When my Dad and step mum moved to their new home in rural France, it was love at first sight. The house sits high above the treetops with a river gliding through the valley below, and the panoramic landscape was completely breathtaking. That view absolutely sold the house to them.

Inside, however, was a very different story. Built in the 1980s, the architecture offered a brilliant open plan layout and generous bi-fold doors, but visually it was very bland. The previous owners loved beige. Think limestone floors, white walls and very little character. The good news? It was the perfect blank canvas.

Here is exactly how we approached the transformation.

1. Start With Nature As Your Colour Palette

We took our cues directly from the landscape. They moved in during autumn and the surrounding countryside was glowing with golden leaves, deep greens in the fields and the clearest blue skies. It was already a ready-made palette, warm, grounding and timeless.

Design becomes much easier when you anchor it to something real and visible outside your window. It instantly creates harmony.

2. Define How The Room Needs To Feel

This open plan space had to work hard. During the day it acts as a dining space and reading area. In the evening it becomes somewhere to relax by the fire and watch television.

We needed a palette that felt calm and restorative, but not sleepy. The answer came from the Wonderland floral from my collaboration with Harlequin. It is largely blues and greens with injections of burnt orange and gold, which brings warmth and energy without overwhelming the space.

3. Add Character Through Wallpaper

The biggest issue was the white walls. With very little architectural detail, the room needed instant personality.

Instead of using the main floral everywhere, which would have felt too energetic, we chose Sticky Grass wallpaper in a smoky blue colourway from the same collection. The soft off-white ground keeps everything light and airy while giving us texture and movement across the walls.

4. Visualise Before You Commit

My Dad found it hard to imagine how all the patterns would sit together. So I created a quick visual mock-up in PowerPoint and then built a physical swatch box of fabrics and finishes.

Seeing everything together removes fear. It is one of the most powerful tools in the design process and exactly what I teach inside my courses.

5. Anchor The Space With Colourful Furniture

In large open plan rooms, big furniture pieces should carry the colour.

We chose plain sofas in rich green and soft aqua velvet, then layered pattern through cushions. A graphic basketweave rug helps zone the living area and adds structure underfoot. Instead of a coffee table, we used a large upholstered footstool which adds softness and more colour.

6. Create Flow In The Dining Zone

To keep movement easy through the open plan layout, we introduced a circular rug and a pedestal dining table. The warm oak adds natural warmth while keeping everything visually light.

We bought simple Scandi style chairs and reupholstered them in a coordinating mini floral velvet. Most shop chairs come in neutral fabrics, so reupholstering is one of the easiest ways to introduce pattern without needing much fabric.

The table itself is from La Redoute.

7. Solve The Bi-Fold Door Dilemma

Huge glazing is wonderful in the day but can feel like a black void at night. Mary was keen to avoid heavy curtains and keep that open feeling.

The solution was simple linen voile on a wide track so they stack neatly at the sides. They diffuse sunlight beautifully and create a soft, cocooning wall in the evening without blocking the view.

8. Finishing Touches Make The Magic

The piece that truly pulled everything together was a large painting by abstract artist Sophie Abbott. In open plan rooms, large scale art is essential. It gives the eye somewhere to rest and helps break up pattern.

We also positioned a large circular mirror opposite the view, which bounces light around the room and gives little flashes of the treetops from new angles.

The Final Result

The room now feels connected to the landscape, layered in texture and pattern, and full of warmth and personality. Most importantly, it still lets that incredible view be the star.

It is proof that when you let nature lead your palette, layer thoughtfully, and design around how you actually live, you create spaces that feel both beautiful and deeply comforting.