Curated By... Lucy Williams

It had been lived in by its previous owner for 40 years and was very loved and neat but otherwise nearly untouched, so had lots of potential and hadn’t been modernised by a developer in any way. Plus it had a beautiful south-facing garden that felt so quiet and peaceful; I could instantly picture us there.

What was your biggest design inspiration for the renovation?

I’m a huge fan of Pierre Yovanovitch; how he balances traditional and contemporary, and uses timber in his designs. I really admire Beata Heuman and Frances Merrill of Reath Design too. They both use lots of colour but it always feels elegant and cool.

What is your design philosophy? 

Opposites attract!

How would you describe your aesthetic?

I think it’s something akin to restrained maximalism; I love interesting furniture, collecting things and bold art – but I never want it to feel overwhelming or confronting. Plus I always want to feel comfortable and cosy; I wouldn’t want to live in a house people didn’t feel they could put their feet up.

During your home renovation, which was your favourite project and why?

I think our two connecting sitting rooms as they were pretty minimal in terms of headaches and logistics (unlike bathrooms and kitchens!) and the renovation of them was all about colours, sourcing antiques and restoring furniture. The fun stuff!

How does travelling influence your designs and tastes?

Travel has a huge influence on everything I do. I always come back from a trip inspired. I just came back from Norway and loved the emphasis on natural materials like timber and wood in all the places we stayed, and that iconic earthy red on the exteriors of buildings. I always get inspired in Copenhagen too, I adore traditional Scandinavian design with its use of colour and folky elements mixed in with more modern lighting and furniture. I had dinner at the home of Ganni founders Ditte and Nicolaj Reffstrup once, and they had an incredible blue staircase that’s stuck with me ever since.

Which hotels do exquisite interior design? 

I love hotels that lean into their surroundings and feel more like staying with very chic friends rather than staying in a hotel. Saying that, I’ve never met an Aman I didn’t love. It’s not strictly a hotel but I stayed in Villa Arniano in Tuscany last summer which was stunning. Everything you’d want from a dreamy home from home in Tuscany. I’m dying to go to Villa Mabrouka in Tangier and Grand Hotel Son Net in Mallorca too for their super chic interiors.

Some of your favourite places to shop for homeware…

I love going to the quarterly Decorative Arts Fair in London (Quindry Antiques is a favourite) and popping to Chiswick Antiques Market at the weekend when it’s on. The Old Cinema in Chiswick can have some real gems too. I always go to Merci when I go to Paris, and the Hay House flagship in Copenhagen. Online, Vinteror is such a treasure-trove – I found so many pieces for our home via the site.

Any tips on how our readers can bring a touch of Lucy Williams into their homes? 

I don’t think I could decorate without using stripes, lots of warm wooden furniture and vintage ceramics.

Favourite place or piece in your house?

I never tire of sitting in our cosy, entirely blue snug. It’s painted top-to-toe in Farrow and Ball’s Yonder with fluted bookshelves that frame the reclaimed wooden doors. It’s the nicest place to unwind and get cosy in the evenings. Seeing the Faye Wei Wei piece in our hallway everyday always makes me smile too.