In the sitting room of this project by Anna Haines, antique armchairs have been stripped back and reupholstered in Claremont’s plain oyster ‘Toile Chenonceau’ and Bennison Fabrics’ ‘Benjelloun’ linen, pairing elegantly with a vintage Tabriz rug sourced from Farnham Antique Carpets.

A striking 19th-century painting of the Port of Nantes from Brownrigg is displayed alongside smaller artworks from Panter & Hall and Etalage. These are hung on a Collier Webb picture rail, lit by Visual Comfort & Co picture lights in Bunny Turner’s home. A custom-made dresser holds an assortment of confit pots from antique fairs and a Chinese horse sculpture found in France. The room’s blue and yellow palette is echoed in Penny Morrison cushions placed on a pair of Georgian Gainsborough chairs.

In another living room by Henriette von Stockhausen, Howe London’s ‘Den’ armchairs, upholstered in striped velvet, sit alongside a sofa covered in Pierre Frey’s ‘Alizarine’ by Le Manach. These vibrant pieces are grounded by a 19th-century Harshang rug bought at a Woolley & Wallis auction. Balancing these rich hues are an ottoman in Claremont’s ‘Straub Twill’ in celery, a club fender upholstered in Watts 1874’s ‘Hampstead Verdure’, and walls painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Ball Green’.

In Blanche Vaughan’s home, the sitting room in the newer wing was initially furnished by Robert Kime. Later, Camilla Guinness—friend of Blanche’s husband, Hugo—repainted the walls in an oxblood distemper and added practical yet charming touches like bookshelves, a log store, and Berber rugs. All upholstery, including sofas, chairs, and an ottoman, is from Robert Kime.

Interior designer Rita Konig demonstrates a masterful blend of color and pattern in a small sitting room of a 19th-century house. A blind in Le Manach’s ‘Galigai’ and an armchair in Pierre Frey’s ‘Izmir’ (in rouge) stand out against woodwork painted in Paint & Paper Library’s ‘Kigali’.

If you’re looking to inject character into a modern build, look to the London home of Rixo co-founder Orlagh McCloskey. Limewashed walls and an eclectic mix of furnishings create a warm, expressive atmosphere in the spacious rooms. A large artwork painted by Orlagh anchors the living room, framed by stained glass windows made by Maya Glass Studio in Acton. The yellow ‘Baxter’ sofa by Milano Sofa is dressed with an assortment of patterned cushions from The Conran Shop, OKA, and Soho Home, while a rug from OKA grounds the entire scheme.

In Provence, Victoria Stainow transformed a once-dark corner of her home by relocating the fireplace and installing a reproduction chimneypiece. Two original 1980s sofas in red brocade are complemented by a ceramic side table by Caitriona Manoury, antique chairs from Patrick Pascal in Fontvieille, and a mid-century coffee table. A painting by Catharine Warren adds the finishing touch.

On the island of Corfu, designer Martin Hulbert used natural materials and colored glass to add warmth and depth to a bright and breezy interior. Papier-m?ch? lamps by MHD with Samarkand Design shades light one sofa, while ceramic lamps by Paolo Moschino frame a glassware display behind the other.

Artist Natasha Mann has turned her south London home into a living gallery of her Moroccan-inspired work. Her sitting room is filled with tapestries, ceramics, miniatures, and tribal pieces she’s gathered during her travels.

At Thomas Dane’s Gloucestershire home, high ceilings and crisp white walls create the perfect backdrop for vivid curtains and cushions, which enliven a palette of more subdued furniture. A rustic antique table from Gordon Watson sits atop traditional Suffolk rush matting.

In Bristol, Kate Cox immediately envisioned her living room in yellow. After testing multiple shades directly on the walls for weeks, she settled on Farrow & Ball’s ‘Sudbury Yellow’—a bold yet balanced backdrop for her curated art and object collection.

In a Norfolk cottage also designed by Anna Haines, coziness is achieved through a thoughtful mix of textiles and prints. A sofa in Tinsmiths’ ‘Checker’ fabric in dawn grey reflects the soft walls in Paint & Paper Library’s ‘Porcelain V’. An ottoman in Robert Kime’s ‘Caspian’ cotton, a kilim rug from London House Rugs, and slipper chairs in Rose Uniacke’s cedar-toned cotton velvet add layered warmth around the original fireplace.

In a historic Wealden hall house in Kent, a design team overcame low ceilings and exposed brick by using a blend of antiques, bespoke furnishings, and vivid textiles. A footstool in Namay Samay’s ‘Edirne’ stripe, rugs from Robert Stephenson and Vanrenen GW Designs, and curtains in Robert Kime’s ‘Susani Red’ linen introduce color and texture while keeping the space inviting.