In celebration of our rural roots, we are thrilled to introduce our new Cow Parsley Collection in three pretty colourways. This fabric features an almond coloured Cow Parsley motif on a cotton mix of Duck Egg Blue, Soft Gold and Soft Grey.

We feel it only natural to embrace our British heritage when it comes to our products. We live in a place of such historical richness where inspiration is all around, constantly influencing our design choices whether through architecture, colour or age-old manufacturing techniques.

We have all spent a great deal of time reassessing what it means to be home, and one thing that has united many of us is the appreciation for the beautiful landscapes that we have on our doorstep in Britain. What better way to pay tribute to the beautiful countryside of England than creating a product that celebrates our natural surroundings every month of the year?

Still based on the farm where the business began over 20 years ago, Jim and Sheena are well versed in the landscape of rural Suffolk. In Spring, the familiar sight of Cow Parsley is laced through the hedgerows, dancing its way down the bumpy country lane customers once travelled down to find us.

Synonymous with country living, this delicate wild plant was a first choice for our fabric pattern. When it came to choosing the colour palette, it was clear that plucking their favourite views rom the farm across all mesmerising seasons would be translated into this new collection.

We opted for Grey, Blue and Gold to summarise the best parts of country life from January-December. Soft Grey to emulate the fresh dew of early spring mornings, autumnal woodsmoke and the crisp frost of winter. Soft Gold inspired by the glowing warmth of late September light, fire embers in December and the flourishing tones of daffodils come March. Suffolk is renowned for its skyscapes thanks to its relatively flat terrain, so a sprightly Duck Egg hue honours the large expanse of blue that creates a striking backdrop no matter the weather.

There is nothing quite like returning home from a walk in the countryside and pulling your arms from your coat sleeves to a hint of lingering woodsmoke or cut grass before putting the kettle on. This collection conjures memories just like these: kicking off muddy boots at the doorstep and warming your hands on the radiator, admiring the first blooms of spring and the hum of wildlife in the trees. Our Cow Parsley collection neatly encapsulates all of these small seasonal joys into something you can admire all year round as part of your interior.

Swapping out your soft furnishings like cushions is a great way to update a room without having to redesign fully. Blending or contrasting these natural neutrals creates a beautiful country colour palette.

Choose from our Classic Candle Shades, French Drum Candle Shades and 20cm French Drum style to suit your home style. Cotton is one of the most commonly used fabrics for lamp shades as it is lightweight, durable and has a softness that is ideal for diffusing light evenly around a room.

Order any length you need to incorporate these colourways into your interior design. Alternatively, our expert team of seamstresses create beautiful made-to-measure curtains & blinds from our collection. Call us for a quotation.

Our Cow Parsley has a loose, rustic weave that gives it a wonderful texture akin to linen. It is uniform appearance and brings a fresh, understated elegance for a laid-back kitchen, living room or bedroom whether enjoyed as a shade or cut fabric like curtains and blinds.

Match our soft natural neutrals with seasonal wool and tweed, or choose the rich nap of sumptous velvets in teal and pink for a beautiful modern country look.

The story of Jim Lawrence began in 1994 at his Suffolk farm. Jim was busy rearing pigs and cows but it was clear that stock farming on such a small scale was not going to be profitable and Jim needed to find something else to do. He decided to set up a forge in one of the farm buildings and experimented by making specialist pieces for friends and neighbours.

From this modest beginning, Jim began producing a small range of candlesticks and chandeliers and selling them at fairs and markets. He then moved on to gates, railings and curtain poles and from the reaction of his customers’ he realised there was a demand for stylish, designer quality fixtures and fittings for the home, made with natural materials.

By 2000 Jim Lawrence had expanded to such a degree that Jim knew he had to move. The business had outgrown the farm buildings it was housed in and customers, staff and delivery men struggled daily down a bumpy farm track to find it. Since most of the staff came from the nearby market town of Hadleigh, in 2008 Jim moved the company there, taking over an empty bottling factory on the outskirts of town that came with lots of room for workshops, offices and a warehouse.

Over the past 20 years Jim Lawrence has worked very hard to build up a reputation for making classic, high quality products using traditional, handcrafted techniques. Today we employ a skilled team of 150 engineers, welders, painters, seamstresses, designers, lampshade makers and technicians, alongside a full cohort of support staff. The workshops sit alongside a large and airy showroom where customers can view our full range of products, all clearly displayed to make choosing your perfect lighting and home accessories as straightforward as possible. We also now have a showroom in the beautiful area of Walcot in Bath.

By focusing on quality of materials, craftsmanship, outstanding customer service and the well-being of the Jim Lawrence community, our mission is to create stylish, designer quality fixtures and fittings for the home made with natural materials. It is our belief that by selling directly to our customers, we can guarantee that every product we sell meets the exacting quality control standards we have set and for which we are renowned.We have come a long way since our farm days and you may no longer have to bump down a track to find us. But our ethos remains the same: to provide individually handmade products and the highest possible levels of customer service. Read the whole story here, and view our full collection of products.

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.

From capturing the essence of your four-legged friends to creating bespoke carvings of your own home, fellow East-Anglian Laurie Cripps prints on beautiful card stock, cotton and linen to create timeless keepsakes for your interiors under the brand name Ratty Golightly.

Laurie’s quaint signature style can be found on many a Jim Lawrence product, so we felt it time to revisit her charming hand-crafted lino prints and share more about them. You can enjoy her designs on a selection of our stylish modern country fabrics, available in a range of original candle shades and cut lengths exclusive to Jim Lawrence.

Laurie, can you tell our audience a little bit about why you started up Ratty Golightly?

Ratty Golightly evolved out of a number of projects. I’ve always been drawn to the process of print from typewriting to calligraphy. I’m also passionate about letter writing and think it is an art to be cherished. There is something so relaxing about putting pen to paper that you cannot replicate with a text message or email. Ratty Golightly designs and creates hand carved linoprints for stationery and fabrics.

Why lino?

Like many people I dabbled with print making at school but it wasn’t until recent years that it became a passion. Lino print produces a very naïve form of the original subject. I love the process of taking a subject and reducing it to a series of cuts in a block. You never quite know how a piece will turn out until you ink the block and transfer it to paper.

