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  • Learn why Sustainable Luxury Interior Design is here to stay and it’s your future!

    With more focus on energy efficiency, climate change, and what causes it, the impact on the planet from architecture and the world of interior design is now in the spotlight. Governments across the globe are now having the conversation and bringing in new measures and guidelines in the building industry which will affect all of us in due course, builders, developers, interior designers, landlords, and private homeowners. It’s now more imperative than ever to research the provenance of a product or material in our efforts toward responsible choices within our homes and our built environment. SVM has been providing advice for several years on sustainable luxury interior design and sharing our knowledge with our clients on the best practices for energy, sustainability, and alternative products available on the market today and how to use them. Sustainability no longer means more expensive or less fashionable. Sustainable alternatives can often be better quality, cheaper, and more effective to create a luxury interior. Today I’m going to focus on one important material widely used; Marble, and the sustainable alternative, Porcelain Tiles. Firstly, what is marble? It takes around 2000 years to form mountains of marble, yes, it is a beautiful natural material, but, one has to blow up that mountain to access it, and, it's not going to be replaced any time soon! So, whilst much of marble (and granite) is undeniably beautiful; some are exquisite and rare; we do not need to go to such extremes, or, in fact, any efforts to access it, because we have such wonderful alternatives to natural stones. Marble and stone have more cons than pros for use in our homes and buildings. Cons. It is highly porous. Can easily stain. Not a budget-friendly choice. Requires specific sealing treatments, annually. Easily damaged if not maintained. Causes irreplaceable destruction of the environment SVM designed this luxury bathroom using large format porcelain tiles to the floor and walls, mosaic tiles with some recycled glass content, and quartz slab for the WC housing. The company, Tailor Made and Porcelain Tiles recently invited SVM to share our experience and knowledge with their commercial and private client base, to show the advantages and versatility of their tile products as alternatives to marble and stone. The Italian company supports sustainable manufacturing, offers a wide range of tiles to replicate marble, onyx, stone, concrete, and wood, Tailor Made takes that product and fabricates it into worktops, sinks, kitchens, walls, and floors. Porcelain tile versus Marble or Stone? Porcelain tile is not permeable. It won’t stain! It's heat resistant. It's available in many large-size formats and has more versatility. It's less expensive. There is an extensive colour and pattern range. It's kinder to the natural environment even when being manufactured. Photo: This custom-made table was two-thirds cheaper using a porcelain tile instead of a marble top. The entire table is made from tile. SVM uses porcelain tiles to design custom-made, unique pieces of furniture for our clients as well as cladding walls and surfaces for bathrooms, kitchens, and other areas in the home. We create a luxurious effect without the price tag and help our planet at the same time. It’s a win for all! Want to know more?  View our short video below. Would you like to know more?

  • What's Your Interior Design Style for 2024?

    Welcome to 2024. Yes, it’s a new year full of new promises and possibilities. Some of us are thinking about our homes, I know I am. I start looking around and introducing new colours or textures to reflect my mood. You may be on the move or staying put, reflecting on how your home can serve you better. More space, a better layout, a new kitchen. Our homes seem to be an endless source of discussion. We love them, it's where we spend a great deal of time and energy, so we need them to feel comfortable and to support us. So, what's your interior design Style for 2024? I'm not going to talk about the latest trends. At SVM, we are not trend-focused but design for our client’s personality needs and desires to create a healthy and unique space for you to live. We work as the tool for your unique expression. We never dictate, only guide and advise you on space, form, balance, finish, texture and colour and how together, with our knowledge and expertise we will create the overall desired effect. For SVM, it’s about the client first and how to design a scheme to enhance your world. SVM value the planet and is aware of the harm that products and materials can cause. With our extensive knowledge of the market, we can offer you sustainable options, checking the provenance of any material to achieve a luxurious finish whilst ensuring the best quality and all within budget! Our recent project, a five-bedroomed house in Belgravia, is an expression of the homeowner’s personality: full of vibrant colour, mixed patterns and texture. Our initial meeting established their preference for the use of sustainable materials wherever possible. We successfully achieved the desired feel and design to suit the whole family. EXAMPLES OF THE BELGRAVIA PROJECT FINISHES AND COLOURS One of our current SVM projects is a on-going newly built single-family home. The client dislikes bright colours and patterns, preferring a more subdued feel of muted tones, elegant forms and simplicity. Their collection of artwork will add the colour, texture and vibrancy needed to complete the project. Remember, the items that you love are always part of the design process and need to be included and considered from the very beginning. These are just two ends of the design spectrum to offer an example of our design versatility as curators of beautiful luxury homes unique to you! EXAMPLES OF THE PROPOSED MATERIALS AND MOOD BOARDS FOR THIS PROJECT THINKING ABOUT YOUR NEW BUILD OR REFURBISHMENT? So, whats your interior design Style for 2024? If you want to create a luxury-designed home, all the elements to achieve this need to be in place from the get-go! Even if you have an architect involved, the use of the interior space is very different from the outer. The two functions have different aspects and are best performed in unison. SVM can manage and coordinate the design process, so the project finishes on time on budget and to design specifications. We ‘police’ the project to ensure you receive a beautiful luxury interior unique to you. We look forward to working with you on your special project…

