Colin & Justin Interview

Describe Colin And Justin's Home Show for us. How does it differ from other shows and series you've done before?
''The Home Show (the rather fabulous home companion to The Clothes Show) is a vital link between 'aspirational' and 'attainable' design due to the fact that each episode provides an exclusive behind-closed-doors peek at a Design Hero's home where we strip down each designer's approach to their own space. The show has a punchy live feel which we really love and we both loved filming with the public and getting the reactions to our designs first hand from our audience''.

What was it like being on the road for so long? Did you get on well or were there any hairy moments?
''There are still some VERY scary hotels out there! Indeed we'd get back to our hotel room after designing a gorgeous set (all from high street items rooted out in each mall, we might add!) and our room would look so desperately desolate - what with its little kettle, dowdy duvet and dated television - that we wanted to scream. On many occasions we could easily have slept in the mall instead. Especially when it was a bedroom design which we'd been working on that particular day''.

How did you feel designing in front of a live audience?
''Oh blimey - it was like being in a Roman arena! We always wanted to get it right first time, but finally we relaxed and eased into actually involving the crowds in decision making... and asking for their approval or disapproval as we set about our mission of 'in mall' decorative beautification. We both loved the buzz and the crowds were fun, frisky and fabulously opinionated. Which of course was all very good for the show!''

What was the toughest place you visited, in terms of crowd reaction, materials available etc? ''Is was impossible to find a table for a baroque and roll style room set (ultra modern with gothic undertones) and we thought we were going to be defeated as there's a real lack of contemporary, gloomy furnishings in the shops. Luckily, we snaffled a shop fitting from the lovely people at Debenhams and it saved the day. We did Magenta pink and black to capture that particular look. Tune in and see the results - they're rather stunning if we do say so ourselves''. You also call on some of the country's top designers. Can you tell us who featured in the series and which designers' style you were most impressed with? ''Kelly Hoppen has long been a huge inspiration to us and it was great to catch up with her in her gorgeous new Battersea penthouse - it's all split levels, ebony floors and general glamour. She really does spend, spend, spend, but she also plans her spaces in a way that's applicable to us all, regardless of budget. ''We also loved the home of furniture designer Matthew Hilton - it was very family friendly and not at all pretentious. He even had a Robin Day Forum sofa - a design classic - covered in his kid's stickers! His attitude to living is utterly relaxed and homely''. What are the best tips you can give someone who is looking to redesign a room in their flat or house and has a shopping centre at their disposal? Where do they start? ''Start where we always start - include the elements which you can't change in your design and plan it all out from there. Maybe your room's timber floor is beautiful or you have a sofa that you love - build these into your finished plan and you'll be successful every time. Make a mood board, gather magazine images or collect colour samples until it all simply feels 'right'. And get a feel for colours and finishes before you spend one penny. To fail to plan, as we always say, is to plan to fail''.