Self-taught interior designer and TV presenter Julia Kendell may be best known for working faster than conceivable to makeover homes on the hit ITV show 60 Minute Makeover but her design work away from the limelight takes on a calmer approach. Here she speaks to Rebekah Commane about her design ethos, upcoming projects and why she is passionate about women and power tools!
Despite being a successful interior designer in her own right, unlike some in her profession, Julia Kendell believes in the value of DIY, so long as the rules are adhered to.
She is a big fan of using long-lasting materials in the home and creating a living space where the mind can be at ease. In an interview with What Mortgage she also confirms that the redecorating on 60 minute makeover was genuinely carried out in an hour, although not always successfully.
Can you explain the ethos behind your designs? What inspires you in your work?
My guiding beliefs are to create homes and environments that reflect the personalities of those who will inhabit them. A home should feel exactly that; somewhere you can retreat to, feel totally at peace and ‘supported’ by.
My designs are ‘emotionally connected’ and my greatest desire always is to produce a balanced, energising and beautiful space that represents perfection for my client, whatever that means to them individually.
As with any designer or artist, it’s almost impossible not to draw inspiration from everywhere: travel, people and everyday life.
There are great colour combinations used in packaging and advertising that I occasionally ‘borrow’ as the basis to a scheme. Hotel interior designs are often exciting and push boundaries so I will regularly take elements of successful designs to scale down for residential schemes.
Social media is becoming increasingly useful to globally share ideas and visuals. I use Pinterest to create online mood-boards for various themes and designs.
Do you have a signature style that you incorporate into your designs?Â
I’m equally excited designing an interior for a period cottage to an ultra-contemporary apartment, but my ‘house-style’ I would describe as ‘East Coast Classic’.
I work with a palette of greys and neutral tones, combining period pieces in a simple overall scheme. I choose comfort and a relaxed feel over an extremely ‘designed’ look and prefer to achieve a feeling that the room has evolved over time rather than that it’s been newly completed.
I use lighting, particularly from concealed sources, to bring my schemes to life, enhance the mood and create a real sense of perspective and texture.
Are you in favour of sustainable designs?
Using materials with longevity and a sense of permanence is certainly a preference of mine. The flat-pack, throw-away designs of recent years offer nothing to either the environment or to the sense of soul within our homes.
I have always been inspired by natural and organic materials, particularly when juxtaposed with sleek, contemporary finishes. With an increasing choice, and the premium for choosing eco-friendly products lessening, there is no logical reason not to choose sustainability within design.
With properties becoming progressively airtight to aid heat-retention, filling the atmosphere within our homes with toxic off-gassing from paints, furnishings and carpets makes no sense to me.
Are you an advocate of DIY or is it always best to have an expert carry out home improvements?
I am a great believer in DIY, and passionate about encouraging women to take up power tools! But there are rules that should be applied to ensure a successful outcome. Most DIY disasters arise from lack of forward planning.
Having the right tools available, all necessary materials and supplies, and enough time to complete the job at hand might sound obvious, but it is amazing how many people embark on a project without thorough preparation.
Understanding your skill-level is also crucial, as is knowing when to call in an expert before a problem escalates, if all isn’t going according to plan.
I would never recommend an amateur touches electrics and indeed all alterations now need to be signed-off by a fully qualified electrician. Plumbing and plastering are also best left to the professionals, although there are many great short-courses available should you wish to learn the skills for simple alterations.
I am self-taught, having bought my first house aged 19 and wanting to decorate it beautifully on zero-budget. Lack of funds is a great motivator for learning new skills!
Do you have any tips for staying within budget when it comes to interior design?
Again, forward planning is key to remaining on budget, and on time. Plan everything before you embark on a project, down to the smallest detail. Put a mood board together to ensure that everything you are planning within the design scheme works and balances well and will give you the look and feel you desire.
This will prevent costly mistakes later on in the process and allow a budget to be drawn-up from the outset. Tradespeople will appreciate a thorough brief and be able to quote accurately. Most builders/decorators price a job keenly to get the job, once on site. If changes are made, they have carte-blanche to charge if it means the job will over-run and impact their other work.
In terms of design, be clear what the priorities are and where the budget should be apportioned. Keeping this in mind will prevent any hasty ‘novelty purchase’ decisions or overspend on areas of least need.
