Creating a beautiful table is the foundation of a good meal and a wonderful way to celebrate a special occasion, or just the everyday. Whatever the style or occasion, every table setting should feel warm and welcoming, to help foster a joyful and memorable experience. Just a few carefully chosen elements can completely change the look and feel of a table and help to create an inviting space. Approach in layers, beginning with linens and placemats as the foundation, and then build in layers of tableware, natural details and candlelight to ignite the senses and create ambience.
Linens
The addition of a table cloth and napkins enhances a table and creates a sense of occasion. Choose linens which are versatile and can be used across the seasons and suit any occasion, rather than following themes and trends. White linens create the perfect blank canvas for an elegant and timeless table and can be easily cleaned, whilst character can be gained by layering different colours, patterns and textures to a table. Experiment with folding and arranging napkins, set on top of your dinner plate, tie together with ribbon or twine, or add a fragrant sprig from the garden. The possibilities are endless and a table can be dressed to suit the occasion or season.
Tableware
Ceramics, glassware and cutlery make such a difference to a table whether large or small, making even the humblest meals look and feel special. Plain or patterned, old or new, matching or mixed, dress your table with intentional pieces that you truly love, and it will have a way of all coming together. White plates are versatile and can be mixed with other plain or patterned pieces, they give uniformity and show food off to its best advantage. If your preference is a more colourful table, choosing pieces within a set colour palette can create a cohesive look and feel. Just two core colours are enough to create a balanced display and can form the basis of a table setting. Vintage and antique pieces add a unique quality, both for their patina, which reflects the passage of time, and for their unique charm and character. Whatever your preferred style of tableware, prioritise pieces with longevity that can be used and enjoyed for years to come.
Natural Details
Another decorative element that contributes to a beautiful table is natural details. Draw inspiration from nature and the seasons and forage what is readily available in your surroundings. Incorporating flowers and foliage provides natural colour, texture and scent and will transform any table setting. Beauty in nature is never perfect so your tablescape need not be either. Keep things simple to create natural, loose arrangements. Avoid using anything too large or high, as this can overwhelm the table and obstruct views. Flowers or greenery cut from the garden in small glasses spread along the table are equally as pleasing as more elaborate arrangements and set a relaxed tone. A little goes a long way in creating a warm and inviting feeling.
Similarly, bowls or dishes of seasonal fruit and vegetables can also be used to decorate a table and create an inviting space. Add height by placing some elements on a cake stand or pedestal. The rich tones of clementines, figs, and grapes all add colour and texture a table. For a thoughtful finishing touch, customising each place setting with natural details or hand-written place cards is another simple way to create a sense of occasion.
Candlelight & Ambience
The most indispensable item for a dinner table is ambience, and nothing sets the tone better than the right lighting and music. Successful lighting can help to create an atmosphere which enhances each aspect of the meal, from the presentation of the food and tableware to the comfort of guests, making every moment at the table special and memorable.
Evening tables should always be candle-lit. The soft, flickering glow of candlelight can transform even the simplest setting into a magical tableau, bringing depth, warmth, and a sense of occasion. The slender form of tapered dinner candles bring elegance to a table and create a gentle focal point. A soft ivory hue often proves to be the most versatile colour option, it adds a natural and subtle glow and gently harmonises with the rest of a space. Coloured candles also look inviting and can change the look and feel of a table setting. A carefully chosen candle colour can serve as an accent, echoing the hues of the tableware, linens or floral arrangements. The addition of tea lights in simple votives, scattered among the table setting also inject sparkle and further enhance the ambience without overwhelming it.
While candles add charm and character, the overall room lighting should not be overlooked. Dimming overhead light helps to create a soft cosy glow that complements candlelight. Consider switching off overhead lights if your lighting cannot be dimmed and add lamps into the corners and main transition areas of the space. Soft, background music will also engage the senses, create atmosphere and allow for good conversation to flow, so it helps to have a few playlists ready to suit the mood of the occasion.
Food & Drink
Preparation and organisation with food and drink are key, especially when it comes to larger gatherings. Planning and preparing as much as possible ahead of time helps with being more present and relaxed on the day. Gathering around a lovely table is so much better than spending too much time in the kitchen, so find favourite dishes that can be scaled up and prepared in advance. The way food is dressed can really elevate simple ingredients into something more special, so focus on good, simple foods, matched with beautiful presentation. Add height to a table by placing some elements such as fruits on a cake stand or pedestal. The rich colours of clementines, figs and grapes all .
Letting guests serve themselves is a cornerstone of effortless entertaining. Create a self-service drinks table or tray and replace starters with bowls of nuts and olives with drinks. Rather than multiple courses, turn a sit down dinner into a buffet, putting all the food on a beautifully laid table and inviting everyone to share and serve themselves. A simple loaf of bread and platters of food, where everyone can help themselves, looks more beautiful and is less fiddly than trying to plate food up in the kitchen. People can then eat as much or as little of what they like in a more relaxed and informal way, allowing the host to enjoy the occasion too.
In a world that turns so quickly, small, thoughtful details can make moments shared around the table even more special.There are few greater pleasures or privileges in life than sharing food with the people we care about the most, and forging memories together around the dining table. The way we set up a table not only influences the aesthetics, it also transmits many messages. It is about valuing others, food, craftsmanship and enhancing the everyday.
We hope this journal post will inspire beautiful and welcoming table settings in your home, whether you are bringing family together for supper, or celebrating a special occasion. Find a unique collection of tableware in our store to enhance any table setting and become a cherished part of your dining experience for years to come. You can also discover more inspiration in our galleries on Pinterest.
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Ideas for Approaching Home Lighting
Adding layers slowly to a home to reflect individual style and personality is what transforms a house into a unique space. Lighting is one of the key elements in the fabric of our interiors, both in terms of form and function. It has a huge impact on the overall look and feel of our spaces and can have a profound effect on how we live in our homes. Illuminating spaces thoughtfully and strategically can bring each room to life, add comfort and atmosphere, and enable us to perform our daily tasks efficiently.
Whether you have a new build, renovation or are refreshing areas of your home, taking time to consider the functionality of your spaces, and planning how you want your home to look and feel is a good place to start. Consider how natural light can be harnessed throughout your home whether through decorating, simplifying window dressings or using mirrors to amplify light. Natural light is a beautiful and important resource in any home, and how you use, shape and optimise it can make or break an interior.
Home lighting should enhance the best assets of a home both functionally and aesthetically, serving a purpose appropriate to the room’s functionality, as well as having decorative appeal. Planning carefully what additional lighting is needed in each room is key to maximising the lighting in your home and anchoring and elevating the whole space. The ever-changing nature of light in houses through times of day and seasons, can benefit from the flexibility of dimmable lighting. Different occasions call for different moods, and dimmers allow for scenes to be set in an instant.
