The Rise of Patterned Interiors

Saturday, September 20, 2025

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 Many of you might be familiar with the successful design duo Pierce & Ward, responsible for Dakota Johnson and Emma Robert's stylish homes, among others. They seem to be leaders among the rising pack of pattern drenching design pioneers in the last five years. 


Below you can see a photo from the home of Karen Gillan of Guardians of the Galaxy fame. Her dining room features no less than three dominant patterns on the floor, walls and ceiling, a combo you may not have seen ten years ago and certainly not in the home of Hollywood elite. Grandma-core is in and based on the most recent offerings at mega retailers like Crate & Barrel and smaller boutique designers like Lulu & Georgia, this trend has captured the imagination of the general public

Karen Gillan Dining Room
Swan Lake Kitchen Interior

Perhaps you never thought of putting stripes on the ceiling of your dining room or patterned penny tile on your exhaust hood, but the rules of design are changing and pattern is de rigueur. The winds of change have decided white and modern is out, and warm and patterned is in, specifically in muddy colors designed to bring a certain lived in atmosphere that screams "old money."

 

Well, this isn't new you might say, people have always loved gaudy wallpaper and floral grandma-core sofas! But as with all design movements, the spin is fresher, the patterns more sophisticated, and the accessories more modern and sculptural than ever before. Lulu & Georgia showcases this beautifully below in a room designed to show off their scalloped table lamp, a design look also adored by Pierce & Ward with their use of a bespoke scalloped headboard and no less than four prominent complimentary patterns.

Lulu & Georgia 

Pierce & Ward

Is this look for the masses? Well, why not? I think anyone stepping in to the design world for the first time feels a bit of hesitancy when combining bold patterns, but the truth is that if you follow the simple rule of thumb of sticking to a 3-5 color tone pallet, these kind of interiors can really sing. If you notice in the above photo from Pierce & Ward, all colors reside in the green, brown, mustard, and clay color tones, with the majority of pattern play taking place on the bed and the draperies (you should also notice the walls remain neutral, and this is key). The designers here have given the eyes so much candy at the center of the room, they have chosen to keep a more neutral background to provide a cleansing or resting point so the room doesn't feel disjointed. In the Lulu & Georgia photo you see the same but reversed, with a neutral bed frame playing foil to the pattern drenching of the walls and bedpsread. If you give the eyes a place to rest and a place to play in every room, you will find the perfect balancing point for utilizing multiple patterns per design.


If you want to give this style a try, I would say utilize at least three patterns per room, and stay with the same color pallette (3-5 complimentary color tones), and don't be afraid to layer, layer, layer. The key to this look is soft colors, organic patterns and quirky accessories that excite the eye (think scalloped lamps, unusual wall art, and funky trinkets). A great resource is the Pierce & Ward website which showcases their work and will give you a great idea of how to achieve the pattern drenched grandma-core cottage look. Happy desinging! 




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A Mirror In Every Room

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

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 You may heard that a mirror in every room of your house can add the illusion of space, reflect light, and add a punchy design element that might otherwise be missing -- and I'm here to tell you that is 100% true! I personally own over a dozen wall mirrors and not only does every room in my house have a mirror (including the kitchen), but some rooms have two, including my living and bedroom.


Cascade Mirror Serena & Lily


If you have a smaller more intimate home but still want to create the illusion of more space, a well placed mirror can be just the ticket. Stay away from anything too garish or themey (skip anything too nautical or really large and heavy unless you have the room). Wood tones, bone inlay, and even wicker can give a room much needed texture. It's all about eye candy, and in my opinion a mirror is the jewellry of a well designed room.


When selecting a mirror for your space take in to account the height of your ceilings, the width of the mirror, and the perfect shape for your selected spot. A slim rectangle mirror will look great in a smaller vertical space, while a fireplace mirror will need more presence and greater size to appropriately fill the space. This isn't to say you can't play with shape, you certainly can and should while taking in to consideration the other decor in the room.





Mirror gallery walls had a moment in the early 2000's but now you might be better served picking a single statement piece that reflects your design aesthetic and serves as an anchor for the room. I personaly love a bone inlay mirror over the bed or between two sconces, and I adore an entryway mirror that serves a practical purposes as well as being a chic design element. 


Also don't be afraid to place a mirror lower than you think is appropriate, a lower mirror or piece of art creates an intimacy with the viewer and the surrounding furniture that can change the whole tone of a room for the better. You want to be able to fully engage with your reflection and that reflected space behind to feel the impact of a mirror's placement.



Apartment Therapy


Lastly, don't forget to use google image search when shopping for mirrors, so many retailers sell the exact same mirrors from wholesalers but at different price points (Pottery Barn, I'm looking at you!). I often find mirrors I love at prices I can't stomach, only to image search and find the same mirror for half the price from a smaller retailer. Happy shopping!












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