What does your typical work day look like?

Running a small business is always busy and varied. A typical day could include a trip to the local post office to send out orders from Rattygolightly.com, hand-printing cards to maintain stock levels and drawing a house in preparation for the linoprint of a client’s home. Depending on the time of year there is also preparation for Pop-up shops and sales. There’s also a lot of time spent creating new prints!

Lino printing is an inky business! Describe your work space, are you a messy or tidy worker?

To make the most of every moment I have to be quite methodical and try to contain the messy bits wherever possible. That said I think its hard to find a creative who works in a totally tidy manner. One of the biggest challenges for me is that I am left handed which means I am a natural ‘smudger’…

As a very dog orientated workplace, our favourite prints have got to be the Labrador fabrics. Which item that you have created do you treasure the most?

I love the print of my own four legged friend, Tatty. She is a Bedlington Terrier X Whippet so it was the first time that I had her in print. This year I also made the time to make a block of my own cottage which I then used as the basis of our family Christmas card. The designs I’ve done for Jim Lawrence are very special to me as they represent something that has been really fun and rewarding.

A close second for us are the bespoke prints of your customers homes. Where did the idea behind ‘capturing the castle’ come from?

Well its a play on a few things, most notably Dodie Smith’s Suffolk-based novel I Capture the Castle, which I love and also the old maxim that ‘an Englishman’s home is his castle’. A Ratty Golightly linoprint of your home is a unique way to capture your own castle to have framed or use in your own personal stationery.

We know about the quirks of Ratty Golightly, but do you consider your own home a creative space as well?

Most definitely. I once read an article where an artist commented that the visual impact of their home is highly important to creative people. I was thrilled to discover this as I think some of my family and friends are sometimes baffled by the constant evolution of our home. I’m forever shuffling furniture and rehanging pictures. There are so many ways to be creative in a home, cooking is a great way to be creative from trying out new recipes to decorating the dining table.

Are there any unique Suffolk spots our readers should know about for finding homeware inspiration?

I had a wonderful shopping trip to Vanil in Woodbridge. They stock genuinely different and unusual pieces that have been carefully made. It can be hard to find unique gifts on the high street so I love it when I find a treasure trove. Suffolk is a wonderful county for quality craftsmanship. Last year I stumbled on a Pop Up promoting the slow craft movement in Orford – there were some amazing items all carefully handmade.

To incorporate her hand crafted designs into your home, shop the entire Ratty Golightly collection for Jim Lawrence here. If you want to take a look at more of Laurie’s bespoke designs, you can browse her official site.

We would love to see any pictures of the Ratty Golightly collection in your home! Tag your images on Instagram with #JimLawrenceMade or email to press@jim-lawrence.co.uk.so we won’t miss out. We love seeing our products in their new homes. For further styling inspiration you can browse our Pinterest.

Inspired by the colourways in August’s Home & Gardens Colour Of The Month, we have choreographed an Earthy Pink Edit that really celebrates using blush tones with soft accents of antiqued brass to create a warm welcoming feel in your home.

When we originally put this collection together we absolutely fell for Farrow and Ball’s ‘Sulking Room Pink’. A grown up pastel pink is perfect for offsetting bolder colours (such as a rich teal) and in many respects can act as a neutral in your interior when layered well. We loved this muted warm rose colour the minute we saw it and couldn’t wait to pair it with some of our soft grey textures and antiqued brass pieces.

Blush pink is a delicate update for a space that you want to keep fairly neutral but are after an exciting refresh. Sulking Room Pink is a muted rose tone, with the right amount of warmth to make a room feel cosier, but light and powdery enough to compliment with similar tones and contrast with bright white. See how the Fluted Harleston Lamp with our Soft Grey Waterford Linen Cylinder Shade blends effortlessly into the space.

We always feel that Farrow and Ball’s hues look gorgeous with our products, but dusky pink and brass is absolutely a match made in heaven.  You may know that we create this traditional look by treating solid brass with an antiquing solution, which simply speeds up the natural tarnishing process. This vintage-inspired look is ideal for Sulking Room Pink, as it is evocative of the colours so often used in boudoirs. Paired, they conjure a romanticised intimate old-timely feel, perfect for bedrooms and living rooms that require a soft touch. We love the way the colour shifts with the light from pink to grey – beautifully reflected here in the glass Walcot Pendant.

Why contain trends to the indoors? We love putting emphasis on the exterior of your home, because as we always say…there really is no need to forsake style for function. We promise you can have it all! This is probably our favourite combination. The bulb of our Peacock Lantern looks like welcoming candlelight, and we think it would look beautiful on each side of a soft pink front or back door. You could complete the look with antiqued brass door furniture, creating a sought after but long-lasting external décor design you won’t tire of.

Our fabrics are all available to buy as cut lengths for when you want to get creative at home. Whether used to create curtains, shades or cushions, you can bring an organic texture into your home in a series of beautifully dusky tones with our soft and tactile Waterford Linens and Hunstanton Velvets. This Dusky Pink Velvet is a beautiful muted pink that will add a touch of drama to any interior, reviving your existing scheme without the need to fully redecorate.

This Vintage Pink is a gentle enough to feel neutral and blend effortlessly into your scheme whilst offering a lightly blush accent for a hint of colour. For a deeper colour, opt for our sumptuous oversized cushion cover in Velvet. Above we’ve paired pink with a timeless soft grey, but it works wonderfully with deep tones like navy or a repeat pattern for further visual interest. All of our cushions are handmade here in our Suffolk workshop by our talented team of cushion makers and are available in a wide range of coloured fabrics.

Waterford Linen Cushion Cover in Vintage Pink, Double Morston Wall Light in Antiqued Brass & Clear Glass, Dusky Pink Holborn Pendant Light in Antiqued Brass, French Drum Candle Shade in Dusky Pink Hunstanton Velvet, Curtis Spotlight in Antiqued Brass

We would love to see how you interpret this new look! Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook @JimLawrenceMade and be sure to tag us in your delicious home updates using antiqued brass and pink. We are sure it’s a style that’s here to stay.

