LIV Chats To… Leopard Print Loving Interior Blogger Lois About Her Maximalist Home
This week we're chatting to Lois from @colourfulleopard - her style mixes large doses of colour, exuberant pattern and plenty of texture!
Hi , first things first, please can you introduce yourself?
I’m Lois - a leopard print superfan and interiors fanatic from Manchester, UK. I live with my husband Nick and sons in a Victorian terrace.
Please tell us more about your stunning home and how @colourfulleopard came about?
We moved during the pandemic from a large detached new build to our current home a Victorian terrace. Financial difficulties at the time drove the move but it turned out to be amazing for us all and we love our home! I have always been drawn to period properties and could envision exactly how I wanted to renovate and decorate our new home. We had our own small business at the time which was loosely interior based and I made a lot of connections on social media whilst running the business. I started to do more and more styled shoots around my home and this definitely ignited a new passion in me. When we closed the business I decided I had worked too hard building my community on Instagram to close my page so I decided to start posting details of our renovation journey and décor - voilà Colourful Leopard was born!
Please could you describe your interior style? has it always been the same or has it evolved over time?
My style has always leaned towards vintage and maximalism (unintentionally!). I am by nature a collector and don’t say no to anything anyone is giving away! My home is filled with secondhand, family hand me downs and upcycled pieces as well as my favourite pieces from high street retailers and small businesses. I am a more is more décor lover and have never been afraid of colour and pattern. I am also conscious of sustainability and I try to only buy things I really love rather than following trends for the sake of it.
What brands or trends inspire you or your home purchases?
I am a seasonal décor lover so I like to follow influential interior accounts on social media to get a flavour of trends. I think Instagram and Pinterest have really changed the game within interiors/home décor as you can search for a trend and see hundreds of ways to style it at your fingertips! I like to see trends in real homes styled by real people this inspires me!
What interior Instagram accounts inspire you, could you name your top 3?
I’m a big fan of colourful maximalist décor sometimes moody, always with a touch of animal print and my fave accounts are probably
What inspired you to incorporate bold prints into your home?
I have always admired beautiful intricate wallpapers and bold patterns and particularly in a house like mine from the Victorian era it feels so natural to incorporate bold patterns and prints - the ceilings and wall spaces are so large it suits the style perfectly. The fire places and original features help to balance out the boldness.
What is your go-to interior trick… if you have one?
Something I do whenever I’m planning a room or space - I have to get the base layer colours right. As I’m a maximalist and also I love to switch up my look regularly (both seasonally and also colour wise if I’m styling a particular piece) you need the room to be able to adapt to different colours and looks without having to redecorate or refurnish. So for example in my lounge I knew I wanted my base colours to be green and black. It took me a long time to find the perfect green but it was worth it! Whatever look I want to layer on top - textures, colours, soft furnishings I know the colours will work.
What's your favourite home purchase you have made recently and is there anything on your Wishlist?
My absolute favourite thing in my home is my leopard print sofa, the minute I saw it I fell in love with it - it’s the softest velvet and it’s such a showstopper. On my wish list is a new table and chairs for my new dining room as the one we have is on its last legs!
If you had to change one thing in your home, what would it be and why?
I would love to change the bathroom as it’s not to my taste colour-wise however it’s tiled from floor to ceiling in grey and will be a big job to tackle even just to paint the tiles without ripping anything out! Maybe next year!
And finally, what does the future hold for @colourfulleopard, is there anything left up your sleeve?
I have some exciting collaborations coming up this year with some home décor brands and I am being featured in a home magazine which is such a big deal for me, I can’t wait to see my home in print! We have recently been on television in the UK on a show called Changing Rooms so it’s been a really crazy year so far!
IF YOU HAVE ENJOYED READING ALL ABOUT CHARLIE’S BEAUTIFUL HOME, HEAD OVER TO HER INSTAGRAM PAGE @COLOURFULLEOPARD TO KEEP UP TO DATE.
