The 'perfectly Imperfect' ENGLISH STYLE

Much of the inspiration for my work comes from the way I live in my own home — a layered, comfortable English interior filled with pieces collected over time.

Whilst the interpretation of beauty in the home is always individual and unique, I work closely with my clients to interpret their personal sense of beauty into the design of their home.

That said, I specialise in what I call the perfectly imperfect English style. It is the design style that runs throughout my own home — a style that captures my own heart and soul — and one that I believe can capture yours too.

This approach allows complete freedom of interpretation. It embraces the personal. After all, what is an appealing interior if not an expression of the way of life, the ideas, and the creativity of the people who inhabit it?

Let me begin by explaining what I mean by the word imperfect. I would not wish you to think this implies anything careless or unconsidered in my work. Quite the opposite — every room I design is thoughtfully curated with the aim of delighting you.

Some styles of decorating have a longer shelf life than others. One of the most enduring has come to be known as English Country style, which works just as comfortably in a city apartment or suburban home as it does in a cottage, farmhouse, barn conversion, rectory, manor house, or indeed one of England’s finest stately homes.

It is perhaps easier to recognise than to define. Putting a finger on exactly what makes it so distinctive can be surprisingly difficult. One of its greatest strengths is that, unlike modernism or minimalism, it is not a prescriptive approach designed to achieve perfection, but a descriptive approach that allows for expression.

It is relaxed, adaptable and wonderfully laissez-faire — no doubt part of the reason it has endured for so long. This is precisely why I love it and why I specialise in it. For an interior to truly feel beautiful, it must adapt to the character of the person who lives there.

Your home is not about me and my vision — it is about you and yours. My role is simply to help you discover that vision and curate it with care.

The perfectly imperfect English style creates rooms that are comfortable, layered and timeless. Some of the key ingredients include the following.

Eclectic

Think of it as a liquorice allsorts selection of the things you find beautiful.

Beauty might lie in shape, texture, colour — or simply in memory. The beauty of sentiment is often far more interesting than wall-to-wall mid-century modern.

A Georgian mirror above a 1970s sideboard.

A modern vase beside chintzy china candlesticks that belonged to a cherished Grandmother. 

A piece of art found at a car boot sale that simply needs a new frame.

By echoing colours, lines or proportions elsewhere in the room, these unexpected combinations create delightful contrasts that feel entirely natural.

Visitors to my home often say, “I would never have thought that this would go with that.”

And I think that is often the problem — too much thinking, this style is about feeling and playing.

This is often where I begin with clients — looking at the pieces they already love and discovering how they might sit together in unexpected and beautiful ways.

It does require a good eye and a certain aesthetic courage, but when it works it should appear entirely effortless.

Comfort

A room should feel lived in and well used. A “showroom” aesthetic is not what I aim to achieve.

Whilst I admire the perfect Instagram grid of neutral interiors — they can be soothing, contemplative and ravishingly beautiful — most of us would not describe them as comfortable. After all, you should not feel anxious about leaving a footprint on a pristine white floor.

And it certainly does not work if you share your home with the English favourite four-legged companion. A wet and muddy Labrador will very quickly remind us that perfection is short-lived.

True comfort comes from harmony, balance, pleasing arrangements, pattern and colour.

I work with clients to understand what these qualities mean to them. When needed, colour personality profiling helps uncover instinctive preferences and bring clarity to choices.

I also encourage clients to incorporate meaningful objects into their home — those cherished pieces that tell their story. Who cares if a vase is chipped if it reminds you of someone dear? Beauty, after all, is always in the eye of the beholder.

Comfort also means arranging furniture in the way you like to live. Chairs gathered around a generous dining table, sofas placed to encourage conversation, armchairs positioned to enjoy the warmth of a fire, and a side table nearby to rest a drink.

Fabrics play a vital role — curtains, cushions and rugs creating a sense of warmth and softness. Generous textiles also improve acoustics, making a room feel calm and welcoming.

Lighting is equally important: bright where needed, but otherwise soft enough to flatter both the room and its occupants.

Nostalgia

This way of decorating often favours period architecture and antique or vintage furniture over new.

These are interiors where tradition is valued and inherited pieces are treasured — often carrying memories of childhood or family life.

This is how you weave your story into your home.

Connection to Nature — A Green Approach

As the hymn reminds us, England is a green and pleasant land. And although this sentiment may sometimes feel nostalgic today, the English love of gardens and countryside remains deeply woven into our interiors.

You see it in floral chintz, jugs of freshly cut flowers, potted geraniums on windowsills, and colours drawn from the landscape.

It is also naturally sustainable. By favouring antique and preloved furniture, this style avoids the constant cycle of replacement driven by trends.

Because it does not insist on immaculate surfaces or faultless fabrics, there is space for objects that have been mended, restored, repainted or gently worn by time.

In this way it is quietly earth-friendly.

And because it is not tied to fashion, it does not need continual updating. It settles gracefully into the passing of time — mellowing gently, perhaps acquiring a slightly faded grandeur, yet remaining unmistakably elegant.

A Style That Allows You to Play

I hope this offers a helpful insight into the style I love to work with.

Rather like Mary Poppins, I believe it is perfect in every way — precisely because there are so many ways to interpret it.

It does not insist on everything matching. Instead, it gives you the freedom to mix, play and experiment — which is surely the heart of creativity.

You may move objects around with the seasons, as I often do, creating subtle changes throughout the year. A home can evolve with the rhythm of the seasons, or simply with your mood.

And from time to time you may get something slightly wrong.

But that is part of the joy.

How else would we learn to play?

If this way of decorating resonates with you, I would be delighted to help you shape a home that reflects your own story — layered, personal and beautifully imperfect in every way.