Kay Prestney is an Interior Designer & Stylist working on private and commercial projects as well photoshoot and event styling. She also runs Kinship Gatherings, a business hub teaching people crafts and other creative skills. Not only is Kay’s own home a culmination of these talents, but her scandi-inspired interior is all sustainably and locally sourced. We chat with Kay about her gorgeous renovation and why an eco-ethos matters.

Hi Kay, welcome to the style journal! Your home has a rustic feel with a very neutral colour palette, but your interior is far from plain. Can you tell us a bit about how you discovered and refined your own style?

I have always been drawn to Scandinavian style, using lots of natural materials and a muted palette. As a stylist and interior designer I am immersed in design on a daily basis, I love colourful and playful interiors but always find that I need a neutral, calm interior at home to be able to switch off at the end of the day. I love to use layer textures, to bring the natural world into our home and use vintage pieces to create interesting rooms that tell the story of who lives there, reflecting their life and loves.

You keep to an eco-ethos whilst renovating your own home, is this something you stick to when styling other spaces?

Yes, very much so. I try to encourage clients to rethink their existing pieces, to look at making the most of the natural light and moving things around to get the look they want, rather than getting rid of everything and buying new. There are lots of ways you can repurpose pieces or give a vintage item new life such as adding castors and a linen cushion to a vintage wooden trunk to make it into storage and easily moveable occasional seating in one. Buying vintage makes your home unique and helps the planet, what’s not to love about that!

There is certainly a wave of recognition for sustainable practice rippling across the world – and rightly so – but how can we all implement these positive and conscious changes in the everyday home?

I think we can all start by buying less and if we are paring back then considering how we get rid of unwanted items sustainably by donating to charity, putting on free cycle or repurposing. Its amazing how many creative ways there are to upcycle unwanted things. Try googling ideas before you throw something away and you might find a new crafting hobby!

We love that you champion local businesses in your design. What draws you to Jim Lawrence products in particular?

I feel passionately about supporting small local businesses and Makers. I always try to choose heart-led companies in my work and I love the ethos of Jim Lawrence, the attention to detail and the fact it is all hand made locally. The products are also built to last which helps reduce our throw-away culture.

Of course we love your lighting choices, but where do you find inspiration for the rest of the décor?

I am always inspired by the natural world and try to get outside whenever possible to walk in the woods or over the fields. I forage fallen branches, foliage and dried seed-heads to brIng into our home to create interesting vignettes. I also love the association of fond memories when I see the pieces in my home and remember the walks or family time when we collected them. I subscribe to magazines such as 91, Enki, Elle Decoration and always look at interiors magazines when I am travelling for inspiration. I go to Design fairs and am often falling down an Instagram rabbit hole finding new Makers to follow!

When it comes to designing a room, where do you start?

I always start by taking everything out, this doesn’t have to be done physically, but it’s easy when you live in a room to just accept that pieces have their place. Sometimes just moving a sofa, adding a mirror to reflect natural light into a dark corner, bringing in some plants for colour and their health benefits and having a declutter can radically change a room on a small budget. It’s also really important to think about what a room is used for and to consider storage needs.

What has been your favourite space to design?

Ooh that’s such a tricky one as I have never done a project I didn’t really enjoy! I think it would have to be one of my first commercial design projects helping transform an old run down Barn into a cool Scandi inspired kids play space, cafe and studios. It was all done on a very small budget and I worked with the lovely owner Jo repurposing lots of pieces from a barn on the family farm where people stored things they didn’t want any more. We used lots of natural materials, upcycled most of the furniture and custom made pieces using scaffold boards and other vintage finds.

I have also really enjoyed renovating a holiday cottage on the Suffolk coast where we had to balance design aesthetics with the practicalities needed for a property that is let out. It’s now one of the most popular rentals on the agency’s books which is hugely rewarding.

Why did you start hosting the Kinship Gatherings?

When I started Kinship Creative Design Consultancy I wanted to meet like-minded people running their own small business, to make connections and find ways to collaborate and support each other. I couldn’t find anything locally so I started one myself. We meet every six months and there is now a wonderful network of creatives, Makers, small business owners and people who would like to set up their own business but are not quite there yet. It’s a hugely supportive network and we offer a workshop as part of the gathering as well as coffee and cake to fuel our creativity!

What events do you have coming up that our audience might be interested in?

Our next gathering is on Feb 7th and will feature a workshop about Marketing for small businesses. We also occasionally run pop-up gatherings which have taken place in Bristol and Guildford. We also run creative workshops and have some fun ones coming up in the New Year including Ceramics, Modern Calligraphy and Photography and Styling. I am also planning workshops on sustainable living, plant styling and care, and some new crafting workshops.

