Carole King is a well-known interior design blogger, who shares her passion for design and ‘little library of loveliness’ with the online world. Her blog Dear Designer showcases current interior trends and ways to incorporate them into our own homes.
Here, Carol tells us a bit more about what inspires her writing and gives you some exclusive interior design tips.
What inspired you to start Dear Designer?
“It started as a hobby really. I'd retrained as an interior designer and I started the blog as a way to collate and share everything about interior design that really inspired me. Soon I was meeting other bloggers and exchanging ideas. It took on a life of its own.”
How easy was your transition to becoming an established blogger?
“It was a gradual transition. I admire the bloggers who one day just decide to resign from the job and give it a go. I'm not that brave. The blog was already well established before I started working on it as a full-time job.
There is so much more to the 'job' than just writing a daily article and hitting 'publish'. I sometimes wonder now how I ever had the time to blog and work full time.”
Tell us about Dear Designer…
“I like to keep readers abreast of current trends and how to incorporate them into their own homes, primarily. I don't believe you have to have a big budget to have style, and I often promote high street shops alongside more upmarket brands.
I hope I inspire people to be more adventurous. Of course, I also share my own projects.”
What is this year’s must try interior trend?
“It really is up to the individual to find one they love and find a way to incorporate it with what they already have. But I'm very fond of anything botanical. My own home is full of green right now and I'm trying to keep a few house plants alive too.
Scandinavian inspired interiors are very popular, as is anything bohemian, or even glamorous.”
We see a lot of grey inside properties. What do you predict will be the next ‘in’ colour?
“I think dark colours are still going to be popular for a long time to come. Having said that, I think there's going to be a gradual move away from dark grey to navy and dark green. I'm currently experimenting with a really dark teal.”
If there’s one interior trend we should invest in, what is it?
“Not since the 1970s have houseplants been so popular and they work with any style of interior. Something green in the room really does make it come alive. Unlike the 70s though, you can now buy some very realistic faux plants if you're not green fingered. Some of mine are faux and visitors cannot tell the difference.”
What are some of the most common interior design faux pas?
“I have a lot of pet hates, I have to say. Rugs that are too small for one (a rug should never float in the middle of the room it should be anchored down by furniture legs), curtains that are too short (always, always, curtains should touch the floor), artwork hung too high... the list could go on.”
What does the future hold for you and Dear Designer?
“It's hard to say. At the moment I am still enjoying the privilege of owning my own corner of the internet. Even if I wasn't earning a living from blogging, I'd still blog.”
Check out our home inspiration section for more interior trends and ideas.
