Lucy Cunningham is a master of the layered country house interior that so many of us aspire to in our own houses. Her rooms, whether in her own cottage or her clients' houses, are full of lively pattern and colour, but so judiciously arranged that they are never overwhelming. When she took on this 17th-century Cotswold house, it was fortunate enough to have beautiful bones, such as the huge stone fireplace that dominates the sitting room, and an existing atmosphere of friendly welcome. In redecorating the house, she knew that her interventions couldn't be too forceful, and so deployed a graceful colour palette with plenty of richness and depth added in through textiles and accessories. “It's the traditional country house look,” explains Lucy, “muted but filled out with statement pieces.” Traditional it may be but it also feels perfectly judged for modern life, and indeed the room became the favoured spot for the family to gather.
Lucy's success in this sitting room is such that it is one of our most-liked images of all time on Instagram, so we deduce that our readers would like to live in it just as much as we would. To that end, we've gathered together the covetable pieces you can shop for in order to recreate the look in your own interiors.
Paint and wallpaper in calming blue shades set the scene; the walls and bookcases are painted in the same shade, Farrow & Ball's Parma Gray, while Robert Kime's Karabak Sand wallpaper complements it perfectly at the back of the shelves. This is an easy to steal idea which lends depth and texture to the space. Against these blue tones, Lucy has piled on colourful accents, such as the Penny Morrison lampshades, the cheerful yellow jug of flowers and the rich vintage ikat of the sofa, also from Robert Kime. For a similar look, you could try the affordable cotton ‘Sula’ ikat from Tinsmiths.
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The other side of the room plays host to plenty of pink shades in the upholstery, with classic stripes in soft hues forming a quiet backdrop for louder, more vibrant silk cushions. A generous ottoman, the Octagonal Stool from Robert Kime, allows plenty of room for books, games and drinks, while also offering a soft surface for people to perch on. The beautiful alabaster pendant light just visible in this image adds a little opulence to the scene.
