For interior designer Patricia Rodi, creating a home is all about finding the balance between curation and comfort, a skill she's honed to perfection in her stunning home on Scotland's west coast. Here, the Instagram star and co-founder of Rodi & Cecile Studio tells us how she’s made it work.
It dates back to 1870, but at some point, it was modernised and many of the original elements were stripped back, which made me sad. When we initially viewed the house, it was love at first sight for my husband, but I was concerned about the amount of work needed. Now, two years after the renovation finished, I never want to leave this house. It’s peaceful and has good energy.
I wanted somewhere that felt considered and curated rather than constrained or overly styled. Achieving that balance can be difficult. We naturally fill our homes with belongings because even the most disciplined minimalists tend to accumulate, and that’s often when chaos creeps in.
I regularly ask myself: 'Do I really need this? Does it support the flow of everyday life?' Everything should earn its place. Stripping back unnecessary layers helps a home feel calmer, more intentional and ultimately more comfortable to live in.
My mum is Swedish, my father is French and we have family everywhere. Dad was a chef, so the sense of home revolved around the kitchen – I wanted to have that feeling of togetherness in our home.
I turned the living area adjoining the kitchen into a dining room and made the kitchen functional but also cosy, with a formal dining table for hosting and a bench layered with cushions.
What to Read Next
Ours is nothing overly special – it's from John Lewis and has a diamond-shaped pattern. Many people don't approve of having a rug in the kitchen, but it brings a lot of warmth to the room.
Peppering a space with them changes the whole mood, and I have an eclectic collection. They're great for injecting some personality. If your kitchen is neutral, for example, vibrant candles can add a hit of colour – burgundy in the winter months and brighter tones for summer.
I'm naturally drawn to pieces with a past, so French antiques feature heavily in my home and in my work. A few years ago, I bought a pair of Louis XIV bedside tables at a small auction in the Limousin region of France.
They're wonderfully worn, with a soft patina, delicate carving and proportions that feel both elegant and grounding. I love them because they don’t shout for attention and instead quietly anchor the room.
Investing in antiques means carrying fragments of someone else’s life into your own home, which I find incredibly moving. It's a way of honouring craftsmanship, history and continuity.
In my dining room, I have a 1910-era table from my mum; in the bedroom, a small chest of drawers from my dad. My father-in-law is an antiques collector, so he has passed down many beautiful pieces. My home is 19th-century, but antiques also work well in modern spaces.
Mid-century furniture, for example, looks perfectly at home in new-builds because of its clean lines, light proportions and functional design. Similarly, some Georgian pieces, with their understated proportions and classical balance, can look better in contemporary interiors than Victorian furniture, which is often more ornate.
When mixing modern and antique furniture, pay close attention to the finishes and the tone of the wood, and team pieces that speak the same language – this is what makes a space feel carefully considered rather than eclectic just for the sake of it.
I have a real mix: oil paintings from the 1800s, contemporary works, my own textile collection, La Maison with Bemz – which makes slipcovers for Ikea seating – and a massive portrait of a woman picking peas that was painted in 1780. I bought it at an auction for £60. She hangs in the hallway and feels very familiar, as if I know her.
I love the way the Dutch landscape architect Piet Oudolf layers his flowers and gardens. It’s wild but refined, and that idea really inspires me in my home and work. You start with a neutral base, then add colour through furniture, cushions, artwork and lamps rather than going really bold.
Doing my skincare routine for a bit longer, lighting a scented candle – anything to anchor myself in the bathroom makes me feel calmer in the space.
Last year in France, I bought a little antique medicine cabinet, which is on the wall; I love paintings in the bathroom too. Even if they’re tiny, they contribute to a sense of cosiness. It’s all about creating rooms that offer warmth and comfort.
Now that we have the house back to what it should be, I want to keep restoring it, rather than modernising – I feel as though I am its caretaker.
• Find Patricia Rodi online @patriciarodi; @rodicecile.studio
Follow House Beautiful on Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest.
