User Guides

The Victorian era spanned from 1837-1901 and was a period where interior design became a huge interest in magazines, and exhibitions with many people travelling the country to see new designs and discover fresh ideas for their own home interiors. The style became one of reproductions, with gothic, rococo and oriental designs being reintroduced ...

Christmas is a time for family, friends and celebration and creating a home that is full of festive cheer and warming colours and textures. Traditional Christmas decor provides a natural and rich finish that is reminiscent of the classic Victorian festive home. Rich colours, traditional decorations and handmade finishing touches create a welcoming ...

There are so many fabulous Christmas decorations on the high street this season you really are spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing a theme and colour scheme for your home interior. If you like to stand apart from the crowd with your festive decor then you can create a sleek and contemporary Christmas interior that is chic and vibrant. ...

1940s interiors are typically classified as ‘vintage’ interior design. After a long period of war and families struggling to make ends meet people were looking to cast out the dreary and dismal feeling of austerity and create warm and comfortable homes with a sense of family practicality and homeliness. With many people still experiencing a ...

The Tudor period in Great Britain ran from the reign of Henry VII in 1485 to the death of Elizabeth I in 1603. One of the most recognisable features of Tudor homes is their distinctive half timber design in crisp white and stark black finishes. Many of these original houses still exist today and are particularly popular as tourist attractions in ...

It’s that time of year again where we pull down the Christmas decorations from the attic and dig out the tree from the garage. Decorating our homes for Christmas can be an arduous task but for others (like me) it’s a time to unleash our inner interior designer and create a home that is full of festive cheer. While we all concentrate on ...

During the early 1920s modernism was sweeping across Europe with its austere and simplified look and architects began to design items for the home as well as the buildings themselves. The mid to latter part of the period saw the arrival of Art Deco style interiors that had already become popular in chic Parisian homes. Hollywood style influences ...

With all the miserable weather and chilly early morning alarm calls of the autumn and winter months who can blame us for yearning for the warm and relaxed summer climate that now seems a far off distant memory. Caribbean interiors provide a cool and calm ambiance that is perfect for creating a bright and uplifting interior feel even when the rain ...

Stripes and spots have always been popular patterns in interior design but this season they have given way to a new geometric design that maintains the simplicity of classic candy stripes and breathes a breath of fresh air into a neutral interior space – Chevrons. These elegant angular stripes form a straight edged, wavelike pattern that creates ...

The Edwardian era spanned a short nine year period between 1901 and 1910 during the reign of Edward VII. Following the heavy colours and interior furnishings of the Victorian period, Edwardian interiors embraced lighter and brighter colour schemes as well as more refined and delicate patterns that were influenced by Art Nouveau styles of decor. ...