We are extremely proud of all of our finishes, but it’s no secret that Antiqued Brass is our signature look. Though colour trends may come and go, we are confident our Brass will match any colour combination you want to throw at it, making it a lasting staple no matter your changing decor decisions. This sought after ‘living finish’ can elevate any room and we’d be hard pushed to find a paint colour it doesn’t look lovely with.

We are fortunate that there are so many excellent paint brands to help us discover new colour combinations for our rustic metallic lighting and homeware. Lately, deeper and more dramatic jewel hues are showing up throughout our customer homes, with an emphasis on neutrals and greens inspired by the natural world emerging in others. With more time spent indoors we’ve all been able to reflect on what we really want from our interiors, leading us to make choices we might have otherwise shied away from. Whether a blend of bold and energetic choices or more low key soothing tones, whatever you love we know our brass will be a great fit. We’ve collated some of our favourite customer homes with beautiful palettes, showcasing the best paint colours to complement their brass accents.

Deep and darker jewel colours like this rich aubergine help to bring out the warmth of our brass, particularly when paired with a Solid Brass Candle Shade for a striking heritage look. Painted in Brinjal by Farrow & Ball, this sophisticated finish packs more of a punch when contrasted against bright white, in this instance allowing our Everleigh to throw its light in an ultra elegant way across both shades. Cosy and stylish in equal measure. Follow @kinara.house to see more of this beautiful 1920’s renovation.

Divine bedroom detailing from @charlotteboundy featured in June’s @englishhomemag photographed by @james_mcdonald_photography. Here Charlotte has opted for Farrow & Ball’s Light Blue on the walls with the deeper De Nimes across the woodwork for a quietly elegant regency look. The Burnt orange soft furnishings against the powder blues create a rich but soothing tapestry of colour for this spare room: a truly idyllic backdrop for our Club Wall Lights.

Matching the sockets, switch and a Single Curtis Wall Light for bedside task lighting is a winning trio in this room to remember from @ballintaggart at The Grandtully Hotel. Painted in the since archived Book Room Red, this stunning panneling gives the patina of our brass a beautiful blushing hue. Framed by the soft pink of Setting Plaster, this grown up pastel pink perfectly offsets the aged dusky red.

Everything in this bedroom from @gladyscottage compliments the item before and after it, creating a considered but organic homely country cottage feel that we could just sink right into. Our Hanson Wall Lights look gorgeous topped with a linen candle shade, matched to more rustic oatmeal colours throughout. Painted in Farrow & Ball’s Skimming Stone, this slightly warmer light grey is an elevated alternative to plain plaster, creating a clean slate and allowing for a pleasing jumble of patterns and texture. Look at our Waterford Cushion Covers and layer Limestone and Grey for a similar look.

Our Lymington looks extremely elegant in this rustic french country style bedroom styled by @marthamiddleton. We already know that tactile linen and naturally aged brass is a match made in interior heaven, but we particularly love how the Half Shade blends into the wall here in our Natural Isabelle Linen, helping every little detail in the brass to stand out. This wall colour from Earthborn is Flutterby , described as ‘nearly white but not quite’, a pretty alternative to an earthy clay. A soothing feel radiates effortlessly from this room: exactly what you want for a laid back bedroom setting.

A gregarious green close up from @far.interiors painted in Invisible Green by Edward Bulmer. This grass green is inspired by the 19th century idea of painting ironwork in the landscape to ‘vanish’ it, truly bringing the outside in. The Victorians were particularly taken by shades of emerald like this, using dyes and paints made with arsenic to create similar vivid green hues. You certainly won’t find anything frightening in these beautiful colours from Edward Bulmer, who are utterly transparent in making eco-friendly paint. Doesn’t knowing this make the room feel even more lovely? Get the vintage look using distressed brass tones, adding warmth for that lovely lived in feel. Give your kitchen cabinets, cupboards and drawers an instant update with our handcrafted Gilby Drawer Pull: made with a quality you can appreciate with every touch. ⁠

A wonderful option for those of you who prefer a more relaxed palette: Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball lends a dusky antiqued charm to this beautiful bathroom featuring our Cheltenham Wall Lights. A vintage vanity unit, scalloped tiles and beautiful brass detailing make for a showstopping space from designers @charnleyandcharnley. What’s not to love about burnished details against this weathered sage green? ⁠⁠

Off-Black by Farrow & Ball is the perfect choice in this striking kitchen from @warehouse_townhouse. Dark and brooding but softer than a too-intense true black, this colour really makes our brass sing. A stylish backdrop for a shaker kitchen that has an industrial edge, this room is proof that daring decor choices can really pay off. The lights featured are our Fisher Wall Lights, inviting a touch of elegant art deco design with its fluted glass shade.

Here is one from us. We’ve paired Farrow & Ball’s Downpipe with our best-selling Club Wall Light. Two major players for the modern country home. A dark lead grey with cool undertones provides a solid base for showing off antiqued brass. Chalky cooler colours like this encourage metallics to pop, helping you to enjoy a little drama in your interior whilst maintaining a traditional feel.

Whatever your home style, we are confident you will find inspiration to pick up a paint brush and try something new. Opt for dynamic jewel tones for regency inspired period detailing, or go neutral for something a little more modern rustic. Moody dark rooms will always be favoured by some, naturally suiting those who sway towards industrial luxe. Our Antiqued Brass may be versatile enough for all of these looks, but one thing is consistent: we know how much you love it! As with things that take time and effort to make, they need to be cared for accordingly to ensure longevity. Find out more about how to care for and maintain your antiqued brass finish below.

This is our most popular finish and deservedly so. We create the Antiqued Brass look by treating our solid brass with an antiquing solution. This solution simply speeds up the natural tarnishing process and means that you are able to take home an authentic aged brass product from day one that will only improve and darken over time.

In the trade this finish is often referred to as a ‘living’ finish because of the natural oxidisation process that occurs to the brass over time leaving it to dull down to an authentic antique look. This darkening and dulling is accelerated outdoors or in damp environments.

To clean the brass, we recommend using a small amount of soapy water and/or buffing it with beeswax or a good quality wax polish to help protect the finish. To remove smudges or finger marks, gently brush the entire surface of the product with a Scotch-Brite pad so there is an even tone over the whole surface. If you concentrate the brushing in one area, it may look patchy. Then buff with a soft cotton cloth.

