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Get Colourful & Creative with @thiscolourfulnest

9th Oct 2024
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Explore the vibrant world of Sophia Ferrari-Wills, where colour and creativity collide! Hidden in a quaint cottage in the rural countryside of Cambridgeshire, Sophia’s kitchen is the perfect mix of pastel shades, bold patterns and culinary creativity.

From stunning Instagram home décor inspiration to homely recipes and innovative product styling, Sophia’s new kitchen, pantry and utility is a true reflection of her personality – playful, adventurous, and full of colour. Step inside for décor tips, kitchen inspiration or a splash of colour in your life! Follow Sophia on Instagram for more inspiration: @thiscolourfulnest.

How would you describe your interior style?

Good question! I actually find it incredibly difficult to summarise my style. It’s a mix of pastel pops and floral designs, with a plentiful curation of pretty details and a backdrop of cottage core style! It’s homely, comforting and evokes an instant smile – a friend described it as a home that’s impossibly happy all the time.

What are some of your favourite sources of inspiration for interior design?

I find my inspiration simply from items or scenery that makes me look twice! It can be something as simple as a napkin set where I spot scalloped edges, ribbed glass in a hotel WC, Wes Anderson films, or my daughter’s toys. Something usually catches my eye that I find aesthetically pleasing and I manage to visualise it in situ. My favourite source is usually a film from the 60s!

What inspired the design of your new kitchen?

I love texture and I love curves!! The inspiration is hard to pinpoint as I wanted to create something as unique as we could manage. The fluted oval island was an instant dream. I had wanted something that was a showstopper all by itself but equally wanted the main kitchen to feel classic, in keeping with the cottage style and soft. That’s exactly what Shehryar (Sheraton Interiors) and I were able to create on an ever-changing sliding scale of design. The kitchen kept evolving as it was fitted, which made it bespoke and user-friendly specifically for us as a family.

How did you decide on the colour palette for your kitchen?

It’s a well-known fact that pink and green work! I’ve had it in my previous kitchen and other rooms in the house. I had already earmarked the Linwood Yanagi wallpaper to add softness to the walls and make the Dekton splashback pop beautifully. The teal and neutrals that accompany the pink and mint were light and refreshing, so I chose a fresh minty green island and candy pink cabinetry, elegant but playful and tied in with the wallpaper perfectly. The kitchen had to be pink! That was a non-negotiable!

The pantry and the utility were harder to be sure of. I had strong feelings that peach would work well in the utility as the sun shines through in the late afternoon warming the space, but you maintain a warmth even when the sun isn’t out thanks to the depth of the peach and the fact its colour drenched from the ceilings to the cabinets and walls.

The pantry is a soft, buttery yellow that evokes a calm and welcoming feeling as you step into the smaller space. The neutral floor tiles lend to the cottage style and really make the cabinets pop! The two designs work so harmoniously together, that I’m torn as to which space is actually my favourite. I do find myself lingering in the pantry!

Are there specific styles or themes that influenced your choices?

I knew it had to have a classic cottage feel, but equally a modernised twist to match the fun pink aluminium sliding doors. Having used Scandi-styled woodland themed wallpaper in our old kitchen, I liked how this extended the outdoors inside, thus choosing the Yanagi design to provide that same feel. I love nature and florals, which paired perfectly with the sandstone flooring. A natural, comforting style that makes you feel cocooned and cosy. It was a prerequisite for the kitchen to feel cosy in whichever season.

Did you create a mood board for your kitchen space and how did the finished space compare?

I didn’t make a mood board as I gave the ideas, I did have to Shehryar who gave them to the CAD designer, so I was able to visualise roughly what my décor choices were going to look like. CADs can’t be used to truly represent the finished space, but they really do come close. It gave me a great insight into how the colours would work, though I did have a change of heart at one point and dreamt of colour drenching the whole space, floor to ceiling!

Why did you choose the STORI range for your kitchen that you did?

I couldn’t have wished for a better suited range for our kitchen! The Belgravia in-frame shaker style and wood grain finish meant I had the perfect balance of sophistication and elegance. It immediately stands out as a kitchen that’s been invested in, for our forever home.

What made STORI stand out from the rest was their attention to detail and expert finish. When a kitchen is the most loved room in the home, where people regularly congregate and epitomise the very heart of the home, you want your kitchen to be of the best quality, to last the test of time and stand out as aesthetically pleasing furniture.

STORI offer a Colour Match Service that meant I could have the specific colours I wanted, which is a huge draw as the colour of the kitchen is one of my favourite things! It had to be pink and not just any run of the mill pink. The fact you can see the wood grain detail through the paint means it is perfectly in keeping with the cottage style of the home. The kitchen speaks for itself when people visit and is noticeably a bespoke design.

How did you incorporate so many different styles and themes in your kitchen while still keeping it functional?

Every style and theme chosen simultaneously aided the function of the kitchen and provided an altogether family friendly kitchen space. From the alluring biscuit stacked storage jars to the stacked washer and dryer. Each element has a purpose but is styled in such a way that it’s enjoyable to look at as well as functional!

Have you incorporated any innovative or unique features into your kitchen design to enhance its functionality or aesthetic appeal?

I loved the engraved plaque addition to the utility that finished the stacked washer dryer corner. It simply spells ‘Laundry’ and was a last minute add in, as the shelving didn’t quite meet the ceiling, and the coving couldn’t be added as it didn’t quite align with the coving further around the wall. The subtle additions such as these are beautiful details that enhance the kitchen style.

The functionality features that we chose would be the deep drawers in the kitchen for pots and pans, so they’re easy to use and maximise storage. Likewise, the island is a work of art as we have every corner space utilised as storage! Not to mention a pop-up electric socket to easily charge phones or use a stand mixer when cooking.

The cutlery drawers are a personal favourite as I thoroughly enjoy a neat and tidy storage solution. Every compartment has its use.

What are your favourite kitchen design elements that make your kitchen feel like “you”?

I feel the kitchen is immediately recognisable as mine when you see the Armac Martin scalloped cup handles and door knobs from their Aberdovey range. I adore a scallop edge! And the ribbed glass in the cabinets is one of the features I adore the most. There’s something about textured details like ribbed glass that adds a retro style but also a nod to elegant privacy. All of the finer details, such as the Ribchester ribbed butler sink and the cloudy dream like pattern of the Dekton Helena all feel like ‘me’ and tie in with the overarching dream-like theme. I wanted the kitchen to feel like you’ve walked into another world, with something to look at and enjoy at every turn.

 

Ready to start planning your dream kitchen? Book a Design appointment with one of our approved STORI retailers to begin your journey.