If you have been watching BBC Interior Design Masters this year you will recognise the lovely Peter Irvine, a seasoned Visual Merchandiser from Belfast with over a decade of experience under his belt.
His passion for creativity has been a driving force in his life since childhood, from crafting in summer camps to pursuing art school before eventually finding his calling as a stylist.
I caught up with Peter for a chat about his time on the show and what he has been up to since.
Peter’s talents don’t stop there – he’s also an accomplished renovator, having personally transformed his home in Belfast, Northern Ireland into a textured, calm minimalist dream space. With a natural flair for design and an eye for detail, Peter is certainly one to watch.
With a focus on quality and elegance, Stores Selects Canada offers unique pieces that help create serene and stylish spaces.
In this interview, we’ll dive into Peter’s background, his current work, and what inspires him to create. Get ready to be inspired by the master of minimalism himself.
When did your passion for interior design begin?
I can precisely pin it to the Summer I turned 10. I returned home from a holiday in Florida with my Dad and my Mum had redecorated my entire room with the most incredible ocean-scape design, she had spray painted huge waves that looked so realistic and I remember the ceiling being aqua green, I had only ever seen white ceilings before- this mesmerised me!
From then, every bedroom i’ve designed for myself has been a themed wonder and an escape from reality, I think that’s why I design the way I do.
Can you describe your personal interior style in a few words?
I call my design style Natural Escapism. Peaceful, Imperfect, Transportive but not totally unrealistic.
Does travel influence your designs?
Travel is a huge influence in how I decorate, I consider myself a curator of feelings as opposed to a curator of things. I like to echo times in life when people have felt at ease and that’s often on warm destination holidays. So I mimic the elements involved: Airy tones, Natural elements, Not too many things around, and Simplicity. Things may not make sense here in a UK setting but that’s ok, Interior Design is always about throwing in a little cheekiness and that’s how I do it!
As an avid fan of Interior Design Masters, what motivated you to participate?
I’ve watched every creative show there is and like so many I often wondered what it was like to be a part of it. I knew I could do it, maybe not win, but certainly try! I just thought I’m getting out of this hamster wheel and making it happen!
The application process was fun, you got to share with new faces why you love what you love and they are so eager to listen. Further on in the process, you get a mock brief which was so exciting, your first taste of what it’s like to be on the show and it only made me more excited to live in this world of Interior Design!
Which week on the show was your favourite, and what made it stand out for you?
I think my favourite was the first week. I’d finally landed in this crazy new world with all these incredibly talented designers and I felt like I truly belonged.
Don’t get me wrong I was intimidated as hell but I tried to keep my cool, I didn’t want to go home, back to my humble reality.
Then in Week two I met Sophie Robinson and she was so kind, so maybe my favourite week was that one!
Out of all the rooms you’ve designed, which one are you the most proud of, and what makes it special to you?
Shockingly, my favourite week might have been my elimination week, It was the first week I truly believed I’d nailed it, whilst I knew there was an issue with the size of my seating in the beach hut I designed, I felt like I had taken on previous feedback from the judges about putting the client at the heart of the design. I also felt that I had made a space that was super practical and a space that also had my DNA at its core with a base of natural materials and a feeling of being transported. I’m still proud, perhaps judging was just getting harsh at this stage.
Top five tips for creating a stunning and functional living space with our readers?
-Simplify. Declutter your space and only have what’s essential in the room, it makes space for beautiful decorative items.
-Don’t buy out of convenience. Everything can be beautiful, don’t buy the first whisk or tea towel you see. Take time to gather items that look good as well as function, they’re all out there. Even clothes pegs can be lovely, it all curates a more beautiful life around you.
-Go Natural. Try to eliminate as much plastic and metal as you can from your decor, these always have a manufactured feeling which is connected with the idea of work and machinery. Objects from the earth exude peace and calm.
-Tones, tones, tones. To add depth but keep the space simple, use neighbouring tones of a the same colour for things like cushions.
-Baskets. I think there’s a basket for everything in our house. They’re a great way to hide things like beauty products, documents and even the wifi router.
What projects have you been working on, and what exciting plans do you have for the future?
Since the show, I’ve gone back to normal life with the huge exception that I’m being recognised every day while I’m dressing the mannequins! People have been so lovely and so supportive now that the show has aired and I love hearing their opinions on everything. There’s also the regular occurrence of visiting my newfound friends, I’m always excited to see them. I’ve recently been working on an redesigning and apartment here in Belfast for a lovely new client who really appreciates my design style.
I would love to do more TV work now that i’ve been bitten by the bug, but who knows, hopefully, one day you’ll see me on screen again.
If you haven’t already been watching BBC Interior Design Masters you can see Peter’s designs and catch up on all the episodes on BBC iPlayer, I can’t wait to see where his passion for design takes him next.
