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‘If you’re not too fussed about provenance or rarity, choose things that aesthetically speak to you and you can’t live without’
‘Personally I’m having an Arthurian moment. If it’s decorated with crossed swords or prancing unicorns, I’ll take it’
Replicate that cosy, illicit, Prohibition-era feel with hazy light, dark wood and jewel-box colours
‘A silver toast rack? I’m more of a toast piled high on a chipped old plate kind of guy’
‘I rather long to do a downstairs loo or a corridor in black lacquer. Imagine the mysterious, magical depths’
‘An underdressed conservatory can look sad (a couple of plasticky armchairs, a single dying pot plant). Make it a happy-making room’
‘What do I see in my wildest dreams, half-hidden in swirling fog and shimmering in golden light? More cupboards’
There are plenty of options — vintage and contemporary — that would work well in a period property
Whether a Wendy-house basic or a full-on folly, choose wisely for this will be a garden focal point
‘We need to celebrate this summer, even if we end up only able to make merry in our back gardens’
‘We asked our curtain maker if she could whip up some Austrian blinds, all 1980s froth and pomp, big and puffy like pantaloons’
‘They are often very big spaces, and as much as one might like to fill it with an enormous Canaletto, what realistic options are there?’
‘A glossy red door is hard to resist: you just know someone fun must live behind it’
From vintage Habitat to money-is-no-object Murano, mirrors add brightness to a room — but avoid the Liberace look
You may not make it to California or Italy, but you can still capture that sunny vibe at home
‘Hard pelmets feel to me very tailored and smart: like dressing a window in a Savile Row suit’
Beautiful brushes, boxes and baskets to keep your things in order
‘There are various places that I turn to for inexpensive treats and tricks’
‘I believe a combination of order and mess is key, crucial even, when it comes to getting lost in a creative vortex’
Add colour and humour — and forget about trends, our columnist told FT Weekend Festival attendees
Inspiration for those who love the patina and romance of age but would like to add a more modern touch
‘With a few tweaks and a smart selection of furniture, artwork and accessories, you won’t even see the offensive carpet’
‘Yes, I want to soak in the bath with 40 candles lit, but I also need industrial-strength lighting’
‘It is worth making the most of daily rituals. It’s also worth making sure our equipment is up to scratch’
‘We hope the new dog bed will tempt Merlin away from sleeping between us in our own bed, legs 90 degrees in the air’
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