  • How Do We Add Personality to our Home and Make it less Bland?

    My home turf is Greenwich, London, an area full of elegant Georgian homes reaching from the Thames River up to gorgeous Blackheath, full of architecturally outstanding historic places of interest. Amongst this historic backdrop, SVM has recently completed an unusual residential interior design project constructed around 10 years ago, discreetly tucked away in a unique location close to one of the most desirable streets in Greenwich. A spacious 5 bedroomed modern house, with a spacious commercial feel which needed an input of personality and character. The Brief: The owners wanted a design scheme that reflected who they are using sustainable products and bold colours. Having lived in the Bahamas they wanted a scheme that incorporated blues and greens, bringing the outside in using furniture with asymmetric curved shapes. A busy family with pets, so the house needed to withstand heavy use. Final Approval: After consideration of the client's wishes a design was created and approved to bring an existing large and bland space to life using colour, texture, bespoke furniture and their curated art collection. Giving texture to walls: We decided on polished plaster for the main sweeping wall in the atrium. This was based on the green accent wall used in the 'Great Room' that tied the two areas together to create continuity. The 'green' paint colour by House of Hackney was chosen to pick up the green marbling from the bespoke dining table designed by SVM. Polished Plaster originated from Italy, and is a historic technique using crushed marble. It is hard-wearing, waterproof, has depth, and the texture is light reflective and luxurious. It really is quite beautiful and has recently made a comeback in the world of interiors. SVM Bespoke Services: After searching for a Sofa of the right balance and size for the atrium the clients decided to use the SVM bespoke service. SVM designed the beautifully balanced orange curved chaise, produced by a local UK upholsterer maintaining their commitment to sustainable and local production. The sofa was accompanied by an SVM-designed large wooden bespoke coffee table and commissioned a local Greenwich craftsman to make it, using reclaimed timber joists from an old convent in Kensington. The silver leaf squiggle suggests the River Thames which is local to the house. See below. The 'Great Room' (TV lounge) needed divisions for allocated living spaces to incorporate a dining area, TV and lounge area. See the before and after photos, below. The client loves organic free-form shapes with curves and commissioned SVM to design an asymmetric dining table using bold green large-format porcelain tiles, once again manufactured by a local company. We picked a green from the 'marble' table and used this on an accent wall to bring the spaces together and create a feeling of warmth. See below. The large artwork, on either side of the fireplace, was commissioned for a family member, an artist, depicting ocean scenes from Barbados, the rear wall where they hang was painted in a taupe paint by Paint and Paper Library to break up the large expanse of the white walls and provide a backdrop for the artwork. We managed to select a sofa the clients were happy with, off the shelf, by BoConcept for the ‘Great room’ with curves and was large enough to balance out the space. SVM was commissioned to design the bespoke coffee table, a huge piece 2m x1m and 95mm in thickness made from the same reclaimed timber as the atrium table which gave the lounge area texture and a natural luxurious feel. A bespoke rug was selected to bring the scheme together using specific-coloured yarns and manufactured using recycled plastic bottles. The Finish Line: The clients were delighted with all the design elements. They loved the bold natural colours, a reminder of their life in the Bahamas and brought the outside into their home. The clear, allocated seating areas balanced out this large open-plan space. The texture of the polished plaster and natural wood emanated warmth and depth. The bespoke furniture gives the space a rich texture and a unique and luxurious feel. So, how do we add personality to our home and make it less bland ? How do you transform a home to give it personality? Texture, colour and furniture that fits the space are essential and of course, an interior designer that can pull it all together to create your dream home. Plan your Space: You don’t want your furniture to feel lost in a large room, it needs to be balanced. Furniture: Large spaces normally require larger pieces of furniture and interesting shapes which can sometimes be sourced from furniture retailers but often require a bespoke service. Bespoke Furniture: SVM design and manufacture beautiful pieces that compare with the high street retail market. The idea that bespoke is expensive isn’t always the case. So, if you’re looking for something unusual and want to make the space unique, bespoke is the way to go! Soft furnishings: Bring in colour or pattern with rugs and cushions to add vibrancy and warmth to a large space or keep it neutral using objet d’art to give it depth and texture. Paint Colours: Think about the colours you can live with, Be bold. This is a big space and bold colours can often give off a cosier feel. Muted colours can be mixed with texture and art to create a more subdued feel. Budget: Think about your budget. A large space can be expensive to complete in one go. These clients wanted to carry out the work in phases, so a budget was set for each phase. The SVM Questionnaire: Our questionnaire helps our clients reflect on their likes and dislikes so we can successfully interpret what it is they want to achieve. Some clients have set ideas, but others don’t, and that’s our job to walk you through the process so we can create your dream home. If you would like interior design help with your property, contact Susan here: Our mantra is to provide the B.E.S.T Beauty, Empower, Sustain, Transform STYLISH. SUSTAINABLE. SMART

