‘When I moved back home to Cumbria, I swapped fashion for interiors, but much of the approach is the same. There are definitely transferrable skills and technology, and my fashion experience has stood me in good stead for interiors when working with textures and understanding colour palettes,’ as she tells Lancashire Life magazine.
With her interior design business ‘Ben the Hoose’ Abigail has made colour a major part of her professional approach; ‘Every project is colour-led and I use colour psychology to understand clients on a deeper level. I’ve created a colour personality quiz which gives me some great insight into their character, values, and priorities.
‘The questions aren’t typical interiors questions, so it helps people shake off any preconceptions and gives a more authentic result.’
A more grown-up space for the family to relax (Image: Lucy Barden Photography) Donna Elder was one client who took the colour quiz when she approached Abigail to transform four key spaces of the family home in Heysham.
Abigail explains; ‘Donna was identified as a primary Spring, secondary Winter personality. This insight became the cornerstone of our design direction and the project went on to balance freshness and vibrancy with elegance and edge.
‘A Spring personality would typically like light coloured walls and pops of colour, and a Winter personality wants to add drama and contrast. The Winter aspect of her personality is part of the reason we went for the dark green against the off-white walls, and the wallpaper on the ceiling to introduce that drama.
Dark greens and botanical wallpaper on the ceiling provide drama and contrast (Image: Lucy Barden Photography) ‘Throughout the four rooms we transformed, a cohesive palette of greens, whites, and earthy browns was accented with bold pops of pink, purple, and blue – adding playful energy without overwhelming the space.’
Abigail’s design plan was influenced by the results of the colour quiz, and also informed by the practical requirements of family life. The brief from the outset was clear: The home needed to be both beautiful and functional.
The family had lived in the house for around 10 years and, with their two sons now teenagers, it no longer had to meet the needs of very young children. Instead, it could become a more grown-up space with room for the whole family to relax together, as well as clever storage solutions, including a bespoke media unit and integrated shelving to display travel memorabilia.
Even the smallest room can bring joy in designer details (Image: Lucy Barden Photography) ‘Every detail was carefully considered to reflect Donna’s personality and style while also being practical. The result is a space that feels as joyful and energetic as the family who lives in it.
‘Once the project was finished, I was delighted to hear Donna say how much she loved it. She described it as exactly what she wanted, but couldn’t imagine for herself.
‘I think my favourite part of the project were the two connecting rooms; the main living space has spring-like floral wallpaper on the ceiling which creates an uplifting focal point, grounded by crisp white walls and luxurious dark green velvet sofas. Whereas the dining room has a dramatic dark green ceiling and botanical wallpaper with furniture from Swoon. I really liked how they came together; each room has its own personality but they have a really nice flow between them.
Abigail sources products, manages trades, and styles the finished project (Image: Lucy Barden Photography)
‘Ultimately though, it doesn’t matter which is my favourite bit! I don’t design projects for me, I design them to perfectly suit my clients.
‘I think it’s important to create a home that reflects you and your unique personality; you spend a lot of time in your own home and it should be a place that brings you happiness.’
Sometimes, as with the Heysham property, Abigail works with families on their ‘forever home’ – a space they can’t imagine leaving – and at other times, clients already know they will be moving house in the relatively near future. ‘If people know they will inevitably be selling their home in the next few years, we can still create a fantastic design, but we might focus on things they can take with them, like statement sofas, rather than investing in bespoke or built-in storage.
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‘Occasionally I can see why people decorate in a conservative way, with potential future buyers in mind, but I love it when people proudly express their own style and I actually think unique homes can be more saleable than people realise.’
Abigail offers a wide range of options when it comes to working with Ben The Hoose, from initial spatial planning, and a virtual consultation or ‘power hour’ – all the way up to a complete interior design package which includes electrical plans and lighting design, sourcing products, project coordination, managing trades, project installation, and styling.
‘Every client is different and will have different priorities. Sometimes they want a full design with project management and recommended suppliers, and sometimes they just need my help with CAD scans and floor plans.
‘I enjoy the variety and knowing that, one way or another, I’m helping people find joy in their home.
‘I called my business Ben the Hoose, because it’s a Scottish phrase that loosely means ‘in the best room’ or ‘in the finest part of the house’.
‘At the end of the day, I want to help my clients turn every room into the best room.’
benthehooseinteriors.com
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