This Home Celebrates The Essence Of English Style Interior Design
My love for interior design started when I was living in the UK. It was the year 2000 and I had discovered British home improvement shows on the telly.
They fascinated me so much so that I decided to try my luck at making a career out of it. I enrolled in a 2 year interior design course as soon as I returned home to South Australia, and the rest is history.
And here I am now, still getting inspiration from classic English interiors.
What is English home décor?
It's all about cheerful colours and patterns in cozy spaces that ooze with history - oh the stories that old chair could tell!
This is the home of interior designer, Anna Haines. It's an early Edwardian house in London that she's renovated and decorated to perfection.
I was taken straight away by this kitchen. I love the simplicity of it. Pared back and honest.
The vintage industrial lights are so interesting. And I love how she's replaced the central island bench with a dining table. It creates a more comfortable place to gather around, to spend time with family and friends. Everyone knows that all the action always takes place in the kitchen.
Kitchen Resources
vintage wall light - Potence by Jean Prouvé - large | small
ceiling pentants - Ship’s Well by Original BTC - AU source | US source
cabinets, window and door paint - Railings by Farrow & Ball
benchtops - solid cedar
dining table - solid oak Delta table and bench seat from SCP (Sheridan Coakley Products)
dining chairs - mid-century, reupholstered in a Vanderhurd fabric
Sitting Room Resources
pair of armchairs - mid-century, walnut, reupholstered with Sofia Weave fabric by Susan Deliss
cushions - Vaughan
wall sculpture - Curtis Jeré - 1st Dibs | Etsy
rug - vintage Moroccan Beni Ourain rug - 1st Dibs | Etsy | Miss Amara
single armchair - Mid-century 1960’s British Greaves & Thomas bentwood armchair
painting - Scottish artist Claire Beattie
green-grey wall paint - French Gray by Farrow & Ball
I love the use of colour in the drawing room. Surprisingly an industrial grey is used on the walls but it really pops with the bright blue and red features. Notice how the blue chair picks up on the same colour blue in the rug.
Also those magnificent widows let in a generous amount of light which keeps the room from feeling too dark.
Drawing Room Resources
lead grey wall paint - Plummett by Farrow & Ball
rug - antique Heriz rug from Lila Rugs
ottoman - custom made, trimmed with braid by Samuel & Sons
blue armchair - George III wing chair in Prussian blue wool by Raf Simons for Kvadrat
cushion - Navoi ikat by Robert Kime
dog - Bedlington whippet named Enzo
Bathroom Resources
armchair - 30’s woven robe chair by Fritz Hansen - similar here & here
pink wall paint - Edward Bulmer Natural Paint in colour: Cuisse de Nymphe Emue
bath - reclaimed claw foot bath from English Salvage
art - framed vintage Swedish posters of seeds, found at Foster & Gane
mirrors - Graham & Green
This bathroom just warms the cockles of my heart!
This wallpaper is just gorgeous.
Jasper Peony wallpaper by Lewis & Wood
White rattan Coral mirror above the fireplace from Soane Britain
Placing those two artworks above the bed creates a wonderful symmetry with the attic ceiling.
bobbin chair - similar here
Susan Deliss cushion on the chair
square cushions on the bed - Fez Weave by Guy Goodfellow
bold rectangular cushions - Rio in Cereja by Colony
To get the look:
The trick is to use lots of interesting vintage designer pieces.
Have you inherited some antique furniture? Great! Have it re-upholstered in some fresh new fabric that co-ordinates with your colour scheme.
Also you could commission some custom made furniture, to get the details just right.
And don't forget to use bright pops of colour, particularly in red and blue.
Project: ACTON HOUSE
Interior Design & images from Anna Haines, London
