Designer insights with Adrienne Chinn

Adrienne Chinn is a well-established independent, London-based interior designer. She applies her natural talent for colour coordination and in-depth knowledge of style with equal success to residential or commercial interior design. She treats all projects with the same high level of professional commitment and delivers high quality interiors that fulfil the brief.

Designer Insights with Adrienne Chinn

Image Credit: 1) Layer Home 2) Roche Bobois 3) Myriam Ait Amar 4) Adrienne Chinn 5) Jude Cassidy

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1) In your own words describe your unique style and creative aesthetic?

I suppose I'd describe my style as "contemporary eclectic". I like building up layers in an interior -- a mix of comfortable and modern with dollops of weird and wonderful finds from foreign travels and flea markets. And colour. I'm not a beige and taupe girl!

2) When starting a new project, what is your creative process?

At the beginning of a new project, I always have a good meeting with the client(s) to discuss their wants, needs and desires. I measure up the space myself from scratch, even if architect's drawings exist, because this process helps me "learn" the idiosyncrasies of the space. After that I do whatever I can to "feed my creative well" -- I go for nature walks and thumb through design books and magazines and visit galleries and interesting buildings, old and new. I take hundreds of photos and create Pinterest pages for each space. Then I draw. By hand.

3) Out of the creative people you have worked with, who is it that you respect and admire the most?

I have worked with so many creative people over the past seventeen years I've been a designer! They've all been inspirational in different ways. These creative collaborations are one of my favourite aspects of interior design.

4) When looking for inspiration is there a particular thing you do to get inspired?

A few years ago I visited an exhibition about the fashion designer Paul Smith. A large part of the exhibition looked at where he found design inspiration, and he has written a book about this called "You Can Find Inspiration in Everything - (And if You Can't, Look Again)". I agree.

5) What has brought you to this point in your career? And what is your advice for people looking to follow in your footsteps?

I now spend my time doing different things in my design career -- residential and commercial design, writing articles and blogs; and I'm currently designing a website. I'll be setting up a small showroom in Chelsea, and am excited about exploring new ideas about collaborations between British and international craftspeople. Watch this space!