Finally, what’s on the cards for you Kinship Creative in 2020?

I am looking forward to some really exciting new interior design projects including redesigning a bridal studio, helping create a series of glamping lodges and some private home projects. I am also looking forward to styling shoots, helping small businesses thrive, expanding our Kinship Community through our Gatherings, working on some content creation with brands that share my values and maybe even finding time to make a few changes in our own home!!

To see what’s on and attend one of Kay’s events take a look here. To make sure you don’t miss out, sign up to the monthly community newsletters. To see more of her interior styling and stunning scandi home, follow Kay on Instagram at @kinship_creativedc. To shop her style, browse our website to see all of our hand forged and finished lighting and homeware.

At Jim Lawrence we believe that the exterior design of your home is as important as the inside. What you choose to put outside serves as a taster of the beauty within. What better ⁠place to start than the one place your guests reach for first? It can be hard to get a real feel for door furniture from a photo on your screen, but you’ll have to trust us (and our other customers) that you will fall head over heels for the quality and finish. We’ve selected our favourite Jim Lawrence Autumnal door decor on Instagram paired with our knockers, bells, numbers and knobs to inspire you this season.

Serving as a warm welcome, wreaths are a fun and interchangeable way to liven up your home entrance all year round, but particularly enjoyed in the greyer months. And what a wreath this is! Dried flowers give off an antiqued feel, with a crisp golden ‘patina’ that is both seasonal and pretty in autumnal décor. We love the blend of red and pink, creating an autumnal crown for our Heart Knocker in Matt Black on customer Victoria’s pastoral front door.

Another golden tinged adornment for the front door, this colourful homemade wreath bounces off the door furniture beautifully. We love this image inviting us inside to see a glimpse of our Bonham Lantern in Antiqued Brass. Deep blue hues are a gorgeous match for brass hardware. Always one of our go-to shades, customer Jess has mastered this classic ‘blue and brass’ look perfectly in her exterior design.

A successful harvest just in time for Halloween… This magnificent display from customers Pollyanna and Nick embodies everything we love about autumn itself. Crisp scattered leaves, plump pumpkins and another fabulous wreath ticks all our October door decor boxes. A grand entrance with or without the Halloween inspired styling, we always find ourselves admiring the use of our Putney Porch Light in their doorway…it looks like it was made to fit. For similar Antiqued Brass door accessories shop here.

If florals aren’t your thing, but function is…look no further. Minimal but impeccably stylish, our Matt Black door accessories matched with our Newport Downlighter will provide a smart silhouette in the daylight and a neatly illuminated, practical feel in darker evenings. This hard wearing, durable finish is the perfect choice for creating a timeless and sophisticated look all year round.

Our popular Antiqued Brass finish seen on the Melton Door Knocker, Regency Door Handle and Letterplate. A rustic posy of herbs is a lovely way to greet guests in terms of sight and scents, and can be popped into a vase later when you want to change up the display.

We would love to see more of your autumnal door decor, so don’t forget to tag us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. For some ideas on autumnal décor inside the home, take a look at our interior Autumn Edit here. For a wealth of home décor and interior inspiration, view our Pinterest page. To view all of our lighting and homeware visit our website. Happy shopping!

Experienced self builder, project manger and interior designer, Sarah Farrington is no stranger to a home renovation. Using Jim Lawrence lights in every room, she has just completed a new build called Gamekeeper’s Lodge, backdropped by its own 3-acre woods and with two beautiful lakes with surrounding views of the Warwickshire countryside.

Naturally curious to see more, we spoke to Sarah about her interior design business Farrington’s Design and her plans for this incredible location.

Thank you for agreeing to take part in our Beautiful Homes series, Sarah! You create many beautiful homes, but let’s start by talking about the extraordinary Gamekeepers Lodge. What inspired you to take on this project?

The stunning location of the plot. It’s idyllic and the thought of owning a woodland and lake with my teenage boys was very exciting. Despite living in London for the last twenty years, I’m a real outdoors girl at heart! The planning permission for the house was already agreed and I could see how the finished house should look and feel as soon as I saw the plans.

I’m a very instinctive person and although the cost of the land was more than I had budgeted for our entire self-build project I knew that the land was right and I was going to pull out all the stops to make it a success. After my previous eco self-build project in London it was the perfect next project for me, with the opportunity to design something contemporary, country and have a lot of fun.

Once the lodge is finished, what are your plans for the property?

I’m so glad you asked me that, as I’ve got some exciting plans for both the lodge and the beautiful woods that surround it. I designed a home to inspire both myself and my clients as I will run my interior design company from here. Seeing the products that I sourced in situ will hopefully help clients visualise how I can help their visions come together. So far, the big talking points include the elegant lighting, the calming effect of the electric blinds, how the porcelain tiles flow throughout and the beautiful bathrooms.

