The Flare Journal

Interiors and colour

Colour, styling and practical ideas for bringing period detail into everyday rooms.

13 articles to read

Flare illustration of a ceiling rose with a coral pendant over a modern dining table

Interiors & colour4 min read

How to use a ceiling rose in a modern home

A ceiling rose is not only for period houses. Chosen at the right scale, with a simple pendant and the right colour, it gives a plain modern ceiling...

By Sophia MeredithInteriors and colour
Flare illustration of cornice painted in three colours with a paint pot, brush and swatches

Interiors & colour4 min read

Choosing the best paint for plaster details

For most plaster details in modern homes, a good matt emulsion over a mist coat is the right answer. Here is when to choose eggshell, limewash or chalk...

By Sophia MeredithInteriors and colour
Flare illustration of wall lights glowing up a staircase

Interiors & colour4 min read

Lighting hallways and stairs with wall lights

Wall lights are the most comfortable way to light a hall and staircase. This guide covers heights, spacing, switching and the warm, glare-free light that keeps stairs safe.

By Sophia MeredithInteriors and colour
Flare illustration of a row of Victorian terraced houses with bay windows and a tiled path

Interiors & colour4 min read

Victorian terrace interior ideas: restoring period character

Restore the bones of a Victorian terrace first, cornice, roses, picture rails and the hall floor, then layer modern living around them with a calm, considered palette.

By Sophia MeredithInteriors and colour
Flare illustration of a small room with an arched mirror, wall lights and arrows pointing outwards

Interiors & colour4 min read

How to make a small room feel bigger with light and detail

A small room feels bigger when its walls are lit, its edges are softened and its details are in proportion. Here is how to do it with light,...

By Sophia MeredithInteriors and colour
Flare illustration of a living room lit by a pendant, wall lights and a floor lamp

Interiors & colour4 min read

How to layer lighting in a living room

Three layers of light, warm bulbs and a dimmer on everything: a practical plan for a living room that feels right from morning to late evening.

By Sophia MeredithInteriors and colour
Flare illustration of a room painted in one coral colour, walls, ceiling and door

Interiors & colour3 min read

Colour drenching: how to paint a room in one colour

One colour on every surface: how to choose it, which finishes to use, and the few things best left alone.

By Sophia MeredithInteriors and colour
Flare illustration of a bed with wall lights mounted either side

Interiors & colour4 min read

Bedroom wall lights: placement, height and power options

How high to hang bedside wall lights, how to balance reading light with mood light, and when to choose battery or hardwired.

By Sophia MeredithInteriors and colour
Flare illustration of a classical pediment above modern furniture

Interiors & colour3 min read

Mixing period and modern: old details with contemporary furniture

Cornices, ceiling roses and panelling can sit happily beside a modern sofa. Three principles make the mix look deliberate.

By Sophia MeredithInteriors and colour
Flare illustration looking up at a painted ceiling with a coral ceiling rose

Interiors & colour3 min read

The fifth wall: ideas for painting the ceiling

The ceiling is the largest uninterrupted surface in most rooms. Here is how to use colour on it, from a soft tint to a full dark drench.

By Sophia MeredithInteriors and colour
Flare illustration of a ceiling rose with paintbrush, paint pot and colour swatches

Interiors & colour1 min read

How to paint a plaster ceiling rose (and choose the right colour)

Preparing raw plaster, choosing paint, and three colour approaches that work in almost any room.

By Sophia MeredithInteriors and colour
Flare illustration of heritage paint swatches fanned beneath a Georgian sash window

Interiors & colour1 min read

Choosing colours for a period home: a guide to heritage palettes

Every era had its own colours. A short guide to the palettes that suit Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian and 1930s homes.

By Sophia MeredithInteriors and colour
Flare illustration of a hallway with overdoor pediments, shell wall lights and a ceiling rose

Interiors & colour1 min read

First impressions: styling a hallway with architectural details

The hallway is the first room anyone sees. Simple ways to give it a sense of arrival.

By Sophia MeredithInteriors and colour

Bring a chapter of design history home.

Every piece is cast by hand to order in Shrewsbury.

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