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WILLOW & BERT INTERIORS
© Jade Tinkler
Led by the uber creative Chloë Hannay , Willow & Bert is beloved for their distinctive take on interior design and elegant touches when it comes to creating bespoke soft furnishings , from handcrafted curtains to decorative cushions . Championing offering schemes and services that exceed expectations , Chloë , supported by a team of experts , transforms homes up and down the county with an abundance of creative flair , exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail .
What inspired you to pursue a career in interior design ? I grew up with parents who had an interest in renovating and designing rooms , so from an early age I saw how you could completely transform your home . As a child I was constantly rearranging my room , making little improvements and swooning over the Laura Ashley catalogue , so I guess you could say it was always my calling !
After I had my children , I took up upholstery and learned how to design and make curtains and blinds . Soft furnishing clients would often ask for my opinion on colour and design in their homes , and this led to me overseeing the creative process for them . I opened my studio in 2014 and have just celebrated a decade of design !
Is there a particular aesthetic / design style that defines your work ? Our ethos is to help clients confidently inject colour into their homes to create a joyful space . We often work with period properties , so sympathetic treatment of features such as beams , fireplaces and cornice is something we do daily .
In terms of an aesthetic , we are not an overly formal studio and love to have fun with our designs . We work with lots of houses set in the countryside , so an English country interior with a modern twist is our signature style . We relish using British fabrics and British-made pieces , and layer these up to create interesting spaces that relate to the family that live there and then combine with plenty of texture and colour .
What are the first steps in your design process on a new project ? Our first step is to listen to the client – we want to hear about the parts of the house or room that they love ( and equally what they don ’ t love !), how the space needs to work for them , and understand what they want to achieve . Having an in-depth brief will give us that “ North Star ” to follow throughout the project to ensure success .
A visit to the property is also a key part of getting under the skin of a new project . We want to see the layout , orientation , get a sense of the light , and view any features and key pieces that will be remaining . Once we ’ ve talked through the ideas , timescales and budget we put together a proposal so clients can see a clear roadmap for the project .
Do you have a favourite project ? What made it so special ? My favourite projects are often ones where I ’ ve been working with a client over a period of time where we ’ ve formed a real partnership . Sometimes I will see a fabric or a paint colour and instantly think of them – I ’ ll send them a photo or sample , and they ’ ll say “ Yes ! That ’ s it !”. It ’ s a lightbulb moment when you know what your client has been hunting for , but just couldn ’ t quite describe or
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