Gamekeeper’s Lodge is not just about the interior though. The views stretch for miles over typical English countryside, there are meadows with a natural swimming lake and a fishing pond with carp, plus a beautiful 3-acre woodland with paths and glades that wrap around the back of the house. I’m looking at ways to provide an inspirational location for groups to come and work, whether that’s a creative workshop for local artists, photography courses or even corporate hospitality events for companies looking for an ‘away from it all’ venue for the day. Essentially, space hosting for groups that want to increase productivity by working in a tranquil and special setting.

Finally, I’ve got a long-term back burner plan to diversify into the glamping business, albeit only on small scale. I’d like to be able to offer romantic, stylish woodland breaks in luxury bell tents. I have a lot of work to do in the woodland before that plan can be put in motion though so for now I’m looking to finish the garden landscaping, build my vegetable garden and get some free-range chickens roaming around!

We are very honoured that you chose to use our products across the whole lodge. What made you decide to do this?

I like to source products that will stand the test of time. Jim Lawrence lights exude elegance and luxury, from the hand-blown glass pendants, to the weight and depth of colour on the Lexington Pendant I used over the kitchen island and of course I love that retro cabling. I also wanted my suppliers to be UK companies where possible, Harvey Jones for the kitchen, Crosswater for bathrooms and Millboard for composite decking on the balcony.

I did a similar thing copying the colour of the Clay Aldgate Wall Light either side of my  “Jono’s Lobster” painting, with a pair of Clay Albion Spotlights either side of the mirror at the other end of the open plan space to unite both ends of this large room. The Aldgate is the perfect choice for task lighting over a kitchen worktop with an adjustable head. The Clay finish is a wonderful colour, really crisp and clean, complementing the colours on my hand painted kitchen in Cornforth White and De Nimes by Farrow & Ball.

When designing a room, at what stage do you first consider the lighting?

The earlier the better. The right lighting literally transforms a house, creating mood and atmosphere. In a new build the wiring takes place early on in the construction phase. You have a clean canvas to work on so the earlier you start to plan the more time you have to go through several iterations and get it right.

I create Pinterest boards for each room and one for lighting, pulling together images that inspire me. I transfer images to a mood board so I can see the overall effect coming together. Using photocopies of scale drawings of the room and the furniture that will be used, I play at moving this around as I think about how and what time of day the room will be used. Finally, I layer the lighting plan on top of that.

For example, I knew our snug lounge would be used for family board games in the afternoons and being East facing it won’t get the afternoon sun so I hung one large and one slighter smaller Balmoral pendant over the coffee table to give this area plenty of task light. Hanging at slightly different heights they cast dramatic shadows against the vaulted ceiling and the brushed brass finish adds warmth to the room.

Clients often say to me that they need to see the finished room before they can even think about lighting but by looking at the natural light, using ceiling heights, thinking about where furniture will be positioned it soon starts to become obvious where the key lighting features should go. Just working through the various layers of lighting and uses of each space helps pull a plan together.

How did you manage to create the depth and comfort of a country home in a new building?

Including features and materials in the building structure that might appear in a more period country property can really help here, the exposed oak trusses were my starting point as they would normally appear in a barn conversion or traditional country house so I was certain these had to be included from the initial design stages. Later I added features such as the painted tongue and groove panelling in the boot room, easy to add, wood panelling adds instant impact and character.

The antique brass finish on the Jim Lawrence lighting adds a period feel. Whilst most of the lighting flows from room to room in beautiful neutrals of slate grey, clay or hand-blown glass for me it’s the four Cranleigh Wall Lights that break up the long line of the upper hall with their soft fabric, Half Shades in Stirling Check Lovat Wool, that exude a very classic, country home feel to me.

A house in an English woodland definitely deserves to include warm colour and texture of oak. It resonates comfort and luxury. I chose solid oak internal doors, window ledges and staircase albeit all designed with a very clean contemporary style and then continued with coffee tables and my new Scandi divine dining table, which sits central to the house and brings all the family together.

It can be overwhelming when looking at a room you want to change, but not knowing where to start. Talk us through your design process. If you want to tackle a single room redesign where do you begin?

How much light the room gets at different times of the day and the view from the windows is my first consideration as it will determine the best room layout and also colour choices. I like to present clients with several room layouts to discuss and see what will work best for how they intend to enjoy the space. I enjoy thinking about the key features of the room, any focal points to restore such as an old fireplace or ceiling cornice which maintain the history of the house. I always think about the existing furniture or art that will stay in the room. It’s not financially viable or eco-friendly to just keep buying new things all the time. Old pieces add character and charm, can be up-cycled to provide a more contemporary edge but are part of the design story. My aim is to design elegant spaces, which are also comfortable and enjoyable. A home has to be approachable as well as astounding.