If you are wishing to slow down the natural tarnishing process then we recommend regular polishing with a good quality brush and a soft cloth. One thing we do have to warn our customers about is that chemical polishes may strip away the original antiquing solution too so take care.

We know it is a tough decision deciding on which finish to go for, which is why you can request a free metal swatch of any of our finishes, not just Brass. Alternatively, our sales team not only see all the finishes on a daily basis but also are extremely knowledgeable on which ones work best in certain environments. So, please do not hesitate to give them a call on 01473 828176 or email us at sales@jim-lawrence.co.uk for any advice.

For even more home interior ideas, keep up to date by following us on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Don’t forget to tag us in your home updates– we love seeing our products in their new homes.

Searching for that wow-factor light for your renovation or revamp? Or perhaps just in need of something bold and beautiful to refresh a stale interior? Look no further. We are delighted to showcase some of our favourite pendant lighting for your hallways, home entrances and stairways. Each of the following designs make for a striking feature, perfect for boosting naturally dark areas with a variety of shades and fixtures to best suit your home style.

First up, our Greenwich and Richmond Pendants. These eye catching pendants feature oversized, hand blown clear or reeded glass shades. Designed to take centre stage in larger rooms or homes with high ceilings, both styles look fantastic in a pair or hung solitarily.

Originally popular in kitchens as countertop lighting, pendant lights are now found all over the home. No matter where you chose to put them, they are an excellent choice for creating an even distribution of light for tasking purposes and to add to ambient lighting. The Greenwich with its lovely fluted cuves and the Richmond with a plain highly reflective shade are equally beautiful suspended from your ceiling. Anywhere you choose, these oversized lights are a show-stopping statement for the modern country home.

Whether a traditonal bell style, a modern metal cage or ornate period detailing, a lantern is a go-to feature for a high up hallway or entrance. Whether hung alone to produce a striking statement piece or in a row along a hallway or landing, they are an excellent choice for creating an even distribution of light for tasking purposes and to add to ambient lighting. For more contemporary spaces we suggest opting for out sleek glazed beeswax or matt black designs such at the Wilton (above) or our angular Stanton. With clean lines, straight glass sides and an ironwork frame they are beautiful in their pared back, simple style.

Bell jars were originally hung in vestibules and entrance halls of Georgian homes where the jars stopped the candles being blown out when the door opened. In those days, candles were expensive so the jars where only lit when guests were expected, but our designs like the lovely Bonham Lantern features three bulb fittings to ensure there is plenty of light where it is needed.

If you are putting wall lights in a long hallway or corridor a general rule of thumb is to position them about 250 to 300cms or between 8′ to 10′ apart. The top of the wall light should be at eye level so that you are not looking directly into the bulb. But first, choose the look you love. Shown above, our Single Station Wall Light has a large rectangular backplate with an upwardly arched arm, an ideal choice for bringing both elegance and rusticity into the home.

For something a little more classic and traditional, the Double Rowsley still has a vintage feel that lends itself to country modern living and particularly to a smaller space. Pair with our Tapered Candle Shades for a compact but equally striking look. For Wall Lights, as a very general rule we suggest positioning your wall lights about 152cms or 60″ above floor level. If you are putting wall lights in a long hallway or corridor a general rule of thumb is to position them about 250 to 300cms or between 8′ to 10′ apart. The top of the wall light should be at eye level so that you are not looking directly into the bulb.

Create a stand-out space with our collection of luxury chandeliers – a sure way to invite an ornamental interest into your home. For more modest entryways and halls, our smallest chandelier is the Rococo (in name and nature), a handmade solid brass pendant chandelier hung with crystal beads and glass droplets. With a lightly antiqued finish, it is a beautiful pendant light for adding classic period detailing to your decor.

The chandelier has a long history, but it was during the 18th century where developments in glass manufacturing meant that lead glass was able to be made fairly cheaply, leading to the expansion in popularity of the crystal chandelier. Inspired by these historic designs, our most decorated droplet pendant is the Queensbury (shown above in Beeswax), delicately draped in droplets of glass to reflect and cast a magical glow around your home.

Create a talking point in your home with our spectacular seven pendant ceiling rose, featuring a tiered drop of our fluted glass Ava shades. This multi pendant light would look magnificent suspended in a stairwell, grand hallway or in any room with a high ceiling. Designed to be a showstopper, we have taken our most popular individual pendants and created new and beautiful designs to really show off the quality of the workmanship and the beautiful reflective lustre of hand blown glass.

For something a little more low key but equally as effective, our Fulbourn Triple Pendant Rose is smaller in stature but still packs a stylish punch with three pretty fluted glass shades. The same basic rules about hanging pendants at least 7ft off the floor applies to entrance halls and foyers, but if you have are looking to light up a landing, the guidelines are a little different. If you have a double height ceiling over two floors then the light fitting should ideally not hang below the second floor. If you are hanging your light higher to compensate for the two story setting, you may wish to consider one of our multi pendant lights to ensure it does not look too small for the setting.

It is important to consider how you are going to change the bulbs if you have a pendant hanging from a vaulted ceiling as it will become very expensive if you need to hire a scaffold tower every time a bulb requires changing.

Firstly, we’d recommend you invest in LED bulbs as they have a very long life – usually around 25,000 hours – so will not need changing often. A light that can be accessed by a ladder will make changing the bulbs a lot easier, as would be one that could be reached by the upper floors if you have a galleried landing.

If your light will be totally out of reach, another option is to consider installing a specialist winch or hoist. There are a number winches on the market which will enable you to lower your light fittings to the desired level for maintenance to be carried out in total safety. Most are fairly compact and can be easily fitted between joists. They are available with different cable lengths and carrying capacities and with remote controls.

Inspired and want to see more? Browse all our Glass Pendant lighting here. If you love the look but want to save the idea for later, follow our Pinterest and pin these images to a mood board. Share your styling with us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook – we love seeing our products in their new homes.

