Paint, Pinterest and Curtain Poles: An Interview with Gabriela Da Rocha

Interior Designer Gabriela Da Rocha

Gabriela Da Rocha is an interior designer with over 25 years’ experience. She once worked for the world famous designers Colefax and Fowler, and now runs www.whitelineninteriors.com with colleague Jenny Lawrence-Smith. They are based in St Margarets in Richmond upon Thames and work on homes all over London.

Here, Gabriela shares her tips on interiors. Find out how a touch of texture can liven up a room, how to cheat your way to dramatic windows, and how Pinterest can get your creative juices flowing.

Texture is a Living Thing

Incorporating different textures can add interest to an otherwise dull space, adding richness and character to a room. For Gabriela, texture is the most important element of design.

“Texture is a living thing – you want to touch it. It moves, and it looks different in different lights. It can look different depending on the colour. There’s quite a lot you can get out of it.”

So how should we be getting more texture into our homes? Gabriela uses furnishings to great effect.

“In a drawing room, we’d have a couple of sofas, two armchairs and maybe a coffee table. The textures would be different on each sofa, with possibly another texture on the chairs and table. We don’t like mixing too many materials, but you can have quite a lot going on in a room. The colours all go with one another so it doesn’t feel too busy.”

Contrasting textures and complementary colours give a room interest.

Make Windows Look Bigger

We’ve all seen buildings with entire walls of glass, but getting the impact of large windows is possible in even the most modest of homes.

“You can always cheat and make the window look bigger than it is by having the curtains come out further on each side – if you’ve got the room,” says Gabriela.

“We try to make a window look as dramatic as possible by having the curtains to the ground, with the poles half way between the top of the window and the cornice. Having the curtains dropping about 10cm onto the ground can make it feel a bit more lush.”

Love your Curtains

When it comes to window dressings, Gabriela loves curtains.

“I like seeing the material. I think it softens a room. In this country particularly, it’s not hot, so we need the cosiness and warmth of curtains.”

So how should we go about using them?

“We love using double poles,” says Gabriela. “You have a track with two poles on it – using sheer at the back and a heavier curtain at the front. It gives you a choice of which one to pull. In the summer you can use your sheers more, and it can look quite lush. You can make your room look a little different, depending on your mood each day.”

Long, dramatic curtains can actually make your windows look bigger.

Paint will Never go out of Fashion

If there’s one wall covering that will never go out of fashion, it’s paint. Gabriela is excited by the vast range available these days.

“There are a lot more designer paints than when I first started. They’ve become hardier, and decorators don’t seem to hate them as much as they used to. There’s this new paint we’re looking for an opportunity to use, which is a concrete paint you can use on furniture and surfaces as well as walls.”

Be Inspired by Pinterest

If you’re redesigning a room and need inspiration, Gabriela recommends looking at photo sharing websites for ideas.

“Look at references as much as possible. Pinterest is a good website to look at – you can get lots of interesting ideas there.”

Gabriela likes to have images to show to clients before starting work. If you can clearly visualise your idea, you’re much less likely to make mistakes.

This piece was produced by The Curtain Pole and Track Company as part of a series of interviews with top interior designers. We supply and manufacture bespoke curtain poles for bay windows, plus electric designs and curtain accessories.

www.thecurtainpoleandtrackcompany.com

01494 535699