Of course you have to adapt per project according to the client, but how would you describe your own interior style in three words?

Contemporary. Country. Classy.

What advice can you give to those passionate about interiors wanting to turn their home décor skills into a job like yours?

Definitely do a professional qualification before you start. I did the National Design Academy Interior Design Diploma. It put a lot of what I already understood and practised, for example Colour Theory, into context and it gave me the confidence to move into areas where previously I was lacking technical expertise, such as window treatments. It included research into the history of design which is a great grounding for everything we do in design today. Very importantly it includes marketing and how to start a business. It’s an intensive course and the tutors expect a high standard of work from you but I feel able to offer a more professional and complete service to clients as a result of completing it.

I’m lucky as my earlier working life as a chartered accountant and venture capitalist really helps with managing your own company so I would probably advise them to do some sort of business management course or at least a short book keeping course as it’s not just about being able to design a beautiful room. Budgeting and project management skills help the whole process come together smoothly.

The Gamekeepers lodge certainly looks like anyone’s dream project, but do you have a sort of ‘bucket list’ renovation in mind one day?

I would love to do a beach house in a coastal Hamptons style. I would include large floor to ceiling windows like at Gamekeeper’s but opening out onto the beach with white washed wooden floors. Bright blue hues and crisp cream linens, textures of woven fabrics and distressed wood and of course jars of sea shells. Obviously, my favourite Lobster painting would be at home here too.

Locally I would also love to renovate and restore a Georgian style house, there are so many in Leamington, so that would be a fun project. I love bringing out the history of a house, it’s always exciting discovering what’s behind a plastered over fireplace. The 400 year old farmhouse I restored in Mallorca had a lot of those exciting moments where you find old wooden window ledges or historic stone floors that can put back the history in a room. There are a wealth of tile designs, fabulous wallpapers and paint colours available now that would make a Georgian country home project like that really rewarding.

What will you be working on for the rest of 2019?

Building my interior design business, so lots of marketing and improving the website. I also want to start a blog to share my experiences during the two years I’ve been focused on the Gamekeeper’s project! September is always an inspirational time with shows like Decorex and 100% Design to attend so it’s the ideal time to be finding new clients, sharing experiences and ideas.

Ideally my next client would be someone who needs my project management skills including budget planning, scheduling deliveries and handling of sub-contractors as well as my interior design experience in sourcing beautiful products to complete a contemporary, country home.

Sarah, can be contacted through her website at www.farringtons.design and more pictures of the Gamekeeper’s project can be seen at www.gamekeeperslodge.co.uk. To stay up to date with Jim Lawrence, follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. To view our full lighting collection, visit our website.

Aldgate Wall Light, Fulbourn Pendant Light, Lexington Pendant, Mia Bathroom Pendant, Club Wall Light

Sian is restoring her period home with a relaxed almost bohemian style, tinged with vintage-look items and a cool industrial edge. An expert in carefully-curated eclecticism, we wanted to find out more about Sian’s history with interiors, and her advice on layering with textures that she does so well…

Sian, welcome to the style journal! We’ve been admiring your lovely home from afar for a while now – is this the first time you have refurbished a period property?

This property is the 13th house I’ve refurbished and they’ve all been period homes bar one which was a 1930s property but still with good bones and elegance. I suppose I’m a bit of a serial renovator which I do alongside my full-time job. I really miss it when I don’t have a project on the go. My job as a lawyer is quite dry and stressful and so refurb gives me an outlet where I can get practical on DIY and creative on the design.

I absolutely love refurbing houses but really focus only on period homes. I love that we are only custodians of houses but can have a long-lasting impact on their future and value. Having restored a couple of listed homes from the Georgian and Victorian era, I’ve learnt so much about historical styles but also love the restoration element, bringing back the former beauty and elegance of period homes and features. It’s so heart-breaking to see a building with beautiful bones that has been neglected or, worse, renovated badly. Restoring former elegance is what I love doing, but with a contemporary edge to bring it into the 21st century both technologically and operationally and also stylistically and aesthetically. I love how a mix of antique and modern works in harmony so effectively.

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

I think the key is to respect the integrity of the building but accept that we need to live with 21st century developments. So I try to keep all period features and the basic structure and proportions but understand that electrics and plumbing, together with building work, needs to be functional and technologically advanced in order for us to live our lives optimally.

Conservation work does involve the occasional compromise but I do think it’s possible to work around most challenges and restore whilst still updating and complying with modern building regulations. I’ve found local conservation societies and council planning and conservation departments to be very helpful. Planning authorities now tend to allow extensions to period properties which are actually a modern contrast to the old, acknowledging that often this contrast and juxtaposition is better than a bad attempt at melding or replicating the original.