‘Country Style’ can encompass many things. Wherever you live you can infuse your homes interiors with an authentic country style with high quality items. You don’t have to be tucked away on remote farmland or in a cobbled village to enjoy antique-inspired textiles or vintage light fittings. You can blend and contrast any look you like, which is why designing home decor is so much fun. Due to the sudden change in nature of our nation’s cities because of the pandemic, more and more folks are seeking a slower pace by literally upping sticks to the countryside or simply wanting to incorporate a relaxed cottage look into their modern homes. English country cottage style has never been more in demand. Wherever you are we know you want the real deal – and we’re here to give it to you.

Cottages tend to carry the connotation of being old or at least old-fashioned looking. Usually considered a modest and cosy dwelling, typically placed in a rural or semi-rural location. Like any house they come in all shapes and sizes. So what is the universal signifier of cottage style? The first things that come to mind for us are natural colours, well-loved rustic finishes and as is often the case with period homes…items with a little curiosity and ‘quirk’. We think in order to get the look you need to patch together all three (much like you would an antique quilt).

Soft muted colours say Cottage to us. In Suffolk we’re particularly used to seeing pretty blush houses washed in Suffolk Pink, a paint that dates back to the 14th century. These shades were developed by local dyers by adding natural substances to a traditional limewash mix. Additives used in this process include pig or ox blood with buttermilk, elderberries and sloe juice. Though we might be more inclined to turn to modern methods of adding colour to our walls these days, we still tend to be swayed towards staying in keeping with the surroundings when it comes to what we put inside. Often, it can help to let the building lead. Also inspired by the honey-hued stonework in our second home of Bath, we have many fabrics and finishes that blend seamlessly into the natural neutrals that are synonymous with historical homes.

When it comes to exterior design, start with a stylish welcome. What better place to enjoy a hand forged heart than the one place your guests will reach for first? One of our most sought after products in all its beautiful finishes, the Heart Door Knocker is as elegant as it is sturdy: a quality addition to your door furniture collection. Made to be used, this weighty knocker with matching striker plates is crafted from solid metal and created using traditional techniques for a long lasting product that you can love for years to come.

This Georgian style wall lantern is one of our most popular outdoor wall lights as its design features a hand blown mirror at the back that will reflect the light from the bulb at night and the beauty of your garden during the day. Wall lanterns should be the go-to for period homes, emulating the traditional candle sconce style of 17th century wall lighting. Updated for modern usage, our Peacock Wall Light is decidely modern rustic without compromising on elegance – a beautifil additon to tie together your stylish welcome.

Complete your door furniture collection with matching handles and other finer details. Our timless door handle designs work in properties new and old, but feel most at home as part of a country dwelling. Shown above in Antiqued Brass, our Holkham Door Knob on a Rowley backplate is just one of many available combinations for your door. Browse our full collection of lever handles, door knobs and wide range of backplates.

If brass is not for you, why not try a contrasting matt black? Some products that will help you instantly add cottage style to your home inside and out with ease, and proof that simple additions can still be packed with charm. A smooth matt black finish can be contrasted against pastel colours, incorporating a hand forged traditional edge to your door furniture.
Whether you are planning to restore a genuinely old door or want to crank up the classic country style on a newer model, our Suffolk Latches and Hinges are an easy way to instantly achieve a cottage-inspired look.

If your cupboards, drawers and desks are looking a bit tired, a quick lick of paint and some new handles is an easy way to refresh the room. Our Forged Ball Knobs in Matt Black have a hammered surface bringing a handmade, organic texture to your room – a practical and tactile finish that will make your space feel new with something the looks authentically old. Our beeswax finish creates a bold, unique look that can be contrasted against pastel colours to finish your room off perfectly.

So where to begin with the country cottage look in your lighting choices? Our first ever light fittings were rather aptly named the Cottage Wall Light, so we’d say that’s a good place to start. Still one of our most popular designs, these flush backplates have a sharp cut ribbon design with generous drip trays, both elegant and rustic in equal measure.

Similar in stature is the lovely Double Smugglers Wall Light, with strap and ‘rivet’ detailing on the backplate which harks back to the leather straps that were used to hold candle sconces in cottages and inns during Georgian times. Both of these are fabulous placed along hallways or to light up your living areas, with scope for choosing a variety of fabric shades to match or kick off your colour scheme.

Task lighting refers to the places where you work the most so need the brightest lights, such as worktops, over the cooker and sink. There are many options to choose from, such as compact fluorescent strips or LED downlighters, flexible LED strip lighting and more. It can be frustrating, however, when these aren’t really in keeping with a heritage look. We’ve designed our own versions of downlighters, wall lights (like our Club pictured above) and a collection of spotlights to ensure you can enjoy the practicality of directional bulbs without missing out on Jim Lawrence style.

The Curtis Spotlight is scaled to work in a small space as well as a large one and features a head that can be angled through 90 degrees and rotated through 350 degrees so you can focus your light wherever you want it. Shown above in our lightly Antiqued Brass finish, it is dimmable if used with a dimmable GU 10 bulb and dimmer switch and is available as a double spot version.

The Cranfield is a traditionally styled, hand crafted, fixed spotlight that combines the practicality of a spotlight with the beauty of our Edgeware light, with which it shares a similarly shaped shade. It is ideally suited as a downlighter for your kitchen worktops and kitchen islands.

There are no better fabrics to fly the country cottage flag than tweed and wool. Synonmous with our Great British heritage this hardy close weave is as tough as it is attractive – both rugged and refined – a perfect amalgamation for country style. We’ve teamed up with Lovat Mill, 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 tweedmakers to create beautiful, contemporary tweeds. Taking inspiration from the rich colours of the surrounding countryside, Lovat Mill design and weave estate and country tweeds of the highest quality. Choose from a range of colourways and weaves for your shades, such as our beautifully textured Blue  Herringbone Tweed above or the rich colours of our Talisker Lovat Wool pictured below.

Understanding the provenance of our products is crucial to appreciating their quality, so knowing the rich background of these products makes them all the more beautiful…Adding texture and colour to your home decor in this way doesn’t get much better than that.

