The Ufford Crown epitomises what it is to be a successful country pub. What more do you need in an interior than sumptuous blue hues, antiqued brass accessories to reflect the period building and dark wood for a cosy feel? Well, delicious food is another thing, and they’ve got that covered too. Located in nearby Ufford in Suffolk and designed by the excellent Jojo Humes Brown, we knew we had to delve a little deeper.

Max and Polly Durrant reopened the doors of the Ufford Crown in April 2011 with accomplished chefs Will Hardiman and James Wilding. With a focus on seasonal produce from local suppliers it has quickly become a go-to gem in the community. The Ufford Crown offers a spacious restaurant full to the brim with all your favourite Jim Lawrence lights, a snug bar area and a stylish lounge which is perfect for private parties.

We love the dramatic feel of the décor. Hints of a New York Industrial look are filtered throughout in the exposed brick, painted panelling and quilted leather booths. The layered pendant lighting creates intimate pools and pockets of light for diners and drinkers alike. Jojo’s designs always exude a thoughtful but understated glamour, and she’s a dab hand at cleverly lit spaces. Our most popular pendant for its versatility and handy size, the Barbican is a perfect fit for a two person setting. They enhance the space rather than impose on it – a key balance in lighting.

Homely touches like a wool carpet, bookshelves and decorative convex mirrors make the space feel warm despite its size, with the window shutters adding to the soft light for that sought after cosy modern country feel. A delightful spot to tuck into a hot pie or roast on a Sunday, or a lighter lunch of fresh sandwiches including Norfolk cheddar or Ketley steak.

Our low hanging Exeter Pendants light up each booth – celebrating the high ceiling with a longer cable but making the seating feel private with a low glow. The Glass topped Lovell’s line the bar, the outer glass shade mirroring the shape of the Exeter but allowing the antiqued brass inner to breathe without looking clunky in a row or taking over the space. Can you see the detailed tiling underneath the table? The Ufford is full of beautiful visual surprises like this. Fancy a visit to see for yourself? Make a reservation here.

Situated in pretty Woodbridge lies The Turk’s Head. You can find it just tucked back from a residential country lane encased with beautifully sculpted gardens and framed by a woven fence. With an extensive gin and wine collection, a host of local ales and a fine seasonal menu (that we can vouch for) it’s definitely a spot on the Suffolk map that you want to visit.

Owner Jemima ran an interior design practice for ten years, specialising in lighting design, so working on the pub was a joy rather than a job. The original 17th century building had small dark rooms with low ceilings, so her aim was to make them light and bright to emphasise the space.

“All the finishes, fixtures and fittings needed to be very hard wearing as this is a very busy commercial space,” said Jemima. “Lighting was the linchpin to getting this right. Jim Lawrence fittings are design classics and beautifully made as well as doing their job extremely well. They fitted perfectly into our scheme of a traditional but elegant country pub with a fabulous restaurant. Also as we are a pub that focuses on using local produce it was wonderful to use a local lighting company.”

Many of us dream of living by the ocean, and if you haven’t, you will now. Even a quick flick through Relaxed Coastal Style by Stylist Sally Denning has us lusting after driftwood accessories, flowing linen curtains framing a sea view and worn wooden panelled shacks. After delving deeper into the beautiful homes that Sally explores in her book, it has us positively besotted with beachside living.

‘Country coastal’ is an interior style close to our hearts with the stretched out, pretty beaches of the Suffolk and Norfolk coasts a stones throw away. We love the laid back feel of the coastal homes that Sally explores, with the owners using locally sourced materials and beach-combed finds to kit out their rooms. These elements bring in on-trend style and an appreciative nod to the landscape around them…

A key motif throughout the book is the use of wood. Wooden beams, wooden panelling, rattan furniture, woven baskets and driftwood accessorised into homeware. Think brightly coloured beach huts to washed out window shutters. Even if you don’t live in an authentic wooden panelled house, there are many ways you can incorporate this look into your interior décor, such as faux-wood wallpaper, cleverly painted cupboard doors and preloved furniture. You can boost your external and internal vintage look by adding antiqued brass lighting and accessories like this modern rustic Isle of Sheppey beach hut.

Butler Pendant in Antiqued Brass, Barbican Pendant in Antiqued Brass, Edgeware Spotlight in Antiqued Brass

Beige, stone and sandy tones come naturally to coastal homes. You might as well incorporate it into the design! There is so much fabric inspiration here, even where you least expect it. Linen curtains and upholstered chairs, textured rope and cream crochet. Even netting. These textures add layers and depth by taking inspiration from the external surroundings – a key step in coastal style. Why not try our range of soft linens as shades or cushions to bring in some texture rich natural tones?

Natural Isabelle Linen Candle Shade, Putty Killoween Linen Candle Shade, Cushion Covers in Linen

A coastal existence isn’t all sunshine and ice cream. Weather-beaten porch railings, rain and rust-stained tin rooves or fading paint and aged metal furniture make up a great deal of this book. Their existence is proof of their steadfast manufacturing, but evidence that living by the ocean can be tough and wearing. This is what we love about this book – the honesty. Sure, your interior can be as glamourous as you like, but it takes a certain kind of person to embrace an old property and make it their own in often remote and exposed locations. It requires great deal of hard work, but the character of such a place is an ongoing enjoyment for those who live there. To complete the look, add in other worn materials such as our Antiqued Brass or Polished light and handle fittings – a go to match for this faded look.

Erith Polished Cupboard Pulls, Pendant Lampholder in Matt Black with Braided Cable, Norfolk Drawer Pull in Polished

We’ve cheated a bit here, because this is Sally’s own home (not featured in the book) which is too delicious to leave out. Decorating with the display items in a home can make or break a room. As is evident throughout the homes here, balance is the key. The Instagram hashtag #aquietstyle sums up the softness needed to pull off this look. It is immaculately considered, but executed in an understated manner. It is, in short, relaxed. Or rather it makes you feel relaxed. Using ancient bottles, hand-picked shells and wave-worn washed up glass might sound like clutter to some, but it’s these cherished finds that bring in personality and make a house into a home. For a shell you haven’t had to wash the salt out of, try our beautiful Scallop Wall Lights to bring a soft coastal vibe into your interior.

Scallop Wall Light in Antiqued Brass, Schoolhouse Drawer Pull in Polished, Chandler Hook Rack in Clay

Want to see more? Of course you do. You can order Relaxed Coastal Style, published by Ryland, Peters & Small, through Waterstones or Amazon. For a wealth of interior and exterior inspiration follow Sally’s Instagram @Blackshorestyle. See more by the talented photographer Benjamin Edwards. A special thank you to Sally for featuring our lighting and for supplying the images. Follow our Relaxed Coastal Style Pinterest board for more laid back décor ideas.

We absolutely love seeing our lights in their new homes, therefore we especially loved when lots of our products were spotted in this beautiful contemporary bar in Clapham. The Bank is set in a stunning Grade II listed building and one of our lovely customers got in touch to let us know that they have many of our lights on display. We found some fantastic images online and we just had to share them with you…

Hot off the press and already making quite an impression is our beautiful new Thornton Pendant has just joined our range of pendant lighting …