Interior designer scoops a prize at Grand Designs Live

Flooring donated by a Swindon retailer helped a Wiltshire interior designer to success in one of the UK’s most popular design shows.

Amanda Clothier was one of only seven designers to make the finals of the Grand Designs Live show in Birmingham.

Amanda, who lives in Hullavington and runs Quarters Interiors Design Company, was selected in The Under the Stairs Project, a competition to see what designs people could come up with for unconventional spaces.

The finalists had to build and dress their space with products which are easily accessible to visitors and are either in stock or online, from current British retailers, manufacturers and designers.

For her flooring Amanda approached Direct Wood Flooring, situated on Bridgemead Retail Park in Swindon, to see if they had any eco-friendly flooring to fit in her with her design theme.

The store recently launched a new, eco-friendly product called EvoCore. Amanda chose a white/grey wood effect called Cloudy White Oak.

“The space under the stairs is traditionally an unloved area where you leave all your outdoor clothing and it tends to attract junk – yet it’s the first place you enter when you come in,” said Amanda.

“That’s not a great welcome home so I wanted to demonstrate that it was still possible to store items such as shoes, umbrellas and bags, but to do so in an aesthetically pleasing and practical way.

“The geometric design I developed involved using light colours and bold pattern to create a space that adds value to the interior design of a home and challenges the strong slope of the staircase.”

Dan Foskett, managing director of Connection Flooring, said: “It’s not every day you are asked to donate flooring for such a prestigious show like Grand Designs, so we had no hesitation in supporting Amanda.”

Amanda was named runner-up in the competition, which was judged by Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud.