In conversation with ... Pandora Maxton

Today we speak to one of our tastemakers - Pandora Maxton (@pandora.maxton). On a lovely sunny afternoon, we join Pandora by the terrace doors in her living room looking out onto her gorgeous garden. With nearly 50k followers on Instagram, she is well known for her eclectic and maximalist style and is focusing on celebrating country living and lifestyle. We delve into some of her tips on maximalist décor and she reveals the top three things that her space must have!

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.

What are your tips on creating a maximalist space?

​There is definitely a knack to maximalist interiors. My first tip would be to keep an eye on the colours that you use and make sure they are cohesive and work well together, but also that things aren't TOO matchy-matchy as it quickly becomes boring. I usually have a warmer element within my spaces even if it is just the glow of a lamp or some fairy lights. A second tip would be to use a dark colour as a base colour to tie all the other colours together, something like Downpipe from Farrow and Ball works really well instead of having a white/off white. Lastly, I would also suggest that you mix different styles together including mid-century, antiques and rustic elements. Try to overcome the fear and risk making a mistake - but this always something you can learn and improve on. I am constantly turning spaces within my home around, it keeps things fresh and interesting. Just before speaking to you, I moved my dining table around and it just gives the space a new perspective.

​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?

​Must there only be one?? I am so frustrated with the lack of natural light inside our kitchen. I would love to have the opportunity to re-do it and glaze a whole side. We spend so much time in the kitchen and its quite gloomy but I appreciate that we are lucky to have an already beautiful kitchen, so it is not a priority but will get to it eventually.

​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.