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The Design Sheppard

Interior design inspiration for the modern home

  • About this award-winning interior design blog
    • Press and Mentions
    • Legal
      • Privacy Policy
      • Cookie Policy
    • Contact me
  • Inspiration for the home
    • Appliances
    • Artwork
    • Bathroom
    • Bedroom
    • Biophilic Design
    • Books
    • Colour
    • Flooring
    • Furniture
    • Garden
    • Heating
    • Hotels
    • Interviews
    • Interior Accessories
    • Kitchen
    • Lighting
    • Technology
    • Trend
    • Wallcoverings
    • Window Treatments
  • Get interior design inspiration in your inbox
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  • Construction

    How to Maintain and Upgrade an Old House

    September 30, 2024September 30, 2024

    Buying an old house compared to a new build means you may have to take extra care to ensure that it is safe, energy-efficient and looks good.

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  • Furniture

    How to Take Your Living Room to the Next Level

    July 24, 2024July 24, 2024

    These living room decor ideas will help you to take your living room to the next level and make it your favourite room in the home.

    Continue Reading
  • Interior Accessories

    How to Decorate Like an Interior Designer

    May 6, 2024May 6, 2024

    Here are 12 tips and tricks to help you decorate like an interior designer so your home looks like those you see in magazines and on Pinterest.

    Continue Reading
  • Construction

    Slow Renovating: 10 Simple Ways to Update Your Home Over Time

    April 24, 2024April 25, 2024

    How to take an intentional approach to upgrading your home by adopting the slow renovating method & taking your time to make it work for you

    Continue Reading
  • Window Treatments

    Transform Your Home with Thermal Curtains: 4 Benefits You Can’t Ignore!

    April 4, 2023April 4, 2023

    The ongoing energy crisis leaves us all looking for ways to make our homes more energy efficient and save money by cutting our energy bills. Thermal curtains offer many benefits and with such an accessible price point they are a great place to start.

    Continue Reading
  • Lighting

    5 Of The Best Reasons To Maximise Natural Light At Home

    July 28, 2022August 28, 2022

    We all know that exposure to daylight makes us feel better but why should we maximise natural light in our homes? Here are five great reasons why we should and eight ways to do it.

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  • Window Treatments

    Luxaflex Blinds Review: Pirouette Shades with PowerView

    February 3, 2022February 3, 2022

    We recently upgraded the blinds in our living room. This is something I’ve wanted to do for years but trying to work out the best option for our window was really overwhelming. So we finally called in the professionals. Read my Luxaflex blinds review to find out what I think of the smart Pirouette shades with PowerView motorisation.

    Continue Reading
  • Window Treatments

    This is Why You Need Made-to-Measure Curtains & Blinds

    July 15, 2021July 14, 2021

    There are so many benefits to buying made-to-measure curtains and blinds over off the shelf options. Find out what they are in this post.

    Continue Reading
  • Window Treatments

    How do I Decide on the Right Style of Curtain?

    May 12, 2021May 12, 2021

    Sarah Wooldridge who owns a curtain and blind design studio shares with us her top tips for choosing the right style of curtain for your home.

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  • Interior Accessories

    How to Decorate Like a Millionaire

    January 8, 2021March 23, 2021

    We all dream of winning the lottery but it is still possible to decorate like a Millionaire even if you don’t have a Millionaire’s budget. Here I share my tips for decorating your home like a Millionaire.

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  • Window Treatments

    How To Choose Window Shutters

    January 20, 2020June 8, 2021

    Window shutters come in different styles, materials and colours and it can be difficult to know how to choose window shutters that are right for your home. To help you decide, I’ve collaborated with Diamond Shutters to create a ‘Shutters 101’ guide.

    Continue Reading
  • Construction

    Bespoke Flat Roof Windows for Your Home Extension

    September 16, 2019July 20, 2022

    The new Vario by VELUX range of bespoke flat roof windows is fully customisable when it comes to shape, size, colours, features and finishes.

    Continue Reading
  • Pilkington Glass large glazed roof

    Construction

    Choosing Speciality Glass for Your Renovation

    February 27, 2019August 28, 2020

    When extending your property in some way, choosing the correct glazing is a really important decision and requires careful consideration.

    Continue Reading
  • Loft conversion - Living room dining room space featuring velux integra windows

    Construction

    Dreamy Loft Conversion Inspiration

    January 22, 2019May 23, 2024

    If you’re planning a loft conversion, I have put together some really inspiring images to show exactly what that new space could look like.

