Name: Janey Butler
Company: Janey butler Interiors
Position within company: Design Director and Owner
Website: www.janeybutler.co.uk
Tell us a little about your background in design…
I studied at Cheltenham Art College and The London College of Fashion where I graduated in Textile Design. Early on in my career, I travelled extensively with my work in Asia, The Middle East, Australia, and Europe. This enabled me to experience many beautiful countires, cultures and landscapes. Exposure to such beauty and diversity has been a huge inspiration in terms of my choices in design, architecture, art and interior design. My career path has been a natural progression into property and interior architecture & design. With our own architecture and construction company I have worked on many projects over the years, both our own personal projects as well as our high end luxury clients projects. Property, interior architecture and design is my passion and I am extrememly lucky to work in a profession that I love.
How would you describe your personal interior design style?
My style is essentially elegant and timeless but with orgins based firmly in nature with the use of natural textures and organic shapes. I always love to incorporate organic materials and calming colours. My design schemes are a balance of beautiful quality worksmanship/craftsmanship, design, attention to detail and functionality. All working together in perfect harmony.
Where does your design inspiration come from?
I find inspiration comes from all around, however, I am always inspired by nature and the natural world. I am very fortunate that both my home and my place of work are set in truly beautiful surroundings, so I take inspiration from these places on a daily basis. I also travel a great deal both for my work and personally. These trips away are a great source of inspiration, I love to visit new places and embrace all types of culture, architecture and art.
In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
As a company, we deal with the luxury residential sector so for us, design is very much about quality, functionality and beauty. Good design represents creating something aesthetically beautiful which is functional in today’s ever changing and demanding world.
Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2016 and beyond.
Simplicity, individuality, beauty, quality and functionality
If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to interior design schemes, what would it be?
Embrace the world of design that surrounds you but stay close to your own values when it comes to creating a consistent, authentic interior design scheme. Creating beautiful design boards are essential from the beginning when putting a scheme together, as these allow you to make your selection of materials, colours and style which are all intrinsically connected and blended for any successful completed interior design scheme
How important are The International Design and Architecture Awards as recognition of talent and achievement?
The Design Awards are hugely important for us. They represent the crème de la crème of the design world and are a chance for the best in the industry to showcase their work. To be involved and included represents a great achievement.
What projects are you currently working on?
We have some incredible projects we are working on at present from a stunning ski chalet in Les Gets, a beautiful barn renovation in Cambridgeshire, a penthouse apartment in Shrewsbury for our Hong Kong based clients, a stunning replacement dwelling development in a beautiful rural location in North Wales, and a gorgeous period property in Alderley Edge Cheshire which is about to have a stunning contemporary skyframe extension and stylish open plan entertainment area
What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
We are about to launch our own Architect company in the next couple of months which will work alongside our Janey Butler Interiors and Llama Group Construction Companies. We are renovating another stunning building for our Architects team which again is in a stunning 300 year old building and also setting up Janey Butler ‘Collections’. This is a very exciting expansion for our brand. It will be an online store where customers will be able to view and purchase directly furnishings and accessories in order to create the Janey Butler signature style using key pieces from the collections and designers we collaborate with. This online store will also showcase our new own brand furniture and accessories collection which we are currently developing.
Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself
Your most treasured possession? My Home
Your favourite holiday destination? South Africa
Your favourite hotel / restaurant / bar? Favourite Hotel – The Dylan, Amsterdam and Le Cinq restaurtant in Paris
Your favourite book / film / song?
Favourite Film – Jean de Florette and song is Annie’s song by John Denver
Your favourite food and drink?
I love Italian food and my favourite tipple is champagne
Your favourite way to spend an afternoon? (in no more than 25 words)
A day walking in the remote, beautiful north wales countryside with my husband Andy & our Rhodesian Ridgeback dog Ruben
If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
I would love to live somewhere remote in Provence and own a boutique Lavender Farm.