A FRESH START FOR A DIVORCED DAD

Mark was in his early fifties and had just moved into a new house after his divorce. He felt it was a bit sparse and lacking in character. He wanted it to be somewhere he felt comfortable inviting friends to as well as being a place his sons could also call home.

He knew the house lacked his own personal touch but he didn’t really know what that was. He felt overwhelmed at the prospect of it and didn’t understand what he needed to do and the design choices to make.

BEFORE

AFTER

Using a bold wallpaper is a great way of injecting personality into a space. Mark loves leopards so we had some fun with this wallpaper in the entrance lobby. It’s only on one wall but definitely puts a smile on your face when you walk in.

Getting to know you

I helped Mark solve his problem by taking time to really understand how he lived his life and what was going on for him emotionally and practically. Then I introduced him to collated design ideas to stimulate and help him articulate his forgotten personal tastes.

The difference between me and the competition is that I don’t just focus on the house – I focus on the person too. I wanted to empower Mark to feel good in his home, good about his choices and confident to keep making them when the project was over.

Now he and his sons have a home that is more than just a nice space. It expresses his character and is a fun and functional environment in which to live.

BEFORE

AFTER

Hand made curtains cost a little more but hang better than off-the-shelf ones, so Mark doesn’t have to worry about arranging them everyday. Mark also chose to invest in a new sofa; we then carried the green of the seat cushions across to the other wall.