The
ENGLISH HOME
THE
Lighting GUIDE
In association with
Celebrating the essence of English style November 2026 | Issue 263 | £5.99 | UK Edition
TOWNHOUSE SPECIAL Step inside beautiful city homes filled with design inspiration
HEATING IN STYLE
Cosy retreats
Fireplaces, stoves & radiators
EXPERT ADVICE ON CREATING THE PERFECT SNUG
SEASONAL LIVING
• Rich, layered interiors • Discover secret London • Warming autumn recipes
ART & ANTIQUES
How to display beautiful pieces with character and confidence
Perfectly IMPERFECT Antiques dealer and decorator Jack Brister has restored this Georgian townhouse to its past splendour through a meticulous and sensitive restoration FEATURE CHARLOTTE DUNFORD PHOTOGRAPHY CHRISTOPHER HORWOOD
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Jack and Richard installed a faithful late-Georgian reproduction fireplace to replace a gas fire in the sitting room. Flanking it are a French armchair upholstered by Hossack & Co and Jack’s grandmother’s nursing chair. The 19th-century gilded overmantel mirror was bought at auction.
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‘I wanted a relaxed, cosy Sunday afternoon feel in the drawing room,’ says Natasha. ‘I found the rug locally and the colour scheme came from all its wonderful tones.’ The Japanese Imari Blossom table lamps from Vaughan Designs pick out the blues and oranges. The pink cushions are made in Pierre Frey’s Parbat Sultan fabric.
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ABOVE Natasha’s love of modern art hints at the interior crossover between old and new; this piece, hung in the entrance hall, is from Prince & Pilgrim. The stairs lead to a small office.
BELOW A separate side entrance ensures the lower-ground floor can become a self-contained space in the future. The new features echo those of the Georgian floor above.
Doubling the size of their Georgian apartment gave Natasha and Daniel Kennedy a two-storey home sympathetic to its strong architectural bones and with a balanced and welcoming decor FEATURE JANE CRITTENDEN PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES FRENCH STYLING MARISHA TAYLOR
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Walls painted in Little Greene’s Clay offset the mix of patterns in the sitting room. ‘We added double-glazed doors, which was one of the best strucutral decisions we made. It makes a suitably grand entrance to the room while filling the hall with borrowed light from the large bay window,’ says Laura. The Boura & White armchairs are upholstered using Nisa in Mave by Filling Spaces.
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Elegance & EASE
Interior designer Laura Stephens designed this late-Victorian townhouse around the needs of her growing family, creating a practical yet welcoming home FEATURE CHARLOTTE DUNFORD PHOTOGRAPHY ASTRID TEMPLIER
ABOVE Laura and her dachshund, Lulu, sit on the built-in bench in the kitchen, upholstered in a favourite trellis fabric by Colefax and Fowler. ‘This wall was crying out for something and, instead of a sofa, I decided to create an interesting silhouette with a shaped backboard and a deep seat,’ she explains.
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‘The palette for the kitchen is based on the stained-glass colours. I wanted something really liveable and non-trend-led’
THIS PAGE The kitchen, designed by Laura and crafted by her joiner, is finished in Little Greene’s Aqua Marine Mid paint and San Vicente Quartz worktops. OPPOSITE BOTTOM RIGHT Hans Wegner Wishbone chairs are paired with a custommade table in the dining area. The floral artwork was a vintage find and the abstract painting is by Caroline Popham.
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A variety of light sources help to create a soft, welcoming scheme, including vintage pendants and Benson wall lights from Felix Lighting. ‘I deliberately didn’t put any spotlights in the space, and the layered lighting works so well to create different moods,’ says Laura.
into the most unexpected of places. Underneath the built-in bench, for instance, hides a jumble of art materials and Tupperware. None of this comes at the cost of style, though. Aged oak parquet flooring grounds the space, layered lighting provides a soft glow, and an island placed on legs contributes to the airy feel. ‘I didn’t want the space to feel too “kitcheny”, but rather more like an elegant, comfortable orangery,’ says Laura. ‘It strikes exactly the right balance between elegance and ease, which is how I think family homes should feel.’ Just as it guided the structural alterations, the townhouse’s period character led the decoration, too. ‘At some point in its history, it had been rather “magnolia-fied” and everything felt very beige and subdued,’ explains Laura. ‘It has a wonderful sense of grandeur, and I wanted to bring that back while still creating a home that felt warm, welcoming and practical for family life.’ Those familiar with Laura’s work, which frequently graces the pages of The English Home, will know of her bold approach to layering. ‘I am pretty fearless when it THE ENGLISH HOME 61
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RICH LAYERS
Neutral tones have taken a warm turn this season. Combine saturated earthy shades and natural textures to create a sumptuous, comforting scheme FEATURE SUZANNA LE GROVE
1 Ottilie dinner plate, £37, Rebecca Udall 2 Dark Brown Rattan charger mats, £32 for a set of two, Rosie Dalia 3 Carpet, Galway; curtains, Tullamore; armchair, Donegal; cushion, Wexford, all £POA, Sequana II collection, Pierre Frey 4 Cavendish Cinnamon and Cayenne trimmed Roman blind, £18.98 a metre, Blinds2Go 5 Lovebirds wallpaper, Black, £175 a roll, Divine Savages 6 Stafford bench, Green/Areca, £1,695, OKA 7 Melbury Raspberry velvet fringed cushion, £195, Liberty 8 Basket Weave Antique Brass handle, £75, and knob, £34, both Studio HÀM
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