Instagram has fast become one of the leading social media platforms with 1.074 billion Instagram users worldwide in 2021. Many users spend hours swooning over, quite literally, picture-perfect displays of the most luxury properties and interiors from across the globe.
Instagram can be a place of fantastic inspiration but has also fallen victim to rife negativity due to its unrealistic depiction of many people’s homes, bodies and lifestyles. Many of its users are now cleansing their feed, unfollowing the simply unobtainable and unrealistic accounts that make us unjustifiably question whether we are in fact ‘living our best lives’ or not.
In our quest to improve our digital consumption, we found some accounts which are close to home and provide realistic and obtainable inspiration. We were delighted to chat with people behind some of the most stunning home accounts from real homemakers from across the North.
Emily @number_4_on_the_park
We spoke to Emily from @number_4_on_the_park about the importance of accessories and artwork, her design philosophy and avoiding ‘fast-homeware’.
How did you get into interior design?
I’ve always had an interest in design, I come from a creative family, and I’ve worked for Barker & Stonehouse for almost twenty years, which has given me exposure to a wealth of beautiful furniture and accessories. Thinking about what pieces will work in other peoples’ homes gives you a great grounding in composing different styles and understanding your own.
Did you have a plan for your home or is it something that has grown with experience?
I have a strong design philosophy and while that hasn’t changed too much over the years, it has evolved as I’ve experienced new things- particularly travelling in South East Asia. I’m a firm believer that a person’s home should reflect them and evolve as they grow, rather than being part of a plan. But living in a period home was always an aspiration, so I’ve been gathering ideas and pieces for this for years.
How do you feel instagram has affected people’s interior design choices?
I do think Instagram has given more people the opportunity to see how other people, from really diverse backgrounds and experiences, choose to furnish their homes. And I think that’s great – it’s a little like the way the Habitat catalogue opened the door to more choice for people back in the 70s. But I do worry that it also means that people are starting to decorate their homes for others and for Instagram, rather than creating the home they really want for themselves. I really believe the best design philosophy is being honest and authentic to yourself. If other people love it too, that’s a bonus.
What are your favourite interior trends right now?
I don’t really follow trends and I avoid the world of ‘fast-homeware’. When looking for furniture and accessories, I recommend taking a step back and question if you will still love it in ten years’ time? Is it a piece that you feel a connection to? Or is it something that people are just saying is the current style? I think most people will be happier with the way their houses look and feel if they answer yes to the first two questions.
What are your favourite pieces in your home?
Accessories and artworks are a really important part of an interior scheme as they add the personal touch and spark conversation. I love things that tell a story, or reflect an experience. One of my favourite pieces is a bronze Buddha image, which my late father passed on. It’s a connection to him and Thailand, where he lived, and brings back memories of our travels.
Why did you start documenting your home on your Instagram?
I started documenting my home renovations and decorative changes on @number_4_on_the_park as I was curious to see and learn from other people’s creativity in their homes, and share some of my own. The best moments on Instagram are when people tell you they’ve been inspired to do something by you – artwork or sculpture, or re-arranging a room. It’s lovely to think you have some small influence on how other people shape their homes, and from that I have made some incredible friendships.
Lisa @homes_and
Lisa, the founder of @homes_and, works as a visual manager for H&M Newcastle and enjoys spending her free time decorating her beautiful home and documenting it on her Instagram page.
How did you get into interior design?
I was massively influenced by my Mum’s interest in interiors growing up. I knew I wanted an old house as I love period features and the space you get for your money. We bought a home that needed a lot of work, most of which we have done ourselves and I fell in love with interior design along the way.
Did you have a plan for your home or is it something that has grown with experience?
Before we had even moved into our house, I had made mood boards for every room. I knew I wanted a home filled with whites and neutrals and I’m incredibly proud of how it’s turned out. When we first moved in, we had to beg, borrow and steal furniture just to fill the rooms. It wasn’t exactly to our taste, but we spent so much on our deposit we had to make do. In the last couple of years, we have started to go back through the rooms and redecorate them, replacing furniture more in keeping with our style and adding elements of cream for a timeless look.
What is the inspiration behind your home?
Zara Home and The White Company campaign images have given me a lot of inspiration for my colour palette. I knew that I wanted a classic look with elements of trend led pieces mixed through to keep it current and contemporary. I wanted to create a forever home that has longevity. I am loving Wabi Sabi, which is the view of finding beauty in every aspect of imperfection in nature, as well as other Japanese trends that I can incorporate into my own home.
Where are your favourite places to shop, when it comes to interiors?
I love shops like H&M Home, Zara Home, Home Sense and TK Maxx because they offer budget friendly pieces that look high end.
When did you start documenting your home on your Instagram?
I started my home account as a sort of diary to document the renovation of my home, I didn’t have a theme or much of an idea what I wanted the account to be. But, like my home, my Instagram page has evolved, and I feel like I have a stronger idea now of what I want my page to look like and what I want it to be about. I focus on creating a clear aesthetic and cohesive theme so it’s more like an inspiration source or Pinterest board for others rather than just a progress diary for me.
