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- A MESSAGE FROM GWENDOLINE -
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This week has seen the beginning of Spring and the International day of Happiness so what's not to love about this time of year? It's a season when the days start to get longer, hopefully warmer, as well as brighter.
I love this season because it's full of hope and new energy that will lift your spirits and invigorate your home. Today, I'd like to bring you fresh vibes with inspiration, sharing my insights from the past couple of weeks.
Speaking at the Affordable Art Fair recently, I saw an explosion of colour and creativity. I'll show you some of my favourite pieces of art from the fair, and also share with you how to successfully incorporate
COLOUR IN YOUR HOME.
If you feel anxious about speaking in front of an audience, or putting your ideas across confidently, there are a couple of places remaining on the workshop I'll be teaching tomorrow. It will give you practical skills as well as the confidence to succeed when speaking:
My interior design book -
A HOME TO CHERISH - is now available on Amazon to buy (Paperback £12.99 or Kindle £9.99).
This week
A HOME TO CHERISH
has been:
#8 in the Amazon 'Professional Interior Design' Bestseller list
#25 in the Amazon 'Interior & Home Design' Bestseller list
It's a wonderful gift idea for Mother's Day.
Today I'll share with you photos from my family book launch. It was wonderful to see so many friends and family celebrating my success. I'm in the process of organising a launch and book signing in Saint Albans so I'll keep you posted on the dates for that.
HEALTHY BODY - HEALTHY MIND - HEALTHY HOME
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement
Wishing you a healthy and happy weekend
Gwendoline x
Author
BIID Interior Designer
Digital Interior Designer
House Doctor Consultant
Conference & Event Speaker
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I was asked to speak at the AFFORDABLE ART FAIR on the subject of how to use colour and incorporate art successfully into the home.
It was a packed session, with standing room only at the back, and I spoke on two topics. Firstly, how to choose a colour that will add personality to your home. Secondly, how to select the right art for a room.
When choosing the right colour, I always recommend that you begin with a couple of keywords of how you want your space to feel. You might want it to be lively and energetic, warm and welcoming or even spacious and bright. (Chapter 1 of A Home To Cherish will provide you with a fuller understanding of how to choose your keywords).
INTERIOR COLOUR SCHEMES
Deciding on the emotions you want to create in your home will help you to choose a colour scheme that evokes those feelings.
Match your words with the most appropriate colour scheme. To understand the interior colour schemes, you firstly need to know about the positioning of colours on the colour wheel. It looks like this:
The most popular and successful colour schemes to use in the home include:
1) MONOCHROMATIC
A monochromatic colour scheme is where you choose one colour from the colour wheel. It's an easy to live with colour scheme and is lovely if you prefer to keep your interior focused on one particular colour.
To keep this colour scheme interesting, blend lighter and darker shades of the colour into your design, for example: light blue walls, mid tone blue sofa and dark blue accessories. To keep this colour scheme appealing, I also recommend you give it a boost with added texture within your furnishings.
2) HARMONIOUS
Choose two colours that are positioned next to each other on the colour wheel. eg: orange + red or yellow + green or blue + green). To create an interesting interior design, try mixing up the colour percentages.
You don't have to use each colour evenly, one-third red + one-third blue and one-third yellow. You could design a predominantly blue colour scheme (70%) with accents of yellow (30%) or you might prefer a more even split with red (50%) and orange (50%).
This is the most frequently used colour scheme within interiors. It is attractive and appealing whilst also being easy to live with. It creates feelings of balance and harmony.
3) CONTRASTING
This colour scheme will give energy to a space. It's particularly useful if a space feels a little bland or boring. Choose two colours that sit opposite each other on the colour wheel - red and green, yellow and purple, blue and orange - then mix up the colour percentages to create an interesting design.
If you've created a colour scheme that feels a little flat or uninteresting, you could oomph it up by adding in a pop of the contrasting colour for a boost.
COLOUR BALANCE
Think of your room as a story in a book. The walls and floors are the backdrop, furniture is the main character and accessories add interest to the plot. As with any good story, if there's too much happening then it becomes overwhelming. Likewise, if there's not enough colour in the story then it becomes bland and uninteresting. Colour needs to be balanced.