Botanical, insect and animal prints have long decorated country homes, and you can enjoy their delicate motifs thank to these designs by local Suffolk artist Laurie Cripps. We love Laurie’s softly quirky style and were delighted to be able to incorporate her charming handcrafted lino prints into our collection. Available in a range of shades and cut lengths, these designs can be effortlessly combined for a complete country modern style. Choose from a palette of gentle natural colours with a variety of countryside motifs like wheat, pretty honeybees and more.

Known for its versatility, cotton is one of the most commonly used fabrics for lamp shade making as it is lightweight, durable and has a softness which is ideal for diffusing light evenly around a room. We recommend our classic and tapered candle shades as the perfect partner for your Jim Lawrence wall lights. All our shades are handmade in our Suffolk workshop by our talented team of shade makers and many of our fabrics are available as cut lengths and cushions if you are looking for a coordinated look.

We are very proud to say that our metalwork has been hand forged and hand finished by us in our Suffolk workshop for over 20 years now, using tried and tested traditional techniques. Our items are made to be used. That is, of course, the core reason for lights and hooks and switches: they are an answer to a question. A lot of companies will try and sell you our Great British Country Style as exactly that: a style or a trend. But the provenance and heritage of your home is not a commodity, it’s history. Some of our techniques have remained largely unchanged since the Tudor times, and whilst we have grown in many ways, we’d like to keep it that way.

It is our belief that doing things this way we can guarantee that every product we sell meets the exacting quality control standards we have set and for which we are renown. We have come a long way since our farm days and you may no longer have to bump down a track to find us. But our ethos remains the same: to provide individually handmade products to a high quality. Read the full Jim Lawrence Story.

Don’t forget to tag us in your Jim Lawrence interior updates, we love seeing your products in their new homes! You can find us @JimLawrenceMade on Instagram, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Focusing on your home comforts and making the best of the space you have can be a light distraction during harder times, but one that leaves a lasting impact. With more time spent indoors we’ve all been able to reflect on what our homes can really do for us. For those of us working from home it’s never been more important to ensure our environment is relaxing as well as functional. We thought we’d share our top 10 items for reimagining your home office to create a productive (and stylish) space at home.

It’s important that your home office has the right amount of light – don’t hide away in a dark corner – or you will resent being there. Try to place your desk where there is good natural light and boost it with a statement table lamp or cleverly placed spotlight or wall light that not only provides excellent tasking light, but will also keep your desk clutter free. Our clever duel plug and usb socket is a real game changer for keeping your wiring tidy, while our collection of floor and table lamps will bring additional layers of light to brighten the whole room and enhance your concentration.

When you work from home, try not to mix business with pleasure. Ensure your office doesn’t encroach on your living space where possible. You can do this by hiding office essentials away in drawers, cabinets and cupboards. That doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style if you accessorise your work pace with stylish drawer knobs, useful hooks, a light reflecting mirror and comfy cushions. We’ve picked out ten of our hero products to help you reimagine your office space at home…

If you are anything like us your space will be inundated with chargers  – a usb facility in plug sockets is an absolute game changer. If you are looking for a stylish solution to your electrical charging needs, this designer socket could be the answer. We have incorporated a pair of USB charging ports into our best-selling 2 gang plug socket so that it now combines practicality with a handsome slimline design that will look as stunning in a modern house as it will a traditional one.

To get technical, the plug socket is wired for the UK, with 13amp brass rocker switches on an antiqued brass bevelled plate and two USB ports, perfect for charging phones, cameras and all your electrical devices. The Double Socket with 5V USB Charger will charge at 2.1amp in total, but when 2 devices are plugged in the current rating is halved.

If your actual desk is looking a bit tired, a quick lick of paint and some new handles is a super easy way to refresh the room. As you’ll be spending a lot of time sat in front of this piece of furniture, giving it some TLC can really transform the way you see the room. Our Napier Knobs in our latest Heritage Copper finish are warm, uplifting and have a slight blush tone. Incorporating copper accessories into your interior is a sure way to elevate the details from an afterthought into a cohesive and beautiful room.

Task lighting is key, and fortunately we’ve made it easy for you to make stylish choices when it comes to these practical items. Designed with a heritage look, the Abercrombie Desk Lamp is as charming when not in use as it is when it casts light across your desk.

Our Porter Table Lamp is designed to be stylishly simple so that it will look equally at home in a contemporary setting as a period one. Handmade here at our Suffolk workshop, it has a square base and clean silhouette that will brighten up any sideboard, bedside or console table and fit seamlessly into a living room or study. Shown in our popular beeswax finish, this lamp is a perfect choice to bring a contemporary touch to your scheme and works well with almost any colourway.

The perfect choice for practical, adjustable task lighting with a nod to retro design, the Single Curtis Spot Light is scaled to work in smaller spaces for those harder to reach nooks. With a slim head that can be angled through 90 degrees and rotated through 350 degrees, you can focus your light wherever you want it and light up your workspace in style.

If you are going to be in your seat a while best make it a comfy one! Our plush Hunstanton Velvet Cushion Cover in Mole is not only beautiful to look at but comfortable to lounge on too. Choose from a variety of colours to liven up your décor and ensure you look forward to taking a seat at your desk. Another quick fix for updating your interiors is to get creative with lampshades: an instant way to add texture and colour to your existing light fittings. Match with your cushions and choose from tweed shades for instant country style, soft light linens for great light spill or rich velvets to add glamour to any space.

There’s always something to tuck away, so you can never have too many storage solutions like wall hooks. Ours come in a selection of our beautiful finishes, and are straightforward to fit on the wall or door, like this Farnborough Coat Hook. Hang your laptop bag (or dressing gown!) up in style.

A touch of vintage with modern perks, a collection of Club Wall Lights will invoke the feeling of a sophisticated gentlemen’s club into your work space. Hand forged from solid natural brass that has been lightly antiqued for a subtle aged look, this wall light features a spun shade which directs its light downwards for a warm glow against your wall.

Create a soft pool of light around your desk with our Nayland Reading Light, and repurpose it by the sofa in the evenings. Charmingly hand forged from solid steel, it features a curved shade arm and tripod stand that can be adjusted in height making it adpatable to your chosen environment.

Mirrors really are magical. If you are working in a little box room at the moment, double its size instantly by popping up a delicious antique style mirror like our Stamford. We make them in plain or with ‘vintage glass‘ which has a dappled and smoky patina for a hint of drama.

