Fay Allison Interior Design

Fay Allison Interior Design Welcome to Fay Allison Interior Design, your partner in creating beautiful, timeless spaces.

I spent last Friday morning at The Dragon in Willington with a fellow interior designer — and as always, my eye went str...
23/04/2026

I spent last Friday morning at The Dragon in Willington with a fellow interior designer — and as always, my eye went straight to the room.

What I love about this space is how well it walks the line between rustic character and considered design. The rich blue painted wall, rustic plank oak floors, and exposed ceiling beams give it warmth and authenticity — but this isn't a space that's happened by accident. The painted beam finish, the carefully chosen furniture — someone made deliberate decisions here, and it shows.

There's a real skill in designing spaces that feel effortless.

I love taking in design inspiration where you find it — even over a Friday morning coffee.
📍 The Dragon at Willington, Derbyshire

Deep in fabric sourcing this week. This is the part of a project most people never see — the handling and rejecting of a...
22/04/2026

Deep in fabric sourcing this week.

This is the part of a project most people never see — the handling and rejecting of a lot of swatches before anything makes the cut.

How a fabric feels in your hand. How the colour holds when the light shifts from morning to afternoon. Whether the texture sits well with the other materials already confirmed for the scheme.

The fabric choices often make or break a room. Get them right and the whole thing lands. Get them wrong and even a well-planned scheme can feel off.

More to come

Buying a sofa without thinking through these three things is how you end up living with something that never quite works...
15/04/2026

Buying a sofa without thinking through these three things is how you end up living with something that never quite works.

Swipe through — it's a two-minute read that might save you months of quiet regret.

Beautiful sofas by:
Cover image: Loaf
Image 2: Collection Seven
Image 3: Arlo & Jacob
Image 4: Barker and Stonehouse on M&S
Image 5: Oka

Quiet luxury doesn't shout. This living room — warm neutrals, layered textures, proportions that actually work — came to...
14/04/2026

Quiet luxury doesn't shout.

This living room — warm neutrals, layered textures, proportions that actually work — came together over several months. Nothing was rushed. Every piece earned its place.

This is what thoughtful design looks like.

Shelf Styling 101 🖤Here are my 6 tips for beautifully styled shelves: 1. Limit your colour palette — In this instance, I...
01/04/2026

Shelf Styling 101 🖤

Here are my 6 tips for beautifully styled shelves:

1. Limit your colour palette — In this instance, I’ve gone with white, black and brown tones

2. Layer from front to back — Place items in front of pictures, records, large books stood upright

3. Play with height — Create stacks of books, magazines, boxes and place smaller items on top

4. Make it personal — Include family photos, momentos and items with meaning and memories

5. Nature is your friend — Something missing? Add some faux greenery, dried flowers or the real deal

6. Don’t forget the lighting — Rechargeable lamps will bring a cosy glow and transform your shelves on gloomy days

Shelves are one of my favourite things to style for clients — they’re such an easy way to add personality and warmth to a room without a big budget or a big project. Give one of these tips a try and let me know how you get on!

Got a shelf you’d love some help with? Drop me a message or comment below — I’d love to help.
👇
Fay | Fay Allison Interior Design
Classic interiors with a contemporary twist | Nottingham & Derbyshire 🏡

Last week I was in Manchester with Neil while he was in the office for the day. I didn't want to stay cooped up in the h...
30/03/2026

Last week I was in Manchester with Neil while he was in the office for the day.

I didn't want to stay cooped up in the hotel room, but I wasn't really in the mood for a busy coffee shop either.

I ended up settling into the lounge area at Hotel Gotham for the morning. A former bank building from the 1930s — dark, considered, full of rich materials and that quiet sense of grandeur that Manchester does so well. The kind of space that just makes you slow down a little.

I ordered a coffee, opened my laptop, and found myself reaching for my notebook before long. There's something about being surrounded by genuinely good design that shifts how you think.
And it cost the same as a cappucino anywhere else on the high street.

