I thought it was about time for some interiors lust, as the cold weather has really kicked in and we’re spending more and more time ‘nesting’. This home is one I’ve been admiring for so long – the sister of my good friend Lorna (whose home was one of the first houses I photographed for my blog), Rose has impeccable style and taste and I was thrilled she agreed to share some photos of her South London home.
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| Rose, with husband Ben and daughter, Alba |
After a career working in PR, Rose has just launched a children’s interior design service and shopping network Little Look – you’ll get lost in its gorgeousness.
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| This table was a successful DIY project |
How long have you been in this house in Blackheath?
We’ve lived here for nearly 2 years and have been married and become parents (to 9 month old Alba) since being in this house, it’s been a busy time! Our house is a Victorian cottage on a sweet little terraced street, Ben grew up in Blackheath and now we both love the area, my sisters live just around the corner and it’s a great place for young families.
The log side table in the sitting room was Ben’s Christmas gift last year, it was a great eBay find! Although getting it into the boot when I was 8 months pregnant was an adventure!
Where are your favourite interiors stores?
If I need something for the house I generally always head to The White Company and I also love some of the new interiors bits at Marks & Spencer. I also love Scandi design pieces from brands like Carl Hansen, Lassen, Normann Copenhagen and Gunnar Flørning, they are always on Christmas and Birthday lists. Some of my favourite online stores are nordichouse, cowshedinteriors and rowenandwren.
What are your interiors style influences?
We both love antique hunting, although our tastes are very different! Ben loves scientific finds like the big pyrex lab measuring beakers in the kitchen or the old cogs we found in Italy and I chose the Victorian zinc swans in the bathroom and the old gold shop letters in our bedroom. We also bought a gorgeous little 16th century child’s chair after Alba was born which is in our hallway, next to a reclaimed old window frame which is now a mirror. We generally look in antiques barns outside of London to find bargains and we love antiques fairs when we’re travelling abroad to find something really unique.
What improvements did you make/want to make?
We’ve renovated most rooms, drawing inspiration from Scandinavian and New England style. We have some plans to extend but that might be a while off.
Were you nervous about the dark bathroom? What colour is it?
It’s Farrow & Ball Railings. We were nervous but then we visited an interiors store in Burnham Market and they had a whole deep navy room and that convinced us. The style really reminds me of New England where we had our honeymoon.
Knowing your sister as I do, I can imagine you’re quite ‘crafty’ too, did you take on any special projects?
I love repurposing and refurbishing old pieces of furniture. My dressing table is an old computer desk and the toy chest in Alba’s room is my parents’ old filing box. We made the zinc topped table and dresser in the kitchen by hammering sheets of zinc onto cheap pine pieces and then painting in Farrow & Ball.
What is Alba’a favourite toy to play with?
She loves JellyCat bashful bunnies, whenever she spots them in a shop she grabs one for a cuddle and we end up buying it. She’s nearly had me stopped for shoplifting twice!
The wardrobe in Alba’s bedroom was Ben’s when he was a little boy. I refurbished it with Annie Sloan paint (no sanding required!) and little cloud hooks.
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Where is the rocking horse from?
It’s by an amazing artisan craftsman from Denmark called Povl Kjer, each one is hand carved from local wood and covered in sheepskin. It’s featured in the Little Look toy category this week.
Fashion-wise, are you a designer or high street buyer?
I like investment accessories (Anya Hindmarch, Jimmy Choo etc) but generally my clothes are all high street.
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| Anya Hindmarch glitter ‘Valorie’ clutch – buy secondhand via Vestiaire Collective |
What’s your most frugal buy?
I think it would have to be a little house I got from The White Company last January, they were selling off their window displays and the house cost me £1. It’s white with a glitter roof and it’ll make a great little dolls house for Alba.
What’s next for interiors, or do you think you’ll stay as it is for a while?
We are planning to add a garden studio in the new year. I love gardening and I’m excited to add to the space with a little retreat. We might add a dormer window into the study one day to make a 4th bedroom if we need the space, but it’s a long term project I think.
Do you see yourselves staying in Blackheath for a while…?
Yes I think so, Ben grew up here and it’s become a home for me now too. We spend a lot of time in North Norfolk as well, I’m a country girl at heart so it’s nice to escape to somewhere more rural.
Thanks for having us round, Rose! You can continue to follow her immaculate style over on Little Look instagram.
Just stunning – absolutely beautiful home…I hope with children she bans Ribena:))) I'd be terrified knowing what my kids spill!!
Haha – yes, she probably does 😉 I spill coffee over my own carpets so not sure how I'd cope!
Just stunning – absolutely beautiful home…I hope with children she bans Ribena:))) I'd be terrified knowing what my kids spill!!
Beautiful home! I was willing to change the look of my home now 🙂
I absolutely adore this blog post and the style of Rose's house. Find myself wanting to know where everything single thing is from though! 🙂
Thank you! well if you need to know anything just let me know, Rose will get back to you (she's nice like that) x
may i ask where the wooden framed wall art is from in the living room?
Hi Clare,
It's from here (it's actually Rose's mother in law!), she's a very talented print maker and quite affordable too
http://www.angelabrookes.co.uk
http://www.greenwich-printmakers.co.uk/index.php/artists/angela-brookes
Alex and Rose x
Interior designing can be really fun especially when its your first time doing it. It can be a trial and error process at times but when you get the hang of it it will come naturally
Roman style decor