  • What's your bathroom vibe: Interior-designed bathroom styles.

    What's your bathroom vibe? Susan gives us some tips to get the right vibe and the right look! How do you want your bathroom to look and feel? Do you want a creative and artistic vibe when you step into your shower or a more classic and neutral feel bathing in your bath? It’s really a matter for each individual but worth taking the time to observe your personality and what makes your heart sing!! This month Susan compares the pros and cons of both styles and gives you some great tips to get that vibe just right for you! SVM recently designed some amazing bold bathrooms using patterns and jewel-coloured tiles. Not everyone's cup of tea, is it too bold for resale? Will your buyer feel that vibe too? Most of our luxury interior design clients prefer a simpler style of bathroom. This doesn't mean that a bolder bathroom is out of the running, at the end of the day the homeowner makes that call; we assist our clients in making the right design choices for them. HOW TO USE BOLD PATTERNS This bold bathroom is part of a whole home luxury interior project. The bathroom is medium in size yet we still used this incredible bold wallcovering from Wall&Deco Wet System supplied through West One Bathrooms. Yes, it is a waterproof system that can be used inside a shower after following the detailed installation instructions. It certainly makes a bold statement. HOW TO USE COLOUR IN SMALL SPACES We created this bold bathroom by using two contrasting colours, as the example here: emerald green tiles with a salmon pink paint colour - Dead Salmon from Farrow & Ball. As a designer, I don’t subscribe to 'the smaller the space, the lighter the colour' theory, bold colours can give a luxurious feel to any bathroom whatever the size. HOW TO GET THAT CLASSIC LOOK In this larger classic luxury bathroom, we used a 2.4 m wide shower, along with mosaic clad curved seats either side. This classic style will not date, the colours are muted with different textures which create a neutral but luxurious feel using wood, mosaic, and porcelain marble tile clad walls. The tiles are by Porcelain-Tiles and in my opinion, they have the best selection of large format tiles available with an amazing bespoke cutting service. So, if you’re thinking about resale this may be a choice for you? THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS This master bathroom was designed a few years ago for one of our clients London pad. A Paddington top floor, Grade II listed building. The client wanted clean and simple lines with soft muted colours. We also wanted to provide a sense of space and light. The mosaic tiles are by Fired Earth. This incorporated colour but just enough to give it personality and an easy resale. SUMMING UP Overall, using bold colours and patterns (maximalist) versus lighter colours and less pattern (minimalist) is down to personal preference. The questions to ask yourself are: Do I want this bathroom to reflect my personality? Do I want to sell my home in the next 10 years? Do I want to rent my home, or will I rent it in the future? These are just some of the questions we ask at SVM besides creating the perfect bathroom space for you. If you would like interior design help with your property, contact Susan here: B.E.S.T : Beauty, Empower, Sustain, Transform STYLISH. SUSTAINABLE. SMART

