uFurnish.com Founder Deirdre Mc Gettrick sat down with Candice Guy - 2025 uFurnish.com Home Awards Winner to talk all things interiors inspiration and advice for those on their own interiors journey.
Name: Candice Guy
Instagram handle: @home_with_candy_sky
Sum up your home interior style in 3 words or less: I’m going for three Ts: Tranquil, textures and timeless
What's your favourite item in your home: Our very over-sized, ornate mirror, which was a second-hand find. It was originally gold and didn’t suit our interior, so I softened it by sponge-painting it with a matt furniture paint. The result is a beautiful, statement piece that works perfectly in our main living as the main focal point of the room.
If your home had a theme song what would it be: Kelly Clarkson – ‘Breakaway’. It perfectly describes the transition and the changes that my home has gone through from nothing to something.
Toilet roll over or under on the holder: Definitely over - I have a strong urge to "correct" them when I see any the other way around!
Do you place your cups and glasses facing up or down in your cupboard: Up for me! I’ve tried them facing down, but it was too stressful. It felt like I was inviting a potential disaster every time the kids reached in there without looking at where their hands were going.
What inspired your home’s interior style and how did you bring that vision to life?
Light, neutral interiors create a sense of calm for me, so I naturally gravitate towards muted wall colours and a soft, understated palette. I like to introduce interest through texture and layering, incorporating wood and other natural elements to add depth and refinement to the space.
I’m inspired by several design styles, including the serene minimalism of Scandinavian interiors, the rich textures and natural materials of Organic Modern design, and the warmth and simplicity of Japandi décor. I enjoy blending elements of these styles with more traditional pieces, whilst ensuring that everything works together harmoniously. I try to achieve the right balance of these elements to ensure that everything flows but nothing feels overly coordinated. Sometimes that means buying and re-painting furniture or sanding and re-staining it so it feels cohesive within the room. There has definitely been a lot of trial and error in my home and sometimes the repainting of walls many times to achieve that ‘perfect’ shade.
How did you balance your design goals with your budget and do you have any clever hacks or cost-saving tips for readers?
For me, a big part of the joy of interiors comes from creating rather than buying everything new. I regularly source unique furniture and accessories from Facebook Marketplace and enjoy upcycling pieces to elevate their appearance. For example, I’ll often buy a vase in the “wrong” colour or with an unattractive pattern if the shape is right, knowing I can transform it with paint. Mixing bicarbonate of soda with furniture paint creates a beautiful, stone-like textured finish which is an inexpensive way to either create a new look or change the colour of a pot or vase.
I also create my own large-scale canvas artwork, which saves hundreds of pounds and makes each space feel more personal. I usually use leftover tester pots to paint with, which is budget-friendly too.
What has been your biggest challenge designing your home and how have you overcome it?
Our home is a new-build property, which initially lacked the character I love in period houses. One of my main goals was to add depth and interest to the flat walls and boxy rooms. I achieved this through a combination of panelling and limewash paint, which adds a beautiful, tactile quality to the walls. One particularly effective technique was installing low-level panelling to visually raise the height of our skirting boards, instantly elevating the space.
Our entrance hallway was another challenge, as it’s quite narrow and compact. To create impact, I transformed the staircase by painting it and adding a stair runner, which now acts as a focal point as soon as you enter the house.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting their own home interiors journey what would it be?
I think that designing your home should be about creating a space that feels personal as well as functional. Identifying a style you’re drawn to can help provide a clear starting point for colours, textures and overall mood.
Good storage is also key - a well-organised home instantly feels calmer and more spacious. I don’t believe that furniture doesn’t need to match perfectly; in fact, mixing pieces can look amazing as long as there’s a common thread to keep the space feeling cohesive.
When choosing wall colours, I always test samples on large pieces of cardboard and move them around the room at different times of day. Colour can look completely different depending on light and the elevation of your space and what looks good in a picture on one person’s Instagram photo can look completely different in your home. Lighting itself is just as important and relying solely on the main ceiling light rarely creates atmosphere. I always layer lighting with lamps to achieve a warm, inviting glow.
Is there a particular space in your home that you’re most proud of and why?
My Living Room after winning the award for Best Living Room at the uFurnish Awards last year! My award sits proudly on the window ledge.
This particular space has incredible views through the bi-fold doors, but when we first moved in, the layout was awkward and the room felt cold and uninviting. I’ve achieved its current look without spending a fortune - proving that creating a warm, personal and unique space doesn’t have to break the bank. I added depth and warmth to the walls using a faux limewash effect, created by layering two different paint shades (an affordable alternative to traditional limewash paint). The room is completely neutral, but texture brings it to life. From the fabrics and patterns of the throws, sofa, and cushions, to the fluted panelling I added to the IKEA TV cabinet, each detail adds visual interest and transforms the space from ordinary to individual and homely. I love that lots of the pieces of furniture in this room are unique and have been transformed from how they originally looked.
Where do you find your inspiration? Are there designers, Instagram accounts or brands that influence your style?
Pinterest and Instagram are my main sources of inspiration, alongside interior magazines. The downside of constantly seeing beautiful spaces is that it encourages me to experiment – a lot! I change our décor pretty frequently, much to my family’s amusement, as they sometimes comment that they feel like they’ve come home to the wrong house.
DIY is my therapy, and whenever I have a few spare hours, that’s how I choose to spend my time. Thankfully, I genuinely enjoy painting, so changing the colour of a room feels like an exciting and creative process rather than a chore.
What did winning Best Living Room in the uFurnish.com Home Awards mean to you?
Winning the award was truly beyond my wildest dreams. I felt deeply honoured, especially at the ceremony when I was in a category with such exceptionally talented designers and so many beautifully designed spaces. Simply reaching the finals felt like an such an achievement, but to then be announced as the winner was a completely indescribable moment. The experience has really helped me grow in confidence and has allowed me to develop a belief in my abilities as a designer.
What's the next interiors project you want to work on?
I’m currently redesigning our downstairs WC. The existing tiles aren’t to my taste, and the whole space needs rethinking as there is no storage at all. I have my eye on a Calacatta marble sink and would love to upcycle an old cabinet for it to sit on. I’m also thinking about painting this space darker than I usually would – it will still be a neutral shade but I’m thinking about moving out of my comfort zone with this one!
Any other information you’d like to share about your home interiors journey?
I never imagined that starting an interiors Instagram page would lead me to where I am now. What began as a way to share my love for home interiors has grown into something far more meaningful. Along the way, I’ve connected with a wonderful community of people who share the same passion, I’ve honed my interior design, photography and video editing skills, and had opportunities I never could have thought possible. It’s amazing how something as simple as sharing images of my home could open so many doors. I am so grateful for all of these opportunities.
Each month we'll be interviewing one of our uFurnish.com Home Awards finalists asking them all about their home renovation journey, their inspiration and more so be sure to come back each month to learn more. Find out more about our Home Awards here, follow us on Instagram here for more inspiration and updates and subscribe to our emails here for weekly offers and more.