With a little planning and creativity, almost any space can be turned into a useful study area for you and your family. The addition of a few stylish accessories and carefully considered lighting will do more than create the right aesthetic, but will boost that all important productivity. Visit our Home Office page to shop the look and see more of our hand finished products to help you reimagine your work space with a simple laid back luxury. Any pressing questions? You can find styling advice and technical information on all of our products in the Knowledge Base.

First things first, we want to thank every one of our customers for all the amazing support. We are committed to delivering our products to the same high standards as ever in these challenging times and our priority is to support the health and well-being of all our staff. We are blessed to have a fantastic team at our Suffolk workshops pitching in and working in every way they can to keep making and delivering our products to our customers as normal. As a mail order company safe delivery of our products is of paramount importance to us, and we have been working hard to make sure we can continue to offer exceptional service in these difficult times. See our Coronavirus page for further information on how we’re prioritising safety using the government guidelines.

Don’t forget to tag us in your Jim Lawrence interior updates, we love seeing your products in their new homes! You can find us @JimLawrenceMade on Instagram, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Spring cleaning is not just about taking out a mop and duster. At a time of year where our outside spaces are changing and growing is also an opportunity for our interiors to blossom too. Rather fitting for the growing season, earth tones are a focus right now. Organic, relaxed and with a focus on comfort, turning to natural neutrals for Spring is one way to transform your home from somewhere you might be tired of into a sanctuary you can continue to enjoy.

Does it get more organic than that? We can’t always rip out our interiors whenever we want a change, but there are plenty ways we can enhance what we already have. It’s amazing what a bit of elbow grease can achieve. Our Antiqued Brass products are created from natural, un-lacquered solid brass that have been treated with antiquing solution to speed up the natural tarnishing process and create a lovely aged look that will darken naturally over time.⁠ In the trade this finish is often referred to as a ‘Living’ finish because of the natural oxidisation process that occurs to the brass over time leaving it to dull down to an authentic antique look. This darkening and dulling is accelerated outdoors or in damp environments.⁠

⁠With more time spent indoors over the past year, there’s no doubt there’s going to be a little more wear and tear. Overhaul the forgotten parts of your home; lightly wash down your switches and handles, for example, instantly freshening up the room. Don’t forget to spend time taking care of your light fittings – take a look at our Knowledge Base to find out how best to take care of your Jim Lawrence product finishes. A buff and a wipe down will make your existing Jim Lawrence products sparkle like new. Take a look at our cupboard and drawer pulls like the Larder Pull above and the Napier Knob below.

You can also choose our Heritage Copper finish, made using a similar technique to create a warmer blush tone. Match your drawer and cupboard handles to your switches and sockets – elevating the details makes a huge impact on the room as a whole.

Paired with the copper finish and vintage-style braided cable, this Glass Walcot Pendant combines the best old fashioned styling with modern trends for warm metallic fittings in kitchens and dining space. A simple yet impactful way to invite a more rustic feel into your room.

Linen is a beautifully leightweight but hardy fabric made from flax, often used in soft furnishings and clothing for its breatheable, luxurious quality. A textile traced back to the times of ancient Egypt, linen has always been used within the home and out, but has become synonymous with our decor. ‘Bed Linen’ is an umbrella term for sheets and covers in our bedrooms, whether made from linen or not. There’s no questioning that this dreamy fabric is a interior staple. We’re fortunate that it’s an easy way to update our homes with  modern rustic and earthy tones using cushions, throws and shades. We love the grain of linen when lit up as a lampshade, highlighting the sought after textured weave whether in its natural oatmeal hues or dyed a soft colour to match your decor. View our full soft linen available to buy as a cut length to get creative with, a ready made cushion cover or one of our luxury lampshades.

When it comes to talking about natural fibres, we have to wax lyrical about our heritage wool and tweed collections. Historically Tweed has always been in earthy colours since the 18th century, used for hunting, shooting and fishing. A hardy close weave, the fabric is as tough as it is attractive, both rugged and refined – a perfect amalgamation for country style.

We’ve teamed up with Lovat Mill, 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 tweedmakers to create beautiful, contemporary tweeds. Taking inspiration from the rich colours of the surrounding countryside, Lovat Mill design and weave estate and country tweeds of the highest quality. Incorporating between five and forty individual colours to produce a range of specially selected herringbones and checks that will add subtle reflections of the natural world to your interiors. Understanding the provenance of our products is crucial to appreciating their quality, so knowing the rich background of these products makes them all the more beautiful… Adding texture and colour to your home decor in this way doesn’t get much better than that.

We love a textural, rustic coastal-inspired room, and @beech.tree.cottage has served up everything we adore on a plate…⁠⁠ The Scallop Wall Light in Antiqued Brass is a winning choice in this space, inviting a perfect glow for the bedside. Weighty brass adds depth to the lattice of shade thrown onto the walls by the distressed threads of rattan.⁠⁠ Layering up with different textures adds depth to any room, but in a largely stone-coloured space this really lifts the area from potentially plain to multi-dimensional. Match your soft furnishings with your window dressing for the fully finished look – find out more on how to order our made to measure curtains and blinds.

Natural neutrals in the Greek Street @sohohouse as photographed by @mad_about_the_house. We’ve long loved distressed vintage glass alongside brass, and this bathroom has taken that pairing and run with it, supersizing the look with a trough basin and railway inspired mirror. Our flush fitting Gladstone with frosted glass panes adds further architectural, Art Deco lines and vintage inspired function to this room.

Proof that details DO matter. Everything in this image from @gladyscottage compliments the item before and after it, creating a considered but organic homely country cottage feel that we could just sink right into. Our Hanson Wall Lights look gorgeous topped with a linen candle shade, matched to more rustic oatmeal colours throughout. Look at our Waterford Cushion Covers and layer Limestone and Grey for a similar look.

If you can’t re-do your room entirely, incorporating smaller details is a sure way to enhance what is there. We adore this kitchen from @the_english_lodge, showing exactly how to blend old and new in a balanced and forward thinking way. If you want to add depth to a white room, using warm wood is a tried and tested way to make our other finishes sing. If you prefer to opt for a more contemporary metal finish like our Lovell Pendants here in glossy Nickel, bringing in vintage inspired woodwork will help you weave together this sought after modern country style.