  • From Bland to Beautiful, a Bloomsbury Townhouse Refurbishment

    At Susan Van Meter, our interior design projects cover most parts of London. One of our completed projects, a four-storey property in a highly desirable Central London location is tucked away in a mews near Grays Inn Road. The client was either going to move or renovate. After a couple of meetings with SVM, the client had a good understanding of the costs and time involved to create his dream home and after reviewing moving costs compared with a redesign, chose the latter. It made perfect sense to stay put. The house was bland and tired. Having traveled extensively, the client had an amazing collection of art and sculpture from around the world and several pieces of furniture which he wanted to integrate into the new design, to reflect his life and personality. The client was very open to the use of sustainable interior products and UK-designed and manufactured materials such as paint, lighting, carpets, and fabrics. The Clients brief included: Creation of storage space involving new joinery New entrance lobby and storage for a bike and other items Repairs to water-damaged walls Solving minor structural and remedial issues. New colour scheme throughout Introduction of Pattern and Texture Integration of client’s art collection The first area to tackle was creating a separate entrance in the long and narrow hallway to store his bike. We exchanged ideas and agreed on a preference for a Crittal-style door and partition with reeded glass. The client wanted the style to reflect industrial materials and details. Rough Living, is a locally-based company specialising in metal work that could make the partition, the storage for shelving, and the bracket to hang the bike off the wall. We sent them our drawing, as you see below, that is typical of an elevation we might create here in the design studio. The above drawing was used for pricing purposes and to give the client an idea of style and proportion. We then go on to create 3D realistic renders, as we did below for this project. Industrial stying to the Entrance Lobby Wine storage and entrance hall. Before and after of the entrance hall. Storage, in general, was a problem, as it is with many central London homes. The client had a large wine collection and nowhere to store it. We designed a cupboard that better utilized the space. We did this for the second and top-floor landings too. Looking at the available space and being creative in a simple and practical way provides solutions to most interior design problems. Second-floor landing. We introduced colour using Farrow & Ball paints. They are made in the UK with good sustainable commitments. They have recently been sold to a Dutch company but retained manufacturing here in the UK. Teals and blues featured predominately in the client's artwork, some of his favourite colours. We decided to be brave and introduce a beautiful rich teal, Inchrya Blue to the three stairwells and some of the woodwork. This pulled the home together, grounded it, and created continuity. One of my favourite carpet companies is Roger Oates. They produce beautiful stair runners in many different patterns and colours. As you can see it made a real difference to these staircases, seen above. Kitchen, landing, and stairwell images; walls are Hardwick White by Farrow and Ball. The client wanted to introduce pattern and texture to the overall feel of the house. We used a classic William Morris wallpaper in the main bedroom and an exotic Zoffany-designed wall covering in the guest bedroom which provided a strong aesthetic. Both papers are made in the UK and therefore tick the sustainable box to some extent. Guest Bedroom Some details of the main bedroom and lounge NOTE: It is essential to use a contractor you can trust to do the work for the success of your design project. We use our regular builder who is reliable, honest, and produces excellent work. The top floor landing required additional storage to house a home printer, a step ladder, which is concealed in the slim vertical cupboard, and more books. To fit it all in, we moved the landing outwards over the stairwell, added new joinery, lighting, and decorated throughout to create a more cohesive and usable space. Our client is exceedingly happy with the end result. As a designer, it is always gratifying to know that we have succeeded to deliver, beyond expectation, a home that reflects our clients' brief and personality, with the added bonus of increasing the value of the property and not costing the earth! Contact us today for a free home visit and consultation..... The four design philosophies of my business are to be the B.E.S.T : Beauty, Empower, Sustain, Transform We are always looking out for companies manufacturing sustainable products to add to our preferred supplier list. If you would like to be considered, please contact me here.

  • Essential Preparation for a Successful Refurbishment.

