We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
After years in the countryside, Pearl Lowe brings her vintage flair back to the capital
After two decades in the Somerset countryside, Pearl Lowe and her husband, Danny Goffey, have traded wellies for the thriving bustle of London once again.
'It's been 20 years since we moved out of our beloved Camden townhouse and into the Somerset countryside, and I still believe that leaving London when we did was the right decision,' says Pearl in her new book, Faded Glamour in the City: Romantic interiors for urban living.
'We brought the kids up in Somerset and made many lifelong friends there. We've enjoyed the beautiful green spaces and the slower, friendlier way of life.'
Pearl and Danny's new flat — a place she describes as a 'little hidden gem in Notting Hill just off Portobello Road' — is a lesson in transforming a small space with vintage flair.
Measuring just 880 sq ft, Pearl saw potential in its high ceilings, period features (it was formerly a therapy space), and antique furniture the previous owners were happy to leave behind (including the bed).
'After all those years in the serenity of the countryside, I thought the sheer volume of people on the streets might freak me out. Instead, I've been happily padding around, usually with my trusty dog Doris beside me, down Portobello Road, on through the market and up to Golborne Road to have a snoop around. I rarely come home empty-handed, as there is always a new treasure to be found.'
Fancy a peek? Take a look at a few highlights from Pearl and Danny's home below:
Layered textures, dappled light and cherished antique finds give Pearl's living room a whimsical charm that feels both romantic and nostalgically warm.
When it came to designing this space, she says, 'I've collected antique French lace panels for years. They look so romantic hung at these tall windows and I love how they filter the light.
'I couldn't resist buying the beautiful lamp and the mustard velvet sofa from Muirshin Durkin, even though we didn't have a place for them at the time. I got them out of storage, as I knew they would be just right here.
'The glamorous shell cushion is by Sera of London. The Theodore velvet armchairs are from Soho Home and so is the Art Deco-style drinks cabinet – I'd been coveting it for a while and it's perfect for storing my collection of vintage glasses.'
Pearl's bedroom is a Pinterest board come to life, filled with treasures, trinkets and thrifted finds from over the years. You'll find nods to her Somerset house, as well as newer additions from flea markets.
'I planned the bedroom decor around the beautiful French bed, which has my favourite memory-foam Tempur mattress and the softest pink linen from Piglet in Bed (pictured).
'I painted the walls in Salon Drab by Farrow & Ball. The look is softened by the dainty bedspread, lace curtains and antique chandelier. I found the Venetian glass mirror at Kempton antiques market.'
Here, Pearl has styled a Florentine-gilded bedside table with a vase of flowers, Penhaligon's candle and a sweet cherub wall light she picked up on eBay.
'I brought a lot of my cherished items from our beach house in Sussex to furnish the flat, but it's been a challenge to edit our belongings and find what will work here. I'm constantly changing things around and taking pieces back to Somerset, then returning again with a car filled to the brim with other bits and bobs.
'I'm a great believer that if you see something you love, you should buy it, even if you don’t have a space for it yet.'
'Pink is such a good colour in a bathroom: warm, uplifting and flattering,' says Pearl. 'The chalky pink paint used on the walls and woodwork/trim was made up for me by Bert & May to match the tiles. I love gazing at a display of favourite objects while soaking in the tub – a wall without a decorative shelf looks unfinished and bare to me.'
Other design highlights that make the space sing include glazed skinny metro tiles from Bert & May, a Senator bathtub from BC Designs, brass fittings for a vintage feel, star-patterned drapes from Shepton Mallet flea market, and the pendant lamp from Mary Hossack Antiques.
'We wanted the kitchen to feel like a cool bar where we could have parties. The deVOL cabinets are painted in Farrow & Ball's Mizzle, which works so well with the Setting Plaster walls and dark wood floor,' writes Pearl in her book.
'Glamorous elements include the marble-topped butcher's table and bar stools, the antique lighting and lace panels, the quartz worktop and the mirrored tiles from Fired Earth.'
The fashion designer and vintage lover says switching up shelves is one of her favourite pastimes.
'I'm a maximalist through and through, and ever-changing displays bring me such joy.
'Shelves are such a great way to decorate a wall. On display here are some of my treasured glass bottles, paintings and ostrich feathers. The little lamp below was an eBay find,' says Pearl.
Faded Glamour in the City: Romantic interiors for urban living by Pearl Lowe is avilable to buy now.
This wisteria-clad Victorian villa is one of East London’s dreamiest homes
The £90 junk shop table at the heart of Richard Miller's home
Why Alan Titchmarsh loves his new cottage garden
Step inside Jonathan Adler’s joyful Palm Beach home