    Continue Reading
  • Window Treatments

    Creating Privacy with Decorative Window Film

    June 25, 2018April 18, 2019

    As you all know I’m on a mission to find a solution for the windows at the front of my home. They look out onto a road and there are houses directly opposite, so privacy is a slight issue. You can’t really see into our home that clearly but I still feel slightly uncomfortable getting

    Continue Reading
  • Luxaflex Faux Wood Shutter in white_living room_grey sofa

    Window Treatments

    8 Reasons to Choose Faux Wood Shutters

    May 29, 2018September 27, 2021

    Faux wood shutters not only look great, but they are perhaps the most versatile of all the window dressing options. Here we take a look at 8 of the main benefits to installing faux wood shutters and we ask what makes them such a good investment.

    Continue Reading
  • Reviews

    Review : Wooden Venetian Blinds from Make My Blinds

    July 7, 2017April 18, 2019

    You guys have no idea how happy I am to be able to tell you about the new blinds we’ve recently installed in our bedroom. (Yes that is a cot you can see there, but with any luck, we’ll be getting rid of it in the next few weeks as we attempt to transition our

    Continue Reading
  • Window Treatments

    Embracing Minimalism with Window Shutters

    January 31, 2017April 18, 2019

    I am trying really hard to embrace minimalism this year. Well, as much as you can with two little kids who fill your house to the brim with all their unnecessary toys and clutter. I’m pretty sure that downsizing our family belongings is the key to my mental health for 2017. I wrote more about

    Continue Reading
  • Web Blinds Sleep Guide

    Bedroom

    The Web Blinds Sleep Challenge

    June 12, 2014April 22, 2019

    Back in March I was contacted by Web Blinds who wanted to tell me all about their sleep challenge. Now as many of you will know we had our first baby back in December and since Matylda arrived, sleep has been nothing but a challenge. In fact, I would go as far as to say

    Continue Reading
  • Window Treatments

    Creatively Different blinds by Fiona Flame

    June 18, 2011June 21, 2018

    If, like me, you have become an avid follower of @FionaFlame aka Fiona Davies of Flame Interiors you will have heard about the Top Secret Project she has been working on for the past few months. Some of us even wrongly assumed that the Top Secret Project was in fact the not-so-secret bump that she

    Continue Reading
  • Back to top

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    staceyjsheppard

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    Jul 14

    Open
    This place is beautiful.

I am so lucky to have @nkukulife right on my doorstep. I have to drive past it on my way to the office everyday and it's always so tempting to pop in. 

What I love most about it is not only the expansive feel of the space with the high vaulted ceilings but the fact that everything inside makes me feel a special kind of way. 

You all know by now that I'm obsessed with biophilic design and there is just so much that fits this concept at Nkuku. So many natural materials and so much texture. 

Come with me and take a look around the store. 

#Nkuku #BiophilicDesign #TexturedInteriors #NaturalHome #NaturalHomeDecor #Naturalmaterials #HomeFurnishing
    27 5

    staceyjsheppard

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    Jul 1

    Open
    [Ad] Technical design, master craftsmanship, and exquisite materials are required to create stunning oak framed buildings. 

Ever since I was a little kid, religiously watching @kevin.mccloud1 on @granddesignstv, I dreamed of one day embarking on my very own Grand Design. The idea of building my own home, exactly to my specification, felt like an ambition worth having. 

That dream home looked remarkably like the gorgeous timber-framed homes created by @carpenter_oak with their beautiful beams, floor-to-ceiling windows and honest, authentic materials. 

So when I was invited on a press trip to learn all about how Carpenter Oak works with architects, contractors and self-builders to bring their visions to life, excited doesn't even begin to cover it. 

During the trip we stayed @gitcombe, a holiday let that was designed and built by the team at Carpenter Oak, so we could fully experience such a home.

There we heard all about the employee-owned company, their impressive history and their many projects across the UK and beyond. 

We then headed to the yard in Buckfast to see the master craftsmen at work, and get some hands-on experience building our very own scale model of an oak framed building.

Do I still dream of building my own Grand Design one day? Absolutely! And especially if I had a team like Carpenter Oak bringing their passion, and expertise to the project. 

What about you? Ever considered a timber framed home? 

#CarpenterOak #timberframe #OakFramedBuilding #timberframehouse #timberframehomes #oakframedbuildings #selfbuildhomes
#selfbuilders #presstrip #Buckfast #YardTour #UniqueHomes #ArchitecturalHomes
    21 2

    staceyjsheppard

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    Jun 29

    Open
    Imagine spending summer hanging out here! 

That's absolutely what I plan to do as it's my local just down the road @blackpoolsandsdevon 

Yesterday was the opening event for the newly relaunched restaurant and bar which has been beautifully designed and refurbished and features lots of gorgeous goodness from @nkukulife to give it those relaxed biophilic vibes. 

