Whether you're a maximalist, minimalist, colour-phobe or colour-lover, chances are you'll find yourself with a neutral room or two in your life at some stage. But there are new rules when it comes to decorating with neutrals and the days of flat magnolia or bright white walls are (thankfully) long gone. As always, interior designers are leading the way and showing us how to create dynamic spaces with neutral elements. Often what these spaces have in common is an abundance of texture and an interesting combination of furniture, lighting and accessories from different eras which help to add character and tactility. We've made it easy for you to follow their lead by selecting three clever schemes that have featured in House & Garden: make a note to copy one of these ideas the next time a beige, white or soft pink room is calling your name.
A handsome Victorian house in London softly harmonised by Thea Speake
Having cut her teeth working for Rose Uniacke, Thea Speake has mastered the art of the layered, quiet interior. Her skill lies in adding plenty of character to these serene spaces. Such a look is often achieved using plenty of texture and a careful mixture of antique, new and bespoke pieces. Just take this house in north London which graced the pages of House & Garden earlier this year.
The sitting room of the house is perhaps where Thea's masterful brand of serene comfort is most on display. The walls, painted in Paint & Paper Library’s ‘Stone II’, provide a neutral starting point. The character of their panelling is elevated by the paint colour, which creates a sense of harmony in the space. A variety of textures is layered on top: the bespoke sofa is upholstered in a yellow linen, complemented in armchairs covered with pale linens by LF Fabrics from The Specified. These are arranged around the owners’ ottoman in silk velvet, which adds a touch of glamour. Above it hangs Rose Uniacke's conical plaster pendant – a favourite among designers looking to introduce something tactile into a space. The whole thing is tied together by a trusty sisal carpet and antique furniture.
A warm and comfortable bedroom by Natasha Quick
Creating a bedroom that is both inviting and soothing can be tricky, unless left to masters such as Natasha Quick. This bedroom in a Notting Hill flat is a lesson in using tonal colours. Walls in Farrow & Ball's ‘White Tie’ provide a backdrop to a pretty bed with a headboard in Namay Samay's ‘Kadva’ in a bespoke pale pink colourway. The curtain hanging behind the bed, which like the headboard was made up by Emma Stewart, is also in the same fabric. Howe's ‘Silhouette Bench’ sits at the end of the bed. The wardrobe doors were already there, but Natasha moved the wardrobes to the other side of the room and had the doors repainted and added new handles. Natasha also added the niches either side of the bed, which helps to keep clutter out of the way.
Tanya Burr's considered kitchen
Tanya Burr's London house has captured her large audience for many reasons: not only does it represent the timeless elegance that so many strive for in our interiors, but it is also the result of a complete top-to-toe renovation, which Tanya documented through her Instagram. A keen cook, it was important to Tanya that the kitchen be not just a brilliant place to cook but a hub in which she could host friends and family.
The original floorboards underpin the space, which features traditional cabinets painted in a soft, biscuty ‘Cord’ by Farrow & Ball. Above the island – sourced by Tanya from Vinterior – hang pendant lights from Devol. When she moved in, the windows and doors were all PVC, so Tanya worked with Beechhall Joinery to replace them with Victorian-era wooden ones. In the dining space, pictured below, a table from Anthropologie sits below Pinch's ‘Anders’ pendant light, which introduces a soft element. Under the dining table, a rug from Pelican House adds a pop of colour.
