10% discount on made to measure and ready-made rugs and runners with SUMMER10

The Pink House

Emily Murray

Pink has always been Emily's favourite colour, but to her, it’s much more than a colour; in her mind, the word stands for joy, passion and playfulness.

So, calling her home and her business The Pink House is only partly about the rose-tinted hue – it also means she lives and works somewhere that makes her happy!

But, let's start with the big question, are there any shades of pink that Emily favours? Well, she is particularly partial to soft blush-rose pink, and accents of fluoro pink. She has even created what she believes to be the perfect goes-with-anything pink: her very own Pink House paint - how fabulous does that sound?

Emily's style in three words? Playful. Practical. Pink.

Alternative at Home with The Pink House, Emily Murray, Quirky B Honeycomb patterned bedroom carpet

Quirky B Honeycomb Black patterned carpet

"My interior design process starts with how the room will be used and by whom, then ascertain how that person or those people want to feel when they’re in it, and how the room fits with the rest of the home or property. I like to start with one colour, piece of décor or item of furniture and build a mood board from there, layering colours, patterns and items as I go. I like to take my time over the room and ideally not have to make all the decisions until some of the room has been finished. I’m quite a slow decorator by nature, but I’m an impatient person too which can be quite a conflict!"

Alternative at Home with The Pink House, Emily Murray, patterned stair carpet, bespoke stair runner

Wool Iconic Stripe & Quirky B Honeycomb Black carpets

Alternative at Home with The Pink House, Emily Murray, mixing striped and patterned carpets

Wool Iconic Stripe & Limited Edition Quirky B Capello Shell carpets

So what made Emily choose carpets for her home over smooth floors? Her response, "having carpet on the first and second floor landings and stairs means the whole family’s feet stay warm when we run up and down to the shower room. I love the texture of the Iconic Wool Stripe carpet and it looks so smart and works so well with my hallway tiles – and with pink!"

For her bedroom, Emily's love of whimsical floral designs meant that the limited edition Quirky B Liberty Fabrics Capello Shell is her all-time favourite patterned carpet. This meant that she chose to have it in both her master and the spare bedroom, and she is simply delighted with it.

Alternative at Home with The Pink House, Emily Murray, British Patterned Quirky B Honeycomb Black children's bedroom carpet

Quirky B Honeycomb Black carpet

For the childrens' bedrooms the geometric Quirky B Honeycomb carpet was the perfect choice; grown-up enough to take them into their teens and beyond, while still playful, but would work in a spare bedroom or study if she decides to change the usage of their rooms. The ultimate versatile choice in our opinion!

And Emily's tip for stairs? "I say have some fun with them, and don’t be afraid to go bold. If you want to keep the runner a more neutral colour, consider painting the treads and risers in something a little brighter to show off your carpet. Also, there’s no rule that the stairs have to be the same colour as the bannister, so don’t feel constrained. I love dark bannisters contrasted against lighter walls. When it comes to choosing the runner itself, pay attention to detail, such as the colour of the whipping. It generally won’t cost any more to choose whipping in a bright or contrasting colour, so why not pick a brighter colour than you might feel comfortable using on a larger surface, and have a bit of fun with it."

Read Emily's blog here or see her Q&A with us below.