The UK’s #1 Colourful Interiors Inspiration Blog

Spoiler alert…it’s me!

This is going to be the most self-indulgent post I may have ever written, and to many it may feel overdue or like old news – but to me, it’s just taken this long to sink in, and I wanted to document this moment. In October 2018, I was voted the Best Colour Inspiration in the Amara Interiors Blog Awards 2018.

What Does That Mean?

Deep question, I know. But for those who may not be familiar with the blogging world and/or interiors, The Amaras is a big deal – kind of like the Oscars of the interiors universe. I’ve been blogging since 2011, and in that time have been nominated for 5 years’ worth of Amara awards, mostly in the DIY category due to our renovations being the main focus of content in the early days. However, more recently I’ve been grouped into Best Colour Inspiration, a category I feel so much more attuned to. And not only did I receive a nomination in 2018, I was shortlisted to the Top 5 (which bagged me entry to the award ceremony – a feat I’d not managed before), and ultimately, winning the title. It’s an incredible achievement.

Why I Write About About Colourful Interiors

Back in 2011, Joe and I bought our first home. An unloved property with no kitchen or bathroom, and we renovated it brick by brick learning along the way, documenting what we’d done. But by the time we came to decorating it we were clueless!

Just like so many other walks of life, in your mid-20s you’re still finding your feet. Testing the waters. Finding what your taste looks like exactly. Through sheer trial and error, and a bit of playing around with paint, we became known as ‘those that liked colour’.

The Colour Edit from House 1

The Memphis Mural
The Rainbow Toddler Bedroom
The Burgundy Bedroom
The Smalt Blue Kitchen

The Story So Far With House 2

The DIY Hex Wall
The Blackened Bedroom
The Purple Fireplace

What It Means To Win An Interior Award

For me, winning an award has been more about self-confidence than an industry accolade. Don’t get me wrong, having Michelle Ogundehin (writer of Elle Magazine and Dezeen to name a few, TV presenter and general interiors legend) talk about how she enjoyed my mix of interiors and culture was something I’ll be really proud of for some time.

You see, I worked in the magazine industry when I graduated university for a B2B flooring publication – to be cast aside for being young, naïve and female. I left that industry quickly for a number of ethical reasons, but ultimately because it felt like I didn’t belong. How refreshing it has been to see this world grow, welcoming diversity more than ever before and celebrating all our different tastes.

As industries move forward, it’s been a blessing for someone like me with no formal qualifications in interior design to be able to speak freely about all the pieces of it which I consider worthy of attention. I may not be the most ‘qualified’ person to write about how to dress your home but boy do I have passion for it. And enthusiasm can speak volumes in an online universe screaming out for authenticity.

For someone like me to take home the award, is a sign that popularity isn’t the key to winning (however you might define winning itself). Qualifications aren’t the overruling signal of quality. There is a very welcome place for enthusiasm and sincerity.

ABOVE: Me at the Amara 2018 Awards! [middle] with my legendary husband clutching the award itself. Joined by Emma Jane Palin – the previous years well-deserved winner, with her other half and legend, JJP. Image taken by the immensely talented Natasha Nuttall.

Judging at #IBA19

So this year, I’ve been invited to be a judge for the “Best Interior Lifestyle Blog” category along with Emilio Pimentel-Reid – and I’m chuffed to bits. I’m excited to be a part of the events, but from a whole new viewpoint to how I’ve experienced them in years gone by. I’ve been paying close attention to all the blog entries, and we really do have so much talent in this community, one which I hope to get to know better over the upcoming weeks.

For those who may have missed the coverage of the 2018 awards, you can see a few snapshots from the video & images below. I know that winning last year was always bound to be the cherry on the icing for my trip down to London, but most of all, it was about getting to hang out with the people I chat to daily. The fellow enthusiasts who enable me to indulge in my hobby. And by letting my husband join in with the celebration, turning this great online community into something real and tangible. I hope I can help put that smile on someone else’s face by my contributions this year.