Leanne Ford’s Beautiful White Guest House Cottage

Trends come and go – and to be honest it can be hard to keep up. The good news is that the talk in the industry right now is very much about filling your home with things you love and that make you happy, no matter how eclectic.

Personally, I find it hard to settle on just one looks – and I’m often pulled in different directions based on what I’ve seen and feel inspired by. As a result, I always admire people who have a distinct signature style. American interior designer and TV personality extraordinaire Leanne Ford has a penchant for milky tones – and even when the interior fashion pack are starting to sprinkle their home with colour, Leanne has stuck hard and fast to the look she loves. And she does it so well!

Patina: Leanne is passionate about vintage and antique pieces which show the markings of a past life. The rich patina is perfect for bringing texture and interest to a space.

Imperfection: White can quickly become sterile if it is too rigid. Leanne’s cottage is filled with second hand items, touches of nature and handmade pieces. Look closely and you’ll notice the finish on the walls, beams etc are fairly rough too. The imperfection helps to add a relaxed, warm and inviting feel.

Collections: while the overall look of the cottage is fairly pared back, you’ll find collages of items that have been grouped together in a wonderful way.

Tone on tone: the overall look might be ‘white’ but it’s actually an array of tones ranging from white and cream to dark brown and even a hint of black. The subtle contrast helps to add interest and harmony to the space.

Unusual pieces: take a close look at the dining area and sitting room and you’ll find fascinating furniture with entirely unique forms. It takes time to find pieces like this – often requiring hours of scouring flea markets and second hand stores, but when you find those treasures, you’re truly rewarded!

Drawing nature indoors: Leanne’s cottage is filled with natural materials including wood, paper and jute adding to the calm feel. It can be tricky to have real plants in a guest house since they require too much maintenance. Leanne has got round this with plenty of dried plants and flowers.

Oversize: while the colour scheme might be neutral, the size scheme is not! A series of oversize linen pendant lamps (from Imprint House), combined with miniature pieces (like those chairs we saw hanging from a hook) help to add impact to a space.

Play with texture and light: the light naturally accentuates the texture on the rough stone walls, 3D art and wood beams on the ceiling to add interest to every room in a subtle way.

ooooh, so beautiful!

This makes me want to go out and scour flea markets all weekend – how about you?

If you’re curious about the project and many of the fittings and items you see, there’s a full write up about it in Domino magazine here.

While Leanne was the mastermind of the look for this guest cottage, for the shoot, Erin Kelly worked with stylist Hilary Robertson who’s books I absolutely love! Check them out here.

If you’ve got time to pour another coffee and sit a while longer today, head on over to Leanne’s website to see more of her projects. And don’t miss:

Ha det fint!

Photography: Erin Kelly
Styling: Hilary Robertson
Shared with kind permission