Danny @edwardian_home_1903
In June 2020 Danny and his partner Andrew moved into their dream Edwardian home. During the pandemic Danny was unfortunately made redundant from his position in hospitality and threw all of his energy into renovating their home. Portfolio spoke to the pair about their love of all things interior and the ways in which they have decorated their beautiful period property.
How did you get into interior design?
Danny: Andrew had his own place and was already interested in interior design. When we moved in here, our first home together, I finally was able to put my stamp on the place. We have merged both of our personal styles and have had great fun watching Americanised housing interior programmes while we have established our own style. Learning about different ways to make changes to our home ourselves was a great hobby during the furlough period. I did all of the panelling myself and it was all a big learning curve.
Did you have a plan for your home or is it something that has grown with experience?
Andrew: We did have a plan as knew that this was the house for us. We have wanted this specific house, in this street for a while, when it became available, we could not say no. We always wanted an older house, as we love older furniture, high ceilings and panelling; when we got into the space it just had the right feel for us. We did not have a set plan at all. The process revolved more around bringing the property back to life. There was a lot of trial and error as we wanted to get a feel for it. We really wanted our home to express our personalities, but still have its own traditional character.
What is the inspiration behind your colour palette?
We were desperate to inject colour with artwork, but as it turned out we decorated every room to have colour incorporated into the interiors as well. We seriously love pops of colour! We tried our best to work with the original features and give a nod to the property’s former glory through the colours we chose. We especially enjoy using Farrow and Ball paint as the colours are amazing and the quality is great too.
Where are your favourite places to shop, when it comes to home interiors?
Danny: When it comes to furniture, we are all about the marketplace. We especially love old furniture, and you can pick up some really lovely bits that can be made so much better through upcycling, and a bit of DIY. We do have some IKEA furniture in our home, but we love Next, and John Lewis is especially great for lighting.
Do you prefer shopping for larger pieces or smaller accessory pieces?
Danny: I defintely prefer shopping for smaller decorative pieces. Andrew: I feel I prefer larger homeware. We both look to support local businesses and try to get lots of our artwork and decorative pieces from Instagram and smaller companies. We do still love places like Sainsbury’s Home, Habitat, Zara Home, H&M Home, and TK Maxx.
Why did you start documenting your home on your Instagram?
We wanted to use our Instagram to document our home decor journey and almost use it as a memory bank. We have made so many amazing friends and hope to meet some of them in the future to further explore our love of interiors.
Elle @elle_the_home_bird
Elle is a former newspaper journalist and busy mum with three boys under the age of nine. Her passion for writing, photography, and interiors is documented beautifully through her Instagram account: @elle_the_home_bird.
Why did you start documenting your home on your Instagram?
Having an interior-focused Instagram is something I have dabbled with when in our previous house. Our current home needed a lot of work and Instagram was a good excuse to document our progress. I started taking the page more seriously from January 2020, especially with lockdown and staying at home. I’ve been really enjoying it and have made some lovely friends through the page. I also feel it is a great way to have some time to myself away from the children for a few minutes.
How did you get into interior design?
I feel my interest in design goes back to my childhood and visiting my grandparents. My Grandma particularly loved antiques: she had lots of oil paintings and items of furniture that we were not allowed to touch! I think my appreciation for old furnishings and period features definitely comes from her.
Did you have a plan for your home or is it something that has grown with experience?
I have always wanted a period property and love our current 1930s home. Initially, I tried to plan what I wanted to do with the space but found it difficult as we did the whole house at the same time. There was a lot to do, and I often felt my attention was split between each room and trying to tie it all together was certainly a struggle at times.I think it is okay to not entirely know what you want to do with your space, often you need time to figure out the lighting and get a feel for the room. Personally, I found a bit of planning and some time to really get to know your home creates the most organic results.
What is the inspiration behind your colour palette?
would describe my style as antique with a modern and colourful twist. I would love to be that neutral girl, but I just love colour too much. We have some pinks and greens in our home, and I especially love the Farrow & Ball paints. A few of my favourites have to be Setting Plaster which we have in our bedroom and Pigeon which we used in our living room.
What are your favourite interior trends right now?
Personally, I am not one for following trends. I tend to see something I like and purchase pieces that way, rather than following specific styles. The danger with following trends is that they don’t last and it can encourage you to lose some of your own identity. Although there is nothing wrong with being influenced by others, I want my home to reflect my family, rather than following a fashion.
Where are your favourite places to shop, when it comes to home interiors?
Most of our furniture is second-hand, antique, or inherited from our parents and grandparents. I do source a lot of our items from Facebook Marketplace and eBay, but still love to shop at places like Dunelm, La Redoute, The Cotswold Company, Neptune, and Oka.
Do you prefer shopping for larger pieces or smaller accessory pieces?
I prefer shopping for smaller accessory style pieces. I tend to find shopping for larger items a bit more stressful, as I want to get it absolutely right. I feel I have a bit of a shopping problem when it comes to smaller items as a result of this! I love to get smaller interior accessories from H&M Home, Oka and Etsy.
