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Today we are having a chat with one of the owners of Rose and Grey, the beautiful interiors store tucked away on Altrincham (South Manchester) side streets which is a treasure trove of custom sofas, stylish accessories and decorating inspiration.
When did you realise your passion for interior designI’ve always been interested in interiors, even as a child. My dad is an architect and my brother works in property development so a passion for interior design definitely runs in the family. As a child I used to cut up interior magazines to make scrapbooks, so it makes sense that I ended up in this industry!  How would you describe your design aesthetic?We like to balance our collection between trend-led pieces and timeless design. We tend to focus on designs with longevity for our larger furniture items, only buying into trends that we know will be around for a significant time, like our best-selling velvet sofas. We always have pieces that reference Scandinavian and Mid-Century design in our collections, as these looks don’t date and really appeal to our customers. We mix in trend-led pieces through new fabrics and smaller accessories. At the moment we’re seeking a lot of inspiration from Byron Bay in Australia and Joshua Tree in California for a fresh take on the boho look.  Biggest challenges and successes in creating your brand so far? The current situation is one of the hardest challenges we have faced as a business, but our head office team has adapted quickly to working remotely and we have stringent social distancing procedures in place in order to keep the delivery side of the business running safely. We launched the brand twelve years ago during the recession, at a time when buying furniture online was relatively unheard of, so we feel the business is rooted in weathering adverse circumstances and that gives us the confidence to know we will emerge from the current challenges intact. In terms of successes, there have been many ‘wins’ we have enjoyed over the years, big and small – but the one that stands out for me is when the business reached a point where my husband was able to leave his job to join the brand full-time.
That ‘Aha!’ moment when you were recognised and knew you had created something special?
One design trend you are loving and one you are glad is over? I am really enjoying the current trend for personality-led accessories – faces, boobs and bums on everything from vases to prints and textiles. Our customers can’t get enough of these items at the moment and the team have also been buying them for our own homes. I am pleased the shabby chic trend is over; it was definitely a trend that lingered far too long. 
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Chatting with bohemian loving Anna Hayman who describes herself as enduringly obsessed with pattern, crafts, and design. We have a chat about her brand and some of the notable surface pattern prints that she uses on fabrics, wallpapers and lampshades featured all over the interiors world.  When did you realise your passion for interior design? This makes me think of when I was a little girl, my friend Sarah used to get infuriated with me, as instead of playing with our dolls I would spend all the time setting up the interiors scenes! I was insistent to get the right layout, decor and mood, that the actual playing was always secondary haha. But in adulthood, I suppose my passion for interior design, and the belief and realisation of my own projects, has been evolving over the last four years. Through gaining experience, insight and shaping (and reshaping) my own home, I’ve learned the necessary skills to take it from a dream to a reality. Now I’m on the brink of completing my first two residential projects, I am excited to install and ‘bank’ these into my portfolio. How would you describe your design aesthetic?
What has your journey into the world of interiors been like? Because of instagram, it has been extremely welcoming. I’ve really been guided by the customer, and have navigated building a brand aided by this rich and rewarding tool. Working with River Island curating a bar area for their flagship store was an emboldening experience, edging my confidence up to curate and design whole spaces rather than purely products. And now through working with Greg Penn, @manwithahammer I have gained experience in working with residential clients, and period properties. Now I’m emerging more as an interior designer, the journey gets even more exciting as new opportunities are arising, even in lockdown!  Biggest challenges and successes in creating your brand so far?  I never know what to say re biggest challenges, when I get asked this, which I guess means it’s been a pretty easy ride. The thing is, this isn’t a job for me. I would do what I’m doing whether it made money or not, whether people liked it or not, so that fact that my designs ‘chime’ with lots of people is brilliant, but not necessary to me doing it. I’m an artist, I guess, and feel good that I’ve managed to create a recognised business from my love of pattern and texture. I’d never say I’m lucky, I’ve worked hard and thought hard, and I know I deserve my success. My proudest moment I think was when my design was picked out of over 1500 to grace the cover of Thames and Hudson book ‘Pattern Design’ as many of my heroes are encompassed. It also feels good that Liberty, Harrods and Bergdorf Goodman all came to me for my products, that really means it’s working! Who is the quintessential Anna Hayman Designs customer? I truly love my customers, they echo my feelings about the world in a way that is expressed through their homes. This dance between us is what I cherish and celebrate. They are knowledgable, primarily I guess. They are brave, and want their homes to be the ultimate expression of who they are. I recently gained a client who had been looking for the right printed cushions for four years, and both her and her husband fell in love with my designs, and have used my cushions in every room. This discerning customer is my favourite, almost the opposite of an impulse buyer haha. It’s ok to think hard about your home, especially now we are spending soooo much time in them. What are your best sellers? Bibana ,Siouxsie and Pearl are our bestselling designs. I think Bibana for her arts and crafts historical feel, Siouxsie for her pretty detail and rock n roll soul, and Pearl for that jazz age decadent vibe.
