Design Decoded 3

In which we look at a series of rooms to understand how the decor works so we can apply it to our own places and spaces.

Welcome to the third instalment of Design Decoded. I have decided to number them so you can search more easily. Scroll to the end to see the details for this month’s Drop-In Design Clinic (for paid subscribers), too. Today we are looking at a Regency Townhouse which I found on the Inigo site. One of the reasons I look at houses that are, or have been, for sale is because they are created by real people, or by designers for real people.

For the most part they have simply been tidied up for the photographer rather than staged for a magazine shoot, so you can get a real sense of how the owners/designers may have tackled tricky issues or approached the question of style and pattern. You won’t find lights and sockets Photoshopped out, and you can consult floorplans to see where the awkward corners are. And while we may not all live in huge houses, even these ones do have small rooms or low ceilings.

Sometimes it’s just about looking at a colour scheme that might work for you in your own home. This house is quite bold, which will either inspire you to be a little braver, or confirm you in your belief that a sea of textured neutrals is where your own joy can be found.

The rest of this post is for paid subscribers only and is one of four you will receive if you upgrade to a paid membership. You will also get access to my archive of more than 100 design topics, access to a monthly drop-in design clinic where you can ask me any decorating questions – and you can join in the community chat.