Interior design advice: An Interview with Designer Nicole Tohill
Putting together the perfect interior design for your home is no small task. There are a lot of elements to consider, and one of the most important features any space has is a fireplace. We sat down to chat with Interior Designer Nicole who turned her passion into launching "Interiors By Nicole" and shared her insightful tips on how homeowners can bring their dream spaces to life!
Interior Designer, Nicole Tohill
Hi Nicole! So tell us what started your interest in Interior Design?
I've always had a passion for interiors, even when I was a young kid my mum and dad would drive to new housing developments to have a nosey at the show homes. I mean, we weren't moving house, we were literally just being nosey, and that sparked my interest in interiors. I completed a degree in Fine and Applied Art, specialising in sculptural ceramics, so I’ve always had a love for materials and their tactile qualities.
From there, I found myself helping friends and family all the time with their interiors, they would often be asking “what do you think about this?”. I found that a lot of people in my circle would ask my opinion, so it got me thinking, this is something I'm really passionate about, I watch all the TV shows, I'm engaged with it, I have Pinterest boards for days and I just thought, its time for me to start making a living out of this and turn my passion into my livelihood. That's when Interiors by Nicole was born.
Before you launched your business, what type of Interior Design did you want to offer clients?
I didn't want to offer the same sort of interior design that everybody else was doing, this kind of high end and unachievable design, unless you got lots of money in the bank of course. I felt there was a real gap in the market for people who had a bit of disposable income to spend on their homes, but they didn't have the time, the inclination, or they didn’t know where to start and they were making costly mistakes. I thought there was a real gap there for those people who just needed a steer through the process, advising them of the pitfalls to avoid and hopefully ultimately save them money, and stop them from making those costly mistakes again.
Can you give us an insight into how you work with clients and your design process?
I always start with an initial design consultation, that's like feeling each other out, because it's not just me understanding the client, it's making sure that we can work together. There is a symbiotic relationship, between an Interior Designer and their client. You have to get on well, because you're asking people to have faith in you, to trust your guidance, so there really has to be a great rapport, thereby ensuring that you can create and implement the best design possible.
“As a designer, I like to push the boundaries a little and that’s what makes it exciting and also what makes for really good design. You need your client to be brave and bold to do that and have trust in you”
Seeing the client’s existing home is important, because I can see the design choices that they've made to date. That way I can determine, okay, they're obviously struggling with colour choices or I can see where their previous struggles have been. I might see that they have bought a really nice designer chair, so from that I can deduce that if they see something they really love, they will spend the money on it. Following on from that, I'll also ask "is there anything you've seen online?" and they might tap out their phone, show me some Instagram accounts saying “oh I love this look or that look”.
I'll ask "do you have a Pinterest board?" and often they’ll say “oh, it's loads of random images” but when I look at it from the outside looking in, I can see patterns in what they're clearly drawn to and then I take my steer from that, at the same time I’m looking at the space that assessing what will and won’t work or be appropriate for the client.
So Pinterest or online images are a good way for someone wanting to communicate their design ideas for their home?
A Pinterest board is a really good way or just images that they've come across in magazines, things that have drawn their attention, and then generally when I see the images, I'll ask them “what was it about this image that they liked, was it the wall colour, was it the fireplace, or was it the flooring?” because they might have saved a photo but actually it was only one element within that image that they were drawn to. Distinguishing what their personal preferences are and then taking those preferences, all the while encouraging them to be that bit braver and to make slightly bolder choices.
However, it’s not always the right choice to make a really bold statement, sometimes you do just want a fireplace that is going to be sympathetic to a more traditional, characterful home. A more classic style fireplace would be better suited and you would avoid the likes of bolder, brave, contemporary tiles. At Robert Phillips Firepaces you guys offer such an array of products that there’s something for everyone. There are stunning marble surrounds, modern glass, 3-sided fires etc. The worlds your oyster!
Design: Interiors By Nicole
At RPF, we believe the fireplace is the heart of the home, do you consider it a key element of your design process and your starting point for an interior scheme?
It’s the primary focal point in a room and is absolutely one of the starting points for me. I would shape my room design based off the fireplace selection made, because its a permanent fixture. From there I can then determine how to complement it with elements such as wall colour, sofas, accent chairs, side tables, rugs, accessories etc.
Definitely, a fireplace is the heart of the home and I think it should be the primary focus. So often I go into peoples homes and they have the TV as the focal point, it drives me nuts, a TV should not be the focal point, it’s the fireplace that should. That's where people are going to gather round when the TV’s switched off, it’s the true heart of the room and home, the place where conversations will be had and memories shared.
Do you have any fireplace favourites in the showroom?
I’m drawn to a fire surround like this one, the Arlington, because when I think of a mantelpiece, I always think of a more classic, traditional look. I love to pair this traditional style with modern twist, this mantle offers clean lines, has lovely curvature to it, and the Agean limestone has such beautiful character that adds texture and depth.
Arlington - The Penman Collection
Are there any colours and materials you see emerging this year and do you have any favourites?