Are there any particular projects that you are proud of or that stand out in your memory?
I have been very fortunate to work on many programmes over the past 10 years that have brought real change to people’s lives.
We have enabled families to bring children home from hospital following terrible accidents or bad health, and given people back their pride and sense of purpose. I am proud of every single one, and continually amazed at the incredible teams of local trades people who show-up to offer their assistance for DIY SOS, free of charge, and who work under trying circumstances, often into the night to get the job completed.
There is much ‘bad press’ about trades people in this country but it is very heartening to know there are a great many very skilled and cuddly builders out there!
My proudest moment has been working as part of a 400-strong team of international volunteers on a ‘Habitat for Humanity’ Big Build in Nepal last year. We spent a week helping families to build their own homes, and have a chance to leave poverty behind. We all felt a tremendous sense of achievement, not least learning how to render walls with cow dung! The opportunity to get to know a family from an entirely different culture, living and socialising with them, was an experience I shall never forget.
Which project is most memorable to you from 60 minute makeover? Was it really possible to makeover a home in an hour?
This is the question I am probably asked most! Yes, we really did complete the makeovers in 60 minutes, albeit frenetically and occasionally leaving drying paint behind us. Now that the lovely Peter Andre has taken on the presenting reigns we have extended the time, spending a whole day at the contributor’s home. This gives us an opportunity to properly finish the makeover and take on more challenging jobs.
My most memorable 60 Minute Makeovers are generally the ones where things didn’t quite go according to plan, like the time I decided to paint the floorboards with ‘quick-drying paint’… needless to say it was a squelchy disaster.
What are some of the latest trends in interior design?
There’s a strong pastel influence at the moment, particularly blush pink, but used with a sophisticated edge, which is being used to soften the rough ‘luxe’ look that has been prevalent for a while.
This industrial heritage feel is set to continue strongly and encompasses the battered and worn, using leather, steel and natural wood to complete the look.
The many fabulous Danish dramas on television have spawned a surge in interest in Scandinavian design. Think clean lines, a neutral palette with pops of strong colour, 50s classic furniture and a lofty, open and clean feel.
Grey is still the colour of choice, from the lightest tone through to dramatic charcoal, although dark petrol blue is also coming through as a strong influence in interiors. Nostalgia will dominate the coming 12 months with many retro mid-century wallpaper designs and furniture (Ercol, G-plan) being used to create an interesting, modern take on the 50s and 60s era.
 How important is it to be comfortable in your home and love your surroundings?
The psychology of good design within the home should never be underestimated. Our surroundings have the ability to allow for a seamless day or a series of annoying logistical niggles, to energise and put us in the right frame of mind, or make us feel un-resourceful.
The colours we use to decorate our homes provoke a very physical response and should be chosen with care to ensure our surroundings provide the right ambience for our many requirements. We should dedicate the time and resources to ensure our homes provide a supporting and nurturing environment where we feel able to overcome whatever life throws at us.
Can you recommend any small improvements that can be made to the design of a home that are cost-effective but have a positive impact?
Establishing what the ‘issues’ are helps to determine the best use of available funds for redesign. The flow of the home and furniture placement can often be dramatically improved by moving a doorway or a badly-positioned radiator. To increase light levels, reduce the amount of fabric at the windows. As texture absorbs natural daylight entering a room, shutters or blinds will help to maximise light without compromising privacy. Similarly, replacing a carpet with a solid surface will make a room appear more spacious and light.
It is worth skim-plastering over a textured ceiling and rough walls to produce a good surface for decorating. Investment in preparatory work such as this will pay dividends to a great end result.
And finally, what’s next for you?
I have a very busy and exciting year ahead! I am currently filming a brand new primetime programme called ‘Rebuild Our Life’ for ITV, and a new series of 60 Minute Makeover. I also have an episode of DIY SOS due to air in the autumn schedule.
Aside from my filming commitments, I will be delivering seminars at the National Home Improvement Show at Olympia in September, and I have just launched one and two-day Interior Design Masterclasses in Marlow and London for anyone interested in learning more about the subject, or taking on a refurbishment project and needing confidence in putting together design schemes.
Julia Kendell’s one and two-day interior design courses start this summer. Visit www.juliakendell.com/courses for info.
