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 Page 2 My inspiration often comes from nature, raw wood, neutral textures and colours or from likewise, talented designers and inspirational showrooms and stores such as Ralph Lauren Home store which is a joy and aesthetic priveledge to see. In my office I keep a cupboard, and a few shelves marked, “Sandy’s – Do not touch!” Woe to anyone who does, as it is here that I keep swatches of fabric, magazine cuttings, photos, postcards and samples, all reminding me of looks, rooms, places and images that I love. This is one of my pleasures in life, building this inspirational memory bank of ideas – to which I add constantly. I dream of how I will translate the feeling these samples give me into my “look and feel” in my designs and stores. My pin-boards around my office keep growing, with the latest pictures of rooms, swatches and tear sheets of furniture and swatches of paint samples and inspirational room settings. I believe our values have changed and having the ‘perfect show house’ no longer matters – what matters is how we feel in our homes; Safe, comfortable, relaxed and happy. At COUNTRY LIVING we strive to reflect not only a stylish interior space, but a lifestyle reflecting comfort and Family. We strive to make choosing the perfect gift or home accessories effortless and we identify with those who love their homes and pour their hearts into them. My style is one which incorporates many elements of design. Even in an extremely modern interior the mood can be warm and romantic. By using contrasts and textures, mixing hard materials with softs ones and contrasting shiny with matte. The use of art, family photographs and books make for a personal space, incorporating deep upholstery and well place lighting. Likewise, modern and traditional live side by side and it is often the more traditional elements that keep a space warm and familiar. Right now, I am loving all things white. While my Hubby says that the wall looks white, there are many different shades of white. I am loving the clean and fresh pallette that white on white exudes. So, to all our friends, all I can say is that I am off on another buying trip to Europe and the Far East, and will bring back many inspirational ideas and gorgeous goodies that you can find in our stores.  |