When it comes to furnishing your new home, ideas and inspiration can be hard to come by. We spent some time with our interior designer, Veta Sitaropoulos from Athé Design to discuss her suggestions on how to make your new apartment feel chic, but more importantly, like home.
How would you describe your design style?
I always aim for a balance between comfort and function, and an easy elegance. I love to fill a home with items that reflect the personality of the owners – a little bit of the old, a little bit of the new, mostly stylish but definitely with a few quirks.
Do you have a signature touch with your designs?
I’m told that I’m a fan of metallic touches! It must be the magpie in me. Adding a few special metallic accessories can really elevate a room. It’s all in the detail…
What’s your favourite item in the show apartments you’ve done for Forty/8?
There are so many. I love the grass cloth wallpaper that we’ve used in Orleans House – it adds a really lovely textural element to the living space. We’ve also been lucky enough to find some beautiful accessories and original artworks which really add interest to the show apartments.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I’m constantly reading design magazines and I find that photo sharing sites such as Instagram, are always a great source of inspiration. It’s wonderful to see day to day what’s happening in the design scene around the world. Closer to home, I spend a lot of time sourcing from sites such as Trouva, which have a great selection of items from lots of different independent retailers. I also love pounding the pavements and doing the rounds of London shops and galleries to see what’s new and interesting.
What cost effective things can someone do to make their new Forty/8 apartment feel like home?
There are a lot of inexpensive sources for the finishing touches that really help make a house a home. I love vases, flowers and layering throws for a cosy feel. The homewares departments in stores like Zara and H&M have incredibly inexpensive, stylish accessories. I also think that adding art to your home is the ultimate icing on the cake. It doesn’t need to be expensive, as long as you love it.
What are your must have items for a new home?
A fabulous comfy sofa is always a must, and a wise investment! It’s one piece that you’ll use often, and most likely keep for a long time. Floor lamps and table lamps are also a great way to provide instant atmosphere in a new home.
Some of our apartments are geared towards first time buyers. What’s your advice for them when it comes to furnishing their first home?
Spending some time on Pinterest is hugely useful in helping identify or reinforce your own personal decorating style. It’s great to put together a few mood boards as a ‘style reminder’ before you start shopping for your new space. Without these, it can be easy to head off on a tangent and to end up with things that don’t necessarily work with your style, or with each other!
What can our buy-to-let investors do to make their apartment appeal to prospective tenants?
I think a neutral decorating palette is always great for flats that will be tenanted. Not too neutral though! Stores such as West Elm have great furnishings that have an element of contemporary design to them, while still feeling classic. It’s also good to consider the finishing touches – high quality blinds or curtains are easy to find and order online (try Direct Blinds) and can be made up for you in a matter of days. Finally, a cosy rug and some good lighting can really help provide that ‘welcome to your new home’ feeling!
If you would like more information on our fantastic developments, contact our sales teams.
Our marketing suites are open daily 10am – 5pm:
Aria, Leicester: +44 (0)116 255 9733 / enquiries@arialeicester.co.uk
Orleans House, Liverpool: +44 (0)151 236 7777 / enquiries@orleanshouseliverpool.com
The Hallmark, Manchester: +44 (0)0808 164 4288 / enquiries@thehallmarkmanchester.co.uk