Worth knowing — if you ever find yourself with a free day in an unfamiliar city, it's worth finding a hotel with a bit of history to it rather than defaulting to the nearest chain. 🏨

North-facing rooms can be tricky.They tend to receive cooler, indirect light — and while the common advice is to paint e...
03/03/2026

North-facing rooms can be tricky.

They tend to receive cooler, indirect light — and while the common advice is to paint everything white to “brighten it up”, that approach can actually make the space feel stark and slightly grey.

In this living room (final image shows the original), we chose to embrace the natural light levels instead of fighting them.

By introducing deeper tones, warm accents, layered textures and natural materials, the space now feels intentionally cosy and welcoming rather than cold.

Design isn’t always about adding more light — sometimes it’s about adding warmth and depth.

If you have a room that doesn’t quite feel right, it may not be the layout… it may be how the space is responding to light.

Feel free to message me if you’d like to chat about a room in your home 🤍

New build kitchens are practical, bright and beautifully functional — but they can sometimes lack warmth and personality...
26/02/2026

New build kitchens are practical, bright and beautifully functional — but they can sometimes lack warmth and personality.

For this space, the brief was simple:
✨ Make it feel softer
✨ Add character
✨ Create a warm, cottage-inspired heart of the home

We introduced natural materials, earthy tones, panelling, woven textures and layered styling to gently shift the atmosphere. The layout stayed the same — but the feeling completely changed.

Now it feels welcoming, relaxed and full of quiet character.

If you’re living in a new build that still feels a little “box fresh”, thoughtful design can transform it more than you might think 🤍

Message me if you’d like to explore what’s possible in your home.

Swipe through to see the original room layout.This space is a perfect example of why not every fireplace should automati...
25/02/2026

Swipe through to see the original room layout.

This space is a perfect example of why not every fireplace should automatically become the focal point.

Because of the shape of the room, the fireplace sat slightly off-centre. Arranging the furniture around it made everything feel a little forced and unbalanced.

Rather than fighting the architecture, we shifted the focus entirely.

By creating a new focal wall on the opposite side — incorporating built-in storage and a centred TV — the room now feels intentional and cohesive. The layout flows naturally, and the space feels larger and more relaxed.

Sometimes the biggest transformation isn’t about adding more — it’s about making smarter layout decisions.

If you’re struggling with a room that just doesn’t “sit right”, I’d love to help you rethink it.

Swipe through to see the before image at the end.This living room always had lovely proportions and period features, but...
24/02/2026

Swipe through to see the before image at the end.

This living room always had lovely proportions and period features, but it felt light, flat and slightly disconnected.

The fireplace wasn’t anchored.
The walls lacked structure.
The room didn’t reflect the warmth of the home.

Rather than a full renovation, we focused on adding character:

• Wall panelling to introduce depth
• Built-in shelving for styling and balance
• Warmer, softer neutrals
• Exposed beams to ground the space
• Layered natural textures throughout

The footprint hasn’t changed — but the feeling has completely shifted.

It now feels cocooning, cohesive and full of quiet character.

If you’re looking at a room that feels “fine” but not right, that’s exactly where thoughtful design makes the difference.

Message me if you’d like to talk through your space 🤍

This corner of the room is one of my favourites 🤎It’s a reminder that creating warmth isn’t about buying “more” — it’s a...
23/02/2026

This corner of the room is one of my favourites 🤎

It’s a reminder that creating warmth isn’t about buying “more” — it’s about layering thoughtfully.

Panelling to add character.
A grounded, heritage green to cocoon the space.
Natural wood, woven textures, aged terracotta.
Art that feels collected rather than curated.

What was once a simple, neutral backdrop now feels cosy, relaxed and full of personality.

If you’ve got a room that feels a little flat, cold or unfinished — especially in a newer home — you don’t need to rip everything out. You just need the right layers and a clear plan.

That’s exactly what I help with.

Message me if you’re ready to turn a space you tolerate into one you truly love living in 🤍

Last image shows the original space

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