English Style Home Interior Design

Inspo Trip to London

Anyone who follows us knows we utilize a very specific formula in our projects: Traditional, Modern, Global, and Fun. By incorporating elements from each aspect, we create inviting, layered homes that tell our clients’ stories – where they’ve been, what they love, what makes them happy. This is why we feel such a kinship with the English interior design style, one which exudes a warm, eclectic home that has been casually curated over time. Because of the similarity in approaches, we often source for our projects from English firms. Marina Case, The Red Shutters’ principal designer, recently crossed the pond to peruse the latest textiles and design trends, and bring them back for our clients.

“To get an in-person feel for the latest and greatest in what’s happening with design, nothing’s better than visiting London, as the city tends to be more advanced with home decorating trends across all style types,” says Marina. “I love walking through the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour in London and getting lost in all the incredible wallpapers, fabrics, lighting, and more. As the premier destination for interior design and decoration, it’s one of my favorite places to source and find inspiration.”

Diverse Design Style that Dates Back to the Victorian Era

While decorating interiors to be more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing goes as far back as ancient times, the “practice” of interior design really started to evolve in the 18th century with the hiring of upholsterers. Upholstery became prevalent in England and France, especially with the French invention of the settee, the French focused on a single style. The Brits took design a step further and began to mix styles as a result of The Grand Tour, which was a right of passage for wealthy young men to learn about European art, society, and culture. They would come home from their travels with items spanning cultures and wanting to show them off. We follow this same concept for our clients, incorporating their collections and the cultural pieces they have culled over the years throughout their spaces.

This famous yellow room at Avery Row is considered one of the finest rooms in London. Image source: John Fowler Prince of Decorators, p. 110, Martin Wood, 2007

Home Design Inspirations from Our Latest Trip to England

“I traveled to London in the early 2000s and went to see the Colefax and Fowler showroom. I was amazed by the “Butta Yella” drawing room designed by John Fowler and Nancy Lancaster, the owners of Colefax and Fowler known for making the English-country house fashionable,” said Marina. “This room was the inspiration for my decorating with mixed styles. It’s all about comfort, eclecticism, and making the home truly yours. I simply love English decorating as an approach and always have a pulse on what they have coming up next.”

Marina recently hopped over to London to immerse herself in the country’s current design trends at the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour in London, and they were definitely bold – something else The Red Shutters is known for! Lots of vibrant patterns – not just used as an accent but as a theme for entire rooms, along with plenty of mixing and matching.

“The Brits are far from blah. They like to go bolder with patterns and aren’t afraid to mix them up,” said Marina.

English-Style-Home-Interior-Design-Chair

The Sanderson showroom was a treat for the eyes. This major English textile decorating company, which owns the rights to William Morris, was bursting with color and prints.

“Sanderson is one of my favorite showrooms. The combinations are just wild, so colorful,” said Marina. “I love how this showroom highlights how to unify a room with similar patterns.” We are also seeing this trend in fashion with matching sets.

We recently used a Sanderson wallpaper in the back hall of our Churchtown Dairy project, along with one from Colefax and Fowler in the powder room.

Another must stop – Pooky Lighting. Here Marina found more eye-popping colors, like these vibrantly patterned shades, along with stunning metal pendants.

Designs that Stand the Test of Time

If you love interior design, you can’t skip the British Galleries at the Victoria & Albert museum. “This is one of my must-do’s when I visit London. So many fabulous collections of furniture, ceramics, and decorative arts. And the textiles are stunning; they beautifully showcase intricate craftsmanship that have influenced design for decades,” said Marina.

We can’t get enough of English interior design. The rich textures, dimensional layers, warmth, fun – a room that just makes you feel happy.

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There are so many ways in addition to pattern to breathe fresh life into a home. View my Portfolio to see more examples of my interior design projects and follow us on Instagram for more interior design inspiration.

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About Marina Case

Years of experience and understanding of the history of design provides Marina with the ability to read each client so she can create spaces that truly reflect who they are. Marina, who has been honored as one of the Top 50 New York Designers, as well as a Houzz Influencer, has her pulse on the interior design industry. She stays on top of the latest trends, participates in a leading collaborative national network of designers, and frequently shares her creative and professional ideas with trade professionals.