    Preparation is fundamental and essential when considering any type of property refurbishment; from a single room to a complete apartment or house. You are about to invest a large sum of money in your home and make a number of important decisions that will impact the way you want to live. I have put together this guide to help you make the right choices on your journey. Below, outlined are the 6 preparation steps required to achieve the perfect space: INTERIOR DESIGN AND PRELIMINARY PROPOSALS BUDGET CONSENTS CONSTRUCTION PACKAGE CHOOSING A BUILDER PROJECT MANAGEMENT Hiring an Interior Designer Professional guidance is essential to creating your dream home, to help you make the right decisions, eliminate mistakes and keep you in budget. There are so many elements to consider for a renovation or new build, besides space, size, colours, and finishes, especially when considering a bathroom or kitchen renovation. A designer will consider the technical aspects of a space and make it work; move walls, plumbing, electrical, floor, and joinery details, project management, costs, and contractors, document the process and deliver the final residential interior project on time and within budget. The Budget First and foremost it's imperative to start with the budget for your renovation. Clients often believe that disclosure of the budget may be leaving money on the table. That's not the case. As a designer on your team, we can only produce the best quality scheme by being fully aware of the budget. Holding a percentage back for issues on build or variations that may occur is prudent and your designer will advise and keep you informed as and if they occur. Consents If you live in a block of flats or an older building you will require freeholder and/or listed building consent. It's important to establish what consent you will need, pushing forward with work that requires consent could be an expensive mistake. Mansion blocks Any investment property or private home within a mansion block will require approval for works by the management company that represents the freeholder. They will want to see the scope of work, any plans, a schedule of when work will begin, and the duration. There will be strict working hours with limitations to access for workers. You may need to pay a deposit for the protection of the common parts of the building. Residential listed building consent and what it means Our projects are often in London on luxury residential homes. Some of our projects fall into the listed building category, which means there is a need to apply for building consent, even if the work is internal. Building consent is required if you are considering works and buying or living in one of the following properties: A Grade I listed building - buildings of exceptional interest. A Grade II *listed building - particularly important buildings of more than special interest. A Grade II listed building - buildings that are of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them. This is a time-consuming process handled by our team. The application is approximately £200.00 and can take up to 8 weeks for approval. Construction Package A construction package includes technical drawings, the Scope of Works, and the specification of products. After the design and products have been agreed upon with you. A construction package is put together and sent out to nominated contractors to obtain a price that meets your budget. This is also known as a Tender package. The Scope of Works is the document or set of instructions for your builder or contractors so they know what they are being asked to do and can price accordingly. Hiring a builder Hiring an experienced and trusted builder is imperative to ensure that your project stays in budget and the workmanship is of good quality. We use trusted and reliable builders - only - who have worked on many of our design projects. When interviewing building contractors the following checklist would be helpful. Make sure they have excellent references You have seen examples of their work You have the correct contract in place either a JCT Minor Works an FMB Plain English, or one that is applicable to your project. We would normally advise our clients the best option for them They have both public liability and professional indemnity insurance The main contractor will purchase all construction materials, plasterboard, timber, adhesives, cabling, pipework, flooring and any specialist materials Payments should be made with bi-weekly valuations of the work Do not pay in full before the snagging has been completed. Hold back 5-10% of the total value of the project If it's a large project, there may be a retention of monies for a 6 month dilapidation period after the work has been completed We sometimes act as the main contractor, we are paid by the client and then hold monies to disperse to the builder and sub-contractors. If the builder is acting as the main contractor this then makes them wholly responsible for any of the works on site. If the client pays the contractors directly, it is then the builder that is responsible for and guarantees the work. Project Management Having a professional to 'police' the work is very important to monitor and ensure the work being carried out by the builder is at an acceptable standard and the project remains on target. Any variations to the original contract will need to be documented and all parties made aware. We take the headache out of managing the project for our clients. This is part of a project that I particularly enjoy, seeing it come together and problem-solving any issues that might arise. Unless you have the time, patience, and knowledge I would not recommend project managing the work yourself. It's a tough and stressful job especially if things don't go to plan. We charge an agreed fee for this task which is normally a % on the overall project value. If you have commissioned the involvement of an architect, they might project manage for you, however, they normally charge an hourly rate, and it's best to check. As project managers, we would also act as the Principle Designer and be responsible for admin and all communications between contractors and sub-contractors, and the client. You would receive weekly written updates outlining progress and any variations to the contract. We hope this has been helpful. You've done your research and preparation for your project. Now it's time to start the process. Please contact Susan Van Meter interior design to help you create and deliver your dream home! Contact us today for a free home visit and consultation.....

