Darwin Escapes THTMM Lodge – Inspiration*

Image source: Pinterest/Neptune Home

As somebody who is absolutely obsessed with all things interior, the opportunity to be let loose in designing a 3 bedroom home away from home for Darwin Escapes is quite possibly the most exciting thing ever. It’s an ongoing joke that I live & breath cushions, paint colours & candles rather than oxygen.

One of the questions I regularly get asked over on my blog & Instagram page is ‘where do you get your interior inspiration from?’ & to be honest, it’s probably one of the hardest questions to answer as inspiration can be all around us, everywhere we look, anywhere we go.

My first task on designing my ‘The Home That Made Me’ limited edition luxury lodge to be placed in the Hawkchurch park in Devon, was to send across some images that inspire me. This is no easy job when inspiration is everywhere & you love so many different looks.

Image sources: Pinterest/Humphrey Munson & Acorn Tiles

Luckily for me, the internet has meant that finding interior inspiration has never been easier; the click of a finger on a mouse or the tap of fingers upon a keyboard will come up with hundreds of thousands of images, mood boards & products designed to inspire, entice & spark creativity.

Also the world of social media (big up the interior accounts!) as well as bloggers have completely taken off over the past couple of years. When I first started posting pictures of my own home 4 years ago, home accounts were few & far in-between however the quest for the ‘perfect’ home has spread in it’s droves & more people are embracing interiors than ever before. I love coming across new accounts to stalk!

Image sources: Pinterest, DIY.com, Neptune

Delving back in to the more traditional route, I have stacks of interior magazines which I can’t quite let go of & if I’m lacking inspiration then I will sit & have a flick through the glossy pages for a light bulb moment. Nothing beats sitting down with a cup of tea & something you can actually hold in your hands, a hard copy to flick through & gently stroke/caress when you come across your dream home.

Pinterest is basically the holy grail of all things interior which also makes it incredible dangerous. 1 hour turns into 10 & soon you’ll be repainting your walls & ordering new furniture without so much as blinking. Quite possibly the biggest place to visually share & discover images. It’s super easy to search & then ‘pin’ inspiring images ready to look at at a later date. This is probably the main place that I found my inspiration images!

Image sources: Element7, Victorian Fireplace Company, Ideal Home, Neptune/House & Garden magazine, The Cotswold Co

Images sources: Pinterest, London Tile Co, Neptune Home, Ebay

Image sources: Pinterest, Laura Ashley, The White Company 

Ultimately though, although I can regularly seen browsing the above, most of my interior inspiration lies within. I am (& probably always will be) a neutral girl at heart, you won’t ever see my using bold clashing prints/colours & I wanted this lodge to really feel like ‘me’ & have my trademark style. I also take inspiration from all around me, sometimes it may be falling in love with the curtains at a little country pub or a friends house that make me want to come home & strip wallpaper. Inspiration is everywhere!

Plus if it looks anything like the above images then I’ll be one happy interior designer.

Love,

*This is a collaborative post

7 Comments

  1. Will Pascoe
    January 17, 2018 / 7:40 pm

    I’m the General Manager of another Darwin location- I cannot wait to see your design! The inspiration looks so exciting!

    • Charlotte Amor Valentine
      January 17, 2018 / 7:58 pm

      No way! I’m a huge fan of Darwin…maybe I’ll have to take a trip to your park 🙂 x

  2. Charlotte
    January 17, 2018 / 10:38 pm

    Love love love this!!! Love your taste in interiors as it reflects my own perfectly. This looks as if it will be a beautiful light, fresh yet cosy country escape! A very exciting venture for you. Well done! ?

  3. Natasha James
    January 18, 2018 / 5:26 pm

    I am currently looking into a Darwin Escapes little break away. In Bude,Cornwall This will be our 1st family break away.. With a 7 year daughter who we suspect has Sensory processing disorder. & ASD.. Comfort and routine is everything. Which Darwin offer. & all thanks to you Charlotte seeing the stories of family time you have had in such accommodation xx

  4. January 18, 2018 / 8:21 pm

    Great Blog Post Charlotte, am now going to search Darwin Escapes to potentially book a little break for me and my family. Can’t wait to see how the THTMM Lodge turns out. If it’s anything like your home it will be just perfect!

  5. Hannah
    February 6, 2018 / 6:17 pm

    Lovely ideas here, can’t wait to start our house renovations. We’re looking into kitchens this weekend and I just love the one top centre in your above picture could I ask where it’s from please?

    • Charlotte Amor Valentine
      February 6, 2018 / 7:25 pm

      Hi lovely, they were either Pinterest images or found on the links below them (B&Q & Neptune!). Sorry I can’t be of much more help x