Michelle Shakallis Interiors

Michelle Shakallis Interiors Michelle Shakallis Interiors specialises in residential interior design working with private clients in Kent

01/10/2026

Don’t leave your grout choice up to your builder!

There are a few different options to choosing grout for your tiles and here are my thoughts. 
If you match the grout to the tile then this creates a softer look. The lines fade back, and it feels calm and seamless.

This can also be done with darker tiles or coloured tiles.

If you want more of a contrast then the grout becomes the drawing. It picks out the shape of each tile and shows off the layout. This works well with more heritage or traditional tiles and also if you are going down the more contemporary route as the grout highlights the shape.

If you want a pop of colour you can use coloured grout. This is a very contemporary look and you can experiment with lots of different shades. It works best if the tiles are flat and clean as the focus becomes more on the grout than the tile. 

I would never recommend using a white grout on a floor. It will not stay white. You’ll be scrubbing it forever.
Even with light floor tiles, I’d choose an off-white or a light grey. I often use Mapei Moon with or Manhattan 2000. It looks softer and is forgiving for everyday life.

Make sure you hold the grout colour next to your tile and never choose it without seeing it in the flesh. 

Save this for your next tiling project.

Interior design Kent, luxury interiors, Period homes, Victorian homes, Faversham, Folkestone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Bespoke design, interior layout.

23/09/2026

I’m extremely grateful to be featured on the front cover of Schöner Wohnen (Germany’s equivalent of House Beautiful). I got a 7 page feature and my fabulous friend Barbara sent me a copy from Germany.

My design philosophy is that I won’t compromise on what makes a project right for you. I won’t push you beyond your comf...
21/09/2026

My design philosophy is that I won’t compromise on what makes a project right for you. I won’t push you beyond your comfort zone. And I won’t encourage trends that’ll date fast. What I will do is create interiors that last, feel personal and work harder than you’d expect. Swipe through to see what that means in practice.

Interior design Kent, luxury interiors, Period homes, Victorian homes, Faversham, Folkestone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Bespoke design, interior layout.

18/09/2026

When deciding on the lighting for a room, it’s important to create a balance between direct and indirect diffused lighting.

Lamps designed to create a directional beam provide direct light. However if the beam is filtered or spread through a shade, it is referred to as diffused light. If the source of light is bounced off a reflector or a wall in order to spread the light, it is called indirect lighting.

So lamps are either directional or non directional.

Directional lighting provides direct light and is most suitable for functional and work purposes, this would be best used for reading a book or doing handiwork or homework.

Non-directional light, either diffused or indirect, is better for atmospheric or decorative lighting. This is a light fitted through a shade (for example white fabric or opaque glass) and is best suited if you want to create a soft mood or lighting to illuminate a dark corner.

A few more things to consider when choosing a lampshade:
- A dark shade will not let as much light through as a pale one and will tend to project the light either upwards or downwards.
- A patterned or perforated shade spreads light more unevenly and can create patterns of light and shadows.
- A coloured lampshade can spread coloured light and red lampshade is likely to make the room look red when the light is on.

Interior design Kent, luxury interiors, Period homes, Victorian homes, Faversham, Folkestone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Bespoke design, interior layout.

18/09/2026

When deciding on the lighting for a room, it’s important to create a balance between direct and indirect diffused lighting.

Lamps designed to create a directional beam provide direct light. However if the beam is filtered or spread through a shade, it is referred to as diffused light. If the source of light is bounced off a reflector or a wall in order to spread the light, it is called indirect lighting.

So lamps are either directional or non directional.

Directional lighting provides direct light and is most suitable for functional and work purposes, this would be best used for reading a book or doing handiwork or homework.

Non-directional light, either diffused or indirect, is better for atmospheric or decorative lighting. This is a light fitted through a shade (for example white fabric or opaque glass) and is best suited if you want to create a soft mood or lighting to illuminate a dark corner.

These are direct lights
Diffused lights
And indirect lights

A few more things to consider when choosing a lampshade:
- A dark shade will not let as much light through as a pale one and will tend to project the light either upwards or downwards.
- A patterned or perforated shade spreads light more unevenly and can create patterns of light and shadows.
- A coloured lampshade can spread coloured light and red lampshade is likely to make the room look red when the light is on.

Interior design Kent, luxury interiors, Period homes, Victorian homes, Faversham, Folkestone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Bespoke design, interior layout.

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