The Home Tour Series #12 Laura Smith

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~ For a similar log basket, shop here ~

Although moving when their son, Arthur, was just 8 weeks old, wasn’t their intended move-in date, the home Laura (@quinn_twin) and husband, Matt have created in the year since has become a wonderfully homely and cosy one; filled with memories and treasured finds.

~ Shop our white Aston Dining Chairs ~

Set back from the road and entering down a small garden path, Laura tells us they knew it was the one from the moment they viewed it. ‘This one was perfect for us because it had character, had all the room we needed, a proper garden for our dog and there wasn’t too much we needed to change to make it ours. When we viewed it, we knew straight away that it was perfect.’

‘The couple that lived here before us had done a lot of work to the house. He was a carpenter, so he made the beautiful shelves in our lounge, all of the doors and built-in wardrobes in the bedroom. They put a lot of work into the house and everything was very much to our taste so it was the perfect situation. We just had to make it ours which involved buying new furniture. Everything has had new paint and we’ve put our own touches everywhere too.’

For a similar coffee table, shop our Clover Buttoned in Grey Linen ~

Moving from one cottage to another – ‘We loved our old home so much’ – Laura has brought her love for modern country décor into their new home too. ‘I couldn’t really say why I’m drawn to this style, I think I always have been – maybe because I’ve always lived in the country and I like my home to feel calm.’

‘I also love the Scandinavian style,’ she tells us, ‘which may seem like an odd mix!’

~ For a similar TV Stand, shop our Chester Grey collection ~

With calming neutrals and soft textures throughout, Laura admits she likes to find ways to keep their home tidy and clutter-free: ‘Having a tidy and cosy home is important to me but obviously so is Arthur and our dog. I believe you can have it all – even though lots of people will tell you that you can’t have nice things with children! Our home works for everyone. Arthur’s toys are readily available to him, they are just in a big basket that can be put away when he goes to bed and I love to buy him second-hand toys that can also be displayed (he loves these just as much as any of his plastic ones). His favourite toy is actually a second-hand wooden bike that is always out in our lounge because it’s lovely.’

~ Our Mottisfont Painted 7 Drawer Chest, seen here, includes ample storage space ~

Making the most of their open-plan living/dining room, Laura tells us this is where they can usually be found – thanks to the cosy fireplace. ‘It’s a lovely functional space – we push the footstool back during the day so Arthur has loads of space to play and then in the evening it can be set back up.’

~ Faux flowers are perfect for autumn. These alliums, and others, are available exclusively in-store ~

When we asked Laura to tell us about her favourite corner in their home, she admits it is Arthur’s nursery – and it’s easy to see why. Filled with vintage curios and nostalgic finds, it’s a cosy and special space. ‘Some people may think it’s boring but I love the calm and neutral vibes in there. It’s such a special room because it was created with so much love whilst he was growing in my tummy,’ she explains. ‘We didn’t know his gender until he was born so we kept it very neutral.’

‘About four years before I became pregnant I bought a cloud mobile from The White Company whilst out with a friend. I just saw it and knew that I needed it in my baby’s room one day. I actually hid it from Matt for a while! When it came to decorating Arthur’s nursery, I centred my ideas around clouds and this special mobile because it just felt right. We kept it completely neutral which I love and filled it with lots of wooden toys. It also features quite a few second-hand pieces. Lots of ideas came from Pinterest too.’

From one favourite corner to another, Laura tells us the gallery wall behind their dining table is another of her most-loved creations for the memories and sentiment it holds. ‘I love looking at it – it has photos from our wedding, our first day with our dog, Albus, baby Arthur but also our wedding invitation, pressed flowers from my first Mother’s Day bouquet, a map of where Matt and I met and some bumblebee fingerprints by Arthur. It might not have been labour intensive but it’s extremely special.’

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With sentiment in mind, it’s clear this is important to Laura and Matt. Photographs take pride of place around their home, together with meaningful pictures and personal prints. There are pressed flowers and memories mounted and framed. It is warm and lived-in. A real family home that is altogether beautiful and practical, with cosy finishing touches. ‘We love having sentimental pieces out and things on the wall that bring back memories.’

~ Shop our similar Vintage Wash-Up Tidy ~

‘We’d rather save up and buy things which we love and that will last a long time then buy lots of bad quality items,’ Laura tells us. ‘Loads of our furniture is from The Cotswold Company, as it fits our style very well. I also enjoy looking around antique shops for little touches like jars and vases. We have amazing country brocantes where we live and there are always amazing things to pick up there.’

~ Shop our beautiful Abbey Armchair for a similar cosy bedroom chair ~

From pumpkins to handmade garlands and beautiful dried flowers, Laura tells us she loves decorating their home for the different seasons. ‘I feel very lucky to live in a country with seasons because I adore them. We have wide windowsills on the front of our house which always feature seasonal flowers – from tulips to heather. Spring is my favourite and I love having cut flowers in both spring and summer. I think I like autumn for decorating the most though. Covering autumn leaves in beeswax and making a garland from them is something I now do every year and it makes a room look instantly autumnal.’

~ Our Portobello Painted Hallway Shoe Storage Bench pairs perfectly with our Oakland Coat Hook ~

Looking to the future, and Laura tells us the next jobs on their to-do list are in the garden and to replace the garage. ‘We will also be creating a spare room in our third bedroom too.’ She explains how she would love to try panelling in their bedroom at some point: ‘I’m a massive period drama fan and I’ve always loved the look of it. I also really appreciate bold colours like Farrow & Ball ‘Downpipe’ – but I’m not sure I’m brave enough!’

~ Shop our Lundy Stone Painted Bedroom collection ~

Together with tangible memories and sentimental keepsakes, it’s no surprise that Laura reveals the importance of love and gratitude for her and their home. ‘It just wouldn’t be a home without my husband, Arthur and our crazy dog, Albus. Also having this space to entertain our extended family and friends is very important. We are massive foodies so having a good dining space is really important to us, we love eating as a family.’

Reminding us to simply ‘be grateful for what you have,’ is an important and endearing sentiment, especially given the current climate of comparison we tend to see – and are perhaps guilty of ourselves – on social media. ‘Someone always has a bigger house with more expensive things. You have to make the best with what you have and be grateful for it. Even when we lived in our tiny first flat together it felt like home, because we made it so.

What a lovely thought – we couldn’t agree more.

~ Lundy Stone Telephone Table | Shop Table Lamps ~

A big thank you to Laura, Arthur and Albus for welcoming us so warmly into their beautiful home.