Vibrant Patterns and Colors: Trash Interior in Edinburgh

A bold idea to create an interior inspired by a favored hotel greatly simplifies life for both the client and the designer, at least in that it eliminates the need to reinvent the wheel or search for initial points for future décor.

In this trash apartment in Edinburgh, the starting point were the interiors of boutique hotels Firmdale Hotels, meticulously planned by their owner and decorator Kit Kemp. To recreate the atmosphere just like in the preferred hotel rooms, the client sought help from designer Jessica Bakley — it turned out she shares a similar decorative style with Kit.

Instead of copying the interiors of Firmdale Hotels word-for-word, the designer chose to base the color scheme and ambiance on them, replicating several local design elements such as a 'wavy' headboard in one of the bedrooms and an ottoman instead of a side table.

Besides, hotels are places where people only stay temporarily but don't live there permanently, so it was important for Jessica to adapt the design ideas from Kit Kemp's hotel spaces into residential and everyday living spaces.

The living room's backdrop was chosen to be dark gray, calming down the vibrant decor. The amount of light did not decrease either: white ceiling planes overlapping walls, large windows without curtains, and two symmetrical mirrors on both sides of the fireplace ensure its preservation.

There is almost no ready-made furniture in the apartment. While most people believe that reupholstering is a forced solution due to a small budget, Jessica effectively uses this technique in her projects. Vibrant textile patterns and colors were selected from her store: geometric designs, ikat, and vibrant hues — the hallmark of the designer.

There are zones in the apartment where the burst of colors is almost completely absent. These include the kitchen and bathroom, decorated in gray and beige tones — a contrast to which the client was initially strongly opposed. However, the designer convinced her otherwise: colorful hotel interiors are acceptable, but at home, it's impossible to live without zones where the eye can rest from color.