-Where do you find inspiration when creating a new collection?

My travels - in particular to India and Japan. In Rajasthan, absolutely everything was decorated – from doorways to saris - even the buses had pompoms hanging from them! It was a complete visual overload and a true feast for all the senses. I was completely bowled over by the color, vibrancy and warmth of the country. I was in awe of the attention to detail, and it’s been a huge source of inspiration in my designs and formed my visual philosophy for the brand - to Embellish at Every Opportunity

Likewise, I travelled to Kyoto one autumn and the views and colour there were just really spectacular. I also found the fluidity in Japanese art very beautiful and back home in the UK, I spent a lot of time at the Victoria & Albert Museum studying those collections. It was a visual feast absorbing it all, then translating that inspiration - combined with my knowledge of what’s commercial - to create Sara Miller London designs.

I now try to capture a little piece of the exotic in my designs – whether it is the uplifting jewel colors inspired by the crystal blue waters of the Indian Ocean, the intense pinks in Japanese cherry blossoms, or the fusion of exotic fragrances from all parts of the globe in our bath and body products. Most importantly my aim is to always to create something enchanting and unique, that adds color and personality into people’s lives and brings happiness.

-Is there a favorite destination that continues to inspire your designs?

I will always have a soft spot for our signature Chelsea collection, featuring exotic birds in an enchanted garden. I love birds! Their feathers give such a lot of scope for adding colour and detail, and they add lovely movement – whether it’s a soaring swallows or hovering hummingbirds.

The collection of designs in jewel tones is designed to be mix and matched so the combination of our Pink Birds, Green Birds and Navy Hummingbird which can create a real visual feast ion your space which I love.

-What's your best advice for someone who wants to decorate with bold colors but doesn't know where to begin?

Accessories are such a good way to inject color and pattern into a space. cushions, lampshades, rugs, placemats and table linen are easy to change from time to time so you don’t feed to feel frightened about committing to something permanent which means you can take more risks and stretch yourself outside of your comfort zone.

My top tips would be to find some inspiration to set the mood and color palette you like. Experiment with paint colors in your actual space (get a test pot and do a large area of the wall) it’s impossible to tell from a tiny swatch and the same colors can look so different in different spaces depending on how much light is hitting the wall. Be brave and take risks with your walls – after all it’s only a lick of paint and you can always change it to something else! I love deep dark walls which give a great backdrop for bright accent colors and bold prints on accessories. Choose plainer base colors and add interest using soft furnishings and accessories. These can be easily added to or changed so your space can continue to evolve or have a different feel throughout the seasons. Layer lots of colors, patterns and fabrics to add texture and depth. This will give a luxurious feel and unique look to your space for example choosing slouchy comfortable furniture in deep rich velvets that look really inviting but still look smart and luxurious at the same time.

-What colors do you see becoming timeless rather than trendy?

At Sara Miller London we tend to focus more on exploring exciting new color combinations with our collections, creating something unexpected, often with little element of the exotic, rather than focusing on trending colors. For me exciting pops of color like fuchsia pink or our signature green will always be uplifting especially when combined with darker more timeless backdrops of midnight blues and deep greys.