Truly stunning interior designs don’t come along all that often, but when we see one that’s worth a special mention, we love to shout it from the rooftops!

If you’re captivated by period homes that have been renovated with love, care and cutting-edge style, then this week’s blog is right up your alley. We’ve had a quick chinwag with Laura Magee, a Belfast based fashion buyer and interior lover who’s better known to all her Instagram followers as @deco.dwelling.

Laura has lovingly transformed her Victorian-era home into a vintage interior lover’s dream. Her choice of colours, furniture, lighting and materials have all led to a gorgeous living space, so we thought we’d pick her brains on her own sense of style and gather some top tips on how to achieve such amazing results.

As soon as you’ve read this week’s post, head straight over to Laura’s page and give her a follow in order to keep updated on her renovation story. Also, keep your eyes peeled for a little cameo by our Hans Wegner Wishbone Dining Chairs – they make a fine addition to her beautifully self-constructed dining table…

Q1: Your home interior looks incredible! From the looks of it, you’re definitely a vintage fan, particularly Art Deco. What’s your ideal style of décor, if you could only choose one? 

A1: My favourite style of decor is definitely Art Deco, I just love the opulence. But I would say my own decor style is a mid-century, Art Deco amalgamation. 

Great choice! It’s true that a blend of vintage styles can lead to some spectacular results and makes for a lovely combination of materials. We really do love the mix of colours you’ve chosen as well, it’s so eye-catching (especially the dark blue and light pink combo).

Q2: What piqued your interest in interiors? Have you always had a natural flair for fashion, design and home renovation? 

A2: When we bought our first home in London, I really started to get into interiors and my love of Pinterest and mood boards grew to an obsession! But it wasn’t until we moved back to Belfast and into our most recent property that my love for interiors really blossomed.

I studied fashion and textile design at university, and I work in fashion buying, so I am a creative person by nature. But I somehow side stepped into the interiors world on Instagram very unexpectedly 2 years ago and haven’t looked back since!

Q3: We couldn’t help noticing our Hans Wegner Wishbone Dining Chairs making a cameo appearance in some of your most recent posts. We’re glad you like them (we reckon they go perfectly with the homemade table!) What appeals to you the most about Scandi furniture? 

A3: I love how simplistic and linear Scandi furniture is. It’s not only perfect in a minimal space, but can work incredibly well in a multitude of decor styles. 

That’s definitely a good point. Not many types of furniture are as versatile as the Scandinavian trend – we also stock plenty of different types of our Wishbone Chairs so it’s dead easy to find the right colour combination for your own space.

Q4: It’s obvious that you’re a houseplant lover, as evidenced by your stunning interior photos! What are your top tips on choosing houseplants for the home – are there any hard or fast rules? 

A4: Always check what light level your plant likes and how often they need watered. This will determine whether they will suit a certain space in your home and also whether you are up to the job of remembering to water them! 

Agreed, it can be easy to forget sometimes that real houseplants do confer a level of responsibility in terms of their upkeep and ultimate survival!

Q5: Sticking with the houseplant theme, are you a faux plant lover, or does it have to be the real deal? Or perhaps a combination of the two?

A5: 99.9% of the plants in my home are real. I do like faux plants, but for me it’s real plants all the way! 

Yes, this can be a polarising choice for some people! We have our fair share of both dried and faux plants on the WSG website, so we’ve got all the bases covered should any readers fancy splashing the greenery.

Q6: Do you have any golden rules on choosing furniture for your living space? Should you stick to one theme or can you afford to take a risk by mixing and matching?

A6: I always apply the same rule when choosing any decor item or piece of fashion for my wardrobe - I have to love it! That’s the hardest part, as I am quite a fussy person by nature.

Then I have to have a think about how it will work in my home, is it right for the space and how will it co-ordinate with everything else in my home or wardrobe. There is no point investing in something if it will never be used or worn.

 

 

That’s definitely true. It’s such a waste when items are hidden away in cupboards or in storage once they’re no longer loved. Choose something that you know you’re going to enjoy both using and looking at for years to come!

Q7: Finally, we love the way you’ve transformed your period Victorian home, both with the choice of furniture and also the varying colour scheme for all the walls and doors. Renovating an old property can be daunting at first – do you have any advice for Saints readers that might be thinking about doing the same?

A7: Renovating an old property is amazing as you have such a wonderful piece of history at your fingertips. I love thinking about how many people have lived in my home, how they decorated it and how decor styles have changed through the ages. 

But I always will say, try to preserve any original features you might have - like a fireplace or cornicing, as these can be incorporated into your own decor style.

When we moved in, we ripped up all the carpets to expose the original flooring. Yes, it needed sanding and varnishing, but it came up like new and it felt great that we were restoring part of the property back to its original glory.

That’s sound advice. Preserving the best bits of an old property definitely gives you a ‘best of both worlds’ result once you’ve renovated the areas that need work.

A huge thank you to Laura for participating in our little Q&A session this week. Don’t forget to head over to her page for even more décor, design and renovation inspiration.

We hope that you’ve enjoyed our interview style blog, and that we’ve given you some food for thought regarding your own interior design ideas.

We’ll see you next week Saints – stay safe.

 

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