Jim Lawrence Blog - Jim Lawrence Blog
  • Home
  • Spotlight On
  • Beautiful Homes
  • Meet The Team
  • Behind the Name
  • Our Showrooms
  • Visit Jim Lawrence Website
  • Made By Us
Home
Spotlight On
Beautiful Homes
Meet The Team
Behind the Name
Our Showrooms
Visit Jim Lawrence Website
Made By Us
  • Home
  • Spotlight On
  • Beautiful Homes
  • Meet The Team
  • Behind the Name
  • Our Showrooms
  • Visit Jim Lawrence Website
  • Made By Us
Jim Lawrence Blog - Jim Lawrence Blog
Beautiful Homes

Introducing Sian From @Restore_Home_

An expert in carefully-curated eclecticism, we spoke to Sian from @restore_home_ about her history with interiors and her advice on layering with textures which she does so well. Tinged with vintage-look items and framed with a cool industrial edge, we’ve loved delving further into her home and uncovering the secrets to a successful renovation journey.⁠

Sian, welcome to the Style Journal. Can you tell our audience how you got into refurbishing property?

I’m really just a frustrated lawyer! I wanted to be an architect so refurbish houses as a hobby to fulfil my need for creativity and appreciation of the aesthetic. I guess interiors nourish my soul whereas law feeds by brain and puts pennies in the bank!

We know older homes can sometimes present unusual challenges when renovating. What’s the key to perfecting a period project?

Every project is completely different and I think no matter how many properties you renovate, there’s always something to learn. Keeping an eye on the original details and remembering what you fell in love with about the house is critical. In my latest renovation it was the staircase and proportions that drew me in. In planning the extension, the ideal new floorplan would have meant removing an original window and compromising an existing staircase. I’d fallen in love with the original Georgian windows and staircase – so the compromise had to be in the extension – not the original features. As soon as the structure was up I knew that retaining the details was the right course as that’s the soul of the property.

What is it that makes you choose Jim Lawrence lighting?

Elegant but edgey design, first and foremost. But it’s the quality that never falters that keeps me buying it. The finish is fantastic and they only improve with age. And I’ve had some lamps for over 15 years and still they look beautiful and the finish looks perfect. I’ve honestly never been disappointed with a purchase from Jim! I’ve taken some risks with this property in going for real statement pendants (larger than I’d usually go for) but they’re fabulous and totally make the space. There’s a danger in under-budgeting for lighting. I feel it’s better to save elsewhere as lighting is a game-changer in a room and instantly elevates the space.

You often opt for shade-less light fixtures, why is this?

I love glass pendants. They’re timeless but importantly reflect the light, bouncing the brightness back into the room and complementing the room rather than providing a visual stop. In period properties particularly, enhancing the natural light is really important and glass optimises what you have naturally, even when the lights are off. I love shades too but tend to use them on lamps for more ambient lighting.

We like to think a home project is never really finished, as like our wardrobes, interiors develop and adapt for the seasons and how we feel. How do you refresh your rooms when they’re in need of a ‘quick fix’?

Soft furnishings are a great way of updating a scheme, with a throw or cushions in a seasonal hue, but also artwork is underused in my view. I’ll often base a room around a piece of art, and then when I want something new and fresh, will add a piece that easily be switched in or out and around rooms.

After a year where many of us could only venture the world of interiors by looking online, where do you find yourself sourcing most of your home inspiration these days?

Instagram is a fantastic place to be inspired. As is Pinterest, but you can’t strike up conversations and ask questions as well as you can with Instagram. It’s really such a fantastic interiors community with some very talented people just posting about what they love. But I’m also an obsessive about paper: flicking through a brochure and the medium of print are really underrated now I think. I’ll often use Instagram for inspiration but when creating a moodboard I need to see and feel the images, and nothing replaces a mountain of swatches and samples!

Those of us fortunate to have outdoor spaces have never been more grateful for our gardens, patios and even porches. What’s the key to good (and happy!) garden design?

I think for me it’s evergreen structure. I love John Brookes concepts of gardens being a series of rooms, an extension of our homes. I tend to separate my gardens into 3 zones, for terrace seating near the house, a play area for the children and animals (perhaps with a rewilding area if possible) and then a more formal area for wandering around and outdoor dining.

By having “walls” of hedges, you can create the rooms but also mask some of the not so aesthetically pleasing areas – trampolines, sheds etc. Then you can focus the planting around these areas. I’d have soft breezy aromatic plants for the terrace, such as Gaura, herbs, lavender,  evergreen structural hedges for the format and disguising like Holm Oak or Portuguese Laurel, and then formal and fragrant planting for the seating and dining areas such as topiary, jasmine and cypress.

We really love your eclectic but carefully considered styling. What are three top three tips on how to layer up display areas indoors like shelving and sofa cushions?

Groupings of three are really helpful as it provides balance and doesn’t jar with the eye. Also consider height within that grouping, so there are different elevations. But fundamentally it’s about harmony (which can be through shape, or colour, or a theme) but really it’s about objects you just love and that speak to you.

How do you stay true to your own style when choosing home furnishings?

I’m not sure I could say I stay true! I don’t really have any rules, I just furnish with things I love and that draw me in. I do tend to hide purely utilitarian things in cupboards but that’s about the only rule. Perhaps a new style I’m adopting is to really be intentional about what I buy, and try to buy pre-owned wherever possible. There’s not much that you can’t get vintage and traditional designs, be it architecture or engineering, quite often still hold up as the best. They’ve remained in existence for a reason!

We love your laid-back look, but you’re clearly influenced by elements of traditional or vintage design. Do you have any truly unique old items in your home that you could never part with?

Yes, too many to admit! Some are family pieces which mean so much, but many are new acquisitions with stories to tell. Artwork is hard to part with, and I really love battered tan leather so that features everywhere from chairs, sofas and boxes down to my decades old trusty Filofax!


New or old, what’s the staple homeware piece that every house needs?

A squashy chair for reading alone or with children (and for the dog to snooze in), a beautiful table lamp, plus an array of individual cups and mugs for morning coffee and afternoon tea.

Talk us through your plans for the rest of 2021 and beyond…

I’ve currently just sold my Georgian terrace in Oxford and am moving to the country to be near my son’s new school. It’s a change led by necessity but I think one which will benefit us all as we’ll be able to get into nature more. The house has a stable with exposed stone. And looks out on to the garden and fields. I’m hoping to use it as a study and workshop for a new venture. Constantly searching for that creative outlet! But currently we’re in a stone barn until the purchase on the new place completes. It’s on a farm and is a wonderful transition, with huge tall ceilings, and masses of oak beams. Your pendant lighting would be incredible in this space but sadly it’s rented so I have to make do with my table lamps for now!


To stay up to date with Sian’s Beautiful Home and to see how she styles her new space, be sure to give her a follow on Instagram. 
We would love to see more Beautiful Homes! Tag your images with #JimLawrenceMade or email to press@jim-lawrence.co.uk so we won’t miss out. For further styling inspiration you can browse our Pinterest.

Pendant Lampholder, Walcot Pendant Light, Orwell Table Lamp, Globe LED Filament Bulb, Thorpe Wall Light

FacebookTwitterPinterestGoogle +Stumbleupon

Welcome to the Jim Lawrence Style Journal.

We are a British interiors company creating beautiful lighting, ironwork and home furnishings from our Suffolk workshop.

