There’s something about this time of year that makes us reflect on the spaces we live in. Maybe it’s the sun streaming through the open windows, giving you the sudden urge to rearrange the mantelpiece, but I often find myself thinking: is my home working for me, or am I working for it?
Endlessly doomscrolling through the parade of pristine interiors online, it’s so easy to feel that pressure—the kind that whispers your home should look just so, that it should keep up with trends or look ready for a magazine shoot. But after years of working in design, I’ve come to a much simpler truth: you don’t need a perfect home. You just need one that feels perfect for you.
For me, that starts with meaning. Some of the most treasured pieces in my home aren’t shiny or new. They’re things I’ve inherited, picked up at dusty antiques fairs, on holiday, or repurposed over the years. I surround myself with things that speak to me: a well-loved chair, a beautifully cut Art Deco bottle holding one of our handmade diffuser flowers, giving off the fresh scent of Geranium Leaf & Thyme—these are what make a house feel like home.
Some of my greatest regrets are letting pieces go when they no longer seemed to be on trend. As a youngster I was a collector and had a particular love of blue and white Chinese ceramics (amongst many other things!). But when the early noughties arrived with all of its pared-back simplicity, I let the collection go—BIG mistake. I’ve learnt, as Billy Baldwin said, “Be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is ever out of style.”
The same is true when I curate for Vintage & Bespoke. I don’t look for perfection. I look for character. A little imperfection or a tiny quirk can tell a richer story than something brand new. Our diffuser bottles don’t have a mass-produced, generic look. Our flowers are crafted by hand. And our scents are blended to feel like a memory you didn’t know you missed.
Your home doesn’t need to follow anyone else’s rules. If it feels good to you and is truly personal—then you’re already doing it right. Let go of the pressure to have it all together. Surround yourself with the things that bring you joy, stir your imagination, or just make you smile on a grey Tuesday.
Because in the end, perfection is overrated. A home that tells your story? That’s priceless.
Here are some of the many brands I follow:
- So Souk – for their beautiful textiles and pretty, timeless layered style
- OKA – Furniture and accessories that mix effortlessly with vintage
- Cocolulu Designs – pretty details from Louise who hand-paints our bottles
- Bedfolk – because good sheets are the ultimate everyday luxury
- Willow and Stone – a treasure trove of hardware and heritage touches
- Anthropologie – always a go-to for joyful, eclectic home pieces
- Little Greene Paint Company – I’m currently obsessed with their deep red paint ‘Arras’, and am painting up my bedside tables as we speak!
