interior+ / Issue 2 / January 2018

interior 

A publication from 

Furnish Interior Design 

interior+, issue 2, january 2018 

interior+ | 3

HELLO, 

WELCOME TO INTERIOR+ 

#interiordesign 

#architecturaldesign 

#interiordesigninspiration 

#interiordesigntrends 

#moderninteriordesign 

#interiordesignideas 

2 | interior+

ABOUT 

Interior+ is a biannual publication by Furnish Interior 

Design, Cheltenham. It aims to guide you through 

the journey when hiring an interior designer. 

Through the various projects illustrated we have 

described how some of the key decisions were arrived 

at in discussion with our clients. We hope the images 

and words stimulate thinking and ideas, and show 

that you can create your own perfect space, 

with our professional help at your side. 

We have also outlined some of the processes involved 

throughout and highlighted some useful design tips. 

WHO 

EDITOR | Daniel Cook 

MANAGING EDITOR | Laura Styler 

DESIGNER | David Spencer 

COPYWRITER | Victoria Fergusson 

PHOTOGRAPHER | Adam Carter - www.adamcarterphoto.com 


Royal House 

Parabola Road 

Cheltenham 

GL50 3AH 

01242 323828 

enquiries@furnishid.co.uk 

furnishid.co.uk 

@FurnishInteriorDesign 

@furnishstudios 

@furnishinterior 

@furnishinteriordesign 



1 

TOM HOWLEY KITCHEN 

OVER, GLOUCESTERSHIRE 

A unique and functional kitchen mixing old world skills with industrial style and new world technology. 

The owners of this beautiful 

Victorian school house with lots 

of original detail wanted a new 

kitchen to both complement and 

challenge their period home. 

They are busy people who love 

to cook and entertain. Alex required 

a professional kitchen which also 

looked homely and Zoe wanted lots 

of warmth and space to entertain. 

The wall between the kitchen and 

the conservatory was removed 

(image 1) allowing more light to 

enter the space as well as improving 

the flow between the two rooms. 

The floor is an over-sized ceramic 

wood effect from MANDARIN 

STONE which was laid in a 

traditional herringbone pattern, 

creating a modern twist on parquet. 

All cabinetry is from TOM HOWLEY. 

By adding our own cornicing and 

industrial handles from BUSTER 

AND PUNCH and hand-painting 

in Mole’s Breath, it became a 

bespoke design. 

The dated and austere chimney 

breast cladding was removed 

and original Victorian brick slips 

sourced to lend an industrial effect. 

This also provided warmth whilst 

retaining the feel of the original 

fabric of the building. 

The lights and many of the 

dressings are made of natural 

materials, providing contrast 

with the steel appliances. 

Continuing our custom-made 

approach to the scheme, stools 

were adapted from the CHRIS 

ECKERSLEY Tottenham Court 

Mod Chair. Leather cushions were 

designed with a wooden toggle and 

the spindles were painted in Mole’s 

Breath to complete the look. 


CLIENT 

Zoe 

// PROJECT 

19 Horseshoe Drive 

// STAGE 

Initial Theme 

// CLIENT 

Zoe 

// PROJECT 

19 Horseshoe Drive 

// STAGE 

Initial Theme 

// NOTES 

Kitchen design - mood board 

// NOTES 

Kitchen design - mood board 

// JOB NUMBER 

0316/08 

// VERSION 

01 

// DATE 

27/04/16 

// JOB NUMBER 

0316/08 

// VERSION 

01 

// DATE 

27/04/16 

HERRINGBONE OR CHEVRON CERAMIC - 

FACILITATES EXCELLENT HEAT TRANSFER. 

LOOKS DEFINED AND OF QUALITY, 

HAS HISTORY BUT IS MODERN 

// ADDRESS 

Royal House 

Parabola Road 

Cheltenham 

Gl50 3AH 

// ADDRESS 

Royal House 

Parabola Road 

Cheltenham 

Gl50 3AH 

// contact 

01242 323 828/07904 676 814 

daniel@furnishid.co.uk 

rob@furnishid.co.uk / marcus@furnishid.co.uk 

mike@furnishid.co.uk 

// contact 

01242 323 828/07904 676 814 

daniel@furnishid.co.uk 

rob@furnishid.co.uk / marcus@furnishid.co.uk 

mike@furnishid.co.uk 

INTERIOR DESIGN 

INTERIOR DESIGN 

2 

BARE BRICK - 

WARM BUT INDUSTRIAL. 