I can't wait to grab a drink and perch myself under the tiki beach parasol outside. The new menu looks tantalizingly good and with those views while you dine, why would you go anywhere else! 

I'm looking forward to spending summer at the beach and soaking up all the cool coastal vibes that Blackpool Sands will be offering up over the next few months.

Credit to everyone involved in breathing new life into this stunning location. This really is what summer dreams are made of ⛱️ 🌞 🌊🏄‍♀️🍹🍦🕶️🥙🪇

#summervibing #beachcafe #BlackpoolSands #DevonisHeaven #BeachBarViews #BeachVibin #SummerBeachNights #DartmouthDevon #DevonBeach #OpeningNight #LaunchParty #BeachHolidays #UKBeachHoliday #SeaViewBar #SeaViews #SeasideLife #SeasideDecor #Nkuku
    33 13

    staceyjsheppard

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    Jun 16

    Open
    The most stunning flooring I have ever seen (probably!).

I kid you not, I have never been so excited about flooring and I have been writing about residential home interiors since the dawn of ages (ok since 2007).

Botanic Concrete is part of the Muse Collection from @quickstepfloors and combines the beauty of natural stone
with the benefits of laminate with a statement botanical twist. 

The concrete-look laminate flooring features delicate wildflower designs lightly sprinkled on the surface. From a distance, you don’t even notice them but when you take a closer look it appears that someone has sprinkled teeny tiny meadow flowers all over the floor. The result is a hybrid floor with a terrazzo effect that suits minimalist and eclectic interiors alike. WHAT A DREAM!

So dreamy in fact that this flooring is now installed in my own kitchen. (These photos are not my kitchen sadly!) And I'm planning to install it in my hallway too. And maybe the living room. That's how much I love it! 

There is a full interview with Anastasiia Kudashova, Chief Designer at Quick-Step over on my blog if you'd like to know more about this incredibly gorgeous flooring. 

[This is not an advert. I bought this flooring with my own money. But Quick-Step did kindly give me a press discount]

What do you think? Does this concrete wild-flower terazzo combo make your heart skip a beat too? 

Let me know in the comments. 

#Quickstep #QuickstepFlooring #Flooring #LaminateFlooring #BotanicConcrete #FlooringPorn #ConcreteFlooring #TerrazzoFlooring #TerrazzoFloor #TerrazzoFloors #LaminateFloors #BiophilicDesign #BiophilicFlooring #NatureInspiredFlooring
    30 9

    staceyjsheppard

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    Jun 13

    Open
    [AD] I've just been away on a press trip with @carpenter_oak and for the first time ever it was in Devon. In fact, just 17 mins away from my home. Unheard of!! 

During the press trip I stayed at the most gorgeous venue. The @gitcombe estate, just outside Dartmouth, is home to Gitcombe house, a selection of holiday cottages and Gitcombe Retreat. 

I had the pleasure of staying at Gitcombe Retreat which is a beautiful oak framed building. The frame was designed and installed by Carpenter Oak, hence us staying there. 

Gitcombe is the perfect venue for large groups who want to holiday in Devon together. It is suitable for intergenerational holidays, large family holidays, friendship group holidays or even business retreats. 

The facilities are fantastic and include an indoor and outdoor pool, two hot tubs, tennis courts, a kids play park, and a soft play area. 

The rooms are beautifully designed and decorated. And the service we received was first class. The views of the rolling Devon hills are to die for and it is so incredibly peaceful due to its rural location. 

Gitcombe is a family-run business in a beautiful location. Believe me, I know, I live here. 

This is not an advert. I'm just sharing because if you follow me, and you love well designed, beautiful spaces, you're probably going to be interested in Gitcombe too. 

#TheDesignSheppard #Gitcombe #GitcombeEstate #UniqueHomes #DevonHome #DevonHolidayHomes #DevonFamilyHoliday #VisitDevon #OakFramedBuilding #CarpenterOak #IntergenerationalHoliday #HolidayHome #EscapeToTheCountry #DiscoverDartmouth
    23 11

    staceyjsheppard

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    Jun 8

    Open
    On Thursday evening I attended the grand opening of @societyhouse_ in Buckfastleigh, Devon. This 9000 square foot outlet warehouse is home to a fantastic selection of distinctive homeware and furniture sourced from around the world to help transform your house into a unique home you can be proud of. 

If you're looking for something different at great prices, this place is definitely worth exploring. Very exciting that it's right on my doorstep! 

#SocietyHouse #InteriorsOutlet #UniqueHomewares #UniqueHomes #GrandOpeningParty #BuckfastLeigh #DevonHomeMagazine #DevonLife #DevonHomes
    23 2
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