Look at your space as a chapter of your home. What does it say about you? It should express your personality and nurture your lifestyle. The colours you choose should relax and comfort you at the end of a tiring day, whilst also giving you a boost of energy every morning.
Where do you want the colour in your story? Do you want vibrant scenery, a colourful character or interesting highlights? Remember that colour doesn't just have to be in your paint or wallpaper. Colour can be brought into an interior through plants, furniture and artwork.
INCORPORATING ART
For your room, you can either create a colour scheme based around an existing piece of art, or you can create your colour scheme first and then find inspirational art to complement it. Here are some of my favourite art pieces form the Affordable Art Fair.
I find it easier to choose the artwork first and then use this as inspiration for the interior design. The colour scheme and style from your art will be the foundation for your design scheme.
The first step is to choose a piece of art that you absolutely love. It should evoke memories that remind you of happy times. Happy memories stimulate positivity and this will help you through difficult times.
Then, decide where you will put it. Will it adorn a wall and be showcased on its own, or will you mix it up with a collection of other pieces? Once you know where it will go then you can create a colour scheme for that space to compliment your artwork.
Remember to go back to the beginning and start with how you want the space to feel. Your art will most likely provide you with emotions and feelings. You can use this to help determine the colour scheme that will evoke and nurture those emotions.
Emotions are the key to a stylish and healthy home. They elevate your space from something that looks good to a space that looks great and feels fantastic.
If you're struggling to add colour or incorporate art successfully into your home,
just get in touch and I'll create your perfect paradise.
Wishing you a stylish and healthy year
Gwendoline.
BIID Interior Designer
Conference & Event Speaker
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- BOOK LAUNCH -
A HOME TO CHERISH
Last weekend I launched my first interior design book. It's now available to buy on Amazon and is an ideal gift for Mother's Day next week:
It was an amazing event for family and close friends, celebrating my achievement.
I hosted the event at my London club, The All Bright, and there were over 50 people in the room. I was anxious that no-one would turn up and I'd be on my own with Billy-No-Mates. It was a very emotional day, sharing the occasion with loved ones and #memoreistocherish.
Click on this photo to see highlights of the event:
I'm putting together other events throughout the year so keep an eye out because I'd love to celebrate with you.
Hope you can join me
Gwendoline x
Interior Design Author, Expert & Speaker
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- SEE ME SPEAK -
GRAND DESIGNS LIVE 2019
Grand Design Live (ExCel, London) is the award winning home event for ideas, inspiration and expert advice.
Based on the Channel 4 series and presented by Kevin McCloud, the show offers visitors top expert advice, new product launches and specialist exhibitors in six project zones. Whether you're planning a self-build, renovation or are adding the finishing touches, you'll find ideas and inspiration for your very own Grand Design.
Being asked back to speak as an expert is an honour, and this year I'll be sharing ideas and inspiration to attract buyers who'll fall in love with your property.
by
Gwendoline Alderton
Sunday 5th May
11:30 - 12:15 pm and 2:30 - 3.15 pm
I'll showcase the latest styling trends to create an attractive home, helping you attract those all important buyers. My techniques will help you achieve a quick sale for the best possible price in a competitive market.
Hope you can join me
Gwendoline x
Interior Design Expert & Speaker
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- SPEAKING TO AN AUDIENCE -
WORKSHOP
It's an energetic half day workshop that will give you the confidence and practical skills when speaking in front of people. Whether you have to present information at work, speak in front of an auditorium of people or are planning on giving a speech at a wedding, this workshop will provide you with practical skills as well as the confidence to succeed.
I'll take you through the important steps for a successful speech and then shown how to present with confidence, skill and professionalism.
I look forward to helping you become a better speaker.
by
Gwendoline Alderton
Saturday 23rd March
(12pm till 4pm)
To reserve your place click on the link above or contact:
Community Learning Team
01727 737154
Looking forward to seeing you for
a whole lot of learning.
Gwendoline.
Interior Design Expert & Speaker
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If you know someone who's creative, enjoys watching interior programmes on the telly, reads design magazines, or wants to create a beautiful home, please feel free to forward this onto them for inspiration.
Gwendoline
BIID INTERIOR DESIGNER
DIGITAL INTERIOR DESIGNER
LECTURER
PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER
GA INTERIORS
TELEPHONE +44 (0) 7841 519802
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