We are officially counting down the days until our London trip for the 2024 design et al International Design & Architecture Awards! If you haven’t heard, Reflections was nominated in three categories and Marissa and Katie will be attending the awards ceremony next month. You can vote for us here. Regardless if we win, we are looking forward to meeting other designers from around the world who will be in attendance, and taking in the city of London for a few days. In honor of Reflections crossing the pond, we thought we’d dive into the world of British design, and share a few of the reasons we love it so much. Here are 5 key traits you’ll begin to spot across British interiors, with examples of each pulled from projects we’ve designed here in Cleveland and beyond over the last few years.
1. PATTERNS
Adding detail into a room through pattern is one of the many ways to elevate a space. Most American retail shops selling furniture, curtains, pillows, etc. have a limited selection in patterns available, sticking with more simple, solid options. So when you walk into a room styled with various patterns that play wonderfully together, it immediately feels customized, personal, and unique to that space. British interiors mix and play with patterns so well.
2. BESPOKE DETAILS
Speaking of unique and personal… another detail we notice and admire in British design is the bespoke details. Cabinetry is a big focus! There are a handful of now globally-recognized English cabinetry designers (deVOL and Plain English to name a few) and designers from other countries are taking note as more and more homeowners embrace the function-forward, classic, and bespoke feel of an English kitchen. Working with skilled craftspeople on projects to design and build out custom cabinetry for added functionality to a room is one of our favorite parts of creating a space. You’ll see that throughout our projects.
3. COLOR
Color is one of the main reasons many people are drawn to British interiors. Especially as neutral and minimal interiors had a trending moment in the design world in the last few years. People enjoy the refreshing use of color, and plenty of it, that you can find in British interiors. You know we don’t shy away from colorful interiors here at Reflections, and we love incorporating them through textiles, cabinetry, tiles, and more.
4. HISTORY
You knew this point was coming, didn’t you? How could we talk British design WITHOUT mentioning the beautiful historical, and traditional details you’ll often see sprinkled throughout? Whether it’s preserving and calling attention to architectural details from the past, or adding story through antiques and heirloom treasures, we love the character and depth these moments of history add to a room.
5. ECLECTICISM
There’s an art to eclecticism in interior design, and the British are doing it in aces! This is likely because British interiors tend to pull from all different influences. This makes sense, as they’re not far away from SO many global art inspirations. From Roman architecture, and the ornate details of old-world France, to the clean and minimal leanings of its northeastern neighbors in Scandinavia. Then, of course, the long and rich history of its own region, including from the Georgian and Victorian eras, to the British pop art era. We also love pulling from different inspirations and styles and finding a way to marry them together into one cohesive space.
