I won Interior Design Masters – my biggest dos and don’t for decorating your home & the style ‘rule’ to ignore
SHE can count Sophie Ellis-Bexter amongst her fans, has a homeware collection with La Redoute and has set her sights on designing interiors for The Ivy – things aren’t going too badly for the winner of this year’s BBC1’s Interior Design Masters, Roisin Quinn.
Especially considering the 30-year-old was once turned down for a university course in interior design.
Fabulous caught up with Roisin at an exclusive lunch at The Ivy Brasserie in London to celebrate the launch of her interiors collection, and she shared the style tips she’s learned from being on the hit show, which is fronted by Alan Carr.
“The biggest thing I learned? Knowing when to stop. Even though I’m a maximalist, you can get carried away!”
It may surprise some to hear that Roisin has not always been brave with colour.
“I always played it safe, in the way I dressed too, as I worried about what people thought too much.”
“I had to get over that hurdle in my own head a few years ago, when I finally came into my style. Now I realise I just need to pick what makes me happy.”
“And if it doesn’t match, it doesn’t matter!” she adds.
Roisin’s love of green was apparent on the show.
“It’s a warm, homely, beautiful colour and there are so many different shades.”
So it will no doubt feature heavily in Roisin’s dream home – she’s currently keeping a lookout for a Victorian or Georgian property and is already buying fruit-themed pieces – like huge lemon-shaped bowls – from charity shops for her future pad.
A lover of secondhand finds and shopping for antiques, Roisin’s first big project was making over her parents’ home on the Isle of Man in 2020, when she was furloughed as a travel advisor in the pandemic.
“I didn’t expect it to take off, it took me years to even create an Instagram for it, as I thought no one would like it,” she admitted.
So what’s her favourite piece in her new collection?
“I love the tablecloth!” says Roisin.
“My mum got it for a little party at home and I put it out on a table outside and instantly smiled because it’s joyful.
“And even if you haven’t got a big spread, friends will think they’re getting a real treat with this.”
Luckily, her husband Ollie is also “fully on board” with florals – “He has to be!” she quips.
Roisin also believes in being determined with your colour choices.
“If you want to paint your house pink, do it!”
“Buy the tin of pink paint, slap it on and then your partner won’t want to waste the money you’ve just spent, will they?”
Consider the pink paint bought…
Shop the full La Redoute Intérieurs X Roisin Quinn collection here.