Interior Interview: Modern Sitting Room Decor Inspiration

Being at home with Stacie @Costdeldeptford

Firstly tell us a little about yourself?

Hi, I’m Stacie – when I’m not moving furniture around, rearranging prints, or repainting something I painted just last week, I’m working as a Commercial Partnerships Manager for an on-demand wellness company and running Studio Forty Seven, my botanical candle brand. Chris and I moved into our one-bedroom flat in Deptford, South East London in May 2019, after several years renting in the Greenwich/Deptford area. I’m a South East Londoner through and through, though I once dreamed of escaping, until I rediscovered Greenwich. Our home reflects my love for vibrant, maximalist interiors as you can tell from our modern sitting room decor: clean lines, bold colour blocks, and a mix of clashing but curated styles.

You’re creativity radiates on instagram so I wondered where do you get your creative influence from and what inspires you?

I’m massively inspired by mid-century design, there’s something timeless about the sleek lines, tapered legs, and organic forms that make the furniture feel both functional and beautiful. I’m drawn to the bold colour palettes and the retro, graphic vibe that often comes through in the soft furnishings and wall art. It brings such a playful yet grounded energy into our space. I also find a lot of influence in music and fashion, there’s definitely a crossover in the way I choose pieces for our home. Whether it’s a vintage-inspired record player or a statement print that nods to 70s fashion, those creative layers help shape a living space that feels personal, nostalgic, and full of character.

Some couples find it hard to merge their interior styles, would you say you and Chris have similar taste? Who makes most of the design decisions?

Luckily, Chris and I have really similar taste when it comes to interiors, which makes the whole design process a lot more enjoyable (and less stressful!). The only real difference between us is our approach to layout and styling. Chris absolutely needs symmetry, everything lined up perfectly, matching either side, very balanced. Meanwhile, I’m the total opposite. I like things to feel a bit more relaxed, less ‘placed’ or overly considered. I think there's beauty in a slightly undone, organic look that evolves naturally. When it comes to the overall vision and design decisions, I definitely take the lead, choosing colours, furniture, accessories, and pulling it all together. But when it comes to the hands-on stuff like DIY, Chris is 100% the go-to. He’s much more confident with tools and putting things together, so we make a pretty good team. Our different strengths actually balance each other out really well.

From one fellow print lover to another, what do you look for in your artwork

and where do you find new artists?

COLOUR! I’ve always been drawn to bright, bold, personality-filled spaces, so when we moved in, I knew straight away that I wanted to keep the walls in our living room super simple – clean white paint as a blank canvas – and let the art do the talking. Most of our prints live in this space, and I honestly think they’re the heart of our modern sitting room decor. Prints are such an easy and affordable way to bring in personality, colour, and a sense of fun without committing to anything too permanent or expensive. They allow you to express your style and change things up as often as you like.

I’ve found some of my favourite pieces through Print Club  – it’s a brilliant place to discover independent artists and pick up something totally unique. I’m also slightly obsessed with The Flood Gallery , tucked away in Greenwich Market. They have such an incredible selection of music and movie-inspired prints, which feels very us. I love walking in there and seeing what’s new – it’s a bit of a design ritual now.

I loved how you updated the bathroom with a few low budget changes. How much do you think you saved in the end and which low budget change made the biggest impact?

We only spent around £150 on our bathroom makeover, which still blows my mind when I think about how completely different the space feels now. It’s wild how a few clever updates and a bit of elbow grease can totally transform a room. At first, we had grand plans to replace the entire suite, the dream was a fresh new bath, sink, and toilet, but once we saw the quotes, reality kicked in and we realised it was going to be a much bigger, more expensive project than we were ready for. So instead, we decided to do a little mini makeover to freshen things up in the meantime… and honestly, I’m so glad we did! We went all in with paint, we painted the floor tiles, the walls, the ceiling, the skirting boards, and even the woodwork. I also gave the tired old towel rail radiator a new lease of life with a fresh coat, coloured the tile grout, and we swapped out the hardware for something more modern. It was all low-cost, simple DIY stuff, but the impact is massive. It’s a perfect example of how you don’t need a full renovation to give a room a whole new vibe. I’m so proud of how it turned out.

You launched your own business Studio Forty Seven in April 2020, selling lovely hand poured candles. What was the motivation behind launching the biz?

I’ve always been a huge candle fan and I’ve always made them as a hobby but in December 2019 I decided that I’d love to create my own brand, producing vegan candles that aren’t harmful to the planet (or our health) and using scents that evoke a feeling, I wanted the signature scents to have a real purpose, so even if you didn’t know that kind of smell you like, you could choose a candle based on how you’d like it to make you feel.

Finally what would your top tip for someone looking to express themselves at home be?

My biggest piece of advice when it comes to figuring out your interior style, especially if you're tackling a space like your living room and want a modern decor feel, is to get yourself on Instagram and Pinterest and just save, save, save. Don’t overthink it at first, just start pinning anything that catches your eye, even if it feels a bit random. The key is to build up a visual mood board of sorts. Then, take it offline: print off your favourite images and lay them all out in front of you. You’ll start to notice recurring themes, colour palettes, layouts, or even specific pieces that keep showing up across different photos.

This part is so helpful because I think it’s really easy to assume you like a certain style, maybe because it’s trendy or what everyone else is doing, and go full steam ahead trying to recreate that look. But actually, when you take a step back, you might realise that there’s a completely different style (or even a blend of a few!) that speaks more to you. Something that feels more authentic, more lived-in, and more aligned with how you want your home to feel. It's about getting clear on your version of cosy, calm, or colourful and not just copying what you see online. Trust your gut and let the inspiration guide you, rather than box you in.

A BIG thank you to Stacie for doing this interview and make sure you check out her account here!