ALTHOUGH I work as an interior designer, my husband Martin has quite strong views on decorating and doesn't gave me carte blanche so we do have to choose things as a couple.

Sometimes I just say to him: "This is my job, I know what I'm doing, trust me," but it doesn't always wash.

It is much harder to do your own house than other people's. When I go into someone else's home I can see things with fresh eyes. Certain ideas and inspirations will just come to me, but when you see your own house again and again, so many times each day, you lose the instincts that give you that notion of what needs done.

Our sandstone terraced house is more than 100 years old. When we viewed it, Martin really liked it and I wasn't sure. That was 12 years ago when the market was very brisk. We'd already put in 12 offers all over Glasgow and they were all going to closing dates. We'd seen it for 10 minutes and it was roughly the right size in roughly the right area so we went for it. We put in two offers on the same day on two different houses which closed at the same time. Luckily we just got one of them and it was this one.

During the 10-minute viewing, we didn't realise how much work was required. We've had to replace walls and ceilings that were sagging a little, so a lot of love and attention has been put into this house.

This was a dull and dreary house when we first moved in and it was really depressing. We'd moved from a very bright, spacious flat so at first I had an instinct to make it light and bright. A few years down the line I thought that look wasn't really suiting the house so we have gone deeper with colours and tones.

The decor in the dining room is predominantly my choice. The idea for the decor began with the stripy carpet: I loved it and this was the right room for it. The wall colour comes from a picture frame I have hanging in a different room, which I love.

Our dining room is our most used room. It looks out onto the garden so it's nice and bright. This is where we catch up, where my daughter does her homework and the little one paints. It's the one room where we are all together. We eat every meal in here and when friends come over, this is where we sit with a cup of tea. I sometimes work at the table, so it's well used.

Framed print

This is by my grandfather James Smith who was one of Glasgow's leading graphic designers. He is retired now but he paints and every year we get a painting for Christmas. He was a big influence. We grew up going into his studio at his home. My brothers are all creative too, so he was a big influence on all of us.

Mirror

I saw this in a Paris at a trade show five years ago, and had to have it. It brings back lots of memories of that trip to Paris when I had lovely couple of days, wandering about the city choosing lots of nice things for the business. It was the only time I've ever been away by myself. I'm dying to do it again.

Sideboard

When I was pregnant with my two-year-old I went on a mad nesting frenzy and bought three sideboards. We had to hire a van and pick them up from three different places. I was nearly divorced before the child was born. It goes really well with the dining table we already had. It is so good for storage.

Framed pictures

My mum bought me these glass frames for Christmas and I love them. One of the pictures is a sketch by my grandad of me as a little girl. He used it as the basis for an oil painting, but recently found the sketch among his piles of art work and gave it to me. I remember posing for it in their sitting room: trying to focus on the fire and trying to be still - which is hard when you are five. My parents have the painting in their house. I just liked the image of the postcard in the other frame, but my husband and daughter hate it. They think the people in it look scary.

Ercol chair

This is one of a pair handed down in my husband's family. We were given them when my husband and I got our first flat in the west end. They had been in his mum and dad's house and they had been in his mum's aunt's home before that.

Bowl

I sell these in my shop and I'd always wanted one for myself so before they sold out I took one home. I love that it's big, sturdy and practical and I don't have to worry about it getting knocked over.

Anglepoise Lamp

This is another from the shop. I'd only got one in and I was quite reluctant for anyone to buy it and was hiding it a bit. I decided that I really wanted it and took it home for my birthday one year as a present to myself. I really like lamp light, and hardly ever have my main lights on. It drives my husband potty; he asks: "Why we are eating in the dark?" With lamplight and tealights, people don't notice the mess in the corner.

Lisa McLaughlin's shop, Ollaberry, is at 146 Busby Road, Clarkston. www.ollaberry.com

*Lisa's home is on the market for offers over £264,950. Call Corum Newton Mearns, 0141 639 5888.