A quiet, organic drawing room by Rachael Gowdridge
While we're all for colour and pattern here at House & Garden, there can be something wonderfully elegant about a quieter, more restrained interior. This Clerkenwell house by designer Rachael Gowdridge has a modern, nature-inspired aesthetic that is highly covetable at the moment, featuring plenty of natural materials such as wood, wool, linen and rattan, and an earthy colour palette of oaty, off-white tones. Rachael has elevated the space with sculptural objects on plinths and on the various surfaces, and beautiful, well-made furniture from Pinch and Twenty Twenty One. Tactile, natural fabrics and drapery add to the inviting feel; some of them also reflect the owner's Irish heritage, like headboards and window treatments from Mourne Textiles in County Down. Even the pendant light, made from a frothy, natural linen, has a gentle feel.
If you're going for a simple, uncluttered look like this, it's all the more important that you find good quality pieces, as there is little to distract the eye from anything that feels flimsy or mean. There are nonetheless affordable ways to start getting the look, especially when it comes to the accessories. We love Dunelm's take on a classic arc lamp with its smart pleated lampshade, and if your budget doesn't quite stretch to Atelier Vime's wonderful rattan vases, the version below from Quince & Cook is quite pleasing.
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White, pleated silk lights are a classic for a contemporary interior; they have the feel of a paper lantern but with a bit more gravitas. Versions of this style are available at every price point – you can splurge on Beata Heuman's elegant ‘Moon Light’, go for something affordable from the clever Lamp & Light, or settle in the middle with the timeless Bubble Pendant by HAY.
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Central to Rachael Gowdridge's scheme above is the heavenly ‘Moreau’ sofa by Pinch, which is made to order and costs from £6,090. Handmade in Norfolk, it's a purchase that will become a future heirloom and is not to be matched on the high street, but there are still some appealing sofas in neutrals out there that will anchor a room nicely. John Lewis' ‘Tetrad’ sofa is rather charming in this line. For modern armchairs (Rachael's were from 1stDibs) Soho Home does a great range of sleek-lined models with on-point upholstery. Equally good is their ‘Calne’ collection of tables, which do the raw wood effect perfectly.
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Finish the room off with a classic round mirror and Moroccan-style rug, as Rachael has. Both of these have become staples on the high street and are available at practically any price point. We've long admired La Redoute's ability to make a rug that feels just right on a budget, and there's nowhere better for a simple mirror than IKEA.
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A warm and colourful snug by Stella Weatherall
In an entirely contrasting scheme, interior designer Stella Weatherall has embraced a huge range of colours in the snug of her London house. A rich green sofa plays well with the terracotta striped kilim on the floor, but unexpected shades of blue and raspberry pink enliven the walls, and a lively variety of cushions adorns the sofa. Everything, however, feels warm and rich and enveloping. What we really love about this space is the way that Stella has contrasted new, modern-feeling pieces like the sofa and the framed blanket, with older, more characterful things such as the rug and side table.
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Stella's actual sofa is a bespoke model (we love the gently curving arms) upholstered in Rose Uniacke’s ‘Spruce Cotton Velvet’, but it's perfectly possible to find a lovely green velvet sofa out there on the high street. Loaf is a perennial favourite here at H&G, and this squashy ‘Easy Glider’ sofa is just the job, especially when combined with a vintage Anatolian rug to lend depth and texture. Rugs like this are readily available on Vinterior and Etsy – just make sure you buy from a reputable dealer.
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The area above a sofa is always a tricky one to fill. Stella has reduced the size of this yawning chasm by building bookshelves to frame the sofa, but the remaining space is neatly occupied by one of BFGF's brilliant blankets. We've seen these on the walls of all kinds of projects, and they always bring a playful charm to a space. For a little more patina, we love the idea of an antique, hand-painted side table. The below example from decorative artist Amy Balfour is a joy.
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An elegant, antique-filled sitting room by Anna Haines
For a graceful, utterly timeless look that feels totally at easy in a period building, this scheme in a Marylebone flat by Anna Haines is everything we could wish for. The walls are in the rich and fascinating ‘Double Smoked Green Blue’ by Atelier Ellis. ‘That colour really lets the artwork on the walls sing,’ says Anna. Red and blue is a marvellous colour combination that then runs through the rest of the room.
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An antique Persian rug, sourced from Farnham Antique Carpets, kick-started the the living area, with its colours picked up in the blind. We would always recommend buying the best possible rug if you are going for an antique Oriental design. Similar rugs from Farnham Antique Carpets can start from around £15,000, so if you're looking for something more budget-friendly, Etsy is a reliable place to look. We adore Soane's rich ‘Qajar Stripe’ fabric on the blinds – a complex take on a red and white stripe. Equally lovely is Susan Deliss' ‘Patmos’ weave.
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Anna had the scroll arm sofa made specially for the space, but you can find similar styles on the high street, such as Dusk's smart ‘Hampshire' model below. The ottoman is upholstered in the charming ‘Oscar’ design by Octavia Dickinson, which retails at £180/m. We love The House Upstairs' ottomans, which you can have covered in any fabric.
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The right array of cushions can make a living room scheme, and Anna has expertly combined patterns here. The silk jajim cushions from Nushka will work in practically any space, but they look great combined with leopard print cushions in a forest green (who would have thought?).
Ever our go-to for affordable lighting, Pooky has some brilliant models for every kind of space. Mix up your lighting with a floor lamp on one side of the sofa and a table light on the other, ensuring there is low-level lighting enough for a relaxing evening mood.
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