22-04-2010 NINA CAMPBELL RETURNS TO ELIZABETH STANHOPE INTERIORS.....

On 22nd of April 2010 Nina Campbell returned to Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors to give her second lecture, this time on the importance of supporting British craftsmanship and British design...

Turning Oakham into the design equivalent of Hay-on-Wye?

Nina Campbell lecture a sell out!

In a little street, in a little town, in the smallest county in Britain, a charming interiors shop is becoming an interior design meeting point.

As Hay-on-Wye is to books, having developed over time into a mecca for literature lovers, so Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors, in Mill Street Oakham is beoming the place to head for if you want to hear lectures from the top designers in their field.

In April it was the turn of Nina Campbell, returning to give her second lecture, this time on the importance of supporting British craftsmanship and British made design.

Campbell has built her business on what she agrees is "unashamed luxury" and showed a series of slides of a house she had been commissioned to refurbish in China where money was clearly no object. But she is wonderfully realistic about how important it is for people to have the home they really like, and not to be tempted by what is deemed fashionable, if it doesnt fit with their lifestyle.

Currently, it is difficult to avoid the Sunday supplements with their features on minimalist, large windowed penthouses, containing little more furniture than a statement chair. With not a curtain or cushion in sight, it is difficult to see how this type of interior design relates to middle England, and most people's desire to make their homes cosy.

But Campbell insists it is not necessary to throw out the drapes to make a fashion statement.

"These images are not about interior design and they are not about living, they are just spaces. Most people want their home to be welcoming; a place that works for them on lots of levels; that is adaptable. For example, a dining room is often also a work place, and sometimes has to accommodate several additional people if they arrive unexpectedly for a meal. It should be possible to accomplish this effortlessly and without stress.

Campbell also believes strongly that interior design is not like buying a new shirt that will be thrown away next year. It has to endure, so fashion is less important.

It is also a case with the British, especially those who live in the country, that we don't decorate our whole house in one go, or even a complete room. We do the basics and then keep adding things. So it is important that the principal feel of the room and the base colour will still be pleasing several years from now. To facilitate adding extras year by year, Campbell ensures that in each collection, she brings at least one new design that will build on those from previous seasons, so people can mix and enhance.

For many the last couple of years have been a period of making do, as the economic recession has made moving house difficult and money tight. Lizzie Stanhope, proprieter of Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors agrees that economic constraints have affected the way people are shopping. "People are revamping their homes rather than moving, choosing to redocorate, or add new curtains to freshen up their homes." She also agreed that the straightened times had affected the type of soft furnishings people are buying. "There are two trends. Some people are choosing simplicity and a paired back look, while for others there is a requirement for something that is breathtaking, that is stunning."

So why did Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors decide to play host to interior design lectures, especially in a place so far from the capital?

"We have a very knowledgeable and informed clientele in this area, with many people eager to know more and hear opinions on the type of interior design that is available. In fact you could say that people in Rutland are really passionate about how their homes look.

"In the first place, I wanted to raise money for a local charity that we support and so the concept of holding an interior design lecture came into being. The tickets sold out almost immediatley, and we now have a constant waiting list for the next event. Each lecture is hugely popular, and great fun. Because everyone stays after the talk to chat, browse and drink champagne, it also turns into a wonderful party."

Lizzie hopes to maintain a schedule going forward of two lectures a year, but be warned, if you want to be at the next event, you will have to book early.

But let us not leave Mill Street without just a little more advice from Nina Campbell, herself one of the most enduring of interior designers.

Do you design based on the wishes of the client or the needs of the house?

"A little of both really. Obviously I wouldn't knock about a Victorian building, but sometimes the interior can be adjusted to give more light or space. It's also possible to do a great deal with very little. I have a mirror near my front door that gives a reflection of the garden. When I see that, I feel at peace."

Is it possible to mix classic and contemporary?

"Absolutely. Classical rooms can be sharpened up, and given a slight edge with a contemporary feel."

Is there such a thing as good design?

"It shouldn't scream at you and be too self conscious. It should be relaxed and of good spirit and practical, but the detail is very important. By that I don't mean fussy or cluttered, but making sure things work together. Sometimes the hardest job I have is to persuade a long suffering daughter in law that she really can consign the ugly heirloom piece of furniture that dominates a room to another place."

Is it necessary to spend a lot of money to have a beautiful home?

"You can't afford not to have the best. It's like clothes. If you buy one good bag, it will last you for the rest of your life. It is the same with your sitting room. Invest in the best"

 

 

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