For me great design is all about the feel, the mood and the palpable intention behind a space. I don’t like to label or limit my design to a specific style, however the desire to feel grounded, closer to nature often has me drawn to more natural, earthy materials of late.

Inspiration comes in literally all shapes and forms; I find the best, most complete inspiration flows when I am still. Life is so full, so hurried, that when we stop and slow our minds often the best ideas are realised in a very real and organic way.

Start by asking yourself how you want your space to feel – cool and sophisticated or perhaps warm and embracing. Use this as a platform to start collecting images that portray those feelings to you. Forget trends in the early stages. Trust your instincts and take notice of what really inspires and excites you. Some reoccurring elements will likely become apparent, be it via similar materials, colours, finishes etc. Start to consider which of these elements could work in your space and go from there. Observe the emotive reactions you have to certain styles and make your space authentic by staying true to what you love.

If you’re still unsure, engage the services of an Interior Designer to help guide you in a clear direction.

The entire volume of space needs to be considered before starting a new design. This will define the limitations that you have to work with. From there you can employ methods that will help to visually make the space appear smaller/larger or lighter/darker etc. For example: vertical lines draw the eye upwards and give the illusion of height, whereas horizontal lines bring the eye down and widen narrow spaces.

Mood and sample boards also help to bring a vision to life and are critical to a successful design. By laying out chosen colours, textures, patterns, materials and finishes, this enables you to see what works and provides a better understanding of what the space will look like.

I really enjoyed collaborating with my husband and bouncing new ideas off him. He runs his own building company so we’re able to work as a team and achieve great results together.

The most exciting part of the whole process would have to be seeing the first few pieces of the puzzle come together. The actual space became real and visible, followed by finishes such as tiles and paintwork. At this stage I couldn’t wait to see the custom vanity installed along with chosen tapware and PC items. I am thrilled with the end result; it is literally my dream bathroom.

Challenges and stressful situations are routinely encountered throughout renovating; however, some planning and a sense of humour will go a long way to keep you on track and might just end up saving your relationship! Some of the toughest problems arise from unforeseeable circumstances such as not knowing what lurks behind an internal wall. Builders and engineers can help you understand what you’re looking at before diving into a project. If you’ve handpicked a dedicated and trustworthy team you can lean on them to help guide you through the renovation process smoothly.

I had visited The Blue Space before and was surprised to discover their fabulous range of products available at great prices online. When it came time to select bathroom fittings for our project, I knew exactly where to go. Quality brand names that you can trust, coupled with being able to shop at a time convenient to you make the process less daunting and a lot more enjoyable. It was a no brainer for me!

I will definitely be heading straight back to The Blue Space when we start work on the powder room and master en suite.

You are essentially improving your most valuable asset, so it makes sense to do your research and take the time to carefully consider the design. Question if it works for your family’s needs and if it will meet your expectations.

Be prepared for the project to cost more and take longer than expected. Budgeting at least an extra ten per cent should allow for any surprises that may pop up along the way. Don’t become deterred when something inevitably goes wrong! I find it challenges you to think outside the square and can often lead to a better outcome than originally planned.

Learn to embrace the process and keep in mind that it’s your space, your renovation so go ahead and do it your way!