Polly Dickens, the creative director of Habitat, is known for her ability to spot future homeware trends. The key to a stylish home, though, the interiors guru says, is getting your walls and flooring right. Dickens lives in Whitechapel, east London, with her husband and dog.
Your biggest source of inspiration?
I have a magpie approach, looking at everything, picking out things that appeal — I definitely get most of my inspiration while travelling, from curiosities in local markets to the colours of food — all of it excites me.
Chintz or minimalism?
I am not as extreme as either, although there is a place for both. My style is much broader — it is about a mixture of things.
Your design essential?
The most important thing is what I call the envelope, which is the walls and floor. It’s called the envelope because it is what you put everything into (your furniture, your pictures etc). The envelope is key to any good room, once you have this right the rest flows. I live with black floors and white walls as I need a pure and simple backdrop for everything I collect.
Favourite interior design “quick fix”?
Buy a beautiful statement piece, it immediately refocuses a room. I recently bought two Pollock-esque candelabras, which I love.
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The next big interior design trend?
A modern take on chinoiserie. I think people are getting more into detailed decorating.
If you could live in anyone’s house whose would it be (and why)?
I love my house. I always wanted to live in a Georgian house with steps up to the front door and I have that. It is full of things I love, so I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
When decorating what would you splurge on?
I’ve got lots of things, so what’s important is to ensure that the backdrop for those things is lovely. We have just splurged on a black metal shelving system.
And what would you save on?
Curtains, I don’t have curtains. I will use a blind where necessary. Let in the light.
Best piece of design advice you have received?
Don’t be afraid and do what you want, there are no rules. People walk into my kitchen and see an orange floor and think, “Oh God”,but I love it. Go your own way.
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What is your favourite thing about your home?
I have a wall of shelving built into the architecture of my home. It’s like Doctor Who’s Tardis, it goes on and on, with piles of china and collections of glasses stacked on it. It’s all open so you can see 60 vintage jugs on one shelf, a big collection of glasses on another.