What Floats My Boat

When it comes to what I do and do not like, I find myself to be far more vocal on what I don't like rather than what i do. As awkward as that may seem, it's my own personal method of ruling out nearly everything else apart from that one or maybe two things which are a tick in the box for me. 

I tend to document the styles, themes and looks i do like throughout my Pinterest page. I find Pinterest to be the best form of mood board, visual diary and method of documentation when it comes to interiors and anything aesthetically pleasing. I love being able to have my boards and 'pin' what i like to each of these. Lately i have been visually addicted to anything palm print, tropical and anything copper or marble. I have a feeling that flamingos will be making an appearance on my page rather soon...check out my Pinterest page as i am constantly adding to this day in and day out.

Fashions will come and go. That's why i don't always follow them. Just because something is 'in' doesn't mean i will run with it. What is the point in spending hundreds of pounds on something which you're going to fall out of love with in a month or two and be stuck with something which will then look dated? Unless you have the money to not have to worry about that! 

Despite this, i am a big believer in investing in statement pieces. I would argue that splashing out on a nice bed frame or chest of drawers is essential, just make sure they aren't so style specific and are more versatile in their appearance.

I'm fairly open minded when it comes to styles, colours, themes and so on however there are a few things which have been and always will be a big fat no. Off to a slightly negative start, I know, however I will balance this with weighing up what I do like.

Red - nope. I'm not sure why but I loathe the colour red. I find it a very hard colour to apply within the living environment, that is of course a completely false statement to make if you are someone who likes red. Maybe i'm afraid of taking these kinds of risks and making them work? Who knows. However, i don't see myself opting for a scarlet chair or wallpaper anytime soon!

Despite this, I am a huge fan of contemporary art and there's nothing to say that it ticks the boxes for me here. Wide open white spaces, blank canvas style interiors with the bold use of colour-dominated contemporary art is something which i am a fan of. 

In particular, artist Donald Robertson (http://www.donaldrobertson.com/) is one of my all time favourite artists and also has the best Instagram account which you need to follow! His little boys  are so cute! Robertson's work is my favourite kind of contemporary art, frequently using bold and vivid colours through a fashion theme most commonly. His work has been used in campaigns for London Fashion Week and can be often found dotted around parts of London such as Covent Garden.

Floral's - Some of you girls (and maybe guys) may love them but i tend to stay away from these. Don't get me wrong, i love flowers and think they look great in my mum's living room however that's as far as it goes for me. I'm not a fan of Cath Kidston however i know many people  are. I find it too fluffy however if someone was in need of kitting out their thatched cottage in Cornwall, this would be the perfect place to pick up your linens and other soft furnishings.

Monochrome - Yes yes yes. The sky high level of versatility when it comes to monochrome home design is one of my main attractions to this style. I'm drawn to the "anything goes" approach and especially with black and white. Unlike working with patterns and colours where we need to be far more cautious in case of clashing. Additionally, from more of a cost effective perspective this style ticks many boxes for me. I know that i can go into one shop and pick up discounted white bedding and be certain that they will go well with my glossy black chest of drawers. I also like how i can add the odd pop of colour whether that be art, cushions or a rug adding depth to this two toned palette.

Shabby Chic - It's been done too many times. Yes, it's sweet, delicate and a fan by many however for me it is going to have to be  a 'no'. I used to work for home interiors store Laura Ashley where similarities of this style were quite prominent. Don't get me wrong, i love tones such as ivory and cream however the ornate plaster mirrors, white metal day beds and scroll photo frames got a bit too much for me. I think this style is very liked by young teenage girls however with me, i think this is quite route one. I could however see myself taking an essence of this style and creating a hybrid style of my own. There's nothing to say i wouldn't like a large gold leaf style mirror in a room with ebony black furnishings?

There are of course many other styles and themes which i do and do not like. As the content of my blog expands, my taste will be documented throughout my posts. I am not the Leonardo Da Vinci or the Picasso of interiors or all things creative... trust me! I am an individual with an opinion who's taste is forever developing in what i do and do not like. We are all entitled to our own taste.

Please comment below and also check out my Instagram and Pinterest pages!

Me

I can't say I am a massive fan of introductions. I do try my best however I tend to think that they can end up sounding like the start of an alcoholics anonymous meeting... My name is Charlie, I am 22 and I live in north London, United Kingdom. Moving on...

If I had to I would describe myself to be a creative and visually expressive individual. I am drawn to an array of creative fields, including photography, fashion, contemporary art and in more recent years, interior design. I am always one to be either redecorating or upcycling or that friend who can't seem to hold out a year before they're choosing their next style of soft furnishings, blinds and paints.

My background as you may have guessed is a rather creative one. Qualifications of which span from textiles, graphics, art, drama and most recently, photography. Last year I graduated from University for The Creative Arts (UCA) with a bachelor in Photography which consisted three years of photographic practice and study.

On embarking university, my 'field' in photography hadn't quite been established as I wasn't completely certain on what I liked to photograph. However, by my second year it was evident that fashion photography was my strength and that was the path I continued to follow.

"Would you like fries with that?" 2015 Series. Charlie Hummerstone-Pope 

"Would you like fries with that" 2015 Series. Charlie Hummerstone-Pope

Alongside my creative studies, I began working for the home interiors company Laura Ashley. It was here where I realised that interior design was an underlying interest of mine which hadn't yet been given a chance to make an appearance. Despite the 'quintessentially British' colour swatches of duck egg, ivory and eau de nil not quite being exactly what I would be attracted to in a home, I found myself piecing things together, seeing what did and didn't work, and pushing the boundaries of various textures and tones whilst attending to the stockroom and shelves. Oh, and I couldn't possibly forget serving the highly demanding middle aged wives of Surrey...

Unfortunately, after a year at Laura Ashley, my third year of university had arrived and it was time to set up my sleeping bag and tent in the campus library as that demanded most of my time. I felt lost without this job initially as I had a taste for the interiors field and what I could possibly be capable of. Since then, I have completed various home interiors projects and developed ways of expressing my creativity visually throughout my home.

After stepping into the real word since graduation, a number of home interiors projects and a house move on the way this September, it seems right that I begin to blog again.

I can't be certain as to what will fill the pages of my blog however I plan to both document and discuss my thoughts on anything creative. From interior design to fashion photography and from inspiration to contemporary art...Watch this space. This is my 'Interior Motive'.