VIPs, property professionals, sports personalities, music industry figures and interiors’ enthusiasts were given a rare and exclusive insight into decorating solutions at a Masterclass hosted by TV’s DIY SOS presenter Sian Astley.

Sian headed up a panel of experts at the Crown Decorating Centre, St Helens, on Thursday 28th April to answer a catalogue of questions from guests about their decorating or renovating challenges, how to tackle trends and make their own decorating choices personal.

In front of a packed invitation-only audience, the panel – including Eloise Olde-Wolbers, director at luxe wallpaper design company Galerie Wallcoverings, and Rich Cartlidge, manager of the St Helens store – showcased pro-hints and hacks and answered questions from the floor.

The audience included Rugby Super League players (Newcastle Thunder) Jay and Ted Chapelhow and their partners (Jay and fiancé Olivia Redmond are ambassadors for Countrywide Homes), the team from St Helens Reeds Rains Estate Agents, 90s Indy band The Farm’s Steve Grimes and editor and style influencer Cecilia Effa.

Crown Decorating Centre worked with the owner of sponsors The Salty Rim Co to ‘colour match’ mocktails for the evening.  CEO of the cocktail embellishments company created bespoke drinks for the event including the St Helens Star and the St Helens Crown (red and green mocktails matched to Crown’s own paint colours).

St Helens is the first of the company’s new concept Crown Decorating Centres. Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Crown’s Mark Bannister.