OPTIONS FOR LIGHTING 

rebecca@furnishid.co.uk 

david@furnishid.co.uk / tori@furnishid.co.uk 

TIMBER WORK TOP - 

PROVIDES WARMTH AND 

A SOFTER/QUIETER EXPERIENCE 

IN THE SOCIALISING AREA 

PROCESS | Our brief was traditional 

with a hint of modernity/industrial, 

whilst ensuring warmth. 

We proposed a variety of space plans 

but decided to keep the original layout, 

deeming it the optimum use of the space. 

Our preliminary process ensures that clients 

completely understand our ideas. Scheme 

Boards (images 2 & 3) and renders were 

presented as well as samples of flooring, 

CAESARSTONE MARBLE EFFECT - 

OFFSETS GREY BRILLIANTLY 

HERRINGBONE 

CERAMIC IN EITHER 

TIMBER OR SLATE 

bricks, handles, colours and ceramics. 

3 

rebecca@furnishid.co.uk 

david@furnishid.co.uk / tori@furnishid.co.uk 

TIP | Flooring finishes are a very 

effective way of defining different areas 

within a greater space. For example, the 

same design ceramic but in different colours 

can be used to distinguish between a dining 

room and kitchen in an open plan scheme. 

Alternatively, a greater sense of flow and 

space can be achieved by using one design 

across an entire area. 


#bespokekitchendesign 

#brickslips 

#timbereffectceramic 

#kitchendressings 

#featurependants 

LIGHTS | A number of twin, adjustable commercial halogen spotlights were 

plastered into the ceiling to provide both an industrial feel and directional task lighting. 

The pendants are in a prominent position, centrally located. It was important for them to fill 

this high space and be of a distinctive design that fitted the brief – warm with industrial hints. 

These are an original design by SECTO, called the Magnum 4202. 


HANDLES | The ‘T-bar’ and ‘pull bar’ handles by Buster and Punch chosen 

for the cabinetry gave this kitchen the unique and bespoke design required. The physical feel and 

sense (or experience) of products is just as important to us as their aesthetic and these beautiful 

pieces of hardware live up to expectation. They are heavy, solid and fine quality with every detail 

highly considered. The steel finish was chosen to tie in with the appliances and extraction hood. 


“Very impressed by the whole ambience. 

A lovely transformation.” 

#commercialinteriordesign 

#architecturaldesign 

#publicspaceinteriordesign 

#locallysourced 

#functionalinteriors 


THE BARREL STORE, 

YHA, CIRENCESTER 

“This boutique hostel offers a rare budget accommodation option on 

the edge of the Cotswolds. The hostel occupies a former 19th-century 

brewery barrel store which has been beautifully restored and renovated 

with environmental, eco-friendly standards. It’s clean, comfortable and in 

an excellent central location.” Caroline Mills - 

New Brewery Arts and Furnish 

Interior Design transformed the 

under-utilised and decrepit Niccol 

Building into The Barrel Store – 

residential accommodation for 

schools and groups, families 

and individuals. 

“The hostel has been finished 

with local, handcrafted furnishings 

- the communal entrance area, 

for example, displays a focal oakfaced 

staircase.” Caroline Mills - 

The Daily Telegraph 

The Barrel Store welcomes new 

visitors to Cirencester, fulfilling 

the need to provide affordable 

accommodation in the greater 

area and benefiting the town. 

At the same time The Barrel Store 

provides for more people than 

before to take part in activities 

at New Brewery Arts. 

Since its renovation the building 

is reputed to be the first public 

Passivhaus (low carbon) in 

Gloucestershire and one of a 

handful in the UK, with many 

environmental credentials. 


1 

This project was incredibly involved. 

Furnish had responsibility for many 

different areas including provision of 

space planning, interior design and 

source, as well as the design and 

fabrication of bespoke elements. 

The design of the staircase was a 

pleasure to produce. 

The building was once a cooper’s 

factory where barrels were made 

and stored. We decided on a spiral 

staircase taking inspiration from a 

classic barrel. The structure features 

horizontal cladding aping a barrel’s 

construction, made from oak and 

clad in cedar. A black iron handrail 

indicative of the barrel’s hoops 

was expertly shaped on site by 

a local blacksmith. 

