Standout styles are rooted in timeless themes yet designed with a modern sense of flair and the practicalities of life today in mind
FEATURE SUZANNA LE GROVE PHOTOGRAPHS (LIBERTY LONDON) © CHRISTOPHER HORWOOD
FLEXIBLE DINING
Mixing a bench with chairs is a versatile dining table arrangement to suit varying requirements. To ensure the relaxed look does not seem too casual for smarter occasions, match the designs of the table and bench and look for subtle details such as shapely legs.
Elkstone Mellow Oak table, £799; Elkstone Mellow Oak dining bench, £399, Cotswold Company
CASTING LIGHT
Dual upwards and downwards lights elevate spaces in an atmospheric way and provide both task lighting and a wash of light upwards for ambient illumination. Made using traditional techniques at the company’s Birmingham-based metalworks, these lights are suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Tor up/down wall light, antique brass, £1,020, J Adams & Co
GLOBAL BOTANICALS
Inspired by the expeditions of Liberty’s founder, the Botanical Atlas collection showcases exotic plants in hand-painted embroideries, textured weaves and modern velvets and linens; accessories also launch in April. Curtains, Magical Plants, £140 a metre; chair, Kimono Knot, £160 a metre; cushions (from left), Kimono Knot, £135, and Tudor Poppy, £165, all Botanical Atlas collection, Liberty London
TONES OF TILES
If seeking colourful marble for a bathroom wall, a spectrum of green tones pairs beautifully with modern gold and bronze hardware. As seen here, the green backdrop allows the metallics to sing out. Match the tiles with natural wood to lean towards a country feel, or blend with sleek flooring for contemporary townhouse style. Fennel Green Herringbone honed marble tiles, £159.19 a square metre, Bert & May at Hyperion Tiles
STRIPES REIMAGINED
Eponymous design house Birdie Fortescue and style tastemaker Sarah Corbett-Winder have collaborated to design cushions, lampshades, furniture and accessories in creative stripey prints to suit timeless schemes. The Stripey ottoman, £800; The Embroidered Envelope cushion, £95; The Embroidered Stripey cushion, £75; The Stripey String lampshade, from £70; The Must-Have table lamp, £170, Sarah Corbett-Winder x Birdie Fortescue
SHIMMERING WALLS
For an impactful backdrop, unusual wallcoverings can be the answer. This Capiz shell design is interwoven with scintillating mica minerals to beckon att