This is where we share ideas that we love, show sneak peeks behind the scenes of our brand and offer a unique insight into classic design.

jimlawrencemade

Jim Lawrence Lighting & Home
Whether it’s a favourite armchair or a quiet cor Whether it’s a favourite armchair or a quiet corner of the sofa, having a comfortable nook at home is an autumn–winter essential.⁠
⁠
This season, enjoy the gentle flicker of candlelight as the evenings settle in, curled beneath the comforting weight of a woollen throw.⁠
⁠
No matter how you style your space, a scented candle is the finishing touch that brings it all together. We’ve chosen the Charles Farris Scented Candle in 'Elizabeth' to complete this cosy corner. Its blend of orange blossom, jasmine, bergamot, and mulberries evokes the richness and fruitfulness of the season.⁠
⁠
Shop the full look (and scent) by tapping the Autumn Reflections button in our bio 🍂
As night falls, it's a comfort coming home to an i As night falls, it's a comfort coming home to an inviting glow from the house. With us, you'll find the right outdoor lighting to make that welcome even warmer.⁠
⁠
Handcrafted from antiqued brass with a hand-blown glass shade and industrial-style cage, our bestselling Wall Mounted Ship's Light is inspired by vintage deck lights once found on ocean liners.⁠
⁠
Perfect for porches, gardens, and outbuildings, this timeless design is carefully crafted in our Suffolk workshops. Like all our lights, it's made with an eye for detail and quality that lasts. ⁠
⁠
Explore more outdoor lighting options at jim-lawrence.co.uk.
Create a snug retreat for darker mornings and long Create a snug retreat for darker mornings and longer evenings with rich textures, gentle lighting, and thoughtful details.⁠

We lean to warmer russets within our accessories this season, reaching for Burnt Orange velvet for its depth of colour and richness, and contrasting it with Mole for a soothing soft grey embrace that brings balance.

Paired with the natural softness of wool and relaxed weave of linen, the setting creates a modern rustic look that feels both grounded and inspiring.

From scented beeswax candles, handblown glass vases, and the soothing tones of beeswax and matt black, each piece brings texture and character to the home, inviting you to slow down, settle in, and enjoy the wind-down to winter.

Tap the ‘Autumn reflections’ button via the link in our bio to shop three new seasonal looks 🍂
Our bestselling glass domed shades are now availab Our bestselling glass domed shades are now available with Matt Black fittings. ⁠
⁠
Available in two sizes - the Chalford and Walcot - this ceiling light can be hung in a row above an island, or suspended solitarily as a statement piece. Both are supplied with our Fordham Ceiling Rose and a matching flex, and the Chalford with a discreet chain to support the weight of the larger shade.⁠
⁠
Because we like to help you achieve your perfect look, whilst each design comes with a fixed flex length, these can be easily shortened on installation. Should you require a longer drop, our pendant length guide is available on the relevant product pages, offering clear instructions for customising the length to your needs.⁠
⁠
Visit jim-lawrence.co.uk to shop each look.⁠
For many years now we have teamed up with @lovatmi For many years now we have teamed up with @lovatmill, based in the Scottish Border town of Hawick and known as the Home of Tweed; where the artisan craftsmen follow in the footsteps of generations of Tweed makers to create beautiful contemporary fabrics.⁠
⁠
Taking inspiration from the rich colours of the surrounding countryside, Lovat Mill design and weave wool of the highest quality. Their fabrics incorporate between five and forty individual colours to produce a range of herringbones and checks that will add subtle reflections of the natural world to your home interior.⁠
⁠
Our throws from Lovat Mill are cosy additions to your beds, sofas, and armchairs, bringing true heritage style to your scheme in a choice of beautiful colours. Discover more at jim-lawrence.co.uk
Such is the popularity of our Carrick wall light t Such is the popularity of our Carrick wall light that we have designed a pendant version to suspend alongside them. This striking three-armed ceiling pendant channels a mid-century look that that is simple enough to suit most spaces, with clean structured lines and a sculptural look. ⁠
⁠
Tap this image via the link in our bio to browse every iteration of this bestselling design, from plug-ins, pendants, and pull-cords.⁠
⁠
Kitchens hold the rhythm of daily life, and good l Kitchens hold the rhythm of daily life, and good lighting helps to shape how this space feels morning to night. Glass lighting diffuses light in this essential area, creating a bright and open feel which is ideal for busy, multifunctional spaces. Clear, frosted, or textured glass offers a timeless look that complements both classic and contemporary kitchen design while enhancing natural light.⁠
⁠
If you love the look of the Orla pendant (as chosen here by @baile_na_leice) but want to explore more options, tap these images via the link in our bio to browse our full collection of handblown glass pendant lighting.
Take a quiet moment 🕯️⁠ ⁠ Create a snug r Take a quiet moment 🕯️⁠
⁠
Create a snug retreat for darker mornings and longer evenings with rich textures, gentle lighting, and thoughtful details.⁠
⁠
A well-placed lamp casts a comforting glow, while natural materials bring warmth and added charm. Whether it’s a favourite armchair or a quiet corner of the sofa, having a comfortable nook at home is an autumn–winter essential.⁠
⁠
Tap these images via the link in our bio to explore our full home furnishings collection.
Set within a Grade II listed home dating back to t Set within a Grade II listed home dating back to the 1600s, each space from @_our_housetohome_ blends historic character with timeless design.⁠
⁠
Nat captures a range of our designs at their best. Showcasing the warmth and elegance of our lighting from mid-century chandeliers, more subtle sconces, and statement glass, her styling choices are a true reflection of how lighting transforms a house into a home.⁠
⁠
Visit her profile to indulge in more imagery, and visit us at jim-lawrence.co.uk to shop each look.
ALL DATES SOLD OUT We are holding a lampshade mak ALL DATES SOLD OUT