“A unique crafted oak ‘barrel’ stair well 

leads down to the residents’ room” 


“Rooms are basic but exceptionally 

clean with bespoke metal-framed 

beds and linoleum floors. Bed linen, 

including wonderful, high quality 

Cotswold-made throws 

are provided.” Caroline Mills - 

The Daily Telegraph 

The throws were sourced from 

the amazing Cotswold Woollen 

Weavers, picked in 2 colour-ways 

to reflect the rooms. The chairs 

are an original design by CHRIS 

ECKERSLEY and the fabric for the 

curtains is a design by local creative 

VANESSA ARBUTHNOTT; all in 

keeping with a desire to find locally 

sourced materials and crafts. 

PROCESS | A requirement of this project 

was for the beds to feel unique to the 

building. New Brewery Arts wanted 

something that felt intrinsic, possibly 

even produced internally. 

We identified that all the available 

standard bunk and bed designs were 

made from round metal, powder coated 

tubes which to us looked and felt dated 

and cheap. We designed the beds 

(image 1) with integral USB charging and 

lights and sourced production in mild steel 

rectangular tube. We left the tube bare 

and had it matt coated for protection 

and a finished feel. 


PROJECTED INTERIOR DESIGN 

TRENDS FOR 2018 

We’re excited to delve into what might be in our clients’ homes next year. 

Read on to discover what we’ll be watching in 2018 for our inspiration and direction. 

1 

Whether you reside in a city apartment, 

own a beach hut retreat, live it up in a manor 

house in the Cotswolds or chill out in a ‘60s 

bungalow in Lands End, home is where the 

heart is. Elements of our homes’ interiors 

quite often showcase our lifestyles and 

capture our aspirations; extensions to our 

personalities, desires and dreams. 

So with 2017 nearing an end, the team at 

Furnish are looking towards the trends and 

styles projected for 2018. 

TEXTURE - This is going to play a big 

role in next season’s Interior Design. Large 

contemporary woven metallic weaves, jumbo 

knits coupled with embossed surfaces and 

3-dimensional wall finishes will make headway. 

Overlay, overlay and more overlay is where 

interior finishes are heading for 2018. 

Ostentation is out and understated elegance 

is in. Eclecticism took centre stage in previous 

years but 2018 will see the resurgence of 

a more structured design practice with 

movement away from the decorative. 

There will be progression towards highly 

functional design that facilitates great 

storage ideas for possessions in smaller 

spaces allowing for greater mindfulness. 

More and more, our homes are becoming 

places of sanctuary away from the 

fast-paced, social-media filled lifestyles 

most of us have adopted. With the increase 

in working hours, there has never been a 

better time for an Interior Design that enables 

relaxation and time to switch off and dream. 

COLOUR PALETTES INSPIRED BY TRAVEL 

Social media over the past few years has also 

opened our minds to a whole other world, 

to destinations we could perhaps only have 

2 

3 

dreamed of seeing in the past. We can 

now be sitting in an office in Barnsley looking 

at high-resolution photography of dream 

destinations at the click of a button, all 

without leaving our desks. This is proving to 

have a significant effect on the colours and 

patterns the design world is drawing on. 

2018 will see palettes inspired by the organic 

deserts of the Sahara, architectural render 

colours of tropical destinations, the blues 

and greens found in the oceans. Holidays 

and travelling are becoming more precious 

to us when we do get the chance to take 

some time out so why not have reminders of 

these switch off moments around our homes? 

Momentos, cultural keepsakes and prints 

from around the world will all feature in the 

desirable interiors of the future. 

DECORATIVE FIREPLACES - With the 

cost of energy rising we have seen a huge 

return to the open fireplace and wood 

burners. Next year’s fireplace design will 

connect to the warmth and tradition that 

real fire offers coupled with decorative oldfashioned 

surrounds that take on a more 

contemporary personality. Finished in matt 

paints and block colours they will serve as 

contemporary reminders of the past. 

BLACK IS BACK - 2017 saw huge popularity 

for the dark accent colours of blues and 

greys acting as a backdrop to secondary 

bursts of colours. Our clients particularly 

favoured navy blue for their wall colours 

this year and we loved the results. 