In terms of interior finishes such as tiling, I’m seeing a lot of the Kit Kat small format tiles, there's a move away from Moroccan style, mix & match pattern tiles. You will still see a lot of them in the tile showrooms, but I would advise against installing them, they’re a trend that’s had it’s day. Generally what I find is you start to see the trends come through, probably a year to two prior to them hitting the residential market, so by the time people start seeing and installing them, then the next trend is already on it’s way.
I am really drawn to terrazzo, I just love it, but I get that it polarises people, they either love it or hate it. It's very of the now, but equally, it was also very popular 50/60 years ago. When something is truly timeless, it never disappears. I love it for it’s beautiful texture and tone.
These years on trend colours are terracotta, blush, earthy, natural tones and also deep ox blood reds. People are being bolder and not just curtailing colour to walls, you’re seeing more and more coloured kitchens, everything from pink to yellow kitchens. That being said, the crowd favourites, navy and green kitchens are still hanging on.
“You'll find at the minute lots of natural stones and actually quite heavily veined stones are really coming through in 2023”
We’ve introduced a new range of tile designs into the showroom for fire chambers and also media wall units. What are your thoughts on tiled fireplaces?
Oh I absolutely love a tiled fireplace and chimney breast, I think they work especially well on the more contemporary style media units. I think it looks really bold and striking. I find that often people just think tiles are for kitchens and bathrooms, you can’t put them in a living room. You absolutely can! There are so many beautiful tiles, high gloss, with an intensity of colour, you could never achieve with paint alone.
I love mid-century design, that’s the style that I’m really drawn too. If you think back to the 1950s/60s you would have seen a lot of highly glazed, pigmented tiles and I love that combination of classic design, paired with more contemporary fire solutions, it’s the perfect marriage.
“There’s no paint on earth that will give you that life, that vibrancy that a beautifully glazed tile will”
Many clients can be cautious about committing to colours and patterns for their homes, especially for fireplaces, as they're a permanent feature. What would your advice be for someone who want to be a bit more adventurous but are afraid it might go out of fashion, and they’re stuck with it?
Tell them to employ an interior designer, because a big part of my job is to give those clients that confidence that they need. If you like how something looks, be brave and commit to it, don't have regrets because very often people know what they like but they’re afraid, like you say, it will go out of fashion, it will date and they’ll be stuck with it.
You're never going to create a home that reflects your personality if you don't make choices that you're drawn to, but equally, it always helps to have a third party, whether it’s a designer or yourselves in the showroom, steering clients to follow their heart. It can be a challenge taking a leap into the unknown, but what really helps is that you guys have such an amazing showroom, illustrating perfectly how impactful some of these designs choices can be.
So would you advise people to follow their intuition?
Go with your instincts! When you first enter the showroom, opt for the thing that made you go “Whoa, isn't that lovely!" because so often I see clients, whether it's a fireplace showroom or a kitchen showroom, they'll go in and there’s nearly always that show stopping piece that makes them say “oh, isn’t that gorgeous, but I couldn't have that my house.“ Why not, why can't you have that in your house, why can’t you have what you love?!
I get with a fireplace, it's a permanent fixture so you also have to be smart about it and we talk about trends a lot, but actually I think good design shouldn't necessarily follow trends, it should just be something that gives you that buzz and that spark and makes you go “I love that!", who cares if it's in fashion or not, your home should be a reflection of you, your personality and so it's irrelevant to me whether it's on trend or not.
Antoinette - GMS Collection (shown with the Medley Chamber Tile)
Clients drawn to certain tile chambers, for example, the Medley tile in our showroom may be wary of the bold pattern locking them into one interior colour scheme and feel they can't change it on down the line. What would you say to that?
People often think you have to stick to a neutral palette, but why can't you make a statement in the fireplace. Even if something has colour, you can still have neutrality all around that or you can use various different accent colours, if you say for example go for this Medley tile (shown in picture above) which has a bluey/green background with a blush pink aggregate through it, there's nothing to stop you going green on your walls, you could add a subtle blush, you could even go for a truffle shade, you still have options to switch things up.
What would be your Golden Nuggets for interiors 2023?
I would say in terms of golden nuggets for interior design in the home, forget 2023, this advice applies no matter what year it is. Layer, layer, layer, introduce as much texture as possible by mixing materials, be more eclectic in your choices, don’t pick things that are matchy-matchy, instead mix and match furniture choices and opt for visually interesting, even sculpture accessories and lighting.
Plants! The more plants the better, honestly I firmly believe that they bring life, energy and colour to a space. Don’t just think, a plant in the corner of your room, if you’ve got shelving, have a nice plant with it’s foliage hanging down, draping, that will add movement and create a break in linear shelving, softening hard edges. Always have a good oversized mirror, they will help to bounce and maximise the light in your space and remember your TV should not be your focal point, your fireplace should be.
“If you always pick the things that you love well, you're not going to stop loving it. Trends come and go but the really good true design is timeless”
We had a great time speaking with Nicole about her journey as an interior designer and hearing her valuable tips on home design, colour, and materials. Whether you are looking for help on a small project or need assistance from start to finish, enlisting the help of an interior designer can ensure your designs reflect your personal style and needs. A great starting point is collecting images that have the same look and feel as what you are envisioning for your own home. Don’t be afraid of going after what you really like, and lastly, consider the fireplace an important starting point of your interior plan.