We are holding a lampshade making workshop in our Suffolk showroom, giving you the rare opportunity to create your own lampshade to take home.⁠
⁠
Join us the 15th October and create your own timeless piece by hand whilst guided by our expert makers.⁠
⁠
Places are £65 per person for groups of up to 8 people and include:⁠
⁠
-A 35cm wide cylinder shade in a fabric of your choice (excluding faux silk)⁠
-Jim Lawrence workshop tour.⁠
-£10 discount voucher to spend in the showroom on the day⁠
-Refreshments⁠
-A curated Jim Lawrence gift bag with thoughtful take-home pieces⁠
⁠
Tap the ‘Tickets’ button via the link in our bio to secure your place today.
Last week, we welcomed our friends and family to c Last week, we welcomed our friends and family to celebrate the opening of our new London showroom on Pimlico Road.⁠ It may not be big, but it holds everything you need to understand our passion for quality and design.⁠
⁠
To visit and browse our collection in person, find us at 94 Pimlico Road, London, SW1W 8PL. If you want to chat to us in advance about what’s on display, please call us on 01473 826945.⁠
⁠
We look forward to welcoming you soon!
Based in Henley-on-Thames and working across the H Based in Henley-on-Thames and working across the Home Counties and London, Anna Moss is the founder of @mosslivinginteriors, known for creating elegant, timeless spaces with personality. ⁠
⁠
Her love of interiors began in childhood, trailing through antique shops and soaking up inspiration from her family studio. After a decade in marketing, she took the leap and launched her own practice in 2019 and hasn’t looked back. Today, Anna’s designs blend classic foundations with contemporary touches, always tailored to the lives and stories of her clients.⁠
⁠
Tap the blog link in our bio to see more.
We are holding two lampshade making workshops in o We are holding two lampshade making workshops in our Suffolk showroom, giving you the rare opportunity to create your own lampshade to take home.⁠
⁠
Choose from the 15th October or the 20th November to join us and create your own timeless piece by hand whilst guided by our expert makers.⁠
⁠
Places are £65 per person for groups of up to 8 people and include:⁠
⁠
-A 35cm wide cylinder shade in a fabric of your choice (excluding faux silk)⁠
-Jim Lawrence workshop tour.⁠
-£10 discount voucher to spend in the showroom on the day⁠
-Refreshments⁠
-A curated Jim Lawrence gift bag with thoughtful take-home pieces⁠
⁠
Tap the ‘Tickets’ button via the link in our bio to secure your place today.
There's nothing like a crackling fire to make a ho There's nothing like a crackling fire to make a house feel like home. Our fireside collection is crafted in Suffolk using traditional ironwork techniques: simple, elegant, and made to last.⁠
⁠
Explore our fire place accessories and companion tools by visiting jim-lawrence.co.uk
Whether it’s a row of wall lights casting soft p Whether it’s a row of wall lights casting soft pools of light, a statement pendant drawing the eye upward, or layered accents that highlight architectural details, good hallway lighting serves as a welcoming invitation to the rest of the home.⁠
⁠
@coopersofsurreyltd has featured both our Morston wall lights and Conway pendant in matching Antiqued Brass to add warmth to this calming, neutral space. ⁠
⁠
Visit jim-lawrence.co.uk to get the look.⁠