When choosing lighting to work across the home, finding a cohesive element such as style, shape, colour or material to tie each room and selection together can establish a visual thread between the pieces. This helps to create balance and harmony throughout the interiors, as well as simplifying decision making. Invest in lighting that you love, to add colour, texture and personality to your home and bring everything together. It is also important to balance scale and proportion and choose lighting which feels balanced in your spaces.
While we often start with overhead lighting, the merits of other sources for task and mood lighting in our homes should not be overlooked. To optimise light and atmosphere, layering different light sources and levels adds depth and visual interest, while offering versatility and flexibility. Consider floors, ceilings, walls and surfaces and aim to create moments with your lighting to illuminate different areas and work with the purpose of the room. Layering lighting across the home with floor lamps, table lamps and wall lights, as well as pendants (ideally with dimmers), helps to create mood and bring spaces to life. Lighting can be subtle and low key, softly illuminating a room, or be used to amplify spaces and act as a visual statement or focal point. Integrating different lighting types brings an instant feeling of thoughtfulness and dimension, so cultivating this layered scheme is vital.
Vintage lighting is an affordable and sustainable choice, with a carbon footprint that is far lower than buying newly made pieces. With its brilliant spectrum of design styles, vintage lighting adds instant appeal and creates unique and interesting interiors. From original antique chandeliers to vintage wall lights, what makes these pieces so special is not only the quality of the materials and craftsmanship, but the wonderful character created by the gentle passing of time. Consider converting and repurposing pieces to create one of a kind lamp bases, and dress with handmade or reclaimed shades to create a distinctive look. Unique and beautiful lighting can also act as a focal point, anchoring a space and creating impact. When chosen well, these pieces can travel with you through a lifetime of houses.
Candlelight is a simple and inexpensive way to add ambience and create a calm and relaxing feeling in your home. From scented candles or tapers, to a scattering of tea lights, twinkling candlelight creates cosiness and adds an extra glow to all areas of the home across the seasons.
Lighting sets the mood of a home and is instrumental in creating atmosphere and visibility. It is a vital element that takes time and consideration to get right so is always worth investing time in thoughtful planning. As with all areas of home decorating, be patient and prepared to wait for the right pieces. Be timeless and classic and avoid trends, staying true to your own style and values. Allowing a home to evolve over time is what gives it personality, depth, and charm.
For further lighting inspiration browse our Pinterestgallery. You can also find a small curation of lighting in our online store, carefully sourced, one piece at a time to bring immersive moments of comfort and calm to your home.
Light is the first essential. Light stimulates, nourishes, preserves.
– Wilkie Collins –
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Travel Inspiration
Stepping away from our everyday lives to travel and experience new places and spaces is not only good for the soul, but offers fresh insights and can also serve as inspiration for our interiors. Home is a rich tapestry with fragments of life that are pieced together through the objects that fill it, each bound up with memories and stories behind their discovery.
No matter where our journeying takes us, there are myriad ways to weave reminisces of travel into our homes and carve out unique spaces and personal style. Ideas gathered from landscapes, architecture, museums or found objects can all inform our interiors and capture the essence of travel experiences. Inspiration need not result in grand transformations, the addition of simple ideas can enrich our homes and remind us of past adventures.
The joy of new places is the sensory experiences they bestow – new languages, sights, climate, flavours and scents. Having aspects of the experience and memory reflected in our interior, can make us smile and transport us back. Inspiration can come from anywhere – explore, hunt, gather, and take photos to capture details which can be incorporated into your home and life.
There are many beautiful countries and cultures across the world to visit and explore, although inevitably compromised by constraints of time and money. If travel isn’t possible for you, inspiration for your home can also be gleaned through other sources such as film and television, books and nature. Collect ideas and pieces that move you and speak of your story and memories, whether from across the globe, or your local environment, to help create personal and unique home spaces.
Travel photographs – Los Romanes, Andalucia, Spain.
Travel notes – simple interiors and natural colour palettes allowing the landscape to shine – olive groves, lemon trees, mountains, lake and hilltop villages. Interiors that spill into the outside – relaxed alfresco dining and reading on the terrace under the vines, among nature, enjoying beautiful far reaching views. Indulging in evening swims in the pool, rest and relaxation…
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At Home with Rachel Baker
As part of our journal stories we invite thoughtful and inspiring creatives to share stories through the lens of home. From town, to countryside or coast, homes are a reflection of our lives, a source of comfort which connect us to special memories, stories and people. Although every story is different, home is at the heart of each one.
Our next story brings us to the tiny hilltop village of Bonnieux, Provence where we visit Rachel Baker at her beautiful home, Maison Aumône. Surrounded by ancient cobbled streets, rolling hills, vineyards and olive groves, this provencal home is steeped in history and has been lovingly restored and curated to capture its humble past.
Rachel draws inspiration from nature in both her work and home and has built connections to the outside world by layering in natural materials and elements. Original features including old stone walls and wooden beams combine with local brocante finds and unique furnishings, to create a home which exudes character and warmth. Maison Aumône and its surroundings offer an immersive experience for all the senses, a place to embrace a mindful, slower pace of life and cultivate rest and deep connection.
Rachel’s spaces are simple, rustic and nurturing and we do hope you enjoy her wonderful story of home.
1. Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
I am a nutrition and lifestyle practitioner, writer, stylist, recipe creator and food photographer. Drawing inspiration from nature and the changing seasons, I create recipes using plant-powered ingredients, along with an evolving and ever-expanding library of wellness resources that I share via the 3 Sources Membership, an online wellness platform that aims to support others to live more optimally using my mind, body, nutrition philosophy interwoven with seasonal rhythms, rituals, classes, and more. This year I also launched À La Carte Club, an ever-expanding digital library of approachable plant-powered recipes to help inspire others to put nutrient-rich, seasonal food on the table.
2. Where do you call home and what is it like?
Originally from Bath, England, I now call a hilltop village in Provence, France, home. Built around the 13th century, the building was once used as a hospice for the poor. Something about its story and history really spoke to my heart and inspired and motivated my vision to preserve its original simplicity. The back of the house is built into the rock with a vaulted stone troglodyte, or cave dwelling, which was transformed into an atelier where I dry herbs and blend preparations for my apothecary and, most recently, an area to dye natural linen with plants and roots foraged from the natural surroundings throughout the changing seasons. I am learning the craft of natural dyeing and what it’s teaching me (besides the final result or the beauty of the colours), is to pay attention to nature, to the seasons changing, to the plants around me, and to their properties and the chemistry behind them. It’s also an exercise in patience that involves washing, fixing, gathering plants, extracting pigments, failing or succeeding, becoming more organised, telling stories, being environmentally responsible, and thinking sustainably.
3. What does home mean to you?
For me, home is a place of deep nourishment, re-connection and restoration – a place to recalibrate, rest, and revive – a shelter from the busyness of modern day life.
4. How would you describe your aesthetic and style?
An authentic, natural home is important to me and I am drawn to objects with utility and a story. Earthy colours and textures, inspired by nature, along with fresh and dried botanicals, old pottery, and antique linens form the basis of much of my styling.
