It is a wonderful idea to subtly evolve and restyle your living environment with the seasons, reflecting changing thoughts and moods throughout the year.
Restyling a space – moving artwork, furniture and mixing in new accent colours in accessories, plants, cushions and throws – can totally transform your home’s dynamic and create a space that feels ‘new’ and inspiring, without necessarily changing very much at all.
Restyling a dining room is very straightforward, simply add a new accent colour in your placemats, china and candles; I recently added teal blue accents to mine. The Conran Shop does a fabulous selection of coloured candles, I love Nina Campbell’s coloured glassware while Mrs Alice is amazing for fun original placemats.
Changing art around makes a tremendous difference too when tweaking an interior for Spring, and is my absolute top tip when restyling. I added a turquoise painting by Nancy Cadogan above the bar in my living room and it created a whole new dynamic. . I also recently added a metallic abstract work by British artist Emily Swift-Jones to the dining room which is heavily textured but also light and fresh for spring: one change has totally refreshed the room.
The addition of one unusual antique will revive your interior instantly. Antique furniture anchors the space and creates a unique talking point. In the corner of the room I have placed an antique, turquoise, chinoiserie bureau piece that I found at the Battersea Arts Fair. I love it because the colour is so unusual and eye-catching. Also, I can close its doors and hide all my stationery when not in use; not every day can be a tidy day!
Instead of changing out curtains, consider adding a new leading edge or border detail to spruce up existing curtains. I recently added this beautiful geometric embroidery by Holland & Sherry. Their ‘Adorned Trim’ collection is superb, I use it for so many of my projects.
This spring I have installed a beautiful new kitchen by specialist joiner Humphrey Munson. I chose tones of soft grey for a peaceful and fresh feel. To add subtle colour to a kitchen, consider paintings, chinaware and seasonal cut flowers. They lift the mood and soften what can often be a colder space. Pride of place in my kitchen are a pair of ceramic chickens I bought at Sotheby’s from the late Duchess of Devonshire’s estate.
My top design tip for spring is to create a chic outdoor dining area: The simplest of outdoor tables will immediately look fabulous if you add a colourful tablecloth and cushions. I have dressed up a plain picnic bench in my garden, transforming it into a really special spot for relaxing. Add flowers and fun colourful plates and you immediately have an impactful and inviting backdrop for lunch with the children or visiting friends.
