Welcome Will from Bright Bazaar

Help me welcome to The Shiny Pebble Designer Challenge Living Room Edition, the super handsome and stylish Will, from Bright Bazaar.  I first ran into the blog of this English vibrant writer a few weeks back while he was reviewing one of the bazillion shelter magazines he covers.  What a treat, let me tell ya.  The energy of his blog keeps me coming back asking for more.  I am so happy to present a guy’s vision for my room.  Enjoy!

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My background
Well, to start with, I certainly can't take credit for being a real life proper designer! I'm a young guy in my twenties who has a serious love of good, colourful design. I studied Journalism at university and have since been working in the corporate world in the UK, but let my creativity surface in a number of ways...Firstly, I write a daily blog on all things colourful in the world of interiors, and then I write freelance on interiors on an ad hoc basis. I'm an advocate of making rooms fun, personal and unique - often through colour (and bright hues at that!). I have met so many wonderfully creative, talented and inspiring people through blogging and I'm delighted to have the opportunity to be here creating a fictional space for Catherine's living room!

How do you define style?
Style for me is all about letting go. I guess that's why Jonathan Adler is my favourite designer; I like how his creations and interior schemes are fun, relaxed, tongue-in-cheek, but all the while ever-so stylish. That said, I don't think style can be defined, well not to me personally, because each and every day I see new spaces that inspire me and scream style!

What inspires you?
I am inspired by shelter magazines, stationary designs, fashion, patterns, fresh flowers, the colours of the sea and sky, photography and music.

What life experience has shaped your design aesthetics?
This has to be when I was a child; I had a bright yellow cover for my bed and I remember how happy it used to make me - especially seeing it when we returned from family holidays. Given I was always rearranging the furniture in my bedroom, I think it was a dead cert that I was going to love design. Once I left home and went to uni, this was when I finally fell in love with this great world of creativity.

What is your go to source?
It has to be Etsy, especially for the beautiful photography and prints that some of the sellers stock. I love vintage, colour enhanced images - their warmth and uplifting nature always appeals to me.

What were your thoughts for my room?



Catherine explained that her favourite colour was blue so I knew that I wanted to incorporate some blue hues in the scheme. The starting point for the room was the bouquet rug, which featured the fab blue and pink colour combo, which I felt was perfect for the living room. From here, I added bright pops of pink in form of a high gloss table lamp, which I echoed in the striped cushion, with simple grey hues to ground the scheme. I echoed these softer, grey hues in the second throw cushion and chose it for the delicate illustration it held. This was to ensure their was visual interest in the room beyond the bright colours. I think the wallpaper would look great on two of the four walls - I like the causal nature of the blue stripes, with the splashes of paint, it creates a laid back and unique look, which is perfect for a living room.



I chose a simple grey sofa to tie the blue and pink colours together. Plus, it also acts as a base through which to add pattern - namely in the form of some fun, graphic cushions and throws. I chose graphic patterns to add a touch of masculinity and balance out the poppy pinks. The vibrant coffee table has a detachable tray, which I thought would be practical for guests and when Catherine's little one wanted to play on the floor! Plus, the lacquer nature of the piece ties in with the high gloss pink table lamp. Graphic notes are continued with the angular mirror and 50's style clock, whilst the deeper blue hues from the 'links' cushion are drawn out in the side table. To finish things off I felt two of the chandelier pendants would look fantastic hanging side-by-side in the middle of the room - their subtle pops of different colours add interest and prevent the room from looking too set.

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I think that  coming home to a pair of those fabulous chandeliers would evoke the same feeling of happiness that Will described about his Yellow bed covers.  I hope you all enjoyed seeing my room thru the brilliant eyes of a shelter magazine addict. I was also glad to see stripes being used, Will’s signature pattern.  He did a fabulous job carefully selecting just the right print and scale with the perfect balance of color throughout the room.  Very youthful, very energetic, very Will.

Thanks to all my readers for stopping by today.  If you would like to view the other entries in the challenge, including the Dining Room designs, please click on the names of the designers at the top right corner of this page under the Designer Challenge buttons.  You will be taken directly to that designer’s post.  Below I have also included the designs done so far for your convenience:

Designer Challenge – Living Room

Kellie Cashon’s (Cashon & Co.) Continental Eclectic Chic

Elie Fournier (Punctuation Mark) Elegant Flexibility

Designer Challenge – Dining Room

Raina Cox's (If The Lampshade Fits) Boho Contempo Style

Christina Fluegge’s (Greige) Transitional Eclectic Mix

Beth Connolly’s (Chinoiserie Chic) British Colonial Style

Amy Forshew’s (Pemberley Style) Soft Tones Traditional

Charlotta Ward’s (Space for Inspiration) Elegant  Nordic Conceptualizations

Leigha Oak’s (Elle Oh ) The Belgian Look with a Twist

Kellie Collis (Ada and Darcy) An Aussie’s Interpretation

Gwen Driscoll (Ragland Hill Social) Dramatic Glamour

Hurry over to Splenderosa to see what a fun post and gorgeous outfit she has picked up for this room!