Finally, the news we’ve all been waiting for is here, writes Lucy Stephens.
In this blog space last year, I wrote in rapturous tones about the final of my favourite reality TV show, possibly of all time.
Yes, I’m indeed talking about the one and only Interior Design Masters.
Listen, there’s a lot to worry about in the world these days.
Energy bills. The food shop. The tariffs war and what it all means.
But tonight we can all kick back and relax for an hour and enjoy Alan Carr, the incomparable design maestro judge Michelle Ogundehin (What style! What presence!) and ten designers fighting over a contract – the details of which generally escape me each season because as with all the best reality shows, the prize really doesn’t matter in terms of overall viewing enjoyment.
Last year’s final, as I wrote at the time, saw Roisin declared the winner over Matt, after the pair of them went head to head in a tense final involving doing up a home on the Blenheim Palace estate.
In the end, Roisin’s joyful design mixing sunshine yellow walls and vivid ivy wallpaper triumphed over Matt’s pared back and lean design aesthetic.
This show is a favourite amongst the Penguin PR team and we often discuss the latest episode over our morning cuppa.
Why do we like it so much?
I think there are a multitude of reasons.
Firstly, it’s nice to return to the days of looking forward to a show each week and actually having to wait for the next episode for a change, rather than just indulging in the contemporary habit of binge-watching an entire series on some streaming service.
Secondly, the show is pure escapism. It’s very relaxing to forget about the world’s troubles for an hour and focus on such details as to whether a scalloped edge really works in an interior; to what extent a feature wall is still a ‘thing’; whether we think panelling is classy or over-fussy in a small space, and if it’s possible to have too much clashing floral wallpaper.
Plus, the show is surprisingly interesting and revealing about our own world of PR.
Week on week, the most successful designers and teams achieve the balance that all creative professionals need: meeting the planned brief while surprising and delighting the client with things they didn’t know they needed … but are very happy when they get them.
Interior Design Masters presents us with the classic tension between creativity and commercialism: how to balance the freedom of ideas and what actually works in the real world.
When I was younger someone gave me a year’s subscription to Vogue magazine as a present.
I’m by no means a clothes horse but I really admire beautiful clothing and design. As a subscriber I used to appreciate how Vogue was unabashedly about style, about clothes that are – frankly – often fairly ridiculous, but also about pure creativity of expression. Who is actually going to don a three-metre-wide fluffy pink dress and matching headpiece down the shops? But it’s cool to see someone wearing it as a one off at the Met Gala.
The balance between practicality and creativity was a hard-learned lesson in last year’s Interior Design Masters when one contestant – an out and out ideas person – came up with a stunning all-white design at Wembley Arena only to have his bubble burst when Sophie Ellis-Bextor (very kindly) pointed out that pristine surfaces would soon be spoilt when a pop star came in and dropped her make-up.
In PR, as with all creative jobs, it’s important for us to work with the client to provide a campaign that meets their needs, while allowing us to do what we do best: coming up with ideas, visuals, words and different audiences that will mean the message gets heard by the right people in the right way.
It means creating great relationships with clients so that there is mutual trust, with each side listening to the other so a long-lasting creative partnership can flourish.
With all that in mind, roll on episode one of Interior Design Masters tonight.
Which designers will opt for dark ceilings and opulent velvet bed hangings? Who will favour stripped back wood and seaside-inspired colour schemes? What IS great design in 2025 anyway? I reckon recycled materials should be where it’s at.
We can’t wait to find out. Just remember, it’s about a lot more than interiors.
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