WebSepOct2018

56 | www.westendermagazine.com
Homes & Interiors
I asked Stephen for some tips. He said:
'Look for the fun pieces. Focus on just adding
a single piece of colour or quirky item to any
room. It’s important that you don’t overdo it,
or it can look contrived. Concentrate on one
standout piece to really bring your character
into your room.'
Stephen also suggests, 'Look at things in a
slightly different way considering how they can
possibly be adapted. For example, could the legs
be changed to create a different look, or could
you add legs to raise the height and change
the function? Could a splash of paint hide any
defects and tie the piece into the room’s colour?'
And my favourite piece of advice from
Stephen, 'Forget about what rooms you would
normally find pieces in – there are no rules –
change it up.'
Whatever you do, try to be realistic about
your skills and available time. You may end
up botching an item that you’ve previously
loved by just being a bit over-confident about
it – or using the wrong materials. I spent ages
sourcing a perfect shaped old writing bureau
then spoilt it a bit by impatiently not preparing
it properly and, with hindsight, I should have
used different paint. So, if you decide to change
an existing piece yourself or add a creative
touch – double-check you’re doing it right and
you have the time, space, and tools you need,
and plan your approach carefully and enjoy it.
Otherwise – commission Stephen to do it for
you so you get the best of both worlds – a one-off
design statement tailored to your own space and
character.
We often get constrained by conforming to
what things were originally built for, by trying
too hard to ‘match’ or ‘scheme’ either with
colours or styles and we find ourselves caught
into the ways that previous trends created their
looks or effects and this takes away from the fun
and creativity of creating something new so,
keep your eye on what you think looks good, and
what works for you practically in your home,
rather than expected ‘norms’ and that’s when
you’ll really make something unique.
Alternatively – have a good rummage about
the West End, there are great new places
opening up every day, and it’s worth your while
to step off your usual routes and have a wander
around other corners. I recently dropped into
CoLab on Dowanhill Street. It stocks carefully
chosen lifestyle brands in a contemporary
environment, and you can sit down for
coffee while you’re in there. You’ll often find
something unique and edgy here, and at the
time of writing, they had upcycled, industrial
cubes featuring reclaimed film posters which
could be used as stools or side tables, and cool
industrial mirrors made from upcycled oil
drums.
CoLab Store
CoLab Store, 11-13 Dowanhill St
0141 570 1766
The Store, 26 Munro Place
0141 950 1333
Up-shop.uk, 557a Dumbarton Rd
0141 357 2579