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Above: A colorful kitchen in London (to see the full project, go to Paddington Pied-à-Terre: A Colorful Small-Space London Design by Beata Heuman). What I can say for sure is that if you persevere and put some effort into it, you will find that creating a real sense of home will bring you comfort, joy, and excitement. Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds.Beata Heuman is one of the hottest names in interior design: after honing her craft under the expert tutelage of Nicky Haslam, she struck out on her own in 2013, creating her eponymous brand that does everything from re-designing the homes of clients in Holland Park and Nantucket to selling her own playful collection of wallpapers, cushions and of course, that famous 'monster' salt pot. Her voice is friendly, intelligent and she encourages you not to take things too seriously - it's no fun!

Swedish-born, London-based interior designer Beata Heuman has created this beautifully crafted volume presenting her innovative approach to design in book form for the very first time.Anyone who has walked in to a show home in London will understand what I mean - invariably a monstrosity in flame-retardant graphite upholstery and nasty dark wood veneers, with glaring spotlights leading you from “en suites” to the “family lounge,” each room more depressing than the next.

I enjoyed the bits about accessing memories of important spaces and drawing inspiration from the things that made impressions.The wallpaper was made for the room by Tibor; the design was taken from an old biro scribble Tibor Reich did at university in Leeds in the late 1930s. The gray tables are very simple, and I really like how they almost look basic, which grounds the overall scheme. Since then, she's been helmed as one of the most in demand London-based creatives – who was part of Architectural Digest's Top 100 list in 2020 – known for her mischievous, family-friendly aesthetic that's mixed with a Scandinavian attention to detail.

The mural on the terrace was inspired by the facade of the Palazzina del Cavaliere in the Giardino di Bobili in Florence, Italy.True to her spirit of self-expression, Heuman doesn’t offer dictatorial tips, instead hoping to encourage readers to trust their own instincts. In it, she gives the lowdown on how to give your home the Heuman treatment, transforming it with playful details, bright colours and bespoke furnishings, telling the story through photographs of some of her most ambitious projects. Beata continued, suggesting this balance is achieved throughout factors beyond lighting, including hard and soft furnishings and paint, which all impact the balance of a room.