JOHN BIDDELL A CAT’S LICK AND A PROMISE
75
Well, here we are in 2026 – the second half of the decade. Please don’t ask me where the first half went, but it certainly had its challenges !!!
While I was researching for this article (yes, I know it’s hard to believe, but I really do research before I write), I read something I had written for my January 2024 editorial. I said, “Although political comment certainly isn’t in my remit, it seems to me that until people feel confident, or indeed able, to spend their money on the loveliness of luxuries such as the interior design industry abound in, we’re all in for a tough time”. My goodness, how prophetic did that turn out to be ???
2025 saw well established manufacturers go to the wall, good friends and colleagues of mine wind up their businesses because they’d simply had enough, and one of my favourite design houses sell their soul to the devil to avoid going under.
Having been established for nearly 45 years, we at John Charles Interiors are fortunate enough to have many loyal and returning clients. However, for the past couple of years, we - along with many others in our trade - have noticed dramatic swings between feast (having so much work on that you don’t know which way to turn) and famine (did I forget to unlock the front door?).
We have to be realistic and admit that times are tough for almost everyone. There’s little or no “Feel good factor” around at
the moment. Yes, we have some lovely projects on the go at present, but the industry could hardly be described as buoyant.
But enough doom and gloom ! There’s always something that you can do to revitalise your home and lift your spirits. And it needn’t cost a fortune. A cat’s lick and a promise, as my old mum used to say, God rest her, really can go a long way. Whether it’s a tired looking living room, a long-neglected dining room (that has probably just seen its annual use on Christmas Day), or a hall that has lost its oomph; a coat of paint can work wonders. If your walls are already painted, you’d be amazed at how much fresher the room will look if you just give them another coat or two – even if it’s the same colour. But while you’re at it why not change the colour? It could either be a dramatic alteration, giving the room a complete change of direction, or an enhancement of your current colour, making the room feel warmer and cosier.
Regular readers will know that we at John Charles Interiors champion The Little Greene paint company. With a small factory in the foothills of Snowdonia and a Head Office based in Manchester, Little Greene is an independent, family-run business (like us), and the only manufacturer still producing a complete range of traditional and modern decorative paints for all areas of the home. Little Greene’s environmentally friendly, child safe, water-based and oil-based paints are available in finishes for all walls, ceilings, floors and exteriors.
LIVE24-SEVEN.COM
HOMES & INTERIORS JOHN BIDDELL - INTERIORS EXPERT
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