Punica's unique, vintage and artisan homewares are causing a stir with interiors influencers. Samantha Harman talks to the brand's founder Nadine Judd about sourcing and making beautiful pieces for the house (and for its owner) Instagram can be a place of utter inspiration for styling both yourself and your home. A few clicks and you're immersed in a world of colour, detail and luxury.

Punica is a name that's steadily doing the rounds in the Instagram interior influencer circles. With quirky, artisanal, carefully-selected pieces, it's not difficult to see why.

Dorset Living first came across Punica on social media, and we were immediately charmed by the rugs, lamps (and even the leopard print clutch bag, more on that later).

Nadine Judd has been running an interior design business for years and is based in Plush, near Dorchester.

"I love all things design and I adore colour," she says. "My husband went to work in Istanbul for two years. I went too, fell in love with the place and with all the fabulous silks, rugs etc. I decided to start a second business so that I could keep going back to source items, which I do twice a year. And that's how Punica was born."

Sourcing beautiful bits from around the world sounds like an amazing job – but how does Nadine know what will sell?

"I have an eye for detail," she says. "My interior design background certainly helps me to curate what I sell.

"If something catches my eye I look at how I can develop it and sell in England, for it to fit in with and to enhance our homes.

"In Istanbul I deal closely with just four or five suppliers who know what I like and who I trust.

"They are people I have formed relationships with and I know where everything is made and who makes it. Honesty and ethics are very important to me. I source everything myself and it is important to me that I find vintage one off pieces or have things made to my design and specification often one off pieces. I am not fond of mass-produced anything if I can help it!"

What are the most popular items (interiors) and accessories?

"Our lampshades (which we make in UK) are always popular, but then again the cushions and rugs sell well too. We have recently had a run on our mules (almost sold out for now) and the clutch bags and hairbands ... I think that is a summer thing!"

Punica has had quite a lot of success on Instagram (as mentioned earlier, it's where Living first spotted the brand - and its amazing ikat mules!) – how has that helped the business? Does Nadine notice a spike in sales when something is shared a lot?

"Instagram is the most fabulous tool for small business," she says. "If something is shared and liked a lot, sales increase on my website, or people buy direct with a direct message.

"I love Instagram, and it is a perfect vehicle for a business like mine that is so visual. It's hard work though, it does not happen without a lot of engagement. It's sometimes hard to know what or why an image is liked so much over another, but I would credit Instagram with helping to get my brand out there and recognisable."

Why does Nadine think the boho/ Moroccan-style aesthetic is so popular?

"I tend to source from Turkey and South America. The style of pieces is so full of vibrant colour and texture – two things that really bring life to a home. There are so many fabulous artisans in Peru, where I source rugs and bags, handmade by indigenous families in the villages of the mountainous area around Cusco etc. I discovered them whilst visiting my brother in Peru. And the same applies to Istanbul or Turkey as a whole.

"There is a good feeling about supporting local families and giving them a income. Ethically sourcing is important to me. We also make stuff in England too with the fabrics sourced abroad."

Nadine is an interiors consultant, as well as running Punica – how do the two coincide?

"The two businesses flow quite nicely into one another. Although I would never force the Punica look onto an interior design client, if it fits I use it!

"I have both private and commercial clients, so variety is the bi-word for my days. As to fitting it all in, I have a passion for what I do so a lot of the time it does not feel like work. There are 24 hours and day and seven days a week!"

Future dreams include opening a physical store, so shoppers can come in and see and touch the fabrics. A place where Nadine can combine her consultancy work and Punica.

"A good number of my things are vintage and therefore one-offs, so it's not the easiest to run a website with those sort of items," she says.

"In the short term I would like to do pop-ups with like-minded souls and grow following – simple things really."

punica.co.uk Instagram: @punicaltd