Something a little different for subscribers this month. I thought I would take 5 different spaces that I feel inspired by and explore what it is about them that I love.
We are so used to scrolling through eye candy on platforms like Pinterest and Instagram that we rarely understand why something works or how we can pull some of the same magic into our own spaces…
Let the room analysis begin!
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I could have chosen any of the spaces from Tobias Vernon’s Bath townhouse. But I thought that the above felt so inviting, I wanted to focus on this space specifically. My future goal is to have a space as welcoming as this in my own home, so figuring out why its so wonderful is definitely part of today’s goal.
I’m only just getting into wallpaper. I think my issue with it in the past has been the idea of things looking too cutesy and feminine. I used to feel the same about curtains and really anything too ‘decorative’ but I’m really leaning into this now and enjoying discovering how to find the right design /decor balance. There are a few key elements in this space that stop it feeling twee and achieve this much sort after visual tension.
I’ve spoken about florals before. My go to would always be a Josef Frank pattern (I promise this newsletter is not sponsered by Svenskt Tenn). The prints aren’t chintzy and its florals at their best. Above is the Eldblomman wallpaper. without it the room wouldn’t feel half as cosy but there are several other elements that in conjunction with the wallpaper elevate the space into something more surprising.
For me these are,
The unexpected high corner shelf in a pop of red
The iconic and contemporary Vitra Akari 14a Floor Lamp
The surprising and strangely swampy coloured shaggy rug, Scandinavian Rya rugs are a good search term to put into Ebay and Etsy if you are after something similar.
Painting the window frames, skirting and radiators in a colour drawn from the wallpaper, in this case, a lovely grey blue. ( pairing this colour with a sunshine yellow blind is also a hit, these colours are firm friends)
Elegantly framed contemporary artwork contrasting with the busy wallpaper. When it comes to framing I’m really enjoying extra large mounts on pieces when appropriate. Its an easy way to elevate a postcard you might have picked up from your favourite exhibition, or a small vintage family photograph. If you want some framing tips, I found this Substack post below had lots of excellent pointers.
You can book into the 8 Holland Street house in Bath here and discover more about the space here
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