5. Which is your favourite room in your home and why?
Fondly known as ‘Chambre de Luca’ during the second phase of the renovation, it’s a small room that connects to the main bedroom by a pair of antique doors, partially glazed at the top. In the morning and late afternoon the light changes and the rising and setting of the sun is captured and framed in the tiny window above the bed. When Luca, our grandson, comes to stay, he sleeps in this room, close to us as we sleep. It’s a special room and one I now write in each morning as the light streams in.
6. How do you choose what to bring into your home?
By staying true to the story and poetry of the space. It takes time and energy sourcing the right objects and pieces for a home, but staying aligned to the vision of what home truly means and how I want to move within it helps me to stay clear on the choices I make.
7. Where do you find inspiration for your home?
Nature is my biggest source of inspiration, but often one object, painting, or textile piece will inspire how a small vignette or a whole room will come together. Living in Provence is a constant source of inspiration from the many brocantes and vide greniers in the area, to the people who choose to live here and embrace a slower, more authentic way of living.
8. Who do you most admire for their sense of style, ethos and aesthetics?
My great grandmother had a wonderful sense of style and her home was a place of refuge; a wonderful mix of dark wood, sepia photos and post-war make do and mend. As a young girl, I have vivid memories of the greengage trees in the orchard, but most especially the jars of jam lined up in her pantry, each one secured with a circle of waxed paper and a rubber band that could only be reached with the aid of some old wooden steps. I can remember picking up windfallen fruit beneath the tree in the orchard, filling my pockets, and hers. I love how the seasons can root me to a sense of place or a sense of time where I explore memories, nostalgia, and meaning. A sense of place, of time – of a journey – is vital for me and this filters into much of my creative work.
Rachel’s beautiful hilltop home in Provence is available to hire. Learn more on her website andinstagram and subscribe to her newsletter to be notified when new dates are released.
Bringing flowers, foliage and decorative branches into the home enhances the look and feel of our environment and softens the boundaries between inside and out. Whether large or small, fresh or dried, an arrangement infuses spaces with colour, texture, form and fragrance and can be enjoyed across the home. Arrangements need not be complicated to look beautiful, often it is the simplest compositions that can be most transformative and instantly make a space come alive and feel special. Find joy and calm in creating, immersing yourself in the beauty of nature and rhythms of the changing seasons.
Ideas for arranging and displaying flowers & foliage at home:
G a t h e r
There is an abundance in the natural world, from what we grow intentionally to what grows naturally. Flowers and foliage can be gathered from our natural surroundings or sourced from flower markets, florists or stores. Whilst it is lovely to buy flowers if budget allows, there is plenty to forage throughout the seasons. Explore the local area, keep secateurs in your glove box and always observe what is growing along roadsides and in the countryside, being sure never to take too much of any one plant. Wildflowers, grasses, branches and even weeds, there is much to discover!
Whilst beautiful arrangements can be created with very little, gradually gathering together a simple floral tool kit such as secateurs, tape, chicken wire and flower frogs alongside a collection of containers can be helpful if you are looking to develop your compositions.
P r e p a r e
After gathering branches and blooms, condition each stem by trimming the ends and removing any leaves or branches that would sit below the water line in your vase. Extra buds and leaves left soaking in the bottom of the vase can start to break down, harbouring bacteria which shortens the life of an arrangement. Cutting stems diagonally increases the surface area of the stem, which helps with water uptake.
Just as nothing in nature is totally linear or symmetrical, trim the ends at different lengths to create a natural flow of colour and texture and avoid compositions being too stiff and arranged. Half fill your container with clean water and change every few days. Using luke warm rather than ice-cold water gives flowers more oxygen and helps to prolong their life.
A r r a n g e
The success of an arrangement comes as much from what you choose not to put in. Consider the different varieties of stems that you include and how they will work together. Whilst a mix of florals and foliage can look striking, so too can a single variety or colour palette, which can feel simple and abundant all at once.
It is also important to think about proportion in your arrangement. Allowing for more plant than vessel enables flowers to sit naturally in a vase. Experiment with varying heights and shapes of flowers and greenery to capture the essence of their beauty and achieve your desired composition.
Branches, whether fresh or dried have a wonderful sculptural quality and can form a simple yet impacting arrangement. Choose branches that have natural curves and movement rather than straight, upright stems. In order to highlight interesting shapes, less is always more when it comes to arranging branches, and there is beauty in the quiet moments, in the negative space.
When arranging it is worth thinking about the vessel as much as the stems, considering scale, style and the final silhouette of your display. Different shaped containers determine how the flowers and foliage will sit within them, whether loose and laid-back or more structured and formal. Your choice of vessel will be dependent on where you intend to place the arrangement within your home. Any container whether a vase, bowl, jug or pot can be turned into something interesting for flowers. Start by looking at what you already have and how things can be adapted for use. If your container isn’t water tight, simply place a jam jarinside to hold the water. Ensure your vases and containers are always clean as bacteria will shorten the life of your flowers.
Flower frogs or chicken wire with floral tape can be used to support flowers when using wider vessels. Flower frogs have been used as a functional and sustainable flower arranging tool for centuries, dating back as far as the 14th century. Designed to give floral structures shape and stability, flower frogs sit at the bottom of a bowl or vase and have holes or vertical metal pins in which to insert and secure stems. There are many different styles of flower frogs, varying in size, shape and material to accommodate different flower and foliage types.
For small arrangements, bud vases can be used to enhance any space with their simple elegance. The joy of bud vases is that they are infinitely flexible and can be placed almost anywhere. With a little thought and consideration, despite their size, bud vases can completely transform a space whether gathered and clustered together or placed individually. They can also be used to display off cuts of buds and smaller flowers that are not needed in larger arrangements.
There is an infinite variety and supply of uplifting flowers and foliage that can brighten up the home with scent, texture and colour and create beautiful focal points. Whether a single stem placed in a simple glass vessel, a vase of abundant florals, or sculptural branches from the garden, find beauty in every arrangement.
We hope that this post may encourage you to look to the natural world for inspiration and capture the beauty of nature in your home throughout the year. For further inspiration, visit our journal, or browse our Pinterest gallery. You can also find a curation of beautiful and unique vessels for simple, natural arrangements in our online store.
Whenever your are creating beauty around you, you are restoring your own soul.
– Alice Walker –
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Creating a Calm Home
Calm is a rare commodity in the modern world amidst the constant barrage of images and voices emerging with the omnipresence of technology. The place we call home is the backdrop to our everyday lives where we can retreat from the fast paced, ever-changing world, recharge and find comfort. There are few places that have as strong an impact on our wellbeing as our homes. Creating spaces that instil a sense of calm can keep us and those around us grounded and transform how we feel and function everyday. There are many different approaches to creating a calm home but when our vision comes from how we want our space to make us feel, rather than just how it should look, we are most likely to achieve success.
