09/08/2026
When a client’s story is your main inspiration…..
Shortly before we completed the mood board and began selecting samples for this master bedroom, my clients travelled to Japan. At every meeting, they returned with new stories, and these conversations gradually became part of the project itself.
While sourcing textiles — which I believe are essential in shaping the atmosphere of a space, especially a bedroom — I came across Kyoto, a fabric from the Lelièvre and Jean Paul Gaultier collaboration.
Its subtle silk sheen, rich texture and quiet elegance immediately reminded me of my clients. The colour palette, the character, the feeling — everything felt right. I knew it had to be part of the project.
I ordered a sample and placed it in my project box. As often happens, months passed with furniture selections, rug approvals, joinery details and countless other decisions. Nearly six months later, it was time to order the fabric for the cushions.
That’s when I discovered it was unavailable everywhere.
I spent hours searching, contacting suppliers and stockists, but the answer was always the same: out of stock. I nearly gave up and started considering alternatives, yet I couldn’t let go of it.
So I wrote to Lelièvre’s head office, explaining how important the fabric was to the project and asking if they could check all warehouses for any remaining stock, no matter how small.
To my delight, they found exactly three metres.
Precisely what we needed.
It may seem like a small detail, and yes, we could have chosen another fabric. But it reminds me of something my mum used to say when I was growing up: that I was incredibly stubborn, a trait I inherited from my dad.
As an adult, I’ve come to see that stubbornness as one of my greatest strengths.
Don’t like taking “no” for an answer. When I truly believe something is right for a project, I’ll do everything I can to make it happen, not because I enjoy making life difficult, but because compromise doesn’t always lead to the best design outcome.
Huge thanks to Lelièvre Paris and Jean Paul Gaultier and Rachel Robinson Interiors
