How To Embrace Laidback Luxury In Your Home
How Do You Define Laidback Luxe?
“Laidback luxe is all about creating a sense of luxury that appears totally effortless. It’s about luxury but one that feels cosy, calm and homely – it’s often a challenging look to achieve because there’s a fine balance to be struck.” – Chris Pask, director at Charlton Brown
“Laidback luxe to me is chic, elegant and timeless. The luxury is found in the placement of the finest natural materials, rich textures and the sense of space and light.” – Samantha Wilson, interior designer & founder of Collection Noir
“For us, laidback luxury has to be liveable. These are spaces you don't just keep for best, but can enjoy and use every day. Avoid overly stiff or matching furniture, and instead opt for a mix of new and antique pieces to create a more curated feel.” – Maria Lindgren & Adele Lonergan, co-founders of Covet Noir
“This look calls for luxurious materials that are used in a non-precious way. It’s about creating casual, homely comfort among beautiful fabrics and materials.” – James Patmore, design director at Soho Home
What Colours Work Best?
“Keep the palette soft and natural to create a sense of calm and tranquillity. That’s not to say colour can’t be used, but stick to earthy tones like burnt reds, deep greens and dusty pinks – avoid anything too bright. You should also steer clear of cold tones such as stark white, dark greys and black.” – Chris
Why Is Marble So Key?
“The naturally occurring veins and colour variations make the stone so unique that it immediately forms its own identity within a space. Italian marble has also long been considered a luxurious material – the timeless yet classic aesthetic creates a sense of understated opulence that continues to stand the test of time. Durability is another reason. Marble is a functional material that becomes more beautiful as it’s used.” – Samantha
Charlton Brown; Covet Noir
What Part Do Other Natural Materials Play?
“Timbers are a must. I usually gravitate towards oaks and walnuts where the grain and knots are most visible. Use them in furniture, flooring and accent joinery – just remember that rustic is not the goal. It’s supposed to be refined. Luxurious rich textures that are found in organic fibres such as wool, linen, jute and cashmere add a layer of depth and calm without compromising on style, while metals such as iron and brushed metallics look great in lighting, joinery details and accessories.” – Samantha
“Stone can be cold but warm-toned stones with a honed finish give tactility and warmth. We also pair stone with stained oak and antiqued, unlacquered brass to soften the harshness.” – James
What About Flooring?
“Floor treatments are perfect for capturing the natural aesthetic. Timber floors with beautiful grains and knots with thick textured rugs on top create the sense of understated luxury. A rug creates the perfect anchor and a gives the room a sense of balance.” – Samantha
How Should You Light The Space?
“It’s all in the layering. We love to mix different types of decorative lighting so you can adjust the light levels to suit. Particularly in living areas, we would always use a combination of dimmable pendant, wall, table and floor lamps to create soft pools of light rather than anything too harsh.” – Maria & Adele
How Should You Choose The Sofas And Armchairs?
“Less is more – you don’t want to overload the space with non-purposeful pieces. Sofas can be an opportunity to create a striking centrepiece. Consider adding a sweeping sofa with sculptural forms. Armchairs can be an opportunity to showcase beautiful craftsmanship, too. Intertwining antique and vintage pieces with modern elements also evokes a sense of consciously curated everyday living. The secret really is quality of the materials and the placement.” – Samantha
Covet Noir
COVET NOIR
Are There Certain Fabrics You’d Recommend Using?
“The key to achieving the relaxed look is mixing both premium and more casual fabrics throughout the scheme. A linen or an aged leather will give you that more relaxed feel, while a velvet or a bouclé is going to feel more refined.” – Maria & Adele
“We tend to use a mix of fabrics with different textures, weight and pattern to make a house feel homely without losing the sophistication and elegance. A heavy or lightweight linen for curtains and furniture mixed with velvet, silk-wool or patterned scatter cushions is the perfect mix to create that extra luxe look in a minimal way. A touch of leather can also add a luxurious quality to a space if used sparingly.” – Chris
Accessories, Then – Does Laidback Luxury Mean Pared Back?
“It's all about balance. Too few accessories and a space can feel unfinished; too many and you risk a space feeling fussy. We start by curating a mix of dark and light ceramics and timber accents to add a more organic feel. Then, we'll look for beautiful books to ground the smaller accessories. We always make sure we have plenty of glass to balance out the areas that feel heavy and metal accents to add depth. Finally, we'll add some fresh foliage to complete the look.” – Maria & Adele
“Think about refinement when it comes to the accessories. For example, you want your cushions to be covered in natural fibres – however, intricate details such as a delicate fringe or a suede panel can be a great way to play with depth.” – Samantha
What Are The Most Effective Window Treatments For This Look?
“Linen is a great material for curtains as not only does it drape beautifully, it also allows the light to come through. Linen curtains are at their finest when hung on a pole with enough length that they effortlessly drape on the floor. You can also double up with a cotton sheer positioned on a separate track behind for privacy.” – Samantha
“I would go for neutrals or earthy tones – a washed-out ochre or rust if you wanted to introduce a little bit of colour. Again, the period of your home could determine the material choice, along with where the home is located; for example, something more coastal would lean towards a looser weave fabric.” – James
BANDA PROPERTY
BANDA PROPERTY
Does Laidback Luxury Work In Any Kind Of Property?
“Older buildings tend to have a little more charm to them, which can be a useful point of inspiration. Newer homes often lack that innate sense of character and don’t tend to have any period features, so it can be more challenging to create this look, but not impossible. They just need a little more dressing up to achieve the same result.” – Chris
Finally, Is There Anything You’d Really Try To Avoid?
“Clutter. Curate your space as you would your wardrobe, by opting for quality over quantity. Don’t forget to explore placement, materiality and form to optimise space and light.” – Samantha
“Bright, bold colours, clashing patterns, cool metals and stark lighting should always be avoided because they are a cause of visual friction. They don’t let the eye settle and rest.” – James
“Don’t use too many contrasting materials, tones and patterns – neutrality is key, so keep it consistent. Too much of one material such as gold, heavy ironmongery, leather, satin, dark timber or lacquered materials will result in an interior that looks too blingy. Subtle touches are fine, but don’t go overboard.” – Chris
Visit Charlton Brown.com, CollectionNoir.com, Soho Home & CovetNoir.com.
CHARLTON BROWN
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