Sourcing Pieces That Bring a Home Together with Holly Dolan-Ward & Robert Macmanus The most memorable homes are the spaces that feel personal, layered and full of character, where every piece has been chosen for a reason. For this edition of our Interior Designer Secrets series, we caught up with Holly Dolan-Ward, Founder & CEO of Hume Interior Studio, and Robert Macmanus, Lead Designer and Architect, to talk interior design sourcing tips. Image courtesy of @humeinteriorstudio From finding statement pieces that anchor a room to uncovering the smaller details that pull everything together, they share the approach they use to create homes that feel effortlessly beautiful and uniquely tailored to the people who live in them. Whether you’re planning a renovation, decorating a new space or simply gathering ideas for the future, their insights are packed with inspiration for creating a home you’ll love for years to come. When you begin sourcing for a new project, what’s the first piece you look for – and how does it shape everything that follows? Holly: I start by looking at colours and textures that are inspiring me – that could be in nature, like my favourite places in Sardinia, London or the South of France, it could be Pinterest, photos taken from a place I’ve been to, cafes etc, or looking at swatches. At the moment I love greens and blues – fabrics often inspire me. I just did a bedroom scheme which included deep red accents, a French blue mixed with neutral tones and marble. The inspiration for the scheme was calacatta viola marble from Italy which I found in two bespoke side tables. Once I’ve found the star item and decided on a colour scheme to flow from it, I love looking at vintage sites like 1stDibs for inspiration. The red and blue scheme I mentioned was for a bedroom, so I then looked at swatches for the bed, which is a blue velvet similar to Farrow & Ball’s Selvedge, and I built from there. I’m a huge fan of marble and travertine – I have Italian DNA so maybe that’s why! I often look for certain marble or stone pieces because they’re all so unique and have amazing colours and patterns – it’s very rare to find two pieces that look similar and that’s how I like any scheme I design to be. One of a kind. How do you approach sourcing pieces that feel individual, but still come together as a cohesive scheme? Holly: I have a long list of independent brands I like to source from like Atelier278 or Anastasio Home for example but I also love focusing on using vintage or second hand products when I can. For my own home I’m constantly looking in charity shops, on Vinted and eBay for unique pieces. My main tip is to have an anchor for your scheme and then build pieces around it that accentuate the space and add intrigue. I like to work with clients to find out about their colour psychology and what brings them calm and joy. I’m a winter personality which means I’m drawn to high contrast schemes – for example you could have a neutral colour on the wall and bring in blues and reds. Image courtesy of @humeinteriorstudio featuring the Medium Frosted Bubble Chandelier Where do you recommend investing when sourcing for a home – and where can people afford to be more flexible? Robert: I recommend investing in the social spaces of a home – the kitchen specifically. I come from a very big family in New York and that is the centre of conversation for both immediate family and all groups of friends. Get the good counter tops, be as creative as you can be and make the space unapologetically you, because you will soon realise how busy it will be! Flexibility wise, I think throughout the home you can save yourself tons and add a lot of intrigue by sourcing vintage furniture and getting creative with decoration. Image courtesy of @humeinteriorstudio Are there any smaller design details people tend to overlook when sourcing – but that makes a big difference to the finished space? Holly: Start with how a room makes you feel. Does it feel like a hug? What I mean by that is, does the room flow? When you enter a room, does the space feel blocked off? It should feel like it’s enveloping you – think curved or irregular lines / shapes, and in a living room having the sofa in a position that isn’t blocking off the main flow of the room makes a huge difference. Styling in threes is an easy way to make a small area pop. For example if you have a coffee or side table, you can start by using a small marble tile or tray and then add a candle, small vase or pot – those little details can really bring a room together. What’s one sourcing habit or mindset that instantly elevates a home from ‘nice’ to something more considered and personal? Robert: To me, don’t be afraid of adding colour. Don’t feel as though you have to stick to white walls and strict neutrals – your house reflects who you are so add colours even if it’s with throws, paintings, vases etc… The little things can make a big difference when putting an interior together. Where are your go-to places to source pieces for a home? Stores, brands, antiques markets? Any you’d particularly recommend? Robert: I live between Paris and New York and my favourite places are the antique markets in Paris and I love the interior design shops in the West Village. I like mixing modern designs with vintage and in Paris I love finding the smaller independent designers. Shop the look Buy Once, Buy Well: Creating a Home That Lasts with Anna Straw