  • What do you love? - Interior Trends for 2023

    As far as I’m concerned, we should all live with what we love and that can be anything from a modern to a traditional aesthetic. We need to feel comfortable in our homes and not be slaves to trends. Saying that, if you are buying to flip or as an investment then more consideration is needed when renovating and decorating. Keeping the interior neutral with pops of colour is a safe bet in this situation. I am in favour of timeless interiors with a hint of eclectic and character, a statement piece that can easily be removed if required. So, what is it you love to be surrounded by? Here are a few of the trends for the coming year that might stick. 2023 Interior Trends - Sustainability. I wouldn’t call this a trend as it’s not going away anytime soon. With clients and consumers becoming more aware of our duty to look after our planet and it’s people. One way of being sustainable is by mixing old and new, pairing traditional architecture with modern pieces, or vice versa, ideally antique or vintage pieces from online stores such as Vinterior. However, there are many fantastic stores in and around London with some of the best vintage pieces, and beautifully curated items from Italy, Spain and France. I always believe its best to view the piece in person, relying on online viewing rarely works from my experience. Vintage paired with new furniture and fittings. Saving energy and reducing our carbon footprint is picking up in popularity with our clients. Your interior designer or architect can offer you solutions about the latest building materials and products to use in your home. Manufacturers are starting to realise that consumers want to take some level of responsibility when renovating their homes and know they’re doing the right thing. This ‘trend’ is increasingly in demand. Sustainable and luxury bathroom product. Textured walls. Textured plastered walls are very on-trend at the moment and this is a style that I believe has longevity. Introducing texture into a space is really important, it adds interest and can also be sustainable and healthy depending on what materials you use. Microcement, Polished or Venetian plaster, Tedelakt, Mineral paint, Clayworks are just a few of the finishes currently being used on our projects. We are currently working with a client in a modern property and introducing accent walls in a classic polished plaster finish. This is an ancient Italian application made from ground marble and then polished to whatever level of texture is required. It has been in and out of fashion for about 20 years but has made a comeback recently. It is very hard wearing and easy to repair, it’s also great in bathrooms as it’s waterproof. The final application creates depth and movement and brings great energy into the space. Microcement is another material that has become popular, this is used on floors and walls, and gives more of a subtle texture in softer less vibrant colours. Polished plaster, micro-cement and limewash walls Colour, What’s in What’s out? Colour brings character and personality into your home, don’t be afraid of it. The colour for 2023 is magenta, a bright and powerful pink. This is not a colour for the faint-hearted and will not be liked by everyone. I used magenta in our dining room in Florida, about 18 years ago and layered the colour on walls, curtains and upholstery. Now, I’m still fond of pink, but much paler versions which give you more scope and flexibility and won’t date. Viva Magenta Pantone Colour of the year. The colour Green is still making the rounds and is easier on the eye. It evokes feelings of nature, calm and regeneration. Colour is subjective and personal - greys are out thank goodness, unless used creatively, as are taupes unless paired with metallics. One of my favourite uses of colour is to layer it, this provides the space with a sense of peace and calm as well as depth. Green can be glam. So live with what you love, especially when it comes to colour. If it makes you feel good have it. Be true to your own creative instincts. Art Deco Glam. Many of the high-end hotels, restaurants and bars are designed in the flavour of Art Deco to create a very glamorous setting. This is my favourite period, it reminds me of the beauty and glamour of Hollywood Art Deco design represented modernism turned into fashion. Its products included both individually crafted luxury items and mass-produced wares, but, in either case, the intention was to create a sleek and anti-traditional elegance that symbolized wealth and sophistication. To create this look in your home it can be styled in a simpler fashion by using only some art deco elements that nod to this aesthetic. It can be a shape, a piece of furniture, a colour, or fabric. Decorative influences came from American Indian, Egyptian, and early classical sources as well as from nature. Characteristic motifs included nude female figures, animals, foliage, and sun rays, all in conventionalized forms. Not exactly a sustainable mode of decoration, favouring the use of precious materials and the creation of luxury forms. We can now replace many of these materials with ones that replicate them. Art Deco reimagined. Always surround yourself with what you love, makes you happy and brings you joy. Forget about trends, they come and go. So, what do you love? Contact Susan for a free consultation. The four design philosophies of my business are to be the B.E.S.T : Beauty, Empower, Sustain, Transform and form the cornerstone of my design business.

  • How to manage your properties in a competitive market.

    Your rental should stand out from the rest! Keeping your rental properties let throughout the year to get the maximum rental and yield can often be challenging. Markets can often fluctuate but the Landlords that stay in front are the ones that offer the best value. A good tenant expects good quality and well-designed space. These properties stand out from the rest, so tenants appreciate this and take better care of them. Good quality furniture means fewer replacements and a well-designed scheme may seem expensive in the short term but will save you money, time, and effort in the long term. This is especially true within the new build market. A large percentage are often acquired for rental, but the spaces are similar or the same. At SVM Interiors we can help you to make your property stand out so you can be assured of good returns and stay in front. Create a new scheme for your property Provide good quality and well-designed furniture Stand out from the rest If looking to sell, the same rules apply If you’re looking to sell, this applies to you too. A slow market can often mean that properties can hang around for too long. It’s often difficult for buyers to see the potential of a space if its unfurnished or bland. A bit of upfront investment can be rewarding financially. Most buyers struggle with time and the skills to create an interior designed space. They want the finished article, to move in stress-free, and to enjoy their new home from the get-go. The same rules apply here; make your property stand out from the rest to get the best price and the quickest sale. The money spent upfront will bring in the rewards you seek. How SVM Interiors can help With 30 years’ experience in interior design, SVM have the expertise to create that desirable property that stands out in this competitive market. You will find our services and furniture options, here... Furniture Solutions Services Contact SVM today to see how we can help you

  • Our Christmas Gift To You!