This look won’t be going away in 2018 but 

instead will be taken to another other level 

with the introduction of black. Entirely black 

rooms will juxtapose metallics, in particular 

polished brass. 


4 

MARBLE’S NOT ROLLING AWAY! - Carrara marble 

took the interior design industry by storm back in 

2016 and remained in 2017. We are pleased to 

hear it’s not going anywhere. 

We will be seeing marbling with broader colour 

and patterns next year, especially picking up on 

camel browns and powder pinks and blues. 

We can’t wait! 

1 2 

3 4 


A STYLISH, PRETTY AND UNIQUE 

NURSERY, THE COTSWOLDS 

Nurseries and Children’s Bedrooms 

are always a joy to design. They 

really speak to our creative passion, 

providing a blank canvas to be 

spontaneous and fun. 

With the imminent arrival of a first 

baby, Sam and Lucy wanted a very 

special and feminine nursery for their 

little girl. The brief was simple: create a 

scheme that was warm and individual 


with the ability to grow with their baby into childhood. 

The palette consists of blue-greys, pinks, and gold. 

The baby’s wardrobe and toy collection was already 

large and due to expand in the future; storage needed 

to be a primary consideration. 


Lucy did not want “just a suite 

of furniture”. Her brief was for 

everything to feel connected whilst 

retaining a feeling of individuality. 

This was a great chance to really 

push the boundaries with colour and 

texture. Through discussion and the 

use of style and content Scheme 

Boards, we gained a full understanding 

of what Lucy wanted to achieve. 

This was followed by the development 

and sourcing phase of the design. 

#stylishnurserydesign 

#origamipaperpendants 

#ercolrockingchair 

Space planning and Mechanical and 

Electrical (M+E) plans were created 

to ensure best placement of the 

furniture and disbursement of ambient 

lighting at varying levels. The lighting 

was extremely important to get right 

as this room would facilitate multiple 

activities such as bedtime, nappy 

changing, playtime and the morning 

routine, all requiring differing light fall. 

The origami lamp shades from Sweden 

are made from card. Old bobbins were 

attached to the ceiling to create two 

bespoke light clusters and this origami 

theme followed through into other 

areas of the design, inspiring lamps 

and patterns. 

All the furniture and soft furnishings 

were sourced from separate suppliers 

to achieve the eclectic look Lucy 

wanted. The chest of drawers by 

OLIVER BONAS and the wardrobes 

by MAISON DU MONDE strengthen 

the ethnic style she loves. 

The fantastic curtain fabric is by 

MATTHEW WILLIAMSON, providing a 

burst of colour and a young fresh feel 

to the room. They are blackout lined 

and paired with roller blinds to assist 

a peaceful night’s sleep for both the 

baby and mum and dad! 


The walls and ceiling, painted in shades 

of blue-grey and blush pink from FIRED 

EARTH add an element of softness and 

relate to the colours on the inside of 

the wall boxes and lampshades. 

Carpet was sourced from our partner, 

DESIGN FLOORING CIRENCESTER for 

its easy clean quality and soft nature to 

ensure falls are softly cushioned whilst 

those first steps are taken! 

WALL BOXES | These bespoke wall box shelves were designed by Furnish and made by Alan at 

STYLER WOODWORK. Constructed from plywood, the beautiful layering detail is used as part of the 

design. The coloured back panels are detachable to ensure that they can be easily re-painted in the 

future and the brackets are concealed, allowing them to float. 

For more information on creative bespoke joinery, please email us direct: enquiries@furnishid.co.uk 



PROCESS | After working with a client for a while any good interior designer will gain 

an understanding of your requirements and in turn, you’ll learn to trust your designer’s 

professional judgement. It’s a great situation to be in and Scheme Boards can become 

more general, proposing an overall feel instead of focussing on every detail. 


GUEST ROOM/ 

TWIN ROOM 

A requirement for a bedroom to 

be both a guest room on occasion 

as well as a bedroom for 

teenage daughters. 



A client’s brief to design a spare 

bedroom for a Regency apartment 

in Cheltenham. 