We first came across your Instagram feed when you started tagging us in all your lighting shots. When did you first come across our lighting?

I first bought from Jim Lawrence when restoring a 17th century village house in the Cotswolds. The brass finish I was looking for was readily available with all Jim Lawrence ranges as standard and I found this choice of beautiful products in the exact finish I wanted to be a major selling point. At the time this was really unusual and I saw Jim Lawrence as being a leader in this area. Once I’d received the downlighters and pendants I’d needed, and seen the quality and attention to detail, I then set about gradually replacing my lamps and ceiling lighting in other rooms! Since then I’ve used Jim Lawrence products in every refurb I’ve done.

I like the variation in your products, the fact that you can choose the metal finish and cable colour, and am impressed by the expanding and diversifying range, but the certainty of quality and customer service is the major point. I’ve sometimes been disappointed with other brands’ products when they arrive and when you’re working on a refurb project where a house needs dressing to a tight timescale, certainty of quality and service is essential. My electricians now refer to “Jim” having done well when they’re fitting your lights!

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

I really like the vintage bulbs that are available now and the shadeless fixtures show these to full effect but they also add an industrial edge which I really like within period homes. It’s a good contrast against the elegance of Georgian homes and the rustic nature of country/ cottage homes, without being too harsh and conflicting. It also means that the lights and fittings speak for themselves and you can then use other soft furnishings to introduce pattern and texture.

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’?

Oh gosh absolutely. I think that’s one of the pleasures of interiors, that you can constantly tweak or majorly transform. And just changing some lamps or a throw can hugely alter the appearance and ambience of a room. Small changes which don’t break the bank can be just as impactful. I think our homes are a constant evolution as we change and develop and alter our tastes. In the world of interiors there are never ending new possibilities and inventions and so there’s constant inspiration and also temptation! My current passion is sustainability and it’s so wonderful that now it’s easy to buy wonderful products which don’t skimp on style, at a reasonable price, but with the environment in mind.

Where do you find yourself sourcing most of your home inspiration?

It used to be interiors magazines and also look books like the Jim Lawrence one and other brands. Now I use Instagram and pinterest. I only joined Instagram as a way of storing my refurb photographs but soon discovered this amazing warm and welcoming interiors community with a never ending supply of inspiration. I love that you can follow and learn from top-end designers but also equally get amazing inspiration and tips from lovely people sharing their homes. And the search functions mean you can source what you’re looking for and get new ideas so easily and quickly. this informs my thinking so much now but there’s still nothing like flicking through a hard copy and being able to tear sheets for a pinboard though, so I still use magazines and lookbooks for formalising my ideas onto a concept or moodboard.

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

I would always say buy what you love. Whilst there may be a practical element needed, falling in love with items for your home is really important. Sometimes I’ll fall for something and have no idea where to put it but always find a home for those items, and it’s those things that add character and that you cherish and keep forever. That helps with the sustainability point too – buying vintage and recycling and upcycling is a great way of being sustainable and doing good. In terms of layering, I tend to stick to a neutral or monochrome palette and then add interest through texture and form. So I might have a black and white themed shelf display but it might include a vintage picture, a sculpture, photographs, candles and an ornament of some form. Variety can be pulled together into harmony through any number of ways but I tend to use neutral palettes to provide that harmony. I then also add plants or flowers to create some life and movement so it’s not too static and also use tan leather quite a lot for a natural, earthy hint.

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

Gosh, that’s a difficult one. I’ve never really thought about it in terms of having my own style and therefore I don’t feel constrained to stick to anything! I suppose I probably go for things that naturally work together because it’s the same type of things that appeal to me. I think I tend to veer towards timeless, elegant pieces although I do have a mix of some very traditional elements and some highly contemporary. I think these can work together, it’s just a case of trying and seeing as to what works where and with what. For me, it’s really about having fun, and creating something that makes you smile or pause for thought every time you see it.

We love your vintage-inspired look, and as you know many of our own products are influenced by heritage designs. Do you have any truly unique old items in your home that you could never part with?

Oh yes so many! I have a love of brown furniture actually! Some pieces are from my parents and some from second hand stalls. The bureau, Davenport and bedroom chest of drawers are larger items I couldn’t ever lose; a portrait in a heavy gilt frame that I bought when I was young; pretty much all the large antique mirrors in the house; and the antique chandeliers in the living rooms which are a pair. But also much smaller items which have meaning, even down to a set of old bone-handled knives! And my antique perfume bottle collection.

Finally, what’s next for the Restored Home?