That “Aha!” moment when you were recognized and knew you created something special?When I exhibited at Top Drawer in January 2016, I took the first parachute lampshade samples which caught the eye of Rockett St. George. When we photographed these on a dark background, and they were picked up by instagrammers such a Nicola Broughton @the_girl_with_the_green_sofa the business slipped into the dark interiors scene, burgeoned by Abigail Ahern, I then realised really who my market were, and what I needed to make more of. It became a bit of a whirlwind after that, and I’m only just catching up now and really starting to strategise and plan ranges properly. My sister now works alongside me, and is planning to head up retail operations, leaving me free to explore more interior design and product design. This is an exciting plan for the coming year as I really then get to focus on the parts I’m most passionate about. One design trend you are loving and one that you are glad is over? I am absolutely loving a self skirted chair right now, and giant loungers. Anywhere you can sink down and dream/read. An item I’d like to see the back of is bar carts, too kitsch for me sorry!  Anna's kitchen in her 1920's cottage in East Sussex
When did you realise your passion for interior design?I studied fine arts and printmaking and initially I used to make abstract art for office spaces. Then did a degree in Interior design and worked with Nobilis (the high-end fabric and wall coverings company) as a sales rep in the North of the UK. I would see Interior designers working and thought I would love to get creative but I never really wanted to work as an interior designer for others. I guess it was when I started using Instagram that it really started expressing my creativity. I love doing styling work and working on building more of a lifestyle brand including outdoor living and food.  How would you describe your aesthetic?I would describe it as eclectic and maximalist with a homely vibe. Everything inside my home has a personal sentiment. I'm not afraid to use colour boldly and to mix styles. No-one would be able to re-create my home space exactly the same as it is so personal to me.
Have you ever heard or given any advice that you think is golden?Give your space a soul. Make sure there is something within the space that really sings. Even if you are a fan of minimalist interiors, it could be something as simple as a massive fireplace with a gorgeous armchair and one sprig of eucalyptus. The space just has personality and reflects the people within it. Try not to copy other spaces that you see online or in magazines piece for piece, but try and adapt it to your own space and make it unique to you. What do you find the most inspiring?I am not impressed by expensive interiors. I think if we all had the money we could all go and spend 15K on a sofa. But what really impresses me is people who are innovative with their interiors and come up with solutions to their design dilemmas that really push the boat out. Someone making a beautiful piece of furniture with some scrap wood or upcycled furniture - that really inspires me.  My ideal space has to have these three things:I would say a massive fireplace cos I love fire! It's so cosy and warm regardless of the time of year. I love lamps - again these really help create that atmosphere when the sunlight fades. Finally, plants, they just give life to a space. Overall obviously light is the most important element in a space. What is your pet peeve inside your home?
What is your favourite space in your home?I love our pergola! It's such a great outside space that we use all the time from Spring till Early Autumn. I wish we could glaze it and use it more throughout the year. But currently, we're loving having all our meals out there and I'm making my kids sit outside in their coats cos I just love using that space.  One design trend that you love and one that you hate.I love anything boho and eclectic with a layered look. I don't really hate any specific trends, I don't think I'm a fan of French faux rustic look that is a bit too perfect, it just can seem a bit try-hard. How do you think social media has changed the way people interact with or delve into interiors?I think platforms such as Instagram has been great at providing people with an outlet for something they are interested in such as interiors and also, its lovely receiving feedback from people, other than my family, saying how much they loved a revamped space I worked on. But it can be quite noisy, sometimes all you see are massive accounts which don't necessarily have what you are looking for, and miss some incredible small accounts who are really inspiring. The other thing that can frustrate is seeing people playing the game and it seems very strategized. But I guess it's about finding people that really inspire you and trying to give them as much support as possible.
