We first discovered Kimberly in a feature in Red magazine and were excited to see that she is based in the North West, having moved here from the States in 2001. In the feature a selection of interiors enthusiasts were interviewed about their homes and style. As you can see from the pictures below, Kimberly's home has been designed to be fun, colourful and eclectic. As lovers of all things gold and sparkly ourselves, the gilt touches, like the stunning sunburst mirror, fabulous pineapples dotted around, mixed with luxe fabrics and bold print, really do make you swoon! If we were redecorating we would definitely be giving her a call for some design advice.
When did your passion for all things interiors start? I remember as a child of around 5 or 6 going through a huge coffee table tome that my mother had from Better Homes & Gardens (a popular US home magazine). I would stare at the pictures and leaf through for ages, soaking in all the pretty pictures until the pages were practically falling out of the book. At the age of 16, I received a couple hundred dollars as a gift and instead of spending the money on clothes or going out, I redecorated my bedroom. I would often help my mother hang wallpaper or move around the furniture to give our home a new look - I think it’s always been in me!
How would you describe your design style? I often describe my style as ‘Eclectic Boho Glam’ – a mix of styles is a must (there’s no better way to make a room look timeless), a mix of colour and pattern and comfort and an element of gold or brass to add a touch of glamour.
Who are your current favourite homeware brands and why? My favourites are Anthropologie – they always have such a great mix and eclectic finds you just don’t see anywhere else and Zara Home – they have a huge selection of gorgeous items, I always find plenty I love there. Rockett St George also has some really fantastic, unusual items.
What is the one thing in your opinion which every home needs? Personality! It’s too easy for people to walk into a showroom or look at the way a shop has set out a room and want to just recreate it in their homes. But these rooms tend to lack any real personality – they give no indication of what a homeowner is all about – they lack soul! It’s so much better to carefully curate the things you love to create a home that’s uniquely you. It takes more time but you’ll get a much better result if you give the process time.
Can you give us 3 trends in interior design for 2014 which can be easily re-created at home?
Copper or Brass - both of these are becoming more and more popular and really add warmth to a room. You don’t need a lot – a simple hanging pendant, a vintage brass animal on a shelf, some copper pots filled with plants are enough.
Geometrics – with Mid Century style so popular at the moment, geometric designs are popping up everywhere. Consider a few new cushions, a teatowel for your kitchen or a throw for the bed!
Colour – Britain has been stuck in a ‘beige’ haze for far too long. While Grey is replacing beige as the new neutral, it’s easy to pair up with a few pops of colour, whether it’s brights or pastels, in your accessories. Choose a fabric or a piece of art you love and pull 2 – 3 colours out of it to take through to the rest of the room to tie a whole colour scheme together. Rooms look so much happier with a dash of colour!
Do you have any favourite design blogs that you can recommend to our readers?
Some of my everyday reads include Emily Henderson, Abigail Ahern and Christine Dovey.
What inspires you and where do you look to for inspiration for your own blog? Inspiration comes from all over really. Blogs and Pinterest are an obvious place – it’s difficult when you are taking in so much inspiration from all over not to have it influence your own style. But I find travel inspiring as well – every country has its own unique style. Closer to home, I gain inspiration from my own little garden – Mother Nature has a way of combining colours like no one else!
Describe the UK interior design scene in 3 words? Innovative, Independent, Inspiring!
You've made Manchester your home, what do you love most about the city? The accessibility to everything. I love that within 10 minutes, I can be in the heart of a bustling, creative city and then if I travel 10 minutes in another direction, I can be in a wonderful country pub, surrounded by nature. You have pretty much everything on your doorstep! The music scene here is pretty fantastic as well!
Do you have a favourite space or place that you admire for its design? It can be a hotel, restaurant, museum, anything you love! I absolutely love Anthropologie’s store on Regent Street in London. They really create such a gorgeous, creative atmosphere in their displays. I would move into one of their stores if I could! They really need to open a store in Manchester ;)
What has been your career highlight so far? There’s been so many great things that have happened but appearing in 25 Beautiful Homes Magazine was quite a buzz! Seeing professional shots of my little abode in a physical magazine was pretty special.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to enter the world of blogging? Be patient – you won’t have thousands of visitors a month straight away. It takes time and it takes commitment to get through those first few months when you feel absolutely no one is reading. Get involved in the blogging community – comment on other blogs (not just saying, ‘come look at my blog’ but actually getting involved in the conversation). Collaborate with other bloggers whose style/aesthetic you admire or feel an affinity towards. Stay true to your own style – it’s easy to want to replicate another blogger you admire but you really need to have your own voice to stand out in a sea of others. Figure out what makes you uniquely you and stick with it. You’ll soon find others who understand your vision. Post regularly – even if it’s just a couple of times a week, that consistency is key to making sure readers know you aren’t just going to disappear anytime soon.
You can find out more about Kimberly and read her blog Swoonworthy at www.swoonworthy.co.uk
