in this recent article I wrote.

I'm keen to share what I've been fortunate to learn from Anita Roddick and her wonderful, ethical company.  I love helping people with Anita’s entrepreneurial spirit to help their visions become a reality.  Being a designer with commercial experience means you are working on more than an interior aesthetic.  It requires areas of theatre, a customer journey,  branding, robust and long lasting finishes... lots of challenges.   It influences how I work on all projects - including homes.   

Read more on Anita's influence in this interview

If you'd like help with an interior design specification that is compassionate and low impact - then book a free Discovery Call here.  

I hope the list of decisions needed for a project that I gave last week helped you to visualise all the decisions to make on your project.  It might feel a bit overwhelming but great to see them listed and I hope it prompts you.

The other hugely vital point was the importance of a furniture layout.  If you put the effort into designing out mistakes at the drawing stage it will save you money and wasted time - and will be so much less stressful.  

Measure your space as accurately as you can. I have a guide that will help you which you can download here.  Measure the floor area and doors & windows.  Get the wall areas in between windows measured correctly.  Add socket, switch and lighting positions.    Draw all this on grid paper.  Measure any fixed items such as fireplace and add.  Measure items of furniture you’d like to go in the space - whether existing or new.  You could draw the footprint of these items and cut them out so you can play around with options.  Or overlay a sheet of tracing paper.  If you are introducing only a few new items into the space - then use newspaper or cupboard and measure out the exact space. Seeing the space in 3 dimensions early on will help you to feel more sure about the work. If you are drawing the floor plan - have a look at elevations where things are happening on walls - check they work in relation to each other. 

It doesn’t matter how you do it - use the method which works best for you.  

• How is the flow/circulation through the space?

• How is the view into the space from the adjoining space?

• Are you making the most of any nice views outside and maximising daylight? 

Are you looking at large items in your design?  

1. Look at whether they are delivered in one piece or not

2. Look at your door sizes (including the front door)

3. Look at the hallways, staircases and any turns need to get the item into the room

Please do this before going too far with your design and DEFINATELY before you order!  We want to design out mistakes!

Now look at your furniture layout in conjunction to existing sockets, switches and lighting.

Is everything easy to access?  Are any sockets covered up that need repositioning or new sockets adding?  Is the lighting going to light the right areas or do you need a rethink?  Would the space benefit from some different types of lighting with this new arrangement.  How often do you use the central pendant light?  Could you use layered, low level lighting instead - table lamps?

• Can you still reach the window to pull down blinds/drawer curtains?

• Is any heating clear of obstructions?  Have ugly radiators appeared that now need addressing?

• Imagine using the space.  Have you got enough storage for real life living?  Can you factor in anything that will improve the day to day use of the space?

• Have you had a rethink about a new item?  Update the drawing just to be sure of the fit.

I can’t stress how important this is to do if you want to plan the project well.  You will thank me for encouraging you!  It’s good to know any knock on effects early on as it all affects budget and we all know that’s when it becomes stressful.  I really hope this helps you!

Can you see parts of the process you’d like to do yourself and other parts you really don’t want to do?

That’s where I can help.  I can help you on the parts you need help with.  

A TWO HOUR CONSULTATION can happen in-person (in Brighton & Hove area) or online.   

In addition to two hour consultations - time can be pre-purchased in 10 hour or 20 hour blocks.  

In my blog last week I talked about a project that started as fun for a client but quickly became overwhelming and no longer fun.

I don’t want clients to be hard on themselves.  There are a HUGE amount of decisions to make. Even if looking at a room or two.  Being organised and one step ahead will save costly mistakes and will alleviate stress.  It IS possible to enjoy the process!  But an early understanding of the types of decisions needed will prepare you.

Perhaps if I list the decisions it will help!

(deep breath...!)

1. Look at the space - could flow be improved, are door positions good? are views out of windows optimised,  how are the views within the building?  use of skylights, best positioning of the space for maximum daylight? 

2. The space in conjunction with the furniture.  Choosing the furniture and getting it on a furniture layout - get it on paper with the exact furniture you are using.

3. Audio visual - much of this is furniture layout dependent - at the very least - is a TV involved?  Where will it go?

4. Lighting and sockets need to correspond to that furniture layout

5. Lighting decisions - functional as well as aesthetics and correct lamp selection

6. Heating and cooling….  At the least - what type of heating - what does it look like - where do radiators fit in with the furniture layout?  (are you getting that the furniture layout is so important?!) 

7. Home automation - if you are having it, this is the time to get this factored in while walls and floors are open.  Made your home super energy efficiency with lighting sensors, temperature control, window shading as well as security

8. Flooring decisions - choosing a specification that is right for the space AND the right aesthetic.

9. Timber selection floors, furniture

10. Woodwork - door types and designs, skirting, door frames

11. Metal finishes: sockets, switches, handles, door furniture, taps  - plus what shapes are they all?

12. Sanitaryware - WC, basin, bath, shower, enclosure, 

13. Brassware - taps, shower fittings 

14. Wall and ceiling finishes 

15. Tile 

16. Appliances, equipment 

17. Fabric selection for soft seating, window coverage

18. Window coverage type and operation

19. Artwork 

20. Decorative items 

Even an interior designer will not have the answers for all of the items on the list.  But we know specialists to use and we can guide you through the process.  

I realise not everyone has the budget for this.  Plus there are parts of this process that clients really enjoy doing themselves.  I don’t want to take the fun bits away from clients!

Can you see parts of the process you’d like to do yourself and other parts you really don’t want to do?

That’s where I can help.  I can help you on the parts you need help with.  

A TWO HOUR CONSULTATION can happen in-person (in Brighton & Hove area) or online.   

In addition to two hour consultations - time can be pre-purchased in 10 hour or 20 hour blocks.