We were lucky enough to steal a few moments with Banjo Beale, the Australian interior designer who calls the beautiful Isle of Mull home. His experiences there inspired his BAFTA-winning BBC series, Designing the Hebrides and his book Wild Isle Style.
Banjo first captured our attention as the winner of Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr and Michelle Ogundehin, proving that homes should tell a story and not be afraid of embracing character.
When Banjo kindly spoke with us for our Beautiful Homes by Four Square blog, his passion for sustainable design and community shone through. He reminds us that creating beautiful spaces doesn’t have to break the bank or cost the earth. His emphasis on reuse, flexibility, and the importance of community aligns perfectly with our mission at Edinburgh Furniture Initiative.
Hey Banjo! Thank you for sharing your tips with us! Having grown up in Western Australia, what drew you to settle in Scotland?
We quit our jobs and bought a one-way ticket to Sri Lanka, backpacking our way to the UK. 12 months later, we’d run out of money and found a cheese farm on the Isle of Mull who would give us a home, free cheese and what would become the next exciting chapter of our lives.
Decorating a room can be daunting. Do you have any tips on where to start?
I like to think of an imaginary character or a fabulous theme, whether it’s a drunk botanist’s bedroom or a 1930s New York jazz bar living room. This helps to get me on my way, picking a mood, colours, and decor. It helps every little decision and makes the process more fun.
At Edinburgh Furniture Initiative, we believe beautiful homes can also be sustainable. You often talk about giving things a second life. Why is reuse so important to you?
My favourite colour is brown and I love anything warped and wobbly and full of patina, so naturally, I love anything old. Whether you prefer old or new, there is still lots of life left in second-hand furniture, it might just need repairing or a new cushion added.
We already have enough furniture in the world for a few lifetimes, but unfortunately, big box stores don’t make it like they used to, so we should look to older pieces that have already passed the test of time. We have to at least try before we buy new. Also, a mix of old and new also works – not everything needs to be vintage. Invest in one great new or designer piece and pepper your room with support characters like a reused side table or ottoman.
In Designing the Hebrides, we are always impressed with the results you manage on very tight budgets. Do you have tips on keeping costs down when decorating?
My favourite price is free and my second favourite price is cheap. Reused and vintage is always cheaper than new if you know where to look and are willing to put the work in. My number one tip for sticking to a budget is to be flexible. Don’t just have one idea and be fixated on achieving that – there are many ways to make a room. Use what you have and do with it what you can. Look in scrap yards, skips, and marketplaces and second-hand stores to make your money stretch.
What do you think of interior trends?
I don’t like trends and new buzzwords. They’re usually invented by paint companies or magazines to push new products and the endless cycle of consumer culture. If one year it is bright and colourful homeware, what about next year when we’re told grey is here to stay? We all know what we love, follow your heart.
Do you have a special item of décor at home that brings you joy?
For me, the things that spark joy are objects collected on travels or passed along to me from random people and colours that are warm, rich, and cocooning.
Our mission as a charity is to ensure everyone has a place in their community. We know community is important to you too – why is that?
Community is vital in order to help us to connect, thrive, and come together. In a world that is hyper-digital, we are losing that sense of togetherness and lots of spaces and groups are suffering deep funding cuts from the government. It’s volunteers, passionate locals, and amazing charities in the community that are keeping people and places safe, warm, and supported. Even if we have a safe place to land, we must not keep our heads in the sand – people need our support.
Finally, we hope you can come and visit us at Edinburgh Furniture Initiative! We would love to see you and explain the work we do!
Inspired by Banjo’s words? Come and visit us at Edinburgh Furniture Initiative! Discover a treasure trove of pre-loved furniture waiting for a new home and learn more about the work we do to support our community. We’d love to see you!
