‘Let’s banish shades of grey - the world needs more colour’

Flamboyant, with a super styled quiff that must require an immense amount of strong hold gel and hairspray to stay in place, and always so dapper and fashionable throughout BBC show Design Masters fronted by effervescent funnyman, national treasure and queen of the cheeky aside Alan Carr, Belfast man Paul Moneypenny was a brilliant ambassador for the province and quirky interior design choices throughout the popular series in which he beat off stiff competition to reach the semi-finals with aplomb, bold choices and a colour palette that was vibrant, brave and imaginative.

Manager at the city centre’s Noblett’s paint and wallpaper shop, he applied to the competition on a whim, after garnering a following on Facebook Live with ‘Decoration in Isolation’ demonstrations and advice for homeowners wanting to inject colour and atmosphere within the same four walls they have been ensconced in since the start of lockdown.

Indeed, there has never been a time when home refurbishment has appealed so much to the incarcerated masses, since God knows we can barely go anywhere outside our homes under lockdown, save a daily walk or the weekly trip to Asda - surely a social highlight when all of hospitality has shut it’s doors.

Design Masters, whose final episode airs on March 22, gave Paul a blinding opportunity to show his flair when it comes to transforming an interior space, and his use of said vibrant palette, ornate wallpapers and keen sense of how to stamp a room with personality consistently impressed designer and chief judge Michelle Ogundehin, an international authority on interior design, former editor of Elle Decoration and a much vaunted creative consultant whose own home must be quite something to marvel at where we to be granted access through the keyhole.

“From a young age I was distinct from my twin brothers who were circling cars in the Argos catalogue, whereas for me it was always about the art and design kits I could get my hands on. I was always creative and as I went through school I was always massively into art.

I loved the social aspect of school and all kinds of creative expression.”

So how did he decide to take the leap and head to London to participate in an interior design competition on primetime TV?

Moneypenny recalls sitting in the airport riddled with self-doubt, questioning if he had the requisite skillset and the mettle to wow the design gurus and the watching nation.

“Everyone around me believed I could do this but I was questioning my abilities! I was upset in the airport. But thankfully I went for it and I have no regrets.

“I watched season one of Design Masters and I absolutely loved it - just the fact that these creatives had been so absorbed in the world of interior design and nothing else. The fact that they were given these different challenges every week that allowed them to showcase their interior design prowess with a limited time frame and on a budget. There was a real excitement to it. I always vowed that if they did a second series I would apply.

“I was sitting in work at my desk and I saw on social media that it was the last chance to apply to feature in the new series. I was excited. I’d wished I’d had a full week to really perfect my application, but I got one together and went for it.

“The application process was difficult. There were Zoom calls with producers, castings, and I had to submit mood boards and photographs of work and projects I had worked on.”

Moneypenny managed to largely breeze through the show with his distinctive choices, daring colour palette, calm under pressure and unflinching ability to met each design challenge, only ending up on the couch to face the judges critique towards the end of his tenure.

“I got great feedback from the judges working both in a team and on my own. One of my strongest weeks was when I gave a cookware store a makeover. It had 15,000 items and was heavily cluttered. I had to make it aesthetically pleasing on the eye but also bear in mind functionality and the passage of customers through the store so that they could best survey the items on display.”

What are his pet hates when it comes to interior design and how does he define his personal home transformation style?

“Good interior design considers the individual and their tastes and needs. Every one has their own opinion on this and that’s great, the world would be a boring place otherwise. But I think with successful interiors, not only does it have to look good, it’s about the feeling the place evokes, does it make you feel calm, relaxed? Does it have the wow factor? Does it reflect your personality?”

Paul is a ‘more is more’ maximalist in his aesthetic philosophy. “But it’s not about clashing bold colours, it has to work. Even with a muted room my speciality is injecting the right pops of colour.

“At the minute, I think people are being bolder in interior design choices. Neutral palettes are out. People are trying to bring the outdoors inside with the whole botanical trend which I am a big advocate of. Plants, natural textures, wood, patterns featuring flowers or greenery, that whole vibe of the outdoors brought inside is very now.

“Under lockdown people have been spending more time than ever before inside their same four walls. They have always wanted to make their home look nice, but now there is really this drive across the board to make home the ultimate haven, somewhere they can feel relaxed, calm and energised. Or for a lot of people it’s been about creating a practical office space while they are working from home. People have had a lot more time to think about home interior design, decorate and make the most of the space they have - more than ever before.”

It would be a revelation to see the inside of his own abode if we were able to go through the keyhole.

“My own home it a statement, it’s bold and it reflects my personality. In my living room it’s painted a black-blue with a large mural which gives the illusion of looking through arches into a garden. Dark navys, dark bottle greens, pops of orange, pops of pink - I love darker colours on walls with accent colours that really bring it to life.

