The Perfect Interior: Home styling with Sophie Conran
Set in the middle of the idyllic Wiltshire countryside, Sophie Conran’s home is beautifully decorated both inside and out. A quick tour of the grounds showcases wonderful bright florals tastefully set against a chic modern greenhouse. For lunch, we sit outside taking in the views and feasting on crispy roasted red peppers, freshly made potato salad and an array of vegetables cooked straight from the gardens. Sophie Conran’s home is simply faultless. This fact is no surprise given Sophie has spent the last eight years nurturing her brand into a beautifully curated site with statement pieces for the whole home and garden. Below, Sophie discusses her insider tips into creating the perfect home as well as her favourite pieces from the new Pink City Prints collection.
SUNSET FLORAL FLORENCE BLOUSE
Visiting your home was an absolute delight, it’s so tastefully styled. Where do you start in terms of creating a vision for your home?
I started with the architecture of the house, deciding what each room will be. Each room has a colour palette that I've used, for example my study is blues and whites and quite a lot of wood and terracotta to warm it up. Whereas the sitting room is shades of pink, green & purples. In the dining room, it is quite neutral, with lovely pale green/turquoise hints, and the walls are a paint coloured called Savage Ground which works well with the De Gournay silk panels. A moodboard is a great place to start, where you can add swatches of fabric, or other surface materials or images of pieces you're going to use.
Your store has many gorgeous statement pieces. What are your personal favourites for adding character to a room?
Candlesticks! Bright lamps like our Halo lamps and always flowers!
It’s been inspiring to collaborate with another female-lead business. What inspired you to start your own brand?
I guess it runs in the family! I was working with lots of other brands and creating other products and wanted to show them all together and make a complete 'home' for all of them in a way - it's what I love to do!
What are the key lessons you have learnt from running your own brand?
Endlessly reevaluate
Work with a great team, who you respect
Learn to delegate
Take responsibility for everything
ROSE MEADOW MARIA DRESS
And finally, which are your favourite Pink City Prints pieces and why?
For the perfect day-to-night choice, I’d pick the Sunset Floral Florence Blouse. I also love the Crimson Lolita Isabel Dress, so flattering and easy-to-wear. What I really love is you can dress the pieces up or dress them down. They are super comfortable, the fit is great and they have perfect pockets which is brilliant as I am always losing my phone and not forgetting the beautiful fabrics! Lovely, sustainable small brand - I try and not buy from the high street.
CRIMSON LOLITA ISABEL DRESS
ABOUT SOPHIE
Sophie Conran is the only daughter of designer and restaurateur Sir Terence Conran and food writer Caroline Conran. Sister to fashion designer Jasper, restaurateurs Tom and Ned and product designer Sebastian, Sophie has two wonderful grown-up children.
March 2006 saw the launch of Sophie’s hugely successful range with Portmeirion. The range has won many prestigious awards and is sold worldwide, with the range continuing to expand. Sophie now works with many amazing companies creating stunning, well-known ranges. She partnered with Arthouse in 2008 to develop a range of wallpapers for B&Q and luxury design pattern books, and in 2010 she began her relationship with Burgon & Ball - creating an ever-growing range of garden tools and accessories. In the same year, Sophie joined forces with the British Cutlers to the Queen, Arthur Price, and has 2 extremely successful cutlery ranges with them.
Sophieconran.com was launched in 2013 and is the culmination of all Sophie’s passions and previous work. Alongside her license ranges, she develops exclusive collections and curates from a wealth of exceptional suppliers and manufacturers all over the world. Sophieconran.com has become a beloved and inspirational shop for the whole home and garden, with exciting new collections launching seasonally and sent out into the world in four beautiful catalogues each year.
