Signature Style

Work out what makes you tick.

When you love interiors it is easy to feel swayed by different looks and to fall into the trap of being enticed by one thing one week, and another the next.

Image above and below shot in the former Mews home of Anton & K. Styling, Ali Heath. Image, Rachael Smith.

I am sure I will be in good company with many of you who recognise the pangs of appreciation, for different styles when flicking through a book, a magazine, visiting a museum, or getting cosy in a friend’s home that feels so welcoming, yet so very different decoratively to your own.

On Monday I had a day off and visited the beautiful Pig hotel in the South Downs, for my birthday and a gorgeous lunch with my daughter. The kick of adrenalin was palpable being in such beautifully decorated surroundings.

Image Ali Heath. The Pig Hotel, South Downs.

I used to think my default style at home was for both colourful and calm - until I recognised that the only way for me to relax was to keep my choices within a palette that made me unwind - which for me is a mix of monochrome and natural. Whilst I can now happily window shop for many different looks, and love to work on colourful design projects for clients, (cannot wait to share with you a new, very colourful boutique stay cottage for Banchory Farm very soon), I rarely deviate from my signature style at home. Sounds indulgent to say it is life-changing, but it is, and it has stopped me making costly mistakes, and feeling compelled to come home with every interior accessory that catches my eye!

It can take time to get to that place though, and if you are still in the ‘I love it all’ phase, these steps may help you work out just what your Signature Style is?

FINDING YOUR SIGNATURE STYLE - KEY STEPS TO CONSIDER:

1. Explore your look: Get under the skin of what design influences appeal to you and why? What is it about modern, traditional, minimalist, eclectic, bohemian, spaces that make you excited? And what looks leave you cold.

2. Examine the individual elements: and learn to read the impact colour, pattern, and texture has on your senses, and what furniture shapes, styles and periods appeal to you the most. Gather your ideas in one place - whether on you phone, in Pinterest or on a mood board that you can keep adding to and looking at.

3. Work out what looks fit your lifestyle: how do you live? How do you use your rooms? What does comfort mean to you? How do you prioritise functionality with form? How true is the fit between your decorating style and your personality? Does your home tell your story?

4. Observe how your personal story influences your style: the impact of travel? Favourite places that have resonated and what you loved about them?

5. Understand your red threads: the consistent design looks that you feel connected to, and the ones that feature prominently in your home?

6. What are your descriptive words: the ones that express your personal style at home? Write down as many words as you can that fit with your style - then filter to find your top 5.

5. Decide on your design values: easy to maintain? Luxury? Old meets new? Refined? Laid back? Perfectly imperfect? Take time to write down what your values are and they will help you to fine tune your sources of inspiration.

6. How do you want your home to feel: how does that differ from how it is at the moment? What do you dislike about it? What do you love? What needs to change or added, to make your aspirations come to life?

7. Trust what you love: don’t apologise or question your quirks. Your style is yours alone and if you love it, then it is right. There is no right path to follow just the one that makes you happy. Don’t be distracted by what you think you should love, just follow your heart and stay true to what makes you tick.

“Sometimes in the uncertainty of change we find our true direction.”

Remember, finding your signature style at home is a journey of self-discovery. Have fun exploring different possibilities, don’t worry about the mistakes along the way, and make sure your home makes you feel comfortable in your own skin. If you don’t have to question that everyday then you know you are at one with your surroundings, and that will bring happiness and contentment no matter what is happening around you.

This weekend paid subscribers will receive a mini workbook that will really help you plan out your interior projects and give lots of ideas about what to consider.

Have a lovely evening. So enjoying these lighter days!

With much love Ali x x

My new Substack, For The Curious - is a place for all those who are curious to learn more and keen to bring their own creativity to life. I hope signing up and coming on this journey with me will encourage you to seize your dreams.

As a lover of storytelling, words and images, I am excited to be able to communicate and share with you in a longer form way, as an extension to my instagram feed, and am grateful for those supporting me with a paid subscription. After having worked in interiors and many related fields for over 20 years, since leaving the corporate world, I am looking forward to sharing many of the valuable things I have learnt, and have helped me pivot since starting my own company; along with insights, learnings and creative direction, that I hope will inspire you too.