English Design Series: English Rose
We’re back with our third installment in our English Design Series and this round is going to get very, very pretty. Take a minute to catch up on our introduction along with the English Eccentric style first, then fill a vase with sweet-smelling flowers and get ready to fall in love with this romantic design style.
When one thinks about an interior design look referred to as “English Rose”, one will quite obviously think of, well, roses. While that’s correct, the English use this phrasing to encompass all types of flowers, leaf and floral patterns, shades of pink, red, white, and pastels, and really anything that has a garden or romantic feeling. In other words, don’t worry you’ll need to cover a room completely in roses in order to achieve this design.
Another fun way to embrace this look is to consider a proper English tea party. Fine china in lovely patterns, tea cups on saucers paired with breathtaking tea pots, and vases filled with fresh blooms all adorning tabletops. These are all key design elements of English Rose. When creating this look for yourself it may help to consider the grown up version of a little girl’s dream tea party or as though a room in your home may look like you’re celebrating Mother’s Day all year round. A warm and inviting femininity welcomes you to each individual room.
It’s not all tea and crumpets, however. English Rose involves mixing patterns, as do most traditional English design styles, and finding a delicate balance between beauty and function. Furniture is chosen for both fabrics and comfort and an over-stuffed, upholstered chair would find itself a winner in this type of room. Walls are covered in wallpaper, artwork, or both, and beds are covered in vintage fabrics, heavy quilts, or both. As in most English design styles, what may seem to be thrown together haphazardly is actually carefully selected to create the perfect blend, with every piece telling a story of it’s own.
This style is all about bringing the outdoor garden into your home. The English celebrate and love their gardens not only for their beauty but also for protection. Growing large, flowery bushes, heaps of brightly colored flowers, or strands of ivy that makes it’s way up the exterior of your home is a way to create a sanctuary to return to at the end of the day. These gardens become the space in between your safe place and the rest of the world and bring literal and metaphorical beauty into the hearts and homes of Englishmen and women. It’s no wonder that gardens have made their way inside as inspiration for interior design as it represents a comforting, soothing, and beautiful atmosphere.
Want to jump into the English Rose design style but aren’t quite sure where to start? First, get lots of fresh flowers into your home. Pink peonies, yellow tulips, and roses in every color possible will immediately brighten your space. Pull out the fancy china you inherited, dust it off and get it up on a shelf to display as art. You can also cruise antique or thrift shops for discarded treasures. Add throw pillows, curtains, or bedding in floral patterns. Bring in shades of pink, peach, red, white, purple, or pastel greens and blues. Last but not least, bring in the outdoors by making space for indoor greenery. Whether that’s a row of potted herbs or a DIY style windowsill as decor is up to you but whatever you choose, let it bring you joy and the feeling of being in a garden all year round.
We hope you’re getting inspired to embrace English design style throughout this series! We’ll be back soon with the fourth installment so keep your eyes on this blog and be sure to like us on Facebook so you never miss a post.
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