Ideas for creating a calm home:
SIMPLIFY & ORGANISE
One of the key foundations to creating a calm and comforting home is to begin by defining our spaces, looking at what we already have and starting to intentionally edit, simplify and refine. Our external environment affects our inner environment and maintaining a sense of order is vital to creating a feeling of calm. Reducing visual noise by paring down an interior allows the intrinsic beauty of light, texture and shape to form the decoration and make it easier to relax and feel at ease. Creating one quiet and organised corner and building on from there is a good place to start. Resetting the house at the end of each day can induce clarity of thought and make a big difference to how our space feels and functions the following day.
Recycling, donating or selling what we no longer need in our home, and implementing simple systems, storage and routines to organise and manage what we wish to keep is key. This is an iterative process and one which may need to happen regularly in order to maintain a feeling of calm. Making more conscious and informed choices about what we bring into all areas of our home is also important. Each object should serve a purpose, whether for its beauty and visual interest or functionality, or indeed both.
Reducing what we have in our homes introduces negative space into our interiors which can help to enhance a feeling of serenity and calm. Every corner does not need to be filled in order to be beautiful. Rooms benefit from space to breathe, allowing the eye and mind to rest. Harmony lies in the balance between pieces in each room and the negative spaces around them. Being intentional about how we plan and furnish our home environment can really help with the feel, functionality and flow, and is key to creating a home that feels calm and peaceful.
NATURAL & NEUTRAL
The colours we select also have the power to enhance the feeling of our home interiors. Whilst vibrant, colourful spaces can be stimulating and dramatic, soft, muted and neutral tones are gently uplifting and can instead create a feeling of calm and inner peace. Simple, neutral colours have been used in interiors for as long as we have been decorating, they complement one other and envelop our surroundings with a sense of calm. While colour trends come and go, their enduring appeal continues to stand the test of time. Neutrals provide a versatile foundation for layering texture, pattern and other colours upon and allow for decorative schemes within our homes to evolve over time.
Similarly, the materials we choose for our home can also have a calming effect. Layering natural materials into a room instantly bestows warmth and comfort due to their soft, earthy organic tones and textures. Natural materials are versatile and wonderfully soothing and add texture and visual interest to our spaces. From wooden flooring or furniture to natural woven textiles, the more materials resemble what we encounter in nature, the more calming and comforting their effect can be. Natural materials are also hard wearing, get better with age and have a timeless quality.
Layering in natural elements such as plants and objects found in nature also bestows a sense of calm and balance in our home and foster a connection with the outside. Bunches of flowers, foliage or sculptural branches are wonderful ways to freshen our spaces, boost serenity and bring joy to our interiors. House plants are also visually interesting and can also benefit our emotional and physical wellbeing. The intrinsic beauty of natural details cannot be imitated by artificial means. They are often rich in personal association and evoke memories of time and place that go far beyond material value.
SENSORY
Spaces which take our senses into account can also help to create calm at home, since what we see, hear and touch have an enormous impact on how we feel and think. A sensory home means considering and responding to all of our senses, immersing ourselves with elements that help to quieten the noise of daily life and stimulate our ability to re-center and focus our thoughts.
Optimising natural light and fresh air are essential to creating harmonious spaces and experiences at home. Opening doors and windows softens the boundaries between inside and out and can improve our mood, ignite our senses and increase productivity. Making the most of outside views can also be important in helping us feel inspired and grounded. Boosting natural light wherever possible and being conscious of reducing the blue light from devices in our lives can immediately elevate our mood.
Ambiance can be created through lighting, candles or diffusers which all add to a calming atmosphere. Minimising the number of ceiling lights, instead opting for wall lights, table and floor lamps creates a warm and inviting ambience. A calming scent is one of the quickest ways to bring nature into our home and promote comfort and relaxation. Plant essential oils, if sourced responsibly, are a healthy and sustainable way to gently fragrance the air and stimulate a positive sensory response. Using notes from nature can also help to promote sleep and relaxation.
Sound is another powerful tool in creating calm and restful spaces. Choosing music intentionally is a wonderful way to soothe the soul, set the pace and mood in our home and evoke contentment. Music brings a sense of comfort, routine and ritual whilst keeping you in the present moment. Ambient music is designed to relax the mind and allow it to roam while providing enough stimulation to register as inspiration.
Touch is also an important part of the sensory experience and engenders feelings of comfort and contentment. Textiles are a perfect way to introduce soft, tactile textures to a space. From upholstered furniture, to curtains, cushions, blankets and throws, textiles can be layered in to any area of the home.
Well worn and imperfect vintage pieces that have beautiful lived-in textures and character, often feels more warm and inviting than perfectly curated homes. Vintage pieces help to create a relaxed atmosphere where we can feel comfortable and at ease. Mixing authentic, timeless pieces from different eras and styles creates a dialogue of contrast and harmony. Similarly, incorporating a few personal and meaningful touches such as family photographs, art, books or pottery can also help to evoke happy memories and create a homely feel.
As the frenetic pace of modern living increases, the importance of creating a calm environment to retreat to where we can nuture mind, body and soul is paramount. Simplicity and thoughtfulness are key when it comes to creating a calm home. Simplifying our spaces, incorporating natural materials, daily routines, rituals and sensory experiences can contribute to the peace we feel in our homes and help us find balance in everyday life.
Taking time, honouring craftsmanship and listening to our own intuition over the noise of the trend cycle cannot be over stated. Having less but investing in quality and beauty is always the best, most authentic approach. When it looks and feels serene around us, we naturally feel calmer and more relaxed. A home which instils a sense of calm will comfort, inspire and nurture us everyday and provide a beautiful and restorative backdrop to everyday life.
We hope this journal story delivers a sense of peace and inspires you to create calm and comforting spaces in your home. For more inspiration, peruse our thoughtfully curated Pinterest gallery.
Space and light and order. These are the things men need just as they need bread or a place to sleep.
Le Corbusier | 1887 – 1965
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The Comfort of Candlelight
The centuries old tradition of lighting candles is imbued with beauty and reassurance and brings much warmth and calm to the home. Candles are often associated with autumn and winter, but we love to burn them all year round, immersing ourselves in the comforting illumination in every corner of the home. Carving small daily moments to slow down and embrace the ritual of lighting a candle can be grounding and meaningful amidst the busyness of everyday life.
Candles are one of the easiest and most affordable ways to make a home feel special whether for a gathering or just for everyday. There are endless styles, sizes and colours of both candles and holders available to suit any interior or occasion. Combining a mix of candles such as tapers, votives, pillar and tea lights can help to introduce ambient lighting and create a warm and welcoming feel throughout the home. Even the simplest jam jar or glass when paired with a tea-light can add a gentle luminosity to a space. Natural scented candles also add atmosphere to the home environment and can impact on how we feel. Scents can be changed with the seasons to suit different times of the year.
