A sneaky peak behind the scenes! Get the inside track from Interior Designers – from signature moves and pet peeves, to their biggest regret and ambitions for the future. This edition the Insider Scoop on Alix Stoney.
Todays guest on the Insider Scoop is Interior Designer Alix Stoney from Amberley Studio.
Photography: Lucy Swainsbury. Design: Amberley Studio Interior Design
Quick Fire Five
1. Favourite paint colour?
That’s a tough one! It changes with every project because what suits one home doesn’t suit another. I am very fickle!
I do love Slaked Lime by Little Greene, it’s an excellent neutral. But my favourite at the moment is Jojo’s Green by Coat as I have just painted my living room in it. It’s gorgeous!
2. Must have interiors accessory?
Cushions. Every day. They can be very affordable, you can make them yourself, they add that final touch of colour or pattern and they have the ability to transform a scheme. I’m not there for the karate chop though.
3. Signature interiors move?
Add house plants. It never fails to bring a room to life.
4. Go to interiors brand?
That’s like asking me to choose my favourite child! I work on show homes and residential projects with varying budgets so, as you can imagine, I shop around.
Recently Habitat have produced some really lovely table lamps that I have used for both purposes. There are so many sustainable companies I would like to use, but it really does depend on the client’s budget.
I always love a rummage in a charity shop too!
5. Interiors pet peeve?
Downlights. That’s a slight exaggeration. Downlights installed by developers and put in grids on the ceiling for no reason. I am a firm believer that lights need to serve a purpose and having a symmetrical grid on the ceiling does not serve a purpose (apart from to blind you!).
Use them where something needs to be lit like over a kitchen work surface or highlighting a piece of art. I once worked with an electrician who bragged that he had installed 76 downlights in his kitchen. I’m assuming it was a big kitchen but there is no need for so many lights.
Photography: Lucy Swainsbury. Design: Amberley Studio Interior Design
Four Insider Insights
1. Give us the scoop on your first interior design job & how much you made?
My first job was off the back of implementing a show home design for my brother when I used to work for him. I had set up my business but was still working three days a week in the office. My admin job turned into implementing a couple of show apartments at a development in Southend, Essex.
One of the buyers asked if I could design a scheme for their new penthouse apartment. I put a proposal together which they accepted and ended up buying everything for them, storing it until the apartment was ready and then moving everything in and installing it.
It was a big project for my first job, but obviously the kitchen and bathrooms were done and I worked with the developers finishes. I added everything else including furniture, window dressings (this apartment had full height windows everywhere so there were a lot of curtains!), lighting and accessories. And I was also in charge of overseeing all the trades.
The proposal was about £8000.00.
2. Biggest regret or mistake?
I’ve made lots of small mistakes. I think I learn something new with every job as all clients are different. From not measuring a doorway and a chair not fitting in a room, to ordering two mattresses instead of one and not including the removal of rubbish in a quote, but so far, I don’t have any regrets.
I am continuously learning, listening to feedback, seeing how others work and trying to step outside my comfort zone.
I also think it is really important to own up to a mistake, apologise, sort it out and move on. That’s how we learn right? Obviously, I try not to make mistakes, but when I do I deal with it.
Photography: Lucy Swainsbury. Design: Amberley Studio Interior Design
3. Biggest achievement or learning to date?
I think my biggest achievement is starting a new business, having never worked for myself before, at the age of 46 and giving it my best shot.
I’ve learnt so much and met so many wonderful people in the last four years. From building a website, setting up an email newsletter, going to numerous networking events to helping every single client make the most of their home. I love it!
4. What’s next for your business?
You know, I’m not a planner. That is one thing I am still learning and I am working on. My passion is working with people and their homes.
I am also trying to dispel the myth that all interior designers cost a fortune and only work on huge projects with massive budgets. That’s not my bag. I want to work with ordinary people who care about their homes and making the very best of what they have.
I’d love to work with a family on a whole house renovation. I love being on site and that would be a dream!
Thanks for reading the Insider Scoop on Alix Stoney. Want more behid the scenes? Read about other designers here: Tor Cooper, Jo Bedford Wenman and Alexandra Dauley.
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