Wild Isle Style: Resourceful And Sustainable Interior Design Ideas

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The rest is history, but what was it really like being on the show? And how scary is Michelle Ogundehin when it comes to judgment time? It’s about community and connection and stopping and being really grounded. And once you’re on [the Isle of Mull], you can’t get off. You’ve got to get a ferry and it’s a logistical challenge. When you’re there everything washes away and it’s just magic.’ I think it’s just such a special place,’ says Banjo. ‘I live in Tobermory, which I don’t know if you ever saw watched Balamory [the children’s TV show], but it’s the most colourful town in Scotland. But all the houses really are quite greyish inside. And I thought, it’s a bit crazy to start my business here, but I can do it. And the locals, they’re all my mates. Even in the show, they’re my mates.’ Banjo found his way to the big smoke, working in advertising, eventually landing the plum role of 'Ideas Director'. He was quite literally in charge of coming up with ideas, a role that suited this perpetual dreamer.

Wild Isle Style: Resourceful And Sustainable Interior Design

Fresh from the success of his TV series, Mull’s best-known interior designer Banjo Beale will be there to launch his first book. BB: When we were filming my television show, Designing The Hebrides, we didn't have any money whatsoever really to do these spaces. It was about what we could find for free and how resourceful we could be. So, I think the best price is free. BB: That's a good question. I really love Tilda Swinton, so I'd love to snoop around her house. I feel like it could either be totally minimal and she doesn't have anything, or it would be really eccentric and full of art and all of her clothes. I really do love her. My husband is a cheese maker and distiller and that’s on that final episode of the show, actually. The farm (from where they lease the café and farm shop) is owned by an 87-year-old woman called Chris and ‘she’s my best bud, and on the final episode, I make her a gin bar and get a production line of grannies working for me, weaving chairs out of willow.

Slowing the pace of life

Kathie Griffiths Updated: 04/08/23, 4:16 pm Isabella Tree of Wilding fame will be at Tobermory Book Festival introducing her new book TV PRESENTER Banjo Beale was blown away when he was offered a new show — until Hurricane Ian hit filming. Two of Scotland’s leading artists of nature and landscape, Sarah Ross Thompson and Jane Smith, will be hosting a lunch at An Tobar while showcasing their work and discussing future projects with a delicious meal provided by Mark and Brendan from the Boathouse on Ulva. My city of Tobermory is one of the most colourful in the UK, but some of the interior spaces are begging for individuality, according to Banjo. Thankfully, some courageous locals are giving me the keys to their homes, including a bothy that is two hours by foot from the closest road and a distant lighthouse, castle turret, and cherished local rugby team. Although they are logistical problems to deliver, they are dream properties to design.

My Happy Home: Banjo Beale - House Beautiful

The final result sees the bothy retain its rustic feel, while being transformed into a stylish and comfortable living space. Pieces of upcycled furniture add to the authenticity, while the wooden panels that cover the lower half of the walls are painted in neutral colours to reflect the natural landscape. Returning to Australia for a year, Banjo began the first chapter in his Interior Design journey, convincing an unwitting group to let him design their office, art gallery and cafe. But the call of the wild west coast of Scotland was too loud, they had to return to their spiritual home. But what was it like to be on the side of the judging panel? ‘I thought it would be really hard because I have empathy for anyone that throws themselves open to judging. But when that camera rolls and then you see someone’s house, you have a visceral reaction, good or bad and there’s no hiding that! If I tried to lie, I’m wearing it on my face anyway. It’s a very lovely show, and all the houses are quite beautiful. But I’m not afraid to give my opinion on it.’ Sustaining local craft Australian-born Banjo has had a whirlwind since winning 2022’s Interior Design Masters, the home-makeover TV show hosted by Alan Carr. And if that wasn’t keeping him busy enough, Banjo also runs a café and a shop on island and finds it the perfect way to immerse himself in the local community.I know, I'm a crier – happy tears, sad tears, overwhelmed tears, every kind of tears – and at the end, it was probably tears of exhaustion. Where did you watch the final and how did you feel? Another challenge faced by Banjo and the team is the arrival of a sudden storm, which causes the roof to leak, adding to the work. The poor weather also means all of the furniture must be kept inside the bothy during the renovation, leading to cramped working conditions.