Jim Lawrence is a truly family business, still run by Jim and Sheena and employing up to three generations of local families. By focusing on quality of materials, craftsmanship, outstanding customer service and the well-being of the Jim Lawrence community, our mission is to create stylish, designer quality fixtures and fittings for the home made with natural materials. It is our belief that by selling directly to our customers, we can guarantee that every product we sell meets the exacting quality control standards we have set and for which we are renowned.We have come a long way since our farm days and you may no longer have to bump down a track to find us. But our ethos remains the same: to provide individually handmade products and the highest possible levels of customer service. Read the whole story here, and view our full collection of products.

Have any questions? You can find everything you need to know including styling tips and technical information about all of our products in the Knowledge Base. Pop up on our live chat via our website if you need any more advice. Alternatively you can email us on sales@jim-lawrence.co.uk for quotes and order enquiries, or ring us on 01473 826969 Monday to Friday 9.30-5pm and speak directly to a member of our helpful sales team.

Don’t forget to tag us in your Jim Lawrence interior updates, we love seeing your products in our new homes! You can find us @JimLawrenceMade on Instagram, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Handcrafted stylish switches and sockets are the perfect finishing touch to any period or contemporary home. Our range of colourways and designs allow you to think creatively so you can highlight your wiring accessories instead of hiding them. When decorating a room it is sometimes easy to miss the little extras that can add the design flare your room was missing. A white plastic switch is a sight I’m sure we are all familiar with. But, switches and sockets don’t have to be boring or unoriginal!

When we’ve got hundreds of hand finished switches and sockets to choose from, it can be hard to pick which combination is right for you. We thought we’d make it a little bit easier by highlighting a few of our favourite designs…

From traditional antiqued metal effects, to bold contemporary paint colours, our products are available in a fantastic variety of hand crafted finishes to perfectly suit your home’s style.

Our hammered edge is where the switch plate is cut with a sloping, or chamfered edge that is hammered to produce a subtle, rustic aged look. Our bevelled edge is where the switch plate is cut with a straight, slightly sloping or chamfered edge for a slimline, contemporary look.

A beautiful, hand forged double plug socket made from solid natural brass and lightly antiqued for a classic, aged look. This Antiqued Brass Bevelled Plug Socket combines a 2 gang, 13 amp switched, slimline design with black inserts and antique brass rocker switches to create a simple sleek look to suit modern and traditional homes.

Though it’s a bathroom essential, a shaver socket might seem like an afterthought when you’re dreaming up your desired bathroom décor. Wall colour and lighting may come first, but our Shaving Sockets are a practical AND pretty solution to make sure every element of your bathroom is up to scratch.

We have found that making a feature out of the quirks of period homes is often the best way to enjoy them. A hinged design that fits into the floor, this 2 Gang Floor Socket is the dreamy modern rustic detail you might not have thought of, but now know you need! A great solution when you don’t want wires stretching around the room or have limited wall space, you can enjoy floor or table lamps in more central spots around the room, or use them for other portable accessories.

Our range of colourways and designs allow you to think creatively so you can highlight your wiring accessories instead of hiding them.

Take a look at our 2amp and 5amp round pin sockets for something a little different…

The go-to for vintage-inspired homes: the dolly switch. Shown here in our beautiful Heritage Copper, a dolly switch is perfect for capturing the spirit of your period home whilst taking advantage of modern wiring. Copper lends a subtle blush warmth to any interior, creating a lovely aged look that will darken naturally over time, much like our Antiqued Brass finish. Our dolly switches (also known as toggle switches) refer to the toggle-like button you use to turn the switch on or off. Ours are all 20 amp, 2-way.

The antithesis of the standard white light switch: a slick matt black rocker switch or ‘Modular Grid’ Switch. This is a more modern looking sloped button that ‘rocks’ backward or forwards to turn a switch on or off. All ours are 20 amp, 2-way, 240V. This design adds a modern industrial look, or works wonderfully paired with other black ironmongery and accessories in a contemporary country home.

A dimmer is a button that pushes in and out to turn your lights on or off and rotates to dim the lights. You can choose from beautiful Dolly or Rotary Dimmers. Our dimmers are Varilight V-Pro 250W push On/off trailing edge dimmers. Jim Lawrence dimmers incorporate 120w trailing edge modules that are suitable for good quality dimmable LED bulbs, incandescent bulbs and dimmable CFL bulbs. They are also compatible with good quality dimmable electronic transformers. The minimum load on the dimmer module is 10w. Each dimmer switch is 2 way which means it can be used for switching lights from either one or two places. Higher wattage dimmer modules are available on request. Please call our sales team for more information.

Want to learn more? See our full guide to Dimmer Switches on the Knowledge Base.

This is the plastic connector box that sits behind the metal front plate that connects your switch or socket to the mains wiring in your home.

Blank plates are useful for covering unused back boxes that may remain in your walls as they are not currently required in that location.

A 1 way switch is the most common found in the home and means that only one switch is used to govern one light. All our switches are two way which means they can be used to operate lights from more than one location, such as the operating a stairwell light from the top and the bottom of the stairs or from either end of a room. If you need to operate your lights from a third location, you will need to fit your switches with an intermediate module.

An intermediate switch or module allows you to operate your lights from three locations, so from a landing as well as from the top and bottom of the stairs in the example given above, or from either side of the bed as well as by the door in a bedroom. Intermediate switches are ideal for rooms where there are multiple entrances.

These are just a handful of our stylish switches and sockets that we have constructed to make sure the smallest details can still be the most beautiful. All Jim Lawrence products are made using traditional metal working techniques and are hand finished to the very highest standards here at our Suffolk workshop, so every part of your room will exude quality no matter how big or small. In need of advice on how to wire your switches and sockets? Our detailed knowledge base will guide you through all you need to know on installing our lovely switches and sockets. Please read these instructions carefully before you start work.

To view all of our home accessories and lighting visit our website. For even more home interior ideas, keep up to date by following us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Don’t forget to tag us in your home updates– we love seeing our products in their new homes!