Every room in the home can benefit from a little candlelight. It is intrinsic to any tablescape and there is nothing more calming and atmospheric than enjoying a meal together around the gentle flicker of candles. Whilst traditional ivory and beeswax candles bring a natural touch to a table, coloured varieties can add small accents of colour.
Similarly candlelight is a wonderful addition to bathing spaces.The bathroom is a sanctuary within our home where we can slow down and ease tension. Taking time to create calming rituals such as lighting a candle can help to create a sense of structure and restore our equilibrium.
In the bedroom a gentle candle flame will give off a peaceful aura, and in the living room candles set on a mantelpiece or coffee table will add atmosphere to the space.
The soft glow of candlelight adds a sense of ease and calm to any space. Lighting a candle is an invitation to take a moment to slow down and set the tone within our home. Visit our store to discover our favourite vintage and hand crafted candle holders and taper candles to bestow a soft glow in your home across the seasons.
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At Home with Bee Osborn
As part of our journal stories we invite thoughtful and inspiring creatives to share stories through the lens of home. From town, to countryside or coast, homes are a reflection of our lives, a source of comfort which connect us to special memories, stories and people. Although each story is different, home is at the heart of every one.
Our next story brings us to a picturesque Cotswolds village where we visit interior designer Bee Osborn at her Oxfordshire home. The Old Bakery, Bee’s period cottage, dating from the 1500s is steeped in history and has been thoughtfully restored and curated throughout. Her signature style of natural materials and calm, neutral colour palettes has culminated in an elegant and inviting home that exudes warmth and comfort.
Bee’s sensitive approach to retaining original features and also introducing natural materials such as lime plaster and wooden cladding, adds character and interest to her home. Her spaces are not only aesthetically beautiful but also functional and enduring. Imbued with stories and memory markers of people and places that she loves, Bee’s home is a personal expression of her affinity with home.
We do hope that you enjoy Bee’s wonderful story of home.
1. Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
I started buying and selling houses, as a means to support my two young daughters following a divorce. I was then asked to do the interior design on a friend’s houses, which started my journey. To help with my lack of confidence I trained at The Inchbald School of Design which then gave me the courage to set up my own business. I remember the fear though, when I was asked to do my first hotel project, but I’m so glad I overcame it as it not only made me grow so much as a person but also taught me so much about the importance of creating interiors ‘on time, on budget’.
2. Where do you call home and what is it like?
Home is definitely in my cottage in the Cotswolds by the fire, surrounded by my children. I have had quite a turbulent life and so tend to create interiors that are cosy and comforting.
3. What does home mean to you?
Home means a place that nurtures and restores.Somewhere safe where you can be yourself and relax.
4. How would you describe your aesthetic and style?
Calm & comfortable, neutral colours with loads of textures thrown in for added interest. I’m obsessed with lighting as it’s so mood evoking and tend to go for warm, pockets of light to create a cosy atmosphere.
5. Which is your favourite room in your home and why?
The bedroom in the old cottage because it’s so full of character and the reason for buying the cottage in the first place.However planning was so difficult regarding this room and it caused a huge amount of stress, so to see it completed now is a dream come true.
6. How do you choose what to bring into your home?
Things that really resonate with me, as a rule of thumb I never use things that are in fashion or on trend, but things I absolutely love, so they stand the test of time.
7. Where do you find inspiration for your home?
I am so curious and am always out and about.I find everything inspiring, from the bark of a tree, to details on joinery in a hotel bar, I take an incessant amont of photos!
8. Who do you most admire for their sense of style, ethos and aesthetics?
Carole Bamford as we have a similar style of neutral interiors, inspired by nature.I also love her ethos of ‘giving back’ and her attention to sustainabilty.
To see more of Bee’s design work, follow @osborninteriors or visit osborninteriors.com. Bee’s homes and projects are also featured in various publications including Create, by Ali Heath and At Home in the Cotswolds, by Katie Campbell.
Natural materials have a rich history and have been used to craft and furnish homes for centuries. They help foster environments that exude warmth and authenticity and enhance both traditional and contemporary spaces. Layering natural materials into a home instantly infuses rooms with organic texture and colour, contributing to a warm and natural feel. There is something profoundly reassuring in the knowledge that humankind has been working with these materials for millennia.
As more and more technology is introduced into our lives and home, many of us crave connection to the outside world. Incorporating natural materials can breathe new life into our spaces and play an important role in forging meaningful connections to the outdoors. In a world of hard, man-made surfaces, natural materials feel attuned to nature and can enhance the way we feel and function. Exposure to nature has been shown in numerous studies to help reduce stress and improve cognitive performance, and natural materials can help replicate this effect.
Whilst natural materials can be more expensive to purchase compared to synthetic materials, they compensate for this in durability and versatility. They have greater longevity, age beautifully and can also often be repurposed for new uses. Natural materials also tend to be far more biodegradable than their synthetic counterparts which are often highly processed. The use of natural materials has a direct positive impact on the overall monetary value of a home. A space rich in natural materials will always be more sought after and more importantly have greater sustainability.
There are many different natural materials which can be used across the home. Here we share some favourites that feature in both our home and store:
WOOD
Few materials can rival the versatility, character and visual warmth of wood. With its natural quality, wood creates a sense of softness and a connection to the outdoors. From old and rustic to modern and refined, wood is hard wearing and has an innate ability to elevate any room. It is also incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of ways, from flooring to wall and ceiling finishes, furniture and decor. Wooden elements can effortlessly complement any design style and bring a sense of grounding tranquility to a space.
LINEN
Linen is a timeless and durable fabric derived from flax plant fibres, which has been cherished for centuries. It fits effortlessly into any home interior and is inherently earth friendly, as flax requires no irrigation and very little chemical treatment throughout its growing life. Renowned for its natural comfort, subtle texture, and laid back appeal, linen can be used across the home and is ideal for cushions, throws, curtains, bedding and table linen. Linen upholstery on sofas and chairs adds a touch of casual sophistication, whilst linen bedding invites a sense of calm and serenity in bedrooms without feeling too precious. When cared for it can last for decades, and softens with every wash, making linen the perfect addition to a home full of life.
WOOL
Wool is a unique and beautiful resource which has been utilised for thousands of years around the world. In addition to its sensory appeal, it has many exceptional qualities such as its durability, warmth and breathability. Wool can be used, reused and recycled, and is naturally biodegradable, releasing its valuable nutrients back into the soil with no detrimental effects. This enduring and versatile material is also easy to maintain, making wool rugs or blankets a very durable choice in the home.
STONE
Stone is a treasured natural material which can be used both internally and externally. From marble surfaces that exude sophistication in a kitchen or bathroom, to the earthy charm of a stone fireplace or floor, there are endless possibilities for incorporating this inviting and tactile material in the home. Mix and match different types of stone in the home, embracing the unique textures and colours it offers.
