Do you know that episode of Friends, the one with the apothecary table? Rachel buys furniture from the American holy grail of furniture stores, Pottery Barn, but must tell Phoebe that it is all from a flea market because Phoebe detests anything mass-produced. The situation becomes further complicated when Phoebe discovers that Ross has the identical table. Inevitably, Phoebe succumbs to the simple but elegant details of the ergonomically designed doorknobs and longs for the contents of pages 6 to 11 of the store’s catalogue.

Like Phoebe (and millions of other Americans), when I finally moved into a large one-bedroom flat of my own, I too yearned for stylish furnishings. But I had no idea that turning my back on the Big Apple for a job in the Big Smoke would mean goodbye to affordable but elegant household chattels. As God is my witness, we Yanks are houseproud and our curtains and cushions must match. Walking into homes in Britain was a rude awakening to the lasting impact of rationing during and after the Second World War. Function over form seemed to dictate people’s furnishing decisions, such as a single kitchen sink and a dingy plastic bowl for washing up instead of simply fitting a double sink; and while the damp and draughty buildings explain the British obsession with hot tea, the habit of buying the cheapest, ugliest white kettle — which takes pride of place in most kitchens — escapes me.

My new rented flat in Hackney, East London, was no better: threadbare blue carpet, intense hues of purple and red on the walls, and miserable little crooked shelves upon which only crooked books could sit. The landlord’s offerings of a couple of chipped plates, a red sofa and folding table were not going to cut it if by chance I ever got around to having that fabulous dinner party dangled in front of me by Martha Stewart Living magazine. Unfortunately, unlike Manhattan, there is no Pottery Barn on every corner. The Conran Shop’s prices are out of reach. Ikea was the obvious fallback, but as I now live in England I wanted something English — just not dilapidated, that’s all.

Enter Habitat and its interior design service. The chain, founded more than 40 years ago by Sir Terence Conran, will arrange for one of its interior designers to visit your home to discuss ideas for individual rooms — from kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms to the entire home. All for a flat fee of £200 — much more affordable than the quotes for £1,000 or more that I had received from other professional designers.

Before coming round to take measurements and photos, Carla, my Habitat-assigned designer, phoned to introduce herself and to get an idea of my needs. I pitched ideas such as: “Think Breakfast at Tiffany’s meets Carrie’s flat in Sex and the City, meets Nigella’s kitchen with a little bit of carnival in Venice thrown in.” Carla responded that in no way could she perform miracles.

When we met, she suggested that the colours be toned down but not removed altogether because they would help to brighten the flat. She also encouraged the addition of richly textured fabrics such as purple velvet with green tassels to hang from the windows, which although sounding glamorous in theory proved too expensive in practice. So she suggested more simple and cheaper, yet just as chic, substitutes such as a few metres of patterned linen dressed up with a plush swathe of ribbon.

A good thing about Habitat’s design service is that you do not have to shop exclusively at Habitat. Carla acknowledged that for some of the more expensive items (such as a Venetian mirror for my bedroom) other chains, second-hand shops, or flea markets might be better. But when she insisted on a white rug to put over the sisal carpet, I put my foot down.

“You’re not 4 any more, Michelle, you will not spill juice all over it,” she teased.

“No, Carla, I am 29 going on 9 and whatever I may be carrying will end up staining it.”

“Just Scotchguard it!” I relented.

She also suggested a few built-in floating shelves, a new cover for my futon and paint in complementary tones of lilac. Her recommendations went down to the most minute of details, such as picture frames, vases and the idea to change my exposed wardrobe railing from silver to wood and to invest in wooden hangers — “to really pull the place together”. Now I have a flat that Rachel and Phoebe would envy.

• For an appointment, send an e-mail to: interiors@habitat.co.uk or fax your details to 020-7614 5202

STYLE TIPS

1. Use various lighting effects to create separate areas within a space.
2. Be generous when planning storage.
3. Bring the outside in whenever possible by paying the same attention to detail as with the interior.
4. Keep larger basics simple and be adventurous with accessories — think satin shoes with a pair of jeans.
5. Create an illusion of space and curiosity by including reflective surfaces.
6. Avoid sacrificing comfort for design whims.
7. Stamp your personality on a home by including items that evoke happy
memories.
8. Allow scope for your designs to evolve.
9. Avoid compromising your own style for the latest fad.
10. Enjoy it: design should always be fun.

If you want to add some spice to your home but you're stuck for inspiration, then help is at hand at the Times Online House Clinic.

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