Guest Picks: Bringing Brit Chic into Your Home
Celebrate England's big year with 20 pieces inspired or designed by British tastemakers
2012 promises to be a big year for Great Britain, with both the Summer Olympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee taking place. No doubt designers will mark these occasions with British-inspired products. As a British expat now living in California, I still like to keep an eye on UK trends and continue to be a fan of British contributions to design history. Here's how you can take some of the classics and update them with a modern twist to incorporate a bit of Brit Chic into any home.
— Lucy from Four Walls and a Roof
— Lucy from Four Walls and a Roof
Tower Bridge at Night Cushion
Instead of the ubiquitous Union Jack pillow, I'd opt for one of these graphic designs featuring the London skyline. My favorite is this one of Tower Bridge.
Modern Rugs
If I asked you to think of a celebrated British designer, Vivienne Westwood is likely to spring to mind. Her collection of rugs for The Rug Company has the same edgy take on tradition as her catwalk looks. My favorite is this tartan rug, which is unexpectedly cut on the diagonal.
Matador Chair
Perhaps the biggest name in British interior design is Terence Conran. In addition to being the founder of design emporiums Habitat and Heal's, he created numerous pieces that have become modern classics in their own right. I love the mid-century lines and pillar box red of this aptly named Matador Chair.
Cow Parsley Wallpaper
Wallpaper manufacturer Cole & Son uses traditional hand-printing techniques and has a vast range of quintessentially British designs. This Cow Parsley pattern reminds me of an English hedgerow, but the red and gold palette lifts it out of the ordinary.
Dalston Rose Wallpaper
I love this black and white floral pattern, Dalston Rose, that comes as wallpaper, fabric or furniture. I'd use this wallpaper in a contemporary black and white scheme.
Traditional Cake Stand
The black and white floral theme even extends to the china. I can just imagine this cake stand piled high with red velvet cupcakes — very punk glam. Vivienne Westwood would be proud.
Old Hickory Tannery "Ellsworth" Tufted Sofa
And here's the perfect pairing for my black pillow: a white Chesterfield sofa. Chesterfields are deep, tufted sofas with arms and back of the same height. This is actually an Old Hickory sofa and not exactly a Chesterfield, but it's a similar effect and would bring some country estate elegance to a contemporary room.
London Eye Cushion
Or you could reverse the colors and choose this white pillow with the famous London Eye to go with a black sofa.
Modern Sofas
This black velvet Chesterfield would be perfect. I like the sloping arms and ball feet that give it an updated, whimsical look.
Jonathan Adler Chippendale Arm Chair
Another classic from British furniture design is the Chinese Chippendale chair. Named after the 18th Century British cabinet maker who pioneered the style, these chairs feature lacquer and latticework. A favorite of mine is Jonathan Adler's version, which comes in dozens of colors. I'd love to use this black lacquer and gray check version in an all-white dining room or with a white desk in an elegant office.
Antelope Chair
A more modern classic British seat is the Antelope Chair designed by Ernest Race in the 1950s. The splayed steel design is supposed to be reflective of the discoveries in molecular physics at the time. Well, I don't know about that, but I do know I like its slender, unassuming form and would like one in my dining room!
Ashley Hicks Sabre 76 Side Table
I love this Sabre table by Ashley Hicks, the daughter of revered interior designer David Hicks. I couldn't have this table with kids in the house, but for a very grown-up living room, this would be quite a conversation piece.
Hera Liberty Print Miniature Suitcase
Who doesn't love Liberty of London prints? This mini suitcase in Liberty's Hera Tana Lawn print would make an adorable alternative storage solution. I would stack three of them to act as an informal accent table in a hallway.
Splash Coat Rack by Blu Dot, Gray
Of course, we English love our hats, so no hallway would be complete without a hat stand. I'm a fan of this modern, gray "dipped" version by Blu Dot.
Doily Rug
English Victorian houses used a lot of lace accents, and this Doily Rug from Anthropologie is a tongue-in-cheek reference to that era. I'd update the look by using it in an all-white bedroom with a stunning chandelier.
Arteriors Jada Wire Wrapped Chandelier
This Oly Studio chandelier would be the perfect light fixture. It's made of wire that has been wrapped to look like crystals, so it is a more industrial take on traditional English stately home style.
Rose Cushion Cover
I'm not a big fan of floral chintz, but I appreciate it in small doses. No one does English florals better than Cath Kidston, and these pillows would look good on a bench or window seat in a kitchen.
Sophie Conran Large Pitcher, White
No English country kitchen is complete without a large jug stuffed with overblown roses. I would choose this large Sophie Conran pitcher for its simple shape and handcrafted appeal. I'd pair it with lots of foliage for a more contemporary effect.
Mortar & Pestle
Cornishware, one of the icons of English pottery, actually had nothing to do with Cornwall. It was created in Derbyshire in North England, and it was named after the waves off the Cornish coastline because of its original blue and white palette. The factory shut down in 2007 after almost 90 years but was revived recently by fans. And just as well, because these bold stripes could grace any kitchen.
English Pear & Freesia Home Candle
The finishing touch for an English-inspired home would have to be a set of these Jo Malone candles. I never tire of their understated packaging, and I like that they bring a bit of London townhouse elegance to any room.
Next: I Spy Union Jacks
Next: I Spy Union Jacks