We recently got in touch with Mary and Allannah at Victory Leisure Homes to find out more about their interior design skills in making practical and beautiful spaces for holiday home owners…
NACO: We’d love to hear a little bit about your background and how you came to work in design / holiday homes.
MARY: My parents own a soft furnishings company who supply predominantly to the holiday home industry so I had a bit of design knowledge. When I was 19 I joined the company the rest is history. I completely fell in love with design and have stayed in the industry ever since.
ALLANNAH: I’ve always loved design and I spent my childhood watching Blue Peter and making houses from shoeboxes. I realised that everything has been designed by someone, from a tin of beans to the table you’re sat at, and it fascinated me. I completed a degree in Multidisciplinary Design and an interior design internship to gain a practical understanding of the industry. Holiday homes hold a special place in my heart because I made so many childhood memories in them so being able to help create memories for other people is really special and something I take seriously.
NACO: What is your favourite part of holiday home design process?
ALLANNAH: Creating a practical and memorable space for the homeowner or holidaymaker is the main aim of the design process. Thinking of clever ways the space can be used, how you can socialise and spend time with loved ones, whilst offering a timeless design which will look great in years to come. From a creative aspect seeing visuals and mood boards come to life is my favourite part of the process.
NACO: What is your best piece of interiors advice?
MARY: Don’t rush into it – buy a couple of items and build on it, making sure you love everything you buy.
ALLANNAH: Always measure up to ensure each piece of furniture will fit. I like marking out furniture on the floor with masking tape – that way, there’s no room for error. When it comes to paint, always buy a tester pot before committing to a colour. Paint a piece of paper and move it around the room during the day – often lighting can change the colour completely.
NACO: What are some of your favourite furniture/storage solutions for small spaces?
ALLANNAH: Ottoman storage beds are great storing items you may not need access to everyday – they’re perfect for storing suitcases, extra bedding and keeping items dust free. Pull out larders are also a good space saver and you can label up your jars to make things easier to find.
NACO: What trends do you see in the next year for interior design?
ALLANNAH: There’s a fusion trend of Scandinavian and Japanese design called “Japandi” which I love. This merges the ideals of Japanese and Scandinavian minimalist elements and focuses on nature, natural features and materials along with light colours, clean lines, and bright uplifting spaces. We are also becoming more aware of environmental factors within design which are playing a key role when we select materials to take into account our footprint on the world.
You can see our full range of interiors on our website:
www.victoryleisurehomes.co.uk
