How Flora Slater Layered Colour, Pattern and Art Throughout Her London Home

Jul 27
4 min read

Updated: Jul 28

https://youtu.be/DBZSVV9Ym0U

For interior designer Flora Slater, founder of Studio Flora, designing her own London home presented an opportunity to embrace creativity without compromise. Located in Queen's Park, the period property offered the perfect foundation, requiring little structural work and allowing her to focus on what she enjoys most: creating layered interiors filled with colour, pattern and personal meaning. "The beauty of designing your own house is that you can really take a risk" she says, a vision that is evident from the moment you step inside.

DESIGNER

Flora Slater

TYPE

Family Residence

LOCATION

London, UK

SERVICES

Full feature on YouTube, IG, FB & TikTok

PRESENTED BY

Flora Slater

Colorful striped cushioned bench in a bright corner beside a wicker basket with a game box, warm cozy indoor scene

Brass wall sconce with pink floral shade glows in a cozy room, beside shelves, framed photos, and a gold-framed mirror.

Traditional Character with a Contemporary Twist

Flora describes her style as a balance between traditional and contemporary, combining classic soft furnishings with clean architectural surfaces to create interiors with classic detailing and modern simplicity. She embraces layered fabrics, decorative details and rich colour while keeping the architectural backdrop restrained. This contrast allows every room to feel welcoming but not overwhelming, creating interiors that are full of personality. "Everything you'll see inside is pretty traditional in terms of the soft furnishings... but all the surfaces are super clean and minimal."

Cozy pastel living room with cream sofa, green pillows, ottoman, TV, bookshelves, lamps, and striped curtains by a bright window.

Cozy living room with bookshelves, a large gold-framed painting, and a TV showing The Interior Design Show.

Interior Design Inspired by Art

Throughout the house, artwork is never treated as a finishing touch. Instead, each room begins with a selected piece that informs the colours, textures and furnishings that follow. In the family living area, Flora built the entire palette around a calming painting by Maria Murphy, introducing soft pastel pinks and yellows through lampshades, upholstery and even the wall colour itself. "It really was based around the art in this house. From there we built it up from pattern to colour" she explains, demonstrating how artwork can provide inspiration and cohesion.

Bright eclectic living room with floral sofa, striped chairs, red lamps, staircase, and butterfly art in a cozy home.

Gold-framed red painting of two people in hats on a white wall, flanked by red-shaded sconces and striped lamps in a stylish room

Two Living Rooms, Two Distinct Personalities

The home's generous reception space has been divided into two completely different experiences. One side prioritises comfort with oversized seating, a window bench and soft pastel tones for everyday living, while the formal sitting room embraces bold combinations of colour, pattern and texture. Anchored by another Maria Murphy artwork, the space layers patterned upholstery, colourful rugs, statement lighting and vintage furniture into a confident composition that reflects Flora's willingness to experiment. "I was taking huge risks and just hoping they'd work," she says. "And I think in this situation, they really have."

Modern sideboard with red-striped lamps, gold-framed red portrait, Marshall speaker, candles and vase in a bright room.

Cozy room with floral bedspread, green rug, striped chairs, and wooden floors; side table holds small decorative dishes.

Designing with Antiques and Unexpected Combinations

Vintage and antique pieces play an important role in bringing warmth and history to the interiors. A mid-century sideboard became one of the first pieces to arrive in the house, providing a sleek counterpoint to the richly patterned fabrics surrounding it. Flora also introduced textiles she had long admired but rarely had the opportunity to specify for clients, including a bold Kelling Designs and Tissus d'Hélène-inspired mix alongside favourite Christopher Farr fabrics. "I really love bringing antiques into a space" she says. "I think it says a lot about a space. It tells more of a story."

Bright dining room with woven chairs, wooden table, yellow pendant lamps, skylights, and colorful wall art in a cozy, airy setting

Dark green kitchen with pink appliances, wicker chairs, wood floor, and open glass doors to a patio, warmly lit and tidy

Ten framed abstract watercolor rings in two rows on a white wall, with bright yellow, blue, red, green, and brown.

A Playful Kitchen with Purpose

The kitchen and dining room continue the home's joyful approach to colour while placing equal importance on practicality. Built-in banquette seating maximises space for entertaining, shaker cabinetry provides generous storage, and natural timber flooring adds character that complements the home's collection of antiques and mid-century furniture. Bright artwork by Joe Fox emphasises the playful atmosphere, while natural light keeps the room feeling open and warm. "It's just meant to be a really playful and vibrant and happy room" Flora says.

Carpeted staircase beside a white wall covered in framed artwork and beach photos, viewed from above in a bright home interior

Bright hallway with a large colorful abstract painting of figures, a red heart sculpture, and a poster reading WHAT'S ON A MAN'S MIND.

Designing with Meaningful Collections

Moving upstairs, the staircase becomes a gallery wall displaying artwork collected throughout Flora's travels. Instead of curating a perfectly matched display, she celebrates the individuality of each piece, allowing memories and experiences to shape the composition. New additions continue to sit comfortably alongside older finds, echoing the idea that a home should evolve naturally over time. "Everything's quite random, but I think also tells a bit of a story about yourself" she says.

Bright yellow bathroom with clawfoot tub, black-and-white checkered floor, glass shower, and pink stool.

Bright bathroom with black-and-white checkerboard floor, white clawfoot tub, pink stool, glass shower, and woven basket.

Spaces Filled with Colour and Character

Even the more functional spaces embrace bold design decisions. The bathroom pairs cheerful yellow walls with contrasting monochrome tiles to maximise light within the compact footprint of the period home, while a freestanding bath introduces a sculptural focal point.

Bright pastel bedroom with striped canopy bed, green curtains, floral drapes, white bedding, and sunlight by the window.

Sunlit cozy bedroom with striped headboard, white bed, floral lamp and dresser by an open window overlooking a brick street.

Upstairs, the principal bedroom shifts to a calmer palette of creams and blues, where a canopy bed, integrated storage and coordinated fabrics create a peaceful retreat. The built-in joinery also supports the room's central design statement, allowing comfort, light and colour to define the atmosphere.

Bright eclectic living room with red floral sofa, striped chair, staircase, and colorful lamps in a cozy, lived-in home

A Home That Celebrates Individual Expression

Flora's Queen's Park home demonstrates that purposeful interior design is about creating spaces that reflect the people who live in them. By allowing art to lead every palette, balancing traditional character with contemporary simplicity, and confidently embracing colour, pattern and antiques, she has created a home that is personal and effortlessly inviting. It is a reminder that the most memorable interiors are often those that take risks and tell a story through every carefully considered detail.

Visit Studio Flora’s Website: https://www.studiofloralondon.co.uk

Follow Studio Flora on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studio_flora_london/

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