Exciting things I hope! I’m planning another refurb in the next 6 months. It’ll be another period home, hopefully a Georgian one in the centre of Oxford. I’ve had 3 years refurb-free settling in my adopted son but now think he needs to experience the joy of a building site! He already has his hard hat and goggles, so we’re ready and raring to go for the next one!

We hope to see a lot of Jim Lawrence in that refurb too! To follow Sian’s home décor journey follow her Instagram account @restored_home. To stay up to date with Jim Lawrence, follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. To view our full lighting and home furnishing collection, visit our website. Happy shopping!

Thorpe Wall Light, Pendant Lampholder, Harleston Table Lamp, Burford Table Lamp, Fulbourn Pendant Light

The team behind Thatched Cottage Cotswolds have created a beautifully cool country holiday cottage with sophisticated brass details throughout. Quintessentially British complete with thatching, classic period features and located in the picturesque Cotswolds, it’s a perfect home away from home.

We spotted some beautifully styled Jim Lawrence products amongst the sweet wooden panelling and stone walls, and wanted to delve a little deeper into this stylish cottage décor. We spoke to owner Vicky about the quirks of period homes and how to stay in tune with a cottage feel without becoming twee…

The first room we spotted of yours was the perfectly quaint double bedroom with shutters, beams and our dainty Curtis Spotlights. What made you choose these lights over a pendant or other styles?

When we were designing thatched cottage I knew the look we wanted to create. The cottage walls are mostly sloped so having the chance to add some panelling was very exciting too as I adore panelling. It has totally transformed that room. The tongue and groove in the kitchen actually slopes with the wall which I love!

I chose the Single Curtis Spot Lights because they perfectly fitted in with the beautiful panelling as a backdrop.
I particularly liked the traditional twist of the fabric covered wire, and they also can be angled to work perfectly as a bedside lamp.

The cottage is a 17th century property, how does the history of the building effect your interior design choices?

To be the custodian of these beautiful buildings as we are, it’s always the feeling of the building as well as the look: a quintessentially cottage feel but not twee. I think if a house looks good naked you’ve done well. A focus on floors, walls, windows and doors etc. I wanted to keep it light, timeless and uncluttered but cosy. A serene colour palette. I’m a huge fan of light white interiors adding colour with picture, cushions and throws.

Period homes have their quirks, so which room was the most challenging to style and why?

Probably the sitting room. The quirk here is the shape. Originally there would have only been one room up and down, with a ladder to reach the room upstairs. With the addition of stairs some years ago, this narrowed the room somewhat, so positioning furniture was key. Having a sofa and a separate reading nook works really well here, as the inglenook dominates the room that end which is a feature in itself. We added some old tin buckets re-purposed for wood and kindling, plus our gorgeous Harrods box found in an antique shop fits perfectly for a cosy coffee table. It’s a great place to sit in the evening enjoying the fire and a glass of wine, or to cuddle up on the sofa and watch a film.

What are the main perks of your charming Cotswolds location?

We are in Whichford, a small village famous for its pottery so have regular visitors attracted to the area. There is a classic car meeting every third Thursday of the month too, and fortunately still a thriving village pub which is a rarity now in lots of villages. It’s perfect if you like peace and quiet: no street lights and no traffic! The dulcet tones of the nearby St Michaels church are very soothing and feel classically English countryside.

Was it always your intention to set up the cottage as a holiday destination?

Yes, we love the area so much and will be using it ourselves more as our children grow up and we have more spare time.

In your opinion, what are the three key ingredients for creating the perfect home away from home?

A great bed, great bedlinen and a great shower. And bath… That’s four! Having travelled extensively in my time at BA these were the most important aspects of creating a home from home feel and this is where we started.

And you definitely chose a good bath! Talk us through the design process for that heavenly bathroom of yours.

I have always loved the idea of a bath in the bedroom so having the opportunity when we renovated the cottage was a dream come true. It is not for everyone, but when you are on holiday it’s perfect. A bit different. A lovely little luxury. The single Barbican Pendant Light by the entrance is perfect too, we hooked it over to the side and it gives the perfect glow while relaxing in the roll top bath. A great spot to relax after a days exploring!

Of course we love your lighting choices, but where do you find inspiration for the rest of the décor?

My inspiration comes from the looks that I love on Pinterest and Instagram. There’s some incredible talented people out there and these platforms have transformed the way we all live and design houses. For me personally I think stay away from trends, traditional and timeless elegance is key. Less is more.

Thatched Cottage looks ideal for a cosy getaway in the autumn and winter months with its gorgeous fireplace. How do you recommend refreshing home interiors for the lighter summer months?