Last one in my colour series but most definitely not the last. I adore Green and think its resurgence in design has come about with the love of Mid-century modern and biophillic design. I think the reason I love green is that it is such a calming colour and depending on the tone can evoke totally different feelings. I must admit my favourite greens are emerald to teal greens and then the sage greens. Anything too minty puts me off but that is just personal taste I guess. Here are some incredible spaces that I hope can inspire you to use more green in your interiors. If you don't feel that you are "a green person" - (I have had clients say this to me!). Try edging sideways into it from blue and consider teal.  Love this brass light by Paola Navone against the green background! Teal is the mid step between green and blue - so you get these really deep lush colours that remind you of the sea and nature. I adore this gorgeous green used as a backdrop to my favourite chandelier currently - designed by Paola Navone. And this bedroom by Katerina Shamanova is super luxe and playful - did you spot the bird light?  Playful luxury bedroom by Katerina Shamanova Now I know I said that I am more partial to deep greens and not so much into minty ones, but I just want to share some things that I think do work and I would consider using in my interiors. Here these pale sage greens work really beautifully in a relatively minimal interior. They are paired with lighter woods and greys to create a contemporary and fresh feel.
If you want it to be a little moodier, more sophisticated maybe - try a slightly more saturated tone and pair it with similar darker colours for a more umptuous feel.  Brilliant styling by Ikea showcasing this beautiful green colour For more playful and jewel lovers - steer yourselves towards the emeralds. Especially if you can get your hands on some gorgeous tile! I mean look at the high gloss lustre on this family bathroom by Kelly Mindell.
 Isnt this use of green in this bedroom by Mark Sikes incredible! It was in a show home on Kips Bay If you are really brave keep the emerald but go everywhere with it - like in this private dining room at a social club in San Francisco.  This private members club has gone all out with the emerald green! Now for the brave few, come with me to a darker side. Its gorgeous and comforting. Painting a large proportion of your walls dark green has this incredible immersive experience - it makes the space feel like a jungle or a forest. It reminds me of the brilliant Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku which is Forest bathing - this is where you spend time in a forest to reduce your stress and improve your well being! If you can achieve that feeling in your home - SCORE!
So get a load of these gorgeous spaces. We start with the stunning bedroom created by Nicola Broughton (aka The Girl With The Green Sofa). Or look at that incredible kitchen by deVOL. I love green so much I even used it in my living room.
Next up in the colour series I am going to be showcasing Blue! Its a gentle transition from the indigo we just discussed but if you missed it head to the Indigo journal entry now. As with all other colours blue comes in a range of saturation, hues and intensities. It is considered a cold colour on the spectrum so using it in the northern hemisphere, I would advise caution - that being said its a fantastic colour and a clear favourite in costal and Blue and white schemes.  Elegant yet relaxed look of blue, white and neutral by Chad James Group
If you like the pale blue look but are afraid of it looking too cold, I always advise to add warm metallics, darker wood tones and upping the texture. If you want to go for something a bit bolder why not try an ombre wall? This can be a cheap and effective way of introducing bolder colours but in a graduated way. It also allows the feature wall to be slightly softened. If you do not fancy doing the ombre paint effect yourself, designers guild have a wallpaper that does the trick brilliantly.
If you are feeling a little bolder, go for a gorgeous blue on blue effect. Mixing different hues and textures gives a space a very curated feel but allows you to really delve into the colour. Remember to focus on texture to ensure its still an interesting space to be in.
For a more modern take - try this gorgeous azzul Yves Klein blue which has such energy in it. Favoured by the designers Sophie Robinson and 2LG studio.
If you want to be inspired further head to the rest of the articles in my colour series and sign up to my newsletter to never miss a beat.
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