    With only 8 weeks to Christmas, it’s a good time to start thinking about that New Year project. In spite of the economic turmoil, here at Susan Van Meter Interiors, it’s been a busy year. Whether you’re a landlord, homeowner or developer, SVM would like to extend our gratitude to you by offering a 10% discount for 2023 on your first order for design, project management or furniture supply. Take advantage of our free consultation to get that project off to a flying start. STYLISH. SUSTAINABLE. SMART At SVM, we support British manufacturing, design, and all things sustainable, creating healthy homes and spaces for people and their families. With over 30 years of interior design, build and refurbishment experience, we have the required knowledge and expertise to create your projects in harmony with the environment. STYLISH. SUSTAINABLE. SMART At SVM we create the elements to make a design whole, restore your senses, and create a true sanctuary, a place where you can thrive; your dream home realised. CHRISTMAS OFFER! After a busy year - Susan Van Meter Interiors wish to extend our gratitude by offering a 10% discount on the design, project management or furniture supply for your New Year project to get 2023 off to a flying start. First-class creative design and industry knowledge Stress-free, fast, economical and luxurious results Increased desirability of your property Measuring and space planning Bespoke selections where required Maximise your return on investment REQUEST A QUOTE: Fill in your information to save money on your first furniture or design order. 🌿 Contact us now to book your free consultation and take advantage of this limited offer 🌿

  • What a difference a Reception makes!!

    During the summer we squeezed in a small but delicious reception make-over in a residential building in Mayfair adjacent to Green Park. A good reception area is such an important element to a building. It’s the first thing you see as you walk in. So, do we wish to make a good impression or a bad one? If you’re selling or renting an apartment, the reception area can close the deal. It’s sad that so many of our buildings are let down in this area when this can be easily remedied, and everyone can benefit in the short and long term. One of our clients reached out to me for the re-design and project management of this space. A modern 70's building of no architectural significance with the apartments purchased for the use of a limited number of residents, over 2-3 floors for each apartment. There have always been a number of high-profile visitors to the building, and yet the reception had not been touched for at least 20 years; it was tired and dated. These are some before photo's - I think you can see what I mean! The project needed to be executed within a very tight time frame, for the arrival of one of the high-profile residents. There was an existing reception desk that we decided to work with, as it would take too much time to replace and disrupt the area which still needed to be used for access. I decided to limit the modification of the desk and clad it in a large format porcelain tile, 5mm thick. The tile was also used on the walls as well as mirror. We created a design that replaced the carpet, mirrors, and ceiling lighting and provided a new storage cupboard in the corner. Two colour concepts, one light, and one dark were produced and submitted to the residents, see below. The residents chose the darker colour scheme which is visually more dramatic. In the final version, we increased the amount of tile and mirrors on the walls behind the desk. The doors to the storage unit were fluted using a C&C machine and then painted in the workshop. I contacted our tiling specialist from Huds Tiling. Ken is particularly fastidious and detailed focused with a team of equally excellent tilers. He jumped at the chance to clad a piece of furniture in tile as it is something that's not normally done. To do this accurately and cut down on cutting time he suggested we use a company called Tailor Made UK which measures and pre-laser cuts the tile for each section of the desk and wall, the tile can also be vein-matched too. The tile was specified from Porcelain Tiles UK which specialises in large format thin printed tile from Italy - sustainable luxury for environments. The final tile used for this project was Cosmic Black. Here are some of my personal photos of the finished work, we are waiting on professional photographs, but I think you will agree, a much-improved space. Final finishes Final finishes Final finishes Contact us if you have any design requirements for receptions or specialist design work - we are here to help! ✨ Contact Us Here ✨

