My Houzz: At Home With… Lynne Robinson of Papermash
Continuing our series visiting interiors bloggers at home, Lynne Robinson opens up her London flat and talks about her inspirations
Victoria Harrison
14 August 2016
Editor, Houzz UK and Ireland
As the owner of online stationery shop Papermash and a seasoned interiors blogger, Lynne Robinson has a great eye for colour and design, which is clear to see in her elegant London home. The pretty Victorian maisonette is filled with covetable stationery, interesting art and pretty vignettes. A sprinkling of vintage finds from nearby Northcote Road Antiques Market adds character, while careful editing ensures the space feels calm and restful.
COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN
To celebrate some of the most creative and inspiring UK & Irish bloggers and their homes, we ask each blogger in this series to choose a giveaway gift that reflects their personal style. Lynne has chosen a Tuberose candle (worth £42) from Robbie Honey as this month’s prize. All you have to do to enter is comment below, telling us what you love about this home.
COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN
To celebrate some of the most creative and inspiring UK & Irish bloggers and their homes, we ask each blogger in this series to choose a giveaway gift that reflects their personal style. Lynne has chosen a Tuberose candle (worth £42) from Robbie Honey as this month’s prize. All you have to do to enter is comment below, telling us what you love about this home.
Photography: Polly Eltes
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Lynne Robinson
Blog Papermash
Property A Victorian maisonette
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Location Balham, south London
Walls painted in French Grey, Little Greene. Ekenäset armchair in Isunda Grey, Ikea. Rug, Habitat (discontinued). Large framed print, Charlie Mackesy.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Lynne Robinson
Blog Papermash
Property A Victorian maisonette
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Location Balham, south London
Walls painted in French Grey, Little Greene. Ekenäset armchair in Isunda Grey, Ikea. Rug, Habitat (discontinued). Large framed print, Charlie Mackesy.
What do we need to know about your blog?
I’ve been blogging for nine years. I used to have another blog, Tea For Joy, which gave me lots of fun opportunities, but a few years ago I decided to integrate it more with my brand and shop, Papermash, so I moved it across to the shop website.
Casa Blanca candle, Robbie Honey.
Win a Tuberose candle from Robbie Honey by leaving a comment below
I’ve been blogging for nine years. I used to have another blog, Tea For Joy, which gave me lots of fun opportunities, but a few years ago I decided to integrate it more with my brand and shop, Papermash, so I moved it across to the shop website.
Casa Blanca candle, Robbie Honey.
Win a Tuberose candle from Robbie Honey by leaving a comment below
What made you start blogging?
I went to live in New York on a sabbatical, and spent a lot of hot summer days hanging out with my laptop in cool (air-conditioned) coffee shops in the West Village. I started discovering lots of amazing American design blogs, but didn’t see anything similar in the UK, so I started my first blog then.
Red lake design, English romantic cushion; black and white landscape table lamp, both Chocolate Creative.
I went to live in New York on a sabbatical, and spent a lot of hot summer days hanging out with my laptop in cool (air-conditioned) coffee shops in the West Village. I started discovering lots of amazing American design blogs, but didn’t see anything similar in the UK, so I started my first blog then.
Red lake design, English romantic cushion; black and white landscape table lamp, both Chocolate Creative.
How long have you lived here and how did you and your flat meet?
I moved in here in 2007. I searched for a year, as I was adamant I wanted an upstairs flat with a garden and, specifically, space for a hammock.
Before I moved in, though, someone told me that if you buy a place with a downstairs garden, you’ll never use it, and that’s turned out to be true. I rarely go in there and I never bought the hammock.
I moved in here in 2007. I searched for a year, as I was adamant I wanted an upstairs flat with a garden and, specifically, space for a hammock.
Before I moved in, though, someone told me that if you buy a place with a downstairs garden, you’ll never use it, and that’s turned out to be true. I rarely go in there and I never bought the hammock.
Do you have a design rule you live by?
I like quite clean surfaces (I think a coffee table attracts unnecessary mess), but I love busy walls and all styles of artwork. I have piles and piles of unframed art, from Etsy, craft fairs and car-boot sales. Some day I’d like to get those on the wall!
Desk accessories and prints, all Papermash.
Browse more home office photos
I like quite clean surfaces (I think a coffee table attracts unnecessary mess), but I love busy walls and all styles of artwork. I have piles and piles of unframed art, from Etsy, craft fairs and car-boot sales. Some day I’d like to get those on the wall!
Desk accessories and prints, all Papermash.
Browse more home office photos
What was the flat like when you first moved in?
Very dated, with a yellow kitchen!
Which is your favourite spot in the flat and why?
