Design Inspiration

Sarah Varley speaks to interior designer Leslie Lockyear about her favourite projects past and present

Leslie Lockyear loves to create beautiful spaces that are also practical. Always endeavouring to achieve complete balance and calm in a room, her work is lifestyle-led showing us our homes need to work for us and the way we live.

How would you describe your style?
I have always lived in very old houses that needed a lot of renovation and this has given me a lot of practical knowledge about houses. My background in fashion retail, and the experience of buying, setting out stores and styling fashion shoots really lends itself to interior design, knowing how to create harmony in a room wherever you look.

Spending a lot of time in Italy has influenced my taste, especially the idea of the kitchen as the heart of the home. I like to be quite bold in large spaces and make a statement, perhaps with an incredible light fitting or a stunning mirror. My colours can be bold but always toning and I love using textures and natural materials. I take inspiration from fashion and what is going on around us. I keep the basics quite timeless but add a pop of the client’s personality and work with the things they love.

What have been your favourite projects?
I have been given some quite unusual challenges. Perhaps the most unusual request was from an old Giggleswick school friend who is now an Augustinian Sister. Her convent runs a retreat and wanted their very grand drawing room to be restored into a calming, inviting space. The ceilings were so high we had to use scaffolding to restore the amazingly ornate plasterwork!

Another favourite project was a completely derelict barn being transformed into a shoot lodge. It was fantastic to be so involved in creating all the different spaces, from the kitchen to the gun room, working with lighting plans and visiting stonemasons to choose the perfect stone for the fireplaces.

Tell us about your current projects.
It has been a massive treat to work on Pringle Homes’ Northcote project, something so perfectly designed for modern living. These homes are all about lifestyle, which matches my own ethos, because they are ideally located for both commuting to work and the Ribble Valley lifestyle with so much beautiful countryside to explore.

I love that the architects have been so sensitive to creating great spaces to live, with great attention to detail. There are bi-folding doors to open up the space into the garden, high ceilings, room for a home study – everything you would want, even plenty of storage for your outdoor gear. The stunning, spacious kitchens are full of texture with wooden cupboards, stone floors and amazing marble tops.

I have made some quite bold choices and I’m experienced in mixing old and new. This will also be shown in another exciting project, the renovation and development of The Horns Inn at Goosnargh. This project is forward-thinking and innovative and has a passionate team working to bring the vision to life.

What is the best part of your job?
I love working with artisans to bring my clients bespoke, unique pieces. I once saw a light fitting at Arundel Cathedral which I knew my client would love so I tracked down the designer from 20 years ago and got another made.

I live, sleep and breathe projects, finding out exactly what my clients want to achieve, creating huge, elaborate mood boards. The way I work is quite intuitive for each individual space and client. I look at the light and the surroundings, get a feeling for what the space needs and go with it. I love to remove stress for my clients, both in the design process and in having a home that works perfectly.

The very best part of my job is when everything is put in place and the client’s jaw drops. A client once said in their wildest dreams they didn’t think the end result could be so good, and for me there is no better feeling than that!

EdithAnice Ltd

Email: leslielockyear@gmail.com or find us on instagram: @edithanice

Creating something you love but find impossible to define

Comments

comments

Tedd Walmsley

Be the first to know

To get exclusive news, be the first to know about our special offers and competitions, sign up to Live Magazines for FREE.

Tedd Walmsley managing director of Live Magazines shares his views on the latest topics in media.

Follow him on Twitter and connect with him on LinkedIn to join the conversation