My First London Home: A Colourful Maisonette Featured in Style at Home

There is something special about looking back at your first home. For me, these photographs bring back our three-bedroom maisonette in south-east London, the decorating decisions Neil and I made together, and the excitement of finally having somewhere we could make our own.

Our home appeared in the October 2019 issue of Style at Home, where we shared how we transformed a dated property into a welcoming space filled with colour, pattern, and nature-inspired design.

It was also a chance to show my fabrics in the setting they were designed for: a real home, lived in and loved.

Seeing the potential

We bought the maisonette in March 2013. It needed attention, with worn carpets, dark walls, and textured surfaces that took imagination to see beyond.

But the generous windows brought in plenty of light, and the rooms offered more space than our rented flat. It also put us within walking distance of my design studio in Deptford.

As our first home together, it gave us the opportunity to turn years of decorating ideas into something real. There were practical limitations, though. The leasehold meant we had to work with the existing layout, so our focus became making the most of the space through furniture placement, colour and decoration.

Bringing colour into our London home

Much of my work starts with the natural world, and that influence found its way into our interiors too.

Deep blues, leafy greens and warm yellows appeared throughout the maisonette, alongside wooden furniture, houseplants and artwork. A navy wall in the living room provided a backdrop for an eclectic collection of pictures, while the leather sofa brought warmth and texture.

In the dining area, geometric wallpaper added a different kind of pattern. Yellow curtains helped connect the spaces and brought a cheerful splash of colour to the room.

For me, using pattern successfully is about giving it room to breathe. Plain walls, simple furniture and quieter surfaces helped balance the bolder elements.

Living with my own fabric designs

One of the loveliest parts of decorating was finding places for my own designs.

In the living room, bird-patterned upholstery and cushions brought a little British wildlife indoors. These pieces sat alongside other prints and textures, showing how nature-inspired fabrics can become part of a relaxed, personal home.

The kitchen needed a lift of colour, so I used my yellow Chrysanthemum design for the blind. Against the white units and grey tiles, it became a bright focal point.

In the bedroom, a large upholstered headboard in my Buddies and Butterfly fabric, with coordinating cushions, created a statement against the green wall. It was a lovely opportunity to use fabric on a larger scale and let the design shape the room.

A home built around personal details

The rooms were also filled with things we had collected: artwork, photographs, second-hand furniture and objects that caught our eye.

I particularly like the way those pieces sit alongside the patterned textiles. A home develops character through the things you choose to keep, display and use every day.

Neil and I worked on the decorating and DIY together, gradually building up the layers that made the maisonette feel like ours.

Looking back at the magazine feature

Seeing our first home in a magazine was a proud moment. Looking at it now, I can still see so much of what matters to me as a designer: colour, nature, thoughtful details and spaces that feel welcoming.

Although I am now based in South Oxfordshire, this London maisonette remains an important part of my story. It was where I could live with my designs, experiment with combinations and see how they worked beyond the studio.

If you are decorating your own first home, my advice is to start with something you love. A fabric, a painting or a favourite colour can give you a starting point, and the rest can grow over time.

Explore my nature-inspired fabrics and wallpapers at lornasyson.co.uk for ideas to bring colour, birds and botanicals into your own home.

Originally featured in Style at Home, October 2019.