Colour Crush

Designer Susi Bellamy has decorated her Edwardian manor house with a modern mix of hello-there hues and vibrant art

- Claire Bingham

Given the grand entrance of this Edwardian manor house, two things are immediately surprising. One, despite its noble proportions and classic British architectural features, first impressions are modern and light. And two, for the property’s owner, designer Susi Bellamy, colour and pattern know no bounds.

This house plays the juxtaposition card without coming over too bohemian. It is eclectic yet tightly curated, featuring effervescent combinations such as a vintage lime-green velvet sofa paired with Florentine-inspired fabrics, set against a classic backdrop of chequerboardtiled flooring. ‘I don’t go in with a plan,’ says Susi of her signature high-energy style. ‘I enjoy the vive la difference.’

The house is structurally magnificent, but after returning to it from the heat of Florence – where Susi and her family lived for six years – its dark-oak panelling felt cold and the layout needed a rethink. ‘We decided to freshen it up with new ideas to make it light and joyous and painted all the dark wood an off-white,’ says Susi.