JUTE, SISAL & SEAGRASS
Jute, sisal and seagrass are all inherently beautiful and hard wearing natural plant fibres derived from the leaves and stems of plants harvested across the world. Whilst each has its own individual properties, all of these raw plant fibres are good natural choices for flooring, rugs and baskets across the home. Their unique texture and colour creates a relaxed, earthy feeling, grounding a space without detracting from fabrics and artwork. Rugs with natural tones and subtle texture provide a timeless decorating base and make a room feel layered and homely.
PALM, RATTAN & BAMBOO
Weaving is one of the oldest crafts known to man so having woven textures in the home is a simple way to give it a more human touch and add natural colour and texture. The humble natural woven textures of palm, rattan and bamboo have an ability to infuse soul and tactility into a space. From baskets, placemats and lampshades to stools and chairs, the natural tones and rustic informality offers a softness and balance to any interior scheme and hints at that all-important connection to nature. Vintage pieces inject a sense of depth and character into a home and provide a unique and affordable option to furnishing our spaces.
CLAY
Clay is another naturally occurring, ancient material which is versatile, eco-friendly and timeless. You can find natural clay almost anywhere in the world, making it accessible and inexpensive. Since it is soft and pliable, clay can be easily shaped into any form and used in all areas of the home. In addition to being a popular building material, clay is also widely used in interiors for walls, floors and pottery. From the beautiful rustic earth tones and textures of terracotta, to glazed stoneware pottery, clay elements bring a strong connection to the natural world into our homes.
There are many benefits to embracing natural materials and textures in our home environment. Helping to craft unique and inviting spaces, natural materials last a lifetime and age beautifully. They have a timeless appeal and help to create a grounding feeling. The layers of organic comfort natural materials add, provide a welcome respite and go a long way in making a house feel like home.
We hope this journal post will inspire you to explore natural materials in your own spaces and experience the transformative power and timeless quality they can bring to a home. For more inspiration for a natural home, read our other posts; Creating a Natural Home and Bringing Nature Home, or visit our Pinterest gallery.
“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” — Frank Lloyd Wright.
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Bringing Nature Home
Bringing nature into the home adds texture, colour and life to a space and connects us to the natural world and changing seasons. Whether based in the countryside, city, or by the coast, our surroundings provide endless inspiration and opportunities to infuse natural beauty into our homes. From foraging in our local environment, to scouring shops and markets, natural ephemera helps to create a beautiful, natural look and feel in our living spaces.
Fresh flowers & foliage
Displaying branches and stems of fresh flowers in favourite vases, pots and jugs throughout all corners of the home lends a cohesive connection to nature and brings joy to a space. Whether homegrown, foraged or bought, flowers have a place in our interiors and bestow unique beauty and freshness. A single stem is always a subtle and elegant choice while larger groupings can add impact and amplify the atmosphere.
Dried flowers & foliage
While fresh flowers and foliage are fleeting, some varieties can be dried and used over and over again in different spaces. Hydrangeas are simple to dry and can be stored away until needed. Whether dried or in full bloom their beauty is constant. Large sculptural branches and dried seed heads also add impact. Opt for branches that have curves and movement to add a natural look and feel. Changing collections of flowers and foliage and moving things around between rooms from time to time will trigger new ideas and keep things fresh.
Natural objects
Foraged collections of natural objects such as pine cones, shells and pebbles are also all nature’s works of art. They are a tactile and engaging addition to a tabletop or shelf, preserving memories of time and place, and adding interest to a home.
Fruit, vegetables & herbs
Similarly pots of herbs and fruits and vegetables simply placed in bowls and baskets on surfaces look beautiful and help to connect us to nature. They also look inviting when placed on the dining table instead of flowers to add colour and interest and can always be eaten as part of a shared meal.
Pressing plants and flowers
Plants can also be pressed and enjoyed as framed artworks to add a touch of nature to the home. They celebrate the beauty of the botanical world and create permanence from the fleeting cycles of nature. There is something magical about preserving plants, whether wild or garden flowers, or seaweed collected on the shoreline. You can also source antique pressed botanicals, often referred to as herbariums, which are collections of pressed flowers individually mounted and labelled. They make beautiful and unique art works when carefully framed and can be displayed individually or in sets to create a wonderful focal point in a room.
(Image via Sarah Solis Design Studio)
Nature is a wonderfully rich source of inspiration and should always be connected to the home, creating unity between outside and inside spaces. Whether in the shape of a tree, branch or flower, celebrate the serenity and beauty of the natural world by bringing elements inside to enhance the way our spaces look and feel. For more inspiration, read our other journal posts or visit our Pinterest gallery.
‘People must feel that the natural world is important and valuable and beautiful and wonderful and an amazement and a pleasure.’
– David Attenborough
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The Enduring Appeal of Baskets
The practice of basket weaving is a time honoured tradition steeped in history. Found in almost all cultures across the world, basketry is one of the oldest known crafts, pre-dating ceramics and textiles. Using grasses, rushes, vines and branches from their natural habitats, people have always handwoven baskets to transport and store goods. Baskets continue to have longevity because the beautiful natural fibres they are crafted from are readily available, strong and enduring, as well as being biodegradable.
The beauty of baskets is also their endless versatility and ability to fit seamlessly into all interiors. Because they tend to be a neutral colour, baskets work with any colour scheme, while their weaves add organic texture. Whether the style of a home is traditional or modern, polished or laidback, there is a basket, old or new to suit every space.
Baskets are a practical addition to the home and are endlessly useful in any room. They can be stored under benches and beds, in cupboards, or act as decorative accents in their own right. Baskets combine all shapes and sizes and can be used to organise, store and display a wide range of items and simplify daily routines.
Using Baskets Around the Home
Hallway
The hallway is a busy area of the home which is often overlooked. As it sets the tone for the rest of the home, it is important for it to be warm and inviting. Baskets can play a part in organising things within the space such as keys, shoes and bags and also add an artisanal feel.
Living Room
The living room is one of the most popular rooms within the home to relax. Baskets can help to simplify and organise the space, creating a feeling of calm. They are useful for storing everything from magazines and books to children’s toys, and throws. Baskets are also a good way to store firewood and kindling.
Kitchen and Dining
As one of the most well-used areas in the home, organisation is essential in allowing a kitchen to remain clean, functional and presentable. Finding effective ways such as baskets, to store household items can help to transform time spent in the space. In contrast to the many hard surfaces found in kitchens, baskets also bring a much needed touch of texture and warmth.
Study
An organised work environment can be conducive to a clear mind and better workflow. Whatever the size of the space, baskets provide useful storage for all types of objects needed close at hand such as books, paperwork and small electronics and can be stored on a desk, open shelving or on the floor.
Bathroom
A variety of different sized baskets can be practical in the bathroom as well as having decorative appeal. Whilst larger sizes are perfect for storing laundry or towels, smaller baskets can be used to organise toilet rolls and toiletries. The handmade quality of baskets can transform a bathroom space from rigid and clinical, to soft and inviting, helping to create a relaxed feeling for our daily bathing rituals.
