Styling a Sims Hilditch interior design project for editorial coverage

During my time as the Houses Editor at The English Home magazine I often worked collaboratively with Naomi Roberts - Head of Brand Communications at luxury British interior design studio, Sims Hilditch. She introduced me to her client, Ginni who had recently enlisted the help of Sims Hilditch to design the interiors of her large new-build mansion. I remember Naomi excitedly telling me about the Palladian style property with imposing proportions.

Naomi explained how Ginni and her husband had bought the house in the Oxfordshire countryside when it was still a work in progress. At their first viewing the flooring wasn’t down, wires were hanging out everywhere and there were no stairs, so they had to climb ladders to view the first floor. Even though the house was a building site at the time, Ginni fell in love with the graceful proportions and luxuriously large rooms. The house had the classical features they were looking for, but unlike old properties, the layout was designed for modern living with open plan spaces without the usual warren of rooms in a period property. Ginni took on the challenge and the remaining building work was completed, but when it came to designing the interiors she realised she needed help to fill such large rooms, so she reached out to Sims Hilditch.

Ginni had sold most of her furniture from her previous house as she felt her style had evolved and wanted a fresh start so designer, Kelly Ross layered the rooms with antiques and new pieces to give the interiors character. The elegant drawing room scheme incorporates bespoke pieces, including the walnut bookcase that, at first glance, looks like an antique. I love the mix of mustard and indigo patterned cushions that tie in with the antique rug. I sourced some extra Isla Finch gold velvet cushions from Neptune to emphasise this uplifting colour palette when we photographed the house. I introduced all the props on the Robert Langford coffee table, including the coffee table books and the arrangement of coral Snapdragons, which work well with the mustard. A tray with a coffee pot and crockery creates a welcoming feel, as if someone has just stepped out of the room. Before photographing a space, I do a lot of rearranging and refining, until the balance feels just right. I might also move things from one room to another, as well as edit and remove things that I don’t think are needed. We often end up moving furniture too, depending on where we decide is the best angle of the room.

I stayed over at a nearby B&B the night before the shoot and remember Naomi and I turning up at the house first thing in the morning, both cars jam packed with props. We had a huge amount to do in one day, styling each room for photographer, Rachael Smith to shoot. I wear two hats on a house shoot day - rushing ahead to prepare the rooms, but at the same time art directing the shots with the photographer, making sure I get a good choice of angles, including wide and mid shots, horizontal and vertical images for the magazine layout. When styling I usually work on my own, without help, so I was so grateful to have Naomi by my side. We worked well as a team which gave me more time to refine each shot with Rachael. 

This open plan living area flows off the kitchen and a large pendant light hangs over a seating area, zoning the space. To break up the denim blue hues, I added a splash of soft pink to this room by teaming these Fermoie cushions with Ginni’s indigo Vignatella Woad William Yeowood cushions. I styled the coffee table with a vase of ranunculus, perfectly echoing the soft pink shades in the cushions.

Ginni’s classic country style kitchen is a light space with dual aspect views on to the sprawling gardens. I added splashes of green with herbs in terracotta pots, a fern, apples, and Neptune ‘Castleford’ glass vase of white hydrangeas to soften hard edges and link the outdoors. Bread on a chopping board, muesli in a glass Neptune ‘Wingfield’ jar, a Neptune ‘Bowsley’ cake stand and ‘Broadfield’ glass dome create a homely, welcoming feel. The wooden chopping board, bowl and stepping stool tie in with the warm oatmeal tones in the striped ‘Book End Navy’ Christopher Farr blinds.

I chose delphiniums in vibrant blue tones to add a flamboyant touch to this formal dining room. We laid the table as if a dinner party was about to take place and teamed Ginni’s simple white crockery with amber and blue Neve glass tea light holders from Neptune. We added the decorative silver peacock ornaments and antique brass candlesticks to enhance the traditional feel. I sourced the tall cream Haybrook vase from Neptune for the delphiniums. I positioned a shorter Haybrook vase, with handles, on the sideboard, which stands out against the navy background. Dark walls work well in a dining room as it feels particularly atmospheric and cosy at night with candles glowing. I love how the flowers add a freshness to this space, and contrast beautifully with this dark colour.

I styled this round dining table with artificial peony stems from Neptune in a tall white vase and my Robert Gordon duck egg jug to echo the blue tones in the painting, striped blind and curtain fabric. I created an informal dining setting on the table, with a stack of plates, serviettes and wine glasses.

I dressed this guest bedroom with sophisticated Neptune ikat cushions in oatmeal tones to blend with the textured, taupe headboard and waffle throw. A delicate posy of pink flowers sits on the Chelsea Textiles Gustavian bedside table, next to an elegant Cameron table lamp by Visual Comfort.

I added fig leaves, tulips and ornaments to the vanity in this bathroom, along with a striped towel over the bath.

In the spacious master bedroom, Kelly from Sims Hilditch has contrasted the clean lines of a bespoke modern, four poster bed with classic Gustavian Chelsea Textiles bureau side tables to suggest the scheme has come together organically over time. I added the soft pink Neptune herringbone throw to the bed to tie in with the dusky pink cushions and enhance this subtle colour palette. I dressed the bedside tables with vases of pretty pink tulips, books and ornaments to make the room photo shoot ready.

I moved the Rapture & Wright ‘Maroc’ geometric cushions from another part of the house and teamed them with this Indigo Melange throw from So Cosy to echo the grey blue tones in the OKA seaweed framed prints above the bed. I styled the bedside tables and added my own pottery vase with pale pink ranunculus to contrast with the blue hues in this guest bedroom.

Photographing and styling large country houses has it’s own particular challenges. One of the reasons I love working with photographer Rachael Smith is her humour and I remember feeling tired in the late afternoon, but something made us giggle, giving me an extra burst of much needed energy. We spent all day running around the house, up and down Ginni’s grand stairway, chasing the light. By the end of the shoot we looked at each and laughed because we realised we could hardly walk. After the shoot I was glad to be able to sit in my sunny garden and recover for most of the Easter weekend….

I interviewed Ginni and Kelly, then wrote the story. To read the full 8 page house feature in The English Home magazine click here.

When I first visited the house for a recce, the interiors had only recently been completed, so for editorial purposes, I felt some areas would benefit from additional styling. After deciding that we’d like to feature Ginni’s house in The English Home magazine, Naomi suggested that we work together to get the house photo shoot ready. I chatted to Naomi and discussed my ideas of how to enhance each space with props. I borrowed cushions, vases, and other tabletop pieces from Neptune. I also brought incidental props from my home and a selection of fresh flowers. Naomi gathered props from the Sims Hilditch HQ, including cushions and kitchen paraphernalia. Interior styling is all about the details and thinking of every little thing.