Interior design ideas: keep it simple - in pictures

Susie Clegg saw hundreds of properties before finding her apartment in Richmond, west London, four years after her first viewing. 'Unbelievably, it was next door to the very place I was renting,' she says. 'It’s a flat in a large Victorian house, and has its own small, but sweet garden, which has been a joy to transform. Paint shades Blackened, Plummet and Railings, all by Farrow & Ball , balanced by a limited palette of whites and greys, create a cool, cohesive feel in the living room. Shutters, made by my boyfriend, Devin Finch (Teddington Shutters), are copies of vintage designs. A good tip is to not take them to the top of the window, because this allows you to see glimpses of sunsets and changing skies'. → Photograph: Carolyn Barber

An interiors stylist and events designer, Clegg’s easy expertise is impressive, and a tour of her pad reveals why she has successfully turned her passion into a career. 'I use lots of colour and pattern at work, so I chose a mostly monochrome palette for home: blacks, greys and whites, punctuated with bright shades and feel-good textures, such as wool and wicker.'

'Painting two different pieces of furniture the same colour turns them into one harmonious piece. I’ve done this with a Conran console unit that I topped with a vintage cabinet to make a single dresser.' → Photograph: Carolyn Barber

'Natural fibres such as wood, wool and wicker give an instantly warm, homely feel. The trick with a wicker lampshade is to use a frosted, not a clear, lightbulb, which stops you getting a stripy shadow effect all over the room. The rattan stool is from Baileys home, while the pictures and seed illustrations can be found at my shop (Susie Clegg).' → Photograph: Carolyn Barber

'In a small kitchen, white walls and simple, handle-free, matt white units give a sleek, neat look. I couldn’t resist Corian worktops, which although expensive, look stunning and lift the rest of the room. The hexagonal floor tiles were inspired by some we saw on a visit to Los Angeles.' → Photograph: Carolyn Barber

'I love a dark, seductive bedroom and have painted the walls Oval Room Blue, by Farrow & Ball. White skirting boards can sometimes look cheap against a strong colour, so I’ve used Railings here, with the radiator (Bisque) painted to match. If you want good-looking wall lights but can’t face chasing electrics into the walls, get some screw-in lights (Bodie and Fou) instead. The flex simply hangs down and plugs into a wall socket.' → Photograph: Carolyn Barber

'The Eames chair is a fibreglass reproduction (SCP) and the Drink More Gin print is by Robert Rubbish (Gas).' → Photograph: Carolyn Barber

'The palette is deliberately quite muted. Most of the colour comes from the flowers and plants, but I added a few bold splashes, with a red chair and a bright yellow bench. I ran power cables into the garden so the summerhouse (at the back of the picture) can be used as an office, when the weather allows. This has also meant I can have outdoor lighting (Lights 4 Fun) – I’d always imagined strings of lights in my garden and now I have them. They emit a lovely, warm glow and create a magical feel in the evening.' Photograph: Kate Davis