Bedroom
Similarly a range of baskets are useful in bedroom spaces to organise items and add a decorative touch. Extra cushions throws or books and magazines can all be stored and kept within easy reach by the bed. Baskets can also be used to store items on shelves and in cupboards and wardrobes.
Outside Spaces
Baskets are also great for using in the outdoors, for foraging flowers and foliage, collecting produce in the garden or using for picnics and days out.
Basketry is an enduring and sustainable craft which has always been a brilliant way of imparting texture and natural colour to a space. As useful as they are beautiful, baskets contribute a sense of harmony to a home and give our interiors a more human touch.
As lovers of natural materials and craft, baskets will always have a place in our home and store. Investing in a set of storage baskets is not just a practical storage solution, but a decorative one too. Find our unique curation of sustainable one-of-a-kind vintage and new baskets online.
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A Seasonal Refresh
There is an innate shift that comes with the onset of each new season, bringing with it a natural opportunity to refresh our homes and embrace new rituals. We don’t always have to overhaul our spaces or spend money in order to make them feel different, simple edits can embrace a change in season and reinvigorate our spaces. As Mother Nature transitions around us, we can apply a fresh lens to our interiors and welcome the season in to our homes, adding layers in or stripping away to reflect the months ahead.
Taking time each season to clean, organise and simplify is a wonderful way to breathe new life into our spaces. Home is more than just a place to live; it plays a crucial role in how we feel and function day-to-day. By investing time and care into our homes, we create environments that truly support and nurture us—fostering a sense of peace, clarity, and wellbeing.
Ideas for a seasonal refresh at home:
Plan ahead – start by making a list of tasks, focusing on one room at a time. Break down the work into manageable steps to help you stay organised and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Listen – compile a playlist or tune into a podcast or audio book as you work. Having background sound can help lift your mood, keep you motivated, and make the process more enjoyable.
Create systems – start small and work through each room in turn. Be intentional about each item, clearing clutter, simplifying and deciding what can be repurposed or recycled.
Rethink what you have – get creative with what you already own, rearranging or repurposing items to breathe new life into your home. A beautiful and functional space doesn’t have to come with a big budget and a fresh perspective can reveal hidden potential in the things you already cherish.
Organise – baskets are an easy, versatile way to add both practicality and visual appeal to your home. Use them to store everyday items, creating a space that feels both calm and organised.
Bring nature inside – add flowers, foliage or branches to your spaces to freshen and add colour and texture. Whether it’s a single vase of blooms or a collection of houseplants, nature’s beauty always elevates the mood of a room.
Set the ambience – incorporate elements like books, candles, or soft lighting to change the look and feel of a room and sets the mood.
Maintain mindfully – be selective about what you bring into your home. Curate each space thoughtfully, ensuring that every item serves a purpose or brings joy. Being mindful of what enters your home will help maintain a sense of order and calm.
Be intentional with purchases – when adding new pieces, focus on quality over quantity. Invest in fewer but better items that will endure and continue to bring value to your home for years to come.
With the arrival of a new season comes the perfect opportunity to embrace fresh possibilities. It is the ideal time to reimagine our home and create spaces that not only reflect our values but also enhance our daily life. Whether through small changes or more thoughtful updates, you can create an environment that nurtures and supports you as the seasons shift.
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Creating a Natural Home
Of all the spaces we occupy, home is the most significant place we spend time and the place where we can make positive changes. As we become increasingly aware of the earth’s limited resources, many of us strive for a simpler life, more attuned with the natural world. Nature has always been revered for its ability to nurture and protect us. Our natural environment and its endless fascinating forms have long influenced artists and creatives alike. Now science is proving how nature can help to improve our well-being.
Nature provides continual inspiration for our spaces across the seasons and there is much to inform and inspire us in the natural world when designing and decorating our homes. There are increasing benefits to a natural home which can play a vital part not only in how we feel and function, but also in terms of sustainability and the future of our wonderful planet.
Universally we are intrinsically drawn to natural environments, finding beauty and comfort in nature. The gentle rhythms and colours of the natural world are calming, grounding and restorative. The term biophilia is used to define our innate affinity with the natural world and the importance it has on our wellbeing, health and productivity. Biophilia touches so many aspects of the home and plays a vital role in creating natural living spaces.
As we spend more and more time inside, crafting spaces that strengthen our connections to the natural world has become increasingly important. Making the most of views and maximising natural light in our homes by repositioning furniture or window dressings are simple steps in creating a natural environment. Similarly, opening curtains widely to let fresh air and the sound of nature find the way into our home and mind is beneficial. Breathing in fresh air improves our immune system, function and mood.
Another way to help create a natural home is to incorporate elements of nature. Bringing in objects from the outside such as plants, flowers and foliage, whether fresh or dried into our living spaces, adds colour and texture, creating a natural look and feel. Plants add life into a home, not only contributing to the look of the room but also changing how it feels to spend time within it. The beautiful natural forms of seashells, pinecones or sculptural branches are all nature’s works of art, and when displayed in favourite bowls or vases will add interest to any room and connect us to nature. The correlation between plants and wellbeing has been highlighted through scientific research and we know the role they can play in purifying the air within a space.
Along the same lines of bringing in elements of nature, the idea also relates to the materials we use to decorate and furnish our homes. There is no more effective way to create a natural home than by incorporating natural materials. Wood, stone and natural woven textiles such as linen, jute and wool bring a connection to the outdoors and help to create a natural environment. Natural materials infuse a room with organic texture and a natural warmth and comfort unmatched by synthetic materials. They invite us to touch, to use all our senses to experience an environment and they age beautifully over time. Indeed natures offerings are infinitely more beautiful and beneficial than anything we can devise.
As we embrace nature’s materials, we can also draw inspiration from the palette of nature when selecting fabrics, paints and accents for our home. Nature’s colour palettes cover every shade, and each season brings such a wide breadth of tones. A neutral colour scheme is a good starting point for a natural home. Other nature inspired colours, textures and patterns can then be layered in through furnishings, natural objects, art or books as desired. There is much we can learn in terms of design simply by taking inspiration from nature. Endlessly informative and effortlessly beautiful, it is a wonderful place to turn to for guidance and inspiration when creating a natural home.
Allow time to consider both how you want your home to look and feel, as just with the most beautiful things in nature, time and patience are key. As nature’s landscapes mature over time, so do thoughtfully designed living spaces, slowly growing and evolving with the people who live within them. Just as nature is seldom perfectly uniform, lived-in homes with objects, old and new, full of life and character, help to create a more natural feeling than perfectly curated spaces.
Nature’s sensory pleasures, visual beauty and infinite variety offer a calming respite from the modern world. For the moments when we can’t be outside, a natural home can be a wonderful alternative. Enhancing our connections to nature at home and reinforcing the fluidity between indoor and outdoor spaces can help improve our mood and well-being. Surrounding ourselves with natural elements and incorporating natural materials where possible can all contribute to fostering a natural home.
