Why do some rooms work and look fabulous, A list status almost and some rooms just don’t cut the mustard? Easy peasy really just opt for something that evokes instant emotion. Be that a beautiful paint colour, some luxe wallpaper, a cool coffee table. It will need to throw everything else off balance so it knocks that room out of the park! It could be a really great artwork, an unusual light, an incredible rug. Bottom line its got to take your breath away, its got to instantly make you feel happy and on top of the world. It doesn’t have to cost the earth because as I bang on about on an almost daily basis style has nothing to do with money. Their isn’t as such a secret formula but there are some guidelines here goes in no particular order:
Think sassy and unexpected
Add a generous injection of personality – any animal inspired find will immediately lighten the mood of your space.
Play around with scale plonk large lamps on small tables and small chairs next to large coffee tables
Add colour nothing repeat nothing is more transformative
Great artwork, fab rugs totally elevate this room to another level (photography Todd Selby), and me below, again photography by Todd. At my happiest podding peas in my garden where a bunch of faux blooms sit in an old bucket and a bright zingy yellow chairs hangs out next to a old wooden table. Nothing matches but it works simple as that.
I can’t wait to get my hands on some of your faux blooms! Holding off buying until I see the full range when your website is live! much longer?
They should be on within two weeks. They arrive this week so hoping to get sorted next week.
Great post Abigail, I love the artwork, so big and bold. I find it difficult to find artwork that’s both big and affordable, any tips please ? Also, I wanted to ask you whether you paint your wall sockets the same colour as the walls. I’ve gone studio green but the white sockets on the walls are awful. I’ve propped stuff against them to cover them up but I wondered what you do with yours ? thanks, Sam x
It is indeed difficult to find artwork. I’ve found some fab art at auctions and flea markets, student shows are a must in the summer and etsy is quite good. Re sockets I tend to replace with stainless steel options so Forbes and Lomax have super cool ones but so do lots of other companies with cheaper alternatives. The trouble with painting them is that they mark up quite easily I find – although its a far better option than leaving white so you could see how it goes.
Thank you :- D
Somehow…over the weekend I found your blog. Lucky me!!! I think your whole design approach and attitude is AWESOME! You need to come to LA, and shake our world up a bit with your cool ideas! LOVE, the gardening shoes!
Thank you very kind of you to say. Would love love love a store in LA its on my to do list! x
Hi Abigail, after reading so much on your blog about scale we were inspired to build a large coffee table similar to the pink one on your book cover. The problem is picking a paint colour for it, black was one suggestion, but too boring I think. The room does not have a huge amount of natural light, some downpipe walls and I can’t think of any colours for the table other than pillar box red or black? I think it should be the unexpected feature in the room. Really hope you have time to answer my question
. Thanks, Clare
How about Teal, the paint library do a beautiful teal hue and it looks beautiful with down pipe. Infact if you go to theselby.com and click on my name its the colour I used for the desk I am sitting at, and you will see how lovely it looks with downpipe walls x
Teal it is so, have painted a few mirrors in teal to hang on the downpipe walls – also picked that up from your book of course! I usually use matt paint but might go with high gloss finsih for the coffee table. Thank you for your help, much appreciated.
More than welcome. Red is also beautiful or F&B do this lovely colour called Charlotte’s Locks (think burnt orange) which I’ve used quite a bit lately and also looks lovely with downpipe.