Dining Delights with Jono Fleming
Date Posted:30 November 2017
He's an interior designer, master in the kitchen and homewares styling genius and was most recently made Style Editor at Inside Out magazine so it's safe to see he's a got all baskets covered! We sat down with Jono Fleming to learn some more about how he gained his skills, what style is to him and his top tips for a stylish night in!
How do you describe yourself and your design aesthetic?
I’d like to think I’m a pretty laid-back stylist. I tend to go with my gut on decisions as opposed to fussing too long over any one thing. It helps me create a looseness and naturalness in my styling. I love a twist on a traditional style, I start with a base that seems familiar and then add a few touches that might be out of the ordinary to create a personal take on what is known.
You’re a triple threat; a whiz in the kitchen, an interior designer and homewares stylist, how did this all come to be?
It’s been a bumpy ride over the last decade! I went to university to study interior design and thought that would be my job forever, but so much has happened since then. A few detours along the way helped shape where I am as a designer and stylist today. I had a detour in food working on books and shows and travelling to Italy with Silvia Colloca. I developed a lot of my styling technique working for Temple & Webster for three years before heading to Inside Out. At the end of the day, as long as I love what I’m doing, cooking, styling, designing, I don’t mind the twists and turns!
You’re always styling interiors and creating new recipes, where do you find your inspiration?
I always try to come up with something I haven’t seen before, whether it be in interiors or food. As mentioned, I like a twist on a tradition, so I love looking at all sorts of sources for inspiration. I love history so I often look back to look forward, it might be a midcentury bungalow or a classic recipe, there’s no point messing with something that works, it’s just using that as inspiration to create your own style and flavour. That and Instagram, you will constantly find me trawling through different feeds looking for ideas.
When entertaining friends at home, what are your three top tips for an easy stylish fun night in?
My biggest tip is to plan ahead. When I’m entertaining I try to cook recipes that have little cooking time when guests are there, anything that can be pre-prepped beforehand and just thrown together makes life much easier. It seems like an obvious tip but fresh flowers really do make a difference in the house. Nothing too extravagant but I do like to get a small bunch before people come over. And finally, no dinner party is complete without a killer playlist. The entire night’s mood is held in the balance with the music choice!
Everyone is a fan of those mouthwatering meals that feature on your Instagram feed, do you know what you’ll be cooking this Christmas?
I’m heading to the Cotswolds this Christmas with my family so I’m hoping to get in the full winter Christmas mood and cook something a bit more traditional, I’m thinking pheasant or goose!
You can follow Jono on Instagram @jono.fleming so get ready for those gourmet food shots and interior inspiration!
Image credits listed in order of photos seen.
1. Photography Sam McAdam Cooper, Styling Jono Fleming, Image courtesy of Inside Out. 2. Photography Anson Smart, styling Jono Fleming, Image courtesy of Inside Out . 3. Photography Sam McAdam Cooper, Styling Jono Fleming, Image courtesy of Inside Out. 4. Photography Anson Smart, styling Jono Fleming, Image courtesy of Inside Out. 5. Photography Sam McAdam Cooper, Styling Jono Fleming, Image courtesy of Inside Out. 6. Photography Denise Braki, Image courtesy of Temple & Webster . 7. Photography and styling Jono Fleming. 8. Photography Anson Smart, styling Jono Fleming, Image courtesy of Inside Out.
He's a triple threat; a whiz in the kitchen, an interior designer and homewares stylist with so many great tips.