I love my new kitchen and spend a lot of my time in there, as it’s bright and cosy. The underfloor heating is a big draw in winter.
Very dated, with a yellow kitchen!
Which is your favourite spot in the flat and why?
I love my new kitchen and spend a lot of my time in there, as it’s bright and cosy. The underfloor heating is a big draw in winter.
What makes you happiest at home?
I’m not the world’s best completer-finisher, so I love to start making slow-cooked, caramelised onions in the late afternoon. That makes me stay in the room, as I have to keep an eye on them, and it helps me get on with other jobs. Then I’ll think of something to make with them for dinner.
I’m not the world’s best completer-finisher, so I love to start making slow-cooked, caramelised onions in the late afternoon. That makes me stay in the room, as I have to keep an eye on them, and it helps me get on with other jobs. Then I’ll think of something to make with them for dinner.
What’s your proudest DIY achievement?
I don’t do any DIY, but I love the chrome tiles on the tiny kitchen fireplace hearth. I’m usually drawn to the more expensive options, so I was very excited to find the small chrome metro tiles online for £12.
Walls painted in Portland Stone, Little Greene. Plates, Nina Invorm. For similar floor tiles, try Original Style.
I don’t do any DIY, but I love the chrome tiles on the tiny kitchen fireplace hearth. I’m usually drawn to the more expensive options, so I was very excited to find the small chrome metro tiles online for £12.
Walls painted in Portland Stone, Little Greene. Plates, Nina Invorm. For similar floor tiles, try Original Style.
What do you think is the next big interiors trend and why?
Minimalism – I think lots of people are going the Marie Kondo route. I’ve had to reluctantly accept that my university textbooks are probably not going to be reread and don’t need to be on display.
Find out more about Marie Kondo’s decluttering method
Minimalism – I think lots of people are going the Marie Kondo route. I’ve had to reluctantly accept that my university textbooks are probably not going to be reread and don’t need to be on display.
Find out more about Marie Kondo’s decluttering method
What’s the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?
Watch the previous evening’s Newsnight.
What do you love to do on Sunday afternoons?
I love this area, so I like to stay local. I attend a church in Clapham in the evening, so I’ll often walk there via Clapham Common and watch whoever is playing on the bandstand. Sometimes I’ll go to one of my favourite secret London spots, which is the Eden Community Garden in Clapham.
Artwork (top), vintage. Artwork (bottom), Jeremy Miranda.
Watch the previous evening’s Newsnight.
What do you love to do on Sunday afternoons?
I love this area, so I like to stay local. I attend a church in Clapham in the evening, so I’ll often walk there via Clapham Common and watch whoever is playing on the bandstand. Sometimes I’ll go to one of my favourite secret London spots, which is the Eden Community Garden in Clapham.
Artwork (top), vintage. Artwork (bottom), Jeremy Miranda.
What’s your key to a happy, healthy lifestyle?
Understanding that work is something I do, not who I am. Having your own business can be all-consuming, so I try very hard to take part in activities and volunteer projects that are totally unrelated to my work.
Do you have a mantra you live by?
My favourite quote is by Annie Dillard: “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” I made a letterpress print of that earlier this year and have added it to my “to be framed” pile!
Understanding that work is something I do, not who I am. Having your own business can be all-consuming, so I try very hard to take part in activities and volunteer projects that are totally unrelated to my work.
Do you have a mantra you live by?
My favourite quote is by Annie Dillard: “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” I made a letterpress print of that earlier this year and have added it to my “to be framed” pile!
Is there anything you couldn’t live without?
Positive, encouraging friends. In the past few years I’ve been very intentional about spending time with upbeat people.
Visit Lynne’s blog
COMMENT TO WIN
All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is post a comment below on what you love about Lynne’s home. A randomly drawn entry from all comments that were submitted in the contest period and approved by Houzz UK Ltd will determine this month’s prize winner. Approved comments will be included in the draw automatically. The prize winner will receive a Tuberose candle (worth £42) from Robbie Honey. If out of stock, a gift voucher will be issued. Closing date 23.59pm on 28th August 2016. View the full competition T&Cs here.
Positive, encouraging friends. In the past few years I’ve been very intentional about spending time with upbeat people.
Visit Lynne’s blog
COMMENT TO WIN
All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is post a comment below on what you love about Lynne’s home. A randomly drawn entry from all comments that were submitted in the contest period and approved by Houzz UK Ltd will determine this month’s prize winner. Approved comments will be included in the draw automatically. The prize winner will receive a Tuberose candle (worth £42) from Robbie Honey. If out of stock, a gift voucher will be issued. Closing date 23.59pm on 28th August 2016. View the full competition T&Cs here.
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Quirky, colourful and creative style :)
Like it very much