In the first of a new series in which we talk to people in the world of property and interiors, Nicola Garrington of Vive* Interiors answers our questions.
When & where did you buy your first home?
In 1983 I bought a mid-terrace home in Burnopfield. I had a second hand sofa and a washing machine – and the latter blew up!
I paid £11,500 in 1983 and sold for £35,000 in 1986.
Where do you live now?
Outside Shotley Bridge in a rural area. It’s a detached house in an acre of land – lots of gardening!)
Who do you live with?
My sons Christopher, 16, and Alexander, 14, and my cat, Max.
How would you describe your own home style?
Simple uncluttered with lots of natural light. The house is quite traditional with modern mixed in.
What would be your dream home if you won the lottery?
A two-bedroom cottage on the Scottish West coast with a sea view and a tiny garden.
What are your favourite interiors shops and why?
Vive*, of course, because it’s different. I like good design in simple format presented in a tasteful setting.
I love architectural design and bespoke products. I am inspired by people who can create, out of a simple idea, a work of art in material form. This can often be seen in bespoke high end interior design and kitchen/bathroom showrooms but more so when visiting exhibitions in places like Milan.
What’s your best buy for the home?
An induction hob because I love cooking. It’s cleaner, more efficient and is equally as sensitive as a gas hob. I also love my fantastic £4,000 bed which gives me a good night’s sleep.
What’s your biggest decorating mistake or worst buy?
My worst buy would have to be Emily, a doll the size of a four-year-old! At the time it looked cute from the back with its little Lucy Atwell hat and gingham dress – I always wanted a little girl but got two boys! However, one of my friends nearly had a seizure when they tried to talk to her! When the doll fell over to expose a blank face they screamed in sheer trauma! Emily now lives in the attic.
What’s hot and what’s not in the world of interiors?
Traditional shapes are oozing back with a vengeance. Brown and neutrals still sell but more and more people are braving a new era of black, white and even red. Plasma living has encouraged the use of black in a room.
Wallpaper is back. However it is generally confined to a feature wall. Big and bold is more and more the norm. People are enjoying the renaissance of fabric, florals and chandeliers.
What’s your favourite TV property show?
Grand Designs. It’s inspirational for everyone to get the opportunity to see what is possible. However, a lot of the projects are very amusing.
They sometimes feature wealthy egocentric couples who thirst for notoriety and want to show the general public how clever they are and how easy it is to project-manage a design and build home. Once they get started and the problems start they make themselves look ridiculous by bullying people and wondering why the bricklayers have walked off-site! When I went to the Grand Designs Exhibition in Excel London last year, a member of the public said: “I wonder if this programme depresses the average first-time buyer who can’t even afford to buy his or her own one bedroom flat.” With the great shortage of affordable housing, it was a valid point.
Vive* Interiors is on Scotswood Road, Newcastle, tel: (0191) 272-4594.
Do you work in the world of property or interiors? Perhaps you’re an interior designer, architect, estate agent, surveyor or have an interior-related business or shop. If you want to answer our questions email karen.wilson.ncj@ncjmedia.co.uk
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