For her first column for Folk Features, Lanassir Gunton, Director of Swank Interiors, explains the very good reason for being extra busy at the start of this year
When Tom Holmes from Big C Cancer Charity messaged me at about 10 o’clock one night asking if I would take part in Strictly Big C this year, I was so excited, but for some reason my husband wasn’t… I then read out the message to him, and he was relieved to hear that I would be getting a professional partner. He was absolutely dreading the thought of doing it himself as we had dance lessons for our wedding and they were the worst eight hours of his life, apparently. I’m hoping the dance goes a little bit better than our first dance. We didn’t consider how big my dress was; the band playing the music slightly different to the CD we had been practising to, and my heels getting caught in my net underskirt – but apart from that it was great.
Eleven of us have been training hard with the team at Miller Dance in Norwich, before we take to the dance floor to raise vital funds for Big C at the end of next month. I’ve got my dress, it’s one of my professional partner, Sam’s competition dresses, and very sparkly, and I’ve got my shoes (which is the most important thing, as I’ve got about 100 pairs of shoes at home). Sam I will be dancing an American smooth waltz. Training is well and truly underway, we have got our music, the routine is complete, and now the real work begins to polish the routine ahead of the live performance
As a group we have raised more than £7,000 and I’ve personally raised more than £1000. I’m excited to be raising funds for the amazing work that Big C does in supporting those affected by cancer. This is the first time I have done a sponsored charity event – I think that’s why I’m doing okay for sponsorship as I don’t normally ask people. I love to dance but have done very little in the last 30 years so I’m looking forward to the challenge.
But back to the day job. I’ve got three commercial projects in the install stages already this year, including Waxx Norwich, Park Farm Hotel and Glen Lodge Bawburgh, whilst also doing the plans for another two commercial projects and a residential one. It’s great to see so many commercial projects on the go.
I’ve also got a project in a healthcare setting starting in March. I can’t say too much about it just yet, but it is going to be a very interesting one to work on. More about that in a few months.
And I’m very pleased to announce a collaboration between myself and Soho Fine Art in the Royal Arcade, Norwich starting towards the end of February. We are busy finalising the finer details, but I will have a dedicated space within the gallery, which I am looking forward to as I don’t have a showroom as such and am based outside of the city.
Art is one of the things that I absolutely love, but it is also the one thing that clients can be afraid of working into an interior design scheme. My feeling is that if a scheme is designed for a person to love, then any art they love should sit in it. So, think about what you truly like and what suits the property you live in. My three rules are simple: make sure the subject is familiar, the piece resonates with you, and you are drawn to the colours and form.
I will be based in the gallery on certain days and look forward to sharing ideas of how to display art. Follow Swank Interiors on socials to find out when I will be there. It will be weird to leave the house to go and work somewhere!
Lanassir Gunton is fundraising for Big C – visit her page on JustGiving. The live Strictly Big C 2026 event (which is sold out) takes place on February 28. Lanassir is a BIID Registered Interior Designer based in Norfolk. Visit Swank Interiors and follow on Instagram, and Facebook.
Featured image of Lanassir Gunton (pictured left with Penny Hussain from Soho Fine art) – supplied
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