#boldcolourschemes 

#blushpinkbedroom 

#ziplinkbeds 

#bedroomfeaturewall 

Richard and Caroline wanted to 

achieve a contemporary but edgy 

bedroom with a feminine undertone - 

a challenging but exciting dual 

purpose space. 

It had to present as a bedroom 

with two single beds for the client’s 

teenage daughters, whilst additionally 

providing a room to sleep guests in a 

super-king bed. 

The concept for the design stemmed 

from the ornate detail of the original 

cornicing. Conscious to enhance the 

architecture and tie in the old with the 

new, period ceiling roses were selected 

for mounting on the wall. This created 

a stunning focal feature and provided 

three-dimensional texture which helped 

the smaller proportions of the room. 

The colour scheme of greys, 

gentle pinks and blue provides both 

masculine and femine cues. The plain 

natural linen bedding (from ADA & 

INA) and blush pink curtains accent 

the scheme and allow the wall and 

headboard to sing. 

The bespoke headboard was designed 

specifically for this project. It’s made 

from grey felt suspended on an oak 

dowel which was stained to match 

the chest of drawers. It also features 

leather straps and brass studs allowing 

it to hang on the wall. It’s a specific 

length to work with the zip and link 

divan beds from FEATHER AND BLACK 

so that when they are separated, 

it fills the total width. 

Original artwork by CHRIS STONEMAN 

from Rise Art set the tone for the 

modern geometric shapes that 

appear within the chest of drawers 

by SWOON, as well as the accessories. 

CURTAINS | This pair of pinch pleat headed curtains hang elegantly, 

framing the architecture of the original Georgian window. 

Blackout lining ensures an uninterrupted night’s sleep in 

the city for Richard and Caroline’s children and their guests. 

TIP | It’s incredibly important to select the 

correct fabrics for window treatments. 

You should consider whether a fabric 

is appropriate for exposure to light, 

its durability and weight to 

ensure it hangs correctly. 




TIP | Paint samples on lining paper. This allows you to see the colour in a 

large format without creating a mess on the existing walls. It also ensures the 

colour can be positioned in various areas of the room or even throughout 

the building to check it works with varying light sources. 

CEILING ROSES | Ceiling Centres or plaster Ceiling Roses were originally installed to 

protect the ceiling from the heat and charring caused by candle or gas lighting. 

This way the owner of the property had only to re-decorate the plaster 

Centre Piece as opposed to the entire ceiling, saving time and effort. 


UP AND COMING COLOUR 

TRENDS FOR THE NEXT 

TWELVE MONTHS 

1 

2 

3 

It’s that time of the year again and the colour wheel is spinning. 

Where will we land in 2018? 

Powder blues, pinks and subtle greens will 

make an appearance this season, drawing 

on a minimalist palette of pastels. Subtlety 

will be key, opening the way for calming 

environments that allow us to disconnect 

and recharge. 

In a stark contrast (don’t panic!), feature 

metallics as neutrals are going to be heavily 

used next year. Metallics have been popular 

for a long time now but they will take on a 

new form in 2018. We predict that they will 

be seen at large scale or even on all four 

walls of a room. Scary you might think but 

watch this space for some interesting takes 

on the concept. Metal finishes aren’t going 

away. Copper and gold were big this year 

and we think they’ll remain in close second 

with polished bronze taking lead in the 

coming seasons. 

Nature always plays a strong part in the 

choice of colour palettes used by designers. 

Let’s face it, who doesn’t want to feel the 

enticement of nature and the freedom of 

the outdoors whilst enjoying the comforts 

that indoors offers? We think the next trend 

will draw influence from desert landscapes 

and hot climates and moving away from the 

oversized prints and colours of the rainforest 

that 2017 offered. Camel neutrals, terracotta 

browns and the warmth of eastern climates 

will all make an appearance. This said, we 

think that the green and blue tones we have 

become so friendly with over the past year 

will remain as a secondary palette. 

4 

5 

Pink will shine over the next twelve months 

and become a solo artist, coming into its own. 

We will be seeing the return of fuchsia bursts, 

baby tones and off-white with its warming 

personality running through subtly, all 

blended together in one scheme - delicious! 

Tech greens are also up and coming and we 

are rather pleased as we love the thought 

of combining these colours with the array 

of warmer neutrals the desert scape offers. 

