Banjo Beale: 'I'm a truffle pig sniffing out interior design treasures'

“I’m just a little truffle pig when it comes to treasures” says interior designer Banjo Beale as he describes how he loves to find unwanted gems among piles of discarded bric-a-brac.

In the second series of his BBC Scotland show Designing the Hebrides, Beale uses his finds to transform a range of island interiors, including a dull-looking apothecary on Harris.

Under a pile of boxes in a long-abandoned corner of the owner's loft he goes in to full truffle pig mode.

Among his finds is an old lamp which will form part of his vision for herbalist Amanda's shop.

It's just one of the businesses helped by Beale, who rose to fame as the winner of BBC show Interior Design Masters in 2022.

His zest for recycling, repurposing and re-using is evident in the programmes which also see him give a makeover to a remote pub in Easdale, and help a couple of crofters on South Uist who want to turn their unloved breezeblock garage into a homely shop where they can sell their produce.

"I would much rather be helping a lovely crofter on South Uist, than a rich person in London pick out throw cushions," Beale says.

"There is so much heart and so many amazing things we can learn from these people.

"They are hardy, they are funny, they are salt of the earth. These programmes were a joy to make."

Originally from Western Australia, Beale's backpacking travels with his husband, Ro, led him to the Isle of Mull.

The couple liked it so much they came back to stay and it is from there he has built his own interior design company, as well as helping out with goat-wrangling and cheese-making as required.

"The Hebrides is a magical place", he says.

"We are so spoiled. There is no place like it. The landscape is the ultimate muse."

Beale was named Brendan at birth but his partner says he earned the nickname "Banjo" because he is highly strung.

Banjo begs to differ but the name has stuck anyway.

The 37-year-old is one of three judges on popular BBC Scotland show Scotland's Home of the Year on which he critiques other people's design decisions.

However, in his Hebrides show he brings his own enthusiasm, ingenuity and design flair to distinctive makeovers in the Scottish islands.

Beale says there is a solid understanding of the importance of community in the projects he take on.

The reliance on neighbours and that willingness to get involved and lend a hand when it's needed.

It’s a spirit and generosity that came to his rescue in Easdale, an island of 60 people and no cars, when Beale headed to the The Puffer Pub - owned by married couple Jhennia and Rachel.

"If you forget something on an island like Easdale, you can’t just duck down to the hardware store," Beale says.

Despite managing to transport all the materials he needed by wheelbarrow from the boat to the pub, he found himself missing quick-drying grout for tiles.

"We sent out an SOS and a local man, David, miraculously came from a neighbouring island by boat with a bag of grout for us," Beale says.

"When you live in a small community you do rely on each other, everyone’s looking out for each other and that’s what I love."

Beale says his hunting for hidden treasures is a way of showing that innovative design does not have to cost a fortune.

"Lots of my clients don’t have a lot of money," he says.

"They are seasonal businesses, and often their business is in addition to their actual day job.

"So they don’t have piles of cash to throw at the jobs and we don’t have lots of resources.

"I shop in-house, raiding people’s sheds and lofts and yards looking for all sorts of things, because my favourite price is free.

"All that second-hand stuff, it doesn’t matter how warped or wobbly the wood is, if it’s free, that’s a good price.”

Designing the Hebrides is on the BBC Scotland channel at 22:00 from Monday 16 September and BBC Two on Tuesday at 19:00. All six episodes will be available on iPlayer from Monday morning.