DO YOU LIKE GOOD MUSIC? the music we love and how it influences us

So, ‘Do You Like Good Music’? I have a print in my bedroom with these opening lyrics from the track Sweet Soul Music by Arthur Conley, and it got me thinking about the importance of music and how what we listen to influences our design aesthetic.

Every now and then I like to design what I would consider to be a dream room. It gives me the opportunity to research loads of gorgeous furniture, old and new, as well as fun and meaningful products that would make the room come alive. These personal projects really help cement the things that I love, and open my mind to new ways with design, and most importantly, I can be as flamboyant as I want!

My music tastes go hand in hand with the interior and fashion styles that I love

I thought it would fun to play with the idea of designing a music room-come living room. I’ve long lusted over the custom pianos by Dead Buni, founded by Kasabian’s keyboardist, Ben Kealey. He lovingly restores abandoned pianos, transforming them into fabulous, functional works of art, saving the piece from landfill and giving the piano a new lease of life. He preserves their soul and adds another layer of history to the instrument. And let me tell you these pianos are something else.

My personal favourite is the pink one below, (surprise!) called Geometric Pink Piano ‘Face’, just look at those achingly cool gold keys. I used this as the starting point of the moodboard for my ‘dream music room’. As I selected each piece to add to the imaginary space, it made me want to analyse why I’d chosen them and how my furniture choices might be connected to, or influenced by the music I listen to. Can music really affect the way we design?

Growing up my parents listened to various genres of music. They loved Elvis, tunes from the 50s through to the 80s, Motown, The Beatles (who they actually got to see in concert at Trentham Gardens in Stoke-On-Trent! Mum said all you could hear was the screaming!) but their real passion was for classical music and opera - something that I didn’t particularly fancy listening to in the car on the way to school! But over time I mellowed, and I too started to appreciate and enjoy listening classical music.

Their taste in music and therefore our lifestyle would inevitably influence what we would watch on TV; Antiques Roadshow, Gardeners World and interiors shows, where we would visit on day trips; Chatsworth House, Garden Centres, country pubs and antique centres, and holidays we’d go on; Rome, Florence, Pisa. These interests, together with my dad’s Sicilian background, I think is a big part of why I’m drawn to quite decadent interiors, hence loving and preferring period properties.

Images below taken at Chatsworth House.

At 11 years old, I was introduced to the Spice Girls and I was at just the right age in the 90’s to adore them! A few years later I discovered All Saints, and then later Oasis and Blur, and that’s when it got interesting. High school happened, and I was exposed to all kinds of music. Smash Hits and Top Of The Pops magazines soon made way for the NME, and I became interested in the fashion side of music. Me and my friends would frequent the indie bars of our home town, donning clothes that we thought we looked divine in! (looking back, not so much - luckily social media wasn’t a thing back then!)

At 18, university presented what I never knew existed. Manchester showed me the way and I found the place where I belonged which was the dance and indie clubs, dancing/stomping to The White Stripes and hanging on every word by Karen O. Pop Boutique and Afflecks Palace embedded the idea of ‘the one off piece’ while Selfridges enticed me with their designer brands. All of this shaped me, it shapes us all and I find it very interesting how our interiors do seem to reflect our taste in music one way or another. 

My dream music room, centred around the pink piano by Dead Buni

My love for the 70s and disco comes across in fabric and material choices, my penchant for indie means I like a good thrift, a notable and proud second hand item. Classic and opera appears in the gilt photo frames, elaborate flower arrangements, velvets and tassels, and glam rock in the leopard print lampshade, ceramic cheetahs and overall layer of colourful craziness!

Leopard with gilt with pink gloss with an ornate Spanish fan!

All of it together equals me, and I certainly love a statement piece, or in fact, multiple statement pieces and I enjoy experimenting with bringing them together, to create a unique collection of items that speaks volumes about me.

The glorious reused, repurposed, bespoke pink piano by Dead Buni was the starting point of all this and we should not underestimate the power of music and how it can influence and push our creativity. 

It would be great to hear how your taste in music influences you, you home and your life, and if you like the items on this board take a look at the shopping list with links below.

If you’s like to create a music room, living room or any room for your home that reflects you and your style but don’t quite know where to start, check out my services page to see how I can help you achieve your dream space.

Shopping List

Geometric Pink Piano ‘Face’ - Dead Buni

Guitar - Faded Pelham Blue Top - For Those Who Demand More - Gibson 

Marshall Bluetooth Speaker - Currys

Paint colour - Sailing by Moonlight - Valspar

Wallpaper - Tottenham Dalmatian in Cocoa - Wallpaper - Poodle & Blonde

Bookcase/vinyl storage - Type 2 - tyklo.com

Rug - Phoenix - Wendy Morrison

Sofa - Costello - Cobalt - sofa.com

Swivel armchair - Swivel Linen Meets Timerous Beasties - Jay Blades

Velvet Sculptural Chair - Anthropologie

Coffee table - Calvin - Made

Black side table - Calendes in Mango Wood - La Redoute

Pink side table - Jolly - Pink - Kartell - Amara

Stripe vase - Funfair - Norman Copenhagen - Amara

Central light - Globe Chandelier -  Brushed Brass and Blush Pink Glass - Made

Blue lamp - Jordi Canduras dipping light lamp - Nest

Bubble vase - H&M

Rose art print - Jessica Ford

Serena tiffany green floor lamp - amazon.co.uk

Arthouse Alchemy Bouquet Framed Print - argos.co.uk

Gold on Golden Oriole cushion - Timerous Beasties

Corded Shapes Cushion Cover - westelm.co.uk

Strata Large Velvet cushion - Sharon Jane

Embroidered Metallic Curves Cushion Cover - West Elm