“I’m addicted to buying cushions and I cannot buy enough and I have as many plants as Botanic Gardens.”

He loathes banality, the overuse of tired grey and white shades that remind him of the inside of dental surgeries and too many living rooms lacking the imaginative splash of colour he is so resolutely in favour of.

“Another design pet-hate that I have is seeing wallpapers where the pattern has been applied upside down. Do not do this. It’s a sin!

“I’m surrounded by pattern and colour in Noblett’s where I work and that is my main inspiration for my own interior design style.

I do believe in throwing the rule book out the window. I love designers like Sophie Robinson, whose really into colour psychology and maximalism, local interior designers like Ian Thompson and on the show I was so inspired by the nine other budding designers I was competing with - I learnt so much from them. I learned about woodwork, styling, I even did a crash course in upholstery. It was a fantastic experience all round.”

At the moment he uses Instagram @moneypennyinteriors to bequeath his wisdom. Continuing to work in Noblett’s he plans to set up a consultancy area where clients can ask him for his top notch advice on their decorating choices.

Big name brands have also been on the phone wanting to work with him too and the future is looking bright.

“I didn’t win the competition but I have secured a collaboration with some names and that really is a dream come true. The show has opened up so many doors and someday I could have a Moneypenny Interiors Design Consultancy. That would be ideal.”

‘Interior design - why it’s time to throw out the rule book’

What is your earliest childhood memory?

I actually remember being in the pram. I also remember being taken to Noblett’s where I now work to pick wallpaper for my bedroom. I must have been about four of five and even then I also wanted something with colour, something bold, the opposite of my two brothers who would always choose plain blue walls.

What are you most proud of in your life to date?

My career. I’ve always worked hard, stayed focused and kept my head down to get to where I am now, store manager of Noblett’s and Design Masters competitor.

Who in your life makes you laugh the most?

I spend most of my time laughing at myself really. I’m quite a fun person and one of my favourite things is laughter. I tend to be the one to get other’s laughing. That’s my thing.

What is your ideal way to spend a day (outside of lockdown restrictions)?

A visit to the spa or the beach would be just wonderful. But I would settle for a day of clothes shopping, a trip to the hairdresser and a nice meal in a restaurant. It sounds like so much to ask for given where we are now! These things will be such a luxury when lockdown ends.

Can you describe yourself in three words?

Dramatic, colourful, flamboyant or a bit over the top.

Who or what is the love of your life?

Art, design and interiors in all it’s aspects.

What would you say has been the biggest challenge you have faced in your life to date?

Once I was cast for Design Masters, getting on that flight to London when I was thinking ‘Can I really do this? What am I doing? Do I have what it takes?’ I was riddled with self-doubt and I wondered if I could really get on that plane.

Who would you bring to an ideal dinner party and what would you serve them to eat and drink?

Celine Dion, Alan Carr, who is just so incredibly funny, amazing, and Sophie Robinson, a famous interior designer, and Siobhan, my favourite fellow contestant on the show. We would have a really good medium rare steak and a really good bottle of red wine.

Your lockdown survival strategy, what has got you though?

I started a ‘Decoration in Isolation’ set of tutorials on Facebook Live demonstrating my tips on how to transform your home. I was papering different rooms and giving different areas mini-makeovers and people would be asking me for details on sourcing products and stuff.

Favourite film?

I love the odd musical but my favourite film is Monster In Law with Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda just for the sheer comedy of it all.

Favourite book?

I’m not a big reader but I love interior design magazines. I can study pictures much more than words.

Favourite album?

I grew up spending a lot of time with my great granny growing up and she introduced me to a lot of country music. So I love Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Patsy Cline and Roy Orbison. Country and western is my guilty pleasure but it’s hard to choose just one album. I even love Garth Books. And dance music. The full spectrum.

Best piece of advice you have ever been given?

To believe in myself.

Your favourite holiday destination?

Las Vegas, right from when I came off the plane and saw the casino in the airport and this amazing skyline through the window. It’s the buzz, the fact that everything is so large, exaggerated, bright and the fact that it never sleeps. I’m like a Duracell bunny who’s always on, so just that I could go and do anything at anytime really appealed to me. A 24/7 city. Slot machines and coffees at anytime of the night. Las Vegas is a bit like me really, always on.

If you were First Minister for a day what would you do or change?

I would eliminate the colour grey. I despise shades of grey in interiors. Every single house is white, silver and grey. We need to bring more colour into the world,

What are you most looking forward to when this lockdown ends?

Not feeling like a prisoner and unlimited haircuts.