The very first thing designer Cath Kidston chose for this bedroom was the color palette. The room itself was quite daunting to decorate, she recalls in her book, A Place Called Home (Pavilion, 2020). So she built on a theme of lemon yellows, soft blues, and faded tomato reds, keeping the walls muted so the space would feel relaxing. She then filled the room with folk and vintage art and furniture collected through the years while also incorporating pops of graphic modern patterns on lampshades and vases. It may seem polished and finished, but the decor is ever evolving. “I used to be able to decorate other people’s homes in a very decisive way,” Kidston says. “But in my own home it can take me ages to make decisions.”

Curating the perfect space won’t happen overnight; it could take years to come across that ideal piece. Mixing design styles and elements can also bring unexpected harmony: in this space, a Picasso-printed scarf finds a home next to traditional pleated curtains printed with birds and roses. The combination of patience and bold choices results in a room that blends eras and styles into a harmonious whole.

1. Brass Marble Crystal and Acrylic Four-Arm Candelabras // 1stDibs 
2. Whitefield Floral Curtain // Swags Galore
3. Bon Bons Rug // Company C 
4. On the Pier // Seawicks
5. Beachcomb Giclee Lamp Shade // Lamps Plus
6. Hand Stitched Light Indigo Quilt // John Robshaw  
7. Faux Bamboo Dresser in Blueberry // The Well Appointed House
8. Cubist Marathon by Heather Blanton, acrylic and pencil on canvas, 30” x 24” // Maine Art Hill
9. Hole-man Velvet Slipper Chair in Yellow // Wayfair