Thoughtful designer Cassandra Ellis has renovated a number of houses, most of which were for others via her London design studio Atelier Ellis. Her most recent project was renovated for her and her husband to live in the nature of the East Sussex Downs. The walls are painted with colors from her own paint line, and much of the furniture is of her down design too. Here we profile the key elements, both actual and imagined, that go into achieving a similar look.
Above: The renovation includes subtle but impactful details such as the threshold-less door frame where long oak planks run from room to room without stopping. Photo via Light Locations from Like Walking Through a Sonnet: A Serene East Sussex Barn by Cassandra Ellis.
Paint
Above: The majority of the house is painted in Warm White from Cassandra’s own line of paint, Atelier Ellis. Prices start at £49 for a 2.5 liter can of paint. Above: The living room is painted in the Atelier Ellis Smoked Green-Blue. “This is my childhood color and the first color I made,” Cassandra says. Prices start at £49 for a 2.5 liter can of paint.
Furniture
Above: Another option for an antique dining table that doubles as a desk, as seen in Cassandra’s living space, is the John Derian Antique French Table; $850. Another option is the simple Beach House Expandable Dining Table for $3,495 at Serena & Lily. Above: Source a vintage dining chair from Howe in London. This Set of Four Goan Hardwood Dining Chairs is a commitment at £4,500 for the full set, but Howe is a great resource worth mentioning for finding antiques & vintages similar to the style seen in Cassandra’s home. Above: For a large upholstered bench, Maiden Home makes The Franklin Bench for $1,275. Above: The John Derian Tulip Chair is $3,390 for the linen upholstery.