When thoughtfully placed, a mirror does more than When thoughtfully placed, a mirror does more than reflect: it amplifies natural light and creates a sense of space. Our collection is designed to transform any room, with a range of styles and finishes to suit every interior.⁠
⁠
The Hepworth, as featured by @southernhomesuk, was made with dressing tables in mind. Crafted from solid steel and powder painted in matt black, metallic bronze, or plain ivory, this adjustable mirror with frame brings an elegance to every day routines.⁠
⁠
Tap this image via the link in our bio to browse more designs.⁠
⁠
Easy to fit without the need for internal wiring, Easy to fit without the need for internal wiring, plug-ins are a flexible solution for quick-fix fittings that have the same quality as a traditional light.⁠
⁠
The vintage-style flex can be draped where you desire, with the in-line switch just in reach when you need it.⁠
⁠
Our Carrick Light, pictured here, is thoughtfully designed and made in several beautiful iterations, offering a versatile option to suit a range of spaces and styles.⁠
⁠
Discover more plug-in designs at jim-lawrence.co.uk.⁠
By hugging the ceiling, our collection of flush mo By hugging the ceiling, our collection of flush mount ceiling lighting offers a refined version of our most popular pendants, whilst maximising your existing ceiling height. Designed to provide even, ambient light without taking up too much space, they’re ideal for hallways, bathrooms, and bedrooms like this one from @katherinetaylorinteriors.⁠
⁠
The Shotley glass is handblown in Suffolk, and gently coaxed into its fluted form with a sweetly scalloped edge, available for flush mounted designs like this, or as wall and pendant lighting throughout the rest of the home.⁠
⁠
Tap this image via the link in our bio to shop more flush inspiration for your daintier spaces.⁠
⁠
Never underestimate the power of a well-placed tab Never underestimate the power of a well-placed table lamp. Whether it’s adding a warm glow to a reading nook or enhancing a hallway console, table lamps play a key role in restoring balance, and bringing a warmer atmosphere into your home.

The secret to a truly polished look is finding the perfect lampshade. Too big, and it overwhelms the base. Too small, and it will skew proportions.

Our simple guide to sizing your shades will help you get it just right, ensuring your table lamps feel in tune with the space around them. Tap this reel via the link in our bio to read more.
Nautical lighting design remains a popular choice Nautical lighting design remains a popular choice for outdoor spaces thanks to its blend of timeless coastal charm and practical durability. Originally crafted to withstand the harshest maritime conditions, these vintage-inspired looks offer both style and substance for enhancing exterior settings. ⁠
⁠
Our award-winning Boathouse Light strikes this balance effortlessly. With its classic bell-shaped shade and curved swan neck arm, it brings a refined yet robust presence to any outdoor space, ensuring that it's an enduring favourite for all kinds of properties.⁠
⁠
Tap this image via the link in our bio to browse our full outdoor collection.
Follow us!

Categories

  • Beautiful Homes
  • Behind the Name
  • Made By Us
  • Meet The Team
  • Our Showrooms
  • Spotlight On

“Nothing similar is quite the same”

© 2021 copyright Jim Lawrence // All rights reserved // Privacy Policy
Jim Lawrence