Anne-Marie, the home owner
Interior designer Anne-Marie Leigh usually spends her time designing for her portfolio of residential clients across the South East. However, for today’s article, Anne-Marie tells us how she introduced grace and poise into her own traditional 1930s home.
We had the privilege of meeting with Anne-Marie in her beautiful Surrey home, whom she shares with her husband Mark, sons Louis (15), Max (13) and four British Shorthair cats. Anne-Marie specialises in luxury residential properties in and around Surrey and London.
Tell us more about your renovation experience, what factors played a part when choosing the floor?
Colour and texture were really important- we wanted it to be light in colour with some variation- that’s the beauty of using a natural product.. Having used Ted Todd on design projects for clients and always being thrilled with the results, when it came to renovating our home I just knew we had to have a Ted Todd floor. We decided to use Furrow herringbone and Furrow plank throughout the open-plan downstairs creating a seamless flow throughout the property. Furrow herringbone is beautiful and timeless – we knew it would look amazing in our house. We get so many compliments from friends and family.
How would you describe your design style?
Interior Design should be timeless and not something that will date, so for that reason I don’t tend to follow trends. My style would be classic with a contemporary twist. I love a neutral backdrop with lots of texture and pops of colour to keep things interesting.
Lighting is also something I am very passionate about as it is so important in interiors and often over looked. I love to creating cosy, warm spaces, always layer lighting designs to create atmosphere and drama.
Anne-Marie, the interior designer
Before setting up Anne-Marie Leigh Interior Design in 2014, Anne-Marie retrained at the respected KLC Design School in Chelsea.
What were your main inspirations for getting into the industry?
We tend to work on full house refurbishments and extensions to provide practical, functional spaces creating timeless designs for our clients to live in and enjoy. There are so many inspiring interior designers but I particularly love Kit Kemp, Studio Duggan and Emma Sims Hilditch, not to mention US designers such as Shea McGee and Kelly Wearstler.
Something about the British interior design has captivated the world for decades. Why do you think British style never goes out of fashion?
The British country house style is steeped in history, culture, heritage and tradition, which appeals to homeowners all over the world, especially the American market. British design is synonymous with classic quality craftsmanship and luxurious textiles, inevitably creating timeless spaces that are admired by future generations.
Do you have any tips you could share to create the modern traditional style achieved in your home?
When you are designing a home its important to think about the flow of the rooms and ensure you use colours that complement each other. Its also great to layer texture all through your home from flooring, rugs, soft furnishings and furniture. Creating layers of textures gives interest and depth.
How would you go about introducing grandeur into your clients homes?
No need to share a postcode with royalty in order to live in luxury. The key is in selecting the right combination of furniture, fixtures, and finishes. Elegance comes in many forms and no matter what your style or size of the room, you can blend in some classic elegant vibes.
New meets old
Whether you own a characteristically older home with traditional features or a new contemporary build, try combining a balance of classic and modern by using a variety of soft furnishings and finishes.
Natural Touches
Installing wood floors and adding other natural materials such as rich marbles, rustic clay, stone, and soft organic pieces instantly adds modern elegance to your home and connect you to nature.
Featured floor:
Find out more about Anne-Marie Leigh Interiors at www.annamarieinteriors.co.uk, or follow her @annemarieleigh_interiordesign.
Photography Nick Smith Photography www.nsphotography.co.uk