We rent unfurnished, so always have our own furniture around us. I don't go in TOO much for the soft furnishings (rugs, cushions, curtains, throws), as they are cluttersome and really interefere with a low-maintenance life. Moreover, sadly, my posters, paintings and photographs have had to stay in storage for about five years, due to increasing fussiness by landlords/ -ladies about holes in the walls. HOWEVER, it is crucial to have ENOUGH of your own things around you, so that the web of YOUR things covers over a space which is, essentially, not yours. Minimalism has definite limits. Our last place had revolting dull mustard yellow walls, which definitely needed covering! Bookcases (with books!), a folding screen/ room divider, tension rods to create hanging rails, and one big rug (for the sitting room) come with us everywhere, like the interior of some sort of nomad's yurt! Seasonal and fresh decorations are another way to decorate a temporary home, and they leave only biodegradable waste, rather than broken MDF or shattered plastic! Leaf-skeletons on a string and rosehip-studded twigs (snap off the thorns!) for autumn (Fall). Holly, ivy and dried wildflowers for winter. Fresh wildflowers for spring and summer. Herbs in the kitchen.

Hi @lexoo2020 Please accept our sincere apologies for the delay in responding to you, we are just getting to grips with Houzz so it has taken us a little longer that we would have liked to get back to everyone. Have you thought about using paint to create some feature elements on your wall? This way you can introduce your favourite colours in the room while creating some beautiful décor. You can paint a hexagon pattern on one of your walls as shown in the video below; just replace the colours with the ones you like and that will complement your room’s colour scheme. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSLT9XYkdO4 Alternatively, how about making a collage of your favourite pictures in frames of various sizes and colours? This way you can include all your favourite moments and people in your room while still styling your space. The image below can give you an idea of how to mix and match to create the perfect look! If you would like some extra storage, why don’t you try some floating shelves? You can decorate them with your favourite accessories, and by adding a pop of colour on the edge, as the picture shows below, you create interest in your room in a subtle way.

Depending on the property (and the budget), both options have their merits. A big loft space can be more easily converted to a room but often the structure or space isn't sufficient and an dormer or extension is needed. This can offer a whole new floor to the building and with some imagination you can transform the property completely. www.pwjarchitects.com

Hi Heidi, I did a lot of work in Cannes last year, its a lovely location. The apartment looks wonderful, lots of strong architectural details, good proportions and light flooding into the space, a good start !! You really need someone you can discuss the project with who has the ability to visualise a concept based on your preferences and get those ideas down on paper. Your going to be inundated with designers who will pitch for this project. You need to consider four factors. 1 Do they have the ability to do the work. 2 Can they get on your wavelength so the interior captures your aspirations. 2 Are their fees reasonable and grounded in reality. 3 Can they present their ideas with artists impressions to illustrate their ideas. Taking into consideration all the above there is one final consideration. "Can you work with this person ?" This sounds like an abstract statement but an interior like this is the realisation of a dream for you, it should be a joy and as such you need to work with a designer that is both professional and on your wavelength from a personality perspective. On that basis you need to interview a quite a few designers. You need to be comfortable with that individual and have the confidence that he / she can produce a scheme that matches your tastes and have the ability to make it a reality. Here are a few details about myself: (Apologies about the bullet points) I'm BIID Registered - https://biid.org.uk/member/martin-nealon I have worked with luxury interior design for 30 years so have experience. I will quote a fixed fee for my design time, no hidden extras. My profit comes from design time only, I supply all fittings at trade and provide you with the trade invoices. (i.e. no mark up) I have two companies: www.3dinteriorillustration.co.uk The first is a design only company that can design the space, illustrate our ideas and provide mood boards for all rooms. This service is a fixed fee per room and is primarily for other interior designers but we offer this to private clients as well. We work on a fixed fee so you can see our charges up front and the visuals we produce will allow you to see the rooms in every detail. The designs are yours to keep so you have the option of retaining our services to do the interior or pass the drawings / mood boards to local companies to complete the works. www.angel-martin.com This company offers a full installation and co ordination service where we organise the project for you and oversee every aspect. I'm not going to pretend this is an economical approach, this type of project absorbs a lot of time but we do all the work for you. Thats my sales pitch over. Good luck with the project. With Kind Regards, Martin