Yeoward at Home | Meet the Designer: Tracey Jane
Yeoward at Home | Meet the Designer: Tracey Jane
Show House in Ballycastle Northern Ireland
In our latest instalment of Yeoward at Home Series we chat to founder and head designer Tracey Jane of Tracey Jane Interiors, whose passion is creating beautiful interiors for luxury homes in Northern Ireland. If you're a fan of a functional space, that is beautiful to the eye and cosy to live in then look no further than her latest Ballycastle project. We learn how she entered the world of interiors and what is important when putting an interior scheme together.
WY: Tell us about your background … When did you realise you had an ‘eye’, and how did Tracey Jane Interiors come about?
TJ: I grew up in a family who loved to renovate houses so from an early age I was interested in interior design and decided to study at the KLC school of design in London. I have had my own business for over 20 years and it has evolved over that time into an interior design studio with 2 locations in Northern Ireland. We design bespoke interiors, tailored to each clients lifestyle and needs. When I first bought the business it was mainly focused on soft furnishings but now we can design and supply every element within the home, even kitchens, bathrooms and tiles with the help of our business partner Ballycastle Homecare.
WY: How would you describe your own interior design style?
TJ: I love classic style interiors and I do love a bit of colour. I love the patterns and colours by William Yeoward as they are ideal to add colour while maintaining the richness of a scheme. My favourite colour is green, it’s nature’s colour and is ideal to pair with so many other colours and tones. I don’t like clutter, I like design which is functional to family living but beautiful to the eye, while still being cosy to live in.
WY: Can you tell us a bit about this showhouse in Ballycastle project and the inspiration behind it?
TJ: This has been a wonderful project in Ballycastle, a beautiful seaside town and working on this lovely new build yet Georgian style property has been a dream. The William Yeoward Shoreville and Melbury Sofas were an ideal feature for this home, the style and fabrics available were the basis for my initial design and it grew from there. We wanted to bring colour to this home and what better way than using the William Yeoward fabrics, sofas and rugs. The brief was to create a luxury interior that would inspire and impress clients while maintaining the heritage of the style of the home.
WY: We love your use of colour and fabrics, any tips/advise on putting a scheme together if somebody wanted to give it a go themselves?
TJ: It can be overwhelming when you want to bring patterns and colours together and getting the balance right can be a challenge especially in a large project. An easier way to start is to look for a fabric with a selection of colours you love and use the colours within the fabric throughout the interior, then use this fabric as a cushion/pelmet. Your inspiration might come from a painting or piece of pottery but decide the base colours first and then work everything into these, it is always good to have at least 2 base colours as a point of reference when designing a number of rooms.
WY: What do you most enjoy about your job and what do you think are the biggest challenges?
TJ: I love bringing schemes together that are inspiring and different. I love being creative and working with clients to create something they will enjoy living in. The creative process can be challenging but when you've pulled it together it is so enjoyable and nothing more satisfying than seeing a delighted client in a lovely home. Other challenges can be working to time frames, I hate compromising on a design because of a time schedule as you end up living in the space for a long time so it’s always better to get it right.
WY: What would you say is one of the most important factors when designing a room?
TJ: The first question I ask every client when it comes to a room is what are they going to use the room for, in some cases it’s obvious if it’s a kitchen or bathroom but you still need to understand how you are going to live within this space and how as a family you function in order to design the space to suit. It’s also important to get a really clear understanding from the client their taste, aspirations for the space and budget so you can deliver the best option.
WY: Any tips for working with a smaller living space?
TJ: Cut out all the clutter and limit it to the things which are necessary for the function of the room and take time to work out the best size of furniture for the space, this is vital in a smaller living space. Often choosing slimmer furniture can make an amazing difference and adding good lighting to create the sense of space, wall lights are ideal and there are some really good options now.
WY: Finally- do you have a favourite Yeoward piece and why?
TJ: Oh that’s a very difficult question as I love them all but I have to say my absolute favourite piece is the Hawford Extending Dining Table, this is just a stunning piece of furniture in the grey oak, it’s a family heirloom and will set off any open plan living space, dining room or hallway. The quality and finish on this table is just stunning and I absolutely love, love, love it!!