What led you to pursue a career in interior design?

I think it was my Mum! I grew up going to sewing classes with her in our local village hall in Harbottle, so from a young age I was into all things crafty. Even then I knew I wanted to do some kind of design.

I also remember, when my brother and I were about eight, my Mum let us choose the colour to repaint our bedroom walls. I chose sunshine yellow. From then on, one of my favourite things to do was to go to the local auction house to buy new furniture and move my room around, so I think that’s where it all started.

However, I didn’t really know that much about interior design. Back then, it wasn’t really thought of as a profession, and people had quite a limited view of what it was to be an interior designer. Usually, it was something that only the upper classes could afford, not something that was widely accessible.

Even now, it feels like there are a lot of barriers to break through: some people still assume that I just pick out pretty cushions and paint colours. But interior design is far more than that; we oversee the whole project from the word go, working with architects and orchestrating the whole thing, from the ground up.

What inspired the story you gave to Charlton Hall?

We wanted guests using Charlton Hall as their wedding venue to see it as an adventure playground, so Alice in Wonderland seemed like the obvious choice.

As the guests move from room to room – all of which are so drastically different to one another – it’s like they’re falling down the rabbit hole. Their journey throughout the house is akin to Alice’s: ‘curiouser and curiouser,’ the further she goes.

As a result, we were also able to breathe new life into the house. It had previously been used as a family home, but we’ve given it a whole new identity. However, we decided to name all the guest rooms after the children of various friends and relatives of the house, tying together the new identity with the old.

Can you give our readers any hints to help them recreate their own playground at home?

My number one tip would be, don’t be afraid to be bold. And, similarly, don’t be afraid to use wallpaper.

However, step AWAY from the feature wall! If you love a pattern enough to use it on one wall, then be brave enough to use it throughout the whole room.

That was something I wanted to do with Charlton, actually – to encourage people to be daring enough to go all out and use striking patterns and colours to make an impact.

I don’t expect people to go as far as we did at Charlton Hall, but hopefully, it will help people to take confidence that more outlandish styles and colours can look great if you dare to use them.

Are there any interior shops in the North East that you’d recommend for some statement pieces?

Susi Bellamy. She designs everything, from cushions to scarves, in all the eclectic and vibrant colours that I love!

Image credits: Zac and Zac