About
Hi, I’m Charly, founder of Wax & Wane Interiors.
I am delighted to have set up Wax & Wane Interiors that focuses on the intrinsic link between our homes’ interiors, our sensory health and the effects of these on our mental wellbeing to create homes that are sensory affirming as well as aesthetically beautiful.
I’m a military wife with three small children - two of whom have sensory processing difficulties.
Living alongside us is our senior tuxedo cat, Maggie, who completes us, ruling with her fluffy paw, love of a laser pen chase and a heart for little chicken biscuits.
Living a seemingly nomadic lifestyle due to the constant military house moves since my mid 20’s, my early career has been diverse. Having gained a degree in Business and Economics at Exeter University, I initially worked as a civil servant before going back to Exeter to complete a Masters’ Degree in International Relations.
Over the years, I’ve worn many different hats across the public, private, and charity sectors before dedicating the last few years to being a stay at home mum to my three young children.
You will often find me these days with my nose in a book, a cat on my lap and a steaming cup of tea in my hand.
My children are highly sensory seeking. My home has struggled with the persistent jumping, rolling and crashing. Furniture has been broken, drawn on, and stained beyond repair. My auditory & tactile sensitivity has been pushed to its limit. I knew I had to find a way to marry these clashing sensory behaviours and our homes’ interiors together so that we all could thrive within our home.
So, in 2023, I re-trained with The British College of Interior Design to gain a Diploma of Professional Interior Design.
My go-to design style is traditional with rustic elements. Timeless elegance with textural inputs from raw wood and stone with natural fibres such as linen and cotton. I will often opt for more neutral and low impact colour schemes in my own home to avoid visual overwhelm, but I love hearing about the colour schemes other people are drawn to with their own sensory needs and the excitement of seeing them feel so comfortable and emotionally safe in their homes.
Choosing natural and sustainable products and textiles is increasingly important to me. I want the things that we bring into our home to be beloved possessions that last for decades because of their quality and not to treat our home like fast fashion.
Because of this, I look for products and textiles from businesses that are B-Corp certified and ethical, small businesses that I can support in my recommendations to clients.
Our homes needn’t be pristine, they are full of real life, and with that comes bumps, spills, pen marks and the occasional Paw Patrol sticker. The value of our interiors shouldn’t simply be based on what they cost, but the emotional value they accrue as we grow, adapt and change in our homes and it is the importance of that on our sensory health and mental wellbeing.