Do You Design For The Home You Want, Or The Home You Have?
How to Bring Layers, Eccentricity, and a Touch of Charm to a Furnished Rental. Part 1.
I’m Julia. I’ve spent the past decade working in design, interiors, and editorial, co-founding The Design Release - a platform & substack dedicated to design fairs, exhibitions, and global design culture. I recently moved to London, where I earned my degree in furniture history, and where I am rebuilding my professional life in my favorite city.
I love fashion, self-improvement, and beautiful design - whether it’s finding the perfect jeans, lamp, or skincare routine, or diving into haircare, color seasons, and the philosophy of personal style. I write about what I’m obsessing over, what I’m learning, and the aesthetics that shape how we present ourselves to the world. Subscribe to join me on this new adventure.
Any interior designer knows how much of a challenge it is to design your own space. From trade-only resources to the stores we all know about, the exposure of options is endless.
When I was living in my cute studio in Chelsea (NYC), I designed the space with a clear vision - shaped by the apartment’s interior architecture and my style at the time. I had an aesthetic mission, but more importantly, I had limitations - which, in my opinion, are one of the most crucial elements of interior design because constraints force decisions.
In this case, mine were size (a small 400 sq ft) and cost. Regardless of my not-exciting income at the time, I’ve always had expensive taste, so I had to get creative and work around that reality.
It all worked out and I was living the dream in my little studio until NYC started feeling a bit like a recurring nightmare. Eventually, the time came when I left NYC, moved in with my grandfather, and set my sights on London. I’m finally in London five years later (!), with a husband (!), and living in my own space once more.
The thing with London is that many, maybe most, places for rent come furnished. So when Ryan (husband) found us a furnished place in Notting Hill, I didn’t think twice about it. I was relieved that I wouldn’t need to expend financial and mental energy on furnishing a whole apartment from scratch. I am picky! And I was a student! Those things don’t work together.
Now that we’ve lived here for six months, I’m in the mood to add some personal style to the apartment. But the big issue is: that the existing aesthetic is large-scale contract furniture in a contemporary space. It’s not a style I want to work with, in terms of investing in furniture that would fit in with the design.
Instead, I want to design for my favorite - and dream - interior style: the Eclectic British Collected Home™.
I’ve always loved the different iterations of British style: from Rose Uniacke’s minimalist approach to Martin Brudnizki’s layers of pattern and texture. These two define two spectrums of the British Home, one that is quietly elegant, and the other that is opulently eccentric. Rose has incredible taste, and Martin has incredible talent.
The designers who resonate the most with me at this period of my life (yes it changes often) are the American duo Pierce & Ward, who I consider both extremely talented and extremely tasteful. Their interiors combine expert layering, eclectic patterns, and collections on display.
Another recent inspiration: Julie’s in Holland Park. The food was fine, but the vibe was great. The crowd was chic and beautiful, and the interiors by Rosanna Bossom felt like I was stepping into someone’s cozy, fashionable home. Years ago, Ikat had its moment, and yet it felt fresh all over again.
I know that my ideal design taste is almost the polar opposite of the style of where I live, so how can I inject a bit of Future Julia Home into Current Julia Home?
The easiest answer is with textiles and lighting (lots of books, and throw in some flowers and huge candles, that helps, too). Here are some of my favorite lamps, to start.
Olive Parrot Lamp with Olive Ikat Shade via Mrs Alice
Late 19th Century Sang de Boeuf Porcelain Vase Lamp via Timothy Langston
Trindle rechargeable table lamp via Pooky
A cranberry glass Victorian lamp with ormolu base, circa 1830, via Robert Kime
19th Century Porcelain Dragon Vase Lamp via Timothy Langston
Rattan Rechargeable Pagoda Lamp via Mrs Alice
My rule for buying accent pillows: It should have texture - velvet and jacquard are best - and most importantly, it should make you smile. House of Hackney has all my favorites, two of which I included below because I own them and they are great, I also love the leopard print but I wish it wasn’t a flat weave. Zara Home typically has great options at great prices of course, although not a lot of texture usually. This one was my favorite. And this from Etsy (also a great price) that didn’t make the final cut of favorites below, but I love the style. Etsy is one of my favorite places to find textiles.
ANACONDA Medium Cut-Velvet Cushion in Dusky Pink. House of Hackney
Silk Ikat Velvet Cushion in Leopard. Artemest
Blue Turkish Rug Pillow. Etsy
Rose Green Ikat Pillow. Etsy
Emerald Striped Jacquard Pillow. Artemest
TREMATONIA Medium Jacquard Cushion (my favorite). House of Hackney
Embroidered Velvet Cushion. Les Ottomans
Red and Blue Ikat Pillow. Etsy
Ok let’s put it all together in the craziest way ever :)
Ikat “Drapes” fabric. Robert Kime
Bamboo side tables. 1stDibs
Stratford Sofa. Kingcome
Ottoman. House of Hackney
Glass bowl. Artemest
Armchair. Robert Kime
Coffee table. Silency
Wallpaper. Schumacher
Carpet. Sibyl Colefax
That’s it for now! Ta-ta.