Itβs amazing how much you can pack into three hours. I left last nightβs Coco Republic Design School session with Darren Palmer feeling three things: impressed (by Darrenβs amazing work), inspired (to make my own home even nicer employing his expert tips) and just generally excited (because thatβs how I get when Iβm around anything interiors, especially surrounded by other interiors addicts!).
It was a full house for the session (thereβs another tomorrow) which was all about how to work with your home to show it in its best light, covering the most common problems, offering solutions and advice. And Darren made it a really enjoyable experience by being a natural, warm presenter with a sense of humour who shared countless before and afters (you can never have too many before and afters in my opinion; interiors or weightloss!) and answered many questions.
Now I couldnβt possibly share it all here in one blog post (which is why Iβm going to do one a day for the rest of this week) and Iβm going to pick out what I took most from it and hope you find it useful too.
You know what my biggest issue with decorating my home is? IMPATIENCE. This is why I rush into choosing and buying things, only to get them home and find they donβt quite work, or love them for two weeks and then want a completely different scheme (we donβt talk about the orange bedroom anymore). So although I found it hard to hear, I totally agree with Darrenβs advice to put a good deal of planning into your interiors before you even start parting with any cash. He threw around words like focus, control and EDITING which are hard for a girl who wants everything done by yesterday to hear, but I have to admit he is so right and had I been at this session last year I could have saved myself a lot of time, money and frustration (not to mention arguments with the boyfriend about wasting money).
Weβve all been there. There is SO much choice you donβt know where to begin. Darren says: βThe more constraints you can put on an interior the better. An interior canβt be all things to all people,β and adds: βitβs important to have a consistent, considered and cohesive approach to the items you choose.β My approach is so the opposite of that, I have to laugh. Sometimes Iβve got it terribly wrong. Other times I think Iβve been blessed by a bit of luck. Just when I thought Darren was already sounding way too serious, he says: βBe diligent, focused and controlled. Itβs not that fun!β Spoilsport or what?!
He is absolutely right though isnβt he? How often have you wished youβd waited until you could afford the coffee table you really wanted or wished you hadnβt rushed into that βtrendyβ colour scheme that really didnβt work for you in reality?
So, todayβs lesson is patience and planning. Tune in tomorrow for some more fun stuffβ¦
(Did I mention what a pleasure it was to finally meet Darren in real life?)