KINDLY

We've noticed something. One of our latest projects to launch is with a client we've known for two years. We began talks about her dream home way before planning was awarded and we were finally hired. We have always known she wants a dog wash area adjacent to the boot room. So why wasn't there one included in the architectural plans? It wasn't an oversight by the architect, our client simply hadn't briefed them with the same insights we gained over many conversations with her. The skill of a good interior designer is to delve deep into their client's lifestyle and wants from their home. We have our clients' dreams firmly in our minds when we design the interiors, we picture them using the spaces at different times of day and on social occasions. We get them! Needless to say, there is now a dog washroom on the final plans ready for the building contractors to commence their work. So what have we noticed? We are super curious (verging on nosey) and essential to a team of professionals needed when planning a new home build. Whilst I am sure the dog at the centre of this observation would prefer to roll around in the mud seen here, he's going to love his bespoke shower room because it will be built around his needs as well as his owners. If you are thinking of building your own home or renovating an existing one, please consider using an interior designer from the very start of your project. It can help you avoid mistakes before the build commences and save you time and expense. Call us to discuss. #HollisticInteriorDesign #ConstructionProfessionals #InteriorDesignUK

By the time a home renovation or new build project is completed, budgets can be exhausted, with little or nothing left for the finishing touches that will elevate the overall design. This is why we ALWAYS recommend including artwork and decorative accessories to the initial cost-plan, otherwise the resulting design can feel flat and uninteresting. Art will add personality to any space and the fun in the selection process can help our clients to renew their excitement in their new home. After many months of decision making about all things to do with construction, it’s time to inject some joy and surprise into the spaces we’ve designed. We love a visit to an art fair or gallery and often suggest our clients come with us so we can all agree on any investments for their home and be sure they work well with overall design. These beautiful, ceramic, raku fired bowls were the perfect solution for the narrow wall space above the sofa in our Sussex Home project. #InteriorDesign #FinishingTouches #CeramicArt  

We work with architects........and love a great cup of coffee! If you are an architect who would like to offer an interior design service to your clients, let’s talk and explore how we can work together. We've had several conversations with architects who would love to see their work enhanced and finished to the standard they visualise when they create their renovation or new home design, but so often the interiors don't live up to their vision. Enlisting the help of an interior designer from the get-go changes this outcome for the better. We get your vision and combine this with the client's needs and wishes to create a truly finished and photo-worthy home Based in Oxfordshire, our projects are all over the country, so don't feel we have to be neighbours to work effectively together. You can DM us here or drop us a line via email - interiors@bykindly.co.uk - let's have a coffee. #InteriorDesign #InteriorArchitecture #Collaboration

Q - What do you do when you fall in love with a fabric that has too much stretch and not ideal for upholstery but you can’t find a suitable alternative? A - You get clever and work out how to stabilise it. We had a pair of stunning bedroom chairs to cover and the silk striped fabric we found just could not be topped by any other. So we contacted a company who specialise in backing fabrics and they tested a meter square sample for us to see if we could limit the stretch sufficiently to make it suitable for bespoke upholstery. We continued our search whilst we waited for the results of the test (to no avail) and were delighted when the report back told us we could proceed. We now have a pair of stunning bedroom chairs in our Sussex Home project. Another lesson learnt and addition to our armament of expertise. You can see further images of this project on our website. #InteriorDesign #BespokeUpholstery #CPD

The 7th and final bedroom on our Sussex Home Project is now complete and we are delighted with the outcome. Part of the original house, this room was originally dominated by a dark wood 4-poster bed and matching fitted wardrobes that ran the length of the room, some 5 metres of them! The brief was to keep the bed and the same amount of storage but as this is a guest bedroom, the priority was also not to blow the budget on expensive bespoke cabinetry. We found the perfect compromise. By using good quality, made-to-measure wardrobes, adding beautiful brass handles and a hand printed wallpaper to the door panels we’ve created something very bespoke for our client. The 5 metre run of units is now a thing of Summery beauty, enhanced by the bespoke bedroom chairs. The bed is still a strong feature but no longer does the room feel dark and overwhelmed by the furnture. Creating a cost plan, working to budget and prioritising our clients' investment is a vital aspect of every project we undertake. #InteriorDesign #BespokeFurniture

Just occasionally we question the logic behind a restriction placed by a planning department (actually, we question them often). It can sometimes feel they are throwing down the gauntlet to challenge the design capabilities of the architect and then in turn us interior designers. The original idea for a contemporary kitchen/family room extension to a 1920's house, one with an open and honest divide between the old and new parts of the house was refused and instead, a rather more complicated roof structure had to be included. We were a little resistant about the idea at first, but after a site visit today, we are warming to it and can see how it might actually be celebrated for its difference. After many months of deconstruction, the nice phase of our North Oxford project begins. A united team of interior designer and architect working together from the get-go of any new build or renovation project will result in an elevated and truly personalised home for the client. If you are an architectural firm looking to collaborate with interior designers, get in touch, we'd love to talk tell you about our experience. #InteriorDesign #HomeRenovation #Architects

A new project and our first glimpse of a fantastic site for our client's new home. A contemporary bungalow with a living roof and a stunning landscaped garden. It may surprise you that Interior Designers should be hired simultaneously with your architect, particularly if you want a truly bespoke home designed around your lifestyle. We see opportunities and creative ways to utilise all areas and the final result is very much bespoke to your individual needs and dreams. This project became known to us more than a year before planning was awarded, we have had time to get to know our client and get over the early stages of understanding how best to manage their expectations and deliver what they need. There's a long way to go but we are truly excited to see our designs develop over the coming months. If you are thinking of building your own home or renovating an existing one, get your team of experts settled in before the project begins. #InteriorDesign #NewHomeBuild

We love to celebrate craft and the incredible skills that support our business. They so often add elevated touches to our projects and bespoke cabinetry is something we love to design. It's all very well have great design ideas but we need the best artisans to carry them out. We work with several joiners but Kivist Joinery in Oxfordshire are one of our favourites and have produced this lovely drinks cabinet for our Cornwall project It's a beautiful piece and we can't wait to show our client and see it installed. #InteriorDesign #BespokeCabinetry

Apparently, making your bed every morning could help you become more productive throughout the day. I think this comes down to the feeling that a tidy environment helps your mind feel a little more organised in general. It's certainly the case in our studio, our preference is to keep it tidy, it's essential for positivity and clear thinking. If nothing else, you leave your bedroom knowing that when you return at the end of a long and tiring day, your bed is prepared for you and looks so much more inviting if it's dressed well. Just a few cushions and a throw or bedspread could be all you need to give a sparsely decorated bedroom a lift. #InteriorDesignInspiration #BedMaking

Later this week sees the official launch of a commercial interior design project we are immensely proud of. Our client chose us above other more experienced spa and hospitality design firms because they wanted a more personalised and biophilic approach to the interior of this wellness destination - The Atrium Wellness Skin and Health Spa in Middle Aston, OX25 5QL. This is a space that will develop over time and because we have enjoyed the project and feel committed to helping our client succeed with her business, we will remain on hand to help her continue to populate the space with loveliness and definitely more plants. What you see here is the multi-purpose central area of The Atrium, where clients are received and will wait in comfort for the amazing treatments on offer in any one of the treatment rooms surrounding it. The whole area can open up for events and easily returned to the more intimate seating layouts you see here. We have no doubt Claire and her team will succeed and thank them for their trust in us. We are looking forward to launch party on Thursday. #CommercialInteriorDesign #BiophilicDesign #InteriorDesign