The summer months are really about throwing open the shutters to a garden abundant with shrubs, jasmine, honeysuckle and roses, feeling like the outside is coming in. The scent of these plants is gorgeous. We have added some beautiful slightly bonkers flowery armchairs  (a collaboration with Joules) for the summer months. In winter we have lovely leather chairs for a more muted palette.

Last but not least…what’s the next step for the Thatched Cottage?

The next step for Thatched cottage is to continue to be an inspiration for others. The amazing feedback we have from a followers on Instagram is heart warming, having inspired many other home owners doing up similar properties. We’d love to be featured in a Homes magazine one day, but our intention was to offer a boutique hotel room in a whole cottage was our ultimate goal which I feel we have hopefully achieved.

We think it’s safe to say Thatched Cottage has exceeded this goal – but why not find out for yourself? Book a stay in this idyllic Cotswold’s location here. To follow their décor journey, take a peek at their Instagram @thatchedcottagecotswolds.

Single Curtis Spotlight, Monkey Tail Forged Window Latch, Barbican Pendant, Bletchley Roll Top Soap Basket

To stay up to date with Jim Lawrence, follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. To view our full lighting collection, visit our website. Happy shopping!

There’s certainly a cosy french farmhouse feel to your home, but woven together with a love for a darker, eclectic Victorian influence. Where do you source most of your inspiration?

The inspiration definitely comes from the old pieces we buy rather than online or magazines. When we bought the cottage it had a fitted eighties kitchen which we ripped out. We then bought an old shop counter at the auction and then another 3! It was great fun putting together an unfitted kitchen. We even used an old Victorian workbench to put the kitchen sink on!

What influenced your decision to go for dark walls?

We first went very dark grey in our bedroom ten years ago using a Sanderson paint called Battlement. I’d seen an image of a dark room in a grand old house and loved it. We loved the bedroom so much that the kitchen soon followed and then the lounge. Virtually the whole house is dark and moody now but I’m currently redecorating the kitchen with black woodwork and white walls with the lounge to follow.

With Christmas around the corner we thought it fitting to shows some appreciation for our dedicated and, it goes without saying, very stylish customers. We usually focus on one home in our Beautiful Home series, but at this festive time of giving made us want to share out the love!

We’ve been inundated with beautiful imagery of our lights and home accessories worked into Christmas décor, and with such an abundance of interior and exterior inspiration, we wanted to share it all with you…

Emma of @thelittlestonecottage never fails to amaze with her chic modern country style. Here she pairs our Antiqued Brass Heart Knocker and the Shaftsbury Front Door Knob with cotton, eucalyptus and pine cones for a subtle but delightfully rustic stylish welcome.

We’re no strangers to the beauty of the Cotswolds, but Pollyanna of @the_old_school_house always stops us in our scrolling tracks when she posts shots of this showstopping entrance. The powder blue door helps her wreath to sing! Our Ava Porch Light will illuminate the space perfectly – a gorgeous ‘welcome home’ sight on these chilly winter nights.

A pair of Wall Mounted Hackney Lanterns are a wonderful match for a traditionally festive exterior. There is something extremely inviting and cosy about this country entrance from the @yorkshirepartridge, we can smell mince pieces and mulled wine already!

Sian of @interiorbliss_design is always wowing us with her innovative styling, and her Christmas looks are no different! It goes to show that wreaths are just as pretty indoors and out, however you choose to interpret them! Get the look with our Antiqued Brass Pendant Lampholders.

This one is just missing a dusting of snow… Deborah sent this in on Facebook and the Polished Heart Knocker has never looked so at home. We’d be tempted to leave this up all year round!

A divine colour palette, all year round. You’ll recognise this front door because we love posting it so much… Emmy of @emmyhomeinteriors always seems to dress up her door frame with the most vibrant foliage, and with Christmas here she has made no exception. The Peacock Lantern in Antiqued Brass is a permanent fixture that looks like it was designed just for her…

Another Facebook-sourced masterpiece! Alison’s Antiqued Brass Granary Light oversees our Polished Knocker and Scrolled Handle, lit up by pops of deep green and red completing this very ‘Jim Lawrence’ Christmassy home…

Keep an eye out for more like this on our Instagram. Have you got some shots you’d like to share? Please follow us @JimLawrenceMade and tag us in your Christmas interior and exterior pictures. We can’t wait to see… To shop our outdoor lighting and door furniture, visit www.jim-lawrence.co.uk. Merry Christmas!

From a career in PR to floristry and now interior styling, Leoma has all the key ingredients for a successful Instagram – and that is exactly what Style The Clutter is. We found her account after Leoma tagged us in some beautiful shots of her updated boot room using our hooks, and are now avid followers of her delicious home updates.  An eclectic mix of old and new, Style The Clutter gives us a tour of Leoma’s home, influenced by traditional rustic French style and mixed with clean contemporary Scandinavian design.

