“Individuality is at the heart of each and every one of my interior design projects”, says Charlotte Thomas, founder of her eponymous design studio.
“Home and its uniqueness are what anchor us in our hectic lives. My role as designer, therefore, is to transform my clients’ period properties into individual, comfortable, reassuring spaces that reflect who they are and provide a practical backdrop for a happy, healthy life.”
As a qualified, second-generation interior designer, Charlotte draws on her training and her honed eye for colour, line, texture and beautiful things. Taking inspiration from the English countryside and French antiques, her bespoke room schemes infuse centuries-old spaces with historic and sympathetic contemporary touches, gentle lighting, mood-enhancing colour, layered pattern and tactile textures.
The end result is a unique period home design that respects the architecture and sense of place, makes use of the space in the most practical manner and creatively reflects the client’s individuality.
"My style is born out of my life-long love affair with old English country houses and my sentimental connection with France", Charlotte says.
Building on these passions, her studio’s aesthetic is a serene blend of traditional English country house, vintage French and fresh and airy contemporary design styles. The resulting spaces are authentic, inspiring and so welcoming that they are hard to leave.
"The brief for a fabulous recent project was to reinvigorate and sympathetically modernise a tired, listed Cotswolds farmhouse. Its new iteration was as a country bolt-hole for a busy London-based couple, their children and dogs.
A realistic budget was decided, a timeline agreed and priorities identified.
With respect for the location and history of the building and a thorough understanding of the client’s vision and requirements, Charlotte created a personalised design concept, 2D and 3D layouts, a new lighting plan and room schemes with fixtures and fittings in line with the budget.
Once approved by the client, the studio managed the sourcing, installation and styling.
Given the Grade II listing of the property, some rooms were carefully reconfigured without the need for any building work, which delivered more useful, practical spaces both cost-effectively and relatively quickly.
In terms of lighting, overhead recessed spotlights were removed to make way for dimmable pendants, wall sconces and low-level table lamps, creating a cosy, relaxed atmosphere. Wall switches and sockets were upgraded to an antique bronze finish, which sat comfortably in such an old house.
Creative inspiration came from the surrounding countryside, local stone and a couple of existing vintage wallpapers. A colour palette of sage green, yellow ochre and rusty red was set against a neutral backdrop of soft plaster pink and deep cream. A mix of quintessentially English floral prints, small print fabrics from France, simple striped ticking and richly textured plains created a homely, layered effect through soft furnishings.
Art is often the jumping-off point for many of the studio’s room schemes. Charlotte collaborated closely with her clients when editing their generous art and photography collection. Once chosen, reframed and rehung, the selected pictures enhanced each room scheme, adding character and creating little opportunities to smile.
Existing sentimental furniture was restored and reupholstered by traditional experts and repositioned to fit the new room layouts. New long-term pieces, such as beds and sofas, were sourced from quality contemporary UK suppliers and other more decorative pieces from local artisans and trusted antique dealers."
