The Perks of Being A Wallflower Cottage

Modern country style has taken hold, championed by the Instagram troubadour that is @wallflower_cottage. We caught up with Jenny who runs the account to see how she’s used Morris & Co. to achieve a contemporary rustic feel.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself, your home, and your go to style.

Our home is an 18^th century cottage nestled in the Hampshire countryside. It forms part of a small country estate and was formerly a stables and coach house. We’re surrounded by fields, woods and a 5 acre meadow we purchased recently with our neighbours within which we keep an area cut for my son to play games. There is such an overwhelming feeling of peace and tranquillity when you drive up the driveway and seven years on I still feel so lucky every day to live here.

We purchased the house in 2015. We fell in love with the peaceful setting, the upstairs large rooms with high ceilings and the original features such as the exposed beams.

I would describe my style as modern country; mixing traditional and vintage pieces with more modern elements. I like a home that feels cosy, full of warmth and texture and seasonal displays but also lived- in. A relaxed home was something that was really important to us as we don’t take ourselves too seriously and I think that comes through in some of the décor choices. Be playful, don’t take yourself too seriously and enjoy thinking outside the box! There’s no good reason for me to store old chopping boards in an antique drawer on the kitchen counter, or decorate our bedroom wall with a collection of hats but it makes me smile and that’s what is important!

I take a huge amount of inspiration from traditional country homes of friends and family I’ve visited over the years or flicking through interiors magazines such as Country Living where homes are full of pieces collected during a lifetime; antiques, faded linens and vintage trinkets. One of my favourite houses is Christina Strutt’s country home (founder of Cabbages and Roses). I remember reading an interview with her in The Times some years ago and feeling totally inspired by her eclectic mix of floral textiles, antiques and use of neutrals.

We’ve used various different tones of white on the walls in our home, sticking primarily to the historic Farrow and Ball historic shades of Old White, Off White, Strong White and Shaded White to remain sympathetic to the age of the property and its country surroundings.  Using the same handful of colours throughout our home has really helped create a sense of flow and pulls it all together. We’ve also used Farrow and Ball’s French Gray on all of the exterior woodwork including the fences to bring it all together and make the outside and inside feel harmonious and an extension of the other.

I love nothing more than visiting antique fairs and brocantes where I’ve picked up many vintage artefacts over the years to decorate our home. Our kitchen is filled with antique stoneware pots, old chopping boards and jars. They add a country feel to the kitchen which was installed by the previous owners, and which would otherwise feel a bit more modern for my taste!

You used Morris & Co. fabric, paint & wallpaper to decorate your cloakroom. What made you choose our classic Pimpernel design? Did you find the paint in Tump to be a good match?

It’s a design I’ve saved numerous times over the years to Pinterest boards and from Instagram and have always planned to use it in my home at some point. The bold print was perfect for the downstairs cloakroom and paired with the Tump paint makes such a beautiful combination of colour which I love every single day!

What do you like the most about Morris & Co. as a brand? Were you fond of the brand prior to working with us?

Absolutely. Morris & Co. is a classic, elegant and timeless brand, it’s products will never go out of style and I was honored to be selected to work with them.

Would you use Morris & Co. interiors in other rooms in your house, if so, where?

Absolutely. I think the classic prints and styles work well in any room, but perhaps more so to a bedroom or living room.

What advice would you give to those who are wanting to use a bold wallpaper print, in a small space such as a bathroom?

Go for it! In a small space no amount of bright, white paint is going to hide it’s size so go for a beautiful, bold pattern which is interesting and timeless to make a feature of it!