We hope that this entry may encourage you to look to the outside world for inspiration and create a natural home as a beautiful backdrop to everyday life. For more inspiration for a natural home, read our other journal posts, or visit our Pinterest gallery.
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The Value of Antiques
Home is a reflection of our individual experiences and personal tastes and each room tells a story through the pieces within it. The items we choose to surround ourselves with are profoundly intimate. Every piece we collect tells a story and lives on in our homes in deeply personal ways.
There are many merits to furnishing our homes with vintage and antique objects such as the significant environmental benefits over buying new. Whilst the intersection of aesthetics and function creates interiors that are considered and beautiful, now more than ever good design and curation must also take sustainability into account. Choosing pieces that have already proved their longevity through the quality of craftsmanship, design and aesthetic appeal contributes to reducing raw materials, waste and and energy.
Incorporating antiques not only makes for a more conscious living environment, but also adds uniqueness to a home. In a world of mass production and ubiquitous, low quality goods, vintage and antique furnishings have a timeless and enduring appeal that infuses spaces with a sense of individuality. Old pieces stand out against the flow of passing trends and have a beautiful patina acquired slowly over time which cannot be replicated by new goods.
Vintage and antique accessories weave history into the aesthetic of the interior, and give a richer narrative to the story of the home. Few things bring spaces to life more than the perfect vintage piece and there is something special about knowing that objects are one of a kind. From beautifully aged furniture to textural artwork or pottery, old pieces are distinctive and lend a feeling of comfort to each space they are placed in.
Antique and vintage furniture and accessories also add to the charm of our living spaces, making them feel lived-in, adding character, depth and warmth. Choosing such pieces encourages a slow approach to furnishing our homes as vintage products take time and patience to source. This creates more considered interiors which feel as if they have evolved over time, rather than being finished quickly with purchases made all at once.
Looking to the past is key to sourcing pieces for our homes that stand the test of time. From furniture, ceramics and textiles to lighting and art, vintage and antique objects provide a sustainable way to add authenticity to a space. They are critical for a home, not just for the personal joy they bring, but for how they pull a room together and make it truly unique. Old pieces work well within any aesthetic because they are inherently timeless. To embrace antiques at home you do not need to be an expert, it is simply about an appreciation for each piece and recognition for how it can enhance the everyday.
If you are looking to add some antique touches to your home, visit our online store or studio to view our curation. We offer unique collections of simple, beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces that will endure in to coming years and deepen your connection to home. To be notified first when the store is updated, please subscribe to our mailing list. We also offer bespoke sourcing and styling so do get in touch.
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Vintage & Antique Art at Home
Home is an accumulation of our lives, a source of comfort and connects us to special memories, stories and people. When the selection of objects in our home are unique to us and informed by personal connections, values and preferences, we are most likely to create spaces that will satisfy and endure.
One of the most powerful ways to inject character and visual interest into a home is through artwork, particularly vintage or antique pieces. Vintage art, in all its forms and styles makes all the difference to the look and feel of our interiors, it carries presence and power within a space and adds warmth and beauty. There is something magical about original vintage artwork, imbued with stories and layers of rich history. It affords opportunities to create individual spaces outside of the trends of mass produced art, and celebrates conscious consumerism. Art comes in many forms and can include photographs, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, reclaimed signs or finds from nature, as well as paintings.
The pieces we surround ourselves with are important and intrinsic to our everyday life and have the ability to spark joy, awe and calm in our spaces. Art provides an endless source of inspiration across the home and can create a beautiful environment in any room. It has a way of pulling a space together and making it feel inviting and lived-in. Working the colours of artworks into your interior schemes and pairing with finds old and new can create considered and cohesive spaces.
The subject matter and medium can make a big difference to what kind of mood an artwork can add to your home. Muted colours can be good for creating a sense of calm whilst bold and vibrant scenes can enliven a space. From landscapes to still life or portraits, whether abstract or realism in style, choose pieces instinctively as it is those pieces that you feel a connection with that will retain a personal value. The beauty of buying vintage art is that it lends itself to interesting and informal placement around the home. Vintage art works are there to be seen, moved around and enjoyed.
Methods of displaying art can often make as much of a statement as the pieces themselves. The way a painting is framed, hung and lit all contribute to the overall aesthetic and feeling it evokes. A single painting, whether large or small in size, can be hugely impactful and completely transform a room. There is sometimes a temptation to hang paintings high on a wall but positioning pieces at eye level can work well. When curating artworks, it is important to consider the proportion of the piece in relation to the room, so that when the picture is in place it has a connection with the space and the viewer. Leaving light and space around individual special pieces allows them to be a focal point, creates balance and grounds the interior.
Art can also be grouped together to form a gallery wall in order to add visual interest to a room. While historic in nature, the gallery wall complements both traditional and contemporary spaces. Whilst there are many different approaches, the most important thing to remember when curating a wall of art is that the display should look like it has evolved over time, combining different artistic mediums, frame styles and sizes for an organic, collected look. Placing a favourite or stand out piece first, and building around it can be a good way to start, keeping the central picture at eye level. Constraining the colour palette can help to unify a collection and create cohesion. Pieces need not match or belong to the same aesthetic, style or genre, but come together beautifully when arranged within a limited palette. Overall, there is no wrong way as it’s about evoking a feeling through pieces which elicit memories and personal connection, a visual reminder of homes, people and places.
For a more informal approach than traditional hanging, paintings also look effective placed on the floor, on top of a sideboard, or propped casually on a shelf or mantelpiece. Leaning pieces of art allows them to be moved easily around the home and creates a simple, laid-back aesthetic that feels effortlessly elegant.
The versatility of art means that it can be enjoyed in every room, being equally at home in main living areas as a hallway or landing. Displaying art work in unexpected places can anchor a space and bring interiors to life. Framed or unframed, canvases or boards, the possibilities are endless.
There are so many things to love about vintage and antique art – its form, tones, texture and the story it tells. It has already lived a life somewhere and there are often clues to the story through patination, old repairs and markings. Vintage art infuses a home with character through its lived-in patina and can connect us with precious memories. It can also resolve a space, acting as a decorative focal point and help us feel grounded.
Whether you live in a contemporary or traditional home, art helps to personalise a space. Buying vintage art is a wonderful way to reduce waste by reusing and repurposing existing resources and pieces don’t have to be rare or expensive. Whatever your budget, scour second hand shops, markets and small businesses to find original pieces as this is what makes a home feel uniquely you.
When we include pieces we love within our home, we create opportunities to enhance both the look and feel of our spaces. Take time to build collections slowly, choosing pieces which resonate and have a strong visual and emotional connection, in order to enrich your surroundings and bring joy and beauty to your home.
Explore our art gallery board on Pinterest for further inspiration or view our online collection of vintage and antique art. We offer bespoke sourcing and can also advise on colour palettes, pairings and framing to help create impact and beauty throughout your home. Please contact us if you are looking for help to build your collections.
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