Tag: Inspiration

Earlier this year, I entered the uFurnish.com awards in the category Best Before & After Transformation, sharing the renovation journey of my home, Albany Cottage. And recently, I found out I’d been shortlisted.

Honestly, it felt really special. Not simply because of the recognition, but because this project has represented so much more than interiors or decoration. It has been a story of creativity, resilience, reinvention and rebuilding, both of a home and, in many ways, myself too.

Marketing by Day, Artist at Heart

Many people know me through my work in brand, marketing and communications. But creativity has always been the thread running through everything I do. Alongside my marketing work, I’m also an artist and coach, hosting workshops to explore colour and creativity, and how being creative plays such an important part in our lives. 

My home, Albany Cottage, become the physical expression, the canvas, of my love of colour and being creative.

Seeing Potential Where Others Didn’t

When I first viewed the property, it had been empty for 18 months. It was tired and in need of love. Rusty radiators, layers of dated wallpaper, net and velvet curtains, an avocado bathroom suite, and rooms that felt heavy with old energy.

Many people would probably have walked in and straight back out again due to the volume of work needed. But I believe homes hold energy and I could feel its potential, I knew this house could become something beautiful. Not perfect, as I know it wouldn’t be polished overnight, but this was an opportunity. 

Rebuilding a Home and Myself

What followed was a full renovation journey that pushed me far beyond my comfort zone.

There were budgets to manage, builders to negotiate with, endless decisions to make and many restless nights spent sleeping under dust sheets whilst rooms were transformed around me. I became very familiar with paint stripper tools and the phrase “every day is a school day” as there was so much to learn.

There were tears alongside triumphs, but slowly, room by room, the house began to feel different, lighter, as it came back to life. I felt like I did too.

The Emotional Power of Colour

Colour became one of the most important parts of the transformation, not simply aesthetically, but emotionally and psychologically too.

As someone who has studied applied colour psychology, I’m fascinated by how colour influences how we think, feel and behave. Whether in our homes, for brands and in everyday environments, colour shapes our experience.

Pink brought warmth and softness, green became grounding and refreshing, and earthy tones created a sense of calm and grounding. Every choice was intentional. Even now, the orange and pink trim I have on my stair runner makes me smile every single day. 

Creativity Has the Power to Transform

This shortlist has reminded me that creativity is never just about making something “look nice.” Creativity helps us process change, it reconnects us to ourselves, it turns emotion into expression, and it transforms spaces into places where memories can be made.

Whether I’m leading a brand discovery session, hosting a Colour & Creativity workshop, or painting a bespoke commission piece, my work always comes back to the same thing… helping people connect more deeply to themselves and the world around them.

Colour and creating New Beginnings

So, here’s to taking brave steps into the unknown, here’s to homes with heart, and here’s to colour, creativity and trusting your intuition, and your vision, even when things feel messy, uncertain or unfinished.

I know, now two and a half years on from picking up the keys, my life and my home look and feel very different. Transformation needs imagination, a clear vision and resilience to follow through and take action. Nothing happens without making choices, often tough ones. As a great teacher once said, “You’ve got to learn to hang with the tension.” 

Here’s to building spaces, lives and stories that light you up. 

And if you feel like it, you can vote for me and Albany Cottage here – You’ll also be able to see all the before, during and after shots to get the full picture. 

With joy and colour,

Emma 🧡

I love this time of year. There’s a crispness in the air, the trees turn a magical array of mellow yellow, fiery orange, golden brown and rustic red, and I find myself craving a hot chocolate and a good book. (I’m still reading Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us, it’s a wonderfully insightful read.)

Like many of you, I can’t quite believe how fast the year is moving; we’re hurtling towards Halloween and cruising into Christmas. But before stepping into those magical moments, I wanted to pause, look in the rear-view mirror, and celebrate a few personal highlights, it’s truly been a time of conscious creativity. Here’s my top three:

Colour as Your Brand’s Emotional Driver

In September, for BIMA, I hosted an interactive masterclass which provided brands and marketers with an immersive journey into the world of colour and behavioural colour psychology. Together, we explored how brands can use colour to stand out, connect, and communicate meaningfully with their ideal customers.