Next year will see colour palettes that 

welcome fluidity. Starkness will be a thing 

of the past, allowing one organic shade 

to blend harmoniously into the next. 

2 


1 

5 

3 4 


GEORGIAN APARTMENT, 

CHELTENHAM 

#mirandacarter 

#largeceilingpendant 

#abstractcushions 

#fireplacestyling 


TIP | Ground a very tall ceiling. You can create a more defined and intimate space by painting 

the lower proportion of a room a darker colour. Dado rails provide a natural break 

but it’s not essential. Aim for one quarter of any height, a hard line between 

colours has just as much impact and is a modern adaption. 

ART | These large 120cm x 120cm pieces of art work were commissioned from artist Miranda Carter 

to work with the colours and textures of the room. They are made up of multiple layers of pigment, 

ink and drawn lines. Blending rich raw colour with soft diffusing washes. Abstract art can 

create a greater level of depth to a room, providing subtle shifts in 

view without the constraints of a figurative piece. 


Interior design is an extremely 

collaborative process. Any design 

company you’re thinking of using 

will want to get to know you and 

require your input extensively. 

The owners of this stunning 

Georgian apartment in Cheltenham 

are based in Bermuda. Therefore, 

the majority of the communication 

around design and budgeting had 

to be done via Skpe calls and email. 

The use of detailed and exacting 

mood boards, material swatches 

and technical plans shared and 

discussed can help you and your 

designer reach an understanding 

whatever the distance. Considered 

feedback is essential and allows a 

designer to clearly determine and 

successfully achieve the look and 

feel you desire. The client’s request 

was a scheme that would be both 

luxurious, rich and calming but also 

wanted modernity and edge. 

The scheme was a delight 

to produce. The apartment’s 

architectural details presented 

the perfect backdrop to modern 

furnishings and dynamic patterns. 

The tall ceilings, room proportions 

and original features such as the 

fireplace and decorative hand 

crafted coving all helped to provide 

a rich and considered juxtaposition. 

These are elements that needed 

to be celebrated and ultimately 

work within the design. 

Alex and Antonia had a desire 

to create a total space with a 

connection between each room 

and environment. They also wanted 

visual and sensual differences to 

create individuality and a sense 

of intrigue whilst moving through 

the greater space. 

The colour scheme in the reception 

sets the scene for the rest of the 

apartment where the punches of 

colour and geometric shapes can 

be seen throughout. 

Earthy grey tones for the walls 

were inspired by those that exist 

in the marble fireplace. 

The neutral walls and organic 

nature of the sisal carpet helped 

to set a calming backdrop. As a 

direct contrast bursts of blues, 

mustard yellows and magenta 

showcase as signature colours 

in the sofa, rug, cushions and 

accessories throughout. 

Calm and softness in the living 

space is juxtaposed by the 

monotone, angular dining and 

kitchen area with its geometric 

table, chairs and floor lamp. 

The Saba New York sofa sitting 

in front of the black sculptural 

character of the TOM FAULKNER 

furniture in the dining area adds 

the perfect injection of beautiful 

mustard yellow. 

Artwork by MIRANDA CARTER 

was commissioned especially to 

subtly pick up on the ochre tones 

and to add gentle blues, reflected 

in the cushions by JESSICA ZOOB 

and rug by RIVIERE RUGS. 

A huge bespoke antique mirror 

rests on the fireplace allowing 

the details of the ceiling and 

large-scale gliding pendant light 

by MARTIN HUXFORD to be 

bounced back into the room. 

mirandacarter.com 


CROCKERY | It is important for us to source products of the 

highest quality whilst also finding pieces that are unique. 

Deborah from FEBBIE DAY CERAMICS makes individual pieces 

in her studio in East Yorkshire and we are huge fans! 

The lightweight hand crafted porcelain rests 

delicately on the heavy dining table. 


interior 

Furnish Interior Design was founded with the 

inherent belief that interior design should be 

accessible to everyone. 

We design for residential and commercial spaces 

throughout The Cotswolds, London and beyond. 


Royal House 

Parabola Road 

Cheltenham 

GL50 3AH 

01242 323828 

enquiries@furnishid.co.uk 

furnishid.co.uk 

@FurnishInteriorDesign 

@furnishstudios 

@furnishinterior 

@furnishinteriordesign

interior+ / Issue 2 / January 2018

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