Discover Lucy's selection of favourite pieces from our Autumn Winter 2024 collection, Patterns & Pathways.
Lucy Williams has a thing for blue. It’s a love affair that’s evident in the west London terrace that she shares with her husband, Ruaraidh, and their rescue dog, Finn. From the sky blue walls and crowded bookshelves in the couple’s cosy living room, to the baby blue woodwork and softly draped blind that frame her beloved window seat, (“I always had romantic ideas about having a window seat, so we created one in our kitchen. Friends sit there while I'm cooking, I perch there with the dog during the day, I love it,” she muses), it’s a thread that runs throughout the Victorian property, which they bought in 2020 and spent two and a half years transforming from a well-cared for but dated house into a characterful, welcoming home.
Having moved to London post-university to work at a fashion publication, after a couple of years Lucy sidestepped into trend forecasting. Alongside both roles however, she was an early adopter of blogging. “I remember reading about these things called blogs, and I set one up so I had something to talk about in job interviews,” she explains. “It was an unknown path and we were all just feeling our way at the time, then slowly but surely, brands started to work with bloggers. I left my full time job and thought I'll give it six months, and that was 13 years ago.” Now, her work can be found on her lifestyle and interiors Instagram accounts, as well as a thoughtfully compiled Substack, all of which showcase her curatorial eye. No surprise then, that her home is peppered with a host of fascinating objects infused with memories and meaning.
One such object is a game of solitaire, picked up at a market in Marylebone. “Our family have a flat in north Wales and we spent childhood summers there,” she recalls. “There was a solitaire set on the windowsill, and when inevitably it was raining, we'd sit on the back of the sofa and play. I always wanted one, and though my parents would say I could have it, I like the fact that it’s still there.” On the lookout for a set for herself, she spotted this burl wood version and knew it had to come home. “Shortly after we moved in, my dad taught me exactly how to play, so I think I’ve finally got it,” she laughs. “It feels homely just having it here – like carrying on the tradition.”
The Welsh theme continues, as does the blue, with a blanket discovered in Hay-on-Wye. “I'm part Welsh and my grandparents were Welsh speaking, so I adore this blanket and a blue one is quite rare,” she says. “It's not a tartan, not a stripe and it's always draped on the back of our sofa. I'm definitely someone that likes to hunker down in the winter, so the blanket is always within reach. I also love to layer up different textiles in our home, and this is such a timeless find.”
That element of timelessness is something Lucy prioritised when planning her home, and as such, much inspiration came from a particular book that she now holds dear. “I never wanted this house to be too zeitgeisty, and this feels quite ‘90’s so isn't of this time,” she says of the vintage tome entitled Real Homes. “It's hard nowadays as we’re fed so much inspiration and sometimes, you just want to detach yourself from your phone. I love flipping through an old school book - it’s so valuable when you’re trying to figure out your own taste. This is one of those books that’s become a bit of a bible, and I’ll keep for any renovation I do.”
Also key in Lucy’s home is her collection of unusual ceramics, which include sculptures by contemporary artists as well as charity shop and holiday finds. One such piece is a small but intriguing jug, picked up on her travels to Greece. “Ruaraidh and I got married on Andros, and while we were there we befriended a retired man called Costantinos, who takes people out on his boat. On this particular occasion, we were in Sifnos and he suggested we visit the oldest potter on the island.” Having lived and worked there all his life, the gentleman in question was a master ceramicist, as well as a lover of engineering. “He calls this a Pythagoras jug, and the challenge is to figure out how to get water in it,” she continues. “If you ask me now, I’m still not sure but it holds very fond memories of a wonderful day.”
Two passions – ceramics and blue – come together in Lucy’s final treasured objects, the swirling marbled breakfast bowls handcrafted by Poterie Barbotine for TOAST in southern France. “The marbling on these bowls is beautiful, as is the tiny maker’s stamp - a sun motif - on the bottom, which makes them feel really special,” she says. “I love a nice breakfast, especially when people come to stay. Seeing something that makes you happy first thing in the morning, however small, can really boost your mood.”
Lucy wears the TOAST Indigo Denim Cotton Tunic, Indigo Denim Slim Leg Trousers and Trippen Alex Leather Sandals.
Also featured are the Poterie Barbotine Marbled Breakfast Bowl, Poterie Barbotine Marbled Plate, Washed Linen Napkins, Hand Woven Hogla Placemat, Hand Woven Stripe Tablecloth, Cortona Splatter Pinch Pot Set, Frances Savage Large Arc Jug, Moroccan Glass Carafe, Recycled Bolivian Wine Glasses Set, Patchwork Linen Cushion Cover, Maia Patchwork Cotton Quilt
Words by Claudia Baillie.
Photography by Lesley Lau.
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