Leoma, we want to ask what drew you to this house, but it is obviously a stunning space! What features in particular sealed the deal for you?

I was instantly drawn to the high ceilings and beautiful period features along with the well balanced layout. Moving a bit further outside of London meant we were getting more internal space and a bigger garden too, so that was a massive drawing point.

When did you decide to depart the floristry world and move into interiors?

It sort of just happened! While I was pregnant with my son I struggled to keep on top of the floristry, as is was very physically demanding, so I focused more on the house. I also started helping a few friends out with their projects and it all took off from there… Since then I have done further projects all through word of mouth and of course I can’t seem to stop tweaking my own home, which is something I absolutely love doing.

What encouraged you to document the renovation progress online?

I was quite housebound when my son was born as he suffered from allergies, so I just started taking pictures of our home and bits that I was working on at the time. I wish I had documented more form the beginning, but we had already lived in the house for 1 year before I started Instagramming so had already done a lot of work to it.

You describe your home style as traditional rustic with a scandi twist, where does this influence stem from?

I went through a more contemporary phase in our last property however I have always loved mixing old with new, our current home lends itself to this style beautifully. However thinking about this more in depth, I think the traditional rustic side stems from my upbringing. My mother is French and loves antiques, as did my great grandfather who was a collector. I remember being wowed by his barn full of grandfather clocks and beautiful armoires as a child and used to love exploring through all his treasures.

How do you tap into adding your own personality into a home?

I think this is something that has happened organically over time. Colour, accessorizing, textures and pattern play a major part and say a lot about personalities and individual style. As I have got older I am a lot more confident using quite daring tones, especially as a colour pop within a room for example, painting just the inside of a door bright pink, in fact I can get quite carried away…

We love the branch feature above your dining table – inspired! This must be influenced by your floral background?

My floral background definitely comes out over Christmas and that was how the branch came about, as Christmas trees in that specific room always tend to die very quickly, due to the underfloor heating. I decided to hang a branch over the table and decorate it for the season, however it has now become a permanent feature and been up for 8 months, I love tweaking it each season and for family celebrations.

Which has been your favourite room of the house to design?

The utility/laundry room was the most satisfying, originally a very annoying dead space as its very narrow and quite small. It took me a while to figure out what to do with it, I even considered taking out a wall! However through creating a wall to wall coat rack with a storage bench below and cabinets on the other side with lots of shelving, it has totally transformed the room and it now works so well. For storage and as a second entrance to the house.

Which has been the most challenging?

The room we now have as a play room was quite challenging as it was a through room with no windows except for a glass door going into another room. The chimney had been blocked up, so it really didn’t have much to it. So we decided to open up the chimney and put in a stove, we took out the doors this opened up the whole area into the orangery/kitchen which works really well giving a nice flow to the house. I then brightened it up with fun kids accessories and a pink sofa, its’s now such a nice airy room for the children to play that will turn into more of a snug area when they get older.

If you could go back and give advice to yourself before starting up the project, what would it be?

I wish I had lived in the house longer, instead of making rushed decisions before we moved in. It’s always a good way of getting a feel for the space, however I sometimes think if you don’t go for it, you never will. So it’s about finding a balance between the two and perhaps not rushing so much and having a little mull… I also think it’s good to go for things that you really like and that will last and be timeless rather than a trend or something you are not sure about.

Last but not least, what is next for ‘Style The Clutter’ in 2018?

What next… I have started to revamp rooms/homes all through word of mouth for clients, which is very exciting! I also might open a little online shop at some point focused on styling the clutter, but this is still very much in the pipeline as I Iove being a mummy too, so I’m trying to work out a balance.

Wilton Lantern in Matt Black, Walcot Glass Pendant in Antiqued Brass, Chandler Coat Hook in Antiqued Brass

To see her full home transformation follow Leoma on Instagram. Read more about the work behind the pictures on her blog.

‘Natali in Norfolk’ is the Instagram account of Natali Pendleton, documenting her interior design and fashion choices from her luxury country lifestyle in Norfolk. We loved Natali’s dramatic bedroom design featuring Jim Lawrence lights and sockets, and needed to take a closer look at the rest of the beautiful building. In the process of a big renovation, Natali has given us an insider look into her gorgeous Georgian home.

Susi Bellamy’s vibrantly abstract designs are marbled with clashing colours that are certain to liven up your home. Her cushion prints, shades and wallpapers are vivacious and arresting – much like her own interior decor. After noticing Susi had used one of our wall lights on an explosive stucco wallpaper in an Instagram post, we soon fell into the rabbit hole that is exploring her whimsical home.