Jonty, is the owner of prestigious home interiors company, Richard Lewis Interiors which he formed in January 2000. His uncompromising professionalism, natural artistic flair and meticulous attention to detail have earned him the reputation of being one of the most dynamic interior designers on the Coast. Following are some tips, insights and a few design tricks he recently shared with Costa del Sol HOME and LIFESTYLE Magazine.

Q. How did you get started in interior design?
I have been designing since I was four, I would drive my parents insane rearranging their furniture and accessories. Then in my early teens I started to work for a local garden centre doing their displays and the rest is history!

Q.  What are your favourite design jobs?
No two jobs are the same, they come with their own unique brief and challenges — it is this diversity that I love!

Q. Top tip for small spaces?
Always use mirrors and halogen spotlights.

Q. Favourite colour combination lately?
I love the turquoise and gold bedroom I have just created, a twist of classical details and vibrant colours.

Q. What are the essentials of an inviting space?
 Lighting is always the key to creating a stunning atmosphere.

Q. Best last-minute decor trick?
Chose a colour from your room that contrasts with the existing paint colour — by painting a wall in this colour you give the room new depth and create a focal point.

Q. What would be your recommendation for “what to do first” in a decorating project?
Chose fabrics and furniture first — it is so much easier to match paint and wall coverings to these key elements than vice versa.

Q.  Best piece of decorating advice?
Always balance the use of colours throughout a scheme.

Q. A decor fad you hope never to see again?
Artex and stencilling. Say no more!

Q. What are some of the common decorating mistakes made by homeowners?
Insufficient lighting! The most beautiful home will never look its best if lit by a single pendant lamp. Lighting should be used to draw people into the room, highlight focal points and create different areas within a room.

Q. What advice do you have for someone with a new house to decorate and perhaps a limited budget?
Do not sacrifice quality for quantity.  Start a home with a few key pieces of quality furniture- a good bed, sofa, dining table and chairs are all that you really need in addition to the kitchen and bathroom.

Q. Many people like the idea of updating their interiors for the seasons. What techniques do you use to transition your home from winter into spring/summer?
It is so much easier to make the transition here in Spain due to the fantastic climate. My favourite way of doing this is through the use of flowers. I love daffodils at this time of year, I find yellow such an uplifting and energising colour.

Q. Most of us are always eager to know what is the “latest” colour, design, and furnishings trend. Can you comment on what you see in trends and how homeowners might create interiors that are up-to-date but classic?
Luckily the colour of the moment is yellow!  Wallpaper was big last year but will prove to be even bigger this year — look out for bold graphical prints, sexy skins and bright colours!
It is so easy to change an interior if the key elements are neutral. I like to follow fashions to a degree but they come and go, by bringing colour into a room through the use of cushions, throws and accessories you are not committing to a particular trend and can easily update the look of the room by changing them.

Q. What is, in your opinion, the biggest design mistake today?
Practicality. I have just come back from the shows in Madrid where I stayed in Hotel Puerta America, a very design orientated hotel.  My room was designed by Zaha Hadid, the entire room was made of one piece of very white curved plastic. Low ceilings meant constant bruises, and the white carpet was not the most practical choice for a hotel room!

Q. What’s something you should never skimp on when decorating your home?
Quality — choosing an inferior product is always more costly in the long run. The final finish will really make your home stand above the rest, remember the smaller details for example, light switches and door handles.

Q.Most cherished possession?
A telescope left to me by my grandfather — although years old, it sits perfectly in my contemporary bedroom.

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