Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr is watched by millions on BBC1, and this week the show featured two well known Rye shops getting a makeover as part of the competition.
The show, which is a mix of home improvement, interior design, and competition-style reality TV, showcased Niche on Cinque Ports Street and Paper Place on the High Street. It stars comedian Alan Carr who spent several days in Rye last September making the show, which was broadcast on Wednesday evening. You can see it on BBC iPlayer.
Viewers get to see how amateur designers approach real-life interior challenges with creativity and limited budgets. They learn tips about colour, layout, and design principles. Compared with harsher reality shows, this show maintains a friendly, supportive tone and the winner is given a life-changing start in the world of interiors. The show is criticised by some viewers who feel that the results vary widely in quality because the contestants are not professionals.
So what did the two Rye shop owners think of what the designers made of their stores?
Anwesha Arya, owner of the Paper Place describes what it was like to take part.
How long have you had your gorgeous shop, the Paper Place?
“We began our little business in April 2011 in Rye, at 12 Market Road, where we had a wonderful shop. The business took the town by surprise, prompting comments like we had brought a tasteful passion for paper shops like one sees in Florence but with an Indian aesthetic. It was truly encouraging to have support from our local community. And thank you for labelling us as ‘gorgeous’.”
When did the programme get in touch with you and ask you to take part?
“In June 2024 I was beginning to consider a refit, as the shop we took over from (Rye Health Store) had not had any refurbishment since the 1980s. It desperately needed a paint job and some better shelving. Then in walked one of the scouts from the production company who make the show Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr for the BBC. It was completely fortuitous.”
Were you nervous about letting a stranger tackle a design challenge in your beautiful shop?
“Putting our beautiful shop into the hands of veritable strangers was daunting, yes, but the show has such a creditable history, being in its sixth series so I was comforted by that thought. We were assured that if we weren’t pleased with any aspects of the re-design they would revert it to our satisfaction. It was quite an adventure but with very thoughtful guides taking us through the entire process.”
Could you say what you would not allow or was it carte blanche?
“We had a great briefing meeting where we were able to put across all our aspirations and ideas, too. They took on our design preferences brilliantly.”
Were you pleased with the end result?
“Oh yes, we love it completely.”
What were the surprises that occurred as the week unfolded?
“The use of pink! Pink isn’t really my colour, but the dusky shade they’ve used has grown on me. We were kept away throughout the week so the final revelation was a true surprise. Realising that Mary Portas or ‘Mary Queen of Shops’ had been in our place was a real surprise.”
Lesley Farrow, owner of Niche, takes up the baton:
Were you surprised to be approached by the filming company to take part in the design challenge?
“Last May, on a very busy day in the shop, I noticed a young man just standing observing what was going on but not browsing. I asked if he needed help and he said no but carried on standing there. After a while the shop became less busy and he came over and introduced himself. He was from the DSP TV production company which is commissioned by the BBC to make the programme and he asked if we would be interested in taking part. I was rather shocked at first and asked for time to think about it. We thought about it and decided to say ‘yes’ as we had been thinking of a make-over ourselves but we didn’t want to shut the shop for an extended period. The advantage of this show is that they were going to start on a bank holiday Monday and we are shut then anyway and it would only be three days. Two weeks later they emailed and arranged to come and have a meeting to discuss the process.”
Did you have any concerns as to what the designers might do to your lovely calm shop? What were your no-no’s?
“I did think, ‘What can they do that is so awful?’ but when we met the two girl designers we knew we were in good hands. The vibes were good and all I said was no to tropical wallpaper and no flying parrots. Other than that I left them to come up with fresh ideas. They asked if I liked wood and I said ‘Yes’. They asked if I liked live plants and I said ‘Yes’. They did use some lovely plants but they were taking up too much space and I don’t sell plants so they had to go, which was a shame.”
What was the team like to work with?
“We met the two girls two weeks beforehand and then we were not invited to see them again. However we did request to see them before they left Rye to say ‘Thank you’ as we knew they would do a great job. It isn’t normal but we did say ‘Goodbye’ and ‘Thank you’.”
When did you get to see the final results?
“When Mary Portas has finished her judging, we were invited back to the shop to see the results.”
When you walked in the door what was your first reaction?
“It was like, WOW! I had no idea what to expect. I hadn’t even driven by in the car as I wanted to see the shop only when it was finished. We had to be filmed walking along the street: it was boiling hot, my hair was reacting to the heat and I was nervous. It was the most unnatural thing I have ever done. We walked in and totally loved it. They created another dressing room for us which we needed and we were thrilled with the overall feel of the shop. There are only so many ways you can say ‘I love it’ so I was lost for new words as they kept on asking ‘What about this, what about that?’”
What three words sum up Niche?
“Friendly, affordable fashion.”
And the winning team was the two chaps who were redesigning The Paper Place who now go through to the semi-finals
Image Credits: BBC Press , kt bruce , Kt bruce .
I love this programme and Alan Carr is a hoot: both camp and clever! I did agree with Mary Portas about the solid black curtains at Niche, but not that they should be multi-coloured. Something abstract or geometrical in black/beige maybe. But what do I know? Have to say, it is great publicity for both businesses and living locally am more than tempted to visit both. So, Rye is ‘cute’, then, is it? Hmm! Is that how others see it?