  • A Belgravia Townhouse for Multi-Generational Family Living

    For over a year we have been working on a large interior design refurbishment of a Belgravia Grade II Listed home arranged over 5 floors. The builder last refurbished this for the owner 35 years ago so it was very dated and required updating. Our client, the daughter, now married with her own family has a very distinct style, what I call a little bit "rock and roll" favouring bright colours, patterns, and texture whilst still maintaining the period charm and detail of the property. An added bonus was she wanted to use as many eco-friendly materials as possible. The home has colour jewel colours on every floor with green being the link that threads the floors together and maintains visual continuity. We are designing the final room, the lounge and dining area which is packed full of architectural elements, using Timothy Oulton furniture - it's a fantastic store located on the Kings Road which I highly recommend you visit - they provide guests with a glass of champagne too! So, there will be an element of the modern and traditional for a distinctive eclectic look. The plumbing and heating systems have been updated for a new and more efficient system. Ideally heating with ground heat pumps would have been a preferred option but this was not feasible in a townhouse based in central London. All bathrooms have also been updated, along with new LED lighting throughout. The hot water and cooling systems will save money compared to previous installations. The brassware has been supplied by Rutland London manufactured and finished in the UK, therefore reducing an unnecessary carbon footprint. In this bathroom, the tiles have been sourced through Mandarin Stone with the brassware being by Rutland. Farrow & Ball Dead Salmon paint colour is used for joinery. The mosaics in this bathroom have been replaced by Blue Pearl granite. The flooring has been supplied by Trunk Floor sustainably sourced timbers hand-finished in Northern Ireland, in a wide plank and also in a chevron pattern for the lounge dining room. The paint has been mainly specified by Farrow & Ball; they have a great colour palette with the paint being made in the UK. Another favourite used is the Paint and Paper Library which has have a fantastic palette of 180 paint colours and finishes manufactured in the UK used by interior designers and accredited by RIBA Architects. We have sourced speciality wall coverings from Fromental a firm favourite of mine for the brightly coloured bedroom below. As there are several flights of stairs, we have used a bespoke runner by Roger Oates who is a go-to supplier for gorgeous runners, designed and manufactured here in the UK on hand looms. Our version is a special width without the use of rods. Some of the rooms have been finished or are nearing completion, it's interesting to see the finished product compared to the renders. It was necessary to create photo-realistic renders for the client as they are out of the country a great deal. We always submit real samples for the client to touch and feel too as it's not always possible to be 100% accurate with renders. Another floor for a family member with a different style. We will keep you updated on the progress of this project. There are other rooms and fixtures that will be added at later stages. We are excited and grateful for the opportunity to work with this client and create a unique home for this family. ✨ The Five Benefits of Hiring An Interior Designer ✨ Download Here

  • The Best Types of Timber Flooring for your Home

    A wood floor is still pretty much the top choice for a residential floor finish in the UK. The beauty of using a wooden floor is the character and warmth it provides; it feels good underfoot and can also be used with underfloor heating depending on your sub-floor structure. There are two types of wood flooring; the most commonly used is an engineered floor which is made up of a core of cross-laminated plywood for stability and strength at around 16mm in thickness with a real wood veneer wear layer at around 4mm in thickness. The sides of the planks are what we call tongue and grooved together and glued into place. Oak is the most common of timbers to use, as well as walnut, ash, and beech wood. It can be heavily figured or patterned depending on how it is cut or sliced through the log when creating the thin veneer. The veneer is then stained, oiled, or varnished to achieve a certain look and colour. There are also many different price points and qualities to choose from depending on your budget. Oiled finishes are popular at the moment as opposed to a varnish or polyurethane finish which are viewed as toxic and less 'natural' looking. Generally, the planks will be supplied pre-oiled and will maybe need to be re-applied after a year depending on use. The alternative to an engineered floor is a solid wood plank floor which is milled from a single piece of timber, usually hardwood such as oak, ash, walnut or beech, among others. The thickness of the plank would be around 20mm. The downside of a solid wood floor is the cost - it's expensive. The stability of it, even though it will have been seasoned, will be prone to movement with heat and cold temperatures and may warp. Personally, I would never recommend a solid wood plank floor because of these reasons as there are many gorgeous engineered wood floor alternatives that can work in any sustainable residential interior application. We generally work with a company called Trunk Floor The reasons we work with them are the quality and range of colours and finishes available. I have found them to be flexible and professional. The planks are finished by hand at their Northern Ireland factory which provides the distinct look of their product. Their price point is mid to high end but worth the investment. Engineered wood floor is available in straight plank, herringbone, and chevron with more detailed patterns such as a basketweave. A straight plank is the most cost-effective option with the price rising accordingly for chevron and herringbone. We have recently used Trunk for a residential project using a wide plank at 240mm width in a character finish, meaning it has more knots and a Prime finish (fewer knots) in a chevron and wide straight plank. I would not recommend using a wooden floor in a bathroom or kitchen because of the moisture and potential water spillage which may expand and open the joints between planks. ✨ The Five Benefits of Hiring An Interior Designer ✨ Download Here Copyright Disclaimer: Not all photos used here are mine, all rights are reserved to the copyright owners. Sourced from the internet and Susan Van Meter Interiors.

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