Suzie Mc Adam on getting the look

1 Understanding a client’s look is a big feature of my approach. Eva loves vintage and mid-century design, and it is a strong theme in her house — 80pc of the pieces are vintage. We found mid-centuryonline. com and Michael Mortell on Francis Street great places to look. It will take more time and energy to source vintage, but you will find pieces that reflect your style and are unique.

2 Eva has very interesting art work and likes vivid colours, so we worked with that. Each piece stands on its own but is balanced by a softer palette. In the sitting room, left, and opening spread, which is huge, we split the room up by using varying shades (from Little Greene) to create a different atmosphere in each area.

3 Work with your natural light — Eva’s sitting room has three windows so is very bright and could have looked harsh. We didn’t want to use heavy curtains so used sheer voiles instead to soften the light — I was thinking of Baz Luhrmann’s Great Gatsby, where the mansion has rooms that float with sheer fabrics.

4 Be playful — the shower tiles in the bathroom, pictured over, are not your normal go-to option but they give it loads of character. The image is an oil painting from the V&A’s archive collection digitally printed on the tiles. Playfulness stops a room becoming too formal — in the dining room, right, for example, the handprinted wallpaper gives it more texture and character than plain joinery or paint.

5 Be brave and work with your style and preferences, especially in the kitchen, to avoid it looking very standard and repetitive. Eva adores Paris and brasserie-type restaurants and so we used key elements, such as bistro wall lights and high-gloss shelving, pictured over. But avoid overkill and don’t reproduce the look slavishly, a touch here and there is enough.

6 Use pattern wisely. Maximalism is a design trend at the moment and it can be very effective to create a contrast, pictured right, in one of the bedrooms. But it is important to use it with some restraint, and give it room to breathe — it will have more impact.