Here’s our lavishly illustrated Q&A with the brilliant interior designer Jessica Buckley...
Designer Jessica Buckley has a established a reputation for stylish and elegant but inviting interiors. An Oxford graduate, she worked in real estate investment in London and Asia for several years before deciding to follow her passion and study interior design at Sydney Design School. Jessica returned to the UK in 2011 to establish Jessica Buckley Interiors. Based in Edinburgh, she has clients all over the world, including London, Sydney, Kuwait and the USA.
How did you get started in interior design?
I have always been interested in interior design. When I was a child I used to regularly re-arrange the furniture in my bedroom - I wasn’t trying to achieve a particular look but I enjoyed exploring how the different arrangements affected the feel of the space. In more recent years I realised that my latent passion for interiors could be a viable career and so I decided to pursue it - I’ve never looked back. I read every interiors blog out there and poured over design magazines and books. I did a short course in Interior Design and a couple of internships before setting up my company in 2011.
Photos above: Douglas Gibb
How would you describe your interior design style?
Our clients come to us for our fresh and youthful use of colour, our love of beautiful fabrics and our instinctive sense of style. Our designs are often a hybrid of the clean, polished American style and the cosy, comfortable, traditional English approach to decorating. We love to layer colour and pattern - often mismatched but always harmonious - in order to create rooms which feel like they have evolved gradually over time.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
We have a whole library of design books we refer to for inspiration and see an endless stream of images from the people we follow on Instagram and Pinterest - I’ll save anything that catches my eye and refer back to it later when I’m putting together a scheme. You have worked on international projects, including in Australia, the USA and Kuwait. Are there any big differences compared to the UK in terms of the approach, challenges or things clients are looking for? In many ways the geographic location of clients’ homes makes no difference to how we approach a design - always colour, always pattern and always comfortable and welcoming - but other considerations such as sourcing local tradesmen and suppliers, for example, do add another layer of complexity to the process. We recently had the challenge of exporting four tonnes of Moroccan zellige tiles for one of our international projects which was eventually done by plane so that we were able to meet the tight deadline of installing the swimming pool. It’s now installed and looks incredible, so it has been well worth the effort.
Photos above: Zac and Zac
Do you have any tips for creating a 'cosy' space?
We designed a guest bedroom for a client using dark inky blue grasscloth wallpaper - it’s dramatic but also very cosy and cocooning. My client tells me that her guests always sleep so soundly in that room, so I love that it works so well. The lighting in that room is very subdued and relaxing with a pair of wall lights by the bed (topped with Pooky shades) - the rich colours and soft light mixed with comfortable furnishings makes it a very cosy space.
How does lighting play a part in your interiors?
As all interior designers will attest, lighting is critically important. I am a huge fan of table lamps: they cast such a warm ambient light in a room and large colourful ceramic lamps topped with pretty pleated shades are heard to beat. I will use several in a single room and mix up the sizes and styles to add interest.
Which recent projects are you particularly proud of?
We have recently completed numerous projects in London, Edinburgh and abroad - last year was such a busy year for us! It’s always a proud moment when clients tell us that they love what we’ve designed and made a reality for them.
Finally, do you have a favourite Pooky light (and if so, why that one?)
The range of Nellie lamps is great: they’re a perfect size for most bedside tables. Topped with a mismatched shade, they add a colourful finishing touch to a bedroom.
Nellie
See more of Jessica's fabulous interiors on her website, and follow her on Instagram and Facebook. Browse our range of beautiful designer lighting here.
