What to do when you are mad about interior design and your favorite store has had to close...
A lesson in interior style: learn from the pros from the comfort of your own home
We turn to the interior designers who we particularly admire and who have been kind enough to share their tips with us.
Style advice, design tips and decorating wisdom.
Today we talk to
Caroline Andréoni
Caroline, can you introduce yourself?
I'm an interior designer from Paris. I created my agency six years ago. I was working in real estate in Nice when I had the eureka moment. I was selling flats and holiday houses because of the renovation tips and decorating advice I was giving my clients. So I decided on a life change and moved to Paris.
Even though I was aware that it was a really big risk I was determined to follow my passion and open my own interior design studio.
Little by little the agency has grown and today I'm really proud to be working on some fairly big projects together with my team.
Your decorating mantra?
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication!
This quote by Leonardo da Vinci perfectly sums up how I feel.
I like to create timeless spaces that are beautiful and functional.
What does the concept of good taste mean to you?
For me good taste is good according to each one of us.
My objective is to help my clients to create something that resembles them, all the while keeping to the style of our agency so as to create a unique interior with a strong identity.
What's at the top of your bucket list?
- A parachute jump. I love anything that makes me just a bit afraid!
- A road trip around South America with my husband and two daughters.
- To open a branch of my agency outside France.
If you were a room?
Your dream project?
« Each project is like a new blank page, a fascinating challenge.
My job is to understand what my client wants and to propose a bespoke solution, to create something not just for today but also for tomorrow. »
Caroline's tips
How many colours per room?
I like it when an interior is sober and elegant. The choice of colours is obviously very important. In my opinion the number of different tones should not exceed a maximum of three.
Cushions on the sofa: how and how many?
You can either « throw » them on the sofa or line them up, it depends on your mood. I use cushions to introduce a touch of colour.
What is the secret to a really impressive entrance?
An entrance needs to be impressive because as well as being a foretaste of what's to come, it sets the tone for the rest of the property. Beautiful lighting, a pretty bench, and a dark colour!
And lighting?
I pay a lot of attention to lighting in my projects. There are three areas that you need to respect: the floor, head height and the ceiling.
The choice of lighting is essential. I recommend soft, indirect lighting that has been designed with each room in mind.
Wallpaper. All over or just here and there?
I like to use wallpaper with parsimony to dress up a little room, the bedroom in particular.
Using it all over marche tends only to work in very small rooms such as a loo.
