Interview with Julia Palmer

Name: Julia Palmer
Occupation: Freelance Interior designer and decorator
Website: www.jpdinteriors.com
Album on StyleRoom: http://www.styleroom.co.uk/users/juliapalmer

Julia has recently graduated from KLC Interior Design School in London and just finished her first professional project assignment in Mallorca!

She had four months to complete the assignment to turn the Seagull Villa designed by Alberto Rubio, a renowned South American architect known for his “bird houses” on the island into a contemporary family home.

Tell us briefly what the assignment was?
To redesign the dramatic but tired house. The house was a bland array of beige and brilliant white making the space ungrounded, therefore everything floated. It had a cold feeling and felt like an art gallery with no art!

Are you pleased with the results? Any room in particular?
Very pleased. The impact was more dramatic and even better than I had envisaged. Best room: Each one is unique and I like them all.

What was the most challenging aspect of the project?
Balancing the space. Using key pieces of furniture and the placement of objects defined the space.

Where does your inspiration and ideas come from?
The outside view of the mediterranean. The ever changing colours and textures of the sea and mountains allowed me to identify colours that reflected the atmosphere of the Mediterranean in a contemporary fresh elegant manner.

Which new designs are getting you excited at the moment?
It’s great to see colour coming back in the home. The over neutral scheme is now being enhanced with the soft hues of bright colours mixed with textures give a more elegant look to a space.

Can you comment what you see in trends like colours, styles etc?
Metallics are great. Berry shades mixed with natural weaves such as linen can create a luxury feel to a plain texture. Subtle mettalics were used in the Seagull Villa as they reflected the shimmer of the sea.

What would be your recommendation for “what to do first” in a decoration project?
Stand in the space and reflect on what you want to achieve. Before spending any money, think about how the space will be used and the atmosphere you wish to create. The position of the light is very important in the selection of colours as they will change the feeling of the space, cool, warm etc.

What would you say is the common decoration mistakes made by home owners? What’s your advice to correct those mistakes?
Empty walls. These not only define the areas, but a lot of people forget how they can be utilised with placement of light, artwork, glass. Large expanses of plain walls make a space feel lost and the furniture has no backdrop.

What advice do you have for someone with a home to decorate and perhaps a limited budget?
Look at what you have. Decide which items you like and think about how these can be used in different rooms than you had previously used. i.e side tables can become bedsides, mirrors can be placed elsewhere. Photos, choose your favorites and frame them in a group.

Choose a good neutral paint which can be used in all areas to keep the cost down, and bring colour in textures, window treatments and accessories, this way you can build it over time, once the major decorating work has been completed.

Above all, creativity is free and once you have a grounded space you don’t need a huge amount to make it comfortable, practical and contemporary.

Have you got any favourite albums on StyleRoom?
I love the way people have a space where they can share ideas and show their achievements. One that has caught my eye is the rented property in Oxford. The property is so light which is a great start. The way the white walls are accented with colours by plants and accessories define the space and gives life to the space. Renting does not mean you can’t show your style and that’s one of the things I like about this property.

What’s your idea of a perfect weekend?

Being near the sea with friends and family. When in Mallorca I love to go running in the Tramuntana mountains -seeing and feeling the beauty of the island inspires me.



































Tags: interview, interior designer