Shop For Your Home with Interior Designer, Sophie Massey

We sit down with Interior and Architectural space designer, Sophie Massey, to discuss how she style's her home.

 

Streatham Common, London

 

So many… I absolutely love looking around other people’s homes, but I think if I had to choose one it would be Sir Terrance Conran. He has been a design inspiration to me since I was a child. I have always loved his design philosophy of ‘plain, simple, useful’ timeless style that perfectly marries contemporary design with traditional style, beautiful materials and exceptional craftsmanship.
 

The starting point is always what is the room / space used for? Then how do you want to feel or how do you want others to feel when using this space. With the use of colour, a range of materials, textures and lighting you can create a space that makes you feel relaxed, calm, energised and exuberant. Lighting is a key part of any space and can totally change the look and feel of any room.

 

For example, to create a luxurious, warm, and relaxing feeling in a bedroom you would choose warm colour tones on the walls, dimmable lighting to allow you to adjust it to suit your mood. Use lamps and up lighting to highlight features in the room, avoid directional spot lights. Layering up of textures, rugs, sheep skin, throws, blankets and scatter cushions to add luxury and range of textures to make the space feel tactile. 

When it comes to design I am a great believer that there are no rules and anything goes. But I guess my fundamentals are to start with a key focus in the room such as a table, sofa, rug or maybe a piece of artwork, take inspiration from this to build the detail in the rest of the room. Be creative with your lighting and finally attention to detail.

 

Everything. Inspiration comes to me often when I least expect it and can include colours, form, compositions found in in nature, fashion and graphics.

 

My dream project would be a completely unmodernised Georgian townhouse, with all its original features still in place. The light, the proportions of the rooms, height of the ceilings and beautiful attention to detail- an absolute dream.

 

Terrance Conran, Charles and Ray Eames, Russel Pinch and Oona Bannon of PINCH, Michelle Ogundehin (I love her Instagram feed) and Fiona Macdonald.

 

 

To style my Draper Screenprint I bought some new cobalt blue candles for my brass habitat candelabra to tone with the print, and I’ve kept it simple, picked out the pink for the floral, I went for a bright and vibrant pink as this sits with all the colours in the print. I’ve used one of my favourite lamps from habitat as its simple line and form works well with everything and I’ve accessorised with a few objects that I love, my vintage tin and smoked glass candle stick and Waterford crystal ashtray that belonged to my granny that I use as a tea light holder.

 

I would be totally lost without my Louisa Parris Meller wool scarf, it's perfect for every occasion. I love the fact that by folding it in different ways you can choose which colour you see most of. I love this beautiful feature of all Louisa’s scarves. I wear it wrapped round my neck with a cashmere jumper in the winter or folded and draped round my shoulders for a smarter look over a coat. In the summer when the evenings are cooler it’s always in my bag to throw over my shoulders when in a t-shirt or short sleeved dress to keep me warm and add a splash of colour to my outfit. I absolutely love the Brookshaw dress, the perfect addition to any wardrobe. Great with a pair of white pumps for a daytime look or with a pair of heels for evening. You can pick out any of the colours to add accents to your outfit with accessories.

 

I love nothing more than spending time with my friends and family, good food, good wine and lots of laughter, preferably by the sea. And if I ever get a rare moment totally to myself I love to explore, museums, galleries and showrooms gathering ideas.