I welcomed a wonderfully diverse mix of attendees to the masterclass, from agency founders and heads of marketing to creative directors, designers, and content leads, representing brands as varied as Pernod Ricard and NHS Trusts.

We reflected on how technology and AI are powerful enablers of efficiency and scale, but they don’t feel, they’re not intuitive. AI can make colour theory digestible, but it can’t imagine. We also talked about how do we use the time gifted back to us by technology to dial up our authentic intelligence (AI) and emotional intelligence (EI)? How do we nurture our creative instincts, build empathy, and strengthen human-to-human connections?

The Q&A sparked fascinating conversations, especially around the colour grey, a tone I like to call “the one that hides in plain sight”. Think of grey battleships blending into the sea or field-grey army uniforms designed not to be visible at a distance.

When showcasing the influence of colour, I shone a spotlight on the ‘Fiat – Operation no more Grey campaign’, and the surprising creative and influential use of pink on-set for the ‘Barbie’ movie.

I’ll be hosting future sessions that dig deeper into the language of colour and how it can powerfully connect brands with their audiences. If you’d like to learn more, I’d love to hear from you.

Colour & Creativity Workshops; hosting Designers and Architects

What a joy it was to collaborate with such brilliant minds in the interior design and architectural community to deliver my Colour and Creativity workshop. Thanks to Nordic Design House and Magda for inviting me and Cesca.

At its heart is a shared belief that creativity is more than just making something beautiful, it goes beyond the aesthetic, it could be considered mindfulness in motion. It’s a moment to pause, to ground ourselves, and to reconnect with colour, with others, and with our own imagination.

We explored creativity as wellbeing, and giving yourself permission to slow down, explore, and express, whilst building calm, confidence, and resilience through simple creative acts. Then we talked about our personal connection with colour, and how we can use the language of colour to communicate, connect and tell human stories.

This workshop is for everyone, not just “creatives.” I always invite attendees to come as you are, and leave with a renewed sense of joy and possibility.

Behind the Canvas: Exhibition & Private Commissions

In September, I was honoured to exhibit alongside fellow artists from across the UK at Brighton Art Space, organised by The Paint Club. I created two pieces, one titled ‘Sunny Surrey Hills’ and the second ‘Nefyn Beach, Wales’. If you missed it, don’t worry, more exhibitions are on the way!

I’ve also been commissioned to create a very special piece for a client in Surrey, designed to capture the feeling and emotion of her late father. It’s a process built on trust, beginning with a 90-minute creative conversation to uncover the story behind the intuitive art.

As Pierre-Auguste Renoir said:

“Art is about emotion; if art needs to be explained, it is no longer art.”

Please do get in touch if you’d like me to create a bespoke, unique piece of art for you.

You can follow me on Instagram here.

Podcasts to Ponder

I love reading, but I also adore the feeling of being part of a conversation, which is why I’m a podcast devotee. If you’re feeling curious and are looking to immerse yourself in the language of colour, here are two I highly recommend:

Stories in Colour – The National Gallery

A vibrant series uncovering the hidden stories behind colour, from history to modern day, this podcast features curators, scientists, historians, and artists. You’ll never look at colour the same way again.

Let’s talk colour

Hosted by the wonderfully colourful founder of The Colour Authority, Judith van Vliet, this podcast features global colour specialists exploring design, psychology, trends, and the transformative power of colour across numerous brands and industries. Every episode inspires me to bring more colour into life and work. Discover more here.

Closing thoughts

Colour is more than what we see, it’s how we feel, connect, and create. The hues we choose can shift our mood, spark imagination, and shape the stories we share.

In a world that’s grown a little too beige, maybe it’s time to bring back the bold. Reintroduce colour, intentionally, thoughtfully, and with heart, into your life, your brand, and your work.

“Colour is one of the most important and powerful universal languages we have.”

Source: Alina Schartner, Design, Colour + Trend | Consultant + Strategist

Break free from beige. Let’s bring the colour back.

Header image: Colour and Creativity Workshop, September 2025.