As the sunny egg yolk yellow on the walls echoes the dancing daffodils that herald the arrival of spring outside, this look ushers in the new season by championing the finest in English style and eclecticism. True to our signature aesthetic, its hallmarks are timeless design, quality craftsmanship and traditional motifs. We’ve layered these up with natural beauty to create an irresistibly effortless and elegant look that’s sure to inspire both relaxing and entertaining over the coming months. Here’s how to recreate it in your home.
Quality craftsmanship is the order of the day for this look, and picking out handcrafted pieces is a great way to make sure you’re getting something totally individual. For the dining room, the diamond-fronted Kaeo Sideboard and glass-windowed Docena Display Cabinet are steeped in character and history. Each one is unique, and it’s all down to the fact that they’re handcrafted from repurposed wood sourced from the beams, old doors, walls and floors of derelict homes in China – some of which are over a hundred years old.
And it’s not just the big pieces where individuality matters. Our extra-soft, diamond-patterned linen and silk Pannar Throw is handwoven on a handloom from linen and silk, in yellow and neutral hues that will tone beautifully with this season’s bold egg yolk yellow. Perfect for cosying up the living room with tactile textures, each one is truly unique thanks to variations in both the natural materials and the artisanal crafting process.
There’s something so warm and inviting about an eclectic mix of furniture. It’s a look that feels homely and lived in – stylish without being overly curated. Our Pippo Sofa speaks perfectly to this idea, with its delightfully mismatched stripes: horizontal one side, vertical the other. Asymmetry achieves a similar effect, and you’ll find it in our hand-carved Huxley Shelving Unit, which has bobbin-inspired uprights reminiscent of the finest 17th century English country house design.
To make sure quirkier pieces like these garner most of the attention, you can contrast them with simple design classics, such as our bayur wood Alicia Coffee Table, which sits on pleasing tapered legs with a bottom shelf for storing puzzles, games and books.
Another way to embrace eclectism is to bring in fluid shapes that contrast with the straight lines of other pieces in the room. The undulating ripples of our Tansy Mirror fit the bill perfectly, its eye-catching floral shape enhanced by a striking, skillfully hand-applied black finish that allows the natural grain of the wood to shine through. Place it above our Talasa Console Table so that its curves mirror those in the table’s hand-carved, antique-inspired scalloping, designed to resemble waves.
Continuing the theme of undulating lines, our four Ravina prints are perfect for hanging in a group against the pastel pink background at the softer end of this look’s spring colour palette. Each one is an abstract work of art that emphasises meandering lines and contours filled with warm, muted colours. Contrast these with other pretty prints in your choice of upholstery, for example covering the Annalee Armchair with our botanic garden-inspired Ghini Feathers print in vibrant Red Garnet.
Finesse the ‘classic English design’ theme with lighting that takes inspiration from the country houses of old. Created by master craftspeople, our iron Kolmio Table Lamp is a great way to bring in vibrant colour while illuminating a living room reading nook. Its hand-welded shade and hand-painted detailing combine vintage style with Regency-era touches of gold. Up above, our Concho Chandelier brings stately home lighting right up to date, filtering light through six softly scalloped shades in on-trend handwoven faux rattan, all supported by metal arms and a vintage-style adjustable antique brass chain.
Fragrance is the finishing touch, and with this look in many ways reflecting the joys of spring, it could only be our Birdsong Candle. Conjuring up fresh air and bountiful blooms, this gorgeous scent has at its heart the most beautiful of all spring blossoms: magnolia. Complimented by neroli and vetiver, it’s a scent that brings to mind the uplifting message of this look: spring is here.