At Home with... Louise Booyens

Louise talked to us about her home, her style and how she finds her inspiration.

Where do you live (i.e., town or country)?

We are lucky enough to currently live in beautiful, listed house in a tiny hamlet in Norfolk where I’m able to spend time with my dogs, chickens and alpacas.

Would you say you have a style? If so, what is it?

Updated English country house style rich in colour and texture. I love adding colour to a room, either in a bold way or simply a pop of colour to elevate the scheme. Period homes need both antique and contemporary furniture, it’s important to mix pieces from different eras.

I’ll always look at the architectural features of the room first, then put together an eclectic mix of materials, colour, pattern and texture in such a way that it sits together comfortably and works within the space.

Where do you find inspiration for your home?

I find heritage houses and their architecture very inspiring. We are very lucky in this country to have so many of these!
When I came to England in the nineties, I started visiting English Heritage and National Trust properties and that is where my obsession with old houses began.

Other inspiration comes from nature, books, magazines, Instagram – basically anything beautiful around me! I use my own home to experiment with colour, textiles & different styles – things get moved around constantly!

What is/are your favourite pieces in your home?

A very old Victorian sofa which my husband and I bought about 15 years ago in Stamford at auction. Very much an impulse buy! It was covered in the most hideous pale blue/pink tapestry weave when we bought it, but I loved the shape and still do. As it was in excellent condition, we simply had it recovered in GP & J Baker’s Blush China. I remember at the time I thought the fabric and colour would age well – and it did!

What is your most recent furniture/home accessory purchase?

I found an oversized green ceramic table lamp at an antique market and swapped the old shade for a beautiful pleated linen one from Oka.

Have you got a dream item of furniture that you would love (eg, copper roll top bath,
garden day bed, water fountain etc)

I’ve been dreaming about a Tuileries Sofa from Soane Britain. And, loose covers are also available with this sofa so perfect for the dogs too!

When you look for an accessory or a piece of furniture, do you find the piece to suit the room or do you find the furniture and create a room aesthetic around it?

I very seldom buy new furniture; I always seem to fall in love with something at auction or at an antique fair and then I have to find a place for it at home!

But, having said that, I did recently buy a new sofa in a teal velvet which I adore.

How do you go about working with your clients to find their style?

When I design for clients, it is about helping them to discover what they like. Interior design is like being an artist- you’re putting together a picture while ensuring that the “picture” functions as a sitting room, dining room or whatever. The house must work for the people who live there.

Schemes often start with a favourite piece of furniture or perhaps a fabric belonging to the client, perhaps an heirloom, a painting or something special they have collected on their travels.

Have you had a favourite or most memorable project?

Difficult to choose a favourite! I’ve been lucky to have worked on some incredible houses, but my favourite project is one that we have been working on for the past year or so. It is a stunning 18th century country house in Ireland that the owners are sympathetically restoring.