CLAIRE and James Hornby are living proof that you don’t have to spend a fortune to achieve a super stylish interior. The pair bought their three-bedroom Edwardian terraced home in Darlington four years ago for £160,000 and have spent just £20,000 on a full refurbishment including skimming the walls, a new bathroom, furniture, accessories and soft furnishings. "There’s so much more I would’ve done if I’d had the money," says Claire, 35, who is design and project manager for Barker & Stonehouse. "I would’ve extended the kitchen into the side return and knocked it through into the dining room. I would’ve gone to town." Instead Claire has mixed bargain buys, such as a retro G-plan coffee table bought for £10, with a few selected items that are a bit pricier, such as the large mirror and chaise bought for £400 from an antique shop in Ripon. A few iconic items are also dotted around such as the Ercol butterfly chair and the Philippe Starke Ghost chair. "You could get a Primark top and mix it with a pair of Armani trousers. It’s that mix," she explains. "Once you’ve got an eye for it and you’re confident, it’s achievable. I look at my style and I think where can I go? How can I save money? You really can do it on a budget." Claire also loves customising furniture, for instance, painting an old antique wardrobe and wallpapering the inside. She says: "People sometimes want to chuck everything out and start anew but what they forget is that you can re-invent a room easily just by changing the display or the layout of the room, or you can change your accessories around." As both Claire and James work for Barker & Stonehouse, their staff discount comes in pretty handy too. "You wear many hats at Barker & Stonehouse," says Claire who describes James’s role as "a bit of everything." For her, the best part is devising new looks and styling room sets for brochures and window displays. At the moment she’s working on key themes for autumn. "Although leather’s still a big thing, there are more velvets and beautiful fabrics coming in," she says. "We’re seeing traditional shapes with more contemporary fabrics." Claire and James met six years ago through work and have been married for almost two years. They have an eight-month-old son, Ben. It’s clear that Claire has the final say when it comes to the interior of their home. "Hotel design is my inspiration," she says. "I just love it. It all started off for me when Malmaison started and I loved the boutique hotels. I love the style of the old James Bond film sets as well. "I’ve got a bit of a masculine feel to my interiors, it’s almost like a tailored suit. I love all the taupes and greys with an accent colour." Claire says her perfect interior would be Carrie and Mr Big’s apartment in the new Sex & The City 2 film. "It’s the most beautiful interior," she says. "It’s got a bit of Andrew Martin in there, with beautifully made tailored curtains. I love that look." With a degree in fashion and textiles, as well as previous experience working in product development for Elgin & Hall and then at CVO Fire, Claire has always been immersed in the world of interiors. | 
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